YouTubers I Watch

I'm so thankful to have a place to stay while I wait on my future home. My realtor says the current owners should be out of the house by the 23rd which is closing day, though it's unsure if the house will be move-in ready, since they have a cleaning crew scheduled to come in on the 24th. In the meantime I'm blessed to be staying with my daughter and son-in-law at their little villa. I spend my day making preparations, lists of things that I need to do or will have to do once we get to the new house. I prepare meals for myself and my son E (my daughter prefers to cook for herself and her husband), clean up the kitchen and the bathroom we're using, and...that's it. Oh, and I walk the dog. It's boring, y'all. I'm used to being busy around the house, but there's not a lot to do in my daughter's home. Instead, I watch way too much television.

Now, by "watch television" I'm not talking about network television. In my opinion there isn't anything on there that's worth watching. I also don't mean cable tv. I cut out cable years ago, and my son-in-law didn't have it before or after getting married. My daughter has Disney + which I can watch, and occasionally I do indulge in some of the classics: Cinderella, Snow White, Swiss Family Robinson, those sorts of oldies but goodies. I have Hulu and watch that as well: 20/20, or I'll watch one or two (or 12) episodes of House Hunters. But generally what I watch is YouTube. 

There are several different types of channels I enjoy on YouTube. There's the design channels like Kinwoven Home that teach a lot of the design basics. There's cleaning channels, those that show a typical home cleaning day and those that teach good cleaning techniques, like Clean My Space. Cooking channels are some of my favorites; you can watch the Food Network giants like Paula Deen, Alton Brown, even Rachael Ray, but I prefer to watch the typical housewife making her family's favorites or trying out new recipes and giving her honest opinion. Of course there's the beauty channels, but there's just the one that I still watch after all these years, Shelbey Wilson. No, wait, that's not true, I still watch KathleenLights because she's based in Miami and she's hilarious. But my favorite YouTubers aren't the big names. They're the ones that like the same things I like: simple, intentional living, on a budget, who try to honor God with their channels but also like to have fun while sharing their lives and their gifts. You don't get that on network television. 

So, here are some of my favorite YouTube channels, in no particular order (though my favorites will probably be listed first):

1. Karrie Lynn (second channel: Cleaning with Karrie) - Karrie Lynn is a young mama of two living in Central Florida. She started her YouTube channel whenever she was living in a single wide mobile home in Georgia. I started watching her whenever she was moving into her current home, around the same time I moved into my townhouse. What I love about Karrie is that she decorates her home beautifully on a tight budget. She buys used furniture that looks sad and turns it into a high end looking piece. She and her husband Dylan have built furniture even though she admits they'd never done anything like that before. She's extremely talented while still being down to earth. Hands down one of my very favorite YouTube channels. 

2. Moss Family TV (second channel: Heaven's Rhythm) - For anyone who likes down home Southern style cooking and hospitality, this is the channel to watch. Mrs. Falon takes care of her five kids (ranging in age from 1 to 16), her husband, her home, and even though she's got her hands full with homeschooling and posting on YouTube daily, she's always got the sunniest disposition. She's just as happy making pinto beans and cornbread as she is trying a complicated recipe, and she's not afraid to admit when supper doesn't turn out like she'd hoped. This is a family that loves Jesus and everyone around them. If you enjoy good old Southern gospel, they have a music channel called Heaven's Rhythm. It's a family band, led by dad Titus Moss. Totally worth listening to.

3. Till Vacuum Do Us Part (second channel: Ashley and Chase) - It's strange that I would like this channel so much, since Ashley's design style is so different from mine. I like more a more traditional while still rustic look (sprinkled with some farmhouse), and Ashley is all about glam. There's lots of crystal and shiny pieces that would not go with my decor style at all. The reason I like this channel so much is that, like Karrie Lynn, Ashley likes taking the old and making it new. I've seen her take an old dresser and glam it up so it looks like a showroom piece. She also has lots of cleaning hacks and great suggestions for both cleaning and decorating, regardless of your style. It goes to show we don't have to like all the same things to learn from each other.

4. The Minimal Mom - I'm not a minimalist. At least I never thought I was, until my townhouse sold the first day it was shown. My house prior to that also sold the day after it was listed. My realtor told me it was because I kept my decor to a minimum, which made the house look bigger and show better. I credit Dawn from The Minimal Mom for helping me declutter and live more intentionally. I realized that the more stuff I had, the more I had to clean, the more I had to organize, and the less time I had for other things I wanted to do. Granted, I enjoy cleaning and organizing (yes, I'm weird). But I don't want that to be the only thing in my life. For years I worked five days a week and cleaned all weekend long. I'm over that. For me, living intentionally means keeping only the things I use and love and getting rid of the rest. Dawn breaks it down simply and gives great tips. On Sundays she and her twin sister Diana do a devotional and talk about their faith. I call that a win-win.

5. Mandy In The Making - Here's another cooking channel that I absolutely love. I've tried a couple of Mandy's recipes, and they've been approved by my picky son E which says a lot. Mandy will usually test three recipes a week, two that she's researched and believes her family will like, and one Subbie Supper, in which her subscribers send in recipes and she selects one for her channel. She goes through the recipes step by step, gives her honest opinion, and if there's anything she changes or would change in the future she lets us know. Her husband Steven helps out in the kitchen and they are so fun to watch! 

There are many more YouTubers I could list, but I'm starting with my top five. I think I'll make this the first of several posts. There's great talent out there, and I want to give props where they're due. I'll be back with more soon!

Recipe Time: Turkey Brine

I know Thanksgiving is over. We are in full Christmas mode. I also know some people like to have turkey again on Christmas Eve or Christmas day. I personally love turkey, but I've had turkey that falls short in the taste department. A dry turkey is not a yummy turkey. Years ago I learned about brining whenever I was watching Alton Brown on Good Eats. I did tweak his brine recipe a bit. That's what I love about doing things myself instead of pre-bought; I can modify it to my liking. This is how I make my brine. Feel free to tweak it to your liking, too.

Ingredients:

1 cup kosher salt

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 gallon (4 quarts) vegetable or chicken stock

1 tbsp. black peppercorns

1/2 tbsp. allspice berries

1/2 tbsp. ginger root

Several sprigs of fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme

1 gallon ice water

I want to make clear that you want kosher salt and not table salt or iodized salt. There is a big difference. 

