Christmas Dinner

Hi Everyone,

Merry Christmas!  My day has been truly wonderful.  Our son and his wife spent the day and our daughter called from California and her husband uploaded a video of our granddaughters opening some of their gifts.
What a blessing.  I hope all of you have had a blessed and wonderful Christmas day as well.

I want to share with you our Christmas day dinner. It is very traditional.

Homemade Turkey Raviolis
Homemade Sauce with homemade meatballs
Broccolli and Cauliflower with Cheese and Garden Vegetable Cream Cheese
Tossed Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing
Ham
Relish Tray
Sparkling Grape Juice
Assorted Cookies

Everything was so delicious and I am thankful for Brittany's help in the kitchen.  After we ate and cleaned up the kitchen we joined Jim and Jimmy in the livingroom to watch "Remember the Night" with Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyk, and many other great actors and actresses.

After the kids left Jim and I just spent some quite time together.

God is so good to me and my family.  Praise the Lord

Love and Hugs,
Janet

Wonderfully Busy Day

Hi Everyone,

I hope all you are having a great day.  Even though it is raining here in Vandergrift, PA it is warm and cozy here in the house.  I love being in the kitchen and doing some cooking and baking which what I have been doing.  Warm M & M cookies just came out of the oven and the slow cooker is busy cooking deer steaks with beef gravy and potatoes and carrots.  Smells yummy and will really hit the spot at supper.  It has been a while since I cooked venison.  Growing up that was a meat staple in my home.  Daddy always got a deer and that helped supplement beef and other types of meat.

Well I am going to run.  Tell me about your day.

Love and Hugs,
Janet

Christmas Stem Glass Charm Rings

Hi Everyone,

Just checking in and posting a video of my newest project.  I have seen these on YouTube and thought I would give them a try my self.  Below I have posted the video of the Christmas Stem Glass Charm Rings.  I hope you enjoy the video.  The charm rings have a Christmas theme.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTeibTtnZ4Y

Love and Hugs,
Janet

Busy Tuesday

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to check in.  It has been a busy day today.  Cleaning, doing laundry, and baking.  Today I have made Extra Chunky Peanut Butter and Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies.  I always like to have lots of cookies for the holidays for when people stop by to visit.

Jim is busy too, putting away the storage boxes we use for the Christmas decorations.  I think I am done decorating, it is just keeping things just right throughout the Christmas Season.

The cookies I made today, I just used the recipe from the Betty Crocker cookbook, but I used extra chunky peanut butter and I added a bag of milk chocolate chips.  Chocolate and peanut butter always goes so well together.

Let me know how your day is going.

Hugs,
Janet

Pink Lemonade Cookies

Hi Everyone,

Just checking and hoping all of you are well.  We are all just about done getting ready for Christmas, that is as far as the decorating goes.  I still have a lot of shopping to do and than finish the baking.  However today I did make some homemade Pink Lemonade cookies and they are delicately sweet with a hint of tart from the lemonade.  I will post the recipe below.  They are easy to make, I got the recipe from a cookie book I purchased a few years ago.  Only I did change it a little.  My guys love them.  I left some out on the kitchen counter, but froze the rest for Christmas.

Pink Lemonade Cookies

1 c. of butter, softened                                               1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. of sugar                                                               6 oz. of pink lemonade
2 eggs                                                                        1 1/2 scoopers of dry pink lemonade mix
3 c. flours                                                                   2 tsp. vanilla


Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.  Add pink lemonade and vanilla, mix.  Combine flour, baking soda and dry pink lemonade mix with wet ingredients.  Mix until completely blended.  Drop by spoon onto a greased cookie sheet.  Bake 8 minutes or until golden brown around the edges.  Cool. Enjoy!!!

Give them a try and please let me know what you think.

Have a great evening.

Hugs,
Janet

Homemade Raviolis

Hi Everyone,

Hope all are having a great Thanksgiving weekend.  Back in 2007 we spent Christmas our in California with our daughter and her family.  While we were there I had the wonderful opportunity to teach my daughter as my mother-in-law taught me, making homemade raviolis.  It was great fun and a very fond memory.

Today I had that same privilege of teaching my new daughter-in-law how to make the homemade raviolis.  We had a great time taking turns rolling and filling.  I told her how to do the filling and I made the dough.

Maybe someday Tiffany and I together will show her daughters how to make Mam mam's homemade raviolis.  She would be so proud that the tradition that she started so long ago is being carried on.

