Nibbles and Narratives

It's an interesting idea and it worked, mostly, which surprised me.

I am so close to being done with my book, I can taste it!  It's been delicious so far and I want to see how it all plays out in the finale.  Truthfully, I was concerned that I was not going to enjoy this title but my love of all things Bennett won out and thank goodness it did.  Has anyone else picked up "Death Comes to Pemberley"?  What did you think?

This week I was in need of comfort food so I was in a bit of a panic when I went to make my meatloaf on Tuesday, only to discover that I had not one egg in the house!  I did some quick thinking learned a nifty new trick... would you like me to share?  Potato flakes.  Yep, that's right.  To substitute the binding agent that I lacked, I used 1 tablespoon of potato flakes and 2 tablespoons of water.  Again, a nervous nelly was I while it was baking because I can stand a lot of things but ruined/wasted food is not one of them.

Not only did this work, you couldn't tell the difference.  There was no change in texture or flavor really which surprised me.  I was afraid that it would be somehow creamy instead of meaty.  Silly, but it's the truth.  So here you go - my recipe for smashing meatloaf...

Ingredients:

1 lb of lean ground beef
1 egg, beaten (or substitute 1tbsp potato flakes and 2 tbsp water)
2/3 cups breadcrumbs or oats
1 small onion, minced
2 tbsp parsley
1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp salt
1/8 cup ketchup (or bbq sauce is also good)
1/8 tsp black pepper
2 tsp ground mustard (spicy brown is also good)

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients by hand, making sure everything is evenly distributed.
2. Scoop up the mixture and roll into a huge ball.  Slap it down into a baking dish (I use my 5x7 most often but you could use your loaf pan as well).  Form the mixture into a loaf by squishing together the sides and then patting down the top.  Repeat this process until you have a loaf that is roughly as high as your baking dish, with rounded ends.
3. Take your ketchup (or bbq sauce) and make a nice zig-zag pattern across the top and sprinkle some parsley or chives on top.
4. Bake in a 350* oven for about an hour or until the internal temperature of the meatloaf is at or above 160.  Let it rest for a few minutes and then transfer to a serving plate.
5. Enjoy!  This should yield you about 8 to 10 slices, depending on how thick you cut it.

Just curious...

I posted a photo to a community that I have been a part of for three years.  It's a photography community where you take a photo every day and post it.  Three years I've been doing this and today is the first day anyone has ever said anything nasty... but my question is simple - what was the point?

I wonder if Mr. Ben Whitley suddenly felt joyful and elated with life because he said something hateful and cruel to a complete stranger.  It doesn't matter how you look at it, it's just pathetic and sad.  I feel sorry for Mr. Ben Whitley because it is apparent that he does not have enough good things in his life.  Initially I was shocked that someone whom I've never interacted with before would randomly pop up and say something like that, then I was sad because I was allowing it to hurt my feelings, and now I'm just wishing that Mr. Ben Whitley is able to find one good thing today to make him smile.

I'm guessing that wasn't his intention.  Oh well, wonder what was... just curious.

Tuesday Tunes

I've been singing this a lot this week... and crying along.

Motivational Monday

I think this is the perfect attitude and way to face a Monday, don't you?

Sunday Snaps

This has been my week.. full of yarnie goodness, tasty treats and a silly little girl.  Here's to another fabulous week ahead!

Weekend Wonderment

I'm going to be doing a good bit of stashbusting this weekend.  I may be addicted to that bow headband pattern!

Nibbles and Narratives

This is my most favorite of comfort foods.

Last week, I shared that I made something awesome and never got back to y'all with the recipe... and it's going to have to be a bit longer because I forgot to pick up eggs this week with the groceries.  I promise, I will have it for you soon but today I have a different recipe for y'all.  One that my family loves and is my ultimate favorite comfort food.  It can be done in a poncey fashion, which I love, and it can be done on the cheap, which I do more often than not.  It's my Cottage Pie recipe and I thought I'd share.

I first learned how to make Cottage Pie from Gordon Ramsay and his recipe is delicious in it's own right but this one is a touch different.  My husband despises carrots, so I don't use them, and I rarely have wine in the house so that gets omitted as well.  Over the years, I just grab from my cupboard and it's all automatic.  So here is how I make Cottage Pie and it costs less than $1.50 per serving.

