Spring has Sprung early in Michigan

The windows are open and the heat is turned off!  I am soooo excited about the early spring we are experiencing.  We are scheduled for 70 degree weather for the next 7 days! 

Yesterday I checked my daffodils and they were in bud and this morning I saw lovely blooms.  I also have mini daffodils and crocus in bloom.  I believe this is the earliest that I can remember in some time to have such early blooms.  At this rate, my tulips should be in bloom by Easter. 

Time to begin the yard clean-up from winter - many leaves are in my flower beds and the veggie garden needs a lot of attention.

Could Spring Really Be On it's Way?

Happy Day!  The seed catalogs have begun to arrive, this is a much better sign of spring to come than any old ground hog!  I am so excited for my garden this year. 

I have two problem areas that I am planning on addressing.  First - is the front of our house.  We have an area that is in the shade practically all day long - I started working on this area last summer - but did not put enough of my attention to it - this year will be different.  I've been researching what plants will work best in this area. 

I know I need to improve the soil and bring in mulch.  I've been composting for the last few years - I am hoping that it will be ready to use this year.

Last year I divided some of my Hosta to plant in this area - I think with a little TLC I can really pump these up.  I also want to bring in some ferns.  From everything I read - they are pretty easy to grow.  Now I need to find some color to bring in - more research to come.

The second area I need to address is my herb garden.  I made the mistake a few years ago to plant mint in the garden - I worked on cleaning it up last year - but it came back by summer end and I know I have a battle on my hands this spring.  I've research some of the herbs I would like to bring in this spring.  Again, I need to pump up the soil here.  It is very wet and in need of better drainage.  Not only am I planning on bring in some soil here, but some sand and mulch too. 

I am so happy Bill's truck is up and running this spring - I can not wait to get the bulk mulch for this year!  Now I'm off to dream about my vegie garden! :-)

A Tasty Little Side Dish

Happy Monday all!

As I was working through my recipe file - it has just fell apart and in need of order - I came across this little delight.  I had noted on the card that I got it from my Grandmother in North Carolina in 1990 when she had made it for one of our visits there.

Squash Casserole
2 lbs (6 cups) sliced yellow squash (or some know it as Summer Squash)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 cup sour cream
1 carrot shredded
1 - 8oz. boxed stuffing mix (I prefer Pepperidge Farm Herb stuffing mix)
1/2 cup butter or margarine (melted)
salt and pepper to taste

Steam the sliced squash and chopped onion for 5 minutes.  Meanwhile, ccombine the soup, sour cream, shredded carrot and seasonings.  Fold in the steamed squash & onion.  Combine the stuffing mix with melted butter.  Place the stuffing mix (reserving 1/3 for topping) in to bottom of a 9x13 inch greased (I just give it a quick spray)glass pan.  Spoon the veggie mix over the stuffing and cover with the reserved stuffing mix.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Yummy for the tummy and a delight for the eyes.

Enjoy!

A difference choice for Breakfast - or any time

I just love breakfast for dinner - I don't know if it is the comfort food or just simply I love all the flavors. 

As I was going through my recipe file - I came across this recipe.  I am not sure how long I've had it - but guessing from the card, I've had it since the '80s.  Yes - I am that old...lol.  Well any ways, I thought it sounded very yummy - so I gave it a try. 

I was very happy with the results and I hope you will be too!

French Toast Ham and Cheese Sandwiches

1 - loaf of Italian Bread - sliced

1 - 8 oz. pkg. Ham Slices

1 - 8 oz. pkg. Mozzarella Cheese slices

1/4 cup milk

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg (I prefer to grate fresh)

salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup butter
1 cup maple syrup

Fold ham and cheese slices to fit on 6 bread slices; top with remaining bread.

In pie plate with fork, beat milk, eggs, nutmeg, salt and pepper until well mixed.  Dip sandwiches into egg mixture, one at a time, until well coated on both sides.

In skillet over medium-low heat, in hot butter, cook sandwiches until golden brown on both sides, about 15 minutes.  Meanwhile, heat maple syrup (I used the microwave, or you can heat on low heat on the stove top).

Serve sandwiches with syrup.

  

Makes 6 main-dish servings.

Enjoy!

Theresa

Not my Mother's Meatloaf

As I was growing up, we had meatloaf every Tuesday night for dinner.  You see Tuesday night was my mom's bowling night and meatloaf was something she could prepare during the day so that all we had to clean up was the pan the meatloaf was cooked in and our dinner dishes.  I was to do the dishes on Tuesday night and I would moan and pout each week.  I look back and wonder what in the world was I so upset about - we even had a dish washer....lol.  Oh well, those days are long past - I did not eat meatloaf for some time as a young adult - I must have been tired of it.  But after while I came back to this food of my past.  The trouble is I could not find a good recipe that I liked - they were either too dry or the loaf fell apart when I lifted it from the pan.  But now I must say I have found a wonderful recipe - it was moist, firm while having a wonderful taste.  I hope you enjoy it as much as Bill and I have.

