CROCK POT BEEF STROGANOFF

I just put this together in the crock pot... I can't wait for dinner time!!

CROCK POT BEEF STROGANOFF
3 lb. beef round steak, 1/2 inch thick
1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
2 med. onions, thinly sliced and separated into rings
2 (4 oz. each) cans sliced mushrooms, drained or 1/2 lb. mushrooms, sliced
1 (10 1/2 oz.) can condensed beef broth
1/4 c. dry white wine (optional)
1 1/2 c. sour cream
1/4 c. flour

Directions

Trim all excess fat from steak and cut meat into 3 inch strips about 1/2 inch wide. Combine 1/2 cup flour, the salt, pepper and dry mustard; toss with steak strips to coat thoroughly. Place coated steak strips in crock pot; stir in onion rings and mushrooms. Add beef broth and wine; stir well. Cover and cook on low setting for 8-10 hours. Before serving, combine sour cream with 1/4 cup flour; stir into crock pot. Serve stroganoff over rice or noodles.

Leftover Turkey Chili - Southwest Style

I made this chili this past weekend with my leftover Christmas turkey. It came out super yummy.

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 1 Heaping tablespoon minced garlic from a jar
• 1 teaspoon paprika
  
• 1 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 4 cups water
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can Hunts tomato sauce ( think Hunts is the best for making chili!!)
  
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 6 cups shredded cooked turkey
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 chicken bouillon cubes
• 1 (14 ounce) can black beans, rinsed, drained ( I used kidney beans, cuz that is all I had)
  
• 1 Can southwestern style corn ( regular corn will do)
• 1 cup salsa (if you have some, I left this out)
  
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (I did not have any cilantro, so I left it out.)

• Toppings:
• 6 cups corn tortilla chips
• 3/4 cup chopped green onion (I did not have this either)
  
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar-Monterey Jack cheese blend ( I used regular cheddar, just as good)
  
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (again, none used)
  
• 1/2 cup sour cream

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add minced onions and cook until onions begin to soften, about 4 minutes. Add garlic, paprika, chili powder, cumin and oregano and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
2. Stir in water, tomato sauce, salsa, diced tomatoes, shredded turkey, parsley and bouillon cubes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes or until bouillon cubes dissolve. Add black beans, corn, sour cream and cilantro. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
3. Serve soup with crushed tortilla chips, chopped green onion, shredded cheese and additional cilantro and sour cream.

Breakin' it down

Total Cost of 12 days of Christmas in 2008

$86,609

Up 10.9 percent from last year's cost of $78,100

The biggest surprise (to me) was that Fiiiiive Golden Rings only costs $350! Where are they shopping at, Walmart? See the whole breakdown at: http://climate.weather.com/articles/slideshows/12xmas2008.html?page=1&scheme=image-horiz-plain.css

Table Cloth Idea

I saw this on a blog today.  I love this idea of stenciling phrases onto the sides of a table cloth.


This was done by a very talented lady named Kimba, and she shows us all how to do it on her blog A Soft Place to Land.

How about some deer

This weekend Ron stopped by and offered us a deer. So on Tuesday evening we all met at Ron's house and processed our deers. It was a icy cold night and working out in the shop with the wood fire made us cozy and warm. Ron provided the big work table, knives and his expert help on cutting up the deer. Jarrod, Tif and Linda helped me toward the end of the evening, cause I was getting really tired. Tif vacuumn sealed all the steaks and roasts for me and the chunks of meat I brought home and canned to have ready to eat meat anytime we get hungry. All in all it was a super experience and I loved the back to nature feeling it gave me, you know like picking veggies out of your garden, or making pj pants nothing better than feeling like I AM WOMAN HEAR ME ROAR!

Tiny Mittens

I saw this pattern online and have been addicted to making these tiny mittens ever since. They are soooo cute in person, I dont think the pictures does them justice. It is funny how something so tiny can change your mood.

Baked Cheese Olives

I found this recipe online, I think I might give it a shot for the Christmas Eve Party that we are attending...

