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Crockpot Recipes

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Slow-cooker Minestrone

3 cups water
1-1/2 pounds stewing meat, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 medium onion, diced
4 carrots, diced
14-1/2 oz can tomatoes
2 tsp salt
10-oz package frozen mixed vegetables OR your choice of frozen vegetables
1 Tbsp dried basil
1/2 cup dried vermicelli (We couldn’t find vermicelli, so we used orzo instead.)
1 tsp dried oregano
Added 1 15-oz can cannellini beans, because minestrone should have beans in it
grated Parmesan cheese

1. Combine all ingredients in slow-cooker. Stir well.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 10-12 hours or on High 4-5 hours

3. Top individual servings with Parmesan cheese

Also, we don’t add that much salt to our food.  We have sea salt in a grinder and I probably just added a couple turns of that.  I’m sure it wasn’t 2 teaspoons.

The 3 of us (Gary, Emily, and me) all loved it!  It was gone in a matter of days.

California Chicken

3-lb chicken, quartered
1 cup orange juice
1/3 cup chili sauce
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp molasses
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp garlic salt
2 Tbsp chopped green peppers
3 medium oragnes, peeled and separated into sections  OR
1 13-1/2 oz can mandarin oranges

1. Arrange chicken in slow cooker.

2. In separate bowl, combine juice, chili sauce, soy sauce, molasses, dry mustard and garlic salt.  Pour over chicken.

3. Cover; cook on Low 8-9 hours

4. Stir in green peppers and oranges. Heat 30 minutes longer.

Variation:

Stir 1 tsp curry powder in with sauces and seasonings.

Stir 1 small can pineapple chunks and juice in with green peppers and oranges.

Plus, I made Chunky Cinnamon Applesauce in the crockpot, from Two Peas and Their Pod.

I love using my crockpot, because you can set it up with a minimum of work, then go about your day, and supper’s made when you come home at 5 or 6pm. I made the applesauce during the night, then transfered the applesauce to a container to go in the fridge, washed the crock, and got the California Chicken all set to go.  I’ve used it 3 times in the past two weeks.

Today, it’s been snowing all day!  There are probably 7-9 inches on the driveway and it was very much NOT done snowing yet.  The snow is almost up to Jasmine’s belly.  I need to measure from belly to end of legs, to find out how many inches that is.  Emily did not get a snow day and my clinic hours went on, as scheduled, so no slacking for us! I’m glad I had nowhere to go tonight!

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Posted in Dog, Kids, Main Dish, My Life, Recipes, Weather | 2 Comments »

Snowstorm Pictures

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

It’s been snowing a little bit harder, but I haven’t been upstairs to peek, in about an hour, so it might have all changed by now. LOL! I took these pictures earlier. The brighter one was taken by Gary. It took a while, for the snow to start accumulating because it was 33-34 F, outside.

Neighborhood at 5:30pm.

Neighborhood at 5:30pm.


Snowstorm kicking it up a little bit at about 9pm

Snowstorm kicking it up a little bit at about 9pm


Christmas Lights at 9:22pm

Christmas Lights at 9:22pm


Jasmine, around 9pm

Jasmine, around 9pm

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Posted in Christmas, Dog, My Life, Weather | No Comments »

Snowing lightly outside right now

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

I have no idea what the evening hours will bring.  So far, it’s just snowing lightly and accumulating a little bit.  Right now, it’s nothing to worry about, but eventually, the snow will become heavier and the winds will get stronger and we will get one heck of a snowstorm.  We could possibly get a foot of snow and will probably have a snow day for school tomorrow.  I don’t get to stay home, because I have to work at my clinic job, but I bet the clinic closes early, too.  We’ll have to wait and see.

I finally found my Lands End sweatpants.  I haven’t known where they were, for months and with the cold weather upon us, I wanted an extra option to wear to my school job, to keep me warm, since we are outside with first graders, for 20-25 minutes.  I’m so happy!

I need to get caught up on my dishcloth pictures.  Some on my camera need to be downloaded.  I”m so behind.

