Red Meat

New Farm Animals

Dear Sis,

Today after nap time William got another package. This one was from Amazon. William had filled a chore/potty sticker chart a few days before and he decided he would like some farm animals as his reward. We found a great toy barn at the annual yard sales this year for $1.00. He has been using it as a parking garage for his matchbox cars, but has been asking for animals for a while. I kept telling him he’d have to do more chores and use the potty. Yes, I’m that Mom!

I reheated Cheeseburger Soup for dinner and I finally remembered to take a picture so I can share the recipe:)

Cheeseburger Soup
Serves 8
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Ingredients
  1. 1 lb. lean ground beef
  2. 1 t ground pepper
  3. 1 t salt
  4. 1 t garlic powder
  5. 1 t Italian seasoning
  6. 4 T butter, divided
  7. 1 onion, chopped
  8. 3 stalks celery, diced
  9. 3 carrots, peeled & grated
  10. 1 T garlic, minced
  11. 3 c chicken stock
  12. 1 1/2 t basil
  13. 2 lb. potatoes, peeled & chopped
  14. 1/4 c unbleached flour
  15. 1 1/2 c whole milk
  16. 8 oz sharpe cheddar, shredded
Instructions
  1. Brown beef in a skillet with pepper, salt, garlic power, and Italian seasoning. Transfer to a stock pot.
  2. Melt 1 T butter in skillet and sauté onion, celery, carrot, and garlic until tender. Transfer to stock pot.
  3. Add stock, bail, and potatoes to stock pot. Cover and simmer 10-15 minutes, until potatoes are tender.
  4. In a saucepan, melt remaining 3 T butter. Stir in flour to make a roux. Stir in milk gradually and cook stirring until thick. Stir in cheese until melted and smooth. Pour cheese sauce into stock pot and stir until smooth.
Notes
  1. We really like fresh baked biscuits with this soup! If you don't have time for homemade, bake frozen biscuits. They are every bit as good as homemade and don't have the weird taste and texture that refrigerated biscuits do.
  2. Leftovers can be frozen.
Adapted from From Freezer to Table
Adapted from From Freezer to Table
Tag Sis, You're It! https://www.tagsisyoureit.com/
Love,

b

Memorial Day 2019

Dear Sis,

I like to make a special treat and cook out on Memorial Day. It was a perfect opportunity to test another recipe for Evelyn’s birthday picnic next month:) 

Watermelon Rice Krispy Treats
Yields 12
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Rind Ingredients
  1. 3 T salted butter
  2. 4 c mini marshmallows
  3. green food coloring
  4. 4 c crisp rice cereal
Watermelon Ingredients
  1. 3 T salted butter
  2. 5 c mini marshmallows
  3. red food coloring
  4. 5 c crisp rice cereal
  5. mini semi sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. Grease two round cake pans with butter.
  2. For rind, melt butter and marshmallows in a microwave safe bowl for 60 seconds. Stir until smooth. Stir in color. Stir in cereal. Press half mixture around outer edge of each cake pan.
  3. For watermelon, melt butter and marshmallows in a microwave safe bowl for 60 seconds. Stir until smooth. Stir in color. Stir in cereal. Press half mixture into center of each cake pan. Sprinkle each watermelon center with chocolate chips and press them in. Stand until set.
  4. Turn each pan out on a board and slice into 6 pieces, just before serving.
Adapted from Thrifty Fun
Adapted from Thrifty Fun
Tag Sis, You're It! https://www.tagsisyoureit.com/
While I was in the kitchen, Josh mowed and trimmed for me. William played most of the time, but also got a chance to help. The mower stalls a lot when a two year old is holding down the bar:)

I’ve finally got my burger recipe perfected, so I guess it is time to share it:)

Cheesy Chive Burgers
Yields 12
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Ingredients
  1. 3 lb. ground beef
  2. 3 c shredded Cheddar Jack
  3. 1/2 c fresh parsley, minced
  4. 1/4 c fresh chives, minced
  5. 3 cloves garlic, minced
  6. 1 1/2 t hickory salt
  7. 1 t ground pepper
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients until well mixed.
  2. Press into a dozen burger patties.
  3. Grill, panfry, or layer between waxed paper and freezer for later. Thaw in fridge before cooking.
  4. Serve with buns, cheese slices, and all your favorite burger fixings.
Adapted from From Freezer to Table
Adapted from From Freezer to Table
Tag Sis, You're It! https://www.tagsisyoureit.com/
Happy Memorial Day!

Love,

b

Sweet Meatballs

Dear Sis,

Today we had a playdate with Carter and Mama Jen. The Mama’s made two homemade meatballs dishes each while the boys enjoyed a nice spring day outside!

Sweet Meatballs
Yields 120
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Ingredients
  1. 4 (1 gallon) freezer bags
Meatballs
  1. 6 lb ground beef
  2. 3 c Italian bread crumbs
  3. 2/3 c whole milk
  4. 4 eggs, lightly beaten
  5. 1/4 c onion, minced
  6. 2 T garlic, minced
  7. 1 T salt
  8. 2 t pepper
Sauce
  1. 4 c ketchup
  2. 2 c dark brown sugar
  3. 2 c red wine vinegar
  4. 2 c Worcestershire
  5. 2 T garlic, minced
  6. 2 T onion, minced
  7. 1 T dry mustard
  8. 2 t pepper
Meatballs
  1. Combine meatball ingredients and shape into 120 meatballs.
  2. Bake meatballs in foil lined pans at 500 for 15 minutes. Cool.
Label freezer bags
  1. Thaw in refrigerator.
  2. Pour into a 9x13 dish and bake 30 minutes at 350.
Fill bags
  1. Place 30 meatballs in each bag.
  2. Combine sauce ingredients and pour it equally over each bag of meatballs.
  3. Freeze up to 3 months.
Adapted from Fix Freeze Feast by Kati Neville and Lindsay Ahrens
Adapted from Fix Freeze Feast by Kati Neville and Lindsay Ahrens
Tag Sis, You're It! https://www.tagsisyoureit.com/

Goes well with rice, mashed potatoes, or mac and cheese with a side of green beans.