Baked Cheese Olives 
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar,
1 1/4 cups flour,
1 stick margarine or butter (melted),
 about 36 pimiento-stuffed green olives (drain and pat dry with a paper towel; amt. of olives used will vary depending on how much dough you wrap around each). I don't use any cayenne.

Mix the cheese and flour, then mix in the margarine, working the dough with your hands if it seems dry. Mold approx. 1 tsp. dough around each olive;
refrigerate wrapped olives at least 1 hour before baking. (or overnight.)
Bake @ 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden.

I finished the quilt

This is the quilt I have been working on for Rex and Caryl for about eight months. It wasnt that it was that hard I just kept getting a mental block about being in the sewing room. It turned out really pretty which I dont think the picture does it justice. I just put the picture up so you all would believe me when I said I finished the damn thing. So now I have all these lovely ideas for my next big project and would ya know it, I am feeling no interest in going back to the sewing room. If any of you have a cure for such lasy behavior let me know, I could use the proverbial kick in the butt.

My grandchildren

I just have to brag a little, since that is what grandmas do.

Tyler Joe lost his first tooth, Brett won the ugly sweater contest, Libby went to her first dress up dance and looked beautiful, Bella got her picture in the paper with that cheesy put on smile of hers that is adorable, and Grandpa got to spent last evening with Tanner. I don't know if my heart could be any fuller, but I must tell you all that I am VERY proud of all my grandchildren.

My Tree

I will try to get a picture up in a few days. I expected to have one up yesterday but my wonderful, sweet, Einstein decided last night to eat about 15 of my ornaments and it looks a little bare. Candy, I may need help with Mrs. Claus!

P.S. Jo, Loved the song but I couldn't remember my password or e-mail for the blog that day and couldn't post about it.

New knitting bag

If you have talked with me lately you know I made a new knitting bag in the true spirit of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. It makes me feel like a real snoopy little old lady to carry my knitting bag around. You would be surprised how many conversations the knitting and the bag have started for me. The material is the left overs of Crissy and Kathy's pillows on their new couch.

Candy's Tree

I am not quite finished decorating the bottom of the tree, but I jumped the gun to get my picture in the blog. I wanted to connect with my wonderful porch again.

Lets See Those Trees!!!

I know y'all have your trees up now!! Let's see them!!! Here is a picture of ours.

We didn't hang the stockings on the fireplace this year (Billy didn't want to move them every time he lit a fire) so we just hung them in the archway by the fireplace instead.

Where have all the bloggers gone?

Oh you got us ready as baby blogger newbies
Why don't we go sit down in the shade
Take shelter on my front porch
The homemade candy scorching,
Like more than one post a day
I will sew a purse if you pay the internet bills

Chorus:

Where is my candy knox
Where is my crochet fun
Where is my happy stories
Where have all the bloggers gone

Why don't you stay the evening
Kick back and fire up the pc
And Ill fix a little something to eat
Oh I know your back hurts from working at home depot
How do you update the profile my sweet
I will back two quilts if you pay the internet bill

Chorus

I am using my new font tonight
But you don't even notice me
Save our comments (3 times)

We finally sold the hp
When we added my first mac
And you cooked that new recipe
You made friends at the farm
And you joined them at the phone bar
Almost every single day of the week

We can leave the dishes while we all have a beer
Where is my candy knox
Where is my crochet fun
Where is my sappy stories
Where have all the bloggers gone
Where is my Crissy & Kath
Where is our Aunt Tina
Where is my southern Brandi
Where have all the bloggers gone
Tiffany aw, Tiffany yea (3 times)

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!
We went to PA to see my family.
Got off work early on Wedneday, got to PA by 9pm.
We had a great time and fit a lot of activities in...
Watching movies and cooking with Mom.
Troy served up triple hard eggnog:')
Over ate!
Took a nap, then took some dinner to Dad in Meadville.
On Friday, we picked up Dad, ate at the Golden Corral, then did some Gambling on Slots at the Presque Isle Downs.
Had a little surprise birthday party for Charlie then went out for karaoke w/Mom and some friends.
On Saturday went thrift shopping and got some good stuff for Jenny's ugly sweater Christmas Party.
Over ate again when Mom and Dick made yummy steak subs.
Brett went sledding twice.
Got a lot of play time in with Lilly!
Over ate some more when Becca made yummy dip!!!
Then took the long scenic route home because the highways were packed.
I uploaded pics to my picasa web album.

