Welcome to the first issue of "Made From Scratch (mostly)". With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I know that a lot people are looking for the perfect bird. Maybe you are hosting you first family get together and you want everything to be perfect. If that's you, then we are in the same boat.
I have been married to the most wonderful man for 8 years. I adored his parents. I even get along with his two sisters, most of the time. I do get along with them more than my own family, but that is for another time, if not another place. The only down side to having 2 sister in laws is the holidays. Everyone wants to host the big dinner, this year after 8 long years, I get my chance and I can't afford to mess it up (it may not come again).
This is not, however, my first time to make this monsterous meal. It is however the first time that I will be making it nut free. Hey, I can have my pecan pie either before or after the big day, no big deal. I would now like to share some of our favorite recipes with you, well, all but the turkey, that is a secret family recipe that will be shared only with my babies, and only when the time is right. ;)
Candied Carrots
Makes 8 servings
Ingredients:
2 lbs carrots, cut into sticks
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp white pepper
Directions:
Place carrots in a large saucepan; add 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 8 to 10 min or until crisp tender. Drain and set aside.
In the same pan, combine the butter, brown sugar, salt and pepper; cook and stir until butter is melted. Return carrots to the pan; cook and stir over medium heat for 5 min or until glazed.
Cheesy Green Beans
Makes 10 servings
Ingredients:
10 slices bacon
2 (16 oz) pkg cut greenbeans
3/4 tsp black pepper
1 (16 oz) jar cheeze whiz
Directions:
Cook bacon until crisp. Drain bacon. Crumble bacon; reserve 2 Tbsp. Add bacon to cooked green beans and pepper; mix lightly. Spoon into 2 qt serving dish. Microwave cheeze whiz as directed on label. Pour over green bean mixture. Sprinkle with reserved bacon.
Holiday Stuffing
Ingredients:
16 to 20 slices white bread, cubed
1 cup butter
1 cup celery, chopped
2 cups carrots, thinly sliced
1 (14.5 oz) can chicken broth
3 Tbsp dried parsley
1 Tbsp thyme
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Directions:
Melt butter in a saute pan. Saute vegies slowly in butter, about 5 min. Toss together cubed bread, parsley, thyme, salt and pepper. Combine butter and bread mixture. Place in an oven safe dish, and pour chicken broth over stuffing until moist. Cover with foil and bake at 325 f. for 30 min. Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes or until brown.
* optional; combine all ingredients, including broth and use to stuff a 16 - 20 pound turkey. Bake according to turkey manufacturer's instructions, making sure the turker reaches an internal temp suggested by the manufacturer.
Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pie
Servings: 8
Ingredients:
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 large eggs
1 (15-ounce) can Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 (12-ounce) can Nestle Carnation Evaporated Milk
1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell
Directions:
Mix the sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in a small bowl. Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Stir in the pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in the evaporated milk.
Pour the mixture into the pie shell. Bake in a preheated 425-degrees-F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F; bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate (do not freeze, as this will cause the crust to separate from the filling).
Pecan Pie
Ingredients:
1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup Karo syrup
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup chopped pecans
1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a saucepan, melt the butter but don't let it brown. Mix in the sugar and corn syrup and cook, stirring, over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the eggs. Mix well. Stir in the pecans. Pour into the pie shell and bake for 1 hour or until firm when shaken.
These are what I normally make, but like I said this is my first nut free Thanksgiving, no pecan pie. Instead I will be making a freestyle apple tart, even though I'm not a fan of cooked apples. Its a texture thing, I don't eat applesauce either, give me a apple off the tree and I'm good. What I won't do for family?
Added for this years meal are
Free Style Apple Tart
Ingredients:
1 ready to use refrigerated pie crust (1/2 of 15 oz pkg) or make your own
4 oz cream cheese, softened
3 red and/or green apples (1 1/4 lb) thinly sliced
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp flour
1 tsp cinnamon sugar
1 cup thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 450`F. line a 9 inch pie plate with crust. Carefully spread cream cheese in 6 inch circle in center
2. Toss apples with sugar and flour; spoon over cream cheese.
3. Fold crust partially over apples. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake 25 minutes, covering loosely with foil for last 5 minutes. Cool. Serve with whipped topping. Refrigerate leftovers.