If you have a tradition that you share with your family I would love to hear about it.

Hugs,
Janet

Happy Thansgiving

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick note to say Happy Thanksgiving to all.  God bless you all and I hope you all have had a great day.

Love and Hugs,
Janet

Pie Making Day

Hi Everyone,

I hope all have had a great day today.  I have been busy in my kitchen today making some of the goodies for tomorrow.  I love baking and cooking and creating new recipes.  I want to share some pictures of some of the goodies I have made with you.

When I was done with my pies, I was wondering what to make for dinner.  You know breakfast for dinner is always good.  So I thought what about Pumpkin Walnut Pancakes.  Below is my recipe for them and they were a hit here in my house.  My husband loved them.  Our son stopped by before going home and he tried one and he loved them too.

Pumpkin Walnut Pancakes

2 c. Bisquick
1 cup milk
3 large eggs
1/3 c. dark brown sugar
2 t. cinnamon
1 c. pumpkin puree
1/4 c. finely chopped walnuts

Mix all ingredients together.  Spoon on to a hot griddle.  Brown on both sides.  Serve hot with butter and warm maple syrup.  Yummy :):):)!

Enjoy and please let me know what you think.  Check out the pictures of my goodies.

Hugs,
Janet

Christmas Tea cup Pin Cushions

Hi Everyone,

How are all of you doing?  I s everyone getting ready for Thanksgiving?  I have my stuff bought for our Thanksgiving feast, the decorations are out and I am ready to go.  Tomorrow is my pie making day.  I plan on making two pumpkin pies and a Kentucky Pecan Pie.  Thursday I will be up very early to get the 22 pound turkey in the oven and prepare to do everything that needs done for that day.  Thanksgiving is one of my favorite meals to cook and prepare for.

I am also looking ahead to Christmas.  I just finished making two Tea Cup Pin Cushions to display for Christmas.  I did a video and I plan to put it up on this blog and my parlor blog too.  That is if my computer will let me.

Below is the video that you can watch.  I would appreciate any comments.  Also please let me know if the video works.  I will also put pictures up.

Well I better go for now.  Have a very Happy Thanksigving.

Love and Hugs,
Janet




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbcbjOEGM74

It has been awhile

Hi Everyone,

I know it has been awhile since I last posted on this blog.  Sorry!  My Jimmy's wedding was October 20th and it was beautiful.  My daughter was able to come in to share this joyous occasion with him, his bride and all of us.  It was a real treat to see the two kids together having a good time, kidding around with each other ans just being together as a family.

While Jimmy and Brittany were on their honeymoon we spent some time with Tiffany and also got to celebrate her birthday with her.  She wanted to go shopping and we also took her to Olive Garden for her birthday dinner.  It was so nice.

When she came home she brought me a miniature tea set from Solvang, CA.  I have collected mini tea pots for the past few years and three of them are from Solvang, I call them my Solvang collection.  Well I have added this little set to the collection from Solvang.  I will post a picture of it when I am done with this post.  It of course has a red rose pattern.  I love roses.

Well I better close for now.  Please enjoy the picture.  Also I would like all of you to become one of my followers her on this blog.  It would be a real encouragement to me.  Also invite your friends.  I love looking on all of your blogs and all the pretty things you share with me.  Thanks bunches.

Hugs,
Janet

Baking Cookies

Hi Everyone,

Today is a busy day with baking more cookies for the wedding next week.  the recipe I am using is easy.  I call them Chocolate Cranberry Cookies. They are really good and my family loves them.  This is a great recipe for those Mom's that work but want to have something sweet for the family.  Below is the recipe.

Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

2 tubes of refrigerator sugar cookie dough, soften
2  6oz. bags of dried cranberries
1/4 cup of flour
1 - 1 1/2 cups of milk chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray cookie sheets.  Mix all of the ingredients.  Use teaspoon full of dough, roll into balls, flatten.  Bake until light golden brown.  Let cool and enjoy.  

How easy is that.  To make them on a budget, I use store brand cookie dough and dried cranberries.  They are just as good as brand names, but easier on the budget.

Beginning next month I will be starting my Thanksgiving and Christmas baking.  I hope to share more recipes with you and I would love to hear about your recipes.

