July 11, 2009

What a nice surprise we had yesterday. Our good friend Glen from Rolla stopped by and stayed to visit till this morning! It was such a treat to see him and get all the news from our old home town. Glen helped us move down here 7 years ago. I have been back twice and Glen has been down twice, last time with his wife and 3 daughters, Ken got to see them, but I was away at the time to my Daughter's wedding. So missed their visit.

As luck would have it we had invited Jack to dinner and had bought some steaks ( a rare occurrence for us), I quickly went in the freezer and found a couple more small steaks and thawed them for supper Friday night. sliced potatoes and onions with salt, pepper and butter on foil made into packets and cooked with the steaks in the BBQ and a salad from the garden made our supper easy, and we enjoyed visiting on the deck as our supper cooked.
The salad was made with lettus from the garden, a few leaves of the Rocky mountain spinach, some green onions chopped up with the help of scissors, and tumbler tomatoes.
This past week we had some much needed rain, and now we are again having 30 degree C. weather in the daytime. However nights are still cool around 9C.
The garden has finally started to grow, and tomorrow I want to rototill between the rows, I hope it will be dry enough to do. The peas are flowering and I noticed a few pods forming. Ahhhhhhhhhhh, soon to be eating fresh green peas, put in new potatoes mashed. I love the peas added after the potatoes are mashed. Just raw peas, it's a treat we look forward to each year, sometimes made even nicer with some cheese mixed in with the mashed potatoes before the peas are added. Heaven in 1 simple dish.
Oh, and we have a new to us Jeep truck 4x4. Ken has been working on it for the past week, and has a little body work to do to it, and then it will be ready for painting. It will be white, with black on the bottom of the truck and the trim. Right now it is red. We have taken the canopy off the back for the summer, and Ken made side rails for it. This means we can haul more wood home in it, and also when we go in the bush Zoey can ride in the back and be safe. I must remember to take some pictures of the truck before it is painted, for before and after shots.

June 8th!

Where does the time go?
The garden is in and comming up, Tina and I waited till the 3rd of June to plant sensative things like the tomatoes, peppers and corn in the garden spot. Wouldn't you know it we got a touch of frost on the morning of the 6th! Some of the plants got a touch of frost, and the others are OK. I decided to just see what happens. If they make it fine if not those that don't can get a later planting of carrots, lettus and things like that.
This year I am trying Purple Mountain Spinach. My friend Erika , saved some seed for me from a plant she grew last year. I am looking forward to eating some, and seeing how it tastes and to also saving my own seed.
Makes for an interesting summer, when you try something new .
I will have to take pictures to follow the Purple Mountain Spinach's growth. More to follow ( and hopefully sooner rather than later!).

Crockpot Classic Rice Pudding

I was requested to post the recipe I use for Rice pudding on Pat Veretto's Frugal Living Blog. So i thought if I did that I should post it here too. We really like it. My new note to myself is that I use the shorter time for my new crock pot. It must be quite a bit hotter than my old crock pot. So that is the only thing I think other than what is written below that I should remark on. Just do it time wise for your own crock pot.

Crock Pot classic Rice pudding

Ingredients:
4 cups cooked white rice
3/4 cup raisins
1 1/4 tsp vanilla
1 1/4can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1 1/4 can ( 12 Ounces) evaporated milk

1 1/2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp ground Cinnamon ( or to taste)

Directions:

Spray inside of slow cooker with cooking spray. Mix all ingredients except sugar and cinnamon in cooker. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 3 to 4 hours or until liquid is absorbed. Stir pudding. Sprinkle pudding with sugar and cinnamon. Serve warm.

My personal notes.
Omit last amount of sugar ( for us diabetics)

Make own Easy Evaporated milk

11/3 cup water
1 cup of instant dry milk powder. Stir or shake to combine ( I shake it in a small jar with lid on tight)
This is the equivalent of a 12 ounce tin ( see above that's all that's needed!).
If you want to make Evaporated whole milk, you will need to add some fat to replace the milk fat in whole milk. Do this by preparing evaporated skim milk then adding 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to the milk. Stir it up vigorously to emulsify The fat with the milk.

It will separate on standing, so mix it really well right before using it.
This is best used in cooking and baking. A spritz of nonstick spray will help the emulsification process.

Sweetened Condensed milk: ( from the Tightwad Gazette. the best one for taste and texture I've found)

1 cup instant nonfat dry milk solids
2/3 cups sugar
1/3 cup boiling water
3 Tbsp melted margarine
combine all ingredients in the container of an electric blender . Process until smooth. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use Yield about 1 1/4 cups.

I just use this amount in the above recipe. Also I put water in a glass measuring cup, add margarine, and heat to boiling in the microwave. I have the other 2 items in the blender and then just add the water with margarine, and blend. Very easy.


Using these 2 recipes cuts the cost WAY down in making the rice pudding.

When I cook rice for supper I try and make extra, so I can make this up anytime.

March 1, st "Where's the Sun???"