Guilt Free Double Chocolate Brownies
Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup cold water
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup mini semi sweet chocolate pieces
2 tsp powdered sugar
non stick cooking spray
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350`F. Lightly coat the bottom of a 9x9x2 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray, being careful not to coat the sides of pan. In a medium saucepan melt butter; remove from heat. Stir in granulated sugar, water and vanilla. Mix in flour, cocoa powder and baking powder until combined. Add chocolate pieces. Pour batter into pan. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on pan in wire rack. Cut into bars; sprinkle with powdered sugar.
(Makes 16 brownies; 111 calories per brownie)
In later installments look for tips on healthy eating, saving on your grocery bill and weekly shopping lists. Plus allergy free recipes, because, let's face it, we are in the middle of an epidemic of allergies that don't seem to be going away any time in the near future. As well as more of my family's favorite recipes. I welcome all comments and will take requests. The more feed back I get the more likely I am to continue. Be sure to tell all your friends and lets see just how big this can get. (Between each issue I will be posting personal posts that will give you an insite into my life.)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Things you can only say at Thanksgiving
1.Talk about a huge breast!
2. Tying the legs together keeps the inside moist.
3.It's Cool Whip time!
4.If I don't undo my pants, I'll burst!
5.That's one terrific spread!
6. I'm in the mood for a little dark meat.
7.Are you ready for seconds yet?
8.Its a little dry, do you still want to eat it?
9.Just wait your turn, you'll get some!
10. Don't play with your meat.
11. Just spread the legs open & stuff it in.
12.Do you think you'll be able to handle all these people at once?
13.I didn't expect everyone to come at once!
14. You still have a little bit on your chin.
15.How long will it take after you stick it in?
16. You'll know it's ready when its thingy pops up.
17.Wow, I didn't think I could handle all of that!
18.That's the biggest one I've ever seen
2. Tying the legs together keeps the inside moist.
3.It's Cool Whip time!
4.If I don't undo my pants, I'll burst!
5.That's one terrific spread!
6. I'm in the mood for a little dark meat.
7.Are you ready for seconds yet?
8.Its a little dry, do you still want to eat it?
9.Just wait your turn, you'll get some!
10. Don't play with your meat.
11. Just spread the legs open & stuff it in.
12.Do you think you'll be able to handle all these people at once?
13.I didn't expect everyone to come at once!
14. You still have a little bit on your chin.
15.How long will it take after you stick it in?
16. You'll know it's ready when its thingy pops up.
17.Wow, I didn't think I could handle all of that!
18.That's the biggest one I've ever seen
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Frustrated
I got my final issue of Kraft's food and family magazine in the mail yesterday. For as long as I have gotten it, it has always been free. As with everything else, it now will cost me to get it. I don't really get a whole lot out of it, but I have found some stuff in it, so its kind of sad. I will miss it, but I have an idea to fill the void, you'll have to stay tuned to find out what.
This week was also Mark's last visit with Dr. James Williams. Thank God for that. That man is nothing more than a crack pot. Every time he opened his mouth, he contradicted himself and lied. I don't know when it became acceptable to tell someone that they aren't hurt (when they are) just to get money. I know that there are a lot of people out there that have played the system to get rich, but this isn't one of those cases. Mark is injuryed and we have not one, but two doctors that have said so. Dr. Backer was the first, a non workmans comp doctor, that agreed to see us after viewing Mark's MRI. The second is the best non workmans comp doctor in the country, this doctor will, under no circustances, accept workmans comp cases. They both told us that his injury needs surgery, but it is very dangerous, and he understands if we opt to do pain management for the rest of his life. Either way you look at it, its a scarey thought. To have to deal with a surgery that could possibly make things worse, or deal with a doctor forever. I don't really want to do either, but then again its not really my call. Its not my body.
