Flattening Meat- Kitchen Tip Tuesday

I love to use tenderized meat in recipes like Chicken Piccata and Steak Diane. I used to use plastic wrap to cover the meat and then hammer on it. It was not successful- the plastic shredded and by the third piece into the process there were bits of flesh all over the cabinets, counters and me. It looked like a horror movie set gone bad! Then I discovered a new method- the Freezer Paper Method. Read on…

Supplies needed: Meat that is too thick, hard surface, freezer paper, meat hammer-thingie, any amount of suppressed emotion

It helps to use a hard surface, such as a durable counter top or sturdy cutting board. Cover the meat with a piece of freezer paper.

Whale on that baby like there’s no tomorrow! The freezer paper holds up wonderfully. This day, I pounded about 10 pieces of meat with a 12″ square of paper . I could’ve done 10 more, I think.

Ta-Da! The finished product: a perfect piece of skinny meat for your recipe. No spatter, little mess- my kind of cooking! Go to Tammy’s Recipes for more Kitchen Tips!

and don’t forget- there’s still 1 more day to enter my apron giveaway!

Menu Plan Monday

Don’t forget to check out my Apron Giveaway- Drawing will be held on Wednesday!

Monday- Macaroni and Cheese, steamed broccoli

Tuesday- Leftover Pizza, salad

Wednesday- Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, salad

Thursday- Beef Broccoli Stir Fry, rice, chinese cabbage slaw

Friday- Out to dinner!

Saturday- Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Jell-O salad

Apron Giveaway

In honor of National Wear Your Apron Day (and my birthday!),

one lucky commenter will receive this apron!

I’ll draw a winner on Wednesday at noon,

to give plenty of time

for people to enter the drawing!

Best of luck!!

And a Happy Belated Birthday to my sister and BFF, Missy!

Pop over and give her some birthday love

Vintage Things Thursday

I love vintage patterns and materials- love ‘em, love ‘em, love ‘em! I decided to post 2 pictures of things I made with vintage patterns and new materials and 2 things I made with modern patterns and vintage materials. Okay, everybody confused? Great! On with the tour!

The first is an adorable 50’s suspender shorts for CJ for Easter 2 years ago-

Next is a, again 50’s era, pattern I made into a skirt set for Kali. I listed it 2 summers ago and she was so happy it didn’t sell. Even though she’s grown out of it she won’t let me give it away!

This is a pattern I designed to use vintage hankies as collars for nightgowns- creatively titled the ‘Hankie Nightie’.

I loved this peach dress I made for a guest launch (I think??). It is trimmed completely in vintage eyelet- a very large holed version for the skirt and sleeves and a smaller trim around the collar and tucks in the bodice.

I really enjoy incorporating vintage items in the design and creation of my handcrafts. It is so much better to use and enjoy them! I always feel sad when I see beautiful things packed away. Pull them out and use them as they were intended. Is it damaged in some way? Even better! Get out your vintage tablecloth with an old stain and make a pillow, or even better, an apron!

Blast from the past #2…

Billy Preston- Nothing from Nothing

for any other Billy Preston fans!

What DOESN’T Work for Me Wednesday

One word- couponing! When I read about all the lovely ladies who save oodles of the green stuff by CVS-ing, clipping coupons and doubling them and rake in regular cash with rebates….I think ‘God bless them!’ But I’m not one of them, and there’s a list of reasons why:

1. Too disorganized- I’ve bought the coupon carriers, added notes to my routine, like ‘cull old coupons’, dutifully toted said organizer to the store….but at checkout the coupon never seemed to match the item exactly (wrong size, etc) or was expired. Usually, it was the latter situation.

2. Not many coupons to be had- We live in a small, rural town where many (maybe even, most) people do not get the ‘big city’ newspaper. Our small Podunk Daily has a small insert of coupons on Fridays (no weekend edition), but not like we would get in a metro newspaper. For a long time, I would purchase a Sunday paper, call family and friends, find out if they had bought the Sunday paper and beg for their inserts, then clip coupons like a good wifey and get to the store to experience Situation #1.

