Tag: recipes

Weeping Willow

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That girl can take a gray sky and paint it blue 
She can put the smooth in the 90 proof 
She can hang the moon in a sundress 
Even put a sinner on a front pew 
She can make shining diamond 
Out of West Virginia coal 
She can put a smile on a weeping willow

~Warren Zeiders

She didn’t even know I took this pic, lol
I drove past my old neighborhood, the other day. The trees, just before its entrance, look so pretty.

It’s definitely starting to look and feel a lot like Spring, here. Everything’s growing, blooming, blossoming. The grass, the trees, and my babies. Mj’s having a much better year, this year, than last. She’s growing up so fast, I can hardly even keep up with the changes. She can be a broody young teenager, moods swinging so quick they’ll gimmie whiplash, some days. Most days, though, she’s still my sweet little girl. Just a little bit less little. We got her a ridiculously expensive gaming laptop, for Christmas. She loves playing online games with her friends, but also she’ll often get her sisters on FaceTime, and they’ll all play Sims or something. I love it that they do that. It makes me happy, they’re all still so close.

Last Saturday, Mj had her last flags competition for this season. I did her makeup, and took her there. Awhile later, Adam got a phone call from Mikayla. She was in tears, sitting in the waiting room of Urgent Care. The night before, she’d been working her waitressing job, when the whole place filled with smoke. She told us she’d felt perfectly fine, but just a couple hours later, she was coughing, and it was getting harder and harder for her to breathe. She’d woke up that morning, feeling even worse. She had been planning on coming home, for the week, over her school’s Spring Break. Both Adam and I were very worried about her. We anxiously waited for her to see the doctor, and make sure she was okay. Fortunately, the doc said it was just a coincidence that her symptoms first appeared shortly after the smoke exposure. What she actually had, was influenza. Mj, B, and I all got our flu shots, in the Fall. I’d reminded Mikayla, multiple times, to stop by any minute clinic or pharmacy, and get hers. Unfortunately, she hadn’t gotten it done. Since her symptoms had only begun hours before she saw a doctor, he prescribed a round of Tamiflu, to help fight the virus. He also prescribed her a strong cough medicine, which would make her sleepy. I talked with her, while she picked up her medications. My poor kid was still crying and just plain miserable. She wanted to drive home. As much as I wanted her to be here, I told her absolutely not! She didn’t need to be out on the roads, driving home alone, as sick as she was. Adam had been in a darn near panic, and wanted to jump in his truck and go down to Knoxville to get her. With Mj at her competition, she wouldn’t be back until late that night. One of us needed to be able to pick Mj up. I offered to drive to Knoxville, and stay the night there with Mikayla. Then, I could at least follow her home, if she was up to it, on Sunday. By the time she got her meds and back to her house, she’d calmed down and decided she wanted to just get into her bed and sleep. So, Adam and I checked in with her, that night and all the next day, Sunday. By Monday, she was feeling a lot better. She drove home, that afternoon.

Oh, and Mj’s team placed third, at their competition!

Mikayla left, this morning, headed back to Knoxville. Adam was helping a friend put up fence, today. This evening, he grilled us a couple racks of ribs. I made scalloped potatoes, and cut up cucumber slices in vinegar water with onion. I love it when our meals look so pretty and colorful!

I spent the day working on laundry, and cleaning up around the house. I’ve been getting my Spring decor all set out. I’ve also been spending a few hours, here and there, making new craft projects.

I’ve kinda got a rustic/silly theme for our hall bathroom
I put a matching lampshade on our floor lamp, so it goes with my other one there on the cabinet, in our dining room. I really like it! Should’ve done that a long time ago.

It’s been another busy week, but it was fun having my girls all here. Mj’s Spring Break is this coming week. So, she’ll be home, hanging out with me all week. I’ve got a handful of things for us to do. Some of them she probably won’t be too excited about, like cleaning all the upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms. I think she’ll have fun going hiking with me, over in the caves near us, though. Of course, we’ll surely also be making a trip, or three, to our favorite coffee spots.

