Dec. 13, Tuesday

[karlinann]

Good morning all. I had a sleepless night, up and down. Been up since 2:30.

I cooked some of the Collard greens and will have them Friday night with fish and cornbread. Yum!

It will be 80 degrees here today and high humidity. We have fog right now.

[cookielady]

Good Chilly Morning!

Yesterday was good. Picked up my Mom and we went to town Picked a few things at WM & Aldi's, then headed to Kohl's to see if my Mom could find the clothing items she wanted for my brother that lives with her. Got them and then we went looking for the jeans a friend of hers says that she got there...elastic in the waistline. Found them, she tried on several pair, and she liked them. Told her I'd buy them for her for Christmas. We got an add'l 20% off everything, so that was even better! Stopped at McD's for lunch...her choice. Love their fish sandwich. Came home and eventually got my energy back and started working on the Chex Mix (2 dbl batches) and Puppy Chow (2 dbl batches). Also worked on paperwork...huge relief. Now I just need to get one more piece of paperwork from Becca and then I can apply for our insurance and I need to balance checkbooks, but if I don't get those done until after Christmas, I'm OK. Spent the evening wrapping some gifts while watching TV. Getting there.

Today I hope to get the pumpkin & choc rolls made and maybe a couple other cookies. Sue texted me yesterday and she's sick in bed. I was going to wait to do the Rolls tomorrow when she was coming, but I can't take the chance, so I'm just plugging along. Slow but sure. Hope to finish wrapping this evening. We'll see. Need to think of something for dinner since it was leftovers last night. Maybe spaghetti. I promised them I would get back to cooking like normal after the baking season. Just find it too hard to bake & cook.

Have a good one all & hope you get home today Jo!

[bethina]

Good morning...work yesterday was not as bad as some sale days have been...a bit stressful at times because I had to work around customers...still managed to get finished...after work I got on the bus to come home only to find out they were having to alternate routes meaning if I got off to do anything I wouldn't have a way home...I still needed to get groceries my turn to do so. I ended up calling a cab to come home...I hate doing that because it cost so much....

Work today and volunteering

[sassygirl01]

Good morning everyone..
Rise and shine..

Another wet day..Trying to finish up the wrapping..

I had to share this pic..And the Spirit of Chirstmas..

Cookielady, I like MD too.And there fish sandwich......I made my chex mix few days ago..And it make a"BIG" batch..

[Mayebarnes]

good morning ..

been up since 4 am... the moon is so bright that I think it is 7.. and get up.. really chilly.. supposed to start snowing this afternoon .. we will probably head for Walmart.soon..I have to find what I want for my folks or just give gift cards....today will decide that..
Bethina, glad yesterday went better.
Donna,,, don't forget to breath... and sneak in a power nap...
Karlinann. I will be down this afternoon to enjoy 80degrees with you... I totally hate cold weather. and its about 20 here .aggggg

Mentally and on paper I have worked out the detail of C. Eve.. thats half the battle for me... have to have a plan.... the beef bones are cooked .broth is strained and ready to make my pot of veggie soup..check off that job. will skim off fat and bag the broth in freezer bags. and two ice cube trays..

better get dressed and wrapped up warm if we are going to town.. see you later

thank you SassyG... I needed to read that today.. Hugs.

[sassygirl01]

Maye,Thank-you....AWW.."HUG"..

[boffler]

Good Morning....I will try not to whine and complain today... You all are my release valve...

It is a cold 24 degrees here this morning, I am also getting Christmas stuff done, all packages are pretty much arriving this week, received 5 big ones yesterday...funny, hubby got home from work and all the packages are in the entryway, he ask, "what the heck is all of this?" I tell him "I've been Christmas shopping!" Now that is my way to shop, I told him I even ordered my own Christmas presents from him from Kohl's so I could save him money with my disounts, LOL...

Donna, I need to buy the ingredients to make puppy chow, everyone here loves it, hubby said he saw chocolate Chex at the store so I am going to make it with those...got to get my Christmas grocery list done.

Yesterday Rufus was much better, totally on the Hill's c/d dry and moist food now, ordered treats for them yesterday also, everything has to be approved by the vet...he doesn't get his stitches out until the 19th, can't believe cat food can do that much to a cat...they are both on the same food now..

JoG, hope your day is better today...you sure have had a rough go of it also.

Hope we hear from Darla pretty soon, wondering about her since she and her cat where pretty much living on the built in porch.

Donna thanks for the address for Mickie, what is her status right now, does she know people?

Janet I want the recipe you use for your rolls, thinking of making some for Christmas..

