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