On Thursday, I’d been out with my girls all afternoon. Adam didn’t get home from work, until nearly 8:00pm. By the time we all got home, it was too late to really cook supper. I made one of the quick and easy meals everybody here likes, Fritos chili cheese wraps. For anybody interested, I’ll drop the link for them, here.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=xmdbTdD5Iy8&si=4_a4AUv2XsP5W4zW

Xx, Eve.

Memories

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Who I used to be, and who the fuck I am now

Two different people, if you ask me

So many years walking with my head down

Thank God it’s just another memory

Made my mistakes that made me who I am now

If I had the chance I wouldn’t change a thing

So many years walking with my head down

Thank God it’s just another memory…

~Kng Ego & JOYBVND

This really isn’t meant to be a contradiction to my recent post, I’m Still Me. When I said I found myself, and she’s still the me I used to be, I meant it! This song’s sentiment is more of a statement on who I am now, compared to one or two very long, difficult years ago. I’m unbelievably grateful to be in a much much better place.

I’ve been rediscovering my voice. I can hear it in the words I’ve written, here, over the last several weeks. There’s a noticeable shift in my tone and overall mindset. I wonder if that’s apparent, to y’all?

Last week, I was starting to feel like maybe my allergies were getting the better of me. The past couple days, though, I’m wondering if it’s a virus I’m fighting. My girls and I did get our flu shots. I suppose it’s possible I could have mild symptoms, from influenza or something? Or, just a cold. Or, it actually may be bad allergies. Whatever it is, I’ve had the tightening in my throat, that often signals impending days of sounding hoarse as heck, if I’m able to squeak any vocal sounds out, at all. I can’t remember the last time I made it a whole year, without losing my voice at least once!

I’m pretty tired, and low energy, this evening. Which, I absolutely hate. I did record my chili recipe, for anyone interested. It’s a super secret recipe, passed down through generations of my family. Just kidding. I think?

https://youtu.be/lUNv_XLAhSo?si=uQQKpOAhxCAGg2_8

Well, I think I’d better hop in the shower, and get ready for bed early, tonight. Hopefully, some rest will fend off whatever’s attacking my immune system.

Xx

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Highs and Lows

I feel a war goin’ on inside again

It’s nothing new

I know I’m stuck in my mind again 

At the end of the day

It’s just another bad case

Of the highs and lows 

I feel the pressure from the storm

It’s risin’ up

Why do I question

When I feel like I’m not enough

At the end of the day 

It’s just another bad case 

Of the highs and lows 

The highs and lows, yeah

I’m stuck in my head again

It’s the battles we don’t see

That can come to the surface

You gotta be ready 

Cause if you’re not careful

It’s bound to bleed over

And choke out your purpose

They’re trying to stop us

Cause they know what we’re capable of

They know who we reach

The power of words 

Inside of the message 

Of people affected 

They know what we preach

I came in the game

With a chip on my shoulder 

The devil had too many people ensnared

I put on my boots

And I started walking

When you’re filled with the spirit

It never compares 

That don’t mean it’s gonna be easy

I’m trying to cope 

And keep it together

When I should surrender

And lean on the Lord

He’s got a prescription 

So I can get better 

It seems that 

We think we can do it alone

We struggle to keep it at home

We wander around

And put on a smile

They asking me why 

I don’t pick up the phone 

It’s hard to talk about

I bury it

Feel like it’s something we need to defend

I’m stuck in a cycle

I know that it’s comin’

I just don’t know where and when

I’m trying to get over my emotions

Up and down

Like a roller coaster 

I’ve been praying

I’ve been focused

I’ve been patient

I’ve been molded

Check this hand

I’ll never fold it 

If I felt it

Then I wrote it 

If you said it

It’s been noted 

Just be careful

I stay loaded 

Bow out

I’m not available 

Just give me music

That’s really relatable 

Give me a pen and a pad

With a topic that’s been on your mind 

And it may be debatable 

Some days I really don’t know

What I’m aiming for 

I’m just walking in faith

I know He’s the truth

I know He’s the life

I know that there’s only one way 

And that is enough for me

I’m praying to God

Will you cover me 

Take my thoughts captive 

Help me when I get to feeling anxious

And slow me down 

When my mind’s active

I know that I bury it

Feel like it’s something we need to defend 

I’m stuck in a cycle 

I know that it’s comin’

I just don’t know where and when

~Rare of Breed

A couple weeks ago, on my way home from an appointment in Nashville, I was feeling a little blue. I tried to fight it, to push those feelings down. As if on cue, this song played. I’ve had it in my playlists for at least a couple years, but it was the most perfect lyrics for my mood!

