Ball 4 – That means “Walk”

Yes I know you have to tip you head to watch this……such a rookie!

Pork and Rice Casserole

• 1 lean pork roast or pork chops cut in cubes or left whole (I used the roast from Costco…yummo)
• 1 1/2 pack dry onion soup mix
• 1 tablespoon + vegetable oil use as much as you like to brown the cubes
• 1/4 cup dry sherry
• 1 medium chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 4 cups cooked rice
• 1 can (10 1/2 ounces) cream of mushroom
• 1/2 can milk
• 2 T Worcestershire Sauce

Preparation:

Heat oil over medium heat; coat the pork cubes with dry onion soup mix and Worcestershire sauce (let marinate for 30 minutes), brown pork cubes in oil. Remove meat to another bowl while you cook celery and onions. Deglaze the pan with dry sherry, then add onion and celery  Continue cooking until onion is golden and celery cooked. Add the cream of mushroom soup and and milk mix to blend. Add the meat to the mixture and mix well.

Place cooked rice in the bottom of a lightly greased 2 quart casserole, pour the pork mixture on top. Cover and bake at 350° for 35 – 40 minutes.

 

Princess or Cinderella

I know that not one of you knew I had been chosen to be the Royal Photograph…..yes siree quick trip over the sea and look what I got!

Honestly, none of that is the truth….I only did this post because  DH  complains every time there is anything on the tellie about the Royal Wedding….His quote exactly, “NO ONE CARES”…he is a bit delusional, actually there are billions of people who care.   I for one have just wonder what it would feel like a princess instead of the Cinderella that I really am around here.  Love you family.

 

 

                                                  Momma’s Hat….a little on the expensive side, spoke with the designer yesterday!

 

Did you think about the in-laws…and have we had a long talk about how we are going to live with them!!!!

Congratulations and Best Wishes………….now back to reality for little old Cinderella (ME) the hoopla is over!

Wonder what is going to happen for dinner around here……..Not to worry fam/damn….I have it totally ready for the oven!

I’ll post again tonight with the Pork Chop and Rice Casserole……I know all you peasants/villagers/real people will love the easy recipe.

Extra Extra Read All About It ~ Teeth Have Arrived

 

Now we are giddy with anticipation waiting for the next round of ~ runny nose, more drooling, cranky attitude, and your newest talent “THE SCREECH”.  You have been practicing all of those lovely habits for several months…..we are sure you have them mastered!

Regardless of the noise coming out of this cute little mouth, I do lova, lova, lova….this cute little face!

Baby Einstein and Sprout Keep Kendry Entertained and Educated

The debate over how much TV is too much TV for kids is not new.

So what's a busy parent to do? I’m not one that easily conforms to rigid rules….so we watch TV in our home.  And Little Man absolutely has his favorites already.   We purchased several of the Baby Einstein DVDs…Baby Van Gogh wins every time.   He loves, loves, loves, it.   There is also the Sprout Channel that he can’t be without at least once a day.   He is totally in love with Patty Pig! 

I know many people have given Baby Einstein horrible review, but our family thinks it deserves a gold star!  Here is what you get with Vincent Van Goat (apropos since we drink goats milk)……..and here is Little Man watching

Product Description:
Baby Van Gogh uses the paintings of artist Vincent Van Gogh to teach the six primary colors.

A hand-puppet, named Vincent Van Goat (who does have both of his ears, although in some graphics for the video he has a bandage on one of them) paints the pieces. 
A typical color-theme segment is as follows:

A puppet frolics while the color is identified and a short poem (by Baby Einstein founder Julie Aigner-Clark) about that color is read. Then Vincent Van Goat steps up to his canvas and begins to paint, accompanied by classical music. The painting selected always heavily features the theme-color. The scene then shifts between the goat-puppet at work, children at play, nature scenery, common objects, and toys -- all of which have the theme-color in common.

At the end of the song Vincent's master piece is finished, the theme-color is identified again, and then we then move on to the next color.
The colors explored are: Yellow, Green, Orange, Purple, Red, and Blue.
The Van Gogh Paintings used are:

"Lane in the Public Garden at Arles" (Green)
"14 Sunflowers in a Vase" (Orange)

 
"The Starry Night" (Blue)

 

"Orchard in Blossom with View of Arles" (Purple)

"Fishing Boats on the Beach at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer" (Red)

"Wheat Fields with Reaper at Sunrise" (Yellow)

What a great art lesson, someday he will know all about Van Gogh and I know he will be able to recognize and name these very famous paintings.   That’s so worth the TV time!

Teething Myths ~ This Must Be Lip Gloss

Pediatrician Jeff Miller wants to dispel a couple myths about teething:

Teething doesn't cause a runny nose.

It doesn't cause diarrhea.

It doesn't cause your baby's cheeks to flush.

Just because your baby starts drooling at about 3 months doesn't mean he's teething.

But teething can cause a low-grade fever, and it does make babies uncomfortable and fussy. (Really Fussy)

Well that explains it all……………..and if it really doesn’t cause a runny nose then this just must be the latest and greatest lip gloss ever!

