dreams of blogging

How I would love to be like Dawn, blogging mom of six (www.mom2my6pack.blogspot.com), who blogs almost daily. I think about blogging. I have great intentions when it comes to blogging. Yet in the midst of laundry-- and dishes -- and homeschooling -- and facilitating a women's Bible study -- and headaches -- and wishing I lived in Ireland -- and making many pots of tea......I forget to blog.

In an effort to put SOMETHING here, I'll post a silly little thing I put on The Homeschool Library today:

Mommy has a headache. Let's help Mommy.

See mommy flinch when children
hum. Hum, children, hum!

See mommy glare when a child taps a pencil on her phonics
book. Tap, child, tap!

See mommy give the children a snack. Hear the children chew
tortillas. Chew, Chomp, Chomp.

Let's squawk about Mama's ideas about
schoolwork.Whine, squawk, fuss!

Mama wants to read a book with us.Let's move the
book around so Mama feels seasick trying to read it!

Mama says she's going to
have a long nap this afternoon. Ha ha ha!

chapter 2

See the children run around outside. The patio door muffles their
yells.Muffle, door, muffle.

See mama's coffee. See the lovely coffee. See the
lovely brown hot coffee.Smell the lovely brown coffee. Drink, Mama,
drink! Aaaahhhhhh

Raclette

Raclette is a cheese from Switzerland, as well as a melted-cheese-over-potatoes dish that is very popular in Switzerland. Here is more information. Scroll down for how to make raclette without special equipment.
http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/raclette.htm

Trader Joe's sells raclette cheese. We had melted raclette over potatoes last night (with pickles on the side) and it was a simple but fabulous dinner. I have to admit that I am very tempted by the raclette grills. I'd like to eat this quite often.

Organizing the Library

We have a multi-purpose room we call the Music Room. It's also our Library and our guest room. It's been a disaster for months and I finally organized it. I even have the fiction books arranged alphabetically by author. I'm so happy to have this accomplished -- I couldn't resist taking pictures!

Above is a picture of the non fiction books and music books.We have three shelves of cookbooks -- and that doesn't count the ones we keep handy in the kitchen.

Below is a photo of the opposite side of the room; fiction books on one bookshelf (and overflowing to the other shelf too) and one bookshelf with a few Bible study books and a bunch of children's books.























And here are the rest of the devotional/inspirational/Bible study guides (out in the dining room). Not including the 45 books to read or books-I'm-in-the-middle-of that are in my nightstand-bookshelf.

crockpot Little Smokies

2 packages of Little Smokies (I like to use one beef, one cheese-filled)
1 jar of apricot jelly (18 oz)
1 bottle of chili sauce (12 oz)
1 tsp ground chipotle pepper
1 tbs stone ground mustard

Heat on high for two hours. Turn to low or warm until ready to serve.

This is an easy potluck dish.

Menu through 10/14

I thought this blog would be such a handy way to track our menu but I keep forgetting to use it. Too many plates to keep spinning.

So what did we eat this week?

Tonight: Pacific Reuben sandwiches (replace the usual corned beef with smoked salmon. mmmmm)
Saturday dinner: beerbrat sausages with porter cheese and sliced raw apples. Simple but fabulous.
Friday dinner: I went to a Creativity Night for Bible study ladies. I took little smokies (my own recipe. I'll post it)
Thursday dinner: sundried tomato sauce over fettucine.
Wednesday dinner: tamales.
Tuesday dinner: grilled salmon on a green salad. with capers and blue cheese dressing.
Monday dinner: Chinese takeaway.

Eggs Florentine

Dinner tonight

Serves 2 as a main dish entree. Accompany with a green salad for an easy dinner.

20 spinach leaves (washed)
8 big basil leaves, chopped (optional)
1/4 cup romano cheese (or a blend of romano and parmesan)
4 eggs
4 tbsp cream
salt and pepper
hummus (optional)
diced tomatoes (optional)
goat cheese (optional -- sometimes we use the goat cheese and not the hummus, or vice versa)

Preheat oven to 375. Spray two small oven safe dishes (ramekins) with PAM. Microwave the spinach, wrapped in a paper towel, for about one minute (til it's wilted). Divide spinach leaves and basil leaves between dishes. Sprinkle with half of the romano cheese, dividing the half between the dishes. If desired, place a couple dabs of hummus in each dish, and some diced tomatoes. Add a couple slices of goat cheese to each dish, if desired.Crack two eggs into each dish. Don't stir them up or try to blend the ingredients. Pour 2 tbsp cream into each dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and remaining romano.

Bake for 25 minutes or until eggs are set.

A wonderful Saturday evening dinner while watching Britcoms on PBS.

Korean food

I've heard good things about this Korean food blog, this recipe in particular:
http://koreancookingshow.blogspot.com/2007/08/korean-style-vegetable-pancake.html

I haven't watched the video yet.

Menu week ending October 5

I didn't keep track of what we ate every day. Migraines were keeping me from the computer part of the time. But we've had fabulous food!

We went to a family friendly Irish pub to eat Fish and Chips, followed by Sticky Toffee pudding.

At home, we had a British Isles dinner with English bangers (sausages) and colcannon (mashed potatoes with bacon and cabbage).

Dh made "bubble and squeak" from the leftover colcannon. (I could eat bubble and squeak every day.)

We also had welsh rarebit twice. These foods were all immensely popular with our children -- and with us. (Welsh rarebit is going to be served at our home quite frequently.)

Links:
Colcannon recipes: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_22600,00.html
http://www.ireland-information.com/irishrecipes/colcannon.htm

Welsh rarebit: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_26813,00.html

picture of a British version of sticky toffee puddinghttp://stickytoffeepudding.com/ and a recipe we haven't tried yet: http://www.recipezaar.com/113993

bubble and squeakhttp://www.anenglishmaninamerica.co.uk/british-bubble-and-squeak-recipe.php

Irish brown bread:http://paisleyteacup.blogspot.com/2007/06/irish-brown-bread-easy.html

We varied the across-the-Atlantic fare with some south of the border flavor: tamales!

Black Bean Taco Soup

Taco Soup is one of my favorite things to cook. My recipe has evolved over the last few years, and here is the current procedure:
1/2 pound sausage
1/2 pound hamburger
1 tablespoon baking chocolate (yes, really)
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chipotle pepper -- ground
1 large white onion -- chopped
14 ounces crushed tomatoes
14 ounces diced tomatoes (sometimes I double this)
14 ounces black beans, canned (sometimes I double this)
1 1/2 cups beef broth,
reduced salt
1 tablespoon buttermilk powder (or a packet of dry ranch dressing mix)
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 ounces sour cream, light
1 avocado
1/2 cup cheddar cheese -- shredded
2 tablespoons cilantro -- fresh (optional)

Brown the sausage and hamburger, adding the chocolate, cumin, and chipotle pepper when it's about half browned, then adding the onion for the last few minutes.
Place sausage, hamburger, onion, tomatoes, beans, broth, buttermilk powder, and salt in crockpot. Cook on high for two hours or on low for four hours.
Garnish individual bowls with sour cream, sliced avocado, cilantro (optional) and grated cheese.

Some people like to put tortilla chips on top, but we feel there are enough carbs in here already!

thoughts on a vaccine

I appreciated this blogger's comments:
http://carolonajourney.blogspot.com/2007/09/angry-about-gardasil.html