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Posted in Knitting, My Life, Weather | No Comments »

Mid-April KAL and Some Flower Pictures

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

The mid-April KAL was called April Showers and designed by Deborah C. Tilley. It does look like falling rain. The yarn is Sugar””””n Cream Faded Denim and was knit on US 6 needles.  My Moebius wrap is getting ever wider and getting closer to being done.  The picture here was taken on 4-24-09, but I””””ve made significant progress since then.  The kids had a blast dying eggs on Easter Sunday, before Sarah went back to school.  The eggs were boiled on the Saturday before, but we ran out of time, then. I””””ve also enjoyed watching the flowers grow and bloom.

We are hoping that the flu passes us by. So far we””””ve been lucky, although Emily and I recently had colds.  Mine is still here, but getting better everyday.  So far, Gary has still been healthy.  Emily is hoping they DON”T have a “flu-cation” from school.  She thinks it”””’’s bad enough that we have to make up the wintry days on June 12th and June 15th.

Today, the sun is shining and the temperature is in the high 50”””’’s, which is a huge improvement over last week”””’’s rain. A few blocks from us, a sewer collapsed, so a major intersection is going to closed off for a month.  Ugh. I hope the time goes fast.

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Posted in 2009 Dishcloth Challenge, Kids, Knitting, My Life, Weather, Work-In-Progress | No Comments »

Tinkering with the blog again

Monday, April 6th, 2009

Was trying to get my header image to link back to the front page of the blog and I kept messing everything up. I’ve spent way too much time tinkering with it. Maybe now I can get back to knitting my April dishcloth, and/or cleaning out the fridge, since it is garbage day tomorrow. I did already pick up after the dog, so that’s not staring me in the face, or the bottom of my shoes.

It’s so cold out today. We did reach the 40’s, but that chilly northeast wind took away any semblance of warmth, that that temp might have had. Brrr. DH had to shoot pictures at a soccer game and was just complaining how cold he was. Standing out at recess was no fun, either. I wonder when spring will actually come.

The tulips keep getting bigger and the grape hyacinths are getting more purple by the day. Just imagine the leaves and the green grass we could have, if it would only warm up. Emily and I have planted a whole slew of things to go outside, in May: Zinnias, Cosmos, Coleus, Fennel, Parsley, Oregano, Basil, Lettuce, Poppies, and some others. We also bought some dahlias (pinkish/purple and white) and some Centerfold Lilies, also to go outside, when it’s a bit warmer. I can’t wait!

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Posted in 2009 Dishcloth Challenge, Dog, Kids, Knitting, My Life, Weather | No Comments »

Band trip

Friday, March 13th, 2009

So, last week, Emily was in Florida. They left for Orlando around 6am on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 to make the 26-hour bus trip. She had fun taking pictures, all the way down there, and at Disney. They were supposed to get to Orlando around 9am Thursday morning and get to have the whole day at the Magic Kingdom. Emily even rode Space Mountain twice! On Friday, they performed a concert. Since it was the first concert of the season, all the bigwigs were there. I hope they sounded good. Then the rest of the day, they were at Magic Kingdom. On Saturday, they went to Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM). She had fun there, too, and almost rode Tower of Terror, but chickened out at the last minute. Then at 7:30pm, they left for the LONG bus ride home. I was in a panic all day Sunday, because there was bad weather in Missouri and Illinois and we had bad weather here, too, with some snow and wind. Fortunately, they arrived home safe and sound around 8:30pm central time. What she remembers most about Disney, was how nice all the employees were. She said they all were so happy.

This week has been hard, because Emily has been trying to get caught up with stuff she missed and panicking when she checks Edline and sees less than “A’s”. LOL! Then going to bed frustrated because it all seemed so hopeless. So, she is down to just making up a test, that she will get done on Monday, so she is much more relaxed now.

Also, the solo and ensemble music festival is tomorrow. She is doing a flute solo, flute duet, and flute choir. I think she will be very happy when that’s all done, too.

Last night, she used my Tranquil Mint body wash and I heated up a hot pack for her neck with lavender and oatmeal in it, to help her relax. She was so wound up last night. I just felt so bad.

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Posted in Kids, My Life, Weather | 3 Comments »

Excuse my dust

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

My daughter, Sarah, made a new banner for me and I’m changing all the colors. As usual, it’s taking way longer than it needs to and things will look wonky for just a bit. Sleep and work interfere with this, you know! LOL! Patience is appreciated.

