How to feed your trash can meatloaf.....

Due to the upcoming week of hot and humid weather, I decided to prep my evening meals in the cooler morning hours.  After taking out a package of ground beef, I discovered the amount was too much for my pasta dish so I split it up and decided to make a meatloaf with the excess.  Perfect I thought.....pasta tonight, left over pasta tomorrow night and meatloaf the following night.  I've got this in the bag! 

This morning was the baking of the meatloaf.  I really wasn't too keen on cranking up the oven to expedite the overheating of the house for the day so I thought perhaps I could cook it in the microwave.  Internet to the rescue...yes I can cook it in the microwave. 

I got up fairly early, I washed a load of laundry and hung it on the line and I prepped my evening meals for the better part of the week.  The meatloaf was smelling so yummy and only taking five minutes at full power and another 20 at half power.  I was so proud of myself.  Multitasking at my best!

"Ding!"  Oh joy, time to take the meatloaf out of the micro!  With pot holders at the ready, I pushed the open button and briskly grabbed the casserole dish to remove it while kicking the door ajar with my elbow.  The door decided to kick back before I had the dish clear from it.  Have you ever seen the Exorcist?  I don't have to tell you why I didn't photograph this monstrosity of a mess.  In all the creeping humidity at 8am, I stood there dumbfounded...I didn't know where to start.  All my multitasking down the drain.  I almost cried.  Now it was clean up to "beat the clock" time.  It was all over me (piping hot...ouch!), it was all over the floor, all down the side of the oven that I didn't want to cook in, all down my drapes on the back door, the back door.  I could go on and on where it shot.  How convenient that I chose to shower lastly before heading out the door!

So, how do you feed your trash can meatloaf?  With a spatula, right off of the floor.

Fresh from the garden....

I know I already posted today, but tonight I picked fresh basil, scallions and potatoes and was so excited and impressed with the aromas in my kitchen, that I had to share!  I just wish you could smell this...

Boneless breasted chicken with tomatoes, basil, scallions and garlic.

New yellow potatoes I actually grew from planting store bought ones.

Bon Appetit!

Just your average, ordinary lunch break...

Well, it wasn't really average...it was actually longer than usual.  I had a mini road trip to make and had to extend my break to accommodate it.  On my ride back, I decided to grab a bite and stop to enjoy it.  I stopped at a popular scenic overlook off the highway.  With only a couple parking spots available, I chose the first one in.  This didn't give me much of a view as I ate my BLT pocket from D'Angelo's...thank you Gerry!  I enjoyed it nonetheless without having to hold it in both hands while steering with my knee.  Not the prettiest of days, but here's the overlook...

Not the best of shots either (cell phone), but you get the gist.

Next stop, the bank.  This is what I really wanted to show you because this was not average nor was it ordinary.  As I pulled into the bank entrance, I decided to park and walk inside rather than wait in line at the drive up windows.  Right in the front corner parking spot just in front of the entrance was a trio of the coolest bikes I think I've ever seen.  And, I don't think I've ever seen even one bicycle parked at the bank, let alone three of the coolest.

Aren't they just the neatest bikes you've ever seen?  They made me smile.  I hope they made you smile too!

Happy lunch break

Summer snapshots.....

Summer Solstice Sneaking In....

A friend of mine who lives in Florida wrote to me today to remind me that we are officially into the summer season!  It's funny, even though the calendar tells us when summer begins, to me, it does sort of "sneak in".  And it doesn't stick around quite long enough anymore.  Not like it did when we were 12 years old.  Up at dawn, outside all day and into the evening.

Speaking of evening....tonight I will be joining some of my friends to take a peek into the night sky and see what's going on out in space.  The super moon is upon us and I'm sure the telescope will be viewing that great orb.   But, it's the other things that the eye cannot see without the aid of a telescope that interests me much more than the moon.  Oh don't get me wrong, I love the moon!  But, what you can't see beyond it is quite intriguing.

Until next post.....

Mom.....

It's been a little while since I've blogged.  My mother passed away in May, so you can understand my online absence.  She was a wonderful mother to me and my siblings.  She cared deeply for everyone in her life and always placed herself second.  She suffered with Alzheimer's disease.  Her last month on this earth was so very hard to witness.  I applaud all those in the medical field who deal with this disease day in and day out.  With their help, she died with as much dignity as possible and for that I am grateful.  She is no longer suffering, and I am sure she is in a better place now.  I miss her dearly, but I am at peace knowing the love we shared was unconditional and will stay forever in my heart.                      

 I love you mom ♥

Peanuts, get your peanuts....

Unless you have southern roots, you probably won’t appreciate this delicacy.  I am lucky enough to have those roots, and I love boiled peanuts!  I thank my wonderful mother and father for introducing them to me when I was a child.  Boiled peanuts and sweet tea, it doesn’t get any better than that to me.

Every year, just before Easter, I buy raw peanuts in the shell to boil and give them to my godson as a birthday gift.  He does not have southern roots, but he LOVES them!  And if I don’t get them done in time for his birthday, he lets me know about it!  Tonight is when the process will begin.  I’ve got to deliver his gift on Monday, March 31st. 

It’s not at all hard, but it is time consuming.  If you don’t schedule your time just right, they will be undercooked.  Boiled peanuts need to be DONE.  If I had to compare them to anything, they would come close to black eyed peas.  They don’t taste like dry roasted or salted peanuts.  They are more like an oversized-soft-salty black eyed pea.  The only way to know for sure is to make them or try them yourself.  Here is the recipe I’ve used for years…

BOILED PEANUTS (using dried raw in the shell peanuts) This picture is 2 one pound bags.

Put 1 pound raw peanuts in a 3 quart crock pot.  Fill pot with water.  Allow peanuts to soak 8 hours or overnight.  Peanuts will absorb a lot of the water making it necessary to add water until the pot is filled.  Add salt to taste*

Cook peanuts on low for 8 hours then on high for 1 1/2 hours or on medium for 4 1/2 hours.  Drain.
Serve hot with sweet iced tea.

*Try 4-5 tablespoons of salt and taste toward the end of cooking time.  Add more salt if taste dictates and allow to cook for about 1 hour more.

Now, I took notes from years past....and here's what I said:

2010   I cooked them on low for 8 hours in crock pot, then on high 2 hours, then on low 4 hours (could go another hour or more)  Just ok.

2011   On low for 28 hours.  Good.

Now, don't be shocked at the cooking time in 2011, because they came out perfect.

My peanuts are in their water soak tonight and will be ready for their 28 hours in the crock pot beginning tomorrow morning at 7am.  I will take photos for you!  Oh, and one more note...I put the crock on the porch so the house doesn't smell days afterwards!

UPDATE on the peanuts...I tried a few and they were fine.  But, I wanted more so I did another smaller batch that had soaked the same amount of time as the first batch.  I cooked in crock on high for 5 hours, then on low for 5 hours.  I think they came out better!  Pictures to follow, I promise.

Wow, did I miss this one.....I promised pictures and did not produce them.  While writing my latest post, I came across the pictures that I failed to post here so, here they are...with my apology.

 Soaking...

 Slow cooking...

 Mmmmm....done!