Yesterday morning I went to breakfast with daughter number one and her family. While we were waiting for our food, who pulls up, but my SIL with the other two grandchildren. After lots of hugs and kisses, I noticed how well put together the kids were. I thought maybe my daughter had just gotten off of work and got them ready for daddy to take them out. Then I started laughing because I noticed the part in my granddaughters pig tails was extremely crooked. The first indicator that daddy dressed the kids. Then my daughter pointed out the baby's coat was buttoned crookedly. ROFL, we had a good chuckle over these things. No, it was daddy who prepared them for their outing.
This brought back memories of how my husband put a diaper on our eldest when she was a new born. With one pin (no disposable back then) in the front. It did the trick, but brought a smile to my soul for the entire day. If he had used rubber pants with the diaper, I wouldn't have noticed it until I changed her diaper.
Our weather has been unseasonably cold. We had snow last night, then rain this morning which sealed in the snow and turned surfaces to ice. I leave the cupboards on the outside walls open at night so the pipes don't freeze. In the south it is uncommon to have shut off valves for the outdoor spigots. They may need to rethink that.
This morning I took advantage of the crisp air and opened windows for a few minutes. The fresh air is cold enough to kill any viruses that may be lurking. In ten minutes the house temperature dropped 2 degrees (F). Time to warm up again.
The bedding got washed this morning and the clean sheets were sprayed with lavender essential oil spray. So nice to smell this when I settle in for a night's sleep.
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| The window was opened and the pillows were airing out. I put them in the dryer on cool air for a few minutes before I let the cold air hit them. |
Last night's dinner was made in a few minutes with enough food to last four meals. I made a quick version of what I call Italian chili. I had some for breakfast, as well. Not to go through it, but rather because I felt lazy. Warmed up in the microwave was all I need to do to have a protein rich breakfast. Who knows, I may be eating this for all three meals today.
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| Chili is one of the few foods I can eat over and over again. Recipe below. |
LAVERDER SPRAY
Fill a bottle half way with distilled water. If you don't have distilled water then you can boil water for three minutes and let it cool. This will remove any additives in faucet water.
Fill the other half of the bottle with cheapo vodka. I mean as cheap as you can find.
Add 20 drops of essential oil.
Shake to mix and you will be so happy with the results.
The kit I bought is from KIS OILS is on www.amazon.com I don't know them and they don't know me. I just happen to like the price, reviews, and quality of these oils. I bought them for 18.95, but I think they went up 1.00 since February 5, 2015. Still, the price is so much better than other oils on amazon.
I'd take a picture, but my camera is full. I have to figure out how to empty what's on there to start again.
ORANGE CREAMS
I got this recipe from my husband's grandmother, so it doesn't have exact measurements. It's fun to make and more fun to eat. (Have a glass of red wine handy!)
Dark chocolate candy pellets
Powdered fondant
Orange extract (The Dollar Tree has real orange extract.)
Candy molds
Water
Melt the pellets in the microwave, 30 seconds. Remove and stir. Place back in microwave if not melted. It's important to stir because the warmed chocolate will help melt the cooler chocolate. I start out with 1/2 cup of pellets.
Mix about one half a cup of powdered fondant with a couple of drops of water (Or orange liquor') and start with 4 drops of the orange extract. Taste and add according to your tastes. If liquor' is used you may not need too much extract. (I've only used water.)
When the chocolate is melted brush a small amount on the bottom of the mold. Add the center (fondant) and cover with more chocolate. You don't want to use too much chocolate, just enough to cover the filling.
Let the candy sit at least 24 hours so it can become infused and develop a bit of a liquid.
Yummy!
FAST AND EASY ITALIAN CHILI (Feeds 4)
One pound 85% hamburg (Cooked and Drained)
12 ounces of spaghetti sauce
1 can of light red kidney beans
1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese
Brown and drain the meat. Add the beans with the liquid. Add the sauce and seasonings. Simmer for twenty minutes, then sprinkle the cheese in. Stir and serve. I don't make a spicy chili, but you could by adding more spices to the pot.
Serve with a salad and bread.
Cook's choice of seasonings (Bay leaf, parsley, red pepper flakes)
Thank you so much for sharing these recipes!!! I can't wait to try them all :D
ReplyDeleteIt was my pleasure, Tweezle. Another reader suggested to add some veggies to the chili. Sounded good to me.
DeleteI made a big pot of chilli yesterday, one portion in my tum and 3 in the freezer. I like to add diced peppers, celery and leeks to mine and have it as a one pot wonder with just a bread roll to mop the dish clean. I ike the sound of the orange creams but as we have just entered Lent they will have to wait a while.
ReplyDeleteYour version of chili sounds good. Everything in one pot.
DeleteYou know, I forgot about Lent until I woke this morning. In the USA Sunday is a reprieve day that we can indulge in what food we gave up. Does that hold true in your country?
Living in a small household it´s very clever to cook meals for 2 days. I like to cook vegetable soups and reheat it the next day. So much time and energy saved! And you can add a different little treat to the meal like a fruit salad or some applesauce.
ReplyDeleteYou like lavender oil, Angie and I like eucalyptus oil added to the water for cleaning tiled floors.
I hope it will soon get warmer in your region. Here in the south-west corner of Germany temperature is 41 degrees Fahrenheit
right now and no more frost during the night. Maybe (!) spring is on the way.
I use eucalyptus oil in the dryer when I wash the bedding. I made 2 dryer balls which I dampen a bit then add the oil. It's suppose to eliminate those little dust mites that no one can see. It doesn't leave a scent so spraying the sheets with lavender works fine. I assume the heat destroys any scent there was. It sure is 'warm' in your part of the world. What's strange is where I live the typical winter temperature is around 41 degrees (F). Our rain is being replaced with snow. I think that's why we Southerners are whining so much. :)
ReplyDelete