Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Any One for Search and Rescue?

Here is a video of my Niece and Brother-in-Law.  
They were on the local'ish news recently.
(Yes, my niece is really a dog, 
but we still love her dearly!!!)






Hope you enjoyed this video as much as we did. This beautiful Lab is really an exceptional Search Dog.  She has really saved lives and kept families from losing loved ones.  


She and her brother, Porter have been with my sister and brother-in-law helping to search and rescue lost persons and avalanche victims.  What a great talent they have, a four-som team.  



Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Make-Do Monday - Better Late than Never












At Make-Do Mondays we discuss how we’re simplifying, downsizing, repurposing, buying used, and using what we’ve got.




It’s a carnival celebrating creative problem-solving, contentment, patience and ingenuity. To participate, share your own make-do solution in the comments or write up a Make-Do Mondays post at your blog, then return here to link via MckLinky. Enjoy others’ ideas by clicking on their link in the MckLinky list.





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Make-Do Monday with Shari - 
a bit late, but finally here!




See the huge mushroom on the top of the pile?  My small can of mushrooms is stems and pieces or sliced mushrooms.  They are great as sliced mushrooms go, but I am having 'kid' issues.  All of the sudden I am hearing, 'I don't like mushrooms.'  I don't know where that is coming from, my family has been eating mushrooms for ........... well, ever.  So because I love mushrooms, I am not going to leave them out.  I have been chopping the mushrooms into smaller pieces and I have not heard those "don't like" words.  So maybe chopping them smaller have made them more tolerable for the kids.


I just grab my wonderful kitchen scissors, they are not kitchen scissors but I love them in there.  Then I just start cutting, right in the can.  Cutting and chopping until they are the size I think is best.  I also dump them into the mixture slowing and take care of any uncut large slices.  


I know this will work for other foods- such as sliced pears, peaches, green beans- just try it sometime.  I really hate to pull out the knife and cutting board when scissors will do!  




Scissors also do a great job on:

  • leftover meat - such as pork chops that I want to slice up for stir fry or to cube chicken/turkey for chicken salad
  • pizza - to make a tiny slice for a quick taste or to cut up the whole pizza or just the ends where the pizza cutter has a hard time getting to when you have a very large pizza and your pizza peel is too small
  • cutting bread into cubes for croutons, strata, bread puddings, initial chunks to  toast for bread crumbs
  • opening packages, frozen veggie bags, cheese packaging, etc
  • cutting up pineapple when you need tidbits and can only find chunks
  • and a whole myriad of other uses


Scissors are a magic tool in my kitchen.  And mushrooms are one of my very favorite foods/ingredients.  So putting the two together makes my life remain great as I can still put mushrooms into almost everything I make!!  Fresh mushrooms are also wonderful, but they are usually very expensive.  However I do get to have them occasionally and it is a real treat.  


Have a wonderful week!!!


See you Monday............................


Have a Happy New Year Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!


.

Late Late Late!!! Where Was Make-Do Monday this Week?

Well, where do I begin?



Sorry, so sorry I missed Make-Do Monday this week!  I have been here, but I suppose that with Christmas and being on vacation from School, I must have assumed that I was on vacation from everything!


I fully intended to put up Make-Do Monday on Sunday.  But time got away from me.  So early (for a non-school day 7am was early!) Monday morning I went down to the lap top and copied photos onto the hard drive from my phone and started to get the photos ready for my post.


Then I decided to put on a Christmas Movie from Hulu so I could have some noise, Christmas noise in the background.  I then realized that there were a few Christmas movies we hadn't seen and they would be expiring soon (Dec 31st, Thursday).  So I chose a new movie, forgetting that I had something very important like Make-Do to get posted!


I was now off in movieland, enjoying some really nice movies. I watched "Special Delivery", "Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe", one of my new favorites "Holiday in Handcuffs", plus several others. I was also making breakfast and even worked on some flash cards for Pharmacology.  Problem was I had completely forgotten that I had not done my MDM post!