Ingredients:

• 1 lbs of ground beef (hence the term Cottage and not Shepherd's)
• 1 can of corn, drained (15.25 ounces)
• 1 can of tomato sauce (15 ounces)
• 1 pkg of Instant potatoes (I'm using Idahoan 4 Cheese)
• Worcestershire sauce (to taste, roughly 3 good splashes)
• Allspice (to taste, roughly 3 shakes or so)
• Minced onion (about half a cup)
• Ground mustard (to taste, light dusting over mixture)
• Garlic salt (to taste, roughly 3 shakes or so)
• Pepper (to taste, about 2 shakes)

Directions:

1. Heat your oven to 350 and have your dish ready - I use an old oval one that I've had for years but any 2 or 3 quart baking dish will work.
2. Brown your meat with the Worcestershire sauce, allspice, minced onion, ground mustard, garlic salt and pepper.  Drain and return to heat.
3. Add in the corn and the tomato sauce and let it simmer down.
4. Make up the instant potatoes in the microwave and have them ready.
5. Now, pour your meat mixture in the baking dish and lay it out even.  Put your mash on top, covering all the meat mixture.  Sometimes I add a nice sprinkling of Parmesan cheese on top but I always add some beautiful chives to give it some color.
6. Cook it in the oven for about 40 minutes until the potatoes are golden.
7. Let it stand for five minutes before serving.  Enjoy! 

As far as the narratives go, I'm on the cusp of finishing my current book but I'm taking a moment to brag on my Hobbit.  She just turned 8 not two weeks ago and she finished her first chapter book on a 5.3 level - that's fifth grade reading level and she's only in second grade.  This week she completed reading "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" so I did what any other mother would do... I ran out and bought her "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", which she is devouring as well.

A child who loves to read never will be alone or bored... and Hobbit found her love of reading.

Wednesday Wound-Up

Supposed to be working on my OWL... but I much prefer my Potions homework instead - it's an original design!

Tuesday Tunes

This fits my mood today... it kinda stinks to be stood up by your own family.

Motivational Monday

I'm thinking this says it all for this week... actually, I think it says it all for forever.

I love making these little pieces of art to get me through the week - focused and motivated. It's a lot of fun for me to play around with graphics and make what many would figure was a trivial little doodle. Welp, maybe it is a trivial little doodle but that doesn't take away the creative outlet or aspect... so whenever you feel stuck or unmotivated, doodle.

You just might surprise yourself.

Sunday Snaps

Hobbit made her first ever official granny square and she is already working on her second!

I was curious if a pattern would be big enough if done in DK instead of double held worsted - short answer is no.

I'm designing a scarf.. oh yeah.. I'm excited!

Almost done with my wrap - and the story about how it depicts the duality of a werewolf.

On much bigger and way better news, Peanut is back in Florida and life is back to being close to wonderful again.. awesome finish to the week!

Weekend Wonderment

And the most heartbreaking two years of my life is now over - my baby is coming home!!

Yep, you read that right - she has spent her last day in South Dakota and she will be home oh so very soon.  I've taken the next week off from all my other duties so that I can spend time with her, catching up on the last two years that I've missed.  She's asked for a photo walk in this one cemetery that has some really amazing angel statues so I'm sure I'll share that adventure.

It's no secret, I did not handle the first year very well at all... the second was only marginally better.  This coming school year, well let's just say that it will be just as I imagined this entire experience would be - visits, calls and back to being a family again instead always feeling broken.

Oh yeah - happy days ahead!!

Nibbles and Narratives

Death Comes to Pemberley.. I highly recommend it!

Oh my goodness, the poor Darcy and Bingley families!  I just am gobsmacked at the turn of events.  Not what I expected at all, honestly, but it's delicious that it has taken the turn that it has... I truly think this one character is capable of what transpired though I hold out hope that I am wrong... for his wife's sake if nothing else.

My heart breaks for Elizabeth and Jane though because they bare it all with such grace and stoicism as I have never seen in the real world.  If only something or someone would come and help ease their silent suffering.  This book has been absolutely wonderful thus far and I'm just at the halfway point.  If luck is on my side, I should hopefully find time to finish it this weekend.

As far as the nibbles go - I will apologize up front for forgetting to snap a photo of it but it was so delicious that it wasn't around long enough!  We were all having a blah food day and nothing sounded good so I decided that we were going to do breakfast for supper the other night.  I ended up making the best egg and tater tot casserole ever.  I am going to do it again - with camera at the ready - and write it up proper for y'all later this weekend.  Let me just say, you're gonna flip because it is so good.  Make sure you've got some tater tots at the ready for later this week...

You'll thank me for it!

Wednesday Wound-Up

Inside these three bags are the projects that will be in rotation for my time for this first day of May.. and Spring Term!

I started a wrap for me, will continue on my bedspread for future Detention and I have submitted my swatched OWL.