This week was also Mark's last visit with Dr. James Williams. Thank God for that. That man is nothing more than a crack pot. Every time he opened his mouth, he contradicted himself and lied. I don't know when it became acceptable to tell someone that they aren't hurt (when they are) just to get money. I know that there are a lot of people out there that have played the system to get rich, but this isn't one of those cases. Mark is injuryed and we have not one, but two doctors that have said so. Dr. Backer was the first, a non workmans comp doctor, that agreed to see us after viewing Mark's MRI. The second is the best non workmans comp doctor in the country, this doctor will, under no circustances, accept workmans comp cases. They both told us that his injury needs surgery, but it is very dangerous, and he understands if we opt to do pain management for the rest of his life. Either way you look at it, its a scarey thought. To have to deal with a surgery that could possibly make things worse, or deal with a doctor forever. I don't really want to do either, but then again its not really my call. Its not my body.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
So little time....
Lots left to do.
Its amazing how your children getting H1N1 can throw off your whole schedule. Last Tuesday, Sierra laid down on the couch and whined "Mommy, I don't feel good." I almost burned my hand on her forehead. Thankfully, everyone is okay. I don't know if Mark and I had it, but we probably did.
We had to go see Dr. Williams today. This man has got to be the dumbest man on the planet. As a pain management doctor, one would think that he would at least try to find out what is causing Mark to be in pain. Wrong! All he does is tell us "its all in your head." Man, I didn't know that Mark having something wrong with his head would cause other people to see a huge softball sized knot in his back, but apparently it can. Something else I learned is that pain is contagious. That's right PAIN!!!!!!!!! Be careful out there folks, if someone around you is in pain, you can catch it. I've been around many people who were in pain, and guess what. The only time that I have felt actual pain is when I was hurt, usually from someone hitting me or throwing me down the stairs, or running me over with a car, or using my head to open a microwave. Never did I feel the actual physical pain just because someone around me was in pain. Just think, this is the man that workman's comp put my husband's life in. I feel so safe, don't you?
After this complete waste of time, we decided to try our luck at grocery shopping at Aldi's. That would have been great, if we hadn't ran into the Randles. I thought that I had dealt with how angry they make me, but then I saw Tori today and all the anger come flooding back. It was like 9 months hadn't passed. Like it was the fourth of January all over again. Just what I needed today right?
I swear if we make it through this year, I'm getting us shirts that say I survived 2009.
Today wasn't all bad. To make us feel better, we took the kids to the pumpkin patch. If my internet was better than dial up, I'd post a video of Jackson and Sierra on the tractors. Sierra also milked the wooden cow, or at least tried to, it was out of "milk". The kids played in a huge barrel of beans, Sierra ended up having both of her boots fill with beans. Funny for me, not so funny for her, dried beans are apparently very painful when you step on them. Then we picked out pumpkins. Jackson chose a orange and white striped Jack-be-little and Sierra decided that she wanted to get 3 gourds instead of a pumpkin. You gotta love a trip any where with 2 kids that costs less than $5, $1.75 to be exact.
I am also one step closer to painting Sierra's room. She finally had her room clean when I went to tape her room, so I got to get that step done. Hopefully I will have the time to paint at least part of it tomorrow. I feel bad that it isn't done, but like I said, getting H1N1 throws you off.
Its amazing how your children getting H1N1 can throw off your whole schedule. Last Tuesday, Sierra laid down on the couch and whined "Mommy, I don't feel good." I almost burned my hand on her forehead. Thankfully, everyone is okay. I don't know if Mark and I had it, but we probably did.
