Stress Relieving Day.

Ahhhh, the sweet smell of victory.. we found a home and property after all these months of looking, stress, loss, and number crunching.

Oh, we have not moved yet, oh noooooo, we still have to get the mortgage paperwork completed, a few zillion papers and signatures later, but, our offer was accepted and we are hopeful we will be moving into our new place in about a month.

Now, the other fun begins. Packing and getting our current home ready to sell and hope it sells quickly. Oh yeah! LOL

Good head start, right? There are more, but, you get the idea. My stepson DOC said , why don't you just throw away some stuff? I told him I did, I threw away some paperclips this morning. Seriously? Throw stuff away? If I have it I must want it, right?

One daughter is happy I will be a little closer to her, the other daughter is upset I will be further away. I told them both, there is one spare bedroom to be had and over 1.5 acres of fenced  in yard. Come visit, then go home! Hah! 

Yesterday, in the midst of signing and sending in all the required documents, escrow money, having to restore my computer and the packing boxes, I was called upon to babysit my 4 yr old granddaughter. She is a delightful, sweet little girl, but as is the norm with little peoples, she is also full of IT... " Grandma can I watch Dora the Explorer? I love Dora." Of course she can. " No, that is the WRONG Dora!!!"  There is a WRONG Dora? 

" I'm hungry!" I whip out and warm up the Pizza lunch-able her daddy sent over. " I don't like sauce." Would you like to eat some grapes and cheese? " I love grapes" I put out a plate with cheese and black grapes. " These grapes aren't purple." No they are not, but so good and sweet. She fed them to my dog. Dogs are not supposed to eat grapes. Sigh.

My sister in law now comes with her husband, Joan, aka Lil Sarge, to do some more packing. I need to go to the store to shop for my turn at Meals on Wheels as head cook. I decide to take Dallas, the grand, with me. She decides to allow this.

In my car, all safe and snug in her backseat booster chair, in her very quiet voice, she says " This little red car was mine, but, I did not want it any more, so, I am letting you borrow it. I want it back later." " I found money!! It's so small, I think it is play money." You may keep that sweetie.

In the store she dropped the dime that she found, 5 times so I told her to hold it safe,as I would not pick it up again. So, she puts it in her mouth!  Yeah THAT"s safe... um NO!~ spit it out right now! Do you know how dirty that money is? Do you know what can happen if you swallow that? Do you want your grandmother, who is a Respiratory Therapist to have to do  something to force it out of your throat? Do you want to die? Give it to me, it's going in my pocket!!!

Somehow, we get to the register to pay for the products I needed for the meal today. When we get to the clerks, Dallas says," Grandma, when I get big, I want boobs like yours!" I got nothing. Nope, I do not.

Well, I was Head Cook today for our Meals On Wheels group with my church, and as such I shopped for the food. I bought 22 pounds of pork cushions ( part of the shoulder, a very lean and boneless cut), 5 pounds of green peppers, 3 pounds of yellow onions, 30 green onions 3 red onions, and 18 cucumbers. I purchased a few other items needed to complete the meal, and knew what we had in the kitchen pantry to use as well.

We sliced and diced. The pork needed to be cut into cubes. We mixed, cooked, and placed the food into their appropriate to go containers for 63 of our local residents who cannot cook and or shop for their meals.

We prepared a feast for the eyes and for the senses. Lord it smelled sooooo good.  Pork Adobo

Asian Cucumber Salad

Asian Ramen Slaw

Crispy Noodles

Desserts

Want some recipes? You know you do!!

Asian Ramen Slaw

One of the sides we prpeared today for the MOW. I chose to leave out the almonds, though, as we made food for 63 people, and did not want nut allergy to be an issue.. Very good!

Prep Time: 15 minsTotal Time: 15 minsServings: 4-6

INGREDIENTS
SALAD
3 green onions, chopped
1 (16 ounce) bags coleslaw mix
3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
1 cup toasted almond
1 (3 ounce) packages chicken-flavored ramen noodles, reserve seasoning packet for dressing
DRESSING
1/4 cup oil
3 tablespoons white vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
seasoning ( reserved packet)
DIRECTIONS
Crumble ramen noodles and combine with green onions, coleslaw mix, sesame seeds and almonds.
Mix dressing ingredients (oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and Ramen Noodle flavor packet) in separate bowl.
Pour dressing over salad mixture.

