Friday, May 29, 2009

Baked Beans

I received this recipe from my assistant supervisor years ago when I worked at a hospital. Everyone always says how good these beans are but I do not like baked beans so I do not think I will comment on this one. lol

1-3 lb. can pork & beans
1/2 c. ketchup
4 slices uncooked bacon strips
1/4 c. chopped onion
1 2/3 c. brown sugar
Squirt of mustard

Combine beans, ketchup, onion, brown sugar and mustard in a bowl and stir well. Pour into a 13x9x2 baking pan. Place bacon strips on top of beans. Bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Question

Can anyone tell me why I have all the jibberish above my cornbread picture?

Questions and Answers

Dorren thought maybe she would not be able to find buttermilk or cornmeal in her area. From what I understand, cornmeal is not sold in the Northern states but I am not sure about that. Buttermilk on the other hand if you are unable to find it you can use the following recipe I found on line at Frugal Living.

Place a Tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup. Add enough milk to bring the liquid to the one-cup line. Let stand for 5 minutes. Ta da!! Buttermilk!

Southern Cornbread

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Doreen over at doreenscreativespace.blogspot asked me for my cornbread recipe. This recipe came from White Lily.

2 c. self-rising corn meal
1 1/3 c. buttermilk
1/4 c. melted shortening

1 egg, beaten

Heat oven to 450. Grease 8-inch ovenproof skillet or square pan; place in oven for 5 minutes to melt shortening.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine corn meal, buttermilk and egg; mix well. Pour shortening in and return skillet to oven for another 5 minutes. Mix the shortening in well. (I leave a small amount of the shortening in the bottom of my skillet so my bread won't stick.)

After your skillet has heated for the full 10 minutes, I use about 2 T. of corn meal and sprinkle in the bottom of my skillet then pour batter into the skillet. Bake at 450 for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

I hope you enjoy Doreen!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

What Happened??

Where did my picture go? lol Not sure what happened to my first picture on the post below but I will have to work on it when I get home tonight. If you will click on the empty square my picture will come up.

One Good Country Supper

I just love when garden vegetables start bearing, or should I say when my parents garden starts bearing! There is nothing better than a bowl of warm soup beans, crispy corn bread, sweet corn on the cob and fresh lettuce and onions from the garden! Not to mention it is a frugal meal also.

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Then add some hot bacon grease to the lettuce and onions. Yum, yum! (I know, I know, I just made salad unhealthy. Unhealthy maybe but it shore is good eatin!) Don't worry, I took a picture of the lettuce and onions before I added the bacon grease. I was afraid I would cause some of you all to have a heart attack just thinking about it. lol



Now that your mouth is gone to watering, I'll leave. Have a great day!!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Hot Fudge Cake

It seems the only time I can find here lately to post is on my lunch break. Oh well, whatever works!

I fixed this in the crock pot one day last week. I just love my crock pot. Hey, that needs to be on my "Favorites Friday" doesn't it? I really like fixing desserts in my crock pot especially in the winter time. This was good and fudgy and them add the cold ice cream. Yum! Yum!

Recipe from Fix It and Forget It Cookbook.

1 c. packed brown sugar
3 T cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 T. melted butter
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1 3/4 c. boiling water
1 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
Vanilla ice cream

Mix together the 1 c. brown sugar, flour and 3 T. cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Stir in milk, butter and vanilla.

Spread over the bottom of a slow cooker. Mix together 3/4 c. packed brown sugar and 1/4 c. cocoa. Sprinkle over mixture in slow cooker. Pour in boiling water. Do not stir.

Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Serve warm with ice cream. Yum!

Friday, May 22, 2009

Friday Favorite

So this is a day late. I started this post before I left for work yesterday morning and completely forgot about posting it when I got home from work. Anyway...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISSY!!



I am all the time telling Sissy that she is my favorite daughter. She will then remind me that is because she is my only daughter. I then remind her that that has nothing to do with it! Any who, my favoite daughter turned 20 today! I cannot believe that my baby is 20!

Her dad and I are very proud of her! She is not only a great daughter but a great person. Hope you have a great one sweetie!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

KFC Coleslaw



I love KFC's coleslaw and this is about as close as you can get. Recipe from www.recipezaar.com.

8 c. finley diced cabbage
1/4 c. diced carrot
2 T. minced onions
1/3 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1/4 c. milk
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1/4 c. buttermilk
1 1/2 T. white vinegar
2 1/2 T. lemon juice

Cabbage and carrots must be finely diced. (I used my food processor.) Pour cabbage and carrot mixture into a large bowl and stir in minced onions.

Using regular blade on food processor, process remaining ingredients until smooth. Pour over vegetable mixture and mix thoroughly.

Cover bowl and refrigerate several hours or overnight before serving.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

My Poor Toe!!

As I was putting my dishes away last night after supper, I opened up a cabinet door next to my wall. I opened it to hard and knocked this clock off of the wall.



Now this clock has lived a hard life since moving into my kitchen. He lost his leg not long after moving in. His leg used to swing back and forth as the clock ticked. I just loved this clock.

