Life in the Dead of Winter

In my belated 100th post, I mentioned that I have orchids. I used to have many, but after Sam came along, I began to neglect them and sold all but my favorite five. The remaining five still get neglected, but somehow they continue to bloom for me every year.

One of the reasons I love them is that during this season of no green life outside, I can gaze upon blooms inside. I keep them in our upstairs bathroom where they get good light and are more-or-less out of reach of little hands. When they bud, I bring them downstairs and set them in my kitchen or dining room where we can all enjoy them.

Phalaenopsis

Orchids can be found reasonably priced at home improvement stores. If you've never tried having orchids, this is a great place to buy your first one. Then, go online and identify which kind you bought and find out what type of care it needs. The easiest to care for (and not kill) is the phalaenopsis orchid (like my white one pictured above).

The most important things to remember are 1) to give it good light- morning sun is best, afternoon sun can burn their leaves 2) to make sure their roots don't sit in water- water them under the sink to allow all the water to drain out right away, also don't let water get in the center of the plant, if so, use a tissue to absorb it out and 3) don't let the material your orchid is planted in get bone dry.

So, there you have it. A very simple orchid tutorial. Oh, and avoid orchids that come from too exotic of places. Unless you have a greenhouse where you can regulate the temperature and humidity. I don't have one of those. Oh, but wouldn't it be nice...?

Cattleya

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Chicken Zucchini Casserole

This recipe is not fancy (if you want to know where I'm coming from here, read yesterday's post). In fact, more than likely, you have a similar, if not identical, recipe in your recipe box or binder. It's an oldie, but a goody.

This recipe is safe (when it comes to feeding guests whose food tastes you may be unsure of), comforting and homey. It reminds me of Thanksgiving dinner.

I've made this many times, but not recently. I was inspired by the shelf-full of frozen, chopped zucchini I have in the freezer. I pulled out the recipe, read it over and almost didn't make it because it calls for canned cream of chicken soup. I just haven't bought cream of anything in awhile and rather liked that I hadn't.

Then, I remembered that in the back of my most heavily used cookbook these days (go ahead, pretend you didn't notice), there is a recipe for Cream Soup Substitute. That did it. I was off. You can either make the substitute or use the store bought stuff. I won't be mad:-).

From Simply In Season: (if this is hard to read, double click on the photo to make it larger)

Follow this easy recipe and you will end up with a dry mix to label and stick in your fridge until you are ready to use it.

When you need cream of chicken soup, simply measure out 1/3 cup of the dry mix...

and add 1 and 1/4 cup water.

Stir with a whisk and cook over medium high heat until...

it's thick and bubbly. Add it to your dish when cream of chicken soup is called for. I tripled this recipe (I was making several casseroles) and I still had over half of my dry mix left to keep in the fridge for the next time. We could not taste a difference between this and the store bought variation (in this casserole).

Chicken Zucchini Casserole (my mom's recipe)

1 package (6 ounce) stuffing mix, chicken or turkey flavored
3/4 cup butter, melted
3 cups diced zucchini
2 cups cubed or shredded cooked chicken or turkey
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of chicken soup, undiluted (OR use Cream Soup Substitute from above)
1 medium carrot, shredded
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup sour cream

In a large bowl, combine the stuffing mix and melted butter.

Add the chopped zucchini, making sure to drain it well if it's been frozen. Also add the shredded carrots. I didn't use carrots this time because I don't have any raw carrots. Only soft, pressure canned ones. And they wouldn't shred very well. The carrots add a lovely color and another veggie, so if you have them, use them.

Add the shredded chicken. It helps (sometimes) to have a little helper. In this case, Sadie girl.

Add the chopped onions.

Stir in cream of chicken soup and sour cream.

Once it's combined well, transfer it to a greased 2 quart baking dish or 8x8 inch casserole dish. Then, pop it in your 350 degree oven for 4o min. (or until the top starts to brown nicely). Or, you can pop it (unbaked) into the freezer for another time- just make sure to thaw it completely before baking.

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A Very Lengthy Introduction

Oh, how I love food blogs. I have many favorites that I frequent daily. I love seeing other's creativity and their adaptations. It inspires me to adapt their recipes in an attempt to use what we have in the freezer and pantry.

I wasn't always this way, limited to my ingredient options. When Jamey and I were first married, we were both working and our meals consisted of boxes and mixes that we picked up very cheaply at the discount grocery store. We didn't have a lot of time, energy for creativity, money or any type of garden. I don't know how many nights our dinner consisted of a box of Uncle Ben's rice (of some sort of variation or flavor) with a few frozen peas thrown in.