                                                                 

Asian Cucumbers

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup vinegar
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 Thai chili pepper, minced
• 2 to 3 peppercorns, cracked
• 2 large cucumbers, washed and sliced thinly
• ½ small red onion, peeled and sliced thinly

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a bowl, combine vinegar, fish sauce, sesame oil, chilis, sugar, salt and peppercorns. Whisk together until sugar is dissolved.
2. In a bowl, combine cucumber and onion. Add vinegar mixture and toss gently. Chill in refrigerator to allow flavors to meld.

Note: we tossed some toasted sesame seeds in this dish too. Why? Because we could!

Pork Adobo

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. pork, cut into cube bite-sizes
• 1 large red bell pepper, cut in triangular shapes
• 4 tbsps. cooking oil, 2 tbsps. use for sautéing and 2 tbsps. to be added later
• 1 cup vinegar
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 4-5 tbsps. brown sugar
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup red onions, chopped
• 6-8 peppercorns
• 4 pcs. bay leaves
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 stalk fresh spring onions for garnish (optional)

Cooking Directions:

1. Sauté red bell pepper using 2 tbsps. cooking oil and set aside.
2. Sauté in order, garlic and onions.
3. Add pork and continue to sauté until brown.
4. Pour vinegar and soy sauce, do not stir until it starts to boil.
5. Add brown sugar and peppercorns. Mix well, stirring occasionally.
6. Cook until sauce thickens and meat is done.
7. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add bay leaves.
8. Add remaining 2 tbsps. cooking oil and red bell pepper. Mix well.
9. Garnish with fresh spring onions (optional).

                                                                                         

Serve over rice. We also topped this with Crispy Chinese Noodles. Why? Exactly!

Stress Relieving Day.

Ahhhh, the sweet smell of victory.. we found a home and property after all these months of looking, stress, loss, and number crunching.

Oh, we have not moved yet, oh noooooo, we still have to get the mortgage paperwork completed, a few zillion papers and signatures later, but, our offer was accepted and we are hopeful we will be moving into our new place in about a month.

Now, the other fun begins. Packing and getting our current home ready to sell and hope it sells quickly. Oh yeah! LOL

Good head start, right? There are more, but, you get the idea. My stepson DOC said , why don't you just throw away some stuff? I told him I did, I threw away some paperclips this morning. Seriously? Throw stuff away? If I have it I must want it, right?

One daughter is happy I will be a little closer to her, the other daughter is upset I will be further away. I told them both, there is one spare bedroom to be had and over 1.5 acres of fenced  in yard. Come visit, then go home! Hah! 

Yesterday, in the midst of signing and sending in all the required documents, escrow money, having to restore my computer and the packing boxes, I was called upon to babysit my 4 yr old granddaughter. She is a delightful, sweet little girl, but as is the norm with little peoples, she is also full of IT... " Grandma can I watch Dora the Explorer? I love Dora." Of course she can. " No, that is the WRONG Dora!!!"  There is a WRONG Dora? 

" I'm hungry!" I whip out and warm up the Pizza lunch-able her daddy sent over. " I don't like sauce." Would you like to eat some grapes and cheese? " I love grapes" I put out a plate with cheese and black grapes. " These grapes aren't purple." No they are not, but so good and sweet. She fed them to my dog. Dogs are not supposed to eat grapes. Sigh.

My sister in law now comes with her husband, Joan, aka Lil Sarge, to do some more packing. I need to go to the store to shop for my turn at Meals on Wheels as head cook. I decide to take Dallas, the grand, with me. She decides to allow this.

In my car, all safe and snug in her backseat booster chair, in her very quiet voice, she says " This little red car was mine, but, I did not want it any more, so, I am letting you borrow it. I want it back later." " I found money!! It's so small, I think it is play money." You may keep that sweetie.

In the store she dropped the dime that she found, 5 times so I told her to hold it safe,as I would not pick it up again. So, she puts it in her mouth!  Yeah THAT"s safe... um NO!~ spit it out right now! Do you know how dirty that money is? Do you know what can happen if you swallow that? Do you want your grandmother, who is a Respiratory Therapist to have to do  something to force it out of your throat? Do you want to die? Give it to me, it's going in my pocket!!!

Somehow, we get to the register to pay for the products I needed for the meal today. When we get to the clerks, Dallas says," Grandma, when I get big, I want boobs like yours!" I got nothing. Nope, I do not.

