Thursday - BUSY
We went to our local nature center. Jared found out that what he thought was a garter snake when he was mowing was a baby rattler! God help us. They had baby pythons. They fed the snakes. They EAT mice and I was totally sickened and grossed out....but Zander and Nolan held the snakes. ARGH. We used a gal of antibacterial stuff when we left....lots of strange insects and critters.
We had one hour between the center and getting Jamin and Jared to HoF.
I usually use the 3 hours while the boys are at HoF to let the littles play while I make phone calls. Yesterday, we did school. We watched a DVD on King Tut.
I made Parmesan rice to go along with our crock pot chicken. I also made Jodi's pull apart rolls and a salad. I'll use the left over chicken tonight with the left over BBQ sauce from earlier in the week to make a BBQ chicken pizza - my favorite. "They" like ham and pineapple...reminds I'd best pick up some of that deli turkey ham today when picking up the produce order....
And that reminds me that I have 20 minutes before I have to do that and I've not set up tables and baskets. ::snort:: The day is off and running! No pictures or links because - one I forgot the card for the Nikon and two - I'm running late. LOL
Friday, September 21, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
"Moosewood" Refried beans - Crock pot version
2 C raw pinto beans
6 C water
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 C chopped onion
3 cloves crushed garlic
1/2 C minced green pepper (I didn't have any so left this out)
2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 C rice (optional)
Mix all in your crock pot. Cook on high. At 5 hours it was "beans and rice", by 8 hours I only had to stir and it was mashed...with a few chunks...we like chunks. I could have put it in the blender or mixer and made it really smooth. Add oil if you like the taste of the fat. You could fry it if you'd like.
We ate some for dinner and I froze the rest. I doubled the recipe and it was great in my 7 qt pot. I added the rice because I didn't want to have to drain the liquid from the beans...worked well.
Original Recipe:
This recipe did not have any water listed which is odd as it calls for "raw pinto beans." ::snort:: So.....however you want to do it - get 5-6 C of cooked pinto beans. Here's the original recipe.
Ingredients:
2 C raw pinto beans
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 C chopped onions
3 cloves crushed garlic
1/2 C minced green pepper
2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp black pepper
olive oil (about 3 T)
Directions:
Cover the pintos with water and let soak 1.5 hours or more. Drain. Cover with more water and cook until well-done- usually 11/2 - 2 hours. (See post about the easiest way to cook dried beans). Drain off excess water and mash with a wooden pestle or potato masher (or throw them in a food processor or blender).
Heat olive oil in skillet. Add onions, garlic, cumin and 1/2 tsp salt. Cook over low heat until onions are translucent. Add green pepper, cover and simmer 5 - 8 minutes. Add sauteed vegetables to the beans along with a tsp of salt and black pepper (salt to taste). Mix well. Keep the beans hot in a medium oven until ready to serve.
Just made these again last night - the stovetop vs crock pot way and was surprised when they were ALL gone. I open a can of Rosaritas and they put a "bit" on their tacos - must have it - but no one eats the rest. This was a lot of beans and they were all eaten. I do believe I need to get back into the habit of making some up ahead and freezing. (11-1-2013)
6 C water
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 C chopped onion
3 cloves crushed garlic
1/2 C minced green pepper (I didn't have any so left this out)
2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 C rice (optional)
Mix all in your crock pot. Cook on high. At 5 hours it was "beans and rice", by 8 hours I only had to stir and it was mashed...with a few chunks...we like chunks. I could have put it in the blender or mixer and made it really smooth. Add oil if you like the taste of the fat. You could fry it if you'd like.
We ate some for dinner and I froze the rest. I doubled the recipe and it was great in my 7 qt pot. I added the rice because I didn't want to have to drain the liquid from the beans...worked well.
Original Recipe:
This recipe did not have any water listed which is odd as it calls for "raw pinto beans." ::snort:: So.....however you want to do it - get 5-6 C of cooked pinto beans. Here's the original recipe.
Ingredients:
2 C raw pinto beans
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 C chopped onions
3 cloves crushed garlic
1/2 C minced green pepper
2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp black pepper
olive oil (about 3 T)
Directions:
Cover the pintos with water and let soak 1.5 hours or more. Drain. Cover with more water and cook until well-done- usually 11/2 - 2 hours. (See post about the easiest way to cook dried beans). Drain off excess water and mash with a wooden pestle or potato masher (or throw them in a food processor or blender).