We had to go see Dr. Williams today. This man has got to be the dumbest man on the planet. As a pain management doctor, one would think that he would at least try to find out what is causing Mark to be in pain. Wrong! All he does is tell us "its all in your head." Man, I didn't know that Mark having something wrong with his head would cause other people to see a huge softball sized knot in his back, but apparently it can. Something else I learned is that pain is contagious. That's right PAIN!!!!!!!!! Be careful out there folks, if someone around you is in pain, you can catch it. I've been around many people who were in pain, and guess what. The only time that I have felt actual pain is when I was hurt, usually from someone hitting me or throwing me down the stairs, or running me over with a car, or using my head to open a microwave. Never did I feel the actual physical pain just because someone around me was in pain. Just think, this is the man that workman's comp put my husband's life in. I feel so safe, don't you?
After this complete waste of time, we decided to try our luck at grocery shopping at Aldi's. That would have been great, if we hadn't ran into the Randles. I thought that I had dealt with how angry they make me, but then I saw Tori today and all the anger come flooding back. It was like 9 months hadn't passed. Like it was the fourth of January all over again. Just what I needed today right?
I swear if we make it through this year, I'm getting us shirts that say I survived 2009.
Today wasn't all bad. To make us feel better, we took the kids to the pumpkin patch. If my internet was better than dial up, I'd post a video of Jackson and Sierra on the tractors. Sierra also milked the wooden cow, or at least tried to, it was out of "milk". The kids played in a huge barrel of beans, Sierra ended up having both of her boots fill with beans. Funny for me, not so funny for her, dried beans are apparently very painful when you step on them. Then we picked out pumpkins. Jackson chose a orange and white striped Jack-be-little and Sierra decided that she wanted to get 3 gourds instead of a pumpkin. You gotta love a trip any where with 2 kids that costs less than $5, $1.75 to be exact.
I am also one step closer to painting Sierra's room. She finally had her room clean when I went to tape her room, so I got to get that step done. Hopefully I will have the time to paint at least part of it tomorrow. I feel bad that it isn't done, but like I said, getting H1N1 throws you off.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Another Screwed Up Monday...
I am not usually one to complain about Mondays, but when they start before the sun comes up, you just know that they will be bad.
Today we had our second visit with Dr. Williams. He has got to be the biggest ego-maniac on the planet. Either that or he thinks everyone else is stupid. It took just about everything I had not to lay into him, it helped that I was holding Jackson and he was sleeping. The nerve of this guy. He kept on saying that Mark was fine and that he only thought he was hurt because of the doctors. WRONG!!! He was in mass amounts of pain before he ever went to see a damn doctor. Plus he still has numbness.
Unfortunately the numbness is slowly taking over his whole body. I asked Williams what the name of the test was, the one where you poke someone with a pin or needle. Never did get an answer, but he preformed it. Before Mark only had numbness in the lower half of his legs and from his elbows to his hands, now its everything from the top of his tummy to his feet. Williams actually seemed concerned about this. Like the other doctors, he questioned what was causing the problems in Mark's arms.
That is a good question. A question whose only answer can be that there is something wrong. Something that the doctors have yet to find because they were to focused on the spine issue that supposedly isn't there. Or maybe everything IS due to the compressed spinal cord that workman's comp has paid to make "disappear". No matter what a doctor tells you they are all just people and we are all flawed. Some, if not all of them, can be bought. Ethics is fast becoming the next Urban Legend.
Today we had our second visit with Dr. Williams. He has got to be the biggest ego-maniac on the planet. Either that or he thinks everyone else is stupid. It took just about everything I had not to lay into him, it helped that I was holding Jackson and he was sleeping. The nerve of this guy. He kept on saying that Mark was fine and that he only thought he was hurt because of the doctors. WRONG!!! He was in mass amounts of pain before he ever went to see a damn doctor. Plus he still has numbness.
Unfortunately the numbness is slowly taking over his whole body. I asked Williams what the name of the test was, the one where you poke someone with a pin or needle. Never did get an answer, but he preformed it. Before Mark only had numbness in the lower half of his legs and from his elbows to his hands, now its everything from the top of his tummy to his feet. Williams actually seemed concerned about this. Like the other doctors, he questioned what was causing the problems in Mark's arms.
