I’m looking forward to my veggie crate this week from the Bellville Farmer’s Market. This week it has: broccoli, 2 Vidalia onions, 3 tomatoes, 3 zucchini or squash, 2 cucumbers, 1 head of romaine lettuce, 3 carrots, 5 red potatoes, 2 bell peppers, 4 ears of corn, 1 bunch of asparagus, 1 head of garlic and 2 baking potatoes. (And a partridge in a pear tree – too bad I’m just kidding.)
Monday: whatever meat is on sale this week, asparagus and onion sautéed in garlic.
Tuesday: grilled chicken salad with Panera bread (Romaine lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes) And I still have some mushrooms left over from the weekend
Wednesday: Vegetable beef soup with Panera bread (carrots, red potatoes, onion, tomatoes, zucchini, pepper, corn and garlic)
Thursday: Chicken casserole (broccoli, onion, zucchini, red potatoes, garlic, asparagus) and mushrooms if I still have any
Friday: gyros (tomatoes, onions, pepper) Romaine lettuce if any is left
Saturday: Justin’s graduation in Rolla so we will be eating out with them.
Sunday: Steak, baked potatoes, grilled zucchini and asparagus
As usual if you want a recipe just ask.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Help me out here.
I love Cornbread. I've always loved cornbread. You would think that something you love so much should be easy to bake - right? Hmmmm. Well, I seem to be the only one in the family that loves cornbread. Even Bill doesn't like it. Hrumph! So I don't get to make it often.
I've been having a hankering for cornbread for weeks now and I finally made some this past weekend at Bill's house. The first batch didn't rise at all and I attributed that to the yucky mix I was forced to use - I could have sworn I saw cornmeal in his cabinet! We thru out that batch.
Not to give up so quickly, I tried again the next day - adding Baking powder to try to get it to rise. It tasted funny. (That may also have been the yucky mix.) So that batch got thrown out.
So, I dug out my trusty old cookbook of Amish recipes (out of print) and made another batch on Monday with Whole Wheat White flour. It's too dry (and not sweet enough). The sweet I can fix but I'm afraid the dry is beyond me. I used buttermilk as that always makes my pancakes light and fluffy (and the recipe said I could). The recipe called for brown sugar and I doubled it but it still wasn't sweet enough.
Do you think I should try honey? Maybe that would give it the sweet and moist I'm looking for? Oh, and I didn't even bake it as long as it said because it was getting rather dark on top so 400 at 25 min is too long.
HELP! I want to make some good old fashioned corn bread that tastes good - sweet but not too sweet and moist... oh and good for you ( like whole wheat flour if possible)... any ideas?
I've been having a hankering for cornbread for weeks now and I finally made some this past weekend at Bill's house. The first batch didn't rise at all and I attributed that to the yucky mix I was forced to use - I could have sworn I saw cornmeal in his cabinet! We thru out that batch.
Not to give up so quickly, I tried again the next day - adding Baking powder to try to get it to rise. It tasted funny. (That may also have been the yucky mix.) So that batch got thrown out.
So, I dug out my trusty old cookbook of Amish recipes (out of print) and made another batch on Monday with Whole Wheat White flour. It's too dry (and not sweet enough). The sweet I can fix but I'm afraid the dry is beyond me. I used buttermilk as that always makes my pancakes light and fluffy (and the recipe said I could). The recipe called for brown sugar and I doubled it but it still wasn't sweet enough.
Do you think I should try honey? Maybe that would give it the sweet and moist I'm looking for? Oh, and I didn't even bake it as long as it said because it was getting rather dark on top so 400 at 25 min is too long.
HELP! I want to make some good old fashioned corn bread that tastes good - sweet but not too sweet and moist... oh and good for you ( like whole wheat flour if possible)... any ideas?
Woo Hoo!
My ‘Fruit my Cube’ just got better! This week I’ll be getting a Market Crate and here is what is in it:
Market Crate Crate Qty.