Five years later, Sam entered the world and I became a stay at home mom. Jamey had a good job, we had debts payed down and therefore, even with me being at home, had a larger budget for groceries. There I was, at home, in a newly constructed home (that seemed to never get dirty or dusty compared to this old house). I had Sam, but he grew into a toddler and I found I had time to think about dinner. Quite a lot of time, actually. We still didn't have a garden. We weren't allowed to per the homeowner's association's bylaws.

I started picking up cookbooks and magazines (Cooking Light, Gourmet, Martha Stewart Living) which introduced me to new ways of cooking. Gourmet-ish ways of cooking. I loved trying the new ingredients and recipes. Capers. Roasted red peppers. Leeks. Fresh ginger. I loved it and Jamey often complained that he liked everything so much but never got to eat it again because I was constantly trying new things.

Fast forward to a couple years ago. Even before our financial situation changed (Jamey heading back to school full time with me still at home), we started appreciating that which grows here, where we live. That which we grow ourselves and feel confident is pesticide-free. It makes for a more predictable meal rotation, but it feels good. It feels right.

So, when I stare at the photos of exotic dishes on other websites, I do sometimes wish that I had some fresh asparagus on hand in February or savory cabbage in my crisper. But soon, into my mind creeps how far away these foods would have had to travel to get to my grocery store. And that makes me a bit sad.

I was actually going to post a recipe today and this was going to be my introduction. It got a bit lengthy- thanks for sticking with me. The recipe will come tomorrow.

Food bloggers need not worry. I won't stop frequenting their sites. Pin It

The Plan Includes...

Here's what the plan calls for. Although, when Jamey handed me the list, he said that it doesn't include the things he's not telling me about. When asked to elaborate, he told me that he plans on planting some things I told him I didn't want. He has a planting addiction, I think.

peas
lettuce- a variety
broccoli
cauliflower
spinach
eggplant
swiss chard
zucchini
bell peppers- red and green
jalapenos
garlic
onions
tomatoes- romas and slicers
green beans
potatoes- white/gold, red
squash- butternut and acorn
basil
parsley
corn
carrots
dry beans- black and kidney
watermelon
cantaloupe
beets
cucumbers
sweet potatoes
pumpkins
sunflowers
cabbage

Then, there are those things we already have established: red and black raspberries, asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries, pears and sour cherries. We also have eight apple trees and four peach trees that were two years old when we planted them a year ago.

Ok. So, does that sound do-able with a newborn? Please pray for us. Or at least come when we call and cart produce away when we're swimming in it.

Photos: Basil, Carrots and Swiss Chard Pin It

The Plan

A month or so ago, Jamey and I held our annual garden meeting. There we sat, across the dining room table from each other. Before him was spread last year's notes about how much he planted of each vegetable. In front of me was my canning notebook- dates and notes as to how much I put up of each fruit, vegetable, chutney, etc.
As is custom, he names the things he planted last year and then I tell him if we need to plant more or less or maintain the status quo based on how much we've been using of that particular item. Of course, this is always somewhat of a guessing game. Who knows how many zucchini plants the squash borers will take this year. Or if it will be a dry summer and our tomatoes won't produce as well.
Then there's the whole issue of this BABY that will be arriving in the spring. Our original thought was that we would cut back on our garden this year because of the new addition. But, as we started planning, we realized we really weren't changing much from last year.

Granted, we are going to try to grow more veggies that can be frozen versus canned, hoping that will save some time and energy. And, we are planning on growing dry beans this year. They will grow on the vine and dry there waiting until whenever it is convenient for us to shell them come fall. And by then, the baby will be a whopping 4 or 5 months, sleeping through the night and changing their own diaper. Right?

Watching us/reading about our garden endeavors may prove to be very entertaining this summer. That is assuming I will have time to tell you about them. Don't worry. I will. I need this therapy.

Tomorrow I'll tell you what we will be planting...at least as the plan stands now.

Have you ordered your seeds? Have you planned your garden layout? What new things are you going to try this year? If you find you haven't thought about it yet, I have just one question for you. What are you waiting for?

If you're not in the mood yet, take a gander at these warm weather photos. They almost make me cry. I can't wait for warm weather.