I typically use the Costco brand of chicken stock for my brine, but they were out. Instead I got the Swanson chicken stock which is also very good.

I used a total of nine cans and washed the lids thoroughly.

The rest of the ingredients are about flavoring the brine. The kosher salt is essential; everything else is pretty much about personal taste. I like adding fresh herbs to my brine but dried herbs would work as well. The brown sugar gives it a hint of sweetness, while the ginger root gives it some bite. 

Combine all the ingredients except for the ice water in a large stockpot, and bring to a boil. 

Stir to dissolve the solids, then remove from heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. Late the night before cooking, combine the brine and ice water in a clean five gallon bucket or a brining bag (you can find them on Amazon). Place your thawed turkey breast side down in the brine, cover, and refrigerate or set in a cool area for 6-8 hours.

Next day, remove the turkey from the brine, rinse inside and out with cold water, pat the bird dry with paper towels, and it's ready for your next step. Don't forget to discard the brine. I like to smother my turkey with herbed butter for flavor. I also roast my turkey in an oven bag, though I've done it without the bag and it's still delicious. You don't need to add salt and pepper to your turkey because the meat absorbed it from the brine. What you will have is a moist, flavorful turkey that is always a hit. It's really that simple! I hope you give it a try.

Recipe Time: Chocolate Pudding Pie

Happy Thanksgiving y'all! It's the big day, and everyone is feeling thankful despite 2020 and all its mishaps. Many are having smaller than usual Thanksgiving Day festivities and keeping it simple. I'm glad; hopefully we'll stop focusing on football and Black Friday and start focusing on thankfulness and family. 

I want to share a quick and easy crowd pleasing dessert: Chocolate Pudding Pie. I can't take credit for this one; it's off the book Quick Fixes From Brand Name Mixes. It's also a recipe that's probably all over Pinterest. Some call it pudding pie; this book calls it Creamy Chocolate Pie. Regardless of the name, it takes just a few minutes to put together and stick in the fridge, and on a day like today where there's so much going on, simple is often the best way to go.

To make this pie you will need:

1 3/4 cups cold milk (I use Lactaid 2% but any milk will do)

2 pkgs. chocolate or chocolate fudge pudding mix, the 4 serving size

1 tub Cool Whip (or in my case, Great Value whipped topping. It's all the same)

1 pie crust - graham cracker or chocolate flavored, your choice

That's all you need. You might even have these things in your cupboard, but if you don't they're easy to find in your grocery store. Let's put it together.

Step 1: Pour your milk into a large mixing bowl.

Add your pudding mixes and beat with a wire whisk. You can use your mixer if you prefer, but I didn't want to dirty more than I had to.

Get it as smooth as you can, but keep in mind it's gonna be thick.

Fold in the whole tub of Cool Whip or whatever whipped topping you're using. If you have the time you can make some homemade, but this is supposed to be quick and easy.

It'll look kind of like a chocolate mousse whenever you're done. Avoid the temptation to eat it straight out of the bowl.

Instead, as a special treat (and because it's Thanksgiving) get yourself an Oreo pie crust. I found this one at Walmart for just $2.00. Again, you can make your own, but why?

Spoon the filling into the pie crust and smooth it out. I like to put a dollop of the filling right in the middle as a decoration, but you can line the top with Oreo pieces, chocolate chips, Reese's Pieces, anything you like. Once again, keeping it simple here. Once you're done, put it in the fridge to set.

Keep in mind that this pie needs to be refrigerated for at least 4 hours to properly set. Overnight is best. It took me all of 10 minutes to grab all the ingredients, make the filling, put it all together, and clean up. And what did it cost? Like I said, the pie crust was $2.00. The Jello pudding boxes were $.98 each, and the whipped topping was $.82. I already had the milk on hand, so I spent a grand total of $4.78 to make the boys in my family very happy. And they are worth every penny and then some. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Recipe Time: Italian Lentil Soup

Whenever I was a little girl, I didn't like soup. Didn't care for it one bit. Now, as an adult, I love me a nice, piping hot bowl of soup, and Italian Lentil Soup is one of my favorites. I don't remember where I found this recipe so I can't give credit to the original creator; it's been years. Last year my daughter gave me an Instant Pot for Christmas and it has been a game changer; I can whip up this delightful soup in under 30 minutes. Whenever I make this soup I like to freeze half of it for those dreary days when I don't want to cook. My two younger kids aren't fond of lentils, but that's okay. More for me.

To make this soup you will need:

 2-3 tbsp. olive oil

1 carrot, peeled and diced small

1 celery rib, diced small

1/2 onion, peeled and chopped small

2 large cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. dried thyme

1 tsp. dried basil

1 cup dried green or brown lentils

6 cups chicken or vegetable stock

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 cup small pasta, cooked (such as orzo, ditalini, elbows or shells)

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded or grated

Step 1: Chop up those veggies. I use garlic from a jar but you can mince your own.

Of course you can do this in a food processor, but I like chopping them by hand.

This is my very pretty Pioneer Woman Instant Pot. It makes me smile.

Set the Instant Pot to sauté. Add the olive oil, then the carrot, celery and onion. Sauté for 3-5 minutes until soft. Next add the garlic and seasonings.

One teaspoon of each, then get ready - your kitchen is about to smell heavenly.

Give your lentils a quick rinse...

...and add them to the Instant Pot.

Cook on sauté for 30 seconds, then add stock, salt, and pepper.

My favorite chicken stock is the Kirkland brand from Costco. It is organic, delicious, and very affordable.

Once everything is in the Instant Pot, put the lid on, set to sealing, and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. You can use the soup/broth setting if your Instant Pot has one. I will usually let it slow release whenever it's done but if you're in a rush you can quick release it too.

While that is cooking away, boil your pasta noodles. I typically use elbow noodles because I buy them for macaroni and cheese as well.

To serve, I first put some pasta into my soup bowl.

Next, I pour my soup over the pasta.

Lastly, sprinkle some Parmesan cheese over the top. You can use Romano cheese as well, if that's your preference.

Y'all, I could eat this for days. It is so delicious! But what if you don't own an Instant Pot? No problem. Use a soup pot. Follow all the same steps, but instead of cooking for 8 minutes on high pressure, you'll cover and simmer for 30-45 minutes on low heat until the lentils are tender. Still just as delicious and nutritious, and perfect for the dreary fall days ahead. Enjoy!

