Gearing up for A Day of Cooking

Oh yippee, I get to cook all day instead of just a couple hours.  This year I'm going to start two days before and only  shove the bird with whatever stuffed inside of him into the oven, and peel those spuds on Thanksgiving day.  Everyone else gets to sit around watching football or whatever, sleep all morning yadda yadda, while I stand in the hot kitchen.  Well not this year.  Gramma is getting to old for this crap, I guess if nobody likes it, next year there is always Shari's.  (I am kidding about that one, they only good thing they have there is pie)  So hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving, and see the rest of my family on Saturday.

Getting Inspired...

It's winter outside, and so inside I needed some inspiration.  The past week, Dave and I have been doing homework.  That is fixing all those nagging little things around here that were never finished in the first place, or broke and didn't get fixed, or like painting the interior of the joint.  Oh and I am also getting rid of all the damn clutter that has been accumulating forever.  (Dave doesn't know that part yet)  Now with that being said, maybe I can get back to what I do best.  Cook & Eat!!  The picture above of my Grandson gives me inspiration at least once a week.

A New Meatloaf

1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. ground pork (not sausage)
1 egg
1 c. sour cream
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 envelope onion soup
1/2 c. grated Parmesan
1 1/2 c. Italian bread crumbs
1 T. Italian seasoning
1/3 c beef broth
add garlic powder, salt and pepper if desired

Mix all ingredients and shape into loaf in baking dish larger than a loaf pan.  This is too big for ordinary loaf.  Bake at 350* for about 1 hour and 20 minutes.  Remove from oven and drain grease off, then let rest for about 15 minutes.

Vacation

Today I reserved a rental car, ordered the airport shuttle van for 4 am Saturday morning and made a list of things I don't want to forget.  Now if I could just find that darn list.  Just kidding.  Oh and had to buy a micro SD card for the camera.  I'm surprised I even know what that is.  Going to spend 10 days in Phoenix visiting with Josh and Beth, and friends Peggy & Terry who moved there about 3 months ago.  Can't wait.
And since it has been a little warm here for the last several weeks, I haven't been cooking much.  Not even the BBQ.  Been pretty darn lazy. 
Maybe after we get back, I will have some inspiration in the cooking department.  Maybe.

Summer Time

Summer is finally here and it doesn't seem any different than the last two seasons we had.  Maybe in July?  Haven't been doing much lately, not even cooking much.  Although I did make lasagna last night.  In fact I made so much that one whole pan had to be put in the freezer.  Wow over shot that one a bit.  My grandson has grown so much, he is quite the little man.  And quite the little charmer.  All you have to do is look at him and he grins from cheek to cheek.  Except when you put him in the car seat, apparently he doesn't like to be confined.  My daughter got another car last week, a four door VW.  So now it's a lot easier to get all that baby gear in and out, the 2 door Focus just didn't quite cut it. 
I am going to plan a family get together in August.  My son and his girlfriend will be here for four days.  Can't wait.  Uncle Josh finally gets to meet his nephew.  Now I just have to get the whole family on the same page for that weekend.  Sometimes it's a little hard, everyone is so busy.  Promise them lots of food and that usually works.
Until next time....

My Ultimate Tuna Casserole

Yes I said tuna. Well I've done it again.  Remember this morning I said I really like seafood?  Well Dave has been bugging me to make a tuna casserole for about two months so I finally did it.  The thing is though, I cleaned out a few containers that were in the fridge, but use whatever is in your fridge.  It's one of those recipes you can substitute when you need to.  Just make sure it's creamy, there is nothing worse than a dry tuna casserole.

3 cans tuna drained
1 box penne pasta ( or whatever you have, mac noodles, egg noodles, etc) The box I used was 16 oz.
1/2 chopped large onion
2 cloves garlic chopped
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup mayo
1 can cream of mushroom soup
Almost a whole small tub of cottage cheese
Almost a half jar of leftover Alfredo sauce
1 cup half & half  (or milk)
Almost a full jar of drained pimentos
1 tablespoon dried basil
salt & pepper

2 more tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons Franks hot sauce
1 cup panko crumbs

Boil noodles as directed on package.  Drain and rinse with cool water.  While noodles are boiling, melt butter in skillet and add onions & garlic.  Saute for about 5 minutes.  Mix tuna, noodles and the onions, garlic, and remaining ingredients (except the last three, this is an optional crumb topping) Pour into a greased casserole dish, I used Pam spray.  Top with crumb mixture.  Bake at 375* for about 40 minutes or until bubbly.
*You can make any kind of crumb mixture, crushed Ritz crackers, potato chips, or just the bread crumbs in the canister that we all use for meatloaf.