About 4 pm, after lunch, helping make iron on t-shirts, cleaning the living room, laundry, dishes and now getting ready for dinner, I had that sinking feeling that I forgot to do something.  Yep, I stopped for a moment and thought about it and remembered it was Monday and my Make-Do post was not up, and not only that, but the header wasn't up either for those of you who had your lives in order and on the ball!!!  I apologize, sincerely apologize!!


I have made a plan, and I hope that this does not happen again.  With the implementation of my plan, we should never be without the new Make-Do Header Post again!  


So here is to a New Year full of fun 
Make-Do Links 
for all of us to enjoy!!!  
(I am using Mona-Vie, it looks like wine, but is so much better for me!)







Cheers!!!!  
(non-alcoholic, of course!)



Love and Hugs to all and  A Happy New Year Tooooooooooooooo~!




.   .   .   .   .

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Make-Do Monday December 21st



see below for alternative button
At Make-Do Mondays we discuss how we’re simplifying, downsizing, repurposing, buying used, and using what we’ve got.


It’s a carnival celebrating creative problem-solving, contentment, patience and ingenuity. To participate, share your own make-do solution in the comments or write up a Make-Do Mondays post at your blog, then return here to link via MckLinky. Enjoy others’ ideas by clicking on their link in the MckLinky list.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Make do with Shari:


The other day I decided to make some cookies.  So when it was time to cook I didn't want to print a recipe from the computer.  
I also did not want to take the computer into the kitchen, so usually in this case I write the recipe down and go to the kitchen to get to it.  
I have been grabbing a scratch piece of paper and writing the recipe down but then I remembered this prescription drug advertising white board I had in my closet.    

I pulled it out the other day and scribbled a recipe on it.  I went into the kitchen and slapped this puppy on the fridge- but I needed the help of this super duper magnetic holder.  
So now that the recipe was near my work station I went ahead and made some biscotti.   I also had Christmas music playing on my laptop in the living room so it was quite festive.
If one wanted- this board can be mounted on the fridge or inside a cupboard door with the 2 sided sticky tape on the top and bottom.  
But if it was permanently mounted it would be hard for me to take to the computer and scribble instructions and use it as a mobile note-taker.


Here is another way I get the recipe in front of me.  I will print them out and then hang them from a hanger I have on the side of my cabinet.
This is showing how my pink magnetic clip can be used on the metal frame around my kitchen window.  The metal frame is under the drywall and the paint- it is the corner beading.  It is fun to put magnets on the corner beading- it sometimes looks like magic.


Hope you have fun with your Holiday cooking..........  

The big day is almost here and then New Years is next.  Then I hope all the big baking and food-for-alls go away for several months as I try to de-food-tox and get into better shape, a more healthy body!!




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Monday, December 14, 2009

Make-Do Monday December 14



see below for alternative button
At Make-Do Mondays we discuss how we’re simplifying, downsizing, repurposing, buying used, and using what we’ve got.


It’s a carnival celebrating creative problem-solving, contentment, patience and ingenuity. To participate, share your own make-do solution in the comments or write up a Make-Do Mondays post at your blog, then return here to link via MckLinky. Enjoy others’ ideas by clicking on their link in the MckLinky list.






~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Make Do Monday with Shari:


Here is a mess of little items in a sewing kit.  A really cheap one, but one that would help out in a bind. I decided to put it in a plastic bag to keep everything together.  But I didn't like the look of it.  

So I found an empty pill bottle and cleaned it well, to get any drug residue removed. 


Then I put all the little odds and ends into the bottle.  Look how nice the bottle contains the odds and ends.  
I thought if I put it back in the plastic bag, I could put a couple of material swatches in it that could be used as patches or whatever.  


This was Easy-Peasy and a good organizational thing for me.

I know what you are thinking-   Shari needs to organize her kitchen counter.  You would be right.............  but that is for later......   I will do it this afternoon or tomorrow after school.... or when I find some extra time............  For sure before Christmas..............  
Have a wonderful day!!!!............




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Sunday, December 6, 2009

Make-Do Sunday Meal and Presidents List Certificate



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At Make-Do Mondays we discuss how we’re simplifying, downsizing, repurposing, buying used, and using what we’ve got.