Broccoli
Broccoli by the stalk. Like Grandpa said, it's good and good for you! x1 bunch
Vidalia Sweet Onions
The world's most famous onion! And the world's only famous onion, really... x2
Vine-Ripe Tomatoes
These are just in, picked red, ripe off of the vine from sunny Florida! x3
Zucchini & Squash
Zucchini and Yellow Squash are great for baking, salads and sandwiches! x3
Salad Cucumbers
The "Kirby" Cucumber's crunchy texture makes it perfect for salads. x2
Romaine Lettuce
A must for Caesar Salads, but romaine is also fantastic for wraps and pitas! x1
head
California Carrots
Our "Jumbo" grade Cali Carrots put the pre-bagged stuff to shame! x3
New Red Potatoes
These versatile favorites are perfect for baking, boiling, or a creamy potato salad! x5
Sweet Bell Peppers
A red pepper and a green pepper, since variety is the spice of... well, spice. x2
Bi-Color Sweet Corn
Fresh from Florida, the Honey & Cream variety tastes like homegrown! x4 in husk
Asparagus
A premium, tender 1lb bunch. Sautee in a bit of EVOO or just grill it! x1
bunch
Garlic
One clove of fresh garlic releases more flavor than a dozen cooked cloves! x1
bulb
Yukon Gold Potatoes
The best baked potato you'll ever have. Fluffy & golden like it's pre-buttered! x2
So now I have to get cracking on what I’m going to cook next week! Woo Hoo!
Market Crate Crate Qty.
Broccoli
Broccoli by the stalk. Like Grandpa said, it's good and good for you! x1 bunch
Vidalia Sweet Onions
The world's most famous onion! And the world's only famous onion, really... x2
Vine-Ripe Tomatoes
These are just in, picked red, ripe off of the vine from sunny Florida! x3
Zucchini & Squash
Zucchini and Yellow Squash are great for baking, salads and sandwiches! x3
Salad Cucumbers
The "Kirby" Cucumber's crunchy texture makes it perfect for salads. x2
Romaine Lettuce
A must for Caesar Salads, but romaine is also fantastic for wraps and pitas! x1
head
California Carrots
Our "Jumbo" grade Cali Carrots put the pre-bagged stuff to shame! x3
New Red Potatoes
These versatile favorites are perfect for baking, boiling, or a creamy potato salad! x5
Sweet Bell Peppers
A red pepper and a green pepper, since variety is the spice of... well, spice. x2
Bi-Color Sweet Corn
Fresh from Florida, the Honey & Cream variety tastes like homegrown! x4 in husk
Asparagus
A premium, tender 1lb bunch. Sautee in a bit of EVOO or just grill it! x1
bunch
Garlic
One clove of fresh garlic releases more flavor than a dozen cooked cloves! x1
bulb
Yukon Gold Potatoes
The best baked potato you'll ever have. Fluffy & golden like it's pre-buttered! x2
So now I have to get cracking on what I’m going to cook next week! Woo Hoo!
Monday, April 23, 2012
What's cookin?
Monday: Meat Loaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans
Tuesday: Honey Dijon Salmon with Spring Veggies (WW*)
Wednesday: asiago Crusted Pork Chops with California mix veggies (WW*)
Thursday: Spice Rubbed lamb Chops (WW*)
Friday: Ravioli and Spinach Lasagna (WW*)
Saturday: venison Stew with St. Louis Bread Co Bread
Sunday: Chicken Salad Sandwiches with sun chips
As usual if you want a recipe just ask.
WW* is a new magazine I picked up this past week. Weight Watchers 5 ingredients, 15 minute recipes. There are some really yummy looking recipes in there that I’ll be trying in the next few weeks.
Tuesday: Honey Dijon Salmon with Spring Veggies (WW*)
Wednesday: asiago Crusted Pork Chops with California mix veggies (WW*)
Thursday: Spice Rubbed lamb Chops (WW*)
Friday: Ravioli and Spinach Lasagna (WW*)
Saturday: venison Stew with St. Louis Bread Co Bread
Sunday: Chicken Salad Sandwiches with sun chips
As usual if you want a recipe just ask.
WW* is a new magazine I picked up this past week. Weight Watchers 5 ingredients, 15 minute recipes. There are some really yummy looking recipes in there that I’ll be trying in the next few weeks.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Wishes
I've not put much here about my pagan practice - mostly because I don't want to appear to be looking for converts. I beleive that everyone worships their own deity in the way that works for them and I would not want to judge. I do however, find that by putting thinks in my blog or journal helps me to remember them. I find ritual work to be much line recipes. They are best used over and over and tweaked as needed. So, here is what I'm planning for this weekend:
13 wishes.