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One Down, Nineteen to Go

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Curried Chicken Salad in Naan

A couple weeks ago, I made this curried chicken salad in naan. It was very good- a perfect way to use some of our chicken and a nice change from the soups and quiches we seem to be eating a lot of these days.
The chicken salad recipe came from Cooking Light. Which edition, I don't know. I had torn the page out and put it in my recipe binder years ago. I'll give you their recipe word for word, although I changed a couple things. I left out the grated orange rind (Due to laziness. I do have oranges on hand, you know), used bottled ginger instead of fresh, substituted raisins for the grapes and apricots and left out the green onions. I used sunflower seeds instead of cashews and dried parsley instead of fresh. I didn't change it too much, now did I?

The combination of the spice of the curry and the sweet of the dried fruit is wonderful. Sandwiched between warm naan, it was delightful.

Curried Chicken Salad (Cooking Light magazine)

6 tbsp. reduced fat mayonnaise
1/2 tsp grated orange rind
1 1/2 tsp. orange juice
1 tsp. curry powder
1/2 tsp. grated peeled fresh ginger
2 1/2 cups diced, roasted skinless, boneless chicken breasts (I used cooked shredded chicken)
3/4 cup seedless green grapes, halved
1/4 cup diced dried apricots
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
2 tbsp. chopped unsalted cashews
1 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
4 (6 inch) naan breads
3 cups trimmed watercress (optional)

Combine first five ingredients in a large bowl and stir with a whisk. Add chicken and next five ingredients to mayonnaise mixture, stirring to coat. Spoon about 3/4 cup chicken mixture onto each naan. Top with watercress (or other greens) and fold over.

**********************************

I doubled the chicken salad recipe because I knew my naan recipe would make more than 4 naan.

Naan Bread (Simply in Season) serves 8

1/4 cup water
1 tbsp. dry active yeast
1 tbsp. sugar
Mix in a small bowl until dissolved.

1 cup lukewarm water
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1 beaten egg
2 tbsp. oil
2 tsp. salt
Mix in a separate bowl. Stir in yeast mixture.

5+ cups bread flour (up to half whole wheat)
Stir in enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead 5-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl. Turn to grease both sides. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise 1 hour. Separate dough into golf-ball sized balls. Roll each out to 1/16 inch thickness (they cook best when thin). Preheat frying pan on medium high heat. Add 1/2 tsp. butter to pan and allow to melt (cooking spray also works well). Place rolled out dough (one at a time) into the frying pan. Cook on each side until lightly browned and puffy (about 2-3 minutes per side). Transfer to a plate a cover with a towel while cooking remaining breads.


Ok, I put two in the pan at a time instead one of. Here you can see them starting to get puffy. It's a good indication that the other side is browning and it's soon time to flip them over.

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Bits and Pieces

My irises, hyacinths, daffodils and tulips are poking their green leaves up through the soil making me very excited for spring. At the same time, it is making me very frustrated since I do not see myself getting down on all fours to clear debris from my flower beds.

I am almost six months pregnant, but I think I look 9 months pregnant. In order to carry this baby without under-belly-pain, I now where a Belly Bra. It's an incredible invention and I highly recommend it.

We are being inundated with eggs. If anyone would like to get eggs (free range, organic) regularly from us, please let me know.

My best friend from middle school and high school does amazing work. Check her and her co-designer's work out here. She's the one who gives me fabric swatches now and again (thank you! thank you!).

Sam and I are on schedule to finish his 1st grade year by the time this baby comes. Do you know I have most of his books for next year already? I'm a little obsessive.

Sam's first lose tooth is about to fall out. I asked him if he will put it under this pillow. He told me the tooth fairy isn't real. I told him that I know that, but sometimes parents put something under the pillow for their kids. He said, "No, I'll probably just throw it away." I asked if he might want to save it and he said, "What? Like in a box?" and shook his head. I guess I'll be digging it out of the trash and taping it in his baby book.

I haven't had to make a meal since company was here this past weekend between leftovers and food kindly given to us. It is making me very lazy. I promise I'll start cooking again...soon. Pin It

Praying the Scriptures

I often find my prayers for my children to be...well...dull. I pray for their safety, their salvation and that they will be used by God to further His kingdom. It's not that I think there is anything wrong with what I am praying about. It's just that expressing these prayers has become routine. I say them and mean them, but there is often not a whole lot of feeling and thought behind them. Does that make sense?

I think part of my problem is I am often uncertain what to pray for. Should I ask for this for my children? Are my motives pure? Are these prayers effective in the way I want them to be?

Several years ago, I came across a book. As soon as I started flipping through the pages, I felt joy and relief. I found a way to pray for my kids. And, what I am about to say is very important to me, it wasn't a person telling me what or how to pray. I was being instructed to pray God's own words- the scriptures.