Hugs,
Janet

Ladies Tea at Church

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday began our missions conference at our church.  Today the ladies at the church host a tea and lunch for all the missionary wives.  We had quite a turn out, 8 missionary wives and the guest speaker for the week, his wife.  What a great bunches of ladies and so dedicated to doing the Lord's work as they stand beside their husbands on the field.  They were so inspirational and encouraging as their share their testimonies and stories from the field that the Lord has called them to.

All the ladies of the church brought either a salad or a dessert.  The food was awesome.  And the tea.  I got to taste three of the about 7 kinds of tea that were offered.  I tried Aztect Fire and Chocolate Carmel Truffle, also Cinnamon Creme.  They were delicious.  The decoration were beautiful as well as the different place settings.

The meeting tonight was very inspiring.  Dr. Sisks talked about all the times that Jesus thought and thinks about us.  From eternity past, the Garden of Gethesamane, the Judgement Hall, Golgotha (Calvary) to being in glory now.  It is truly awesome to think that we are always on Jesus' mind.  Think about it when He hung on the cross you were on his mind.  When I think of Jesus hanging on the cross and He thought about me and my need for salvation and He was paying the price.  Words can not express what I feel in my heart.

Well I better close for now.  Take care.  Talk to you all soon.

Hugs,
Janet

Bringing the Colors of Autumn Inside

Happy October Everyone,

Autumn is here and it is beautiful.  I still have my doors open, just to let the cool fresh air in.  Just for the fun of it and because I had one in my freezer today we are having a turkey with all the trimmings.  I guess you could say I am practicing for next month when we really do it up big.  So needless to the aroma in the house makes you mouth water.  Don't you just love the colors of autumn?  I read on another blog "Autumn is the second spring when the leaves become the flowers."  How true.

I am going to post a some of pictures.  One of my autumn tablescape and some others of the different decorations in my diningroom.  I just wanted to share with you my excitement about the season so I hope you enjoy them.  My God bless you all.

Hugs,
Janet

Royal Tea For Two

Hi Everyone,

I am back from my California trip.  It was so nice being with my daughter and her family, especially the granddaughters.  I had a wonderful time there and made so many great memories that I will always cherish.  There is one of the memories that I would like to share with all of you.  On my first Saturday there my daughter took me for Royal Tea for Two at the Tea Cozy in Cambria, California.  What any enjoyable experience.  The tea was was delicious as well as the food that was served.  (I will post pictures).  It was a very special time for my daughter and I.  You can look up the Tea Cozy online, they have their own website.    It includes the menu, what can be purchased in the little gift shop, etc.  I recommend that you look it up.  Next year when I go out again we plan on taking my granddaughters, they will love the experience.

Well I am going to close for now.  Please enjoy the pictures, and I would love to read what you think about the pictures and the Tea Cozy.

Hugs,
Janet  

No new Recipes

Hi Everyone,

Hello from California.  Since I am here in sunny California I have not been able to come up with a new recipe.  I have however bought a new mini tea pot.  when I get home I will post some pictures to share with everyone.

My daughter and her family live in Nipomo, CA and there is a little gift and craft store.  We visiting there they had a huge sale on lace.  Will I use a lot of lace for my altered art projects.  I was able to purchase 129 yards of lace (a lot of variety) for only $18.  Then while in Solvang, CA  I purchased more lace at 2 yards for a $1.00, a yard of pink (my favorite color) for a $1.00, etc.  I will have to do a video for YouTube and share what I got.

Well I better close for now.

Hugs from California,
Janet

New Recipes

Hi Everyone,

I just finished supper and I wanted to share some new recipes that I have done the past two days.  Sunday we went to the Italian Festa here in Vandergrift, Pa and it inspired me to make some Braiole (stuffed steak). So yesterday we had Braiole, red skinned mashed potatoes with dark brown gravy and fresh garden tomato salad.  The guys loved it and my future daughter in law liked the potatoes.  Below is my recipe for Braiole.

Braiole

boneless round steak, pounded thin

Filling

7 slices of bread run through a food processor
1 green pepper and 1 peeled onion finely chopped in food processor
garlic finely chopped
2 large eggs slightly beaten
salt
pepper

Mix all the filling ingredients together and spread onto the steak.  Roll the steak and place in roaster.  Top with a little steak sauce.  Add about a 1/3 cup of water to the bottom to keep from sticking.  Baste often till steak is done and filling is cooked through.   ENJOY!!!!

