Random Thoughts from Home

So as you all know, Becky has loved the Little House books since she was itty-bitty! I now love them too and am looking forward to re-reading the series this winter as I cozy up with cocoa!

One of my favorite parts of this series is learning how they made use of everything. They were the ultimate re-cyclers! I think of that because I have just froze another 14 cups of broccoli and cauliflower that came from my friend Andrea. I refused to have it go to waste so I went on line and read how to blanche and freeze it. And we all know how expensive this frozen stuff is at the stores! This is certainly the time of harvest whether it came out of our gardens or from a friend.

Working at a school I know about waste. It breaks my heart to see all the fruits, veggies, breads and main dishes that goes into the trash. Tonight we are having leftovers for dinner because I don't want to waste the leftover soups, casseroles and veggies that are still in the fridge. Maybe if more people read the Little House series they wouldn't be so wasteful, but perhaps that's only wishful thinking

But as for me and my house, we will not waste!!!

Let me share this soup recipe that was delicious with a capital 'D'.

Creamy Corn and Potato Chowder:

Melt 2 Tbls margarine in a large saucepan and stir in 1 lg. onion and 1 rib celery. Partially cover the pan and cook veggies over medium heat for 9 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 5 1/2 c. chicken stock (I used 5 1/2 c water with 5 tsp chicken bouillon), 1/2 c frozen corn (I used the corn I froze from grandma Joyce), 1 large diced potato and 1/2 tsp salt and bring to low boil. Lower heat, cover pot and simmer for about 7 minutes. In a small bowl whisk together 1 cup heavy cream (I substituted 3/4 cup milk and 1/3 c melted margarine which I mixed and cooled) and 3 Tbls flour. Stir into the soup and add pepper to taste. Bring soup to low boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 8 minutes. I was afraid of what it would taste like with all the substitutions but it was wonderful! And considering I used ingredients that I had at home it was also very, very cheap! Hooray for cheap!

Love ya

Mom

Random Thoughts from Home

So the baby of the family will turn 17 this Thursday! How did this happen? Happy birthday Brady! He's at Silverwood today, having run a x-country race and then spending the rest of the day at the theme park.

We got a huge watermelon from Br. Thomas and since Dad had just bought a watermelon I had to go to the internet for ideas on how to preserve one of them. So I quick froze chunks of watermelon and then put the frozen chunks in container that went back into the fridge. Now when I want watermelon I just pull some out and serve it with ice crystals still on it. I'll let you know how it works. I also got about 4 cups of mushrooms from my friend Andrea at work that I quick froze and put into containers. I will blend them into sauces and casseroles where they will not be detected by picky eaters.

I have been preparing for the first day of seminary this Monday. Hooray! I have missed this spiritual boost and being with the students keeps me young! And teaching Book of Mormon again is just icing on the cake!!! We have our seminary kick-off fireside tomorrow night as well.

So we have Stake/Regional conference this weekend. Dad is at priesthood leadership meeting and then he'll come home, grab a bite and we'll be off to the adult session. Tomorrow at 10:00am we will meet in our building and have a satellite broadcast from Salt Lake. I'm excited because they're always so uplifting and motivating.

I have so enjoyed your blogs with pictures and comments. They are all wonderful and keep us all connected which is great. Keep up the good work and I will do my best not to forget to post and keep you up to date on what's going on back home.

Here's a recipe I found from a new favorite site that I'm making for a quick meal tonight.

Super Easy Chicken & Noodles

2 cans chicken breasts 1 Tbls oil

1 can cream of chicken soup 1/2 c. milk

dash pepper 3 c. medium cooked egg noodles

1/3 c grated parmesan cheese

In skillet over medium heat cook chicken in oil for 10-15 minutes or until golden. Stir in remaining ingredients, heat through. Serves 4. I'll let you know how it tastes.

Love you all!