8-9 inches of snow today, when they originally predicted about 3-5. Ha! Winter still has a hold on us. Thankfully spring is on the way.

Emily found her voice, in a 4H play today. I would have never guessed that my 16yo daughter’s voice could fill up a high school auditorium. Wow!

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Posted in Kids, My Life, Weather | 3 Comments »

Mid-February KAL

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

This one is fun. It’s like a ballband, but with round windows, instead of rectangular bricks. For the pattern, tan is color A and the Fiesta ombre is color B. A is the color in the foreground and Color B is the background. I’m having fun knitting it!

Yarn and dishcloth, Fiesta Peaches & Creme, with Tan Sugar'n Cream

Yarn and dishcloth, Fiesta Peaches & Creme, with Tan Sugar'n Cream

Macro shot of mid-February dishcloth

Macro shot of mid-February dishcloth

Two nights ago, the weathermen had us with a winter storm watch, for 5-8 inches of snow. Then yesterday, it was only a winter storm advisory, for 3-5 inches of snow. Overnight, we only had about 1/4-inch of snow. It barely covered the driveway and Gary’s car, which has to stay outside, was barely covered with anything. I’m listening to the radio at 7:00am, and WTMJ has a reporter in downtown Sheboygan, reporting about who it’s drizzling a little and the visibility is low. Uhhh, no. I had just been out with the dog and didn’t notice any drizzling or decreased visibility. I can’t believe they sent a reporter up here, all the way from Milwaukee for a measly 1/4-inch of snow! Must be a slow news day. The weathermen get to excited about their models, when maybe they should just look out the window.

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Posted in 2009 Dishcloth Challenge, Knitting, My Life, Weather, Work-In-Progress | 5 Comments »

Brrrr, it’s cold down by my computer

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

I was freezing down here in the basement, by my computer earlier today. I’m freezing down here now. I finally looked up the thermometer and it’s 54 degrees down here. No wonder I can’t get warm, despite my space heater and the furnace vent above my head, being open. My hands are so cold. I’m not sure why it’s so cold down here today, since we got up into the 20’s today, so it’s not THAT cold outside. When is spring coming?

Since we did have a warmer day today, meaning one where you don’t mind being outside so much, I thought I’d better get a move on picking up after the dog. January was so cold and snowy, that I never really wanted to be out there long enough to pick up the messes. So, today, it got done: 2 grocery bags full, because poop and snow take up a lot of room. The flat area along the driveway looks so much better now. It was hard work, since I kept having to get my shovel into the frozen snow, so I could get the messes picked up.

Back in December, when it started snowing, I never got all the previous “muffins” picked up, so they’ll be waiting as the snow melts. Ugh. Wish I could get to them now, but the snow’s way too deep.

Poor Jasmine. Gary had to snowblow some paths for her, to use for her bathroom, since the snow is much deeper than her 18 inches. I sure can’t wait until that snow starts melting. I barely remember what my yard looks like, without snow.

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Posted in Dog, My Life, Weather | 3 Comments »

Brrrr, it's cold down by my computer

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

I was freezing down here in the basement, by my computer earlier today. I’m freezing down here now. I finally looked up the thermometer and it’s 54 degrees down here. No wonder I can’t get warm, despite my space heater and the furnace vent above my head, being open. My hands are so cold. I’m not sure why it’s so cold down here today, since we got up into the 20’s today, so it’s not THAT cold outside. When is spring coming?

Since we did have a warmer day today, meaning one where you don’t mind being outside so much, I thought I’d better get a move on picking up after the dog. January was so cold and snowy, that I never really wanted to be out there long enough to pick up the messes. So, today, it got done: 2 grocery bags full, because poop and snow take up a lot of room. The flat area along the driveway looks so much better now. It was hard work, since I kept having to get my shovel into the frozen snow, so I could get the messes picked up.

Back in December, when it started snowing, I never got all the previous “muffins” picked up, so they’ll be waiting as the snow melts. Ugh. Wish I could get to them now, but the snow’s way too deep.

Poor Jasmine. Gary had to snowblow some paths for her, to use for her bathroom, since the snow is much deeper than her 18 inches. I sure can’t wait until that snow starts melting. I barely remember what my yard looks like, without snow.

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Posted in Dog, My Life, Weather | 3 Comments »

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