Happy May Day, First Day of Spring Term and the week that brings Peanut back home!

Motivational Monday

This is how I spent my morning coffee... transforming and reflecting. 

Over on Ravelry, in the HPKCHC group, I get asked to make a lot of robes.  Those would be Ravatars to noncastle folk.. avatars to nonRavelry folk.. and profile pictures for those really not in my little world.  I honestly love to do it too... and sometimes, I get really lucky and the vision in my head comes out perfectly.

A First Year asked if I could simply give Jessica there some pinky purple hair to match her own hair in real life, natural color of course.  Well, this Firstie is in the noble house of Slytherin so naturally, I had to take it to the next level and the final results tickled me to no end.  Thankfully, they tickled her too.

There are times in our lives when a transformation happens that we aren't even initially aware of wanting or needing but when it and the realization come around, it sure does feel good.

Sunday Snaps

The West Wing... Granny Bedspread... not a bad time of it at all.

Weekend Wonderment

My weekend will spend underneath one of these... because I seem to be in blanket mode!

And for the less artistic version of this set up so you can see what exactly it is that I'll be working on all weekend, I give you this...

One keeps growing and the other is modular so I can get a sense of completion.  It's a good mix.

Nibbles and Narratives

I am absolutely loving this book!

I had to go to the doctor earlier this week.  It was for test results - she put an A+ on my report and asked if I studied hard, love her sense of humor - so I had a long wait but it was my fault.  I wasn't sure of the time so I ended up an hour early. Thank goodness I had stopped by a store for Starbucks and a book.  I knew I would be waiting but I had forgotten my book... which is curious and also not because I'm not really into it at the moment.  I've read it before so it's okay.  I want to read it but I'm not getting sucked in like I usually do so I decided to put it down and get a different book.. and then I walked out of the house without any book at all.

This was a quick grab and go shopping moment so I picked up two titles.  One is a Debbie Macomber that I will be reading once I'm done this one... this other new one... which is entitled "Death Comes to Pemberley".  Oh my goodness, I got sucked in right away and it's interesting too because they have it set up in the beginning where you don't necessarily have to have read "Pride and Prejudice", another favorite of mine.  Now, keep in mind that I don't read as quickly as my father or husband so I'm not halfway done or anything but I've just gotten to the moment where Lydia arrives in typical Lydia fashion and I despise her just as much now as I did before so that is a sign that things are written rather well.  I can't wait to see what comes next!

This whoops turned out to be a WHOOPY!

As far as the nibbles section goes, I've got a wonderful tip to share about a supper gone horribly wrong.  Yesterday, I made the roast my mother had put in our freezer a week or so ago.  My husband swears it was a "boston butt" so we'll go with that.. all I know is that I cooked it like I always do - in my crockpot with a bit of water, Worcestershire sauce, minced onions, ground mustard, garlic, salt and a dash of pepper.  I slow cooked it from frozen, just like always - putting it on at 8 a.m. and letting it fill the house with the aroma of yummy goodness so you're ready to gnaw off your own hand by supper time.  The only difference was, this time it was dry!  I have never made a dry roast so I immediately put the leftover Cowboy Lasagna from the day before in the oven and was heartbroken that I had somehow ruined supper.

Now, my husband, being the adventurous soul that he is, took the ruined roast and went to town.  He shredded it, slathered it in barbeque sauce and called it a success... and he was right!  We're having it for lunch today on some Hawaiian rolls - little BBQ Sliders.  So the next time you fear that you have ruined the roast because it came out dry - and trust me, it can apparently happen regardless of how long you've been making roasts - do as Pokey did... rip it to shreds, drown it in sauce and enjoy the best little sliders around.

Wednesday Wound-Up

Not too girly and not too masculine

Last night, I tried to be good.

I did, I swear.

I told myself that I already bought the yarn and so if I did my swatch that I could use it for my OWL instead of the gingerbread house... but I couldn't help myself.  It was just too much fun to stop and I was loving it to no end.  The simplicity of it all and the idea of what it will become just took over... I may need help.

What started out as skeins of innocent yarn waiting patiently, magically turned into this last night... 

It's not like I did a lot... it's going to be a queen size bedspread so it will take a while... in theory anyway.

14 rounds and over a foot of bedspread started... all by itself.

Well, I helped... a little.

For Pokey

Because it's important to tell those you love exactly how much you love them... every single day.

Motivational Monday

Last week was not the most fabulous for me but I have decided that this week will make up for it.  I have project ideas, cooking thoughts and general tomfoolery that will make this week simply wonderful.