Here's the Story, Maureen Mccormick

I'm almost done reading this one. I happen to really like auto-biographies. It is always interesting to learn about someone in first person.

The Road, Cormac McCarthy

I read The Road last week on my new Kindle from Amazon. I'm totally hooked on the new gadget! The book was ok. It was interesting, it made smile, it made me cry, but when it ended it left me wondering what was next.

Pan Handle Buddy

I just ran across a crochet pattern for these the other day.

Frilly Pan Handle Buddy

Copright 2001 Melissa R. Green

Size G hook
WW cotton yarn in 2 colors

Make 2
Row 1- Ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each rem ch.Ch 1, turn
Row 2- 2 sc in 1st sc, sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in last sc, ch 1 turn.
Row 3- 2 sc in 1st sc, sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in last sc, ch 1, turn
Row 4- Sc in each sc across, ch 1 turn
Row 5-18- Rep row 4. Do not ch 1 at end of row 18. Finish off.

Joining rnds
Rnd 1-Holding two pieces together matching endings of both pieces.(work
through both thickness's) Join color B with Sl st in sm sp as where you
ended off on row 18, sc evenly around to oppisite corner, ch 1, turn.
Rnd 2- Sc in 1st sc, (ch 2, sc in next sc) rep around to oppisite corner.
Finish off weave in ends.

Use this to place over the handle's of your pan.

**** Do not leave on pan while sitting over the flame on the stove top****

Skillet Handle Covers

check out the little skillet handle covers:
http://allbuttonedup.typepad.com/all_buttoned_up/2008/11/the-gift-of-safety-first.html
Does anyone have a pattern for these????

Jo: I'm an Innovator/Achiever.

Your primary VALS type is Innovator, and your secondary type is Achiever.

Although, I don't agree with the descriptions all that much....

I guess I'm a Maker/Experiencer

I took your VALS Test and here is my results.

Your primary VALS type is Maker, and your secondary type is Experiencer.The primary VALS type represents your dominant approach to life. The secondary classification represents a particular emphasis you give to your dominant approach.

VALS Survey

Your primary VALS type is Believer, and your secondary type is Achiever.The primary VALS type represents your dominant approach to life. The secondary classification represents a particular emphasis you give to your dominant approach.

my Vals survey

Achiever/ThinkerYour primary VALS type is Achiever, and your secondary type is Thinker.The primary VALS type represents your dominant approach to life. The secondary classification represents a particular emphasis you give to your dominant approach. This is my results after taking the survey.

VALS Survey

I had to take this survey for school. This survey is actually a marketing tool that businesses use to develop marketing strategies. I thought it was really neat personality type profile, so I figured I would share it with everyone and we could post our results. My VALS results: primary type Achiever, secondary type Maker. Overall I think it pegged me pretty good.

http://www.sric-bi.com/VALS/presurvey.shtml

Why people are jealous of me?

This is actually kind of a twisted way to think but hell my husband and my dad both tell me I am conceited so this should be a breeze!

1. I have carpet...I know you are thinking, Why in the hell would someone be jealous because you have carpet. My answer, for the last two years, I didn't and I was jealous of anyone who did, so ha!

2. I can kill a deer, skin and clean a deer, and have in the skillet in 2 hours or less. Needless to say the economy doesn't scare me too much cause I know I will still eat.

3. I have a husband that will give me anything I want, even if I am a brat!

4. My first house on my own, was brand new, and has a huge kitchen.

5. I have a beautiful piece of land to build my next house on.