Recipe Time: Beef and Black Bean Chili

It's time for another recipe! This is a beef and black bean chili recipe that I "stole" from Rachael Ray; actually, it's pretty similar but I modified it for my family. Here we go!

The ingredients are:

1.25 lbs. ground beef

1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 heaping tbsp. sofrito *

 1.5 tbsp. chili powder

1/2 tbsp. ground cumin

1 cup beef stock or beef broth

1 can chili diced tomatoes (14.5 oz.)

1 can tomato sauce (8 oz.)

1 can black beans, drained (15 oz.)

1 tbsp. dried cilantro or 1 handful fresh, chopped

*Sofrito is a base used in Puerto Rican cooking. While everyone has their own version (handed down from generation to generation), the main ingredients are: onions; green bell peppers; petite red, yellow and orange bell peppers; garlic; cilantro; salt. Whenever I can find it I also like to add culantro - which is not the same as cilantro. The leaves are very different, and culantro has a stronger smell and taste. I would say, if you don't like cilantro you definitely will not like culantro. I also prefer to use aji dulce (or sweet chili peppers) in my sofrito but they are hard to come by in Florida, so I substitute petite bell peppers instead. I chop up all the ingredients and put them in the blender. Some people will make it in a food processor but my family has always done it in the blender. I then store it in a jar or plastic container in the refrigerator. It can also be frozen. 

Start by browning the ground beef in a stock pot. 

Drain, then add salt and pepper to taste.

Next, add the Worcestershire sauce (I don't measure this. Use your judgment).

I add my sofrito (it kinda looks like green mush but will disappear in the meat).

Next come the spices. Chili powder...

...and cumin.

I use much less spices than Rachael Ray does in her recipe, but that's up to each individual. We all know what our families prefer.

I let this cook for about 5 minutes, then add in the beef broth and scrape up all the yummy stuff at the bottom of the pot.

I like the Aldi's brand but any broth or stock will do. Then come the diced tomatoes.

My favorite are the fire roasted diced tomatoes from Aldi's but they haven't had them in stock for awhile. These Zesty Chili diced tomatoes from Del Monte work nicely too, though they aren't as spicy.

Next is a can of tomato sauce

and a can of black beans that have been drained (you can rinse them as well if you want).

I've made this with chili beans, pinto beans, red beans, but my family likes the black beans best. Stir everything together and let simmer for 5-10 minutes.

The last ingredient is optional: dried or fresh cilantro.

You can use as much or as little as you want, but if you're using dried err on the side of caution. Dried herbs have stronger flavor than fresh.

And that's it! I serve mine over white rice or with a side of cornbread. If you like a spicier version, add jalapeno peppers. Top it with cheese, sour cream, whatever makes your taste buds happy. Buen Provecho!

Recipe Time: Sweet and Sour Chicken

It's been a hot minute since I last shared a recipe on my blog. This is one I modified from a YouTuber I like to watch, Kimmie from She's In Her Apron. Kimmie made a sweet and sour chicken recipe, and as I watched it made me want to give it a try. I did change it slightly to fit our tastes, and everyone loves it. I always try to make enough to have leftovers :-).

Sweet and Sour Chicken

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1-2 eggs, beaten

4 chicken breasts, cut into chunks

Salt and pepper, to taste

1/4 cup canola oil (you can also use corn or vegetable oil)

1 onion, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 can pineapple chunks, reserving juice (8 oz. or 15 oz., depending on your personal taste)

Sauce:

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup vinegar

1/4 cup chicken broth

1 tbsp. soy sauce

2 tbsp. ketchup

1 tsp. all purpose seasoning of your choice

1-2 tbsp. corn starch

Reserved pineapple juice

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut chicken into bite-size chunks (or slightly larger) and add salt & pepper to taste. Dredge the chicken first in flour, then in beaten egg. Fry chicken in canola oil until golden. Meanwhile, chop onion and bell peppers, and add to a 13x9 casserole dish along with the pineapple chunks. Do NOT discard pineapple juice. Remove chicken from pan to a paper towel or paper bag, then add to the casserole dish.

Mix all the sauce ingredients except the corn starch in a saucepan. Add salt and pepper to taste. Whisk together and bring to a boil. Liquify 1-2 tablespoons of corn starch in about 1/4 cup of pineapple juice and slowly add to sauce mixture. (If you want a thicker sauce add more corn starch, less if you want a slightly thinner sauce.) Lower heat to thicken slightly. Once the sauce is thickened to your liking, pour over the chicken and vegetables. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes or until vegetables are cooked. Serve over white rice.

Enjoy! 

Monday, Monday

I feel like I'm starting off the week right.  I'm getting back into my groove.  It's a good way to start the week, especially on the day everyone hates.

I woke up once in the middle of the night, and prayed that God would take any unnecessary thoughts out of my head so I could go back to sleep.  It worked.  I dozed off till 6:00.  I got up at 7:00, after spending some time with the Lord, and got my day started.  My cousin was bringing the kids over today, since there's no school (Martin Luther King Jr. day).  I figured they'd be here between 8:30 and 9:00, so I had to get moving.  I had already decided what we were gonna have for lunch/dinner: spaghetti with meat sauce, breadsticks, and salad.  I needed to get the sauce in the crock pot early.  I don't care for sauce in a jar, so I make my own.  It's so simple, yet so much better (and healthier) than anything in the stores, and it takes less than 10 minutes to prepare.  A couple cans of crushed tomatoes, garlic, dried basil, dried oregano, one dried bay leaf, sofrito (made with onion, green pepper, garlic and cilantro), olive oil, salt and pepper.  Throw all the ingredients in the crock pot, and in 3 hours you have sauce.  Done.  The meat gets added later.  For breakfast, I decided to make pancakes.  I like buttermilk pancakes, again from scratch, because in my opinion they are just as easy to make as the boxed version, only they don't taste like a cardboard box.  I made a batch, along with bacon,  Oh, my kids love me, and now you know why.