I didn’t dare show you the 5-6 diapers full of diarrhea!

Tomorrow I’ll try to get a good picture of those cute little teeth poking through!

Calzone

I have never been a brave baker…and calzones looked like advanced baking 310 to me, so I’ve been afraid to make the plunge and give them a try.  Using leftover Easter ham (from someone else’s dinner) and broccoli from Bountiful Baskets, I had all the ingredients necessary for this delightful dinner.  DH doesn’t really like Ham or Broccoli, but I told him I added extra cheese so he would give them a try.  The Verdict:   Fantastic 5 stars!  We will have Calzones another day!

 

Cheesy Ham and Broccoli Calzone

Ingredients:

No Rise Calzone or Pizza Crust:
1 1/3 cup warm water
2 packets  Yeast
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
3 - 4 cups all-purpose flour

For the Calzone Filling:
1 3/4 cups diced ham
1 3/4 cups small broccoli florets, cut into bite sized pieces
6 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
2 - 3 green onions, sliced thin
1 tablespoon butter
3 tablespoons flour
10 ounces milk
1 cube or 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 tablespoon sour cream

Directions:

For the Calzone Crust:

In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the warm water and yeast. Let stand for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, whisk in the olive oil.

Meanwhile, combine sugar, salt, and 2 cups of all purpose flour in a bowl. Reserve the remaining 1 cup all-purpose in a separate bowl. Add the flour mixture to the water 1 cup at a time while mixing with the stand mixer's dough hook until a soft dough is formed.

If dough is still sticky, add the reserved flour 1/4 cup at a time (while still mixing) until desired consistency is reached. Dough should be soft and moist, but not sticky.

Dough does not need to rise, but keep it covered while you mix up the filling.

For the Calzone Filling:

Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.

Prepare the ham, broccoli, cheese, and green onion. Stir together in a medium-large bowl. Set aside.

In a small sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until it has absorbed the butter. Slowly add the milk, whisking vigorously as you pour, until the sauce is thick and smooth. Add the bouillon and stir until dissolved. Season with pepper and, if desired, salt. Stir in the sour cream. Add the sauce into the ham mixture and stir to combine.

Divide dough into 6 equal portions and roll them into balls. It helps if you have a kitchen scale.

Roll each ball into an 8 inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Top each circle with approximately 1/2 cup of the filling mixture. Pull edge of lower crust over top to form a half circle. Press the layers together to seal.

Lower the oven temperature to 400 degrees. Transfer calzones to a greased baking sheet or a parchment lined pizza stone. If desired, brush with olive oil or an egg wash (1 egg + 1 tablespoon water, beaten). Bake at 400 degrees F for 10-20 minutes, until browned and puffy. Transfer to cooling rack to keep bottom crust crisp to sit until cool enough to handle.

FYI –   The dough is fabulous and next time I make this recipe I will make mini calzone and use pizza ingredients.  

Food History

A calzone is basically a pizza folded in two. Like pizza, it has ancient origins and can be traced back to the beginnings of flat breads, which were already present in Ancient Egypt. In fact, flat bread covered with herbs were served at birthday celebrations for the Pharaoh.
While there are mentions of dishes similar to pizza through the history of the the Mediterranean cultures, the pizza that we know today, and what is referred to as “real pizza”, was created in Naples.

A calzone (Italian "stocking" or "trouser"^[1]) is a turnover that originates from Italy. It is made of ingredients similar to pizza folded over and shaped like a crescent^[2]

The typical calzone is stuffed with tomato and mozzarella, and may include other ingredients usually associated with pizza toppings.

In Italian the word calzone has three syllables, [kalˈtsoːne]. Pronunciations of the word in English vary greatly, with UK: /kælˈtsoʊni/ or /kælˈzoʊni/,^[3] and US: /kælˈzoʊni/, /kælˈzoʊneɪ/, or /kælˈzoʊn/.

Easter Sunday in the Park

What I know for sure - It’s Easter Sunday

 

And….the sun is shining, the daffodils are blooming

Kendry is taking a morning nap……………..

and Oprah is leaving us…so when I found a list of things that Oprah knows for sure I wanted to journal them so I could remember all the good things she has shared with us for 25 years. 

1. What you put out comes back all the time, no matter what.
2. You define your own life. Don't let other people write your script.
3. Whatever someone did to you in the past has no power over the present. Only you give it power.
4. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. (A lesson from Maya Angelou.)
5. Worrying is wasted time. Use the same energy for doing something about whatever worries you.
6. What you believe has more power than what you dream, wish or hope for. You become what you believe.
7. If the only prayer you ever say is "thank you," that will be enough. (From the German theologian and humanist Meister Eckhart.)
8. The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.
9. Failure is a signpost to turn you in another direction.
10. If you make a choice that goes against what everyone else thinks, the world will not fall apart.