A few days after that, I’d had an appointment with my eye doctor. I had finally lost my last pair of eyeglasses, and I really hate driving at night without them. Since at least a year ago, I’ve been swearing my eyesight has gotten noticeably better, and I wasn’t wrong! My astigmatism still prevents me from seeing well, at night, but during the daytime, I’m perfectly fine. My prescription was pretty mild before, but now it’s barely a prescription for anything more than my astigmatism. My eye doctor kept insisting it’s incredibly rare for an adult’s eyesight to improve. Somehow, mine has gotten markedly better, though!

Then, about a week ago, I began to hear about this crazy winter storm heading our way. They were calling for us to get up to 20 inches of SNOW!!! I’d never seen that much snow in my life! As it turned out, I still have yet to see anywhere near that amount of snow accumulation. Nope, instead we wound up with about 4 inches of snow, with another 3 inches of sleet and ice layered on top of it. Adam had gotten a giant generator, capable of running our heat, most of our outlets and light switches. He got it plugged into the outlet meant for it, down in our garage, just in case. I really hoped we wouldn’t have to use it, though. I’d gotten plenty of groceries, made sure my car had a full gas tank, and ran any errands needed, before we’d be homebound for several days.

We woke up, on Saturday morning, to some light snowflakes beginning to fall.

An hour later, the snow began to accumulate.

That evening, we started seeing the shift to more ice being predicted to accumulate from freezing rain. Sunday morning, we looked out our windows to find some seriously weighed down trees and power lines.

I’m not sure how we got so lucky, but we never did lose power! My dad lost power from around 5am Sunday morning, through just yesterday afternoon.

We ventured out, just yesterday, for the first time since before this storm arrived.

School’s canceled through this whole week, and Adam hasn’t been to work, either. He’s planning to go in for awhile, tomorrow. I’m going a little stir crazy, being stuck here at home, but this is the first time my new car’s seen winter weather, and I’m not convinced she’ll care much for it! Things have been melting, during the daytime, and then refreezing overnight. Our roads are still pretty messy.

I tried a new recipe, from TikTok. They used Ramen noodles, which I substituted with cooked macaroni noodles. I drained the noodles, and poured them into a casserole dish. Then, I mixed in a can of tomato soup, and 2 cans of chili (without beans). I baked it in the oven, at 350 degrees, for about half an hour. I topped it with shredded cheddar cheese, popped it back in the oven for about 5 minutes, and it was ready. My family gobbled it up! Mj says it reminds her of canned ravioli, and Adam asked me to add that to my cookbook, so I can make it for supper again.

Being trapped within the confines of my home has resulted in lots of baking, yummy meals, and a very organized and clean house, at least!

😘

Southern Potato Salad

(My version)

You need 4-6 potatoes. I prefer the Yukon gold ones, for potato salad. Russet works also, though.

About 1 cup of mayonnaise

About 1 Tbs yellow mustard

Sweet pickle relish. It HAS to be the sweet relish. I put in 3-4 Tbs.

4 hard boiled eggs (chopped)

About 1/2 cup finely chopped celery

1-2 teaspoons of sugar

Paprika

Peel, dice, and boil potatoes, until tender. About 20 minutes. Drain. Mix in mayo, mustard, sweet relish, eggs, sugar, and celery. Sprinkle with paprika. Refrigerate. That’s it!