It’s a carnival celebrating creative problem-solving, contentment, patience and ingenuity. To participate, share your own make-do solution in the comments or write up a Make-Do Mondays post at your blog, then return here to link via MckLinky. Enjoy others’ ideas by clicking on their link in the MckLinky list.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well we are still having issues with our Internet service.  We finally have a new receptor, but something isn't working at the main source or providers office.  So I have had intermittent and slow Internet service again.   


This is why I have been late in getting Make-Do up for the last couple of weeks!  So frustrating for everyone, including me!!!

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Here is one good reason for my putting Make-Do Mondays as a second priority next to school.



 My certificate for my 4.0 gpa and I was put on the Presidents List!
Not too bad for a nearly 50 year old, and not having been to college since 1983!!
(remember you can click on any photo and see a larger version)

This past week I have been spending a lot of time with my school work, again.  I have three tests, maybe four this coming week.  Two tomorrow, one Tuesday and one on Thursday.  Should be a lot of fun!

I am not doing too much in the way of making crafts or fixing things as I am really busy with my homework, studying and helping the kids with their homework.  Plus trying to manage my home.


However, I did make a meal for Sunday, today that everyone ate and said was really good.  So here is what I did..............



I took a half bag of Wal-marts beef meatballs and placed them in my medium oval crockpot.  (Is there any other kind of meatball at Wal-mart?  Anyway, I used beef.)
Then I put hot water and butter according to the package of a box of non-brand stuffing mix, it was chicken, it was what I had on hand.  Then I dropped it in over the meatballs and smooshed it down into the air pockets around the meatballs.


Into the oven, 350 degrees, it went.  I covered it with foil.  I let it bake for about an hour.   I tested it and when the meatballs read over 165 degrees, I pulled the crock out.


While it was cooking, I made gravy.  I took a can of chicken broth, (I only have chicken), then I added some flour to thicken it, a little milk, a little leftover turkey gravy, salt and pepper.  It turned out tasty, but I won't be able to duplicate it because I very rarely have left over gravy of any type, let along turkey gravy that my mom made!


Then I also wrapped 3 sweet potatoes in foil and tossed them in the oven to bake while the meatballs were cooking.  They were really nice sized!  They also smelled awesome as they baked.  It smelled like sweet potato pie, or my grandma's Thanksgiving sweet potatoes, but it wasn't any of those tasty things.  Oh well, maybe another day..........

Hubby also wrapped two very large Idaho potatoes and tossed them in as well.  


Soon (after an hour) dinner was done and I called the troops to dish up.  I was amazed that they all like the meal.  If I had known how well it was going to be received, I would have taken much nicer photos!  Sorry you had to look at the leftovers!  
Maybe I will toss this meal together again and document it.  The family all said I could make it again any time.  Awesome!  Oh, I liked it too.  

I think it would taste great using beef based broth and stuffing.  Do they make a beef stuffing?  Don't know about that one, I have never looked for beef stuffing!  Funny!!


Hope you have a nice week.  I will be studying and doing my best to ace my tests~!!!


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Saturday, December 5, 2009

Baby Nisser from Norway (Christmas Elves)

Happy Holidays

and


MERRY CHRISTMAS


These young Nisser are in training til Jul!!!



border,jul

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas Season!!


...

Monday, November 30, 2009

Make-Do Monday



see below for alternative button
At Make-Do Mondays we discuss how we’re simplifying, downsizing, repurposing, buying used, and using what we’ve got.


It’s a carnival celebrating creative problem-solving, contentment, patience and ingenuity. To participate, share your own make-do solution in the comments or write up a Make-Do Mondays post at your blog, then return here to link via MckLinky. Enjoy others’ ideas by clicking on their link in the MckLinky list.






This week at Shari's House has been one of frustration with our Internet service.  We have mostly been offline and I have been unable to do a lot of pre-work for Make-Do Mondays.  This has been going on for over two weeks now and I have to go to School to get consistent Internet signal.  

This is why I have been late in getting Make-Do up for the last couple of weeks!  So frustrating for everyone, including me!!!