Now today meal was totally different from yesterdays meal.  We had baked Tilapia with Lemon Salsa Verde and round mini raviolis with homemade marinara sauce.  Below is the recipes for the Lemon Salsa Verde and the Homemade marinara sauce.

Lemon Salsa Verde

1/3 cup of each:
   mint
   parsley
   basil
2-3 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup of canola or olive oil
zest of one lemon
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 to 1 cup of lemon juice
1 - 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
about 1/4 cup of sugar
salt and pepper to taste

In a food processor mix together the herbs, garlic, oil zest of one lemon and salt and pepper.  Set aside.
In a pan mix and heat together lemon juice, cornstarch, sugar and salt and pepper.  Heat until thick and then remove from heat and let set or put in frig to cool.  After fish is baked mix the herb mixture and the lemon sauce together and warm.  Drizzle over fish and serve.  You will have some left over.  Store in frig.  Use within a couple of days or freeze.  ENJOY!!!

I hope you give them a try.  Let me know what you think.

Hugs,
Janet

New Chicken Recipe

Hi Everyone,

I am having such a wonderful day today.  Had Ladies Bible Study today and it was really nice getting together with other ladies to study God's Word.  However, before I left I put some chicken breasts in the oven using a new recipe.  I want to share that recipe with you.  I was watching Holiday with Gordon Ramsey the other day and he showed how he makes his holiday turkey and I thought I would use his idea with my chicken breast, but I did it my way.  I call my recipe Bacon and Orange Chicken.  Here is my recipe:

Bacon and Orange Chicken

3 large chicken breast with skin on
1/2 lb of bacon
3 cups of orange juice
1 large onion cut in half

Place the 3 chicken breast in roaster skin side up.  Season with a little salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder and Italian seasoning.  Place bacon strips on top of each breast.  Arrange onion halves along chicken breasts.  Pour in 2 cups of orange juice.  Place in 400 degree oven for 20 minutes and then reduce heat to 350 degrees.  Bake until golden brown on top, the bacon is crisp and the breasts are thoroughly cooked.  Basted chicken breasts several times during the cooking process and add the 3rd cup of juice if you desire, I did.  When done take the breasts out of the roaster and set aside to rest while you make the gravy Also remove the onion halves..   If you have made mashed potatoes for the meal reserved some of the potato water to add to the orange juice broth you cooked the chicken in.  Season more if needed.  Add corn starch to thicken.  This makes a delicious bacon and citrus gravy, very unique.

Serve with mashed potatoes and a vegetable.

Enjoy the recipe and let me know if you try it.

Hugs,
Janet

Monday Canning Day

Hi Everyone,

Just checking in to say Hi and to let everyone know what I have been up too.

This past friday I decided we haven't had rabbit in awhile so that is what we had for supper.  Roasted rabbit with onion gravy, mashed potatoes and garden fresh tomato salad.  The guys really enjoyed it.  Rabbit meat is tender when roasted, similar to chicken.  Don't forget to baste it every so often.

Today I did some canning which keeps me pretty busy so I decided to take some leftovers and make some delicious.  We had Hot Rabbit and Onion gravy over corn and cheese biscuits with baked cheesy mashed potatoes.

Rabbit Left Overs
Left overs from friday meal.

chopped rabbit meat
onion gravy
mashed potatoes
butter
cup of cheese
1/3 cup of canned milk

Mix the first two ingredients and heat over a low to medium heat.  Slightly warm mashed potatoes.  Mix in butter, cheese and milk.  Dot with butter and bake in oven 400 degrees 20 - 30 minutes.

Corn and Cheese Biscuits

2 cups of bisquick mix
1 cup of shredded cheese
3/4 cup of canned milk  
3/4 can of cream style corn

Mix all ingredients, drop by spoon on baking sheet.  Bake in 400 degree oven till golden brown on bottom and slightly brown on top.  Serve with gravy or top with butter.  Both ways are delicious.

Enjoy!!!

Canning

Hi Everyone,

Hope all of you are having a great summer.  Now that it is August the fruits of our garden are coming in and I have started my canning.  Today, after many years, due to work, I started canning the tomatoes.  I was able to make 7 3/4 quarts of tomato sauce.   It was really good to be doing that homemaking chore again and hearing the pop of the jars as they sealed the goodness of the garden inside.  It will be so nice this winter to open a jar and make spagetti with the sauce made from the tomatoes from the garden.

