Category: BLOG 365

SLOW COOKER BBQ BRISKET with SWEET KICKIN’ BBQ SAUCE ~ BLOG 365.93

SLOW COOKER BBQ BRISKET

The secret to this juicy, flavor exploding, melt-in-your-mouth BBQ Beef Brisket is not only slow cooking it to perfection, but oven searing it the day before! Use it for a company dinner or backyard get together and will be a success either way!

SPICE RUB
2 tablespoons paprika
4 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons garlic salt
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon chipotle powder
1 teaspoon FRESH ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • Bring brisket to room temperature for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 425°.
  • Line a large baking dish or jelly roll pan with parchment paper or foil for easy clean up. Set aside.
  • Trim brisket of excess fat and rinse and pat dry.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the above ingredients. Remove 1 tablespoon Spice Rub and add to a medium bowl to use in your barbecue sauce.
  • Rub all remaining spice rub evenly all over the meat then place brisket on prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 425 to sear meat.
  • Wrap in heavy duty foil and refrigerate overnight.

SLOW COOKING BRISKET
Oven seared 3-4 pound beef brisket
1 cup water
1 tablespoon Better than Bouillon beef base
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Bragg’s liquid aminos
1/2 cup favorite homemade barbecue sauce

  • Add brisket to slow cooker, fat side up.
  • Whisk together 1/2 cup BBQ sauce, water, Worcestershire sauce, Bragg’s liquid aminos and 1 tablespoon beef bouillon.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10+ hours until brisket is VERY tender, flipping over half way through cooking.
  • Remove brisket to a foil lined baking sheet.
  • Brush with more BBQ sauce and broil 5-10 minutes, until slightly caramelized.
  • Simmer remaining BBQ sauce until warmed through.
  • Brush brisket again with BBQ sauce and slice across the grain or chop as desired.
  • Serve with remaining barbecue sauce plain or they make delicious sandwiches.

SWEET KICKIN’ BBQ SAUCE
2 cups ketchup
4 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon reserved Spice Rub from above
1 tablespoon Frank’s Hot Honey hot sauce
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon Ancho chili powder
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • In a medium sauce pan whisk together all of the ingredients plus the 1 tablespoon reserved spice rub, whisking to combine.
  • Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently 10 minutes until sugars are dissolved and sauce is smooth.

1st QUARTERLY UPDATE 2025 ~ BLOG 365.91

I’m back for 2025! And I’m doing great so far!! Deciding to find purpose and intention in EVERYTHING has made all the difference in conquering my lists.

After I wrote my first post Jean pointed out that breaking the tasks into categories made it easier for her. I LOVE that idea and decided to try it myself. I wasn’t exactly able to break it down into 5 things into the 5 categories, but I tried 😀

A “Word of the Year” sets your intention or theme for how you want your life and year to flow.

In my case I decided a single word just wouldn’t work. There are still too many things I want to accomplish so I chose a few, well actually 10. I even tried to make an acronym out of them, which didn’t work 😀 My words are:

  • BALANCE all my responsibilities with more fun and adventure
  • BREATHE before making a decision to get involved in ANY project
  • EVOLVE from the rut I’ve been in to a new lease on life with a Passion Project
  • SIMPLIFY by continuing to downsize all the stuff in our life and de-clutter most of it
  • HEAL or AKA continue to stay healthy and work on dietary issues
  • INSPIRE my own creative outlet and as many others as possible
  • PERSEVERE through all of my health issues and life itself
  • THRIVE despite the medical and dietary issues
  • PASSION for getting back to more of my favorite pass times – reading, quilting, painting
  • GRATITUDE for everything and EVERYONE in my life

In the end, I realized I’d be extremely happy if any one of these words would happen for me on any given day 😀

My list for 2025 is (some are holdovers, okay MOST are):

HEALTH & WELLNESS

  • Follow a nightly skincare regime DONE
  • Learn YOGA or Pilates or both! I’ve been trying some chair yoga just because I can do it at night.
  • Take at least a 3 mile walk daily. I’ve been getting in close to 5 miles a day.
  • Avoid gluten and fats to help keep my body happier. DONE most days, BUT it’s really hard to give it ALL up!! The cravings are killers.
  • Eat at least 1 piece of fruit daily and more nuts for protein. DONE