A lot of people think that you shouldn’t do magic at the dark of the moon. I say Phfewwy! The dark of the moon is just the beginning of the waxing to fullness and the beginning of the buildup of power. Now is the perfect time to put out into the universe what you wish for in the next 28-30 days.
Since Saturday is the dark of the moon, that will be the perfect time to do this.
Preparation: Gather pen and paper, find a place where you can sit quietly and not be disturbed and write out your wishes in a cast circle. Gather your ritual supplies – if you use colored candles for the quarters, symbols of the God and Goddess or whatever you usually use for ritual – doesn’t have to be fancy.
Ritual: Cast your circle, call the quarters, call the God and Goddess and then sit and write down your 13 wishes for the coming month. Phrase them positively and precise. You don’t want the universe to always take you at your word. If you wish for more time with your family you will get that if you loose your job – so be careful in your wording. But leave room for abundance. If you ask for a raise – be specific in the amount you want but also say – “or more” at the end of the sentence. See how this works?
13 wishes – once you have all 13 written down, then sign this – it’s a contract with the universe and contracts need to be signed. Sign your legal and your magical name if you have one. Put runes on it, magical symbols, mundane symbols(like $ for money) anything that will make it go.
Then Chant “Harming none, this spell is done. By law of three, so mote it be!” while pushing the energy into the paper. Once the energy is raised and put into the paper, keep the paper somewhere close by all month. Give it a little trickle of energy every once in a while and don’t forget – you have a part to play in the success of the spell too. You can’t ask to win the lottery and then not buy a ticket!
Cakes and Ale if you wish, then release and open the circle – that’s it. Do this on the dark of the moon.
Other good things to do at the dark of the moon – divination – particularly after your spell work is complete.
Oh and after the month is done (at the next dark of the moon) get your wishes out and see how many have come to fruition – or how many are in the works. (sometimes it takes more than 30 days) Put the ones that are still appropriate back on the list next month along with your new ones.
And once the list for the month is done – keep it in a safe place until you can burn it. We have ‘getting rid of old spell works” fires at the property every once in a while.
13 wishes.
A lot of people think that you shouldn’t do magic at the dark of the moon. I say Phfewwy! The dark of the moon is just the beginning of the waxing to fullness and the beginning of the buildup of power. Now is the perfect time to put out into the universe what you wish for in the next 28-30 days.
Since Saturday is the dark of the moon, that will be the perfect time to do this.
Preparation: Gather pen and paper, find a place where you can sit quietly and not be disturbed and write out your wishes in a cast circle. Gather your ritual supplies – if you use colored candles for the quarters, symbols of the God and Goddess or whatever you usually use for ritual – doesn’t have to be fancy.
Ritual: Cast your circle, call the quarters, call the God and Goddess and then sit and write down your 13 wishes for the coming month. Phrase them positively and precise. You don’t want the universe to always take you at your word. If you wish for more time with your family you will get that if you loose your job – so be careful in your wording. But leave room for abundance. If you ask for a raise – be specific in the amount you want but also say – “or more” at the end of the sentence. See how this works?
13 wishes – once you have all 13 written down, then sign this – it’s a contract with the universe and contracts need to be signed. Sign your legal and your magical name if you have one. Put runes on it, magical symbols, mundane symbols(like $ for money) anything that will make it go.
Then Chant “Harming none, this spell is done. By law of three, so mote it be!” while pushing the energy into the paper. Once the energy is raised and put into the paper, keep the paper somewhere close by all month. Give it a little trickle of energy every once in a while and don’t forget – you have a part to play in the success of the spell too. You can’t ask to win the lottery and then not buy a ticket!
Cakes and Ale if you wish, then release and open the circle – that’s it. Do this on the dark of the moon.
Other good things to do at the dark of the moon – divination – particularly after your spell work is complete.