I agree on the fish sandwich from McDonalds, but the last time I bought one the filet was so small and only a half slice of cheese that I wasn't to happy.

karliann, love the food your cooking...born and raised in the south so I know good food.

Bethina, that is the way it is in retail industry, you have to work around the customer, be pleasant and smile all the time...

Sassy, like your Christmas rules...

Well time to get my day started which means getting dressed first...Have a good day everyone, I am thinking of the many ways I am blessed and not letting the stress of sick cat get to me today...think I will make some Mexican wedding cake cookies, I love those.

Also looking forward to hearing about how Jostoy's remodel is going.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Sharon, will type it off and post it later today..

[sassygirl01]

Boffler,Was that so cute...

[ladyebug]

Good Morning. 55 here. Bright and nippy.

Sharon, so glad to hear Rufus is improving. That means you will, as well.. Ha Ha.

I, too, wonder about Darla. Hope everything is working out for her.

Donna, did you talk to Marianne? Would like to get some information about what has been going on. I love Mickie so much.

Janet, I'm like you. Let's make this plan and get things started. It think it comes from my background of making lesson plans.

karlin, I can't conceive of 80 degrees in December. We would have so many bugs year round if the cold didn't come along and help us out.

sassy, beth, have a good day.

Hugs to All

[maxie]

Woke to find some white stuff falling and settling in the grassy areas. Yuck! I also only order the fish from McD's. AND I love their fries when they are steaming hot. I also like to dip fries into a hot fudge sundae when we dine in. It is not strange because my entire family does it! Today I have a haircut and will stop at the bank. Received a bill from the hospital for a rather large amount that I am guessing did not get turned in to my supplemental insurance so will stop by there to check it out. Maybe stop at the old grocery and pick up a few things. A local grocery carries the stuff the 'local's' like and I can get my asiago and brand of ham for Christmas. Plus they have beautiful produce that is so fresh. Why did I move from there you ask and I will reply that sometimes I do not know. But, then that 10 year old flies through the door so excited that he got a B on his social studies test and never missed one state on the map of the midwest. Jon was so proud of him and Drew was so excited...so why did the little monster put everyone through hell with this studying stuff? So that makes me happy...hiding this darn Elf and cooking every night does not make me happy. Sharon glad the kitty on the mend..JoG coming home is great news! Maye planning Christmas before some of us are ready is a first! Beth I do not know how you can carry groceries on a bus..Karlinann, never say it going to be 80 where you live when snow falling from my part of the sky! I a m so jealous!! Have a good day to everyone...and hello to all!

[bethina]

Carrying groceries on the bus isn't to bad in the warmer months because I park my bike near the bus stop and lock it up...then when I get off the bus its just a very short distance from the bus to my bike...my bike is 3 wheel with a huge basket on it...

Lately though its been a pain to get anything done at all using the bus because they have been alternating routes meaning the route I need to use to get home isn't running every hour...or one of the other routes I need isn't going every hour. making it harder to get home unless I can come straight home.

[Paula A]

Sassy, great rules!
That moon last night was gorgeous! It was rising as I went to shop after daycare and had just a few clouds across it. Very picturesque.
We are supposed to get rain in today and I hope it is late today so we get some outside time.
Sharon, you sound like things are looking up for the cats and that makes for a much better routine. My Christmas shopping is almost done and most of it ordered. I had a few calendars to get at the mall and looked on amazon and found them so I ordered them there. My mother loves the Cat a Day tear off type and we always get her one. I get Becky a wall Pug calendar and usually get myself a weekly desk calendar from Mary Engelbreit, which Amazon didn't have but I can find it...
the little tree in daycare was a big hit. Especially when I told them they could decorate it any way they wanted and whenever they wanted. We moved it a few times out of the baby's way, but that was no problem.
Becky's arm is getting better and she got 11 out of 10 on her final Political Science test! The professor commented that she had such good comments and showed a real interest in the topics for class online discussion that he gave the extra point for generating discussions. She doesn't put those things on Facebook and sent me a screenshot of his remarks to her. So, it looks like all A's and only one more final on Thursday. Plus, she was really hoping her arm would be good enough to go to Statistics today because the professor is going over what they need to study for the final on Thursday.
I will get a card off to Mickie today. I am late on sending out cards, but I do have them. I just don't have Christmas stamps and I want the Charlie Brown ones I saw.
Ok, folks, I better go. You all sound much busier getting your dinners and baking done and I wish we were all closer. I would love to see how Maye makes her broth and Karlinann makes her decorations and of course, just to smell the wonderful baking going on at Donna's...I do have almost all of my decoration done. Just a few lights need to be added to the mantel and the top of the armoire. I am still trying to find a good way to surprise Becky with her birthday piano tuning...At the very least I have the business card of the tuner I can put in her birthday card. (I thought it was a little tacky to put the receipt in there, but that had been my first idea
Ok, tearing myself away so I can finish getting ready. Make my morning protein drink and turn on the classical Christmas music. I also found harp Christmas music on my free Spotify app and love it!
Hope everyone is getting better or staying well!