Well, I was Head Cook today for our Meals On Wheels group with my church, and as such I shopped for the food. I bought 22 pounds of pork cushions ( part of the shoulder, a very lean and boneless cut), 5 pounds of green peppers, 3 pounds of yellow onions, 30 green onions 3 red onions, and 18 cucumbers. I purchased a few other items needed to complete the meal, and knew what we had in the kitchen pantry to use as well.

We sliced and diced. The pork needed to be cut into cubes. We mixed, cooked, and placed the food into their appropriate to go containers for 63 of our local residents who cannot cook and or shop for their meals.

We prepared a feast for the eyes and for the senses. Lord it smelled sooooo good.  Pork Adobo

Asian Cucumber Salad

Asian Ramen Slaw

Crispy Noodles

Desserts

Want some recipes? You know you do!!

Asian Ramen Slaw

One of the sides we prpeared today for the MOW. I chose to leave out the almonds, though, as we made food for 63 people, and did not want nut allergy to be an issue.. Very good!

Prep Time: 15 minsTotal Time: 15 minsServings: 4-6

INGREDIENTS
SALAD
3 green onions, chopped
1 (16 ounce) bags coleslaw mix
3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
1 cup toasted almond
1 (3 ounce) packages chicken-flavored ramen noodles, reserve seasoning packet for dressing
DRESSING
1/4 cup oil
3 tablespoons white vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
seasoning ( reserved packet)
DIRECTIONS
Crumble ramen noodles and combine with green onions, coleslaw mix, sesame seeds and almonds.
Mix dressing ingredients (oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and Ramen Noodle flavor packet) in separate bowl.
Pour dressing over salad mixture.

                                                                 

Asian Cucumbers

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup vinegar
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 Thai chili pepper, minced
• 2 to 3 peppercorns, cracked
• 2 large cucumbers, washed and sliced thinly
• ½ small red onion, peeled and sliced thinly

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a bowl, combine vinegar, fish sauce, sesame oil, chilis, sugar, salt and peppercorns. Whisk together until sugar is dissolved.
2. In a bowl, combine cucumber and onion. Add vinegar mixture and toss gently. Chill in refrigerator to allow flavors to meld.

Note: we tossed some toasted sesame seeds in this dish too. Why? Because we could!

Pork Adobo

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. pork, cut into cube bite-sizes
• 1 large red bell pepper, cut in triangular shapes
• 4 tbsps. cooking oil, 2 tbsps. use for sautéing and 2 tbsps. to be added later
• 1 cup vinegar
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 4-5 tbsps. brown sugar
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup red onions, chopped
• 6-8 peppercorns
• 4 pcs. bay leaves
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 stalk fresh spring onions for garnish (optional)

Cooking Directions:

1. Sauté red bell pepper using 2 tbsps. cooking oil and set aside.
2. Sauté in order, garlic and onions.
3. Add pork and continue to sauté until brown.
4. Pour vinegar and soy sauce, do not stir until it starts to boil.
5. Add brown sugar and peppercorns. Mix well, stirring occasionally.
6. Cook until sauce thickens and meat is done.
7. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add bay leaves.
8. Add remaining 2 tbsps. cooking oil and red bell pepper. Mix well.
9. Garnish with fresh spring onions (optional).

                                                                                         

Serve over rice. We also topped this with Crispy Chinese Noodles. Why? Exactly!

Hello Again World!

Hello again world! Perhaps good news in our search for a new home and property. We put in an offer on a nice one, with an 1.6 acres of pretty, fenced land to go with it and feeling very good about it. After months of searching, going, being defeated at every turn, there is some light at the end of our tunnel.

I am not even going to begin to talk much about the political climate here in the USA at this time, other than I shudder at our choices, and leave it at that.

As head cook for my Meals on Wheels group this week, I chose and we prepared that Beef Stroganoff and it was a huge hit. The other night I was doing that home search and at 1 am ( Yes, I do not sleep well, and after 20 years of working in the health field on 12 hour night shifts, I am up half the night. My mind does not shut off.) and I felt a tap on my shoulder.

No one is in the room with me,but, I suddenly realize I am supposed to be cooking for the homeless breakfast our church does every few months. I go into freak out mode, as normally I have been prepared and make some breakfast strata casseroles the night before and not only did I not do that, I had not shopped for all I would need. Breakfast is served at 9 am. Oh boy!

I quickly searched for my salvation, and found the hash brown patties in the freezer I keep on hand for these breakfasts, and I did have a lot of eggs. So, in the morning, after my 4 hour "nap", I awoke and got busy.