Heat olive oil in skillet. Add onions, garlic, cumin and 1/2 tsp salt. Cook over low heat until onions are translucent. Add green pepper, cover and simmer 5 - 8 minutes. Add sauteed vegetables to the beans along with a tsp of salt and black pepper (salt to taste). Mix well. Keep the beans hot in a medium oven until ready to serve.
Just made these again last night - the stovetop vs crock pot way and was surprised when they were ALL gone. I open a can of Rosaritas and they put a "bit" on their tacos - must have it - but no one eats the rest. This was a lot of beans and they were all eaten. I do believe I need to get back into the habit of making some up ahead and freezing. (11-1-2013)
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Wednesday!
Yes!!!! Another week over 1/2 way completed!
I went to Curves. I placed our produce co-op order.
School didn't go according to our normal schedule this a.m. because we discovered we were out of TWO essentials: milk and dog food. While at Sam's, I picked up 3 types of cheese and 10 lbs of beans. I think I had a craving for beans and rice. ::snort::
I decided to get some beans going in the crock pot. My thought was that I could later turn them into refriend beans. Josiah loves to throw beans and cheese in a tortilla for a quick snack/lunch. One thing led to another and before I knew it I'd thrown all the ingredients for our favorite refried beans into the crock pot...along with a cup of rice because I wanted it to thicken up and I didn't want to drain the spicey liquid. It worked wonderful. At 5 hours I had some savory beans and rice for dinner instead of a steak.....and at 8 hours I had only to stir to get refried beans...no fat. LOL
Jamin and I continued to work through the HUGE curriculum for driving in TX. I can't believe all the work that goes into getting a permit or license down here. Good stuff - but surprising - I've not noticed the drivers down here to be any better than any other state we've lived in...and considerably worse when it rains! ::snort:: ::ducking::
Mike came home and burned the steaks for me. I fielded several phone calls while making bisquits, fruit, and oven fries....Jamin threw a "man's salad" together. Do y'all know what a mans salad is? HUGE pieces of lettuce, quarters of red peppers, and quarters of carrots....very basic but manly, yes! LOL
Yes!!!! Another week over 1/2 way completed!
I went to Curves. I placed our produce co-op order.
School didn't go according to our normal schedule this a.m. because we discovered we were out of TWO essentials: milk and dog food. While at Sam's, I picked up 3 types of cheese and 10 lbs of beans. I think I had a craving for beans and rice. ::snort::
Nolan and Zander carry 25 lbs of bird seed and dream....
of hefting 52 lbs of dog food! 
We DID manage to school in the afternoon which is pretty amazing for the younger ones and I. We are typically useless for anything but crafts and games in the afternoon.I decided to get some beans going in the crock pot. My thought was that I could later turn them into refriend beans. Josiah loves to throw beans and cheese in a tortilla for a quick snack/lunch. One thing led to another and before I knew it I'd thrown all the ingredients for our favorite refried beans into the crock pot...along with a cup of rice because I wanted it to thicken up and I didn't want to drain the spicey liquid. It worked wonderful. At 5 hours I had some savory beans and rice for dinner instead of a steak.....and at 8 hours I had only to stir to get refried beans...no fat. LOL
Jamin and I continued to work through the HUGE curriculum for driving in TX. I can't believe all the work that goes into getting a permit or license down here. Good stuff - but surprising - I've not noticed the drivers down here to be any better than any other state we've lived in...and considerably worse when it rains! ::snort:: ::ducking::
Mike came home and burned the steaks for me. I fielded several phone calls while making bisquits, fruit, and oven fries....Jamin threw a "man's salad" together. Do y'all know what a mans salad is? HUGE pieces of lettuce, quarters of red peppers, and quarters of carrots....very basic but manly, yes! LOL
While we were all bustling to get dinner on the table, Stacia came running in with Arielle following....
"I dit - I dit"
Oy vey - WHAT did she do NOW????? She went potty in the toilet! I think she is training herself....I'd best get on board. ::snort:: Quite the change from Zander who cared NOTHING about such things until he was past 3.