As I was finishing whipping up our breakfast, the kids arrived.  They were actually late; it was after 9:00 when their dad dropped them off.  They brought bags of cereal that they had for breakfast, as we sat down to our pancakes.  Once I got the dishes in the sink the kids immediately asked to play a board game.  They brought Monopoly Jr., which they'd gotten for Christmas.  Over the summer I babysat them everyday, and we played at least 2 board games daily.  They loved coming over to my house because I took the time to play with them and teach them games.  I believe board games are so much better than video games; they're more interactive, and require more thinking.  While video games can be good for motor skills, so can card games.  The best part is, with board games you're looking at your opponent in the eye, rather than at a television screen.  I'm not opposed to video games; I just think there's better stuff out there.  So we played a game of Monopoly Jr. (totally fun), then my son R came out and started playing on his Wii U.  And they were gone.  For the next 2 hours.  Oh well, at least I was able to keep them focused for a little while.

I took advantage of those 2 hours and got some cleaning done.  Yesterday, as I was folding laundry, I tried to plug a light into the wall and accidentally knocked down my Dyson vacuum cleaner, the one that's been out of commission for the past few weeks.  I'd tried taking it apart to figure out why it wouldn't stand upright or work properly, but to no avail, so I had it in my room as I tried to decide whether to get it fixed or not.  As I picked it up to put it back where I'd had it, I realized what the problem was.  A piece, conveniently located right in front of another piece that I had taken apart and put back together, was out of place.  I moved it back to where it was supposed to go, and voila!  The vacuum cleaner was upright again.  Since it was already late at night I hadn't tested it, but I did try it out today.  It works like a dream.  To think I'd done so much to try and fix it, yet in one split second it was up and running.  All I could do was shake my head.

My daughter stayed home from work today.  Her throat is sore, her voice is gone, she had a low grade fever, and her sinuses are hurting.  Sounds just like what her brother had.  The good thing is that she's been able to nap during the day.  The bad thing is, she's gotta work tomorrow.  Hopefully she'll feel better in the morning.

After cleaning up I browned the ground beef and added it to the sauce, then made the breadsticks and spaghetti.  I like Pillsbury breadsticks; they taste good and are less messy to make.  As I was pulling the salad fixings out of the fridge, the kid's mom came and brought them pizza.  It's easy to see what their favorite food is: they went at it like piranhas.  I made the salad with a few sweet peppers from my garden, and my one lone tomato which had finally turned red.  It was a tiny little thing, but it packed a lot of sweetness!  I'm hoping it won't be the only tomato I get from that plant.

As I sat down to eat my lunch I took a look at the Bare Escentuals website to see about my order.  I hadn't gotten an email yet but I kind of hoped there would be an update about it shipping (there wasn't).  What I did see that caught my eye:  10% off everything on their website, and free shipping.  Why do they do this to me???  It's like they knew there was something I'd wanted to order but hadn't, so they enticed me with an incredible offer.  I have to admit, I debated back and forth whether to place the order or not.  I went through my makeup, reviewed my budget, and ultimately I got it.  It's a set of 5 eyeliners in different colors: bronze, green, taupe, plum, and gold.  This set normally sells for $29; one Lasting Line eyeliner on its own sells for $16.  This particular set was already on sale for $13; with the discount and tax I ended up paying just over $12.  That's about $2.50 per pencil.  I couldn't let a deal like that slip away!  Besides, I currently have 2 black eyeliners and 3 brown ones.  I also have one called Forever Brandy, which is a sort of burgundy/purple shade.  One of the brown ones is a bronze color, but that would be the only repeat.  I'm excited about having pencils in different colors because, at my age, black is harsh against my skin.  I'll still wear it, because I love black eyeliner, but it's too dramatic for anything other than special occasions.  Lighter colors are more flattering, and these colors will be a perfect fit.

As I was putting the lunch dishes in the dishwater, I asked my 8 year old niece if she'd gotten homework over the weekend.  She said that she had, and that she'd done all of it except for Reading Plus.  Reading Plus is a computer program the kids in public school use to improve their reading skills.  She knew she was supposed to do Reading Plus at my house, but she hadn't mentioned it to me.  When I asked her about it, she said, "I was going to tell you."  Uh-huh.  Like 5 minutes before her grandma picked her up?  Yeah, right kid.  I had her sit down and get to work.  She could have finished quickly, but she's so easily distracted!  Her brothers played on their tablets to keep them quietly occupied (as if it's possible to keep two little boys ages 5 and 7 quiet), and she was almost done by the time her grandma came to get them.  It was sad for me to see their grandma; she had been grandma Maria's primary caretaker for almost 30 years.  Her mother had helped her raise her daughter, and she in turn had cared for her mother in her declining years.  While she smiles and loves on her grandkids, there's definitely a sadness in her eyes, and I'm sure an empty spot in her heart.  We all know grandma Maria is with Jesus and she's no longer suffering.  It's the one comforting thought we have.

Once they were gone I fed Molly, then went to the front yard to trim some trees and bushes that were getting overgrown thanks to last week's rains.  Tomorrow is trash day, so I wanted to get as much debris inside the garbage tank as could fit.  I filled it up but good!  It took me an hour but thankfully the weather has been superb, in the low 70's with a nice breeze, so yard work was actually pleasant.  I had my dinner and rested a bit before taking my shower.  I cleaned up, picked up, and now I can try and plan tomorrow's school day.  Honestly, I have no clue what we're gonna be doing.  E has finished all his assignments; unless there's something he needs to change or correct, he's done, but he has 2 days of school this week.  I'm pretty sure his teachers won't be having any live lessons, since they have to finish grading everyone's final exams.  I'm waiting to see if I get any emails from his teachers, otherwise we're gonna have to figure something out.  Shouldn't be too hard, right?...

With that I will bid everyone a good night, sweet dreams, rest well, and remember, Jesus loves you.

Thoughtful Thursday - Is It Winter Yet?

We woke up to a chilly 55 degrees this morning.  Considering that our temperatures have been in the low 80's for the past couple of weeks, this is cold.  Compared to the rest of Florida, however, this is a heatwave.  Temperatures in the 30's and 40's for Central and North Florida, and we're only in the 50's?  That's kind of weird.  Or, as my kids would say, unfair.  My windows have been open all day and a cool breeze has made our home pleasant, except for the allergies.  My youngest son was sneezing up a storm this morning.  He's doing better now, praise the Lord, but I almost wondered if we'd be able to get any schoolwork done.

