Tag: cooking

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Organizing the Spice Cupboard

This morning while I was looking for some cinnamon, I decided that I was in dire need of some kitchen spice racks. I opened the cupboard and I had an avalanche of spices fall out of it. My kids are all teenagers, or out of their teens now, and they have started to try their hand at cooking. Needless to say, they don’t put my spices back in the cupboard the way I like to have them, and since I have literally nearly every spice one can imagine, when they are finished cooking I can’t find what I’m looking for.

I have one wall in my kitchen, that I think a big wall spice rack would look great on and the spices would be organized plus close at hand for everyone to use. I like the idea of the spices to be displayed so we wouldn’t have to dig through the cupboard to find what we are looking for. I’m thinking about getting one for my baking spices, and then my cooking spices. Perhaps even one that would hold the various oils I use when I make candy.

My mom has some really nice looking spice racks that my sister got her for her birthday, and since she doesn’t have a whole lot of cupboard space, she has hung hers on the wall where everything is handy for her. I’m looking forward to getting rid of the clutter and have my spices organized.

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Soup is good comfort food

When it turns cold I tend to fix food more for the comfort and warmth than the ease of cooking. So I make a lot of soups and chili to keep on hand for the kids and for me too for that matter. Good wholesome warm food is always a good thing when the weather turns cold, last night I made a brisket in beer sauce it turned out fantastic and everyone loved it. The entire house smelled of the chili sauce in the recipe and when I walked in from work that was a very nice smell let me tell you. Today is going to be left-overs and soup so get ready it is a day of rest for me today.

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Going swimming

A good friend of mine has invited all of us to go swimming at her house. I’ve been cooking some things to take and am looking forward to going. Pat, my friend works a lot of hours and we don’t seem to be able to hook up and hang out as much as we used to. I’ll be great to spend time with her, her kids and her grand kids also. I haven’t seen her newest little grand-daughter and it’ll be nice to hold a baby for a bit. AND, I can give the little one back to her mother when I get enough of my “baby fix”. LOL!

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Porch needs a new roof

Once I got the nerve up to climb a ladder, since I am not afraid of heights but do have the terrible fear of falling if that makes sense, I was in total disbelief how the porch roof looked. I cleaned the gutters and eaves troughs, but there were shingles that had blown off during the winter and I do need to get a roofer out here to fix it.

I have a dear friend I’ve known since my early teens who is a roofer and he really knows his stuff. My husband who passed away at a young age was a roofer and siding contractor. He taught my a lot, but this job I can’t do myself because of the falling fear factor.

I’m sure my friend will give me a good deal, as he is actually considered family and comes to all our family get together’s. I’ll barter with him and cook for him, since he is a bachelor! He loves my cooking, so it’s a win win situation as long as I buy the materials!

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Preparing for Easter

Not being sure how many family members and friends will be here for Easter is making it rather hard to plan on a meal and what to serve, not to mention how much food I’ll need. I don’t like it when this happens but as of now, even my kids are indecisive about what their plans are and my youngest daughter won’t be here since she moved to Florida.

This is the first time that the whole family won’t be together and also don’t know if they will be around the house on Easter Sunday. The way I figure it, I’m not going to have a sit down dinner like usual this year if I don’t know who will be here and how many.

I’m seriously thinking that tonight I’m going to shop for everything I need, then just make it into a buffet style dinner. I can get a ham that is already cooked and sliced (easy out) and then make side dishes and finger food. Oh yes, and paper plates will be used. The strong ones but disposable plates I can throw away. I cook, why should I do dishes too!? At least that is my take on it, if no one knows what their plans are. Okay, I guess my rant is over. Now to make a shopping list…

Disposable plates

Disposable knives, spoons and forks

Disposable cups

Have a Happy Easter All, and remember what it’s all about.

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A perfect hard boiled egg

After trying dozens upon dozens of tips on how to make the perfect hard boiled egg, I decided to wing it and try to make the perfect egg without using these tips. I didn’t want a green outside for the yolk and I didn’t want my eggs whites, to turn out like rubber. Below is what I did and the results were perfect for me.