[sassygirl01]

PaulaA...AWW..Thank-you...

[JoGee]

Hi!

Well, they finally let me come home from the hospital!!!
We just got home.

I'm feeling sore, but glad to have the surgery done with.

And I'm very tired today.

More later,
JoGee

[Mayebarnes]

good evening .

will get recipe for buns ready to post ... so soup recipe first.. generally do this in one day. but will split into a two day job.

Janet Vegetable soup. .

the beef broth that I start with is this basically , get to a butcher shop and ask for some bones with A little meat on please. ( yes ,they charge now). put in big pot .cover with water. add salt, pepper.. chopped up onion .. I added a shake or two of garlic powder.. .this will not make the complete flavor of the meat..just a broth..
for the soup.This year . I will cook a sizeable roast in slow cooker.( could just use a pot) with some of this broth added in .. I might even cut the roast into chunks before starting to cook ,,when it is partially thawed out . and let cook like that till the meat is tender. adding broth to keep it covered.. the meat will flavor the broth... this can be done. on Thursday next week... plan on making the whole pot on Friday ... then let it rest in downstairs fridge overnight.. think the flavors will blend together.. and will save me a lot of work SATURDAY... .

on Fri. I will do a little pre-cook but not done, for the celery and carrots..in water.just to start them ,(when you drain, don't throw away the water. just yet.)... .now we will start to build a pot of soup... have a . Big POT.... make a floating pot of meat and broth.. . add more chopped up onion.. and Barley. i use about 1/4 cup.(or more? ). ( it takes the longest to cook.),, while that gets started,to cook. ,.cut up potatoes. ( I prefer to peel. ,make cubes. ). ,add to pot.. ..can add the carrot and celery right here..........................

Have a can of peas, drained,. throw that water away..have corn ,frozen or canned(drain) , I have my corn frozen from last summer..

get the cabbage cut up .whatever size you like to chew on.. when potatos have lost hardness ,, put cabbage in the pot... you may need more broth at this point.keep adding it as you go along ..... . when cabbage is tender .. add the peas.and I use my frozen corn. ( some people like green beans in soup, I don't, so never add them .. your choice ).when everything is tender ... Add:

Last. I use my home made tomato juice... which has no salt in it... and it goes in last... some people like a real tomato flavored soup... we like our with just enough tomato to turn it red.. but not over whelming .. if you use canned tomato. perhaps one can of diced ,which might be enough and the rest just juice.... beware they will be salted . by now you should have a hugh pot of soupl...
how many potatoes...cabbage .depends on how much soup you need to feed a crowd. add any vegetable you like... if it is raw. put it in pot earlier with the potatoes..and earlier than things like peas./corn. .... so I have Barley, potato. carrot, celery, peas, corn, cabbage onion, meat... finally tomato. ..do NOT add the tomato until the cabbage is cooked tender.. ..

the amount of each ingredient depends on how much soup you want to make ..add it in to the broth . stir and decide if you want more.I like equal amounts of potato and cabbage. canned Peas give it color . so does carrot. but only will use one carrot. depending on size. in my big pot .. couple stalks of celery. rounded 1/4 c barley.

you could use the bought beef broth .. again it is salted already..

add salt and pepper as you add the veggies.keep tasting to see if it is salty enough..

feel free to tweak the flavors any way your family likes them.. each batch seems to have its own flavor.... depends on the cut of meat.. using a different named roast this year. comes from same cut as round steak. ...Sirloin tip is my favorite but was priced sky high.. the point of soup is to use the lesser priced. sometimes I leave the barley out , it is even tasty if you don't use the tomato at all..

since the meat will be done , basically all that has to really cook is the barley, potatoes and cabbage ...I precook the celery and carrots because I personally don't like the flavor of carrots cooked into the broth.. I keep the water from them.. just in case I run out of broth.. in case you would need more fluid , you could use this water.. instead of plain water. .


BETHANY SAID... about having C. Eve at their house next year....... Mom can make her Cheesy Pototo soup!.. I said you can make out the menu YOU want !!!!!. that help get the idea of changing traditions.. easier for her... and me ....much as I have loved having them all gathered to gether here... my knees and energy just can't handle it. this getting old is a nuisance.

if any of this is a mystery.. please feel free to ask ...