Kielbasa and Potatoes

This was pretty good but I got in a hurry and didn't get the spices added and the potatoes needed to cook a little bit more. My excuse: I was hungry.

If you want to give it a try you can get the recipe HERE.

Joanna commented on my HHM post from earlier today on how I prepared my potatoes.  Well.....I roughly chopped them (chopping vegetables isn't something I'm good at) and pre cooked them in the microwave for about 8 minutes on high.  Next time I think  maybe more like 10 to 12 minutes would be better.

I cooked this in the skillet and my kielbasa didn't produce much grease to cook the potatoes in, so I added a couple heaping tablespoons of shortening to my skillet.

I did get salt added, at least I added that.  LOL!  I'll try this again.  Maybe next time I can get good fried taters (not good at that either) by microwaving them a bit longer and remember to add the rest of the spices.

HHM 8/10/2015

The weather in my neck of the woods:

Wondering if we are getting our Fall already.  Even next week's forecast looks similar. Cooler days and much cooler nights this week.

Things that make me happy:
My Fuzzy kitty.  She comes running when my alarm goes off, for some morning loving. At night, if I'm sitting down doing something she has been laying at my feet.

Menu for this week:
Most all my menu items are make ahead crockpot dishes

Not sure what order we will have them, or if I will add something to the menu

In the Freezer

Crockpot Beef and Gravy
Honey Garlic Chicken
Sriracha Honey Chicken Legs

Slow Cooker Cube Steak

Simple Pork Chop Dinner

Chicken Fried Steaks

To Make Up this Week

Some of these are prep on the morning er eat them.  Pretty simple to do in a few minutes.

• Kielbasa and Potatoes
• Chicken Fried Steak  My Dining on a Dime Cookbook P. 183 (older version)  mashed taters, homemade white gravy (dod cookbook P 183) Crockpot Creamed Corn 
• Cheesey Chicken & Tater Tot Bake  
• No Boil Mac and Cheese  
• crockpot Ravioli  
• Candy Chicken  
• Slow Cooker Peach Dump Cake
• Cream Cheese Chicken 

What's on my TV today:

probably nothing much.  I'm anxiously awaiting Monday the 24th, Switched at Birth is back for another season.


Looking around the house:

Living room: little vacuuming and straitening, but not bad

Kitchen: few dishes soaking in and on the sink waiting for me to wash them tonight

Bathroom: needs cleaned

Bedroom: not too bad

On my To Do List:

• Print out any new recipes I've chosen to make
• make ahead some meals on this weeks list
• work on my crochet projects

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
The crockpot Beef and Gravy was AMAZING!  In fact I actually have 2 more in the freezer, only 1 is under a different name.  The Cincinnati Chili was a bit much when it was fresh made, but the leftovers were pretty good (and I'm not a leftover person)

In the craft basket:
I'm still working on the afghan for my sister. I'm getting close to having it finished.   I volunteered to make a rich textures tote for a fellow yarn club member.  It's almost done as well. I got the rest of the yarn from her Saturday night.  I got my new tunisian crochet hooks so I've been crocheting with them.  Here's what I made Saturday night.  It looks knit, but it's really crocheted, honest.  It's the tunisian knit stitch.  It's big enough to fit my android phone.

Looking forward to this week:
getting a lot accomplished and both businesses doing well.

Tips and Tricks:
keep powder milk around.  I use it instead of milk most of the time in cooking.  1/3 cup powder to 1 cup water makes 1 cup or 8 ounces of milk.

Currently Reading

I haven't been reading a book this week I've been doing my best to listen to the Bible.  I finished up the book of John, finally, and am working on Psalms.


No words needed (favorite photo or picture):

Our latest project at the castle....part of the "garden" and it's also helping to block that hot, hot, afternoon summer sun.

The road signs are vinatage and many are hand painted.  They came from what used to be the local army ammunition plant

Lesson learned the past few days:

One of the Friday night "young adults" said something that just made complete sense.  I can't remember exactly how she said it, so this is my interpretation.  "It doesn't matter if you're fat or skinny, tall, or short.  It's all a matter of your own self confidence in yourself.

