Saturday - What's Up?
Good Morning Ladies!
Well, just got in from more shovelling - during the night, the plows came through again, so I had to shovel the end of the driveway again. It's going to warm up a bit, but two more storms are being forecasted for the next week. UGH!! I spoke with Maura last night - she is going to have Joe look for a used snowblower for me for next season. He used to work as a mechanic, so he'll be able to inspect a snowblower before buying it to be sure it's in good condition.
I've been feeling kind of down lately - nothing specific. Probably just the Winter blues. I spoke with Maura last night - she's always able to make me smile. But Taylor was too busy to talk - she was on her tablet, as usual. I told Maura she should try to wean her off it a bit, limit the time to an hour or so. When Taylor stays with me, all she wants to do is get on my tablet. After an hour, I tell her the tablet has to be turned off because it gets too hot and has to cool down. She doesn't like that - but she accepts it. I always keep craft materials on hand so we can work on something together. I want to take her and Maura to Michael's to pick up some materials. I had gotten Maura a coloring book and pencils for her birthday a few weeks ago, and she's hooked! She's also interested in making jewelry and Michael's has beautiful materials for that. And I know we can find something for Taylor.
I found my Instant Pot yesterday, so I'm going to look up some recipes then do some shopping. There have been some postings on the main WLS board by Happy Teacher - she absolutely raves about how great the pot works.
Well, I've got to get busy--hope everyone has a good day!
Mary
HW: 380 SW: 324 GW: 175
Hey Mary,
I hope you are able to get a good snow blower. The last huge snow that we had while we still lived in the house was horrible and DH wasn't about to shovel the sidewalk or our driveway. Fortunately, I had just bought two really nice big snow shovels and I went out to do some shoveling and the kid down the street came and helped and then he asked could he use my shovels to go around the neighborhood shoveling driveways for money and I said you sure can and I also paid him for helping me...he really did the bulk of the shoveling. When we moved from the house to the apartment, we gave him all our snow shovels and our weed eater; he already had our old lawn mower so he was set for his yard business. He is getting ready to graduate. We went by his house the other day and his mom said he is still using the things we gave him...I told her to make sure he sends us an invitation to his graduation and if he chooses to come to the university, I'll do everything I can to get him in and make sure he stays.
My grandkids stay way too long on their tablets and laptops too. I make them write me a report of something interesting they have read that isn't games or music...so they know if they are on for over an hour, they have to email me a report...But, for the most part, they would rather do crafts or sew. In this little apartment, we are limited to board games, crafts, sewing, or tv...but we do take them out often.
We went to the store last night and I forgot to buy eggs, so I made sautéed vegetable wraps for breakfast and actually the eggs are only good because of the vegetables I use so I guess we are now officially done with eggs. We still have some shrimp and fish in the freezer but after they are gone, we are finished with all animal protein...I am a little nervous about that because I do like fish but we'll see how it goes.
Well, I need to go clean the cats' litter boxes and do some light cleaning. I did heavy cleaning when I took off work the other day so now I can just pick up and lightly dust.
You guys have a great Saturday.
Morning Jeannie! We were posting at the same time. I'm going to post a recipe I made up last night. I took it from a recipe I found for a chicken and pasta casserole and kinda winged it from there. But it was SO good! Carrie and I both loved it. You could substitute any veggies you like; I was just trying to replace big chunks of chicken with big chunks of vegetables. And we like rice better than pasta. So I just kept changing it up until it suited our tastes. LOL!
Green Chili Casserole
2 c. cooked rice
2 Tb butter
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 portabella mushrooms, washed and chopped
1 large zucchini, cut into large chunks
1 yellow squash, cut into large chunks
2-3 Tb butter
2 Tb flour
2 c. chicken broth
1 7oz. can green chilis
1 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded jack cheese
Cook rice. Preheat oven to 350F.
While rice is cooking, prep veggies. In large skillet, melt butter, then add in onion and mushrooms. Let cook down a few minutes before adding garlic and other veggies. Season with S&P. Remove veggie mixture into a bowl.
Using same skillet (no need to wash), melt butter again. Add flour and stir while cooking. Let flour brown slightly. Add in chicken broth and whisk well until smooth. Remove from heat, and stir in green chilis and sour cream.
In large casserole (spray with Pam), layer half the rice, half the veggies and half the cheese. Repeat layers with rice and veggies. Pour sauce all over the casserole (do not stir). Top casserole with remaining cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Vickie
Vic,
I make a very similar dish but I don't use pasta or rice because of DH diabetes but I do make me a little brown rice to eat on the side. I rough cut all my ingredients too. The only difference is I use potato broth instead of chicken broth. And, I add the nutritional yeast instead of flour and it gives it a real cheesy flavor...my husband thinks it tastes a little nutty.
I love putting the giant portabellas instead of meat. I also have sautéed tofu and added to it but you're right, the vegetables are enough. Great recipe....I need to use more green chilies in mine...I imagine they give it another level of flavor...