That is a good question. A question whose only answer can be that there is something wrong. Something that the doctors have yet to find because they were to focused on the spine issue that supposedly isn't there. Or maybe everything IS due to the compressed spinal cord that workman's comp has paid to make "disappear". No matter what a doctor tells you they are all just people and we are all flawed. Some, if not all of them, can be bought. Ethics is fast becoming the next Urban Legend.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
And the hits just keep on coming...
We have now ha, not one but two workman's comp doctors tell us that there is absolutely nothing wrong with Mark. That all the pain is in his head. They just wish that they had something in their heads.
Pam will no longer pay for anything and has become a complete b****. She said that since 2 workman's comp doctors have said that he isn't hurt, he just needs to shut up and go back to work. How can he shut up when they no longer want him to take his pain meds, he is still in pain, he has a knot that comes and goes on his back (I have seen this and so has his phyiscal therapist), and they want him to be back to the old normal in less than 3 weeks without doing anything to make him better. Its not right and they will pay for it, should anything happen to him while he is at work (or on the way home).
I'm done playing and that's never a good thing for those that piss me off.
Pam will no longer pay for anything and has become a complete b****. She said that since 2 workman's comp doctors have said that he isn't hurt, he just needs to shut up and go back to work. How can he shut up when they no longer want him to take his pain meds, he is still in pain, he has a knot that comes and goes on his back (I have seen this and so has his phyiscal therapist), and they want him to be back to the old normal in less than 3 weeks without doing anything to make him better. Its not right and they will pay for it, should anything happen to him while he is at work (or on the way home).
I'm done playing and that's never a good thing for those that piss me off.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
I'm back.....
For the time being. No promises has to how long it will last.
Since the last time I blogged my hubby injured his back. We go tomorrow to the doctor to see what he is going to do. So far all they have done is give him medicine. We are hoping that the doctor is going to fill out disability paperwork, or at the very least send him for a test, they haven't done one since May 29.
I know that it has gotten worse, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. His legs and arms go numb more and more. The longer this is drug out the grumpier he gets. And yesterday, his leg started doing that foot popping thing all by itself. He said it felt like his leg was in a wringer. I feel like such a useless waste since I can't do anything for him.
I have also started actual writing again. It is very relaxing, if only I could remember to do it everyday. Hahaha.
We also ended our 3rd week of second grade. I love homeschooling, its so freeing. It makes me feel like I'm contributing to, not only her education but her life in away that most parents can only dream about. That's not to say that I think everyone should homeschool their children. I know some people that could, but don't, it doesn't work with their lives and that is fine. I know many people that do and the bond they have with their kids is incredible. I also know people that homeschool that shouldn't, their children spend much of the day parked in front of the television. Then there are those that I am friends with that send their children to public school, and that is where their kids belong. Those parents don't have the patience or energy to teach a dog where to go potty. Education is the most important gift we can give our children and I can only say what is best for my children, not yours.
Since the last time I blogged my hubby injured his back. We go tomorrow to the doctor to see what he is going to do. So far all they have done is give him medicine. We are hoping that the doctor is going to fill out disability paperwork, or at the very least send him for a test, they haven't done one since May 29.
I know that it has gotten worse, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. His legs and arms go numb more and more. The longer this is drug out the grumpier he gets. And yesterday, his leg started doing that foot popping thing all by itself. He said it felt like his leg was in a wringer. I feel like such a useless waste since I can't do anything for him.
I have also started actual writing again. It is very relaxing, if only I could remember to do it everyday. Hahaha.
We also ended our 3rd week of second grade. I love homeschooling, its so freeing. It makes me feel like I'm contributing to, not only her education but her life in away that most parents can only dream about. That's not to say that I think everyone should homeschool their children. I know some people that could, but don't, it doesn't work with their lives and that is fine. I know many people that do and the bond they have with their kids is incredible. I also know people that homeschool that shouldn't, their children spend much of the day parked in front of the television. Then there are those that I am friends with that send their children to public school, and that is where their kids belong. Those parents don't have the patience or energy to teach a dog where to go potty. Education is the most important gift we can give our children and I can only say what is best for my children, not yours.
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