I made scrambled eggs and the hash browns.  Another church member brought 2 egg, cheese, and sausage casseroles, and as expected, there were muffins fruit, and all the beverages we normally have. There is always peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for them to take with them, bottled water, and cans of food they can eat at a later time. Whew!

NORMALLY, I would do a breakfast strata such as these:

Ingredients Sausage and Gravy Casserole serves 8

Serves: Makes 8 servings.

• 1 roll (12 ounces) breakfast sausage
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 6 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 package McCormick® Original Country Gravy Mix
• 6 slices bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
• Paprika

Directions

15 mins Prep time 40 mins Cook time

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Cook crumbled sausage in large skillet on medium heat until brown, stirring occasionally. Drain sausage. Spread in lightly greased 11x7-inch baking dish. Sprinkle cheese over sausage.
• Beat eggs, water, milk and Gravy Mix in medium bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Pour over cheese. Arrange bread cubes evenly over mixture. Drizzle butter over bread, if desired. Sprinkle with paprika.
• Bake, uncovered, 40 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Cooking tip

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate unbaked casserole overnight. Bake, uncovered, in preheated 325°F oven 50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. 

Substitute baked biscuits for bread, break up into small chunks.

French Toast Casserole with Apples

INGREDIENTS

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 3 large apples, peeled and sliced thinly ( I use Cortland or Empire)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 8 slices Italian bread, 1 inch thick
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Melt the butter in a large skillet and add apples.
2. Cook and stir for 5 minutes.
3. Add brown sugar, water, and cinnamon and continue to cook and stir for 10 minutes until apples are tender.
4. Spoon mixture into 13x9 baking dish.
5. Cover apples with bread slices, making sure to cover the entire surface.
6. Trim the bread to fit if you must.
7. Beat eggs until foamy, then beat in milk and vanilla.
8. Pour egg mixture over the bread slices.
9. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
10. In the morning, remove the dish from the refrigerator and let it stand while oven is preheated to 375 F.
11. Bake uncovered for 35 minutes, or until bread is golden and firm.
12. Let sit 10 minutes before serving     
13.  Flip casserole serving onto plate, with apple side up.     
    
                                                                                                               

Breakfast Strata

Ingredients

• 9 slices bread, torn into bite size pieces
• 1/2 cup diced fresh mushrooms
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 16 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded

• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 cups cubed cooked ham
• 8 eggs
• 2 cups milk

Directions

1. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer half of the torn bread in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle the mushrooms and green bell pepper evenly over the bread layer. Sprinkle with half of the cheese. Top with remaining bread pieces, then layer with the onion and ham. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Whisk together eggs and milk; pour over the entire pan. Cover with aluminum foil, and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. Bake covered for 35 minutes, then remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until top is evenly brown.

Tips:

Take the casserole out of the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before cooking, it will heat up better.

Put whatever you LIKE in this recipe, substitute any meat, cheese, or vegetable you prefer. Remember, play with your food!!

This is called strata, as strata is layers, like the layers of the earth.

This will make about 8 servings.

#WWND Memorial-

                                                       

My son Michael B, his wife Pamela, and daughter Alyssa lost a much beloved son this past month in a tragic accident. As posted previously,  his community and professional friends, and Nick's friends, have gone on to honor him in some amazing ways to ensure his memory and legacy live on through his spirit.

To renew my faith in humanity, Mike's coworkers got together while the family was away for the week. The plants and paving stones from Nick's garden were gathered up, then along with new plants and trees, more pavers, a pergola, and a memory .. they surprised them with this to come home to:






I cannot even begin to express how I felt at this outpouring of support to my son's family, and the love they showed in honoring my grandson. They, too, knew Nick well, and did #WWND  Thank you to all of you for this selfless act of kindness in making Nick's Memorial Garden!!!!

                     



                             


                                       


                        


                  

                                        



                                                     

                                    

My gratitude to these selfless people contributing to this beautiful area of comfort for my grandson's parents is boundless.

Mike's Tattoo for his son

                                     Not to be outdone

Brian's Tattoo, my eldest son

While these awesome folks created this memorial garden, Mike's family did #WWND. They had planned a trip to Pensacola prior to the tragedy, and after a week's delay, the went on this trip. Nick was born in Pensacola, and the Blue's Angels do a fly over show up there this time each year, and this became a family tradition to go up, visit friends and family, and make some new memories as well as honor his life.

