I'M BAAAAACK!

I can't remember the last time I posted my blog....the past few years have not been very kind to me or my family.  First several years ago my husband and I sold our home and moved in with our daughter and her family. a couple years later found us packing yet again and as one big family mover to a nearby place only about a 15 minute drive from home.  A few months later my granddaughter was born and what a great day in the neighborhood that was!  We are all very happy here until January 20, 2021 when my wonderful husband had a massive seizure and subsequently died the following April 18. That's why I say these last couple years have not been nice.  Needless to say I am completely lost without him but he has come for a brief visit on a couple occasions. once was to tell me that i was not to worry about the heart attack I'd had last July...2021.....that it was not time for me to join him!  its been so hard to adjust being alone but i feel that I have made the best of a horrible happening. after the heart attack i was unable to drive distances or even do my normal chores here at home but I have made the best of it. I now have a marvelous bread maker and i am always making bread for someone.  I love doing it and for those of you who have a machine i am including a couple super recipes I use a lot.

Thank you all for wading thru this document and I hope you will try to understand why I have been so lax in writing.

Here a a fave of mine and if your machine is not a Welbilt simply add ingredients to make you have according to machine instructions!  Happy Bread making!

        Onion Bread for Welbilt (using onion soup mix) (bread machine)

ONION BREAD FOR WELBILT

FOR A 1 1/2 LB LOAF:

1 3/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

3 cups bread flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

1 packet dry onion soup mix (1 oz)

1 1/2 tablespoons nonfat dry milk powder

1 1/2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened

1 cup plus 3 tbsp plus 1 tsp warm water (105-115 degrees F)

All ingredients must be at room temperature.

Add ingredients in the order listed.

Press SELECT for yeast bread.

Press BAKING CONTROL for medium.

Press START.

Bread will be ready in 4 hours and 4 minutes.

I am planning to write new blog hopefully every 2 weeks! 

It's been a long, long time........

It's amazing all the changes that take place in a two year span!!!!  I just realized that it's been over two years since I last posted!  Shameful!!!!

In that two year span life as I knew it has drastically changed.....my husband and I sold our dilapidated house of 41 years and have moved in with our daughter, Stephanie, and her family......Gabriel now 12, David and his 9 year old son Mike and it has truly been a blessing.  I am now Grandma to two awesome fellas and even Grandma to Gabriel's step-sister, Shiaynne who is 17 and such a beauty.  I am so blessed.  

This move meant I became the chief cook and bottle washer and I have had the best time doing the majority of the cooking.   I have tried many new thing.....some I will share here.  I am also learning a new way to cook.....for Gabriel who is now lactose intolerant.  It's not hard at all.  I simply substitute lactose free dairy products for recipes calling for milk etc.  I use a cheese from Walmart put out by Cabot.  It can be a bit pricey but well worth it.  SOOOOOOO good!  

I get two boys up for school each morning and then the day begins.  I thrive on this and having enough to keep me busy.  It's fun and I wouldn't change a thing.

Now.....cooking for 6 is quite different then the simple meals I made for Steve and me at home. And so far they like what I come up with!  Like this one....


              

Bacon-Cheeseburger Mini Meat Loaves

• Prep 20 min
• Total 40 min
• Ingredients 8
• Servings 12

7 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled

1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef

1/2 cup Progresso™ Italian style panko crispy bread crumbs

1/4 cup milk

1 egg

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4

 cup ketchup

3 slices Cheddar cheese, cut into quarters

Heat oven to 450°F. Spray 12 regular-size muffin cups with cooking spray. Reserve 1/4 cup bacon for topping. In large bowl, mix remaining bacon, beef, bread crumbs, milk, egg and pepper until well mixed. Divide mixture among muffin cups (about 1/4 cup each), pressing evenly into cups. Bake 13 to 16 minutes or until meat thermometer inserted in center of loaves reads 160°F. Brush loaves with ketchup. Top each meat loaf with 1 quartered cheese slice. Bake 1 to 2 minutes longer or until cheese just melts. Top with reserved bacon.