Sissy was doing the same thing at the time that I was doing last night. She opened the cabinet door to far and hard and knocked him off and broke the hanger that is on the back of the clock that the leg hung from. So, he has been leggless since.

He didn't lose any limbs last night but I sure thought I had! He landed on my toe and I thought sure my toe was broken! There was so much blood that my hubby kept telling me as he was trying to stop the bleeding that I had lost my toe nail. What a great comfort those words were while I was in all my pain. Between the throbbing and him warning me that my toenail was just hanging, all I could think of was what in the world am I going to do with a hanging toenail!! lol

Once he got the bleeding stopped though, my toenail is still there but the the part of the toe beside my nail has a big gash. It is still bleeding this morning but I think I will live.



I think I best be moving me a clock!! (Ya think he is saying,"Payback time?")

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Back at Work!

I am back at work today and on my lunch break right now. I hope everyone had a great weekend. The weather was actually nice, the rain has stopped and the sun was shining. It just felt good to to outside without an umbrella.

My weekend was full as usual. Saturday I planted flowers in some of my pots and done my grocery shopping for the week. That took most of the day. I seem to be slowing down as I get older. Sunday I went to church and took a good nap with the dog. You know, I don't have a dog but with Sissy working so much lately, I have noticed that he clings to me more since I am the one having to dog sit. It is just like baby sitting a 2 year old!

Monday was a full day. I cleaned my house, cleaned my stove, done laundry, cooked supper, and made a dessert in the crock pot. Boy was I tired yesterday afternoon!

I have a few recipes to share with you this week so check back!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Saturday's Routines

1. Sweep floors.
2. Sweep porches and sidewalk.
3. Clean car out and wash (eow).
4. Clean stove oam.
5. Clean oven oam.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Favorite Cutting Board



My dh husband and dd bought this for me as a present for Christmas one year. I had wanted one of these ever since I saw my dsl. It has rollers on the bottom so I can roll it around my small kitchen and use it wherever I want to. Also, the sides pull up for more space or you can let them down.

Although I know the baskets are supposed to be used for vegetables, I only use one basket for this. I have all of Riley's treats in the top one, potatoes in the second one and the bottom one I put the canned or boxed ingredients I will be using that week in my recipes just for convience.

I hope everyone has a great Friday and a great weekend!

Friday Routine

1. Zone work.
2. Shake rugs.
3. Sweep floors.
4. Go to grocery store after work.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Thursday's Routine

Zone Work.
Clean a shelve off in the refrigerator.
Clean laundry room up.

I would rather crochet!!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Wednesday Routine

Shake rugs
Sweep floors
Clean purse out
Zone work

Wednesday's is church night so I do not have very much time after I get home from work to do very much so I try and cook a quick supper on Wednesday's nights and planned for light housework.

Soup Bean Casserole

I like this casserole not only because we like it but because you have one pot that you brown your hamburger in, and mix all of your ingredients in as well, and then a cake pan to bake it in. That is all the dishes you need for the casserole. Now any side dishes will be extra of course. It does not have a long baking time and it is cheap to make. Can't beat that!

Brown 1 1/2 lb. hamburger with 1 onion, chopped. Drain excess grease off. Add..



2 cans pinto beans
1 can whole kernel corn, undrained
1 small can tomato sauce
1-16 oz. jar salsa
2 dashes chili powder

Mix all ingredients well and pour into a 13x9x2 in. baking dish.


1 box Jiffy Cornbread Mix
1 egg
Milk

Mix the above ingredients well. Add enough milk to make the mixture spreadable but not runny.



Pour over hamburger mixture.



Bake, uncovered at 450 for 35 to 40 minutes. I always have to cover mine with foil because my bread starts getting to brown.



Enjoy!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

I Don't Like Spiders and Snakes!!

Remember the song? I am changing the title though to add lizards in that! I just hate lizards. They love to live on my porch and dart around faster than a mouse!

I went to shake my kitchen rug and noticed it's tail sticking out from under my Hostas in front of my porch and quietly went back in the house for my camera.

Too late! It was already gone. But wait...


I think I see it. Yep, poking it's little head out from the other side!



Then it got brave and come out more. Look at that blue tail! Just makes me squirm everytime I look! lol

Tuesdays Routine

Change sheets on bed eow.
Zone work.
Prepare menu for next week.

That's it! I will do my morning, afternoon and before bed routine everyday. Now don't get me wrong, these are just guidelines I go by to keep my from getting sidetracked. Somedays life just throws things your way that you have no control over and I am unable to do things like I had planned. On those days I just do what I can and go on. I do not stress over not being able to stick to my routines on those days.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Before Bed Routine

This is my before bed routine each night.

Shine sink and put a clean dish rag and towel out.
Brush teeth and take make up off.
Read a chapter in Proverbs.
Me time!!! Me time is crafting or blogging.

Afternoon Routine

This is what I do each afternoon as soon as I come in the door from work (after I change clothes of course) in the order given. If I have a chance I will do whatever chores I can while my supper is cooking.