3. Our diet changed- My dd, now 11, was diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy at 18 months. So many processed and packaged foods were now out the door, often because of cross-contamination issues. As I started to cook so many things from scratch, our palates changed and many off-shelf-convenience foods didn’t taste as good as homemade. I was finding that I rarely bought things that had a coupon offered through my limited coupon sources.

What does work for me and my grocery budget? Buying whole foods and preparing meals and snacks from scratch. Serving simple side dishes with simple entrees. A serving of white/brown rice is usually cheaper and definitely more nutritious than a Cheesy Dehydrated Potato Mix, not to mention, easier! Shopping at a discount store (Sav-A-Lot) and buying store brands at our local grocery and Big Box stores. The quality, on most items, is comparable and the price is the same, or even lower, than I would achieve with couponing. For more information on comparing prices of homemade items to those prepared with convenience foods see ‘The Complete Tightwad Gazette’ by Amy Dacyczyn (pronounced ‘decision’). Her explanation on page 396 on how to figure the cost and value of both really changed my perception of the dollar value of our food.

Brain flash! Coming soon- a mini-tutorial on how to make my favorite biscuit recipe and I’ll buy a ‘whack-em’ package of biscuits and do a cost-evaluation study. I love playing scientist in the kitchen

Menu Plan Monday

My first Menu Plan Monday!

Monday: Steak Diane, baked potatoes, broccoli

Tuesday: Pizza Baked Potato Bar, Spinach Salad

Wednesday: Breakfast for Dinner- Eggs, Side Pork, Homemade Biscuits, Berries

Thursday: Tacos, Buttery Rice and Peas, Salad

Friday: Beef Chop Suey, Rice, Orange Wedges

Saturday: Go out!

Sunday: Torellini Soup (Recipe to be posted later)

Printing this out to stick on my fridge, so I’ll stick to it!

1, 2, 3, 4

C.J. - Mommy, want to thumb wrestle

Me- Sure, buddy

C.J.- Okay, 1, 2, 3…I declare a thumb wrestle

No matter how many times we have this exchange it still cracks me up! This picture is so old, I have got to take some more pictures. Nice ones, it seems every time the camera comes out, they all get goofy faces- argh!

101 in 1001

I recently came across a 101 in 1001 post on a blog and thought that would be great, it combines my love of overgoaling with list making, better than the chocolate and peanut butter astronaut accident I saw as a child. Details can be found at Day Zero.

I had planned to start May 1, but didn’t get it posted (or the list finished) so I’m starting it officially today May 3, 2008. The end date is January 9, 2011. Most people have a separate blog for their list, but I can barely seem to manage 1 blog, so the 101 info is going to be mixed in with regular bloggy stuff.

The mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1,001 days.

The criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable, or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of effort on your part).