So, I am now at school and I am having trouble with connecting to MckLinky.  

Please put your link in the comments and I will try MckLinky again later.

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This past week I have been spending a lot of time with my school work. Learning everything I need to know about the Pharmacy is a challenge. 
However, I am up to this challenge!


I have not spent much time on the computer and Make-Do Monday this past week. 
I am still interested in hearing about your frugal successes! 
So please still link up and share!!

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Thursday, November 26, 2009

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Oral Communications Assignment

This is my Oral Communications Paper on
How to Handle a Hostile Audience


    There are several ways to handle hostile audiences. Knowing your audience, the environment and your material is the best way to be prepared to handle an audience that may become hostile.

    When you are the speaker, get to know your audience before your assigned speech time.  This is a great way to gauge what preconceived beliefs the audience has about you and your subject. Before your speech, mingle and introduce yourself to your audience. Ask them questions about your subject matter and ask for opinions. This will allow you to get a feel for the people you will be speaking to.  Carefully read the following statement from Abraham Lincoln decide to follow his example.  Abraham Lincoln said, "I don't like that man. I must get to know him better."
  
    A prepared speaker should have a firm knowledge of their speech material.  Know places you can suggest that people go for more information or to make comments.  Knowing your material will help you from getting lost if there are any interruptions or distractions.  If you have an intentional physical interruption, do not totally ignore it but don’t let it take over your speech.  Deal with the interruption and then continue on.  Do not try to speak over the distraction, this will only anger the audience.  Watch for ways to understand what is going on with the distraction and try to address the situation.

    Your duty as a speaker is to deliver information to the audience.  You want to focus on your audience and respond to their silent communication.  Figuring out how to best serve them as a group will enable you to present your material in a more relaxed way.

    Be open minded and listen to any comments with true intent.  Answer all questions simply and honestly.  If you do not have an answer, ask the person to allow you to find out the answer and get back with them after the speech.  Be sure to remain calm and collected at all times.  If you are verbally attacked, try to come to an understanding with the offender, but do not defend or attack back.  Only cite proven or documented examples, refrain from throwing out untested or unproven information in the hopes that this will strengthen your point of view.  This method often causes problems, proven resources and solid information will keep your speech honest.

    Use soft self humor, but show respect for your speech material and your job as a speaker.  Show your audience respect as well, through your voice and words, your body language, and the length of your speech.  If you use any of their questions or comments, be sure to give them credit for their input.

    Finally, if time allows, make yourself available after your speech to answer any lingering questions.  Again, don’t get into a debate, even if driven or baited.  You can always agree to disagree, allowing the situation to be diffused peacefully.  Still listen to all the other points of view and try to understand why these points are being expressed. 

    In the end if things get out of hand during or after your speech, always plan a contingency to make a controlled exit.  You do not want to incite a riot or have a huge argument take place.  So, plan ahead on how you would remove yourself from the stage and gracefully exit the speaking arena.



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1.    How to successfully speak to a hostile audience by Terry Paulson
    http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2005/09/05/smallb3.html

2.    Techniques for handling interruptions to your speech by Ian Griffin
    http://www.exec-comms.com/blog/2009/08/how-to-deal-with-a-hostile-audience/

3.     Seven Secrets to Handling a Hostile Audience By Larina Kase
    http://ezinearticles.com/?Seven-Secrets-to-Handling-a-Hostile-Audience&id=633337

4.    How to Deal With a Hostile Audience By Lenny Laskowski
    http://www.presentation-pointers.com/showarticle/articleid/86/

Monday, November 23, 2009

Make-Do Mondays --- Lasagna Soup for Sunday Lunch (Not: "Leftovers Again?!")



see below for alternative button
At Make-Do Mondays we discuss how we’re simplifying, downsizing, repurposing, buying used, and using what we’ve got.


It’s a carnival celebrating creative problem-solving, contentment, patience and ingenuity. To participate, share your own make-do solution in the comments or write up a Make-Do Mondays post at your blog, then return here to link via MckLinky. Enjoy others’ ideas by clicking on their link in the MckLinky list.


