Smashed Garlic Potatoes (Vegan, Instant Pot)

These are yummy and QUICK, just 4 minutes! I loved my Instant Pot when we lived in a stick and brick home; it's essential now that we live in an RV.

INGREDIENTS:
8 medium Russet or Yukon Gold Potatoes
1 1/2  - 2 C of Vegetable Broth (I used 2 and drained some off)
6 gloves of garlic, peeled, cut in 1/2
1/2  C Non-Dairy Milk
Salt
1/4  C Chopped Parsley

DIRECTIONS:
Cut potatoes in 8 chunks.

Place potatoes, broth and garlic in Instant Pot (I added some onions).

Move valve to sealed.

Click "manual" and set timer for 4 min.

When it goes off, turn valve to "vent."

Smash potatoes with a potato masher (or bash with mixer).

Add non-dairy milk if needed.

Salt to taste. Add parsley if wanted.

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Cauliflower Nuggets (Vegan)

While the rest of the family had oven-fried chicken, I decided to make cauliflower nuggets for me. I knew there would be more than I could eat, but I planned some for lunch today. Krista had made these for me and this is how I remember them. She told me the original recipe calls for you to dip each floret in egg and then in crumbs.....my wake is quicker and it worked fine. Alas, there were no leftovers for my lunch. Yet another vegan (if you use flax seed egg) meal they love. ::sigh:: ::wink::

If you want more coverage, you can dip each individually

INGREDIENTS:
Head of Cauliflower
3 Eggs (Flax eggs)
1 1/4 C Panko Crumbs (or whatever crumb you want)
1/3 C Nutritional Yeast
1/2 tsp salt


DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 450*.

Spray pan.

Cut cauliflower into florets.

Beat eggs or flax eggs and and mix with cauliflower until it is completely coated.

Mix crumbs, nutritional yeast and salt in a small bowl.

Combine dry with Cauliflower.

Stir until all is coated.

Pour into single layer in pan.

Bake until tender to fork - about 20 minutes.

I took them out about 5 min early, covered with our homemade BBQ sauce, and baked 5 more minutes.

For more yummy eats click the tab above.

A Long Moving Day

We moved from the local county campground to a home across town today. Finding reservations in the area has been a bit touch and go.  We had stayed at one park before the wedding that had a 6 MONTH waiting list....more on that later. When our time there expired we moved to Krista's driveway for 2 weeks. We were then able to get back into the county system..... and today we have lighted for 2 months.

God is good. We have some friends, Michael's former endorsers, who are going to go out RVing for a couple of months. They have a pad for their RV and were looking for house-sitters. Here we are! They are blessed knowing we'll take good care of their home. We are blessed with a set spot and no rent....We hope to do a couple of more RV modifications by the time they return.

Maneuvering into the spot was a bit tighter than we'd expected. We had measured. John and Nadine have a 28ft Class C - I think. We are 10 feet longer.

Examining the situation - there's an incline 

Tight fit

I didn't get a shot but our rear tires are all the way to the end of the concrete - the back part hanging over the garden....and the nose bellies right up to the bolt on the gate - but we're in. The main living room slide won't open - and that's a bummer - but the bedrooms opened fine.  We're still debating who will sleep inside and who will sleep outside. TONIGHT - as I'm still hacking so loud no one could sleep in the RV if I was in there and everyone needs a good night sleep - I've been banished inside and Stacia is THRILLED to have a room. She's not complained - but sleeping on the jack-knife couch has meant she can't go to bed as early as she normally does, and is up earlier than she'd like to be. 

The guys made a trip to Jerry's to buy wood to help us level the RV - we didn't want the tires up in the air for two months. 

While the guys worked on leveling, Stacia and I moved our kitchen essentials and toiletries inside and worked on settling into the house.

Michael is feeling bad after a long day and went to bed. The kids are playing Quelf. I'm about to settle in for a night of "sleep," which this week has meant hacking incessantly with about a 3 hour nap.

Oh, about that RV Resort with a 6 month waiting list, where we were number 23....they called. They moved us to the top of the list after we stayed there. We'll be moving there when John and Nadine come home for as long as we need to be in the area.   When we stayed in December, I happened to tell our story of needing to be here for VA care and the owner heard. I hadn't noticed all the service flags out front when we pulled in. They support the military and I think they moved us to the top of their waiting list.  I think the fact that Michael is retired military, that our kids are really young adults, our beagle is well-behaved and our rig is "nice" looking - all worked together....sprinkled with a giant scoop of God's grace.