Tip:  I put some grated cheese in the meat mixture as well.  

Had a few leftover and will use them in a meatball sub!!!   

Haven't had much spare time for crafts or reading but I am planning to make time just for me a couple times a week.  That's important for all of us.  A few health hiccups hit us in the form of kidney and skin cancer this past year for my husband but thanks be to God he pulled through both with flying colors.  He is in the beginning stages of dementia so things are sometimes in a turmoil but for the most part life is grand and I love what I'm doing.  

Try the recipe above and let me know what you think!!!!  Until the next time.....

God bless and let your love shine!                                                                   

Well......it's been quite a while since my last post. This time I won't make the mistake of saying I will be regular in doing this!!!! Never seems to work out. LOL

Time is flying these days....seems just last week my grandson completed 3rd grade and now he is finishing 4th in a couple months.  Until spring of 2015 I had never known many of my family on my father's side but thanks to Facebook my family has grown quite a bit. I have come to know several of what I call my Yankee cousins and have become very close to one cousin....Debbie. We have so much fun sharing our lives with each other but the greatest is that I know she cares and she always has a 7th sense of always knowing when I need that extra word of love and encouragement. Thank you, Cuz!!!! Maybe one day we will find a way to actually meet face to face. Like me she loves to cook and bake so I will make sure she knows about my blog where I share some of my faves. 

Since I started this post my cousin. Debbie, has lost her beloved father and times right now are very hard for her. Asking those who read this blog to say a prayer for her and her father.

Last summer was a mild one thanks be to God and have begu. Praying the 2016 hurricane season will be equally quiet. Our winter was mild here in sunny Florida but we did have a few days of really cold weather. That put me in the mood to make some nice warm muffins. The flavor of choice was pumpkin......my Gabriel's fave! Easy recipe and took no time at all to make them!


                                             Pumpkin Muffins


1 1/2 c flour                                             1/3 c vegetable oil
1 tsp baking powder.                                2 large eggs
1/2 tsp baking soda.                                 1 1/4 c sugar
1/2 tsp salt.                                             1 c to 1 1/3 c pumpkin(not pumpkin            
1tsp pumpkin spice.                                         Pie filling)


Heat oven to 350 and place muffin liners in muffin tins. Recipe says for standard 12 cup tins but I find this makes at least 18 muffins! 

Whisk together the flour, Baking powder, soda, pumpkin spice and salt in a small bowl. In a large bowl combine pumpkin, eggs, oil and sugar and mix well. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix just enough to combine. Put in. If fins tins and bake for 25-30 min. 

Note:

I add raisins when I have them and I use both canned or fresh pumpkin. 

If you don't have pumpkin spice simply use:
     
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
Punch of cloves andallspice


Enough for this time!!!!! Hope you try the muffins and will love them as much as we do! So for now......God bless you all and remember....let your light shine!!  

Best intentions!!!!!

When we approach a new year we are all full of ideas that we will implement in the coming year and wanting to start out in 2015 on the right food I made a few "resolutions" . And knowing me as well as I do I am quite sure I will not fully carry these out!!!!  But I'm gonna try! I have resolved to write this blog more often. I want to get back in the habit of reading my daily devotional each day and not just hit and miss as 2014 was. I have vowed to keep a more orderly house....now that one will be a challenge!!! One thing that I already do and can assure even myself it will continue is reading stories to an after school program my handsome grandson participates in. That an easy thing to do!!!! Those children have become so dear to me and the thought of stopping this great treat of mine is inconceivable ! There is no club next week and I'm sure I will suffer some sort of withdrawal.