Praying the Scriptures for Your Children: Discover How to Pray God's Will for Their Lives by Jodie Berndt is the book. Over the years, I have returned to this book over and over again when I feel my prayers are losing their vitality.

The book includes five sections; Praying for Your Child's Faith, Praying for Your Child's Character, Praying for Your Child's Relationships and Praying for Your Child's Future. There are several chapters within each section that target specific topics. There are brief introductions to each chapter that talk about the topic and then, my favorite part, the scriptures are presented (about ten for each chapter).

The author encourages you to insert your child's name into the scriptures presented. For example, under the topic of Praying for Your Child to Love God's Word comes the following scriptures (among others)...

May _____ not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)

Make your word a lamp to ______'s feet and a light for her path. (Psalm 119:105)

Under the topic of Praying for Your Child's Relationship...With Siblings, are these verses...

Show _______ and her siblings how to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as you have forgave them. (Ephesians 4:32)

Do not permit ______ to be quarrelsome; instead, cause him to be gentle, patient, and humble, especially when his siblings are in the wrong...because then they will be more likely, with God's help, to turn away from their wrong ideas and believe what is true. (2 Timothy 2:24-26)

And what's best about all of this? How can we go wrong praying God's Word back to Him? Praying in this way gives me an air of authority over my prayers that I never had before. And, I can use these prayers for others as well.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:14)

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Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

This might be our family's most requested birthday cake from now on. The recipe comes from a friend from church, Wendy. She is very popular at our house right now:-).

I first tasted this cake at Wendy's house during a Youth Council meeting. I could not figure out how they made it and was in awe of the flavor that seemed to take me back to my childhood. The layering impressed the dickens out of me and while I knew I was going to ask for the recipe, I was afraid it would look too involved.

I was wrong. This cake can be put together in 10 minutes flat. It calls for very few ingredients and it was a hit with everyone who ate of it. Please find some excuse to make this. Is there a birthday coming up? An anniversary? All I can say is that you better think of something.

 Banana Split Version (sliced bananas, strawberry sundae topping and crushed Oreos)

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake (recipe from Wendy G.) In the pictures (and directions below) you can see I lined my pan with foil.  I've made this many times since without lining the pan and then just serve it out of the pan.  Lifting the pieces individually out of the pan gets just as many oohs and ahhs:-).  Also, feel free to use different flavored sundae toppings and different candies.  You can also add fruit.  Below is our favorite combination. 24 ice cream sandwiches 16 ounces of cool whip 1 jar caramel sundae topping 1 bag of your favorite candy, coarsely chopped Reeses peanut butter cups

This great recipe (and many others!) can be found in our cookbook.

Yep, that's it.

Lay half of the ice cream sandwiches (whole) in the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch pan, trimming the last couple to get complete coverage. Top with half of the cool whip, half of the caramel sundae topping and half of the candy. Lay down another layer of ice cream sandwiches.  Top with remaining cool whip and spread out evenly with a knife, making a lip around the edge so the sundae topping won't run out and over the edges.  Top with remaining candy, cover and freeze for several hours (or overnight) before serving.

That's it.


Depending on how cold your freezer is, you may need to thaw it on the counter for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Now, I guess I could have made some homemade ice cream from local milk, baked my own chocolate wafers, whipped up some real whipped cream, made my own caramel sauce and candy.

But, oh, I would have missed the taste of those store-bought ice cream sandwiches I remember growing up. That, and, I would have pretty much gone insane. This pregnancy has lead to some short-cuts and eating this cake has made the idea of short-cuts much easier to deal with.

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Birthday Weekend

(Times are approximate.)

Thursday
8:00pm:My parents and sister, Molly, arrive.

Friday
8:00am: Breakfast of strawberry brunch souffle and crushed strawberries.

11:00am: My sister, Emily, and her baby girl arrive.

12:30pm: Lunch, prepared by my parents: Sauerkraut, sausage and white bean casserole, muffins, applesauce and pineapple Amish friendship bread.

1:30pm: My brother, Ben, and his fiance, Kim, arrive.

4:30pm: My other brother, Darin, and his wife, Farah, arrive.

5:00pm: My brothers and dad help Jamey upright the kids' play set that was blown over in a wind storm.

5:30pm: Dinner, prepared by my parents: hoagies, chips, applesauce and Ben's birthday cake (his birthday is the day before Sam's) and ice cream.

6:30-11:00pm: Games, visiting and setting up beds.