The younger ones, Michael, and I, headed to a new building area to find an errant rocket. We didn't find it. The older boys finished cleaning up dinner and met us. It was a great night for a walk.....lots of cool breeze...maybe fall will reach us here eventually.
Josiah had his first college exam today. He's not home but I trust it went well. He has another one on Friday.
I believe the Students are arriving back for Master's Commission this week. Bre and Krista both report being busy with preparations. The first week is always an orientation and a big trip up to the mountains/retreat etc. The second year students arrived last week. Bre was still trying to find a few more host homes for students last time I talked to her.
BBQ Meatballs (Freezer/Crockpot Meal)
Meatballs:
3 lbs ground beef (I use turkey these days)
1 12 oz can evaporated milk (I do whatever I think I should do)
1 C oatmeal
1 C cracker crumbs (or another C oatmeal)
2 eggs
1/2 C chopped onions (or more)
2 tsp garlic powder (use fresh)
2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp chili powder
Sauce:
2 C Catsup
1 C Rapadura (brown sugar)
1/2 tsp liquid smoke (WHAT is this stuff - Zander won't eat this meal so I use it)
1/2 tsp garlic powder (I use fresh)
1/4 C chopped onion
To make meatballs, combine ingredients (mixture will be soft) and shape into walnut size balls. Place meatballs in a single layer on wax paper-lined cookie sheets; freeze until sold. Store frozen meatballs in freezer bags until read to cook.
To make sauce, combine ingredients and stir until "sugar" dissolves. Place frozen meatballs in a 13 x 9 inch baking pan; pour on the sauce. Bake at 350* for an hour.
Yield 80 meatballs.
I'm trying to get favorites on the blog s0 that I'm not at the whim of "I Don't Know" who puts my cookbooks in strange places. I use this sauce as our BBQ sauce - you can use LESS sugar. I've used this over meatloaf. It's WONDERFUL to have the meatballs in the freezer - you can make so many DIFFERENT meals with them. In a pinch you can even buy Sam's meatballs and top with sauce. LOL
I have a lot of sauce recipes to throw in a crock pot or oven with meatballs. LOL
For more yummy eats check my recipe index.
3 lbs ground beef (I use turkey these days)
1 12 oz can evaporated milk (I do whatever I think I should do)
1 C oatmeal
1 C cracker crumbs (or another C oatmeal)
2 eggs
1/2 C chopped onions (or more)
2 tsp garlic powder (use fresh)
2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp chili powder
Sauce:
2 C Catsup
1 C Rapadura (brown sugar)
1/2 tsp liquid smoke (WHAT is this stuff - Zander won't eat this meal so I use it)
1/2 tsp garlic powder (I use fresh)
1/4 C chopped onion
To make meatballs, combine ingredients (mixture will be soft) and shape into walnut size balls. Place meatballs in a single layer on wax paper-lined cookie sheets; freeze until sold. Store frozen meatballs in freezer bags until read to cook.
To make sauce, combine ingredients and stir until "sugar" dissolves. Place frozen meatballs in a 13 x 9 inch baking pan; pour on the sauce. Bake at 350* for an hour.
Yield 80 meatballs.
I'm trying to get favorites on the blog s0 that I'm not at the whim of "I Don't Know" who puts my cookbooks in strange places. I use this sauce as our BBQ sauce - you can use LESS sugar. I've used this over meatloaf. It's WONDERFUL to have the meatballs in the freezer - you can make so many DIFFERENT meals with them. In a pinch you can even buy Sam's meatballs and top with sauce. LOL
I have a lot of sauce recipes to throw in a crock pot or oven with meatballs. LOL
For more yummy eats check my recipe index.
Menu for 17 September
Yeah - I KNOW it's Wed - but remember I couldn't do my Sat chores on Saturday. ::snort::
Monday - Shepherd's Pie
Tuesday - BBQ Meatballs & Rice - Crockpot
Wed - Steak Burn, Corn on the Cob
Thursday - Chicken - Crockpot
Friday - Pizza - HOMEMADE - I can do this even though Jamin isn't home. ::snort:: I'm not sure if I'll do deep dish or "normal", but we'll have fun!