Items in progress

Completed items Date

Homestead

1. Grand Plan the house

2. Finish painting the basement.

3. Paint rooms throughout house 0/9

4. Finish the trim throughout house 0/13

5. Clean garage out

6. Clean front and back yards

7. Start salad garden

8. Weed, mulch flower beds

9. Start a decorating scrapbook

10. Cook through Memories of a Midwestern Farm

11. Serve 5 menus from Farm Journal Cooking for Company, for company

12. Host a tea party

13. Make tortellini from scratch

14. Make Luag’s rib recipe

14. Make spring rolls

15. Host a bonfire/cookout

16. Learn how to make my 2 favorite cocktails 0/2

17. Host a board game party

18. Have family over for dinner 10 times 0/10

19. Buy something Cath Kidston for kitchen

20. Set up emergency box for power outtages

21. Donate 101 items to Restore 0/101

22. Find a church home

Craftiness

23. Knit/crochet shawls for all girls in family 0/4

24. Knit myself a pair of socks

25. Sew myself 3 vintage-style nighties

26. Sew a complete seasonal wardrobe for K twice 0/2

27. Cull all patterns and sell extras- BE RUTHLESS!

28. Make/purchase soap mold and cutter

29. Try 5 new soap recipes/scents 0/5

30. Transition wardrobe to vintage style by May 2010, make or buy 2 items a month 0/24

31. Make/commission a hope chest for K

32. Make 1 quilt for K’s hope chest

33. Make 3 baby items and 3 linens for K’s hope chest 0/6

34. Organize all digital pictures, put on cds

35. Create (and print) 1 digiscrapbook page a month 0/32

36. Create and post 10 sewing tutorials to blog 0/10

37. Participate in 26 Things

38. Participate in photojojo365

39. Teach a sewing class

40. Create an ebook pattern for my binders

Health

41. Make eye appointment

42. Order new glasses and prescription sunglasses

43. Get mole removed- blech!

44. Reach goal weight by 08/09

45. Complete the Couch to 5K plan

46. Run a 5K

47. Get a massage for the first time, I can’t count laying down on the floor and being walked on by the kids!

Pocketbook

48. Register a dollar on Where’s George

49. Sit down with T and make budget

50. Use a $50 menu twice a month for 1 year, put money saved into account 0/24

51. Reopen savings account

52. Use the clothesline May-Nov

53. Make 10 craft show items/week for 3 months 0/12

54. Stock Vintage Charm store twice a month for 1 year 0/24

55. Finish Vintage Charm website

56. Contribute monthly to Cash for Christmas Jar 0/8 (2008 ) 0/12 (2009) 0/12 (2010)

57. Put aside $5 for each completed item for myself and $5 for each incomplete item for charity 0/101

58. Save $$ for iPod (see itme 57.)

59. Pay off all debt

60. Switch to reusable marketing bags

61. Make and giveaway 5 such bags 0/5

Paper & Puter

62. Blog 5 times a week for 3 months 0/12

63. Write a family cookbook

64. Track goals on Joe’s Goals

65. Buy and setup online planner

66. Organize cards and lists and start acknowledging birthdays

67. Get a replacement copy of my birth certificate and social security card

68. Send 50 postcards through Postcrossing

69. Read and write reviews for 12 books a year 0/36

70. Buy 1 GLH book a month for 1 year 0/12

71. Do a blog giveaway monthly for 1 year 0/12

72. Participate in 3 Blog Carnival Days weekly for 1 month

73. Organize and catalog books

Expand My Mind

74. Learn to identify 10 trees

75. Learn to identify 10 wildflowers

76. Learn to identify 10 constellations

77. Practice piano until I can play hymns

78. Earn 2 Art Scout pins 0/2

79. Earn 10 Keeper pins 0/10

80. Purchase a piece of REAL art in person from artist

81. Go to hear live music

82. Go see the Chinese Acrobats

83. Send a care package to a soldier

Travel, Adventure & Entertainment

84. Take day trips seasonally for 1 year 0/4

85. Take kids to Mt. Pleasant Powwow

86. Take a family trip to Florida and Disney it up!

87. Learn to tow camper

88. Camp once a month May - October 0/18

89. On one camping trip cook everything over the fire

90. Go for a horseback trail ride

91. Take the kids to a metropolitan zoo

92. See a movie at an IMAX theater

93. Meet an online friend IRL

94. Purchase BSG box set when it comes out

95. Host a LOTR marathon viewing party- even better, make it in costume

96. Watch all the films on IMDB’s Film-Noir list 0/50

97. See a movie in a theater once a month 0/32

Finally…

98. TBD

99. TBD

100. TBD

101. Make my next 101 list

Vintage Thingies Thursday

I found this at Confessions of an Apron Queen . And it was perfect timing, because I just finished an apron with vintage material I’ve had in my stash forever. It is a very fine cotton printed with yellow rosebuds, almost like a voile, just lovely. I made it to send with an overseas friend back to his wife, I hope she likes it. Check back in soon, I plan on an apron giveaway for May 12, National Wear Your Apron Day, which also happens to be my 38th (gulp!) birthday!