Also, looks like plans have already changed. Justin and Jackie are heading over here. We’re going to hang out for awhile, tonight. 😊

Easy Breakfast Casserole

You Need:

6 slices of Texas toast (thick sliced bread)

1/2 lb. sausage

1/2 lb. bacon

2 Cups shredded cheddar cheese

12 eggs

Cook the sausage and bacon. Lightly spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Place the bread on the bottom of the pan. Beat eggs in a bowl, and pour over the bread. Crumble sausage and bacon over the eggs. Spread cheese on top. Cover. Bake at 350 for about an hour.

I always prepare this on Christmas Eve, and put it in the fridge, so it’s ready to go in the oven on Christmas morning. I decided to make it this morning, for the family. It’s easy, filling, and they love it!

I meant to take a picture, when I took it out of the oven, but forgot to. This is all we had left!

“Cheat” Cinnamon Rolls

I was trying to come up with something different I can make the kids for breakfast. I rummaged through my fridge, and saw I had a tube of crescent roll dough in there. I haven’t made these in awhile, but it’s super easy, quick, and yummy.

You need a tube of crescent roll dough. I always buy Publix, Walmart, or Kroger brand. I really don’t see any difference between Pillsbury, versus store brand, with these.

Melt about 2 Tbs butter. I like to make them real buttery, so you may use less, but that’s what I use. Unroll your crescent dough, and separate into the individual rolls. Brush some of the butter on the insides of each of your crescents. Sprinkle some cinnamon and sugar on them. Then, roll them corner to corner, as you would if you were making plain ones. Brush some more butter on the tops of each crescent roll. Sprinkle some more cinnamon and sugar on top. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

For icing, I mix a cup of powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp of vanilla, and a little milk. Start with about 1 tsp of milk, stir, and add additional teaspoonfuls until you get the consistency you like. When the rolls are done baking, drizzle the icing on top.

This is just another one of my random recipes. As usual, not particularly low fat, but delicious! 😆

“Funeral Potatoes”

You need:

About 6 cups of shredded hashbrown potatoes

8-10oz of sour cream

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

16oz of shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup of milk

Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with non stick spray. Mix hash browns, milk, cream of mushroom, and cheese. Cover. Bake for 50 minutes. Remove cover. Stir in sour cream. Serve 🙂

This is a popular dish we bring to potlucks. I also make it just for fun, sometimes. Makes an easy, inexpensive, and filling side to add to any suppers where potatoes would be good.

Meatloaf, Beet loaf…

If you haven’t seen the movie “A Christmas Story”, that’s probably going to be a weird title! There’s a scene in it, where the younger brother doesn’t want to eat his Mama’s meatloaf, and he says “meatloaf beetloaf…”. We’ve seen it so many times, that’s what popped into my head, as I was writing this. 😆

We have a deep freezer full of beef and pork. Every time Adam’s brother sends a cow or pig to the butcher’s, we go in half. I’ve played around with different ways to make meatloaf, and discovered that 2 pounds of ground beef, and 1 pound of ground pork makes it amazing! I use these McCormick seasoning packets,

I use 2 packets, since it only calls for 2 pounds of ground beef. I beat 2 eggs in a bowl. That’s important to do, before you mix into everything else. Then, mix 1/2 to 2/3 cup of milk, 1/4 to 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs, and the beaten eggs in with the meat. Lightly spray the bottom of a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray. Bake at 375 for about an hour. When it’s done, I like to spread ketchup over the top. It’s super simple, but everybody here loves it.

Note: Make sure to use lean ground beef and/or turkey. I’m also using the one pound of unseasoned ground pork.

I’m making honey cornbread, and green bean casserole, to go with. We’re also having some raw broccoli and carrots, with Ranch dip.

Green Bean Casserole

Y’all, my recipe is nothing special. It’s literally the one you’ll find anywhere, but I’ll share it for anyone who would like it 😊

2-3 cans French style green beans

1 can cream of mushroom soup

Milk

Fried onions

You mix the green beans, soup, and fill the soup can about 2/3 full of milk. Pour the milk in and stir. Bake at 350 for about half an hour. Top with fried onions. Bake another 5-10 min. Wah-la! Green bean casserole 😋