Rain,Rain, go away.......

I guess I won't be working in the yard today.  Pretty funny isn't it, I should have started it on Saturday.  Oh well, the weeds will still be there 2 months from now anyway.  What's a Gramma to do.  I sure hope Krystina feels better tomorrow, she had the flu all weekend.  After all tomorrow is my day to spend with Wyatt, so hopefully she's on the mend.
I haven't cooked much this past week, I think I overdid it last Sunday.  I don't want to wear out the stove.  Although Saturday night I made Dave & I some killer fish tacos.  They were yummy. (or as Rachael Ray would say 'Yummo')  Oh and Jeanne, they were so easy and quick.  I know you like that kind of thing.  Anyway, I made some Cole slaw like stuff to wrap in the tortilla with the fish.  Another yummy thing, I like cabbage.  The fish can be cooked anyway you like, I used cod, but any white flaky fish will do.  You can even buy a bag of shredded cabbage and add mayo or vinegar to it.  Then I mixed some mayo with cumin and a little cayenne pepper to spread on the warmed tortilla, plopped on the fish and cabbage stuff and it was a fish taco.  Taco Time has nothin' on me.  I could eat fish everyday, love seafood.  To heck with the beef, the pig and the fowls.  Give me fish!!
Until next time, maybe the sun will come out tomorrow.

Happy Easter!!

Holidays kind of make me sad, I remember celebrating them with family and friends for many years.  And not a holiday goes by that I don't think of my sister Patty.  I think about her everyday, but holidays were always so much fun for us.  Heck we didn't even need a holiday to celebrate or have a party of some kind.  Tomorrow Krystina and her little family will be here, and I'm looking forward to that.  In fact I'm doing some killer cooking tomorrow.  On my menu is a glazed ham, augratin potatoes, roasted vegetables, my baked beans, and various appetizers, probably some spicy dip and chips.  Krystina is making deviled eggs, because I went to Fred Meyer and got six 18 packs, they were 3 for $5.00, that's a good deal.  I am also making Patty's famous BBQ chicken.  She didn't remember giving me the recipe about 25 years ago, but it is really good.  Hmm maybe I should post that recipe.  I'm making chicken because there are some people here that don't like ham, what's up with that?  So here is  the BBQ chicken recipe.  Enjoy!!

Make the sauce first, yes you have to make it, no bottles.

4 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion chopped
chopped green pepper (optional)
1 clove garlic minced
2 cups catsup
1 tablespoon mustard
1 tablespoon vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
a few dashes Worcestershire sauce
*these are all approximate measurements, I always have to add a little more of something
chicken pieces of your choice
Oil for frying
flour
salt and pepper

Melt butter in sauce pan, add onion, pepper, and garlic and saute for about 5 minutes.  Add rest of ingredients except chicken, and let simmer for a while.  Now wet the chicken pieces and roll in flour and seasonings.  Heat oil in large frying pan and fry chicken a few minutes on each side.  Put in 13x9 inch pan and pour sauce over it.  Cover with foil and bake about an hour, remove foil and bake another 10 minutes.
**I have also put a few jalapenos in the sauce for a little kick.
Thanks sis, I love you.

Been a long time since I wrote anything....

My sister had to say something about me not posting for a while, I had to wait for some inspiration obviously.  So here it is.  I found out last night that our good friends Peggy & Terry will be moving to Phoenix in about a month or so.  I'm sad.  Terry's job is transferring him there for 2 or more years.  The good news is that they will come back here after that, but who knows.  I'm still sad. 
And lately I haven't cooked a whole lot either.  Tuesday when Krystina and Wyatt came down I made her favorite BBQ beef on a bun, hot wings, and a pasta salad.  It was kind of an early birthday dinner for her, today she turned 24.  My baby is no longer a baby, but I guess she hasn't been for a few years.
And I have to say my grandson is the cutest baby ever, I love seeing him every week to see how much he has grown.  Actually last Friday the kids wanted to go out for the evening so Gramma got to keep Wyatt overnight.  Other than not getting a lot of sleep, I loved it, and missed the little guy when we took him home.   His parents had a good time even though they missed him too.  He has that way with us.
So sis I promise not to wait too long to write again.  And I will post one of my famous recipes a little later.