For anyone wanting to reach us - my parents are still a great mailing address. Phones and emails remain constant. ::wink::

The View from the Top (Spencer's Butte)

Shew - they made it! They were at the top of Spencer's Butte when the sun rose this morning. 

Spencer's Butte is a prominent landmark in Lane County. It is the tallest visible point when looking south from downtown Eugene.  The Spencer Butte hikes are part of the Ridgeline Trail System. The base of the butte is 1,300 feet above sea level. The elevation at the to is 2,055 feet. 

Michael and I have been ill. We continued to make our appointments the first 1/2 of the week.  We went to bed on Wed and didn't really get up until this morning. The flu - with colds or a cold/flu. We were blessed to be HERE....Krista took the kids one afternoon and night. CoRielle took them another evening and all day Saturday. 

Krista called Sunday night and mentioned she'd been wanting to climb Spencer's Butte to see the sun rise from the top before she leaves the area in 11 days - ugh I'm going to miss her!  I knew she wasn't sharing random info. I also knew Michael and I were still too sick to even think of a hike. Her proposition was  to pick up those who wanted to hike up at 0545 and drive to the butte...

The boys opted to join Krista. Stacia declared there was "no way" SHE would get up at 0500 to hike! They were up at 0500 and she picked them up right on time! Off for their grand morning adventure.  

They somehow missed the entrance to Spencer's butte twice before it was found. The road follows an incline to a parking lot where one begins hiking to the top of the butte.  The kids were almost level -  almost to the spot to turn into the lot - WHEN THEY GOT STUCK.

Pushing the car - didn't work. Sticks under tires - didn't work. Chipping at the ice - didn't work.  While stuck at the top of the hill, another car got stuck and nearly slid off the road. The kids helped to turn their car around and they called it a day. Finally, a fellow-hiker with a truck  pulled them out of their slick ruts. They were ready to begin their hike!

 Nolan estimates the actual hike to the top took about 30 minutes. There were still spots where the trail was extremely icy and slick. In one spot each hiker they saw fell. It was worth the hike. I'm glad they made it to the butte before sunrise.

Yes, we certainly did count these hours as P.E. 

New Meds

Michael had to quit using the Neupro patch. It was working great, but the adhesive caused an allergic reaction after 1 1/2 of using them.  He had angry, red welts up and down his sides, arms etc.

He is taking a new med. The past few weeks Michael has been using a bit of the new med and less of the patch. Over a period of three weeks he used less patch as the med dosage increased. This week he is at full dosage of the new med and no patch.

Poor man is having a terrible time WAKING UP. Our previous  complaint was he could only sleep 3-4 hours a day. Now he drags himself in for breakfast, and looks like he is struggling to stay awake as he eats, and then he falls asleep.....if we don't have places to go; he sleeps.

Severe sleep issues are a side-effect of this med. We're hoping  it will take a week or two at the new dosage for his body to adjust. If not, we'll have to call the neurologist and keep tweaking.

PS note the motor home out the patio window. LOL

Bella at 8 months

 BreAnne had a meeting at work and asked if we could come play with Bella so she could pay attention. I felt the start of a "bug" (going on week 2 now of nastiness) and so brought Stacia to actually do the interacting with Bella. I sat across the room and gave helpful suggestions and snapped photos.  Yes, I DID sneak in some hugs and cuddles when Bella came over and reached for me.....and I used huge amounts of  hand sanitizer in that short time.

Crazy cute hat! 

Bella loved her books at home and she loved this one too. Gemma thinks this is a very good sign! 

10 Dec -  8 months old

Bella is a delight at 8 months!  Bre's friend made them these matching hats! They are the kind your hair pulls through, so Gaylene added yard hair for Bella. Our very own Cabbage Patch doll. 

When we watched Bella last week, she was determined to climb the stairs, more gates are installed. ::snort:: She's a climber.....brings back fun memories of finding Jamin on top of the fridge one morning.  

We didn't care much for the season when kids began leaving home - at all. We are LOVING this grandparent season - so I guess it evens out. What a sweetie - and number two is due the end of June!!! 

Frugal Pinata

Krista needed a pinata and she was on a budget.....her solution was creative! Pure Krista.

Buy a package of those big balloons with the rubber bands you tie to the end.

Buy a mix of cheap candy.

Gather a lot of willing helpers.

Fill the balloon about 1/2 full.

Krista reports,though it's harder than a paper pinata, these WILL break!

Kudos for frugal creativity.