It has started snowing this morning. After several days of warming weather and no snow. The back carport is free of snow on the roof, and here we get snow again. Fits with the past couple of weeks of happenings.

Starting with our good friend Jack. Jack retired early at 56. He decided to become a landlord to supplement his pension. Well, one of Jack's places is about a block from us. He rented it out right after he bought it last December, and the Tenants moved in mid January. They were buying the property next door to his and wanted to rent it out as it had more room and a full sized garage. This move meant they could pay less than the rent they were charging and use the difference to pay down their mortgage. Sounded good. The were well liked and had lived in the area many years ( well the lady had). Move to 2Nd week of January. The fellow renting the home with the garage was busted for selling and growing dope. marajana to be exact. The police took the lady renting Jacks place to Jail and interviewed her for 10 hours. and let her out to come home ( her Guy hasn't been seen for a while before this, but as he works in the oil patch that isn't uncommon). Fast forward to last Sunday.
The lady was away for the weekend. Someone phoned and complained to the police that her 2 dogs were barking all night, and that they didn't have food or water. They were tied up by the front door of each place. The police came out 5 of them and the dogs were taken to the vet to be check out ( they were OK, just hungry and thirsty). She came home Sunday night, In the mean time the Police got search
warrents and checked the house ( we had been phoned they were at the house, and Ken got Jack and drove him down so they didn't kick the door in). They also checked the 2 sheds as they were pad locked ( I can understand that I pad lock ours too!).
One shed had been rewired! to 220 ( I believe) they had both been wired 120.) All that in a month when the fellow hadn't been seen, plus in the other garage they found
a 4 wheeler and a couple of bikes- Motor- all stolen!). So now since she had given Jack notice when the other place was raided. Today he is getting ready for new tenants! Lets hope these ones prove to be just quiet living people who like country life.

Also last week Gege, Brenda and I went to Bonner's Ferry and Post Falls to do a grocery shopping, and Gege got her puppy his shots. ( I took our Zoey for shots Friday) so both dogs now have their booster shots.

Friday, Gege came to town with me and we did our local shopping flour being the main item at $5.88 for 20 Kg all purpose flour. About the best price we get now. Zoey of course came as she got shots. When we got home Ken had hurt his hand badly. He had been working on the Scout and the screw driver he was using slipped and went into his hand a 1/2 inch or more, right between the thumb and finger of his left hand. I wanted to take him for a Tetnis shot, but no he would be fine. Next morning, hand swollen he decided it was time to head to the Hospital. So 3 1/2 hours later he got his shot, and a perscription for strong antibiotics! Men, is there any real difference between a Man and a Kid? hmmmmmmmmm some times I wonder.

Most of the rest of the past couple of weeks has been quiet. I have been working at controlling our budget, and Dh suggested 2 meatless meals a week. I had to do a retake, this is the Meat and Potatoes King speaking. So my first this past week was breakfast for supper, pancakes, eggs over easy, and toast. with slices of tomatoe.
Grapes for the evening snack.

Tonight I am making stuffed chicken breasts ( bought on sale for 79 cents a pound), will stuff them with bread stuffing, and then a slice of cheese in the middle of the breast. coleslaw and a rice dish ( not sure just yet, but with chicken broth in it for sure.

This week I am looking for Men approved non meat meals. I think I will look for TVP and try using it in hamberger meals, I tried tofo a few years ago and Ken hated it ( I guess I just don't use it right as other people rave about it).

Oh, to be able to go out in the garden again and pick what we want for supper!

Another peaceful Sunday.

Went out for a short ride around Kitchener and out one of the back roads to run Zoey.
On the last road we went on in town the Scout started smoking! Ken stopped and turned the key off and checked under the hood. We were about a 1/2 mile from where Jack lives so I took Zoey and headed to Jacks in case they needed to tow the Scout.
I got to Jacks and explained what was going on and Jack was grabbing his Jacket to go give Ken a hand when Jack says, here comes Ken now. Ken was able to disconnect 2 wires and still run the Scout home. Try that with a computerized vehicle.

We visited for a few minutes then headed home and Jack and Scotty came and Jack helped Ken and Scotty and Zoey played in the yard.

I just made us a light supper tonight. Cooked up a bunch of rice ( rice pudding tomorrow) and made a stir fry with some chicken breasts, and lots of chopped up veggies. Was pretty good if I do say so myself.

We had the lightest puffs of snow today, but mainly it was sunny and melting.

Valentines Day and 2nd anual Valentines Party

Well, I must write about the 2nd anual Valentines party at Erica's place. She had us over and taught us how she makes perogies. We all brought a bowl, 2 cups flour,
2 eggs and our wodden spoon. We learned how to make the dough, then with dough she had already made, we did up 5 kinds of perogies! It was so fun, and at the end we ate perogies, and had valentine cupcake and cake for desert. Fattening- yes, fun- yes!

so before I forget I am posting the recipe as it was given to me by Erica. This is a verbal recipe she got from an old lady about 35 years ago. I wrote it out as my memmory isn't that good for amounts in cooking.

perogies


2 cups flour
2 tablespoons margarine or butter
2 cups boiling water
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs

put 2 cups flour and salt in large bowl. Add 2 tablespoons margarine and 2 cups of boiling water mix well until the margarine is melted through the dough.
Add eggs one at a time, mix then add 2nd. egg and mix again till all the egg is absorbed.
cover and let stand for 2 hours,'
then add 2 cups flour and stir in, add more flour 1 cup here you can put it on counter to kneed the flour in. keep adding the flour till the dough starts setting up and is no longer sticky.