The weather is cold here in sunny, warm Florida right now so my mind turne to upping the thermostat and warm comfort foods. I made a batch of my beef vegetable soup last week and plan to make more perhaps next week. It makes a lot and I freeze half for later. This time, however, I shared with my
daughter so no leftovers.  Here my recipe:

Rosemary’s Vegetable-Beef Soup

3 lbs. ground beef (ground chuck preferable)               2 (14 oz) cans beef broth

1 ½ c celery, chopped                                                    Salt and pepper to taste

1 lg. onion chopped                                                        Garlic powder to taste

2 (29 oz) cans diced tomatoes                                      3 bags frozen soup vegetables

1 (14 ½ oz) can diced tomatoes                                     4 c water (or more if too thick)

1 (29 oz) can tomato sauce

Brown meat. Remove meat from skillet and discard most of the grease.  In remaining grease saute 

celery and onion till tender. In large soup pot combine all ingredients except veggies.  Cook, covered, over medium-low heat about an hour then add veggies and cook until veggies tender.

This makes an enormous amount of soup so I freeze half of it in small (2-4 serving size) containers.  

This can be done in a crockpot…..a rather LARGE one (or 2 regular size cookers). If done in a 

crockpot start it in early morning and let cook on low all day.  

Tonight I'm making Chicken Cabbage Stir Fry......haven't made it before but it looks fairly simple and sounds very good. We shall see.....

Chicken and Cabbage Stir Fry

3 chicken breast halves, skinned and boned
1 tsp. oil
3 c. green cabbage, cut in 1/2 inch slices
1 tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 c. water
1 tbsp. soy sauce
Cut chicken breast halves into strips. Heat oil in wok or fry pan. Add chicken strips and stir fry over moderately high heat, turning pieces until lightly browned (2 to 3 minutes). Add cabbage, stir fry 2 minutes until 

cabbage is tender crisp (may cover for awhile). Mix cornstarch and seasonings; add to water and soy sauce mixing until smooth. Stir into chicken mixture. Cool until thickened and pieces are coated, about 1 minute.

Hope you will try both and then add a comment below as to whether or not you liked it. If you don't just remember that I am not thin skinned. We can't all like everything everone likes! 

Do you like simple quick crafts to work on when it's too cold to go out and do anything? Just this 

morning I saw the coolest votive or tea light candle holder and all it requires is paper, scissors and 

votive candles.....preferably in a small glass holder designed to use with vortices or tea lights. It was 

gorgeous and I imagine it took the instructor about 10 minutes to make it.

Here is the website.....

http://www.icreativeideas.com/diy-paper-lotus-candlestick

Well...the first of my so called "resolutions" has been accomplished. Hope you enjoy it and let me have some feedback. Let me know what I can change or add to the blog. And be honest!!!!! 😊    Feel free to send ideas of future blogs and if you have something to add to it let me know. 

God bless you all and remember to let your faith shine!!!!!!

"It's friendship, friendship, just a perfect blend ship......" for Lyn, Kaye, Linda and Joyce....

"It's friendship, friendship, just a perfect blend ship......"  the first line of the chorus of Cole Porter's song "Friendship" sung with gusto by the one and only Judy Garland. We all have friends....on Facebook, next door, from good old school days, from our jobs, church.....most anywhere you can make friends!  I have a lot of friends but there are four that stand out for me.......one that has been my best friend for nearly 50 years, one who, tho miles away, is as close to me today as when we were in school,  one who has been close to me for over 20 years and one that I went to high school with but never had the good fortune to know until just recently.  All four of these women are unique in so many ways and yet they are so alike.  I have been so deeply blessed to call these ladies friends. Do I deserve these 4 wonderful ladies.....no.  They do so much for me......if I'm down they are there to hold me up, if I'm sick they pray for healing, when I'm scared they send encouragement and let me know I don't have to go thru anything alone....they are there. I often sit and wonder what I ever did to be this lucky. And you know what? I have never found an answer to that one. I just know that I am one of the most fortunate people on this earth to be able to call these 4 women "my friend". Four beautiful women who have made my life so much better simply by being a part of it. Right now I can't do for them as they all do for me but I can love them with all my heart and I can thank God continually for bringing them into my life.  I know that I can depend on them unconditionally. If I needed them they would be on my doorstep immediately. If you have a good friend/friends that are there for you hang on tight. They're hard to find.  I know that I have a lot of friends but these four have never turned their backs nor would they ever. Blessed? You bet I am. And I pray that all who may read this will see their friends as special as I do mine. Tell them often what they mean to you, there are no guarantees in this life. I learned that just the other day when I lost a very special friend that I'd know since elementary school. I was able to visit him a few weeks ago and tell him that I loved him. Tomorrow I will say goodby until we meet in a better place. As sick as he was a few weeks ago he was able to tell me he loved me and those were the last words I heard from him. So never hesitate to tell those friends how much you love them and how special they are in your life. As I said....there are no guarantees in this life. Take advantage of the time we have now.

