Still have a bag of turkey in the fridge needing some creative recycling?This is the Turkey Tetrazzini recipe from Peg Bracken's "I Hate to Cook" book.I'm not much of a chef, but I have a few recipes I really love. This is one of them.Now, don't get scared off when you read this through. It may sound a little complicated, but after you make it once, you'll see that it … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving Preview
L.L. Barkat issued an invitation to her place for Thanksgiving!I'm so totally there to see what she can whip up for us...Guess what? You're invited, too!Here's the official invite, straight from the source:You are cordially invited by L.L. Barkat to join a Thanksgiving Celebration. Just post about a Thanksgiving memory, something you are thankful for this year, a special … [Read more...]
In Which Holiday Decor Doubles as a Science Experiment
One of my daughters shot a short video documenting the natural outcome of procrastination.While we were uploading it to YouTube, I asked her what we should title it.She suggested, "Gross Pumpkins."So...consider yourself warned.[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLme3Dlp3G0] … [Read more...]
WFMW: A Word about Hand Blenders
Until recently, it seemed that few people around these parts had even heard of a hand blender, let alone seen one in action.So permit me to introduce you to mine.This handy little gadget is ubiquitous in Belgian kitchens -- they're used every day in food preparation; most often, I suspect, to blend delicious soups.Small, easy to store, easy to clean, the Kroeker hand … [Read more...]
Tightwad on Tuesday, Pt. 2
Already there have been some great comments and links to the Tightwad on Tuesday post.Apparently we're not the only ones who have made changes after all, contrary to what my informal local survey revealed.Nor are we the only ones who have been more on the tightwad end of the spectrum for some time. We've always been pretty cheap thrifty, but I can see right away that many … [Read more...]
One Summer-Fall Day
Unseasonably warm temperatures reached the mid-70s today, allowing the kids to experiment with leaf inventions; they were unencumbered by pesky fall jackets or gloves and instead donned shorts and T-shirts.They raked leaves and jumped. They shook branches, raked more, heaped, leaped, tumbled, skidded and slid into the mounds.They created circles and walls of leaves. They … [Read more...]
Friday Food Thoughts: Apples Now, Apples Later
We went apple picking this week.We love eating freshly sliced apples as a snack or with lunch.We love them dipped in caramel or Nutella for dessert.We love them just about any way they can be consumed: as applesauce, apple butter, apple pie, or apple cobbler.We love apples.So I started thinking about ways to preserve apples, because just as we discovered on our blueberry … [Read more...]
Bonus Bathroom Storage that Works for Me
Before I was married, I lived in a simple, inexpensive apartment with a couple of roommates. We all shared one full bathroom.Several other friends had newer, nicer apartments, and I coveted their master baths and walk-in closets. I told myself that if at all possible, someday, I wanted to own a house with a master bath and walk-in closet.That "someday" arrived nine years … [Read more...]
Frugal Friday Thoughts: Old Brown Teapot
Years ago, I found a humble, old, brown, "Made in England" teapot at Goodwill.I loved that old teapot. It was just the right size for a couple of cups of tea in the morning with extra for iced tea later. Or it would serve two cups each to a friend and me.The old brown pot wasn't ornate or delicate; rather, it was simple, sturdy, and useful -- just what this tea-drinker … [Read more...]
Thankful
For the cicadas' and crickets' late summer serenade.For lingering warmth, stretching out summer.For rain after weeks of dry.For food in the freezer.For food in the pantry.For water to drink.For safety.Freedom.Life.Health.Family.I'm thankful for today. For right now.For a bed. Clean sheets. A shower.For enough.Far more than enough.Philippians 4:19 (and 20) … [Read more...]
"Quatre Quarts" Translates to a Common American Dessert: Guess Which One
Our French visitor offered to make a cake for us. "It's very simple and common," she said. "Everyone makes it." She called it "Quatre Quarts."There are only four ingredients, all in the same amounts. That is, if you weigh your ingredients, like the Europeans do. She didn't know how we managed to cook without a good scale. To a girl used to working in grams, all of those … [Read more...]
Friday Food Thoughts: Crockpot Lime Chicken Tacos
My friend Sharon sent me this link when she saw that I needed Crock Pot recipes: Lime Chicken Tacos.Here's the recipe along with my personal notes inserted in parentheses.Lime Chicken TacosIngredients: 1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts 3 tablespoons lime juice 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 cup frozen corn 1 cup chunky salsa 12 flour tortillas (6 inches), … [Read more...]
Dealing with a Mess (a delicious mess)
I picked what I think is considered a "mess of beans" the other day.From my own little backyard garden!I couldn't believe our meager plot produced so many beans!I wanted to get a picture of them just picked and piled high in my basket, but the kids had borrowed my camera to go to the zoo. I had no idea I'd be at home wanting to take bean pictures (obviously I haven't … [Read more...]
From Chaos to Controversy to Gratitude to the Fonz
All of your responses to the original post about chaos and the follow-up post about being humbled have been helpful and insightful. Thank you for pondering and exploring this with me.One time I was explaining blogs and blogging (and my blog itself) to my sister-in-law. At the time, I had been following a couple of bloggers who seemed to generate tons of traffic and … [Read more...]
Chaos-O-Meter
Today's Chaos-O-Meter indicates a high level of chaos in the Kroeker house.The kids determined the possible levels of chaos, beginning with: "Complete peace." Next is "Mildly Messy." After that, midway on the Chaos-O-Meter, reads "Minor Mishaps." The next degree of chaos is "Dust Everywhere," which apparently the children have determined adds a lot to the chaos. I'm … [Read more...]
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