How many of you still practice the art of canning?  A quick question how many of you can fruit?  Can you give me some advice on canning the fruit?  Is there one way or another that is best?  I would really like to get into canning fruit for the winter.

I may try my hand at making some jam too.  We will see about that, I don't want to take too much on my son is getting married in October, but first I will be going out to California for two weeks to be with my daughter and her family.

Well I better close for now.  Please let me know about the canning.  I will try to get some pictures posted of my jars of sauce.

Hugs,
Janet

Some Collections

Hi Everyone,

Yes, it has been awhile.  I just wanted to catch up with every one and share some of my china collection.  The collections that I have posted are what I call my Tuscon collection of dishes, my luncheon set collection, my salt and pepper shaker collection and my Japanese tea cup and rice bowl collection.  I hope you enjoy my collections and please share yours with me.  Also please leave a comment, they are truly appreciated.

Hugs,
Janet

My Estate Sale Adventure

Hi Everyone,

I hope all of you are having a super great day.  This morning Jim, Jimmy and I went to an estate sale.  I have never been to one before so I was really excited about going to this one.  While I was shopping around there I found the two tea pots and the tea cup and saucer that I have posted.  They are really beautiful, of course I am partical to roses.

When I was growing up even as a child, my Mom never sent us kids to school without having a cup of tea.  She always had tea waiting for us when we came home for lunch.  However the tea was never served in fancy tea cups, usually just mugs, which is okay.

Well that is my adventure for the day and a little story from my childhood.

Hugs,
Janet

What to do with Leftover Spagetti

Hi Everyone,

I hope of you are having a great day today.  Here in Vandergrift, PA it is sunny outside and soft fluffy clouds are floating in the sky.  The birds are chirping in the trees in my backyard.  After breakfast my husband and I sat out on our patio and just enjoyed the sights and sounds of our little piece of paradise. 

Saturday we had spagetti and a tossed salad for dinner.  Monday I took the leftover spagetti and made a special dish that I wnat to share with all of you.

Spagetti Bake

1 egg
1/2 cup of flour
1/2 cup of milk
 leftover spagetti
 sauce
 sprinkly cheese

Grease a 8 x 10 pan.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Beat egg, flour and millk together.  Mix in spagetti until well coated with egg mixture.  Spread in pan.  Top with extra sauce and sprinkle cheese.  Bake until heated through and golden brown on top.  Serve with tossed salad.  Enjoy!!!

I always try to think of things to do with leftovers.    If you have leftover ideas please share them.  I like to learn new recipes.

Hugs,
Janet

New Recipe

Hi Everyone,

Hope all of you had a great weekend.  Mine was quiet and cozy here at my home.  I just want to share with all of you the dish I made for my husband and I for supper on saturday.

Basil, Cheese and Tomato Souffle

6 large eggs
1 can of Italian diced tomatoes
2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup of chopped fresh basil
2 cups of milk
1/2 cup of flour
salt and pepper to taste

Beat eggs.  Add milk and flour.  Beat till mixed.  Add remaining ingredients.  Mix together.  Pour into a 8 x 10 greased square cake pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.  Slice and serve with garlic/cheese toast.

I make my own garlic toast. 

Garlic and Cheese Toast

Butter both sides of bread. 
Sprinkle garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, grated Parmesan cheese.
Bake 350 degrees till golden brown.

Enjoy the souffle.  Please share any recipes that you like with me.

As always thanks for stopping by and visiting.

Hugs,
Janet

Tea Pot Collection

Hi Everyone,

Just checking in and hoping all of you had a great Memorial Day Celebration.  Family and friends gathered at our house for a picnic and it was great sharing the day with them.. However there was a few empty spaces that could only be filled by my daughter and her family, but our thoughts and prayers were with them.

I am posting some pictures of my mini tea post collection as well as some other china pieces.  Please enjoy and also visit my other blog: nananovembersparlor.blogspot.com

Thanks and have a super great day.

Hugs,
Janet

Supper Outside

Hi Everyone,

Sorry I did not post yesterday.  I wanted to share this recipe with you yesterday but I was alittle busy.  Yesterday I was wondering what to make for supper.  We had a late lunch so I didn't want to make a big supper.  So I decided to do the following.