We actually accomplished a good chunk of work, meaning algebra.  That's what we worked on most of the day, reviewing and completing his unit 5 exam which was in 2 parts.  He actually did really well on the multiple choice: he has a 91% so far, and there's one answer the teacher has to check which could potentially give him a slightly higher grade.  Part 2 was emailed to the teacher so he's gonna have to wait till she grades it, but I think he did well on that too.  The only other thing he worked on was studying for his Hope DBA.  Hope is his physical education class; DBA's are discussion based assessments.  It's where the teacher calls him directly and asks him questions about what he's learned during the course.  He called in and left his teacher a message, but she didn't call back, probably because there are so many kids calling in for their DBA's.  I had him send an email with his phone number as well, in case she didn't understand his phone message since he tends to mumble (all my kids do; wonder where they got that from?).  He has his online Hope lesson tomorrow, plus he has to finish his English thesis and send it in.  It's actually complete, but he's waiting for his sister to review it and make any recommendations before he submits it.  It's one of the perks of having a sister who's an English tutor :-).

I took out some country-style ribs last night and put them in the crock pot this morning.  In case I've never mentioned it before, the crock pot is my favorite appliance of life.  Whoever came up with the crock pot is an absolute genius and should be president.  I mean, can it get any easier and more cost efficient?  I fill up my crock pot in the morning with most or all of the ingredients for the meal we're gonna eat in no more than 15 minutes.  I then set it, and walk away.  I can do whatever else needs to get done, even leave the house to run errands, and be assured that our meal will be perfect every time.  I've even set it at night (like a pot roast for instance) and in the morning the house smells divine.  And how much electricity does a crock pot use?  About the same as a standard light bulb.  I guarantee the oven isn't that energy efficient.  I've made chicken, turkey, beef, and pork in my crock pot, but it isn't just for meats and stews.  We made apple butter in the crock pot and it turned out amazing.  We also used it for hot chocolate on my daughter's birthday; it stayed warm all night and everyone enjoyed going back to it.  Country style ribs are so incredibly easy it's almost embarrassing.  Take 4 - 6 pounds of country style ribs (with or without bone, either works).  Salt and pepper them liberally, and place them in the crock pot.  Then in a bowl combine 1 bottle of chili sauce (I like Heinz but any will do; the bottle is about 12 ounces), 1 cup packed light brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, 2 tablespoons of Worchestershire sauce and half a cup of water.  Mix well and pour over the ribs.  Set it on low for 5-6 hours, then prepare yourself for tender deliciousness.  I served these with roasted potatoes and carrots.  They disappeared pretty quickly.

My son woke up feeling a bit better today.  I think he has a sinus cold because he says his chest isn't congested, just his head and nose.  Tylenol Sinus seems to be working for him, and I'm glad.  He's working from 5:00 till midnight tonight and there's nothing worse than working when you're sick.  

My daughter shared a story she read online.  She found it on Facebook.  Granted, it's from The Daily Mail, a tabloid from the UK that's notorious for printing not-so-true stories, but I think the information is pretty spot on.  I'd mentioned how I was trying different moisturizers because my skin is dry and the wrinkles under and around my eyes have been more pronounced lately.  Yes, I'm 51 years old and I should expect it.  But hey, I can also try to prevent it, right?  Well, the story is about a 42 year old woman who went to see her doctor about headaches and poor digestion.  Both her neurologist and nutritionist recommended the same thing:  drink more water.  According to the article, she started drinking 3 liters of water per day, and in 4 weeks she not only felt physically better (no more headaches and better digestion), but her wrinkles were gone, as were the dark circles under her eyes.  The pictures show a dramatic difference that could easily be photo-shopped, but the article does make sense.  All too often women think about moisturizing to hydrate the skin from the outside, but what about hydrating from the inside?  I have to admit, I don't drink nearly as much water as I should.  It's not that I don't like water; as a matter of fact it's my drink of choice.  I have one cup of coffee in the morning with my breakfast, then drink water anytime I'm thirsty.  Even when we go out to eat I have water with my meal instead of soda (though I do occasionally indulge in my favorite sugary drink, sweet tea).  My problem is the amount of water I drink, which usually is about 32 ounces a day.  That's half of what is recommended, and frankly, the recommendation falls short.  Why don't I drink more water?  I forget.  Plain and simple, I forget to drink water.  That's a lame excuse, I know.  So I've made it a point to keep a cup with me and try to drink 48 ounces in the morning and another 48 ounces at night.  I started building up my water intake a couple of days ago and already I'm seeing the effects:  I spend more time eliminating toxins from my body (read: I'm peeing more).  I do feel like my skin feels somewhat more hydrated but it's too soon to say how much.  I don't expect the results the woman in the Daily Mail article claims, but if I do get them that would be awesome!

At 5:00 I remembered that tomorrow is trash day, and there was lots of debris in the yard that needed to be picked up - specifically, palm fronds.  We have lots of palm trees in our yard.  Too many, in my opinion.  I like palm trees, they're beautiful and all, but the branches are enormous and have to be cut down to fit them into the trash can.  When I had the SUV I could pack them into the trunk and take them to the dump myself, but there's no way I'm gonna fill up my sedan with branches, twigs and dried up coconuts.  So I grabbed my gloves, my machete and the trash can and went to work cutting up and throwing away about 5 branches.  There's still 7 in the yard that didn't fit.  As I was working my son R came out to tell me he was leaving for work, and that E was on the phone with his teacher!  She'd called him just minutes after I went outside.  He says he did well, was able to answer the questions she asked, and that she didn't even ask all of the questions on the questionnaire, meaning he answered satisfactorily.  I was so glad that he could cross that off his list!  He'll be able to relax the rest of this week, but next week...that's a different story.  He's got semester finals for 5 classes next week, and no, he's not looking forward to them.  We'll probably be studying over the weekend to be sure he's up to speed on everything.  The good thing is, after next week he'll be off the 19th, 22nd and 23rd, so he'll have time to recuperate before the new semester starts on the 26th.  Mom will get some rest too.

I'm going to assume that's all the excitement for today (at least I hope it is!).  I'm gonna snack on some chocolate covered cookies, then shower and relax before bed.  Good night and God bless.