Random Thoughts from Home

It's a quiet Sunday morning and Dad is at a meeting and Brady just got up. On Fast Sunday he sleeps as long as possible! I'm listening to the Rat Pack Christmas CD which I got from Jordan and Ginanne and now I'm listening to Natalie Cole's Christmas CD which I think I got from Dad. It is only going to get up to 64 degrees today. Fall has arrived along with the wind!

We've been canning everything that comes our way and I wanted to share an idea I found on the web to get rid of fruit flies which we have had in abundance. Take 1 cup of apple cider vinegar and put it in a small container and add a drop of dishwashing detergent. The flies are attracted by the vinegar and the soap somehow pulls them down into the container. I don't pretend to understand it but believe me it works and you have a little container of many dead flies. It's better than smacking them with your hands!

Tomorrow we're going to Grandma's to take her some more Beverly Lewis books and get more corn to freeze and she has pears which I am going to turn into pear butter. Yum! Last night we went to Mary Graessars reception. Very nice and they served dinner food which meant we started our fast with BBQ sandwiches and salads instead of fried potatoes and veggies which I was going to make. Thanks Marsha!

Jordan and Ginanne and Emmy are coming to dinner and I made a wonderful crockpot lasagna, the recipe I found on line and had in a crockpot cookbook.

8 lasagna noodles, uncooked (I love this part)

1 lb. ground beef

1 tsp Italien seasoning

28-oz jar of spaghetti sauce ( I can my own)

1/4 c water

15 -oz cottage or ricotta cheese

2 c shredded mozzarella cheese

Break noodles. Place 1/2 in bottom of greased crockpot. Brown gr. beef, drain, and stir in seasoning. Spread 1/2 over noodles. Layer 1/2 of sauce and water, 1/2 cottage cheese and 1/2 mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Cover and cook 5 hrs on low.

This is great to return home to after fasting! Hope you enjoy.

Love to you all.

Enjoying the Day!
Outside my window is our newly mowed lawn and a bright sunny day. It's going to be beautiful before the change to Fall arrives tomorrow.
I am thinking about the tomatoes I still need to can and the beans that are in the fridge that also need to be canned.
I am thankful for this harvest and the gardens that it came from. I am also grateful to Mom and Dale who share the bounties of their incredible garden with all their children. And I am grateful for my friend who shares the leftover veggies from school that would otherwise go in the garbage. What a waste!
From my kitchen I am contemplating having fried potatoes and leftover hotdogs for dinner. Not glamourous or gourmet but it will prevent waste.
I am creating a photo album of vacation pictures to look at often. I will put it in the basket of other photo albums which are fun to peruse through on quiet evenings when nothing is on TV which is every night. And I am finishing up a quilt for our youngest grandchild. Hope she likes pink!
I am wearing a pair of jeans which are joyfully getting too big and t-shirt from good old Girls Camp days. I also still have wheels in my hair! That's for you Nolan!!!
I am reading a book by Ray Blackston called Flabbergasted. I found it recommended by a Christian blogger that I came across. It's a great read and no offensive language or behavior. How rare!
I am hoping that we will be able to go to Mt. Spokane for Labor Day. Remember kids when we would go hike and cook lunch or dinner? Although I hate the drive I love the views!
I am hearing the sprinkler on the newly mown lawn and my dryer working hard. It's so pleasant to hear appliances work. That's a blessing.
Around the house I am going to clean Dad's and my closet. This means some serious throwing out and yes, I am going to let Dad pick out what needs to get tossed.
One of my favorite things is to talk to my children and to see my grandchildren, whether by phone, in person or skype. I love technology!
The idea for the above views came from The Simple Womans Daybook which can be found at
http://the simplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com. Check it out and enjoy!!!

I've been musing on how little the world values the role of mother and wife, especially a stay-at-home wife and mother! I have loved being a stay-at-home wife and mother and I am grateful for a daughter and 2 daughters-in-law who value their role also. And for sons and a son-in-law who support their spouses in their roles! To these wonderful mothers-in-Zion I want to share a website that is amazing, 50shousewife.blogspot.com. I think all stay-at-home moms should read this and laugh and enjoy! Love to all!