Fresh Garden Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing and Longhorn Cheddar Butterfly Crisps

(I know long title, but yummy meal)

Fresh garden lettuce (right from the garden), cleaned and chopped
Fresh onions (right from the garden), cleaned and diced, including the green part
1 MacIntosh apple, cleaned, cored and diced
Shredded Fontinalla Cheese
Homemade Italian dressing

Mix together and set aside.

Spraylightly a non-stick skillet and get it hot.  Cut sliced Longhorn cheddar cheese into triangles and place them in hot skillet with top points touching.  Fry on one side till almost golden brown and then flip to lightly brown.  Remove from skillet to drain on a paper towel.  Use to garnish salad.  What a yummy treat.  My guys loved them.

Homemade Italian Dressing

1 cup Canola Oil
1/2 cup vinegar
onion powder (to taset)
garlic powder (to taste)
italian seasoning (to taste)
1/4 - 1/3 cup of sugar
light sprinkle of water

Shake well and add to salad.  This makes enough for a few salads.

Please try these out and enjoy!!!

Hugs,
Janet

Happy Mother's Day Recipe

Hi Everyone,

I have had a wonderful mother's day and I wanted to share a special recipe with all of you.

Happy Mother's Day Recipe

Start the day off with the Lord in His house
1 wonderful husband
Children who fill your heart with love and special memories
Grandchildren for lots of sweetness
Friends that provide good fellowship

Mix well with good food and good conversation.
Repeat yearly.

One thing about this recipe is you can do this any time throughout the year.  It is always good.  Even when some of the family members are far away think of them often, how memories of them in your heart and mind, it will add love to your overflowing cup of life.

ENJOY!!!!

Hugs,
Janet

Kitchen Duty

Hi Everyone,

I am calling this post Kitchen Duty, but I mean it in a special way.  I love being in the kitchen cooking and baking.  Especially for my family.  Today I want to share with all of you what I am cooking for supper tonight.  I was inspired by the Laura Ingalls Wilder book series.  Yes that is a kids book series, but I love reading them just to be reminded about life long ago.  She shares in her books differents things her mother would cook and bake, this what inspires me to try new things when I cook and bake.  So here we go.

Creamed Potaotes and Peas

Wash, peel, cube, and cooked till tender the desired amount of potatoes
1 bag of frozen peas cooked according to package directions
2 quarts of water
2 large tablespoons of chicken base
1/2 cup of flour
About 1 1/2 cups of water

After the potatoes are finished cooking drain them and set aside.  Take the 2 quarts of water (could be less if your desired) add the chicken base.  More base can be added if needed. and bring to a boil.  Mix the flour and water together for a thicking and add to the boiling chicken broth.  It will get thick.  Add potatoes and peas and cook about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Serve and enjoy some old fashion cooking.  I am serving mine in a bowl because I made a little extra thickened broth.  I am serving it will the follwing:

fried ham slices
sliced bread and butter
Dessert:  chewy fudge brownies with walnuts

Try this menu out on your family and remember the good old days when life was much simplier.

Hugs,
Janet

A Day with a Friend

Hi Everyone,

Just checking in to share with all of you about my afternoon yesterday with a friend.  I made lunch for us and we were about to talk and have fellowship together.  Our families go to the same church.  We workin in the church nursery together.  It was such a wonderful day.  I am glad that she is my friend.

Below is the recipe for the salad that I made for us for lunch.

Pasta Salad with Fruit and Vegetables

1/2 box of bow tie pasta cooked according to package directions
1/2 cup of re grapes cut in half
1 medium MacIntosh Apple cored and cubed (leave skin on for color and vitamins)
1/3 cup of red pepper diced
1/3 cup of green pepper diced
 3/4 cup of Marzietta's Sweet Vidalia Onion Dressing


Mix all together, chill before serving. 

I served this salad with a orange cranberry bread that I made.  It was delicious and nutritious.

Give the recipe a try.

Hugs,
Janet

What To Do About Those Leftovers!!!

Hi Everyone,

Yes it has been a few days since I last posted anything on my blogs.  Hope all is doing well.  Yesterday we had steak that I cooked in a slow cooker, as well as mashed potatoes and peas.  As usual there were leftovers.  I don't despire when I have leftovers, because that means to me that I have an opportunity to make something special.  So here is what I did this morning with the leftover mashed potatoes.