Recipes for Kimmy!!

The chicken & rice casserole is for my friend Kimmy.  Apparently every time she has been here for dinner we seem to have this.  It's one of those easy things that can use up that leftover deli chicken or that box of KFC that didn't get eaten.  And Kimmy, I will post another pasta salad recipe, because I know how much you like those.

Chicken & Rice Casserole

2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion diced
2 cloves minced garlic
3 cups cooked chicken chopped
2 cans green beans *  see note below
1 small can water chestnuts chopped
1 small jar pimentos
1 can cream soup * see note below
1 cup mayo or sour cream or mixture of both
1 box long grain wild rice, cooked according to package
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 350*.  Prepare rice in a small saucepan.  Heat butter in skillet add onion & garlic and saute about 5 minutes.  Remove from heat to a large bowl.  Add remaining ingredients and mix well.  Pour into a 3 quart casserole dish, and bake for about 30 minutes or until bubbly.
*blanched broccoli, frozen  C&W green beans or asparagus can be used
*cream of chicken, cream of celery, mushroom, or cream of cheddar soups.  If using the cream of cheddar, use a white cheese instead of cheddar.

Dogs, dogs dogs

It's definitely a dogs world.  I have three of the little monsters.  Only one was originally mine, the other two came from my children.  Go figure.  My son's dog came to live with us from Arizona about 4 years ago or so.  He's trying my patience a lot.  Last night he went out to do his business and was gone longer than usual.  So I went out screaming for him and of course he was ignoring me.  That can't be good, and it wasn't.  He found a really good muddy hole in the yard and was having the time of his life digging to China.  He was covered from head to muddy toes.  I think the neighbors slipped him some green beer or something.  I tried to wipe him down but he thought I was playing a game, and proceeded to race around the house a full speed.  With a big smile on his face too I might add.  Then he slept on my bedroom floor, on which I fave a light whitish grey carpet.  Now it's brown.  Then I guess in the middle of the night he snuck up on my white comforter, it is in the wash now.  The white tile in the kitchen was smeared with mud this morning when I got up.  And you ask, what is with all the white stuff in the house?  Well before dogs (or at least Puchu, the bad dog) there wasn't a lot of dirt in the house.  He reminds me of pigpen on Charlie Brown.
I get to see my Grandson twice this week, that's so exciting.  He is so sweet, and smiling all the time.  I think babies are the cats ass.  Oops did I say that? 
Well this Gramma is tired, already made chili and corn bread for dinner.  And that was after I rearranged my kitchen cabinets and the horrible pantry.  I tend to be a little unorganized.  Now I can see everything, just having a hard time remembering that I moved stuff around.  It should only take me a few weeks to get used to the changes.

March winds

Another windy rainy day.  Why do the people in Seattle even bother doing their hair everyday?  We could just let it blow in the breeze and maybe look sexy, like the models do in a photo shoot.  Anyway the wind is for flying a kite or something.
Yesterday my family met for lunch in honor of my sister Patty, who passed away last August.  Yesterday was her birthday, it used to be just Jeanne (another sis), Patty and myself had birthday lunches, we were an exclusive group.  But now I think we will expand and whoever in the family wants to go with us they are welcome to attend.  It's good to see them on a regular basis.
My grandson is growing like a weed.  Every week I see him he gets a little bigger, seems like just yesterday he had the wobble head, and now he can hold it up all by himself.  He's a stout little dude.  And of course extremely handsome. I look forward to seeing them every week.  Wish I could see them more, but am happy with what I get.  Yesterday my brother asked me how often I get to see my grandson.  All of his grandchildren live out of state, I felt bad when I told him every week.  Sometimes more.  Grand babies are the bomb!!