Sunday Snaps

Tinkerbell is finally realizing that she gets to stay with us forever... she's settling in perfectly...

Hobbit's birthday was this past Thursday.  She purposefully had a dental appointment because she loves her dentist!

Then we went home, had supper and enjoyed some yummy cupcakes before she spent the weekend with my mama.

Little miss Tink got her first homemade toy.  I think it's safe to say that it was a super successful kind of thing.

This is my next super huge project and I'm going to submit it for my OWL this Spring term over on the HPKCHC.

Coming through the other side

I have apparently needed a break.  This week has been very stressful - both good and bad in nature.  I had a jury summons on Monday that left me in the final breakdown of possible jurors for a capital murder trial that has left me with nightmares this week and feeling more than a bit unsettled.  I had a lot of things to finish up for Hobbit's birthday yesterday, including finishing crafting two of her presents!  We are in the beginning stages of a legal battle with our old bank for fraud and mismanagement of funds which has left us beyond broke and more exhausted - mentally, emotionally and physically - than usual.

All of these things left me empty when it came to writing.  I did not want to share my troubles, as they are larger than life to me, and I just didn't have enough happy to fill the space... or so I thought.  Then I took stock and realized, I had a whole lot of happy that just needed face time.

Did you know that through the kindness of complete strangers, we were gifted $150 at exactly the most perfect time that I fell to my knees, crying and thanking God for a miracle?  Did you know that through the kindness of complete strangers, little presents appeared in my Ravelry world in the form of patterns that I had on my wishlist?  Did you know that through the kindness of friends, I have received notes of support, encouragement and love?  I didn't share what was going on or anything... they all just must have known or felt that something wasn't quite right in my world.

Do you know that I don't think I could have made it through without each and every one of my little guardian angels... thank you so very much for all that you have done for me this past week.  I love y'all.

Sunday Snaps

Tinkerbell would like to say hello and wish y'all a wonderful week full of purr-fect moments

I went through my photographs for the week and they were all birthday present oriented so I couldn't post anything... with the exception of a few images of Tinkerbell so that is why she is here today... plus, who can resist that sweet face!

An interesting side note - I shared some photos of her, this one included, in one of my groups on Ravelry and her coloring - fur and eyes - inspired one of my friends to attempt to dye some yarn in a colorway that matches her.  How cool is that?!?  She said that if she is successful, she'll send me one.  I have my fingers crossed that she has the most awesome luck and is totally pleased with her results.

Truly Blessed

You know who you are and what you've done - and I will never forget it.  I am truly blessed.

The Bright Spot

It's supposed to be grey and dreary all weekend long - so I'm going to be adding my own burst of springtime colors.

Nibbles and Narratives

Random act of Hufflepuffness arrived at my house today - oh how I love my Hufflepuff friends!

This may look odd to some but trust me, it was the best thing in the world to me.  Just before Easter, I was talking in my cete, the Honey Badgers for the HPKCHC in the humble house of Hufflepuff, and we were discussing our favorite candies that come out this time of year.  One of my cete mates mentioned these Cadbury Flake bars and even showed a photo of them.  I died.  I mean look at it - all that light airy Cadbury goodness... and they weren't anywhere to be found in my area.

Fast forward to today, just after the mail had been delivered.  I received a package from California and inside was the best treat a girl could imagine... a sweet postcard and the aforementioned Flake candy bars - four of them!!  My jaw dropped, my eyes (and mouth) watered and my heart swelled.

It's so nice to be randomly thought of by someone whom you've never met... random acts of Hufflepuffness are the best.  Now, I am of to dive into my tasty treat and plot a way to pay it forward...

Wednesday Wound-Up

It's been a sweat shop around these parts, I swear.  Here is a peek at what all I've been doing...

Not a lot of help but I would hate to give anything away.  I've got one more thing to finish and then I'll be all done!

Tuesday Tunes

I love this song but then again, Blake could just sing the phone book and I'd cheer.

Motivational Monday

Isn't it funny how the simplest of truths can get lost over time.

I keep dreaming of all these things that I want but unless I start working harder at them, they just won't materialize.  So now the time has come when I have to decide what is just a dream and what is worth the reality.

Sunday Snaps

I made a couple of super cute bunnies that made two very special people extra happy this Easter.

Hobbit had a pretty stellar Easter morning...

and a pretty awesome Easter afternoon as we went to visit my mama and my great aunt came up too.

Made a little progress on my super huge afghan.

I got some new pretty things, all thanks to my mama's generosity with her Kohl's cash.

Tinkerbell has integrated nicely into our family.  She's always with me and I love her dearly.