Quinoa Turkey Chili Recipe

I got this recipe off of Taste of Home and modified it to my family's tastes.  It makes a big ole pot of chili, enough for my family of 4 to eat lunch and dinner.

Quinoa Turkey Chili

  1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed

  1-1/2 cups chicken stock

  1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

  1 pound lean ground turkey

  1 large sweet onion, chopped

  1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped

  4 garlic cloves, minced

  1 tablespoon chili powder

  1 tablespoon ground cumin

  1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained

  1 can (14 1/2 ounces) petite diced tomatoes

  1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes with chiles 

  1 medium sweet potato, chopped

  1 bay leaf

  1 teaspoon dried oregano

  1/2 teaspoon salt

  1/4 teaspoon pepper

  1 can (11 ounces) Mexicorn

Directions

In a large saucepan, bring quinoa and 1 cup water to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Remove from the heat; fluff with a fork and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a large pot heat olive oil, cook the turkey, onion, red pepper, sweet potato and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain. Stir in the chili powder, cumin and cinnamon; cook 2 minutes longer.

Add the black beans, tomatoes, bay leaf, oregano, salt, pepper and chicken stock. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir in corn and quinoa; heat through. Discard bay leaf; stir in cilantro if desired. Yield: 9 servings (2-1/4 quarts).

Quinoa is new to me; in an effort to eat healthier and reduce gluten for my daughter's sake I decided to give it a try.  It's no different from other grains in that it absorbs the taste of whatever it gets cooked in. It really isn't a grain; it's a seed that acts like a grain.  But unlike most grains, quinoa is considered a super food.  It is packed with 8 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, plus iron, zinc, potassium, and plenty of other minerals.  It's the reason why this chili is so full of nutrients.  It's also full of flavor, and we like that it's a perfect dish for this cooler fall weather.  Hope y'all enjoy it!     

Another No-So-Sunshiny Day

I awoke this morning to a strange ringing.  I wondered if maybe the ceiling fan was malfunctioning, but I soon realized it was my daughter's alarm clock.  She slept over at a friend's house whom she is dog sitting for and forgot to turn her alarm clock off.  So much for sleeping in today.

Let me give you an idea how inconsistent our weather has been.  I got up to get ready for my day, and I could hear the rainstorm going on outside.  This was not just a little rain; the wind was blowing and the water was pelting the window.  The bathroom was dark despite it being 7:30 am and our bathroom having a large glass block window.  By the time I went into the kitchen to make breakfast (and no, it doesn't take me THAT long to get ready), the sky was blue and there were puffy white clouds - the only sign of rain was the wet ground.  That's how it has been all week long.

I was glad the rain had stopped, because this is grocery week and I need to start planning menus for the next two weeks.  So I put a biscuit and hash brown in the toaster oven and left for our local Winn-Dixie.  I don't care for the traffic in the mornings, but the Charlie Brown Christmas CD playing in my car made the drive tolerable.  Winn-Dixie usually has good deals on meat, especially beef.  Alas, not today.  I don't understand how Florida, the second largest beef producing state (Texas of course is first) can have such ridiculous prices for meat.  C'mon guys!  Give a homemaker a break here!  Ground beef is at $3.99 a pound?!  No thanks.  Costco has it at $3.79/lb.  I'll just have to get it there.  I ended up getting a package of ground turkey for this incredibly delicious turkey and quinoa chili I made a week or so ago.  I made some adjustments to the original recipe, like adding sweet potato to it, and Oh My Word was it delicious!  My picky son E ate two bowls of it for lunch and had a healthy serving again for dinner.  Oh yeah, that recipe is a keeper!  I'll have to share it here in case anyone is interested.

When I got home I started up some spaghetti sauce in the crockpot.  I use a couple large cans of crushed tomatoes (28 oz), a tablespoon of olive oil, a teaspoon each of basil and oregano, two large tablespoons of sofrito (a latin concoction made of onions, peppers, garlic and cilantro.  It's the base for most Puerto Rican cuisine), one small bay leaf, an additional minced clove of garlic (because you can never have enough garlic in a sauce), and salt and pepper to taste.  I put that on high for about 3 hours.  There is no jar sauce out there that compares.  I guarantee it.

We had breakfast and I was geared up for a busy school day.  After only 2 hours of school on Monday, and 5 hours each Tuesday and Wednesday, we were behind not only in 2 of his classes but his hours as well.  We started with music history; that took all of a half hour.  Then we went on to English, and the beginning of his thesis.  Surely that would take some time, right?  Nope.  An hour and he was done.  We got started on algebra, a lesson he'd listened to on Wednesday but hadn't understood.  That meant we would take a while working on it, going over all the steps until he got it.  Wrong again.  Once I showed him the first example he immediately knew what to do.  I actually dragged out the lesson as much as possible, going over the same examples to make sure he understood.  After lunch he took the quiz and got 100%.  And at that point was totally caught up with his work.  Thank goodness homeschool includes more than just the lessons he does online.  He can watch documentaries and they count as school work.  He watched a documentary on coyotes and another on whales.  Physical activity also counts as school, so a run in the park goes towards his PE requirement.  No wonder he likes homeschooling so much!

Two more packages arrived today.  I should get all my Christmas orders this week.  Last week Bare Escentuals had 5 days of special offers that I was following, since I love their makeup and I'm trying to get some more products but at the best possible price.  Sunday's kit was amazing:  a total of 13 items for $30.  It was what I'd been hoping for, since the previous day's sales were not interesting to me.  I wanted items I didn't already have, and that's what Sunday's deal gave me.  So I went ahead and ordered it, and quickly received a confirmation.  The next day my credit card was charged, and I was excited to find out when the order would ship.  This morning I noticed I still hadn't gotten a shipping notice, so I went online to check my account.  There was no open order.  There was no closed order.  There was no order whatsoever.  Hmm, that's not good.  So I emailed the company and asked if the order was still in the system.  Within a couple of hours I got my shipping notice: the order shipped today.  Now, it could very well be that there was a glitch in the system, and the order was supposed to ship today...or maybe my alert let them know the order hadn't gone out.  Only the company knows for sure.  But this is a clear reminder:  keep an eye out for orders placed with companies online.  They're human too.  Anyone can make a mistake, orders can fall between the cracks, and it's each person's responsibility to keep track of where their spending money/merchandise is going.