On my mind:

I was given some fresh homegrown veggies over the weekend.....I think I'll dehydrate them.  

Linking up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday
and
Organized Junkie for Menu Plan Monday

Need to make menu changes.......and Tonights YUMMY meal

Ok, now I remember WHY I don't buy meat at Country Mart, the "expensive" grocery store.  It should be more of a no brainer when it's cheap on sale.  This package of pork smelled ok, and looked ok.....until I was to the last 3 pieces on the tray.  It smelled funny and when i turned it over this is what I found

yes....it's GREEN!  I had had it a few days so I know the store wouldn't be willing to refund my money, especially after I called them on trying to over charge me on my rain-check chicken (maybe a blog for another day, LOL!).  Hubby, who used to work in a meat dept right after we were married, said this was obviously done on purpose. the meat was most likely bad when it was packaged up.

I don't care HOW cheap their meat is, I will not buy meat there again.  This isn't the first time I've had problems.  I can't count all the times I've had problems with meat at this store.  The other store, which is Save-A-Lot, I can only remember one time that I have gotten bad meat.  ONE TIME compared to too many to count.

I will be working on the menu the next couple days, since I will most likely shop on Sunday, at Save-A-Lot.  I will share what I come up with on Monday.  What currently is in the freezer is listed on the column to the right.  The Kielbasa will be made from scratch, or maybe tossed in the freezer for a future cooler evening.

Ok, now for the YUMMINESS!

this was absolutely AMAZING!  It is the Crockpot Beef and Gravy.  Other than maybe serving over noodles instead of potatoes, this is perfect, and I think I have 2 of these in the freezer.  Why?  Well because I didn't buy everything from the store that I needed for the recipes I wanted to make.  *sigh*

Tomorrow I think I will put the Cilantro Lime Chicken in the cooker.

The next 2 nights are going to be busy, in fact my living room is half cleaned for tomorrow because there are people here playing games (MTG  magic the gathering).  I am happy to say that my dishes are done, and I think I still have time to go bread the rest of the cube steaks so I can put some chicken fried steaks in the freezer, before THAT meat goes bad.  It was bought at country mart as well.

TTFN  I probably won't be back until Sunday or Monday.  Both Friday and Saturday are busy nights.

Cincinnati Chili and Hamburgers

Ok I'm a bit behind, but I did fix Cincinnati chili on Monday.  It was pretty good, but unless I do some major tweaking to the recipe I won't be making it again anytime soon.  Hubby thought it was good but it gave him indigestion, which he never gets indigestion.  Son and I thought it was too spicy, and the cinnamon taste and the cocoa taste just didn't go with the dish.  It also gave me indigestion, which isn't unusual. SO.....once the leftovers are gone I'll be looking for another spaghetti red chili recipe.

Tuesday night I made the hamburgers because it was cooler and we didn't really need to run the AC.  The special thing about the hamburgers was the seasoning.  I've made it once before and didn't put enough on and the burgers didn't taste any different.  This time I cooked the burgers from frozen and waited until they were slightly unfrozen on top and then I put a layer on.  Too much this time.  On some of the burgers anyway.  Way too spicy for me, and gave me indigestion.  Son said it was too spicy, and hubby liked it.

I didn't get around to prepping meals last night, so will have to make  a point to do it tonight because it's getting ready to heat back up.  *sigh*

Tonight We will either have the Beef & Gravy or the Chicken Tacos, I haven't decided yet.

Then.....it's prep time again.  :-)

HHM 8/3/2015

The weather in my neck of the woods:

Things that make me happy:
Having meals ready to put in the crockpot to have ready to eat at 5:00

Menu for this week:
Most all my menu items are make ahead crockpot dishes

Not sure what order we will have them, but you can see what I have planned for the next 2 weeks.  I try to rotate things so we don't have the same kind of meat 2 days in a row.

