Menu Monday 12/31

Heather says:

• Monday - albondigas, cheese quesadillas, chips & salsa, bacon wrapped jalepenos 
• Tuesday - collards, hoppin’ john, cornbread
• Wednesday - chicken with black beans and rice, zucchini and corn with cilantro,
• Thursday - BBQ pork in Carolina mustard sauce, rice, broccoli, carrot raisin salad
• Friday - Tuna noodle casserole*, peas, salad
• Saturday - C. O. R. N**
• Sunday - beef roast, mashed potatoes, roasted carrots and celery

*The kids love it and it’s different from the way a certain someone who knows who she is used to make it.

** Clean Out Refrigerator Night.  First date night with an actual sitter since July.

Win It! Shrek 3 DVD

Ivy says:

I’ll be bold and admit that I’ve been known once or twice (har, har) to sit my kids down in front of a television so I can get some stuff done.  Sure, there are better and more educational ways for the kids to stay occupied while I’m cleaning up or writing, but sometimes it’s worth the fact that it is no hassle to pop in the Cars DVD and enjoy two glorious hours of uninterrupted silence.

So, to win the Shrek 3 DVD so you can sit your kids down for 2 glorious hassle-free, clean-up free hours of uninterrupted silence, or if you just want to see one of the two movies I saw in a theater this year, here’s what you have to do:

Make a post on your blog (linkbacks are appreciated, so we can spread the word) telling us what you do to keep the kids busy while you get things done other than sitting them down in front of the television.  Admitting you do sometimes sit the kids in front of the TV gets you bonus points. (I don’t want to be the only one, here, who uses the electronic babysitter!) Link us to your blog post in the comments here so we don’t miss a single entry!
If you don’t have a blog, you can still participate- leave a comment on this post about what you do to keep the kids busy.

If you don’t have  kids, you can still participate! Tell us what you would do, if you had kids. Extra super bonus points for people that don’t have kids that admit they probably would sit their future (or imaginary, if you plan to never have kids) kids down in front of the TV sometimes. Or tell us what you do to keep your kitties busy so you can get things done. Or your dogs. Or your ferrets. Or the imaginary people inside your head that keep driving you nuts when you have things to do. (Oh, that’s just me that has that problem? Ay yi yi.)

Deadline for the contest is  Monday, January 7th at 11 PM central standard time. Good luck!

Hitting the Sauce

Heather says:

This pizza sauce can be simmered on the stove or made with a slow cooker (Crock-pot® folks, Crock-pot®). Pizza night’s order of operations are as follows: I start the sauce, begin a crust, chop the veggies, roll out the dough, and finally add all the toppings. The kids help by eating all my toppings before they are on the pizza and then demanding they get to place the pepperoni according to their specifications. Good times.

This recipe makes enough sauce for three or four twelve inch pizzas, depending on how saucy you like them. If you have fresh herbs available, use them. I am still in search of the perfect crust. Last night’s did its job of holding our toppings in place, but I wouldn’t give it more credit than that.

Pizza Sauce

Ingredients:

• 3 TBSP olive oil
• 1 large onion diced
• 3 cloves of garlic minced or pressed
• 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes (or use 1 - 2 lbs fresh)
• 1 8oz can tomato paste
• 1 1/2TBSP honey or white sugar
• 1 - 1 1/2 TBSP each of dried oregano and basil ( we like a strong flavor, feel free to reduce this amount)
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Heat the olive oil over medium heat, then add the diced onions and cook until soft.

Add the garlic and allow to cook an additional 2 - 3 minutes. Do NOT burn the garlic. If you are using a slow cooker, add all your ingredients to the crock and add the onions and garlic. Set on low for all day or high for 3 -4ish hours. (This depends heavily on your cooker’s settings, watch it carefully the first time.) If you are finishing the sauce on the stove, add the remaining ingredients, turn the heat to low and allow to simmer for at least 30 minutes.

This sauce freezes beautifully. I usually only have to make it every other time we have pizza night.

Enjoy!

Bring Back the Classics: Tomato Gravy

Heather says:

Digging through old cookbooks you may come across some strange ideas, especially concerning gelatin. However, there are many classic recipes being forgotten or replaced by new convenience items. A perfect example is tomato gravy. Sure, the name doesn’t invoke images of glamour or haute couture, but not everything in life has to. Tomato gravy is nice as a sauce over: rice, pasta, or pan fried meats such as chicken, fish, or pork.  This is a nice practice gravy as it isn’t meant to be perfectly smooth, don’t stress over any small lumps.

 

Tomato Gravy

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter*
•  2 tablespoons flour
•  1 tsp sugar or honey
•  1/2 teaspoon salt
•  15-ounce can whole or stewed tomatoes
•  1/2 cup milk**
•  fresh ground pepper to taste

*vegans can use olive or coconut oil carnivores can use bacon drippings.
**for creamier flavor use evaporated milk
Directions:

In a skillet over medium low melt the butter or oil.  Stir in the flour; keep stirring until smooth.

Allow to come to a boil and then stir in the half cup milk, a little at a time.  The flour will thicken considerably.   You’ll be left with a very thick roux.  Add the teaspoon of sugar or honey, as well as the salt and pepper.  (Stir continuously).

While still stirring, slowly add the juice from the tomatoes.   Once it has all  been incorporated add the tomatoes and squash ‘em.  (Yes, that’s my technical term).  Allow to return to a boil, then simmer until the gravy is at the desired thickness.

Enjoy.

Ask the Audience: Fruitcake

Heather says:

In twenty-nine years of Christmases, the closest encounter I have ever had with fruitcake has been television and a short story I once read in jr high.

Tell me  Home Eccers is fruitcake a regional phenomenon or have I been sheltered?

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