Hope your Easter is filled with beautiful blessings…..God Bless

Go Bananas ~ Banana Bread

 

Hello, I’m la dolce vita leAnn and I’m addicted to banana bread, banana cream pie, banana cookies, and the list goes on.   Today at Bountiful Baskets there were 7 bananas, in my cart and I already had 3 over ripe ones, plus 5 new ones I had purchased just a few days back (forgot I was going to BB…never know if you’ll get bananas).   So the cooking begins, I’m starting off with Go Bananas Banana Bread.   I promise you will love every mouth watering bite!    Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 2/3 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped pecans/walnuts (today I had pecans)
• Cooking spray

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°

• Combine sugar and butter in a bowl; beat at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended. Add banana, milk, sour cream, and eggs; beat well, and set aside.
• Combine flour, baking soda, and salt; stir well. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture, beating until blended.
• Spoon batter into 4 (5 x 2 1/2-inch) miniature loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pans 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pans. Let cool completely on wire racks.

Note: To make one 9-inch loaf, spoon batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray; bake at 350º for 1 hour and 10 minutes.

 

Banana Bread is life’s cozy comfort from those rainy days! 

May God Bless you all on this Easter Eve.

Through Thick and Thin

TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO, 28 years seemed like forever.

I was not quite 33 then as I stood in my BFF living room in front of her picture window, and married the man I love.

Today, several jobs for him , retirement for me,  one house and eleven grandkids later, we are celebrating 28 years of marriage.

Of course, the years have brought much more than those major life changes. They have brought many sorrows and plenty of laughter, trials and celebrations and, now, the advent of the golden years.

Through it all, Al and I have been there for each other, which sounds so cliché. But we HAVE BEEN a good team.

He balances my serious nature with his quirky humor. He makes me smile, even laugh sometimes.

He calms and steadies me when I need calm and steady, because I am so impulsive, it takes some work!

He possesses an incredibly strong work ethic and has provided well for our family.

Al has always been supportive of me—as a new stay-at-home grandma.  For that I am grateful.

But mostly, I am thankful for the unconditional love of this man who has been my husband for 28 years. 

May God Bless us with many years of happiness to come.  

SH SH SH

Rock-a-bye a bear ~ Butt in the air ~ then we go to sleep ~ sh sh sh

Salsalicious Chicken

This is my new favorite way to bake chicken! I love this dish for how simple, yet good it is. It can be altered/adapted many different ways, and is even impressive enough for last minute dinner guests. DH said why do we need to go out to dinner when you can make such tasty food at home????   And it couldn’t be easier! The leftovers are fantastic! I love to dice it up the next day and make soft tacos out of it. Delicious!

3-5 chicken breasts
1 package of taco seasoning
1 bottle fresh salsa 
1 bag of cheese

1. Lay chicken breasts in a pan.
2. Sprinkle taco seasoning to coat both sides of the chicken….it didn’t take a complete package.
3. Pour the salsa over the top, to completely cover each breast.
4. Bake 400º for 30 min. Add cheese and bake another 10 min.
5. After coming from the oven cover with foil and let rest for 10 more minutes before serving.

Serve with lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocadoes, and sour cream, if desired!

Off to Baseball

A Day At Grandma’s House

Bread Sticks aka Olive Garden Style

For as much as the family, friends, and I love bread, I rarely make bread sticks.
They seem like an extreme amount of intensive labor!

Today, I definitely  had to make an exception.

These bread sticks are amazing!  Great flavor, and really easy to make.
Served with Chicken Cacciatore, fresh fruit, and salad, perfect for a Friday night dinner.
Olive Garden Breadsticks

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 package active dry yeast

1 cup plus 1 tablespoon warm water (105 to 115 degrees F)

16 ounces bread flour (3 cups)

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened

On top:

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Begin by dissolving the yeast in the warm water and sugar in the mixing bowl. 
I’m the proud owner of a Kitchen Aid Mixer – Mom & Dad bought it for me many years ago…and it is still going strong!
Let this mixture rest for 10 minutes.
Add the melted butter, salt, and 1/2 cup flour and begin mixing.

continue adding the flour 1/ cup at a time; and mix using a dough hook. 

Knead for 6 – 8 minutes.
Allow the dough to rest, covered for ~45 minutes, in a oiled bowl. 
Then, shape into  10 – 12 bread sticks measured to 2 oz each. Allow dough to rest again for 45 minutes.











                                      





Bake at 400 for ~7 minutes
Meanwhile, mix together 2 T melted butter, 1/2 tsp. sea salt and 1/2 tsp. garlic powder.


Brush each breadstick with melted butter mixture.
Then, bake for ~8 more minutes, until lightly browned.
Brush the rest of the melted butter over the breadsticks.  Serve warm. Try not to eat more than your share!

Afternoon In The Sun

This afternoon we discovered this perfectly round nesting hole in our crabapple tree.   And yes we have a woodpecker in our yard,  is that a sign that summer is on it’s way?

It was warm enough that after dinner we took a walk around the neighborhood, painted Grandma and Grandpa’s drive way with sidewalk chalk, and enjoyed the sun for almost an hour!  Wahoo…Wahoo….. Wahooo!