Put one dozen eggs into a large pan big enough to hold them without crowding. Cover with water, an inch or so over the eggs. Put on burner at high heat, until it comes to a rolling hard boil. Boil for one half of a minute.

Take pan off heat source and cover. Leave it alone for 9 minutes. Drain and stick in the sink filled with cold water and ice cubes. I waited until the ice cubes melted to take my eggs out. One tip is, to use old eggs. I bought eggs especially for cooking hard boiled and let them sit in the refrigerator for two weeks. Took them out and got them to room temperature before I put them in the water. My eggs peeled perfectly, and were a nice yellow color with no grey or green tint to them! I’m not saying everyone’s will turn out like mine. I think it’s trial and error…like to each their own in the cooking department when it comes to hard boiling eggs. That is at least my opinion.

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The gift of a spice rack

My oldest daughter called me and asked what kind of spice rack she would need for her kitchen. I sat on the other end of the phone in puzzlement. My  kids have asked me a lot of various questions in their lifetime, some of which were quite strange questions, but never about a thing like this. I think maybe she was hinting that she would like to have one.

Spice racks to me are personal. I don’t really like to cook, but cook I do, and I’m good at it. One can be good at something and still not like to do it. When it comes to my spices, I’m very picky. The order they are in, and the type of spice group they are in is important to me. That is where good spice racks come in. They are awesome for organization of spices and also save space.

I think, judging how my daughter’s kitchen is set up, that she should look into a wall spice rack. She is learning now how to use various spices, and this way they would be right within her reach, organized, and would be a nice decor touch for her kitchen. I’ll be buying my daughter’s her first spice rack. I’ve seen some nice ones that she will be sure to like.

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Late seed and plant shopping

Today, my mom, daughter and I went late seed shopping. It’s not really late, since our growing season last into fall, but it’s sometimes iffy to plant late like this. Still, mom knew of some stores that had seeds really cheap and if I don’t use them this year, I’ll use them next year. Unless seeds are a few years old, I don’t pay much attention to the expiration dates. I keep them in air tight and water resistant containers, so I’ve never had a problem with them growing.

Tomorrow we’re going to take my mom out for dinner for Father’s Day. She doesn’t want me to spend my money on this and wanted to cook us dinner. That is just the way she is. Today I bought her some great inside plants that she’ll get tomorrow. It was hard to get them into the cart and paid for, then into the trunk of the car without her seeing them, but I had my daughter distract her. Actually, mom has eyes behind her head and doesn’t miss a trick, so she no doubt saw them or had an idea that I got them for her. She’ll act surprised though.

My garden here is starting to look really nice and I’ve been working on my son and my bale garden. It’s fun and interesting to see how well the veggies are going to do planting this way, since we’ve never done it. I’m getting a lot of advice from my friend Lindsay though. It’s been a long day, I’m tried after walking all over today. I’m looking forward to scattering s0me seeds tomorrow though in a spot I dug up along the sidewalk.

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Market day and sky high prices

This morning I had to go grocery shopping and once again, the prices of food bummed me out. It’s getting harder and harder to feed my family and I know I’m going to have to once again tighten up the purse strings and go back to basics.

I can cook creatively, but now I’m going to dig out old recipes that my mom had used while raising us. She was a pro at cooking something great with the minimal of resources. I admire and respect her for this and a lot of other reasons.

Online there is a site that I go to, which tells what items, food and otherwise, is  found cheap during the month of June. It’s looking like meat prices are not in the cards, but berries and produce are. LOL.. there I go, I’ll fix my kids berry squash casseroles and see how that goes over. NOT!

 

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Happy Birthday to my little brother

Where does the time go? My little brother turned 50, and it’s hard to believe. Memories flood back of him coming to my house after school and I would make him chocolate chip pancakes. Back then, the chocolate chips came in mini size. He loved the pancakes and I think that is the reason he used to come over. That and to play one of the very first electronic games that came out…sort of like Nintendo, but I can’t remember the name of it. I never could figure out the controller, so I never did play the thing, but my little brother loved it. He did end up getting it from me.

So.. Happy Birthday Chief! I hope you have a wonderful day and all your wishes come true!! I love you!
XOXXO