                                   
Mike and Pam laying a wreath on the water for their son.

Nick had VIP tickets to see Gwen Stefani.. Mike and Pam did #WWND.

                           


                                           Gwen told them they were a cute couple, and yes they sure are!

Happier times, many memories, never forgotten, in my heart always.



     

           


                           
                                




                          


                                



               

That's our boy! Loving, funny, quirky, inspiring, smart, talented, amazing, and beloved by many!! Keeping you with me always.

                                     

                                 

My Little Monsters

Heart Strings

Hello again. It has been  a while since my last post, as I am recovering from our loss of Nick B., my grandson.

Since that time, we have had signs that his spirit is still amongst us. One example of this was my being directed to the page for St. Therese of Liseux, for the quotes I used at Nick's celebration of life. I found this one today: “Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” 
― Thérèse de Lisieux This is #WWND.

My son Brian, who held it all together for his brother, wife, and niece during the time of immediate grieving, was having a tough time in the subsequent week. He visited the cemetery, to " learn more from Nick". The following day, there was a big thunderstorm, with a lot of lightning. He went outside to photograph some of this action. 

Upon looking at the photos, over 300 of them he took, only one showed up and it was this: 

Clear as day, in the darkness of the storm, the only photo was our sign, a heart on a string. This photo struck me to my core, and also reminded me of this:

This is an EKG symbol, or a Heart on a String, showing the rhythm of the beating heart. Wow!

Another week goes by, and I hear Nick in his #WWND way, not in words, but suddenly I was compelled to write this:

‪#‎What  Would Nick Do~~~Heart Strings

The calls came in, they said you were gone.
No! No! No! This cannot be, not my grandson!
We screamed, we raged, broken as we cried
We don’t believe, we question why, and how could you have died?
We still see you, we still hear you, and we still feel you at our side.

What would Nick do? What would Nick do?
Friends and family were notified, all of them were called.
One by one, two by two, three by four, hundreds came, none of them had stalled.
They held up your family with memories they shared.
Our hearts were lifted with love, prayer, and laughter, and they showed how much they cared.

What would Nick do? What would Nick do?
You showed us your heartstrings shining in the darkness light!
We saw your heart strings, in the storm, shining above oh so bright!
Through your life you showed us the way
To live our lives with love each and every day.
Flash that smile, make a friend, help someone, and make a funny face!

What would Nick do? What would Nick do?
He would love the human race!
Your heartstrings will bring us all together, and brighten up our day
Through your life you have shown us the way.
We shall strive
To keep you alive...
We will do
What Nick would do!

Love Grandma~~~ #WWND

I wrote this in just a few minutes after hearing Nick. I never "heard" him, but, I know I did. In fact, I think he wanted me to put it to music, his passion, or have me do a rap version! That is #WWND!

Our lives go on, but Nick is always here with us, and I am so grateful for that!

Today I continued with me Meals on Wheels group at my church. I was head cook and chose Beef Stroganoff to prepare for our 61 local residents who cannot get out of the house, or prepare a hot meal.

I used a product called Steakeze for the beef as beef is very expensive, and this was more affordable. They are " breakaway" style, made from sirloin, so they are very quick to prepare, and perfect for this dish. They are also perfect for making Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches. We made mixed vegetables, and noodles. They also got a fruit cocktail, dinner roll and pastries.  I got the recipe from Campbell's Soup:

What You'll Need

1 tablespoon vegetable oil 
1 pound boneless beef sirloin steak or beef top round steak, 3/4-inch thick (about 1 steak), cut into thin strips  ( we used the steakeze)
1 each medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup) 
1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup or (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed 98% Fat Free Cream of Mushroom Soup or Campbells® Healthy Request® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup 
3/4 cup reduced fat (2%) milk 
1/2 teaspoon paprika 
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 
1/3 cup sour cream or plain yogurt 
4 cups whole wheat or regular egg noodles, cooked,drained 
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley 

How to Make It

• 1
  Heat the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook until well browned, stirring often. Remove the beef from the skillet.  Pour off any fat.
• 2
  Reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion to the skillet and cook until it's tender.
• 3
  Stir the soup, milk, paprika and black pepper in the skillet and heat to a boil.  Stir in the sour cream.  Return the beef to the skillet and cook until the beef is cooked through.  Serve the beef mixture over the noodles.  Sprinkle with the parsley.

You all take care of each other. This is why we are here.