Crockpot Steak with Vegetable Gravy

Crockpot Steak with Vegetable Gravy

 3 carrots, peeled and diced

1 onion, diced

1 green pepper, diced

2 stalks celery, sliced

2-3 lbs. round or chuck steak, cut into serving size pieces

1 C ketchup

2 Tbsp. vinegar

1/3 C water

salt and pepper, to taste

Place the meat in the crockpot. Place the diced carrots, onion, green pepper, and celery on top. Combine the ketchup, vinegar, water and salt and pepper together. Pour over the meat

and vegetables. Cook on low for 8-10 or until cooked through. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes.

For more recipes visit Cooking Thursday

Happy Homemaker Monday

The Weather:::

Right now I am:
Just waking up

Thinking:
About hope- the Drs told me yesterday that they will not be able to get my mom back to the level she was at before she went into the hospital. They told me that she will not walk, eat or talk anymore. I am hoping that my mom surprises us all like she usually does and that she will prove them wrong.

On my reading pile:::
I have a huge tubs of vintage recipe booklets to go through so I am going to use my reading time for that this week.

On my tv::: 
The Secret Garden
Cold Mountain
Snow White and the Huntsman
The Broadway Melody of 1929
The Fifteen Streets
Back to the Secret Garden
McLeod's Daughters
The Fighting Kentuckian
Whale Rider
White Lion

Favorite Blog post this week (mine or other):::
Canning Apple Butter-I have so many apples right now so I want to do this

 Something fun to share:::
Andes Mint Cupcakes - I was thinking these would be really cute for Saint Patrick's Day

On the menu for this week:::
Monday-
Round Steak with Vegetable Gravy
Baked Potatoes
Salad

Tuesday-
Chicken Fettuccine Casserole
Vegetable

Wednesday-
Pinto Beans
Cornbread 

Thursday-
Chicken Tetrazini
Broccoli

Friday-
Crockpot Carne Asada
Mexican Style Rice
Refried Beans

Saturday-
Skillet Keilbasa
Mashed Potatoes
Vegetable

Sunday-
Oregano Lemon Chicken
Long Grain and Wild Rice
Vegetable


On my to do list:::
Homeschooling
Clean the bathrooms
Whatever else I can get done

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
Striped Dishcloth

Love Dishcloth

Valentine Heart Dishcloth 

Very Easy Bath Mitt-

Modified Feather and Fan Dish Cloth-

Three Dishcloths-

Ruffle Scarf-

Coaster Set-

Diagonal Knit Baby Blanket-About 70% done at this point.

White Rabbit wristees- making these for my daughter for Christmas

Garter Stitch Slippers-I need to make 6 more pairs of these for friends and family 

Jubilee Tea Cozy

Striped Afghan 

Easy Candle Cozy

I didn't finish anything last week. I'm working on my tea cozy and it is giving me problems but I expect it will be done in the next couple of days.

I have made progress in the crochet area. I can single crochet, double crochet and triple crochet now. Something just clicked and I got it. To be honest all I want to do is crochet but I am lacking patterns I actually know how to do.

I made 2 dishcloths with my new skills.

Homemaking Tips:::
Not so much a homemaking tip but something I like to do this time of year- I save all my little cut off yarn bits in a plastic bag until I notice the birds are back. I then set the yarn under the tree in my front yard and the birds come and get it to build their nests with. I love watching them take the yarn and know that it's going for the baby birds.

Looking around the house:::
Not much to see today- its dark. I haven't opened the curtains yet and I might not for a little while.

From the camera:::

To join in visit Sandra at Happy Homemaker Monday

Menu Plan Monday

Monday-

Homemade Filet O Fish
Steak Fries
Green Salad

Tuesday

Chicken Fettuccine Casserole
Green Salad
French Bread

Tuesday-
I made Ham and Beans but we got an emergency call that my mom needed to go to the hospital. We just left everything on the stove....didn't get home until after 1am. Threw the food out.

Wednesday-
My daughter had a softball game and we didn't get home until 9pm. My daughter had peanut butter and jelly. My husband had ramen noodles. I had a ham and cheese sandwich. 


Thursday-
Everyone was sick and did not feel like eating. We have all been fighting colds.

Friday-

Beef Stew  made without the dumplings
Cheese and Herb Biscuits

Saturday-

Sweet and Sour Chicken
Fried Rice
Stir Fried Vegetables

Frosted Pineapple Cake

Sunday-
Free Pizza from Papa Johns

For more menus visit Menu Plan Monday

Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole

Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole

1 small onion, chopped
2 Tbsp. butter

1 (10 oz) can cream of celery soup
1/3 C milk
2 C egg noodles or rotini pasta, cooked and drained
2 (6oz) cans tuna, drained

2 C cheddar cheese, divided
1/4 C Parmesan Cheese, grated
2 Tbsp. chopped pimiento

Heat oven to 350°F. Cook and stir onion in butter in large saucepan over medium heat until tender but not browned. Add soup, milk, noodles, tuna, 1 cup of the cheddar cheese, the Parmesan cheese and pimento; mix well. Spoon into a casserole dish. Top with remaining cheddar cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly. 

For more recipes visit Mealtime Monday

Banana Bread

Banana Bread

3 bananas, mashed

1 C sugar

½ C butter, softened

2 eggs

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

3 Tbsp hot water

2 C flour

Mix sugar, butter, and bananas. Add eggs, salt and flour, mix well. Dissolve baking soda in water and then add to bread mixture. Mix well. Pour into a greased bread pan. Bake at 350°F for 50-60 minutes or until cooked through. 

For more recipes visit  Recipe Sharing Monday

Sourdough Starter

Sourdough Starter

2 C flour

3 Tbsp. sugar

1 Tbsp. yeast

½ tsp. salt

2 C warm water

Mix everything in a large glass bowl. Cover with a cloth and set in a warm draft free place. Stir with a  wooden spoon several times each day for 2-3 days. Refrigerate.

To use, remove amount of starter needed for your recipe. Replenish every 7-10 days by adding equal parts of water and flour. I usually use 1 or 2 cups depending on how much starter I have used. Let stand at room temperature overnight after replenishing. Return to the refrigerator.

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

1 C sugar

1 C creamy peanut butter

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix everything together. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Use a fork to make criss crosses on the top of eash cookie. Bake at 325°F for about 10-15 minutes for soft cookies and about 15-20 minutes for harder cookies.