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This past week I have been spending a lot of time with my school work. Learning everything I need to know about the Pharmacy is a challenge. 
However, I am up to this challenge!


I have not spent much time on the computer and Make-Do Monday this past week. 
I am still interested in hearing about your frugal successes! 
So please still link up and share!!

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 
Make-Do Mondays with Shari


Saturday night we had Lasagna for dinner and thankfully we had leftovers as well.  So on Sunday it was time for lunch and I wanted to do something a bit different with the leftover lasagna.  


So I took a saucepan and placed it on the stove, I poured one can of chicken broth in the pan.  It was about a 13 to 15 oz sized can.  Then I added another can of water to the pan.  

As the broth water was heating up, I cut the now cold lasagna into bite sized dices.  Then I dumped them into the pan.  

I let the 'soup' heat up and did not add anything else- such as seasonings.  
When it was thoroughly heated through, I ladled it into bowl and topped each bowl with a pinch of pizza blend grated cheese.  
(That is what I had on hand.)   

And served it up to my hungry teens.  They both loved it!  Success was had.  


It was a frugal use of leftovers and it did not seem like leftovers because it was a whole new dish.  We all loved it and I will be making Lasagna Soup again!!!


Most of the time when we have lasagna, we don't have enough leftover to make another meal.  So I can see myself putting a Freezer Ziplock Bag in my freezer to gather the smaller lasagna leftovers together in.  
And after a couple of lasagna meals I will surely have enough to make soup again.



I imagine this would work with leftover taco fixings, any pasta dish, casserole, etc.  I would evaluate my ingredients and decide whether to add broth, water or milk to make a delicious soup.


Thanks for reading and thanks for sharing!!!



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Sunday, November 15, 2009

Make-Do Dishwasher Sign - Dirty or Clean?



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At Make-Do Mondays we discuss how we’re simplifying, downsizing, repurposing, buying used, and using what we’ve got.


It’s a carnival celebrating creative problem-solving, contentment, patience and ingenuity. To participate, share your own make-do solution in the comments or write up a Make-Do Mondays post at your blog, then return here to link via MckLinky. Enjoy others’ ideas by clicking on their link in the MckLinky list.


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Make-Do Mondays with Shari


So even though we have only 4 people in our family, I always hear, "is the dishwasher clean?"  

I wonder why that is?  

If I open the dishwasher I can immediately tell if the dishes are clean, well almost always immediately.  But for some reason my family seems to think that they should ask me first and then look for themselves after I answer.  I think they should look for themselves and then ask if they can't figure it out on their own.  

I have been trying for ages to get this changed, but then it isn't a life threatening thing so I probably will live with it because it isn't worth spending time on.  (For me that is, and on most days, I have more important things to worry about, teach them about, etc.  They will discover they can figure this out on their own in good time.  It is just one of those mini-gripes.)


So I finally came up with a solution several years back.  (Yes, I see we need a new one, but maybe some day I will get to it!)  I took a magnet from a business card that I didn't need.  I used to get them on the Yellow Pages phonebooks.  Sometime they come in the mail. I have seen them in some stores, doctor offices and other places.  

So I took one I wasn't using and took a piece of paper and wrote 'Dirty'  and   'Clean'  on the paper and then glued it to the Magnet.  Then I placed it on the Dishwasher.  

Now the rule is to switch the direction of the magnet when the dishwasher is turned on for it's cycle.  Then when it is cleaned out, turn it back to say 'Dirty'.  




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Sunday, November 8, 2009

Make-Do: 2 Ways to Use Grass Beach Mats Plus Tips



see below for alternative button
At Make-Do Mondays we discuss how we’re simplifying, downsizing, repurposing, buying used, and using what we’ve got.


It’s a carnival celebrating creative problem-solving, contentment, patience and ingenuity. To participate, share your own make-do solution in the comments or write up a Make-Do Mondays post at your blog, then return here to link via MckLinky. Enjoy others’ ideas by clicking on their link in the MckLinky list.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Make-Do Mondays with Shari

I fondly remember my old college days on the beaches of Hawaii.  What an awesome experience!  That was back in the fall of 1983.  By the spring of 1984 I was across the world living in Norway, serving an LDS mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.   But back to the beaches............


