Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Pork & Cider Stew

INGREDIENTS
2 medium sweet potatoes (1 1/4 lb), peeled and cut in 3/4-in. pieces
3 small parsnips or carrots, peeled and cut in 1/2-in.-thick slices
1 cup chopped onion
2-lb boneless pork shoulder, cut in 1-in. pieces
1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped
1/4 cup flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp each dried sage and thyme
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup apple cider

PREPARATION
1. Layer sweet potatoes, parsnips, onion, pork and apple in a 3 1/2-qt or larger slow-cooker.

2. Stir flour, salt, sage, thyme and pepper in a small bowl to mix. Add cider; stir until smooth. Pour over meat and vegetables.

3. Cover and cook on low 7 to 9 hours or until pork and sweet potatoes are tender when pierced.

Taken from Woman's Day Magazine

For more recipe ideas, please visit Gayle

Chicken & Vegetables with Creamy Mustard-Herb Sauce

INGREDIENTS
1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups sliced scallions
4 whole chicken legs (about 2 1/2 lb), skin removed (I used breasts)
4 medium new potatoes (about 12 oz), cut in 1 1/2-in. chunks
8 oz baby carrots (1 1/4 cups)
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp each snipped dill and sliced scallion (I used dried dill)

PREPARATION
1. Stir soup and leeks in a 3 1/2-qt or larger slow-cooker until blended. Add chicken, potatoes and carrots; stir to mix and coat.

2. Cover and cook on low 7 to 9 hours or until chicken, potatoes and carrots are tender when pierced.

3. Remove chicken and vegetables to serving bowl with a slotted spoon. Add mustard to cooker; whisk until smooth. Stir in the dill and scallion; spoon over chicken and vegetables

Taken from Woman's Day Magazine
For more recipes, please visit Gayle

Friday, September 11, 2009

My week of firsts

1) First new tires and first new brakes on my newish car $807
2) First new windshield in my car thanks to a stress break $100
3) First new a/c fan for my a/c on my house $460
4) First time I wiped out my emergency fund
5) First time I've had to replenish emergency fund just so it could be wiped out again
6) First time I paid cash for all of this
7) First time I didn't have to pull out the credit card to pay for an emergency
8) First time I had to tell my child "no" b/c we didn't have the money

**Edit to #2-windshield can't be fixed b/c bolts that hold in windshield have either been stripped or not replaced properly. I am not going to have to contact Firestone to figure out what in the world is going on.**

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Gee Haw

My daddy is in Asheville right now and as per this post he is hopefully picking me up some pickles.
Don't worry Karlaanne...I will share with you.

And hope beyond hope that after he finds me some greasy beans he will also find me a gee haw whimmy diddle stick

Hours of entertainment shall ensue!