ADVENTURE & FUN

  • Complete 4 quilts – at least 1 for each quarter. I’m not done, but I have some pillow fronts started.
  • Finish as many already “started” projects as possible. I finished two Christmas jewelry trees that I started back in 2023. And I’m working on a jewelry “forest” with an old frame.
  • Read at least 48 books or 4 a month. Hopefully it will be more, but I think this is a realistic goal. I did join a local book club and that is helping me read new authors I might not have chose otherwise. Books read to date are:
    • Society of Lies Lauren Ling Brown – BOOK CLUB CHOICE
    • The LAST ONE at the Wedding Jason Rekulak – BOOK CLUB CHOICE
    • The Rose Code Kate Quinn – BOOK CLUB CHOICE
    • Lilac Ink, The Knocknashee Story by Jean Grainger
    • A Certain Kind of Starlight Heather Webber
    • The Book Charmer – Dove Pond #1 Karen Hawkins
    • Cup of Silver Linings – Dove Pond #2
    • The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove Pond #3
    • The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams Dove Pond #4
    • Blue Waters – Caribbean Adventure #1 Eric Chance Stone 
    • PICTURES OF YOU by Emma Grey – BOOK CLUB CHOICE
    • NONE OF THIS IS TRUE by Lisa Jewell – BOOK CLUB CHOICE
    • The Boyfriend by Frieda McFadden – BOOK CLUB CHOICE
    • That’s NOT my name by Megan Lally – BOOK CLUB CHOICE

FAMILY & FAITH

  • Do 1-2 devotionals every day – I really need to get better at this, spare time has just been so scattered. I did start The Bible Recap
  • Make a better effort to reach out and connect with friends and family more regularly. I’ve been doing well on this one. Sometimes too well! I’m not getting all my chores done for the play time.
  • Do a date weekend once a month – exploring a new place we’ve never been before. We’ve always done pretty well on this topic, but we’re running out of ideas in this small town. We did find a great new little restaurant, The Atom, when we went to the river in January to see Colliding Rivers with all of our flooding. We’ve been back every other week or so because their menu is amazing!!

DAILY PROGRESS ~ NO PROCRASTINATION! I’m developing a notebook that works in conjunction with my calendar for lists and tasks that make my life operate in a smoother daily operation.

  • Do a Happy Homemaker Monday post each and every week. This keeps me more on track and organized about my home life. Doing Happy Homemaker Monday so extensively helps keep me on track as it summarizes the past week and lays out a fairly concise plan for this week. I haven’t missed a day in years!
  • Finish indexing the recipes on my food blog, Savory Kitchen Table. LOL I’m working on it.
  • Finish indexing the recipes on Chasing MY Life blog. When I merged my old blogspot blogs into this single blog it duplicated many things and added an “ALL” category that I am having to eliminate one by one so it’s taking a LONG time. LOL still working on this too – spare time… is fleeting…
  • Continue to downsize and declutter EVERYTHING. I think this will be an ongoing effort for the rest of my life.
  • Clean out photo files that date back almost 15 years! This too will be an ongoing effort for the rest of my life.
  • Create shutterfly photo albums for 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 and then delete the photos from ALL my devices. Working on it.
  • Go through scrap recipe tote and eliminate all the recipes I will never try – they’re just not worth saving. Partially done.
  • Do more drawing and painting – at least one per month. I did this fun Paint-N-Sip in February with friends at the Eagles as a fundraiser for the local Cancer center.
  • Focus on rewriting more recipes to work for only 2 with no leftovers. The NEVER ending chore. I’m trying to only work on recipes that stand out in our memory as superb.
  • Clean out old files and recycle or destroy old papers. I spent MOST of February re-working these files and LOVE the progress I made.
  • Clean out craft cabinets and donate craft parts no longer needed. DONE

RANDOM ACTS

  • Do at least 1 random act of kindness every time I leave the house whether it’s just a wave hello to an elderly neighbor, a meal for a sick friend, holding a door open, putting my cart in the designated spot… 😀 DONE
  • Volunteer at least once a month for a community project. DEFINITELY DONE!!