I think if I’ve learned anything about friendship, it’s to hang in, stay connected, fight for them, and let them fight for you. Don’t walk away, don’t be distracted, don’t be too busy or tired, don’t take them for granted. Friends are part of the glue that holds life and faith together. Powerful stuff. – Jon Katz

 

Very wise words to live by.   So to all four of you....I love you with all my heart and will cherish our friendship always and forever. 

Check back here soon for some yummies, crafts....just whatever may come to my mind.

In the meantime God bless you all and let your light shine!!!

To blog or not to blog.....

.....for some it depends on the kitchen of the house you buy!!!!  Yes...the kitchen!!!!!! I just finished watching an episode of House Hunters with a VERY young woman searching for her "Dream" house with her equally young husband. This young woman based her search for that special house on whether or not it had a kitchen that would look good on her blog!!!!!!  Can you just imagine my reaction to that one???? Cost, size, layout, location took bottom place on the NEED list. If you watch the show you know that they are presented 3 homes to view....all three were straight from heaven but on one the white of the kitchen counter tops were not the same shade as the cabinets, it had to have a double oven but the main priority was if her blog photos would be as she desired in the kitchen!!!!  If a spiffy kitchen is needed for a successful blog then guess I'll be using commercial photos of my recipes, crafts etc. Ok...off my soap box but I just had to share. I would have felt like I had died and gone to heaven with ANY of the kitchens I saw!!!

School starts tomorrow for our county and Gabriel is excited to be going back to school. He met his new teacher this past Friday and tells me she is really nice. I will be picking him up at his bus stop in the afternoons now that Mommy has a new job. I'm going to miss my little man. Going to take me a few days to adjust to him not being here during the day.   I can't wait to see what he has ahead of him in 2nd grade.

Having some free time means I can get back to reading. Just finished the newest Iris Johansen book "Hunting Eve" and got to the end of the last chapter to find that it really didn't end....it's continued in the next book "Silencing Eve" not due to be out until October this year!!!!  The first in the trilogy is "Taking Eve" and if you've never read of any of Iris Johansen then you're missing some good reads.....that's if you like suspense/thrillers.  Eve Duncan is a forensic sculpture, lost her only child when she was 7 and lives with her ex-FBI current Atalanta PD  officer boyfriend and has an adopted daughter who is an artist. Johansen is a fantastic author and once you read one of her books you won't stop till you reach the end of the list.

Another author I read voraciously is Catherine Coulter....just her FBI series. She also write what is often referred to as "bodice rippers" but it's the FBI series starring a husband/wife team of FBI agents. Excellent reading if you're into mysteries, suspense, or thrillers. Most libraries have most or all of her books. I'm now awaiting my name to reach the top of reserve list for her newest in the FBI series "Bombshell".

Well....my friends, it's time to go into that kitchen of mine that will probably never be seen on this blog and fix a bite to eat.  Have a grand week ahead! And if you're living where you are getting a lot of that wet stuff as we are here then be safe and stay dry.