I learned how to make bread and it is honestly just slapyourmama delicious!

I finished one of three doll blankets for Hobbit's birthday next Thursday.

I also learned a new casserole that super tasty... so with that, it's been a most extraordinary week!

My mama and my great aunt are coming down for lunch today - should be fun.  Must do a final run through of the house to make sure all is in order.  Hopefully I will be able to work on the second doll blanket for Hobbit's birthday.  I've been able to do them in front of her because she keeps asking if they're baby blankets and I can honestly say yes... they are - for her babies.  Won't she be surprised next Thursday when she sees they were all for her birthday!

You know that moment...

I'm so stinking proud of this stuff I can't even being to describe it.  I needed one good thing this week.. this is it.

in "Castaway" when Tom Hanks stands up and yells "I have made fire!" and he's all proud?  Yeah, that's me but I have made bread!  The recipe said that it was foolproof and they didn't lie. The crust is crunchy goodness like it should be and the inside looks so soft... and it smells like heaven. 

If heaven has a smell, it's fresh baked bread, I swear.

When the going gets tough...

Look at it... I made that... with my own two hands... me.

Have you ever just had such a week that was so "ugh"... where all you wanted to do was throw your hands in the air and holler "I want a do-over!"?  It worked when we were kids... do-overs were miraculous things.  They righted wrongs and set the world back proper.  No one ever questioned the need, they were just automatically granted because you wouldn't ask for one if you didn't honestly need one.

Without going into the long sob story of what went wrong all during the week, I'll just pick up after my good long cry.  Yep, that's what I said, a good long cry.  It was necessary and when I decided I was done, I was done... and I set to do what I always seem to do when my world feels chaotic and out of control - I cleaned and baked.

My mama does this and when I was younger, I thought she was bonkers but I get it now.  When everything is wildly out of control, it helps - mainly because it puts you back in control of something.  So after the aforementioned cry, I scrubbed my kitchen top to bottom... then I wrote out my menu plan for April (yes, the entire month), then I wrote out my grocery list for the week and went to the store for my tiny bit of supplies.  Then, after getting Hobbit from school and putting up the groceries, I went on my own adventure.

It's the little things that bring back peace and comfort.

So like the old saying goes - when the going gets tough, the tough make bread.  What's that?  They don't make bread?  They get going?  Rubbish!  The going for me had gotten tough (oh you have no idea how tough) but me, being tough, I have decided to learn how to make bread.  It is currently rising on my counter top and I will soon have to punch it down, seal it and place it in my fridge overnight.  Tomorrow, I will attempt to actually make my first ever loaf of real, honest to goodness bread.

It's nice to know that no matter how chaotic, crazy and out of control the world may become, I can always count on being able to make something, anything, and it will calm me right back down.  Some days it's crafting, some days it's writing and some days it's getting my hands dirty in the kitchen.  Some days, like today, it just takes all three.

Weekend Wonderment ~ 4/4 - 4/7

24 of these... 8 green, 8 purple, and 8 red.  All done in super secret because they're a birthday present.

That's what I'm working on all weekend long - and I can't even just work on them because Hobbit will see and then she'll figure it out which will ruin her birthday surprise.  I only have 13 days left until her birthday so that's 12 days to get it all done... and to make it better, I have been summoned for jury duty on the 15th so if y'all could send up some powerful good thoughts about there being no cases on the docket so no jurors are needed, I'd be awfully grateful.

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend - anything exciting planned?

The adventure has begun!

source

I finally had a nice chunk of time to properly start my book.  Now I know it's not the first time I've read it... shoot, it's not even the second time honestly, but I seem to be discovering a lot of new things this time around that I had not noticed previously.  It could be due to my age or it could be my brain attempting to find discrepancies between it and the film... whatever it is, it's interesting and a tad distracting honestly.  Oh well, forgotten pocket handkerchiefs aside, the adventure has begun!

Today, I have some ground beef thawing for supper and I was searching for something to make with it because I'm burned out on what I usually make so I did what anyone else in my shoes would do now... I went to Pinterest!  Thank goodness for my Foodie Galore board or else I would be floundering today.  When I popped over there, this was the first thing to catch my eye that matched my stores - Mexican Beef Casserole.  Oh yeah, this is what's for supper tonight and I'm going to 'cheat' a little bit.  I'll share but don't tell - instead of all the tomato paste, olives, garlic, etc I'm just opening up a packet of taco seasoning and using it.  The rest is going to be the same (maybe) and I'll add a side salad to cool it off. 

I promise to report back if it's any good and if I tweak it any further then y'all will be the first to know.