Start a load of laundry.
Cook supper.
Clean up kitchen.
Take out garbage-burn trash.
Put clothes in dryer or hang on clothes line.
Pick up clutter in each room.
Clear hot spot. (My kitchen table or my computer desk.)
Prepare lunches and snacks for the next work day.
Lay out clothes for next day.

Routine for Mondays

This is my routine for Mondays.

Get dressed to shoes.
Dust all furniture.
Water Cactus.
Vacuum all rooms.
Shake rugs.
Sweep and mop floors.
Clean mirrors and front door.
Zone work.

Morning Routine

I am a Flylady fan. As a matter of fact, I have her website listed on the right hand side of my blog. I am not motivated enough to do things just because they need to be done. Like Flylady, I am always getting side tracked so I guess this is why I like following her ideas. I can start off in one room cleaning and 10 minutes later I will be in my craft room doing who knows what and the cleaning still will be unfinished!

Although I do not follow her suggestions to a tee, and she doesn't want you to, I do use her ideas as my guidelines. I have used the routines for several years now and everyonce in a while I need to tweak my routines some due to changes in our home. So, I thought I would share with my blogging friends my routines.

I will start off with my Morning Routine.

Morning Routine:
Daily Bible reading
Make bed
Shower
Take daily medication (remember your vitamin)
Get ready for work
Swish and swipe bathroom
Cook breakfast
Empty dishwasher
Do preparations for supper that evening as much as possible

I will post my afternoon routine this afternoon and each day I will post my routine for that day so come back! I hope this inspires you to be able to get a handle on the housework and still enjoy time with your family!

Supper for tonight is Soup Bean Casserole and mashed potatoes. I will post pictures later along with the recipe. (I can hear my sister now saying, "Yuck!")

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Favorite Griddle

I was unable to post yesterday so I will do it today. I was helping our Pastor's wife decorate the fellowship hall for our Mother/Daughter banquet this afternoon. We are expecting at least 50 to be there. Wish you all could come with me.



This makes the second griddle I have bought. I love to cook on my griddle when I have a lot of things to cook such as bacon, sausage, eggs, hamburgers etc.
I don't know what I done before I bought this.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Homemade Window Cleaner



I love to share recipes and any tips I can to help you to spend less time cooking and cleaning and more time with your family. This recipe is one of them. I will never buy store bought window cleaner after making this. It not only cleans very well but it is very frugal also.

1 c. alcohol
1 c. water
1 T. white vinegar
Blue food coloring (optional)

Mix the above ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well to mix.

(Clip art by pccrafter.com.)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Bread Crumbs

I never throw away bread. I always keep stale bread, buns and rolls to use when I make bread crumbs. I always have a bag of scraps of bread that I keep in the freezer and I just add to that until I get ready to make bread crumbs.

First of all, place bread in a food processor.



Process until the crumbs is the texture that you like. I like mine real fine.



Spread the crumbs out in a rimmed baking pan and bake at 350, stirring every 10 minutes. This takes about 20-30 minutes.



Once the bread is dry enough, I let it cool in the pan and then...




place back in my food processor to bread up the chunks and make it fine again.



I then place my crumbs in a container that I had once bought bread crumbs in.



Put the lid on and place in the freezer until ready to use.



To make Italian Bread crumbs, add 1 tsp. Italian seasoning blend to every 2 c. of crumbs before baking.

Yes, this does take some extra time but I like it because I would normally just be throwing this bread away anyway. I can also add whatever spices I want to he bread crumbs to make the flavor that I need for a certain recipe and I like that.

Recipe from Cheap. Fast. Good. cookbook.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Mexican Salsa



I can't take credit for this recipe. I received this recipe from my sister. If I thought she wouldn't beat me within an inch of my life, I would post her picture on here also, but I would like to live a little longer. lol

28 oz. canned tomatoes
1 can green chilies, drained
1/8 tsp. garlic
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 small can tomato sauce
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cilantro
4 green onions, chopped

Mix all the ingredients together and let sit in refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.

(You can add more red pepper flakes if you like it hotter. I don't like any heat to mine at all. I also put mine in the blender (except for my green onions)since my dh doesn't like the chunks. I love chunks!!)

Monday, May 4, 2009

Lights Out!



This is what I needed at about 1:10 this morning when our electricity went off. A flashlight! My husband always, always has his flashlight under the bed on his side but this one time he didn't and since it was only raining and not storming I never thought about getting my flashlight and put it by me like I usually do. If I know we might be getting storms I always get my flashlight out and hook up a different phone since all I use is cordless phones and cordless phones do not work without electric as you know. Well, none of this was done. DH got up and lit a candle so I could get the other phone hooked up and call the electric company. The electric finally came back on at 4:15 this morning. I am thankful it came on before I got up since I needed to clean my house today.

Just as I thought. I went to Wal Mart this past weekend and they no longer had any more of the whole wheat tortillas that I posted about on Friday. I had a funny feeling they wouldn't especially since I liked them so well.

I hope everyone had a great weekend. It rained here all weekend but I still enjoyed my days off. See you back here tomorrow.
(Cosmi Clip Arts used)