October

 

O hushed October morning mild,

Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;

Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,

Should waste them all.

The crows above the forest call;

Tomorrow they may form and go.

O hushed October morning mild,

Begin the hours of this day slow.

Make the day seem to us less brief.

Hearts not averse to being beguiled,

Beguile us in the way you know.

Release one leaf at break of day;

At noon release another leaf;

One from our trees, one far away.

Retard the sun with gentle mist;

Enchant the land with amethyst.

Slow, slow!

For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,

Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,

Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—

For the grapes’ sake along the wall.

~ Robert Frost ~

Guess Who Discovered Nutella !!!

 

Ryan had his first taste of Nutella.

He ate the Nutella and left the bread.

The verdict - yummy.



Pork Chop Cassserole

I came into my marriage with one cookbook -old faithful - Betty Crocker. But I didn't have a clue how to cook on our meager budget in 1977 so mom brought me a little green paperback that became my "newlywed's food bible", How I Feed My Family on $16 a Week by Jo Ann York. It had shopping tips, how to make a menu, and recipes - I was in high cotton now! Thirty- nine years and six kids later I still use the recipes in that fallen apart old treasure and the menus that I made from it even if it does cost more than $16 a week. This Pork Chop Casserole recipe to this day is my hubby's favorite.

Pork Chop Casserole

4 pork chops
3-4 potatoes,  peeled and sliced
2 apples, peeled and sliced
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 13"x9" baking pan. Place pork chops in the bottom of the 13"x9" baking pan. ( I always added 1 cup water in the bottom of the pan - it makes some nice pan juices to use on the potatoes. Sometimes use apple juice.) Place the sliced potatoes and apples on top of the pork chops. (Occasionally I line the bottom of the pan with sliced onions.) Sprinkle with the brown sugar, salt and pepper. Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes. Makes 4 servings.

Happy New Year 2013

As we celebrate the New Year it is my wish

 that your family's new year is filled with

 hope, love, happiness and peace.

Dust of Snow

The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.

~ Robert Frost ~

Menu Plan Monday

 



The year has passed so quickly. The weather has definitely turned to winter. A new school year begins for us and a whole new year with all kinds of possibilities, goals and dreams to pursue. Remember don't look behind, look ahead and live a mindful live that suits you this New Year.

Hope it is filled with tons of blessings.  Happy New Year.

 

beans, cornbread, seasoned greens

shrimp stir-fry, clementines

ratatouille on polenta, mixed greens salad

bangers and mash, green peas

cheesy chili over spaghetti noodles, green salad

hoppin' John, green bean casserole, peach cobbler

veggie pizza, green salad

 

Remember to go over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more yummy meal ideas and have a brilliantly blessed day.

Multi-grain Pancake Mix

I wanted a multi whole grain pancake mix to keep on hand for breakfast and quick meals. I found several online however, they didn't have enough variety in flours to suit me and most depended on its base with white flour. So going through the freezer I took out all my whole grain options that I had on hand and went to work. Below is the panckae mix I ended up with and it is yummy.

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup oat flour
1/2 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 cup rye flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup spelt flour
2 Tablespoons sugar
3 Tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Combine all the ingredients. Store in a labeled jar in a cool, dry place.

To make the pancakes****

1 cup multi-grain pancake mix
1 egg
1 cup milk or non dairy milk
1 Tablespoon applesauce


Mix all the ingredients in a large bow and whisk to mix well. Heat a nonstick griddle or skillet. Add cooking spray to the coat the griddle or pan. Once heated up add 1/4 cup of the pancake batter to the griddle. Once it bubbles turn the pancake over and cook for another minute. Done, add your favorite toppings and eat. This makes about 9-10 pancakes.

 This recipe doubles very well.