Cover and Set aside, in fridge till ready to use. ( Over night) or freeze. Use 1/2 th dough ( freeze the other half for another meal) roll out very thin and cut our small perogies with glass. fill with your choice of fillings.

like: Potatoes cooked with parsley, cheddar cheese or what ever
Cottage cheese and green onions ( dry cottage cheese is best)
saurkraut
raw hamburger ( make very small perogies and cook longer.)
cooked minced ham
at this point before you cook them you can put them on trays and freeze, then bag them in meal sizes once they are frozen. for a later date. Or cook them and eat them.

note you can use what you want for a filling, and use fruit or jams to make a desert item served with whipping cream, or cream and sugar.


Well, made this up for Valentines day supper. Used 1/2 the dough ( froze the rest) and made mashed potatoe with cheddar cheese and green onions. served with sour cream and sauteed onions and bacon chopped and fries. MMMMM very good. Recieved the Ken seal of approval. In fact he suggested we make some more up and he would help me and make different kinds and freeze a bunch to pull out for a fast meal. So I guess this is definately a keeper.

The other recipe I want to post here is one from Dot. It is one she made and brought to Charlenes Baby shower. It is Cherry Triangles.

Cherry Triangles ( Dot's recipe that she brought to Charlene's Baby Shower)

3/4 cup milk warmed
1 pkg yeast
1 cup butter
2 1/2 cups flour
4 egg yolks

1. mix flour, butter like a pie crust.
2. add milk and yeast and egg yolks - will be sticky
3. let rise for 20 minutes before patting into pan.
4.pat into pan saving a little for topping ( enough to make strips and make a lattice top)
5 use cherry pie filling to cover ( or what ever you like, blueberry , apple, raspberry....)
6. put on topping ( see 4)
7. use an egg wash on crust
8. Let sit for 20 minutes
9. Bake at 350 F. till cooked ( should look like pastry cooked)



Use 9 x 13 pan well greased - takes a bit of stretching to reach the corners. ( 9 x13 pan like a cookie sheet) or you could use 2 smaller pans.


This is a lovely square that isn't too sweet. Everyone enjoyed it and wanted the recipe, I just got around to writing it out and putting it in my files.


Now the not so fun part.

Feeling better finally got rid of the cold. But had got my jaw out of placement by coughing. So was at DR. , Dentist, and Physiotherapist this past week. Have been fitted for a night guard to help keep my jaw where it ought to be, and no pain. Yea! It should be ready in a week or so.



Well, that's the news for this post.

Winter Cold and Jessie's Birthday

Today is Jessie's Birthday and yesterday was Victoria's Birthday. My How the Granddaughters grow! Hard to believe another year is past. Being the Grandma I sent them their cards, but also having been sick this past 2 weeks I was late sending them. As if that wasn't bad enough 1 came back today, I didn't put a stamp on it. I knew I was really sick this past 2 weeks, but that takes the cake.
Just before i got sick i Bought a large pork roast about 22 lbs. Today Ken and Jack took it down to the saw and cut it in 3 pieces for me. So I cooked up 1 piece for supper tonight. It was very good and I cooked up apple sauce from a couple of apples , mashed potatoes, and of course carrots ( one of the veggies that Jack will eat, so I try and cook some every time he comes for supper). and Gravy with whole mushrooms ( I got a big bag marked down and have been using them everyday since we got them. I have enough left for tomorrow night's Chinese food using some of the leftover roast pork, and making a sweet and sour,pork strips to go in a big stir fry, I'll serve it over rice. Well, I'll serve the rice on the side and the stir fry can go over it on the plate.) The stir fry should use up the last of the broccoli , cauliflower, and mushrooms. I'd like to clean up all the veggies before I go grocery shopping again.
Ken's vehicle is still working great. After that was fixed he fixed the tractor that broke down and then they did Jacks truck , of course the weather was cold so the fuel pump and a sensor went in it while he was on his way to town. It took a few days for the fellows to get all the parts and get Jacks truck fixed , but the last part came and they finished it all today!
My friend Louise, sent me a site to watch a blog in Edmonton,
http://theworkingpoordiet.blogspot.com/
I think it will be a very interesting blog to follow along with for the next month, and am looking forward to hearing how this blogger makes out.
Well, my head is still pounding, so will stop for this evening. It sounds like we will soon be having days on the plus side of 0 as a regular occurance. I am so glad, I am tired of snow, and cold, and my head ,chest cold in particular.
Spring tonic is much needed.