Pot Roast

The other night I made the best pot roast ever.  It was a recipe adapted from my idol Paula Deen.  Anyway here it is:

1 3-4 pound boneless chuck roast
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
vegetable oil about 2 tablespoons
1 cup thinly sliced onion wedges
3 or 4 garlic cloves smashed with big knife
2 bay leaves
1 can mushroom soup
1/2 cup red wine ( or substitute 1/2 cup grape or cranberry juice with 1 tbsp. rice vinegar)
couple swigs of Worcestershire sauce
1 cup beef broth or stock

Preheat oven to 350*.  Heat oil in large skillet,  Mix the next 3 spices and rub on one side of roast, put in skillet and sear, while rubbing the other side of meat with the spices.  Put roast in roaster pan, add onions and garlic to skillet for a couple minutes and then place in pan with the meat and bay leaves.  Combine soup, wine (or the sub) and broth, pour over the roast.  Liquid should come halfway up the roast, add more broth or water if needed.  Cover pan with lid or foil and bake for 3 to 3 1/2 hours.
*note:  I don't know if it was the wine or what, but this had the most tasty gravy I ever made, and the roast was very tender.

The Weather in Seattle Sucks!

We have had winter now since the end of September 2010.  It is now March 3, 2011.  Can we please have spring?  It's been so cold, rainy, snowy, and windy, oh and might as well throw in some hail too, had a little of that today.  I left the house and the sun was shining.  Cold but pretty.  Not even a mile down the street the sun disappeared and it started to hail, blow and then turned to hard rain.  Makes grocery shopping so delightful.  And I'm cold all the time, have to keep cranking up the heat.  Can't wait to get the next PSE bill, should be a doozy.
 Tonight for dinner I'm making a bone-in pork loin roast.  I marinated it for 24 hours (didn't need to do it that long, but I didn't feel like cooking it last night) in minced garlic, Italian seasonings, kosher salt and pepper, soy sauce and olive oil.  Hope it tastes ok.
Yesterday my daughter was sick and so I asked my sister to go to her house and watch the baby for a while.  She lives a lot closer than I do, and I didn't feel so well either.  Thank goodness she was available.  Thank you Jeanne!
Until next time, stay warm and cozy.

I'm Being Lazy

I haven't done a damn thing lately, obviously not posting anything new on the blog is a dead giveaway.  It must be the cold weather here in the beautiful northwest.  I can't seem to get warm enough, and I need to have a blanket wrapped around me all the time.  And now my cooking will be on the stove top or in the crock pot, because yesterday the digital panel on my oven popped out.  Well it didn't just pop out, my honey was attempting to help me cook and he pushed on the timer a little to hard, and lo and behold it just popped out.  Hopefully the master of fixing things will be able to fix it, otherwise he guess he will be going to Home Depot, if you know what I mean.
On the lighter side of things, my grandson came to visit last Tuesday.  ( he comes to see me every week)  He changes from week to week, getting chubby, fat little cheeks and no neck, just chins.  He is so darn cute.  Cuteness runs in our family.  I have three great nephews that are pretty special, and I know that their Grandma watches over them all the time.  Love you sis.
Oh yes, I made lasagna on Tuesday, and it was the best.  I might post that recipe some day.

Tuna in Lettuce

Boredom today, wanted something different to eat, so opened a can of tuna.  Added some chopped celery, green onion, pickles, a couple spoonfuls of Italian cheese ( the shredded stuff in a bag) the mayo and pepper.  Then since I'm not a big bread fan, I slathered it on top of three Romaine lettuce leaves, folded them in half lengthwise and ate them all.  Sounds like a lot of food but not really.  In fact I ate them a couple hours ago and I'm hungry already.  So that's why they put sandwiches on bread, to fill you up!!
Tuesday I got to see my grandson and daughter.  It was laundry day.  I pretty much held him most the day, while he ate, burped, slept etc,etc.  He's so darn cute I can't stop kissing his face and neck, etc,etc.  I wish they could move closer, because I would love to see them more than once a week.  This week though I will see them on Saturday, big family get together at my niece's house.  Will be fun, can't wait.  Oh and we are making Mexican food.  Yum!!!