It would also go well with whatever your family usually likes with BBQ.

It was nice enough to eat outside again today!

Love,

b

Family Reunion

Dear Sis,

We just got back from Tennessee. Josh’s family is having a reunion at Aunt Peggy’s house.

We flew in Sunday evening. We finally got to meet, Uncle Warren and Aunt Debbie, cousin Brian’s new daughter Ryleigh, Uncle Steve and cousin Andrea, and P-Pop’s cousin Susan and her husband Paul. Perhaps the most special introduction occurred between Josh’s brother Jason and our William.

There were also several old faces in the crowd. Aunt Peggy her daughter Paula, Uncle Buddy, cousins Brian and Julia and their two older kids, and cousin Natalie.

William really enjoyed playing with the kids. Ryleigh is just 11 months older. Where she lead, William followed:)

Sunday night we had cousin Susan’s yummy cake. She was kind enough to share the recipe.

Mandarine Pineapple Sunshine Cake
Serves 18
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Ingredients
  1. 1 box yellow cake mix
  2. 1/2 c unsalted butter, softened
  3. 4 eggs
  4. 1 t vanilla
  5. 15 oz can mandarin oranges
  6. 20 oz can crushed pineapple
  7. 3.4 oz box instant vanilla pudding
  8. 8 oz tub whipped topping, thawed
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.
  2. Beat together cake mix, butter, eggs, vanilla, and 1/2 c juice from the mandarine oranges until smooth. Add drained oranges and beat until they break up and become part of the batter. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 30-35 minutes. Cool completely.
  3. For frosting: drain pineapple, reserving juice. Beat together pudding mix and juice until smooth. Fold in whipped topping and crushed pineapple. Spread over cake. Chill and serve.
Tag Sis, You're It! https://www.tagsisyoureit.com/

Monday I helped Aunt Peggy make dinner and I got two more yummy recipes.

Steak & Gravy for a Crowd
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Ingredients
  1. olive oil
  2. flour
  3. round steaks
  4. canned french onion soup
Instructions
  1. Cut round steaks into portions. Place flour in a bag and toss steak until well coated. Pan fry in oil until browned on each side.
  2. Place panfried steaks in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Add enough canned soup to cover meat. Bake at 350 for several hours until meat falls apart like roast.
Tag Sis, You're It! https://www.tagsisyoureit.com/
Strawberry Shortcake
Serves 6
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Ingredients
  1. 1 pound strawberries, hauled and sliced
  2. 1/4 c + 3 T granulated sugar
  3. 2 1/3 c baking mix
  4. 3 T unsalted butter, melted
  5. 1/2 c whole milk
  6. can of whipped cream
Instructions
  1. Combine sliced strawberries and 1/4 c sugar. Cover and set aside in refrigerator.
  2. Preheat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
  3. Whisk together baking mix and 3 T sugar. Make a well with dry ingredients. Pour in melted butter and milk. Stir just until absorbed.
  4. Press dough out on a floured surface. Cut six biscuits with a floured biscuit cutter. Arrange on prepared sheet. Bake 8-12 minutes, until golden. Cool on wire racks.
  5. Slice biscuits in half. Place bottom half on a serving dish. Top with sliced berries and whipped cream. Replace biscuit top and layer with more sliced berries and whipped cream. Serve.
Tag Sis, You're It! https://www.tagsisyoureit.com/

Tuesday morning we went to the Natural History Museum at Gray Fossil Site. In the early 2000s, they were digging to expand the highway and they found a bunch of Ice Age fossils. The museum is home to the continuing dig, collections, and exhibits. It also has a couple of great hands on areas for the kids. Williams favorite stops were the fossil dig…

the station where bottles were launched with pressurized air…

Bottle Launching Movie

…and the dress up area.

We stayed for dinner Tuesday and then flew home. Aunt Debbie took our family photo before we left.

If was a wonderful visit!

Love,

b

Swedish Meatball Pasta

Dear Sis,

We tried another recipe that works for the whole family, big and small:) 

Swedish Meatball Pasta
Serves 4
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Meatballs
  1. 1 lb. ground beef
  2. 1/2 c Italian bread crumbs
  3. 1/2 onion, chopped
  4. 1 egg
  5. 1 1/2 t pepper
  6. 1 1/2 t salt
  7. 2 T avocado oil
Pasta and Sauce
  1. 2 c beef stock
  2. 2 c milk
  3. 1 T Worcestershire
  4. 1/2 t pepper
  5. 1/2 t salt
  6. 8 oz pkg egg noodles
  7. 1 c Parmesan, shredded
  8. 1/4 c fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
  1. Combine beef, crumbs, onion, egg, pepper, and salt until evenly mixed. Shape into 2 dozen meatballs.
  2. Heat oil in a large heavy sauté pan over medium high heat. Brown meatballs for 3 minutes, turning every minute.
  3. Add stock, milk, Worcestershire, pepper, and salt. Bring to a boil.
  4. Stir in pasta. Return to a boil, reduce to a simmer. Cook covered, stirring every few minutes, for 8 minutes, or until pasta is cooked through.
  5. Remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan and parsley.
Adapted from tasty
Adapted from tasty
Tag Sis, You're It! https://www.tagsisyoureit.com/
Love,

b