Potato Pancakes

Combined the mashed mashed potatoes with the following:

1/2 of Italian Bread crumbs
1/2 cup of grated cheese
2 eggs slightly beaten

Heat oil in a skillet and drop a large spoonfull of the potato mixture, smash down slightly.  Fry on both sides.  Transfer to a paper towel lined plate and keep warm in the oven till all the pancakes are all done.

I served them with a large egg, sausage (also leftover) and cheese omelet, and warm biscuits.

Now what did I do with the leftover steak, gravy and peas.  I make stew and dumplings.

Cut up the meat in bite size pieces  Add to the gravy along with the peas.  Now that usually is not enough so I add the following:

Pared boiled small cubed potatoes.
1/2 bag of mixed frozen vegetables
Make extra gravy (I use the packaged dried gravy mix)

Cook over a low to medium heat. 

Stew is not properly done unless you serve them with dumplings.

Follow the dumpling recipe on the box of Bisquick.

With the rain and snow today this is a good, warm and heartiy meal that will warm you inside and outside.  It is also a special time for the family to gather around the family table and share food and fellowship.  Take this time to share things about God's word.  Enjoy being together with the family.  I do and I truly appreciate my family and our time together.

Hope all of you have a great day.  I also hope I have inspired you to use those leftovers.

Hugs,
Janet

The China Cupboard

Hi Everyone,

Today I cleaned out the china cupboard that use to be my mother-in-laws.  It is filled with her mother's china, her china and my collection of tea cups and saucers.  I love the cupboard, it is beautiful.  Jim's mom got it years and years ago from a furniture dealer here in Vandergrift.  He had ordered it and when it arrived it had a chip in the back.  Mom saw it and and he told her about the chip.  He said he was going to send it back to the company.  She asked him what he would sale it for with the chip.  It was to sell for about $200, but with the chip mom got it for $35.  So I guess you could consider it a family heirloom.    Do you have a family heirloom?    Share your story in the comment section, I would love to read about it.

Hugs,
Janet

Nana's Hamburgers

Hi Everyone,

Usually on friday's we have pizza.  Well after a while you need a change and with a change in the weather there is a change in our menu.  Today we are going to have Nana's Hamburgers along with Mini Mac, Tomato Mac and Cheese, and a tossed salad.  Below are some recipes you might like to try.

Nana's Hamburgers

1 lb. of ground meat (lean)
1 egg
1 pack of dryed onion soup
1/4 cup of worschestershire sauce or steak sauce
1/2 cup of Italian bread crumbs

Mix all ingredients together.  Form into burger patties.  Grill.  Serve with desired condiments.


Sweet and Spicy Salsa

1 can of diced peaches (chop into smaller pieces)
1/3 cup of green and red peppers
1/3 cup of roasted sweet peppers (diced)
1 serrano pepper, cleaned and seeds removed, diced small
4 tablespoons of brown sugar
juice from the peaches
 

Mix together.   Chill.  Serve on burgers.

It is sweet and very spicy.


Tomato Mac and Cheese

1/2 box of elbow mac (cook according to package directions)
1 jar of cheese (melted)
1 can of small diced tomatoes (slightly drained)
3 slices of sharp cheddar cheese

Mix the first 3 ingredients together.  Place in baking dish.  Top with cheese slices.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until heated through and cheese on top is melted.  Serve and enjoy!!!

My New Kitchen blog

Hi Everyone,

I have decided to create a second blog to post all of my recipes on, that is why I am calling it nananovemberskitchen.  You all know that I love to be crafty, but I also love to cook and bake.  My other blog was getting very crowded so that is why I decided to do a separate blog for my recipes.  I will also try to put up pictures of what I cook and bake.  Please feel free to try these recipes, some are ones that I created myself and also will be from those who have taught me to cook and bake, my mom and mother-in-law.

Here is the first recipe.  This one was inspired by my mother-in-law.  She use to make her own ham salad.  This Easter I decided to take some of the leftover ham and make my own.

Ham and Garden Vegetable Salad Spread

2 cups of finely chopped ham (I pulsed the ham in a food processor)
1/3 cup of finely diced sweet pickles
1/3 cup of finely chopped red pepper
1/3 cup of finely chopped green pepper
1/4 cup of sweet pickle juice
1/2 cup of Ranch Buttermillk Dressing

Mix together.  Chill.  Serve on sandwiches or crackers.
Makes a great lunch.

Enjoy!!!

Hugs,
Janet