It's a blue day

Not only is it extremely gray outside today, it's just blue.  This morning I learned that my ex-mother-in-law, Winnie, passed away last night.  She just turned 78 on the 29th of January.  Doctors recently discovered that she had cancer.  While many years ago my husband and I got divorced, she always told me I couldn't divorce her.  So we kept in touch for a long time.  She was a strong willed woman, and don't piss her off, because she would never let you forget it.  And forget about trying to argue with her, you will not win whatever you were arguing about.  I guess those are some of the things that made her so lovable.  She was a sports fanatic like nobody's business.  She could tell you Mariner stats from the 70's.  She coached softball for years, that kept her young.  I only wish she could have met her newest great-grandson.  She would have been proud.  From all of us, we love you Winnie, and will miss you greatly.

My Famous Meatloaf

2 lbs ground beef (or 1 lb. beef, 1 lb. ground pork, sausage, turkey, chicken etc. whatever sounds good, just use two pounds)
1 envelope dry onion soup
2 eggs
1 cup bread crumbs
1 tablespoon horseradish (optional)
1/3 cup catsup or BBQ sauce
2 tablespoons worchestershire sauce
3/4 cup beef broth
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 clove minced garlic

Mix well and pat into loaf pan.  Bake at 350* for 1 hour 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and drain visible drippings out of pan.  Let sit for about 10 minutes and remove to a plate or platter.
**This recipe can also be used for meatballs, just omit the cheese,  (gets a little messy)

Chicken Bake

1 package Stove Top herb stuffing mix
1 1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast cut into pieces
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/3 cup sour cream
1 bag frozen mixed veggies  (thawed and drained)
salt & pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400*.  Prepare stuffing mix as directed on box.
Mix remaining ingredients and put in 9x13 pan.  Top with stuffing.
Bake 30 minutes or until chicken is done.

*Note:  this also works with turkey, and this flavor of stuffing or turkey flavor.  I have also used leftover chicken, even cooked chicken from grocery deli.  Any kind of mixed veggies work, I like the one with a broccoli mix.

Baby Number Two

No WE didn't have another one, but my friends daughter did last night.  Baby Girl arrived shortly after midnight, and they are both doing fine.  Not sure about the other Gramma though, we might need to have some tests run on her.  She left this morning to go to the hospital before going to work, and forgot something three times.  I thought she might not get down the hill in time.  And now my grandson will have a prom date.  And now for a more delicate subject, both of these new mama's delivered these little people and neither of them needed any stitches.  I have never heard of such a thing.  But maybe it's not a topic that comes up a lot?  Back in the day we sure had them.  Won't ever forget that.  Today I get to go see the newest baby and tomorrow I get to see my grandson.  What more could a Gramma ask for!

Baby Poop Dip

2 - 8 oz. boxes cream cheese
2 cans Dennison's chili w/o beans *
1/2cup sour cream
1 can chopped green chili's (medium or hot)

* I have tried different brand of chili w/o beans, I think this one tastes best.
Put all ingredients in glass bowl and microwave on high 3-4 minutes.  Stir well, and if cheese is softened enough pour in crock pot and heat on medium for a couple hours.  Serve with crackers or tortilla chips.

We 'Heart' Babies

My grandson has got to be the cutest baby ever.  At least in the last 28 years.  My daughter brought him to see me on Monday and I spent the day holding, feeding, burping and then giving him back to Mom to change the poopy drawers.  Sweet,sweet,sweet.  I can't quit kissing those cheeks and the back of the neck.  Hard to believe all of us had such soft smooth skin at one time.  I tell you Olay and all the others need to bring us back to that.  Wish I could invent it myself.  Can't wait until next week when she has more laundry to do.  And then my friends' daughter is pregnant and would really like to have her little girl, last week.  She's not quite to her due date but she's pretty big and miserable.  That will be my grandson's prom date, can't wait to see her.  Babies, babies everywhere!!!

Finally after a Week of Impatiently Waiting...

Yes our little bundle of joy arrived January 2, late at night.  I can't even describe the feeling I had when MY baby had that little baby.  And of course she didn't even hardly break a sweat during the hard part.  What's up with that?  I think I was perspiring more than she was. (It's awfully warm in those birthing rooms, ya know.)  But he's beautiful and I just can't stand that they live 35 miles away.  Sorry I'm complaining about seeing him once a week, some Gramma's don't get to see their grandchildren very often, or ever, and that makes me sad.  My daughters Grandma ( her dad's mother) is very ill and in the hospital in Phoenix.  I don't think she realizes her first Granddaughter has had a baby, and that makes me extremely sad.  Love you Winnie!!  Hope to see you soon!!