Lunch and dinner today was the same:  bow tie pasta and meatballs in a marinara sauce, along with crescent rolls.  I'm gonna watch a Christmas movie now.  I want to sit back, relax with a cup of candy cane tea, and enjoy a Christmas movie while the glow of the Christmas tree warms up the living room.  I love this time of year, and I'm so thankful that I can enjoy this with my family.  The greatest gift we have is Jesus, and I'm especially thankful for Him.  Goodnight folks :-)

Observing My Senses

For Today, September 5, 2013...

I am seeing...clouds, with some blue sky trying to peek through.  We've had thunderstorms everyday this week.  Today has been the first dry day in a while.

I am feeling...thankful that my kids appear to have beaten the stomach bug.  They're both feeling much better.

I am hearing...my youngest son make funny jokes while he does his homework.  I know he easily gets distracted; by the same token, he's a funny kid.

I am tasting...the red velvet cupcake I had for dessert today.  Actually, it was only a quarter of a cupcake.  These oversized cupcakes I got at Costco have over 700 calories each.  Even a quarter of one has 190 calories.  They are absolutely delicious, absolutely decadent, the best way to end a meal.

I am smelling...the aroma of ham that still lingers after our meal.  I made a couple of ham steaks in the oven.  I like Smithfield ham slices, bone-in, reduced sodium whenever I find it.  I season the steaks with no salt seasoning, then pour a mixture of 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons pineapple juice, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground mustard over the them.  I place them in a 13x9x2 casserole dish, cover them with pineapple slices, then bake in a 425 degree oven for about 45 minutes.  Super simple, and super delicious!

It just takes a moment to observe your surroundings.  Won't you join me?

Observing My Senses

For Today, August 9, 2013...

I am seeing...an empty family room.  My youngest son saw a spider in the family room last night and now refuses to come in here.

I am feeling...a great sense of accomplishment!  I'd bought a recipe book several years ago that I've been slowly adding my recipes to.  Problem is, it brought its own lined paper, and I wanted to print the pages on my computer.  Some came out okay, others looked terrible.  I'd finally gotten the configuration to kinda work, when my computer crashed, and I couldn't get it right on the computer I have now.  My oldest son took a look at it and said he could figure out a way to get it to work, and boy did he ever!  Now the pages look professionally done!  I got a lot of recipes typed up and printed, and still have plenty to go.  Feeling real good about it right now!

I am hearing...wait, was that thunder in the distance?  Aw, c'mon!  Not more rain again!

I am tasting...my morning coffee, along with a piece of oatmeal bread. It was BOGO time for Pepperidge Farm breads, and this one doesn't disappoint.

I am smelling...breakfast.  I can't imagine living in a home that doesn't smell like breakfast every morning.

It just takes a moment to observe your surroundings.  Won't you join me?

Recipe Time: Slow Cooker Jambalaya

I got a request the other day for my Slow Cooker Jambalaya recipe.  Here you go, with my compliments.  Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Slow Cooker Jambalaya

1 pound chicken breast or breast tenders, cubed
1 polish kielbasa link, sliced
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes (I like the petite diced)
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (I use Tony Cachere's)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 pound peeled, veined shrimp
Hot cooked rice

In sprayed slow cooker, combine all ingredients except shrimp and rice.  Cover and cook on low for 6 - 8 hours or on high for 3 -4 hours.  Stir in shrimp and cook on low for an additional 1 hour.  Serve over hot cooked rice.  Serves 6.

Pocket Pies

My sister has asked that I reveal the recipe to make what Alton Brown calls pocket pies, mini pies that can be held in the hand, similar to Hostess Fruit Pies.  I could simply explain how to make them, but it's so extremely easy that I'd be embarrassed to post just the how-to.  Instead, I'll give some pictures along with step-by-step instructions for everyone's enjoyment.

For starters, here's what you'll need:  pastry discs (found in the frozen food section of your supermarket), fillings (I use fruit pie filling from Winn-Dixie, like apple pie filling and blueberry filling, or Nutella for chocolatey pies), and oil for frying.  I use corn or canola oil, and add a little olive oil because I love the flavor.

I separate the discs, and have a small bowl of water nearby for moistening the edges.

I moisten the edges on both sides with my fingers.  This is so there is a good seal on the pies before frying.

I put the filling on top of the disc.  In this picture I've used apple pie filling.  About a tablespoon should be good; don't overfill or they won't seal properly and will leak.

Fold the pie pastry in half, then press on the edges with a fork to seal the edges tight.  Flip the pie over and do the same on the other side.

Set them in a frying pan filled with about 1/4" of oil and fry on medium heat till browned.  It'll take about a minute, minute and a half.

Flip and brown on the other side.  Once both sides are browned, remove from the pan and put on a rack or on paper towels to drain the excess oil.

These were made with blueberry pie filling.

And these are my "chocolate" pies, made with Nutella.  The process is the same; you can use any filling you like:  peach, pineapple, lemon, blackberry, raspberry, etc.

And that's it.  I know, super simple!  If you like your pies extra sweet, you can sprinkle some confectioner's sugar over the finished product, but my family likes them just like this.  They can also be baked in a 350 degree oven; don't know how long it takes but I would calculate about 15 - 20 minutes.  I'd do an egg wash on the top to keep the dough moist.  We like these because in my house everyone has a different flavor preference.  I absolutely love apple pie but my kids don't care for it.  My two older kids love blueberries but because of my allergies I can't have them :P.  My youngest son is all about chocolate.  This way I can please all palates without having to bake 3 entire pies.

As a side note:  I like my apple pocket pie warm, but my kids say the blueberry pies are better chilled.  You try them out and decide what you like best.  Enjoy!

Move It Mondays

Happy Monday everyone!  It's a cloud-filled Monday in South Florida, though the clouds are the puffy white kind, not the grey and filled with rain ones.  That can change at any moment, as we Floridians know too well.  It's currently 80 degrees out, 82% humidity, and we're not supposed to get rain today.  Huh???  How can you have 82% humidity and no rain?!  Of course, as my youngest son would tell me, "When the weatherman says it won't rain, you'd better pack your umbrella!"  I always keep an umbrella handy, just in case.

