Happy New Year! Reflections of 2009...

Happy New Year!

Today I made my mother's sauerkraut.  I really did bring back memories, and I am quite impressed with being able to replicate her and my Oma's (grandmother) recipe.  We had to eat it on New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day along with black eyed peas.  I didn't care for the peas, but always enjoyed the sauerkraut.  We have eaten throughout the year when Mom was alive, but I haven't made it in a long while.  It with the peas was supposed to bring luck for the new year.  Not to really believe that, but you never know.

Not everyone enjoys it.  But I most certainly do. It was a good beginning to the year I believe.

2009 brought Carmen to the hospital last January for approximately 9 days.  We are so very blessed that she is doing well, and has grown into a beautiful young woman. We totaled a vehicle by hitting a dear, which sent our finances upside down. It has been a growing experience, one in humility, with our finances.  But I believe that we are much better now than a year ago, without using a credit card, and on the road to get out of debt.  God has been really good to us. 

I am in awe of His grace. 

I am doing okay with my health.  I am tired, fatigued.  My vision seems to go blurry when I am very tired.  I am resting, but still feeling like I am not getting anything done.  I enjoy cooking, and cleaning and, oh, too many things that I can't seem to do on a daily basis.  Once work is done, and dinner cooked, I am exhausted. 

I am blessed. David is a source of strength and my reminder to take things easier than I do.  Carmen is a help around the house, and does more than I ask.  Stephen is as tall as me, and keeps growing.  He is one to give hugs, and snuggles when I need it the most. 

Blessed.
I pray you have a wonderful year.
Love,
Jerry Ann

Christmas Goodies

We wanted to make some goodies for friends for Christmas this year. 

So...

Almond Bark  - Milk Chocolate
Dry roasted peanuts
Pretzel rods
Sprinkles

Begin by melting your almond bark in your crock pot.  This is the best way that I have found to melt chocolate.  You don't have to constantly stir it, and it keeps it hot without over cooking.

Wal-Mart or your local grocery store candy section.

I use my small crock pot.

Add 1 jar of peanuts, and stir.

Drop by large spoonfuls onto wax paper.  Let cool.

Pretzels are dunked into the chocolate, then lay on wax paper, add sprinkles, let cool.

Enjoy!

Hamburger Soup or Stew

Okay-
I laid out some ground beef (again), and really was trying to decide what to do with it.

So...

Hamburger Soup or Stew (whichever you prefer to call it)
2 pounds of ground beef - cooked medium than drain off fat
1 medium onion - chopped
4 stalks of celery - chopped
4 carrots - chopped
3 cloves of garlic - chopped
1 box of beef broth
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can of tomato paste
1 can of corn (drained)
1 can of green beans (drained)
2 cups of Pearl Barley

You can really throw anything you have in the fridge or pantry  - i.e. peas? lima beans? etc.
But, this is what we had.
So.

Chopped onion, celery and carrot

Chopped garlic

Add to ground beef, and cook until translucent.  Then add the diced tomatoes, and paste.

Also, add the corn, and then the beef broth.

Simmer, for 30 minutes or until the tomatoes have cooked down.

Add in the corn and the green beans.  I also add the barley here.

You may need to add about 2 to 4 cups of water depending on the water from the vegetables.

Cook for an additional hour.

Serve with warm bread or crackers.

It is a good hearty soup (or stew -ha).

Enjoy!

Potato Soup

Ms. Paulines Potato Soup

1 stick butter
2 onions chopped
3 stalks celery - chopped (didn't have any - used celery seed)
4-5 carrots chopped
2 T ground mustard
8-10 medium *Yukon Gold Potatoes chopped (varied in size - I like a chunk soup)
4 cups cheddar cheese
4 cups Chicken Broth
1 can Carnation Milk
1 cup milk
parsley (chopped for garnish)
bacon (cooked and crumbled)
Salt and pepper to taste

Chopped Potato

Saute onion in 1 stick of butter (Scream Paula Dean!)

add celery, (or celery seed), mustard,

carrots, and

and broth.

Bring to boil, and then simmer until fork tender.

I mash the potatoes a bit, then add

the Carnation Milk, regular milk and cheddar cheese.

Stir until creamy.

Chop some parsley to add freshness.

Oh, yummy, bacon.

Sprinkle some cheese, parsley, and bacon on top and serve.

Enjoy!

Painting

Why is it that when you want to paint, it doesn't seem like it is that difficult?  But...then you start...and it takes forever.  Well, for my family, it does, just because we rearrange everything.

So.  We picked out sample colors, going from Tuscan Blue, to bright Sun Yellow. 

We choose a color called Moon Tide.  Really Moon Tide?  I thought the moon was pretty much black and white with some gray mixed in...but it is a green.  Vibrant.

It really isn't this bright...but in the pictures it seems more lime in color.

I found this in the garage!  I love finding things.  

 

This pretty much says it all. I love it.

Come by sometime.

Now to decorate for Christmas.  How many days are left? Oh, right - 6!  UGH!