Saturday
8:30am: Breakfast of strawberry brunch souffle with crushed strawberries, Mama JJ's Baked French Toast and shoo fly pie from Lancaster, PA, courtesy of Darin and Farah.

9:30- 11:30: Free time which included runs to local discount stores, the library and park.

11:30am: Lunch of homemade pizzas (roasted tomato/pesto, plain and pineapple- the kids' favorite), deviled eggs, applesauce and my sister's German chocolate and blackberry bars.

1:00pm: Bowling! Sam has been asking to go bowling for forever, so as a surprise and in lieu of gifts, we all bowled a game.


2:30pm: The men and Sam went to a park in town and played a round of disc golf. The ladies and Sadie came home, relaxed and visited.

5:00pm: Emily's husband, Michael arrived.

5:30pm: Dinner: Meatballs in sauce, pineapple stuffing, sweet potato and apple casserole, a variation of green bean casserole, red raspberry applesauce jello salad, and pickled beets for dinner, followed by Sam and Sadie's birthday cake. I'll be telling you more about this cake in a couple days. Sam made Valentines for everyone since it was Valentine's Day.


6:30-11:00pm: Games and visiting.

Sunday
9:00am: Church.

10:30am: Family and friends surprise Kim with a bridal shower at our house. My sisters and sister-in-law stayed back from church to set up. Presents, lunch (bagel sandwiches, fruit, potato salad, raspberry cream cheese bars and chocolate chip cookie bars) and visiting.



2:00pm: Everyone packed up and left for home. We were sad to see them go. Sadie even got teary-eyed.

2:00-5:00pm: Jamey and Sam played a couple games of Jenga. Jamey studied. Sadie napped. Sam played outside with his new frisbee and practiced his spelling words on SpellingCity.com.

Me? I sat on the couch. Pin It

Made to Order

Before I begin here, I don't want you to think that what I am about to do is bragging. I'd like to call it "sharing" instead, ok?

I happen to have a husband who is very talented in the woodworking arena. He grew up watching his father produce beautiful pieces out of his workshop and picked up the skill.

When I need something...anything built, I just draw up the plans, measurements included, and hand it over. He can't always get to it right away, but he always makes an effort. With this last project I passed a long, he started almost right away because the idea of a rolling door intrigued him.

I had asked for a bread box to hide bread and other miscellaneous items that always seem to accumulate on top of the toaster oven and make my counter look sloppy. I am a neat freak and I am nesting.

I knew I wanted to show you my new bread box, but then I started walking around the house and decided I also wanted to "share" with you some of the other things he's made.

This is the dresser/changing table he built when we were expecting Sam. I was able to make the height just right for me so I wasn't having to lean over to change diapers. It's in Sadie's room now and will become the baby's when he/she arrives.

I love this. When we moved into this old house, one of the first things Jamey did was replace the smokehouse floor. We needed to use the smokehouse as our attic since there is only a very small door (I should say hole) that leads up to the attic. Then, last year, I requested shelves and cabinets to be built into to the play/school room. He planed down the smokehouse floor boards to build my shelves. One of my favorite features is the lock on the right cabinet door- it holds paints and items I do not want the kids getting into with my knowledge.

The only used entrance to our house is through the back door and into the mudroom. Another early project, once we got settled, was this shoe box. Just about all our family's shoes live in this box and there's even a little section at one end that hold hats and gloves. Sometimes it gets used during hide and seek, too.

This is the head board he made for our bed.

Here is the wardrobe he made for himself since he doesn't have a dresser.

This is a little drysink he made. It works perfectly in our upstairs bathroom since this house does not have a linen closet.

This is a buffet he built with the intent of selling it. I kind of stole it and it now resides
in our living room.

This coffee table he gave me as a birthday gift- my last birthday before we were married. His dad helped a little to finish it up since Jamey was on crutches at the time. He broke his pelvis when the forklift he was driving tipped over on top of him. I still get the shivers when I think about that.

We call this the half-hutch. He made this also with the intent to sell. I stole this one, too. It holds my cookbooks and, underneath, our gardening books and paper recycling.

Last, but certainly not least, are our kitchen cabinets. The spring after we moved here, Jamey's parents came and spent a week with us so Jamey's dad could help Jamey gut and redo the kitchen. Jamey had worked on these cabinets for months. My bread box is made out of leftover cherry wood from the cabinets so it matches.

Thanks for listening to me share. Please don't come steal my husband and chain him out back to build furniture for you. I would really like to keep him. Pin It