Oh and after the month is done (at the next dark of the moon) get your wishes out and see how many have come to fruition – or how many are in the works. (sometimes it takes more than 30 days) Put the ones that are still appropriate back on the list next month along with your new ones.
And once the list for the month is done – keep it in a safe place until you can burn it. We have ‘getting rid of old spell works” fires at the property every once in a while.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Plugging along
Weighed in last night – have lost another 1.8 pounds for a total loss of 66.8 – Woo Hoo! Slow and steady – my doctor was very happy with me at my last checkup. Health screenings are tomorrow here at work – all they are doing is drawing blood but they are going to do a massive amount of tests on it. This is how I found out last year that I was border line diabetic. My doc had told me to loose weight or this year I would be on diabetic meds. I saw my mother do that and wanted no part of it – so here I am 66.8 pounds later. My sugar levels are normal!
The kids are great – they encourage me. Last night Aubri made homemade whole wheat pizza dough and I topped my pizza with mushrooms, green peppers, tomatoes, garlic and oregano – was yummy! Tonight we are having Weight Watchers Chicken Carbonara with Fettuccini – out of one of the new WW cookbooks. Good stuff – I made it at Bills a few weeks ago and it tastes like I’m cheating! I told Bill at the time – the kids are going to love this stuff!
Got a call from Tom last week – he has double tapped in one of his classes so they are rolling him back to another class to retake it. He called last night very frustrated. Seems the stuff he needs to study isn’t available in the ‘out of training training’ class they have him in temporarily until he can get rolled back into another class. And his class was the last to use a specific computer program and now he will need to use the new one – but they only have 4 computers for 40 students so he only got 30 minutes to try to learn the new program. Poor boy, they won’t even let him help some of the guys from classes behind his that he has already passed the stuff on. The teacher in him is sitting there on his hands with nothing to do.
We won’t know what his new graduation date is until he rolls into his new class – and passes the next test. I imagine sometime in July – probably right around Bill’s birthday - so much for plans for a birthday Pig Roast at the property.
Plans for the weekend include checking out excavator rentals for digging the septic tank at the property, having a couple of friends out, and just general work around the place. Bill says he has the floor almost ready for the hardwood upstairs in the shop. Once we get the hardwood floor down up there, we can start working on the walls – insulating is first on the agenda then the plumbing – we have water inside now but only a tap in the utility room. Have to get that septic in before we can put drains in and really get the plumbing squared away. Will be nice to have a toilet in the shop so we don’t have to keep running back to the outhouse or back to Bill’s house!
Monday, April 16, 2012
What's Cookin?
Monday: Chipotle Naked Burrito
Tuesday: Homemade Pizza
Wednesday: Parmesan chicken and Fettuccini Alfredo
Thursday: meat loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans
Friday: flounder fillets, asparagus, corn bread
Saturday: Portabella mushroom sandwiches. Veggies and dip
Sunday: Hamburger helper plus broccoli
As usual if you want a recipe just ask.
Tuesday: Homemade Pizza
Wednesday: Parmesan chicken and Fettuccini Alfredo
Thursday: meat loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans
Friday: flounder fillets, asparagus, corn bread
Saturday: Portabella mushroom sandwiches. Veggies and dip
Sunday: Hamburger helper plus broccoli
As usual if you want a recipe just ask.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
They lied!!
The package of black beans says to soak the beans overnight and then cook for 2 hours until tender... it takes at least 8 hours to soak and then another day and a half of cooking to get them tender.... just sayin.
Monday, April 9, 2012
What's Cookin?
Monday: black bean soup with cornbread
Tuesday: flounder fillets, rice pilaf, broccoli
Wednesday: Meat Loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans
Thursday: chicken and Rice in crock pot with broccoli, carrots and onion
Friday: Blackened salmon, mashed potatoes, corn
Saturday: Steaks, baked potatoes, salad
Sunday: Deep fried turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans
As usual if you want a recipe just ask.
Tuesday: flounder fillets, rice pilaf, broccoli
Wednesday: Meat Loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans
Thursday: chicken and Rice in crock pot with broccoli, carrots and onion
Friday: Blackened salmon, mashed potatoes, corn
Saturday: Steaks, baked potatoes, salad
Sunday: Deep fried turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans
As usual if you want a recipe just ask.