Until the next time.......

God bless
Rosemary

Schooldays, school days, dear old golden rule days.....

.......reading and writing and 'rithmetic, talk to the tune of the hickory stick.  It's that time of the year again when we send our children and grandchildren off to yet another year of preparation for their little futures!  Now I already know that Gabriel will spend most afternoons here with Steve and me while Stephanie works and I know he hits the front door complaining about being hungry. How easy it would be to keep a slew of cookies....either home baked or bought....but I don't know about your youngun's but Gabriel would be bouncing off the walls if I gave him a lot of sweets.  So I have been making a list of things that he might like but aren't wall bouncers!!!! He loves carrots and celery so that's a good thing to have on hand with some ranch dressing for dipping. Of course fresh fruits are good....only problem there is he wants his apples with caramel dip!!! So I started searching for snacks with less sugar content. My next favorite thing beside the Dollar Tree is Pinterest and there is a truck load of ideas.  Zuchinni chips, a cereal snack mix, Garlic Bagel Chips with a bacon cream cheese dip.....recipes will be added below.

Baked Zuchinni Chips

 

Ingredients

¼ cup dry whole wheat breadcrumbs

¼ cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese

¼ teaspoon seasoned salt

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

¼ cup unsweetened almond milk (you could also use skim milk)

2½ cups (1/4-inch-thick) slices zucchini

Cooking spray

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl stirring with a whisk.
3. Place milk in a shallow bowl. Dip zucchini slices in milk and dredge in breadcrumb mixture.
4. Place coated slices on an oven proof wire rack coated with cooking spray; place rack on a baking sheet.
5. Bake for 30 minutes or until browned and crisped.

Roasted Garlic Bagel Crisps with a Bacon Cheddar Cream Cheese Dip

 
 

Ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temp
• 5 strips bacon, chopped
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• ¼ cup light mayo
• ¼ teaspoon dill weed
• 1 package New York Style Roasted Garlic Bagel Crisps

     Mix first 5 ingredients and chill.

 Mini Muffin Corn Dogs

(I used Jiffy cornbread mix in a box....was delicious)

1/2 cup melted butter (or 1/4 cup butter + 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce)
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
8-10 all-beef hot dogs, cut into 1″ bites

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine butter and sugar in a bowl, and whisk to combine. Add eggs and whisk to incorporate. Add buttermilk and whisk to incorporate.

2. In a separate bowl, combine baking soda, cornmeal, flour, and salt, and stir to combine. Whisk into wet ingredients in two batches.

3. Spray a mini muffin tin with non-stick spray, and spoon 1 Tablespoon of batter into each mini muffin cup. Place one hot dog bite into the middle of each cup.

4. Bake for 8-12 minutes (oven temperatures vary), or until cornbread is golden brown. Cool in mini muffin tin for 5 minutes before serving. Store leftovers in the refrigerator, and re-heat for 20-30 seconds before serving.   Makes48.

After School Cereal Snack Mix

                                                                   

1 cup corn flakes cereal

3/4 cup oat bran "O"s cereal (like Cheerios)

1/2 cup almonds, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup Reese's Pieces

1/2 cup raisins

Place all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix together. Serve or store in Ziplock bags or an airtight container.

You can add or delete or change ingredients except for the cereals. Use your imagination!!!

I will be keeping fruit juices, Koolade etc to go with his snacks. And in the colder months he always want hot chocolate!!!! Ever try making hot chocolate with Nutella?  GOOD!!!!!

As for after school entertainment....I think his teacher will be providing that in the form of homework. I think we are very lucky that he's a good student and isn't far enough along in school to have developed a taste of disliking homework!!!!

Hope this post will come in handy for all of you. And these snacks are NOTjust for the younger set.....think I may have to do a few for this grandma!!!!!

Enjoy and God bless. And here's to an excellent school year for us all!

Rosemary