    • I proofread the newsletter and I manage the kitchen (keep it staffed, do the shopping for the kitchen and bar each week as well as keep it organized and well stocked with whatever is necessary) for the Eagles, do random maintenance as well as donate at least one auxiliary fundraiser meal each month and bake for the bake sale. I’ll be taking over as editor for the newsletter on June 1st.
    • I also do the Costco shopping for the bar and grill a friend manages.
    • This quarter I prepped, manned, cooked and donated meals for January 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th. In February I donated a cooking/baking raffle basket full of so many fun things, helped organize the Paint-sip on the 8th, Superbowl party on the 9th, Valentine’s dinner on the 14th and Valentine’s dance on the 15th and then filled in for the lady who cancelled on February 28th. In March I began organizing and managing the Friday night dinners as a whole and I cooked on the 21st as well as worked the cribbage tournament for 3 days. I also reconfigured the storeroom and hung shelves for storage and tool racks for brooms and mops this past month in preparation for the new refrigerator that the senior center gifted us.

What do you think? Do you want to join in with us also?

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, RECIPES & MENU week 13 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.90

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

That said, this week is starting off better than the rest recently. I’m going to have time to breathe as well as visit everyone and even relax a bit!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE…IS CRAZY!!!!!

That’s the only way to describe it! We’re back down into the low 40’s during the day and 30’s at night with crazy winds, a little hail and some snow on the mountains. Oh and did I mention we’re ALREADY several inches of rain over the YEARLY average and it’s not even April yet? I’ve set aside the spring clothes I hauled out last week and brought the flannels and hoodies back into play this week.

Monday thru Thursday ~ Rain and thunderstorms with highs in the 40’s.
Friday thru Sunday ~ morning showers and mostly cloudy with highs in the 50’s (maybe??)

ON MY MIND

My aunt used to always say P.U.S.H. an acronym for PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS. Well, it works! MANY of my EAGLE’s woes are finding answers. I have revamped the Friday night fundraiser program in the past 2 months and we’re better than we were. My friend is currently the Auxiliary president, but when her term ends in June she wants to stay connected so I will be turning over the Friday kitchen duties to her, YAY! I’m currently the newsletter proofreader, but will be stepping up to be the copy editor and designer which is more up my alley and I’m excited about this change!

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING & AROUND THE HOUSE I was able to do 2 loads yesterday, but didn’t get them folded and put away yet. I’m dog sitting this week so will hold off the rest of the deep clean until next week. I’m hoping to be able to plant some flowers by the weekend.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’m up to date on our grocery shopping and only want to make a run to Costco and maybe the nursery for some plants. Wednesday will be shopping day for the Eagles and whatever my friend needs for her bar and grill.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’m researching a few new recipes I want to make for spring and have the menu set until we leave in May for the family reunion. I’ll figure out the rest when we return.

DVR/TV TIME

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • STREAMING We’re in season 4 of the GILMORE GIRLS and I just started MY LIFE with the WALTER BOYS
  • CABLE The DVR is actually cleaned out and up to date! March Madness allows this to happen every year. 😀 TOURNAMENT of the CHAMPIONS, SPRING BAKING, TRACKER, NCIS, NCIS ORIGINS

READING TIME

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀
3/31 MONDAY
4/1 TUESDAY
4/2 WEDNESDAY
4/3 THURSDAY
4/4 FRIDAY
4/5 SATURDAY
4/6 SUNDAY
DINNER
 CHICKEN in SHERRY CREAM SAUCE
 SMOKED BAKED TACO POTATOES ———— EGGSQUISITE BREAKFAST CASSEROLE
 BEEFY BEAN & BISCUIT BAKE
GREENS with HOT BACON DRESSING
 CHICKEN FRIED STEAK & FRIED POTATOES
 DIVINE CHICKEN SALAD
 CAITLYN’S CORNED BEEF & POTATOES
DESSERT
 
 
GRANDMA HIER’S
CARROT CAKE
 

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

Life is still quite cold and wet with lots of standing water.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

  • SLOW COOKER BBQ BRISKET with SWEET KICKIN’ BBQ SAUCE

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

WEEKLY FEATURED PARTY LINKS

ITALIAN PASTA with SAUSAGE in SPINACH, GARLIC & WHITE WINE SAUCE ~ BLOG 365.86

ITALIAN PASTA with SAUSAGE in SPINACH, GARLIC & WHITE WINE SAUCE

Super simple and quick makes this an easy, yet tasty weeknight meal ready in under 30 minutes!