Monday, April 2, 2012
What's Cookin?
I’m going camping this weekend with the kids down at the property. So we will be cooking over the campfire on Friday and Saturday nights. Sunday is still open since we may just stop and eat in town on the way home.
Monday: flounder fillets, corn dodgers, garden veggies
Tuesday: cheesy chicken carbonara w/ Fettuccini
Wednesday: Hamburger helper with mixed veggies
Thursday: pork and veggie kabobs, rice pilaf
Friday: marinated grilled chicken, veggies packs on the fire, bread
Saturday: brats, chips, fruit
Sunday: open – possibly eating out.
As usual if you want a recipe just ask.
Monday: flounder fillets, corn dodgers, garden veggies
Tuesday: cheesy chicken carbonara w/ Fettuccini
Wednesday: Hamburger helper with mixed veggies
Thursday: pork and veggie kabobs, rice pilaf
Friday: marinated grilled chicken, veggies packs on the fire, bread
Saturday: brats, chips, fruit
Sunday: open – possibly eating out.
As usual if you want a recipe just ask.
Beautiful Weekend!
Bill came up here on Friday afternoon so that we could go to the Botanical Gardens on Saturday with some friends. I’d never been to the gardens in spring – OMG it’s a different place!
Bill and I
Our friends Amanda and Rick
Azaleas
Koi pond in Japanese Garden
Foot Bridge to the island in the center of the Koi pond
English Garden
Bill talking to a screach owl.
After spending most of the afternoon outside, we stopped by the local warehouse store to replace a camping table that got burnt at Samhain and of course we walked through the rest of the store and got out just over $200! It’s something they put in the air I think – makes you want to spend money!
We got home around dinner time so we ate dinner and then were sitting outside looking at my pathetic flower garden. We had purchased a tiller the night before to try tilling some top soil into the dirt to make it more plant friendly. We decided that it was too late for that on Saturday and retired to Strawberry smoothies and bed.
So we got up on Sunday morning to tackle the flower garden. Bill dug everything up and I put it all in pots so we could amend the soil with top soil and sand (to keep it from clumping as much) and he tilled it. The soil now is rich and soft – a real treat to dig in. I’m hoping the worms like it as much as I do! I replanted everything (which was a bit droopy after sitting in the sun for a couple of hours so no pictures of the final result yet.)
We then planted my vegetable garden on the south side of the house:
My vegatable garden
Two tomato plants, two summer squash plants, and a green pepper. We will be planting the big garden down at the property this weekend. Bill is taking the tiller down to work the ground this week so it will be ready. We have plants ready to go – and will probably buy more at the nursery this weekend.
The kids are planning to come down this weekend after all – so we’ll have lots of help! :)
Bill and I
Our friends Amanda and Rick
Azaleas
Koi pond in Japanese Garden
Foot Bridge to the island in the center of the Koi pond
English Garden
Bill talking to a screach owl.
After spending most of the afternoon outside, we stopped by the local warehouse store to replace a camping table that got burnt at Samhain and of course we walked through the rest of the store and got out just over $200! It’s something they put in the air I think – makes you want to spend money!
We got home around dinner time so we ate dinner and then were sitting outside looking at my pathetic flower garden. We had purchased a tiller the night before to try tilling some top soil into the dirt to make it more plant friendly. We decided that it was too late for that on Saturday and retired to Strawberry smoothies and bed.
So we got up on Sunday morning to tackle the flower garden. Bill dug everything up and I put it all in pots so we could amend the soil with top soil and sand (to keep it from clumping as much) and he tilled it. The soil now is rich and soft – a real treat to dig in. I’m hoping the worms like it as much as I do! I replanted everything (which was a bit droopy after sitting in the sun for a couple of hours so no pictures of the final result yet.)
We then planted my vegetable garden on the south side of the house:
My vegatable garden
Two tomato plants, two summer squash plants, and a green pepper. We will be planting the big garden down at the property this weekend. Bill is taking the tiller down to work the ground this week so it will be ready. We have plants ready to go – and will probably buy more at the nursery this weekend.
The kids are planning to come down this weekend after all – so we’ll have lots of help! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)