Brown Sugar Meatloaf
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 lb. ground pork
1/3 cup milk
2 eggs
1 pkg onion soup mix
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
salt & pepper to taste

1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce

Mix thoroughly together the meats, milk, eggs, soup mix, ginger, bread crumbs, salt and pepper. (I found this easy to do with my hands - just remember to remove your rings - you don't want to have to be picking meatloaf out of your diamond - lol).   Shape into a loaf and place it in a lightly greased 5x9 pan. Mix together the ketchup and Worcestershire sauce.  Top meatloaf with the brown sugar, then the ketchup mixture. 

Place in 350 degree oven and back 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until your meat thermometer reads 160 degrees.

Oldie but Goodie

I was going through my recipe files and came across some old favorites that I am planning on share with you over the next few posts.  I know, everyone seems to have a version of this cake in their files - this is the one I like the best.

Our church has a dinner club where you are invited over to a church member's home and meet different members of the church.   and then the next month - you are with a whole new group of people.  The host makes the main dish and then the guests are asked to bring something for the meal. We've hosted a few of the dinners and it is so much fun to get to know the people you are in church with.  I am Catholic and there are so many families who attend the other Masses then the one we normally attend - so there are plenty of new friends to make.  This fall we were asked to bring a dessert to one of the dinners - and I remembered this cake - it was a big hit!

Dump Cake
1 can cherry pie filling
1 pkg yellow cake mix
1 cup shredded coconut
1 can chunk pineapple - drained
1 cup melted butter
1 cup chopped nuts - I prefer pecans for this recipe - but you can use what you like

Spread the pie filling in the bottom of a greased 13x9x2 inch pan.  Arrange pineapple chunks over cherries and then sprinkle the dry cake mix over the fruit.  Pour the melted butter over the cake mix - try to be even as you pour to insure you have the butter over the whole cake.  Top with the coconut and nuts.

Bake 1 hour in a 350 degree oven.

I like to serve with a scoop of ice cream.

Easy to make (one dish - yea!) and everyone will love it!

Enjoy!
Theresa

A Better Option

One of the things that many find surprising - sometimes it is just as easy to put together a rice dish from scratch as it is from a mix - and it is so much better - both in taste and nutrition.

This is one of my favorite sides - it goes with just about anything from chicken to pork chops.  I recently made it for a family dinner serving it with a turkey breast - and I have to say - everyone was very happy with the flavors and I had very little left over.

Calico Rice
1 cup medium grain rice
1/2 cup of shredded carrots - or at least finely chopped.
1/2 cup chopped celery
3 tablespoon snipped parsley (I use the dried parsley from Penzeys Spices)
2 tablespoon finely chopped onion
2 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon instant chicken bouillon granules (instead of the bouillon - I found I like to use a tablespoon of chicken soup base from Penzeys Spices)

In a 10x6x2 inch baking dish or 1 1/2 quart casserole combine rice, carrots, celery, parsley and onion.  In saucepan heat chicken broth, butter, bouillon (or soup base) to boiling.  Pour over rice mixture.  Cover bake in 350 degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes or till rice is tender; stir after 20 minutes.  Makes 6 servings.

Fast and Easy Breakfast

Looking for something easy to put together - but sure to impress.  This is one of my favorite coffee cakes.

Graham Streusel Cake

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3/4 cup chopped nuts
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 stick butter - softened
1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
Vanilla Glaze (see below)

Grease and flour 13x9x2" pan.  Mix crumbs, nuts, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter; reserve.  Blend cake mix, water, oil and eggs until moist.  Beat 3 minutes.  Pour 1/2 of batter into pan; sprinkle 1/2 crumb mixture.  Pour remaining batter.  Top with remaining crumbs.  Bake 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees.  Cool.  Drizzle cake with glaze.

Vanilla Glaze
mix 1 cup powder sugar with 1 to 2 tablespoons water (begin with one tablespoon mix then check for consistency before adding additional water) and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract until desired consistency.

In Search of the Elusive Sally Allen

I am down in Ft. Wayne, IN geeking out as I search the genealogy library here for my ancestor Sally Allen. 

I've heard about my DAR (Daughters of American Revolution) membership application, they are fine with all my ancestors with the exception of Sally Allen.  Ok, if you are not into genealogy - I know your eyes are starting to glass over - that's ok....lol

Sally is my 4th great grandmother.  She was born around 1786 (and yes..the date is 1786) in Orange County North Carolina; married John O'Daniel in 1800 and I have her on the 1850 census at her son's (Greenberry)  home at age 64.  I found her listed in her father's will and marriage index of her and her husband John.  And then she had disappeared....

The DAR would like me to see if I can find more documentation connecting her to her son Green.  I've found some fascinating info, but nothing to answer my question of Sally....oh well, I still have tomorrow. :-)

Sheep, Sheep, Sheep....and Wool

 One thing Ireland has a lot of is sheep.  It is so interesting to see them grazing along side the road.  They are allowed to roam free, each sheep farmer has marked the back of their sheep with paint so he will know which one it his.

We stopped to visit a very interesting sheep farmer who trains his dogs to heard the sheep.  By using different tones in his whistle the dogs moved the sheep from up to down the hill and back again.  The farmer had different type of sheep to show us, each one produce a different type of wool.

And speaking of wool...every town we visited had a cute little wool shop, filled with lovely items.  The largest we visited was at Blarney.  I found sweaters, scarves, gloves and more here.  If you order on-line from them, they offer free shipping.  The quality of their items are wonderful and I would highly recommend them.