Servings: 4

8 ounces uncooked Orecchiette (ear) pasta, prepared al dente
16 ounces QUALITY ground Italian sausage (see notes)
1/2 medium onion chopped
1 LARGE carrot, small diced
4 cloves garlic minced
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard, optional
1/2 cup dry white wine
3 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach
2 tablespoons FRESH chopped basil
FRESH ground salt & pepper, to taste
FRESH grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish

  • 
In a large skillet saute’ sausage over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes or until it’s cooked through and nicely browned. Add onions and carrots about half way through.
  • Drain all 1-2 tablespoons of fat from the skillet.
 Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the garlic and Dijon mustard if using, cooking for 30 seconds.
  • 
Pour in the wine and cook 2-5 minutes until reduced by half.
  • Add in the spinach and basil tossing with tongs until the spinach has wilted.
  • Add in the drained pasta and toss again.
  • Season to taste with FRESH ground salt and pepper.
  • Serve immediately with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.


NOTE:

  • If need be, remove meat from prepackaged casings.
  • I often add grape tomatoes and blister them for added flavor.
  • Truly any size pasta will work, but a small pasta is best so it is well coated in the sauce.

PRETTY IN PINK TRES LECHES (3 MILKS) CAKE ~ BLOG 365.86B

You can make the cake a day ahead before poking it with holes and storing it tightly wrapped at room temperature. The cake benefits from sitting in the refrigerator to absorb all of the milk. It needs at least 1 hour but can sit in the fridge overnight before frosting and serving. The longer it sits, the more it can absorb, making the cake better and better.

CAKE
1 1/2 cups AP flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 – 1/2 cup freeze dried fruit powder, optional
5 LARGE eggs, separated
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, divided
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
1/2 cup WHOLE milk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Grease a 13″ x 9″ baking pan with cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and freeze dried fruit powder if using.
  • In a medium bowl, using a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat egg yolks and 1 cup sugar until stiff ribbons trail behind beaters.
  • Beat in vanilla.
  • In another large bowl, using handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
  • Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form.
  • Add yolk mixture to dry ingredients and beat to combine.
  • Add milk and butter and beat until combined.
  • Gently fold in egg whites until just combined.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan.
  • Bake cake until a tester inserted into middle of cake comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
  • Let cool.

FILLING
1 (14 ounnce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
1/2 cup WHOLE milk
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract

  • In a medium bowl, whisk condensed milk, evaporated milk, whole milk and vanilla until combined.
  • Using a fork, poke holes all over cake, then pour milk mixture over cake.
    Cover pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate until milk mixture is absorbed, AT LEAST 1 hour, BUT PREFERABLY OVERNIGHT.

WHIPPED CREAM & ASSEMBLY
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cinnamon-sugar
Sliced FRESH strawberries (or fruit of choice), for serving

  • In a large bowl beat the heavy cream and sugar until stiff peaks form.
  • Frost cake with whipped cream.
  • Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar.
    Serve with strawberries alongside.

NOTES:

  • The trick to this recipe is in the egg whites. Be sure to beat them until they hold STIFF peaks and then fold them ever so GENTLY into the cake batter. The goal is to avoid deflating them while folding, so that the cake bakes up nice and tall with lots of lift.
  • Egg temperature matters! You’ll get the most stable whip and tallest sponge cake by using room temperature eggs. Make sure to let the eggs sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before using.
  • To make this flavored I add freeze dried powdered fruit flavors to the sifted dry mixture. 1/4 – 1/2 cup is all it takes.
  • DO NOT rush the soaking step. A longer soak results in a deeper flavor AND a moister cake.