Here is what is left in the freezer from last week:
Crockpot Beef and Gravy
Cincinnati Chili  (fixing Monday)
Hamburgers
Honey Garlic Chicken


Going with this week's sale ads, Pork is mostly what is on sale. *sigh* we're not big pork fans, but I'm going to make up some pork dishes for the freezer.

Slow Cooker Cube Steak with Gravy  served with mashed taters
Simple Tender Pork Chops served with rice
Simple Pork Chop Dinner potatoes on the side with green beans
Smothered Steak
Crockpot Chicken Tacos (we do like these, but going to try this version, tomatoes & green chilies are cheaper than our favorite salsa)
Kielbasa and Potatoes
Cilantro Lime Chicken
Sriracha Honey Chicken Wings (using legs since I have a rain check from last week)
Slow Cooker Green Beans

What's on my TV today:
Haven't been watching anything lately


Looking around the house:

Living room: just a few chairs to straighten up

Kitchen: few dishes soaking in and on the sink waiting for me to wash them tonight

Bathroom: needs cleaned

Bedroom: not too bad

On my To Do List:

• Print out recipes I've chosen to make
• Finish grocery shopping tonight
• make ahead some meals on this weeks list
• work on my crochet projects

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
I have been sharing them as I make them.  I think our top 2 favorites, that all 3 of us liked was the Philly Sandwiches and the Homemade Pizza

In the craft basket:
I'm still working on the afghan for my sister.   I volunteered to make a rich textures tote for a fellow yarn club member. I'm getting close to getting it done.

Looking forward to this week:
I ordered a set of Tunisian Crochet Hooks.  I should have them by Friday, if not before.

Tips and Tricks:
You can brown hamburger in the crockpot.  No need to heat up the house by using the stove.

Currently Reading

I read Ghost No More by CeeCee James in like 24 hours.  I couldn't put it down.  I could relate to some of the incidents in the book so it made it even better. *affiliate link*


No words needed (favorite photo or picture):

How about a video!  We got a sweet deal this past week.  Here is just 1 of our new party lights. We were testing them out on the ceiling.

Lesson learned the past few days:

Other local small business people deal with the same issues as we do.

On my mind:

I was given some fresh homegrown veggies over the weekend.....I think I'll dehydrate them.  

Linking up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday
and
Organized Junkie for Menu Plan Monday

Yes and NO!

So for Saturday evening I decided to put the Balsamic Glazed Chicken in the cooker.  I opted not to eat any because #1 it's pretty acidic and #2 I'm not a big chicken fan.  Hubby ate it but said he didn't really care for it.  To me it doesn't even look appetizing.  So this is a NO FIX again.

Sunday lunch was AMAZING!  Roast, taters, gravy and homegrown corn on the cob.

For supper I fixed the Pizza with homemade sauce.  I wasn't too sure about the sauce,  but the crust smelled and looked good.  Even tasting the sauce before I made the pizzas I was saying how I didn't have good feelings about it.  It turned out really good.  There is actually none left.  Next time I DO need to pre-cook the crusts a little longer though.

SO, 2 were good, 1 was bad.  Tomorrow I think I will fix Cincinnati Chili. 

Crockpot Ravioli

Friday was a whirlwind of events.  It usually is.  Since we were out late and busy Thursday night and I wasn't able to fix what I had planned, therefore we didn't have any leftovers, so we had to eat McDonalds $1 burgers for lunch.  Not my favorite, they just don't taste good anymore.  SO, I made one of my quick crockpot meals that doesn't need a lot of prep, Crockpot Ravioli 

It went in to crock at about 3:00 and was ready by 5:30/6:00

I've made this several times, in fact it used to be a weekly thing when the boys were little.  I haven't made it in probably 5 or so years, so I've forgotten all my tricks.  Time to remember them though.

This was pretty good.  I used cheese ravioli's and a meat based spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese. Next time I make it I'm using 2 jars of sauce and 2 bags of cheese.  Hubby likes it saucier and I cheesier.

It didn't last long, this is my portion. 

I had a house full of people again last night.  We shall see what happens for today's supper (Saturday).  I need to look over what I have made up and get something in the slow cooker here before too long or we will be starving.  Another night for a full house.