Jeannie...I agree Vickie's dish sounds great. I too would use brown rice.
I have been looking for a good brand of TOFU. Where do you purchase yours?? Is there some that is better then others? What should I be looking for? I had some TOFU awhile back and I just loved it. I would like to use it as a substitute in my recipes.
I love giant portabellas mushrooms!! I love just about every kind of mushroom. I try to keep a good variety on hand. I have chopped up and sautéed rutabagas, parsnips, turnips, and carrots. I season them of course. I then stuff them in the portabellas topped with cheese. I bake them and then put them under the broiler for a couple minutes...YUM!!! One of my favorite meals! I love root veggies too! I have my homemaker chop them up and I keep an assortment of them in my freezer.
Love you...hugs....connie d
Hello Jeannie....that was so wonderful wha you did to help that young man. I am sure you had a huge influence on his life. He will never forget you! If he attends the University he can be glad you are there!! He already trusts you and knows you won't stir him wrong! 
Your grandchildren are so fortunate to have you as their grandma. You have taught them some good lessons along the way. I think doing crafting is one of the best gifts to give. It helps them learn so many things they can use all their lives. 
Have a good evening...love you...more hugs.....connie d
Connie,
Thank you so much. I can honestly say that it is I who is fortunate to have the grandkids in my life and they have taught me so much as you and all the other grandmothers know. I will say that providing tools to the neighborhood kids is something that we have always done from seedeaters to lawnmowers and snow shovels but mostly we give them those things we no longer use or that we have upgraded...it's a good thing to do but I think that is the way most folks are.
My mom had a young man down the street who used to shovel the snow and trim the bushes around the house when she lived at home. The man was developmentally disabled and lived with his grandparents; his parents were killed in an accident. Mom would give him some money and at the holidays give him a gift and a little extra money. The guy is now in his 30s or something and always would say hi if I was there ... he knew my car. I'm sure he misses seeing my mom around.
Good morning Mary and sistas!
Mary, it's so good to hear from you today. I find February to be the most difficult month of the year. Usually, I am right down in the dumps with you. But I guess that will change for me now, since little Caralee will be coming along any day now. And shoveling snow? UGH! That would make anyone blue.
Today it is sunny and a *****illy, but Carrie and I are going to the Farmer's Market this morning. Oh, it's a wonderful event every Saturday morning here in Waco. I'm looking forward to it! The first time we went, Carrie didn't tell me about all the wonderful FOOD, and I had eaten breakfast. Darn. I could only look and drool at all the food vendor offerings! THIS time I'm going in on an EMPTY stomach! LOL!
After that, Carrie has a group meeting at the university, so I'm coming back here and get started on assembling something. Not sure which piece of baby furniture I'll tackle first. Probably the pack-n-play, since Carrie plans to keep the baby in that beside her bed for the first few weeks. I also have to put together the crib, and the stroller, and the changing table. Gonna be a busy Saturday for me!
Last night we laid out all the baby shower gifts and tried to sort through all the little clothes. OMGoodness. That baby has so many cute clothes! Waaay too many NB size, though. We selected some to wash and some to try and return. In my experience, babies only wear the NB size a few weeks, and I had pretty typical size little babies. Of course, Caralee may be different. I don't think Budder ever even wore NB size! That child came into this world a XXL!
Carrie also wants to pack her bag for the hospital this weekend. We already know she'll be staying for 48 hours. She's all nervous about forgetting something, which makes me laugh. We're all of 10 minutes from the hospital. Whatever she needs, I can run home and get it.
I also have to LOL at her "first dinner" request after she's not pregnant. She want a bologna sandwich! LOL! Her OB told her not to eat processed meats like hot dogs and bologna, and that's all she can think about right now. I promised to make her a bologna sandwich on white bread with lots of mayo. LOL!
We met the pediatrician yesterday afternoon and we both got a very good "vibe" from him. We are as ready as we can get, I think.
Christie and the boys are planning to come for a visit next weekend, unless the baby arrives right about then. You know, I kinda halfway expected Chris to display some jealousy about all the attention Carrie and the baby are getting (will be getting), but she seems genuinely happy and excited for her sister. (I feel rather badly about this, because I always seem to have such low expectations of Christie.) But Chris seems to really be happy about everything and not a bit jealous. I am so thankful! Family drama is not something I feel like dealing with right now.
I do get a little sad from time to time thinking about Butch and how excited he would have been about this baby. Carrie tears up a little every so often too. Butch dearly loved babies. He was such a gentle man. And he was pretty damn good at changing diapers and walking colicky babies up and down at night and fixing bottles. I talk to him in my mind every day and tell him about the baby. He would have been so happy.
Well, hell, now I'm crying again.
I'd better get off here and go get my shower. I really didn't bring warm enough clothes with me, but maybe I can make some layers to wear to the Farmer's Market this morning. Or borrow something warmer from Carrie's closet.
Love you all!
Vickie