**I'm not sure what I'll do with that whole chicken in the crockpot - feel free to send your suggestions! LOL
Yeah - I KNOW it's Wed - but remember I couldn't do my Sat chores on Saturday. ::snort::
Monday - Shepherd's Pie
Tuesday - BBQ Meatballs & Rice - Crockpot
Wed - Steak Burn, Corn on the Cob
Thursday - Chicken - Crockpot
Friday - Pizza - HOMEMADE - I can do this even though Jamin isn't home. ::snort:: I'm not sure if I'll do deep dish or "normal", but we'll have fun!
**I'm not sure what I'll do with that whole chicken in the crockpot - feel free to send your suggestions! LOL
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Tuesday
Woohoo! We're getting it nailed down. We finished school. That's about it. I made BBQ meatballs and rice for dinner. I left it in the crockpot and rice steamer and left for Bible Study. Bible Study was fun. We're doing one of Carole Kent's "Becoming a Woman of Influence" studies: Six Keys to Lasting Friendship. I talked with the ladies about what we'd like to do next. We have two homeschoolers, two retirees, one student, a busy mom or two, two working moms: none of us want to tackle a really in-depth study like Precept Upon Precept or Beth Moore. It isn't where this group is. After study Debbie and Sherri talked with me about doing another in this series - and I think that's a good idea. That would give us another easy 6 week study....and get us to Christmas....then we'll buckle down and study a book of the Bible in January.
Jamin and I began working through the parent taught driver's ed that TX requires. We did school. That's it.
Thanks to Cindy for motivating me to catch this first film! ::grin::
Zander tries to write his name for the very first time!
Yikes- what's this about? Too much stress already? 
Ah - the rascally "e" is not cooperating 
The finished project
Our Egyptian Snack - 
I think they like MY bread better - this was salt, water, flour - no fat, no sugar, no yeast
No wonder the mummies had no teeth!
Jamin, the valiant, joined us....his verdict is that the hummus is good but the bread - well....
Stacia ends the night by inviting me to come sit with her! I think she may be about ready to train...
A Rather Silly Prayer Request - I decided it was too silly to share on SHS - but for those who read my blog - well - they probably care about the silliness of me - or they wouldn't READ the blog. ::snort::
~I loaned out my new digital camera to folks I trusted.
~My camera was inadvertently left at Walmart.
~It’s gone (Yes, they have our name and number, we've checked various depts, we've called DQ as well)
Please pray for ME. My heart needs assistance. I’ve forgiven those involved. They really can’t pay for a new camera. It was an accident. Sure there are lessons there to be learned - and I'm sure they've been learned. I loved my new camera - but I can still use Michael's Nikon - which I did yesterday. Nothing I possess is worth more than people! Never has been, never will be.
Here's the thing: I’m having a tough time forgiving the person who picked up a digital camera at a drinking fountain and took it home instead of returning it to Lost and Found or the Auto desk which was 60 feet away.
I alternately find myself praying the person is so convicted that he/she returns the camera to Walmart, or that the camera is a blessing to them…but I need to forgive this person.
I’m having a hard time doing that. Which is plain silly as God has forgiven me for so much more than the price of a Cannon Power Shot…..I really don’t have a choice – do I? I need to simply forgive. The thing is I need to walk out the forgiveness and not just pray to forgive – so pray for me to settle this in my heart – not simply my mind – today!
~I loaned out my new digital camera to folks I trusted.
~My camera was inadvertently left at Walmart.
~It’s gone (Yes, they have our name and number, we've checked various depts, we've called DQ as well)
Please pray for ME. My heart needs assistance. I’ve forgiven those involved. They really can’t pay for a new camera. It was an accident. Sure there are lessons there to be learned - and I'm sure they've been learned. I loved my new camera - but I can still use Michael's Nikon - which I did yesterday. Nothing I possess is worth more than people! Never has been, never will be.
Here's the thing: I’m having a tough time forgiving the person who picked up a digital camera at a drinking fountain and took it home instead of returning it to Lost and Found or the Auto desk which was 60 feet away.
I alternately find myself praying the person is so convicted that he/she returns the camera to Walmart, or that the camera is a blessing to them…but I need to forgive this person.
I’m having a hard time doing that. Which is plain silly as God has forgiven me for so much more than the price of a Cannon Power Shot…..I really don’t have a choice – do I? I need to simply forgive. The thing is I need to walk out the forgiveness and not just pray to forgive – so pray for me to settle this in my heart – not simply my mind – today!
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