One concern I'm having is that we're entering the month of August this week, and that's one of the busiest storm months.  True to form, there are 2 systems in the tropics right now, one a tropical wave and the other a low pressure trough.  While neither may turn into a threat, it's best to keep our eyes peeled.  The weather this summer (the entire year, actually) has been unseasonably warm, and there's nothing these systems love more than warm water.  I'm hoping and praying that any storms that form stay out in the ocean and don't threaten any land masses.

So, what's in store for today?  For starters, I read my daily devotion and 1 Corinthians chapter 7 which we're studying in Sunday school.  I'm frying up some sausages for E's breakfast - sausages are his favorites.  I'm thinking I want oatmeal today.  I make my oatmeal with almond milk instead of water, which is super delicious, and sprinkled with a dash of cinnamon and brown sugar on top.  A delightful treat for the morning!  Afterwards, I'm going to tackle some laundry.  Probably 2-3 loads.  The menu today calls for oven baked crispy chicken wings which is a family favorite, with noodles and a salad.  Shortly thereafter I'm off to the doctor's office for my yearly checkup.

Ugh.

I know, it's necessary to get checked out and make sure all my parts are working properly, and my doctor is a sweet lady, but that doesn't make it any more pleasant.  I've got to be there early too; I'm still under J's health insurance which changed to a new insurance company, so I've got to bring in the information that I don't have :P.  Supposedly the new insurance cards were sent out, but here we are at the end of the month and we haven't received them.  Hopefully the doctor will work with the paper J was given at work, otherwise it'll be a wasted trip.  With the price of gas being what it is, that doesn't make me happy.

But hey, I'm not going to let little things like that get me down!  It's Monday, another great day, a day to be thankful because we're alive!  God bless y'all, have a wonderful week.

Yummy Pancake Recipe

I love pancakes.  My whole family does.  Pancakes was one of the first things I learned to make when my mom taught me to cook at the tender young age of 9.  I experimented and learned a lot about following recipes.  Even when the recipe was on the back of a box.

My mom always bought the Aunt Jemima buttermilk pancake mix that had all the dry ingredients and all that was needed was an egg, some milk and a tablespoon of oil.  In time the mixes began coming with everything included, called "Complete", and needed only water.  I tried those mixes, but the pancakes tasted like cardboard and quite frankly, I don't like cardboard.  I kept buying the mix my mom always bought, known as "original".  At times it was hard to find; I guess most people go for the easy mix so stores don't carry the more "complicated" version.  Then I started to notice a difference.  Maybe it's just me; maybe the original mix sits on the shelf too long, but the pancakes just didn't taste the same.  They were flavorless.  Yes, I could smother them in syrup, but I don't like that option.  I prefer pancakes with a little syrup, not syrup with a little pancake.

Of course, I could always make my own pancakes from scratch.  There's plenty of recipes on the internet, and I had one in my cookbook at home.  So, what was stopping me?  Truth is, I'd make pancakes from scratch once before, and I was disappointed.  They tasted bland.  I thought maybe it was the flour, but I didn't want to spend money on buying some specialty flour only to be disappointed again, so I gave up on the idea.  Then recently I was watching an old episode of Good Eats, where Alton Brown made his own pancakes from scratch and explained (as he is well known for doing) why he used each specific ingredient.  I was surprised to find he uses all purpose flour just like I had, but he did use one significant ingredient that I hadn't used.  Buttermilk.  "Duh," I thought, "of course, you can't make buttermilk pancakes without buttermilk!"  So I decided I'd give it a try.  I bought a quart of buttermilk, found a recipe in one of my cookbooks, and went for it.  Oh.My.Word!  These are real pancakes!  And you know what else is incredible?  They are so easy to make!  Honestly, I don't see why anyone would eat those cardboard imitations when it's so simple to make the batter yourself!  If you don't believe me, here's the recipe.  Try it.  I assure you, you will never go back to box mixes again.

Buttermilk Pancakes

Dry ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet ingredients:
1 beaten egg
1 1/3 cups buttermilk
1 tablespoon cooking oil (I used canola)

In a bowl sift together all the dry ingredients.  In a separate bowl combine the wet ingredients.  Add the wet ingredients all at once to the dry; stir till blended but still lumpy.  DO NOT OVERMIX.  Pour about a 1/4 cup of batter onto a hot buttered griddle.  Cook till golden brown, turning to cook the other side when pancakes have a bubbly surface and slightly dry edges.  I got 7 - 6 inch pancakes from this batter.  Super simple and super delicious!

Move It Mondays

Happy Monday folks!  It's a lovely morning here in South Florida.  We got lots of rain and lightning and thunder yesterday, and right now it's hard to tell what's gonna happen today.  There's patches of blue sky but there's also cloud coverage, just like yesterday.  I have a suspicion it's gonna be another wet day.

With that in mind I think today is a good day to do indoor stuff ;).  Thankfully I got caught up with laundry on Saturday, though we all know "caught up with laundry" is a relative term.  It just means I don't need to do laundry today.  But the floors need cleaning; Molly hasn't been shedding as much lately which is nice but she's still a drooler, and the spots on the floor need to be removed.  Other than that, and a quick clean of the bathrooms, the house is in good condition.

I've started some sauce in the crockpot for baked ziti.  Once I made my own marinara sauce I couldn't stomach the jar stuff anymore.  It's so simple, too.  In a crockpot I put 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil (I just eyeball it), 2 - 28 oz cans of crushed tomatoes (I use Contadina but any brand will do), one tablespoon of sofrito (a Puertorican mixture of onions, green peppers, garlic and cilantro or parsley or whatever herb you like), one teaspoon each of oregano, basil, and salt, 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and one bay leaf.  Stir, cover, set on low, and in 3 hours you have homemade sauce.  It takes long to cook but once you turn on the crockpot you just walk away and let it take care of itself.  Prep time is under 5 minutes and worth every second.

Since it looks like today may be a wash out, it looks like the perfect day for bowling.  I took a survey for the bowling alley so I can get a free game on top of the two paid for ones, so that should keep us busy for awhile.  My only concern is the arthritis in my right elbow.  The pain can become fierce, especially when I pick up something heavy.  I have to use the lightest bowling ball which doesn't afford me as many strikes, but it's necessary to avoid pain and possible injury.  It's a fun exercise, though, and we all enjoy playing and laughing together.

I hope you all make the most of this Monday.  God bless, and have a wonderful day.