Category: MISC

Photo Hunt ~ Unique / FunnySigns


Isn’t “Do it yourself” and “Professional” used together an oxymoron?

About the PhotoHunt: A theme is given for each Saturday. Post a photo that best represents the theme. New and old photos welcome but must be from your personal collection and not photos obtained from the web. Play along once a week by posting your photo on your site.

Freezer Food Friday ~Sweet & Zesty Meatballs

hosted by mjpuzzlemom
These are a great recipe for a potluck or buffet.
I always make too much on purpose because the leftovers freeze so well.

MEATBALLS*

2 pounds ground beef
1 large onion, finely minced
1/2 sleeve saltine crackers, crushed
1 teaspoon minced garlic from the jar
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1 jumbo egg, beaten

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • In a large bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients and blend well.
  • Shape into 1 inch balls.
  • Place meatballs on un-greased cookie sheet.
  • Bake 25-30 minutes until browned and baked through.
  • For frozen meatballs, put the sauce in the crock pot first and then stir in frozen meatballs. They’ll be ready in 3-4 hours.

*I sometimes cheat and buy the bags of meatballs from Costco or Sam’s Club

SAUCE
3/4 cup Welch’s grape jelly
3 tablespoons white vinegar
1 3/4 cups Heinz chili sauce
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into thin slivers

  • In a large saucepan combine jelly, chili sauce and vinegar.
  • Bring to a soft boil and simmer 5 minutes stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
  • Layer meatballs, peppers and spicy sauce in crock pot.
  • Warm meatballs in sauce for 3-4 hours before serving.
You can put all the leftovers in the freezer together. Be sure to thaw them thoroughly before reheating.

I do the memes: Menu Plan Monday hosted by aura at I’m an Organizing Junkie, Favorite Ingredient Friday hosted by Kathryn at Overwhelmed with Joy, Freezer Food Friday hosted by MJ at mjpuzzlemom, Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks and Slow Cooking Thursday hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Doing them all make great additions to help keeping me on track and finding so new recipes!

Favorite Ingredient Friday collides with Scrumptious Sunday~Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes

hosted by Overwhelmed with Joy and Mercedes Rocks
CHEESY AU GRATIN POTATOES

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 16 oz. whipping cream
  • 5 large russet potatoes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic (jar) or 1 clove
  • 2 cups grated 4 white cheese mix (Gruyere, Muenster, etc…)
  • 2 cups rates sharp cheddar
  • Wondra Flour
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Peel and thinly slice potatoes.
  3. Grease 9×13 baking dish.
  4. In a large sauce pan, melt the butter.
  5. Gradually add the whipping cream and spices. Blend well.
  6. Gradually add the flour until the mixture thickens, but it is still pourable!
  7. Mix the cheeses all together.
  8. Layer the potatoes, cheese and cream mixture ending with cheese on top.
  9. Bake 45 minutes or until potatoes are tender and golden brown.

I developed this recipe for a request from our youngest and it quickly became a family favorite.

I do the memes: Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie, Favorite Ingredient Friday hosted by Kathryn at Overwhelmed with Joy, Freezer Food Friday hosted by MJ at mjpuzzlemom, Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks and Slow Cooking Thursday hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Doing them all make great additions to help keeping me on track and finding so new recipes!

Slow Cooking Thursday~Carnitas

Slow Cooking Thursday is hosted by Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.
CARNITAS

3 pound pork roast
5 teaspoons minced garlic
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
12 ounces Amberbock Beer

  • Place pork roast in bottom of slow cooker.
  • Toss the pepper, salt, cilantro, jalapeno and garlic together.
  • Spread around and over roast.
  • Pour beer over everything.
  • Cover and cook on high 5-6 hours until pork is tender and fork pulls easily.
  • Serve with warm tortillas, your favorite toppings and salsa.


I do the memes: Menu Plan Monday hosted by aura at I’m an Organizing Junkie, Favorite Ingredient Friday hosted by Kathryn at Overwhelmed with Joy, Freezer Food Friday hosted by MJ at mjpuzzlemom, Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks and Slow Cooking Thursday hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Doing them all make great additions to help keeping me on track and finding so new recipes!

Thursday Thirteen ~ Favorite Fruits

  • Blackberries especially in an apple blackberry cobbler
  • Pink Lady Apples nice and crisp
  • grapes so sweet they’re like drinking wine
  • strawberries, really red and juicy
  • raspberries, tart and sweet
  • kiwi, juicy and great in any salad
  • bananas, sliced in oatmeal, cheerios or ice cream
  • cantaloupe, sweet and juicy
  • watermelon, seedless, juicy and sweet
  • oranges, yum!
  • peaches so juicy they run to your elbow after each bite
  • plums, juicy and sweet
  • Loganberries, on Swedish pancakes of course

Food for thought

I don’t know where it originated, but one of my dad’s favorite sayings was,
“You cannot have a battle of wits with an unarmed person”.
Always makes me think and try to stay informed.

Hump Day Humor ~ Teachers

This meme is hosted by Mercedes at Mercedes Rocks

Theme for Hump Day Humor – Teachers

Next weeks theme – PETS

Hopefully this doesn’t offend anyone.

First-year students at Texas A&M’s Vet school were receiving their first anatomy class, with a real dead cow. They all gathered around the surgery table with the body covered with a white sheet.

The professor started the class by telling them, In Veterinary Medicine it is necessary to have two important qualities as a doctor:

The first is that you not be disgusted by anything involving the animal body.

For an example, the Professor pulled back the sheet, stuck his finger in the butt of the dead cow, withdrew it and stuck it in his mouth. Go ahead and do the same thing, he told his students.

The students freaked out, hesitated for several minutes. But eventually took turns sticking a finger in the butt of the dead cow and sucking on it.

When everyone finished, the Professor looked at them and said, “The second most important qual ity is observation. I stuck in my middle finger and sucked on my index finger.”

Now learn to pay attention. Life’s tough, it’s even tougher if you’re stupid.

Tuesday's Romance of Cookery and Housekeeping

CARAMEL FROSTING

1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

  • Mix the sugars, milk and butter together.
  • Cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently until a soft ball forms.
  • Remove from heat and let set for 15 minutes.
  • Beat until creamy.
  • Add vanilla and whip until smooth.
  • Ice cake.
MOCHA CARAMEL FROSTING

3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon espresso powder
1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

  • Mix the sugars, espresso powder, milk and butter together.
  • Cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently until a soft ball forms.
  • Remove from heat and let set for 15 minutes.
  • Beat until creamy.
  • Add vanilla and whip until smooth.
  • Ice cake.

Recipe (page 90) adapted from ‘A Thousand Ways to Please a Husband’ by Louise Bennett Weaver and Helen Cowles LeCron

I do the memes: Menu Plan Monday hosted by aura at I’m an Organizing Junkie, Favorite Ingredient Friday hosted by Kathryn at Overwhelmed with Joy, Freezer Food Friday hosted by MJ at mjpuzzlemom, Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks and Slow Cooking Thursday hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Doing them all make great additions to help keeping me on track and finding so new recipes!

Menu Plan Monday

I do the memes: Menu Plan Monday hosted by aura at I’m an Organizing Junkie, Favorite Ingredient Friday hosted by Kathryn at Overwhelmed with Joy, Freezer Food Friday hosted by MJ at mjpuzzlemom, Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks and Slow Cooking Thursday hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Doing them all make great additions to help keeping me on track and finding so new recipes!