MEMES & LINK PARTIES – Page 2 – Chasing MY Life WHEREVER it Leads ME

SMOKED HAM AND BEANS
3 pounds smoked ham hocks
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1/2 teaspoon ground bay leaves
1 onion, FINELY chopped
3 garlic cloves, FINELY minced
few sprigs Lemon Thyme, FINELY chopped
3 small carrots, diced
1/2 pound parsnips, diced
1/2 cup yellow split peas or 2 cans small navy or cannelini beans
1/2 cup apple cider
3 + 3 (6) cups homemade chicken stock
3 cups water

Place ham hocks in slow cooker with 3 cups of water and 3 cups of the chicken stock. Cook on LOW for 8 hours.
Remove ham hocks. When cool enough remove meat from bones and discard skins.
Heat oil in large skillet.
Add carrots and onion, sauteing 3-4 minutes until softened.
Season with salt and pepper.
Add garlic, thyme and split peas. If using canned beans do not add them yet.
Stir in remaining chicken stock.
Transfer everything back to slow cooker including the ham pieces.
Slow cook for another 4 hours on HIGH – adding canned beans during the last 1/2 hour.
Adjust seasoning to taste.
Serve with crusty bread.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY with MENUS & RECIPES week 28 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.195

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

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

I did some car maintenance, got a pedicure and picked up groceries. I was also house and cat sitting all week. While I had a week with less Eagle’s duties, I also realized just how far behind I’ve gotten on my own paperwork and such so guess what I’m doing today. I spent the weekend sorting through the pantry and spices and menu planning.

Despite all that, a girlfriend and I took Friday off and went shopping in a real city where I bought a few new blouses and a summery purse, had a relaxing lunch at a sweet restaurant by the river and I picked up my Hallmark Premiere ornaments before we headed home. YEP, Christmas ornaments.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

Summer reared its ugly head this past week with triple digits and scorching heat. This week is supposed to be a bit better, but will still be in the high 80’s and low nineties. I welcome needing to get some inside work done.

ON MY MIND

It sure seems like the weather is changing all over the country and for the worse in so many of those places!

TO DO LIST, APPOINTMENTS & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING getting ready to do another deep clean as we get ready for the BIG estate sale/rummage sale
GROCERIES & ERRANDS car appointment on Wednesday and pick up the groceries for cooking at the Eagles on Friday night.
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I’ve picked several recipes for this week and matched them up with their ingredients and specialty spices.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

Just a couple of cooking and baking shows. I’m still watching JAG during the day as a background while I work.

READING TIME

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀

	7/14 MONDAY	7/15 TUESDAY	7/16 WEDNESDAY	7/17 THURSDAY	7/18 FRIDAY	7/19 SATURDAY	7/20 SUNDAY
DINNER	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	CHICKEN STRAWBERRY SALAD	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	CREAMSICLE CHICKEN	CORN/YOYO clean out refrigerator night or you’re on your own	YOYO you’re on your own	YOYO you’re on your own
DESSERT					APPLE BLACKBERRY COBBLER

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

I picked up a little treat toy for KitKat, my cat charge this past weekend she loves it! We went out for dinner to a burger joint on the river with her mom and dad last night when they got home and she actually took a picture of me I don’t hate for a change.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

SILENT SUNDAY ~ BLOG 365.194

SATURDAY COFFEE ~ BLOG 365.193

TGIF ~ BLOG 365.192

MAPLE COUNTRY RIBS ~ BLOG 365.191

The key to this recipe is to use a QUALITY PURE maple syrup!

MAPLE COUNTRY RIBS
3 pounds pork ribs
1 cup QUALITY PURE maple syrup
1/2 cup applesauce
1/4 cup ketchup (see note*)
Juice of 1 LARGE lemon
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
pinch paprika

Cut ribs into 3-4 rib sections and place in large dutch oven.
Cover ribs with water and bring to a SLOW boil.
Simmer 10 minutes and then drain well.
Preheat oven to 300°.
Line baking sheet with heavy duty foil and spray with non-stick spray.
Arrange rib sections on baking sheet in single layer.
Whisk together remaining ingredients until smooth.
Pour over ribs.
Cover with foil and seal tightly.
Bake 2 hours until meat is tender.
Baste with sauce frequently and serve with drained sauce.

NOTES: *If you like it a bit spicier use a jalapeno ketchup.

MEATBALLS in BUTTERMILK MUSHROOM SAUCE ~ BLOG 365.189

This is a moist and nutty flavored meatball with a rich and creamy gravy that has become a family favorite!

MEATBALLS in BUTTERMILK MUSHROOM SAUCE
MEATBALLS
1 1/2 pounds QUALITY ground beef
1 LARGE shallot, FINELY chopped
1/4 cup FINELY chopped red pepper
1 celery rib, FINELY chopped
1 cup cooked rice
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1 LARGE egg, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine all ingredients until well blended, but NOT overworked.
Divide into 12 meatballs. Place in greased baking dish.

SAUCE
1-2 tablespoons butter
1/2 pound BEECH mushrooms, sauteed until golden
1 can Campbell’s Cream of Golden mushroom
scant 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Whisk together the soup and buttermilk until well blended.
Nestle sauteed mushrooms amongst meatballs.
Pour soup mixture over meatballs.
Bake 1 hour.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 27 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.188

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

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

Good morning dear friends. Last week is a complete blur for me. YAY the cribbage tournament is FINALLY over. Before and during the tournament where I had to get up at 5 AM every day and work 10-12 hours straight. That’s in addition to everything else that’s going on around here. My girlfriend and I had just agreed this was probably going to be the last time we did it. We absolutely LOVE the players and really enjoyed the work, but it’s a TON of time and work that we do as volunteers!

We did decide that if we did it again we’d do it as our own catering company so we could make the money to make it worth our while. But, to our surprise, the guy that runs the tournament announced that he was moving next week and handing the torch to a younger guy who lives quite a ways away. So, it looks like this was our last job anyway.

That said, I will finally have the time to get caught up around the house as well as with blogging visits to all of you!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

We’ve been quite cool of an evening for this time of year. I even wore a heavy sweatshirt during the fireworks on the 4th, but that all supposed to change this week with highs in the mid 90’s! At least the night time lows will still be going down into the 50’s to give us nice mornings and evenings.

ON MY MIND

I’m praying for all those people and families devastated by the flash flooding that occurred when the two tropical storms merged and stalled over central Texas. It sure seems like the weather is changing all over the country and for the worse in so many of those places!