I wish I was beaching it now during my new college days ahead, but it is not to be!!!


ANYWAY..............................



I love these mats.  They are inexpensive and practical.  They can be rinsed off with water and kept clean.  They are thick.  They are durable under certain circumstances.  They handle water and sand well.  They fold up for storage and smell like the beach or islands, well I threw that in because they do have a unique smell and it does remind me of home at the beach.


I have several of these mats that I got/get from the Thrift Store/(DI).  They come in handy for many things.  Picnic blanket. Putting on the ground for fixing the car or changing the tire.  Ground cover for sleeping out under the stars, just to name a few things.



Here are a couple of ways that I have used them most recently.  



First is as a bedroom window darkener.  You see when Hubby was working nights, the daylight was very bright in our bedroom.  So I picked up a couple of mats to tuck up over the curtain rod for the bedroom to help darken it a bit.  Hubby didn't have a problem with the lightness, but I felt like it was a nice thing to do for him.  I think he appreciated it.


 The second way was as a picnic table covering.  It was nice on our table.  And it looked good too.  It was easy to clean, even when we got mustard and ketchup on it.  The sticky marshmallow came off too, when I used very hot water.  And I didn't have to throw it in the laundry.  I didn't even hang it up to dry, it dried in place on the table.  

It was really awesome.  I do realize we were blessed with calm, no winds days.  So I did not have to 'make-do' any anchors for it.  But a few rocks would have done it, along with the water jug.



I want to note a few other tips here to remind me of how fun camping for us can be.  

First we must have an Igloo water cooler filled with ice and then ice cold water to make the ice last as long as possible.  

  We keep it under the shade of the Easyup Canopy and even put a nice very wet beach towel over it to keep it cold when needed.  

  Then of course the personal use water bottle.  It is covered with a cotton/blend sock.  I keep it wet and the evaporation cools the water in the bottle.  Can't beat that when you are 'out and about' the mountains!  

  Then you see my fire tongs, I can't live without them.  My bbq/fire oven mitts are also invaluable again the fire's heat.  I also try to have the meat/food thermometer on the table so there is no excuse for not checking the food cooking over the coals and fire.  

   I always have a small basket on the table for odds-n-ends, easy carrying to and from the trailer.

   We have a small container of baby wipes, the wipes have been cut in half to make them last longer.

    Sometimes I keep a washcloth out by the table hanging up for spills, dishes, or anything we need a rag for. 

  I have some kind of bacon grease holder, here- it is a bottle with a tight lid.  

  I also have some firestarters made from empty TP rolls and dryer lint.  And a box of matches of course.  

If you look in the two last photos of the camping table you will see almost everything mentioned here.  I don't see the rag............ must be in use somewhere!


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Friday, November 6, 2009

CrockPot Pork Chops in Applesauce



OK, this was written a week or more ago.  Then I stuck it in my drafts and forgot about it.  So I am now bringing it out and linking it to Food on Fridays.  
     So in case you really care, just remember that when I write times and hours, etc., it was for that day, not today or yesterday!!  What a weirdie I am...............!!!  But I am having fun!!

 *********************
So, it was not dinner time....... yet.  However I had just responded on Facebook to my friend who lives in the Netherlands, and so I had to start thinking of what's for dinner.  (Many of you know Mub, my friend from the Netherlands.  You can find her here Visit Mub.)


She had Facebooked:
My Friend... "is making fake fried rice for dinner."

I wrote: 
Me...  "sounds so good. I am not thinking of dinner yet, maybe in 4 hours. Then I will have an hour to get it on the table. Or should I think about it now and use my crockpot?

Thanks for making me think."   
I posted this 7 hours ago, so around 1 pm my time.


And then I reposted my main thought and I got all kinds of support for 'what's for dinner' from family and friends.


"I am not thinking of dinner yet, maybe in 4 hours. Then I will have an hour to get it on the table. Or should I think about it now and use my crockpot?"

(Friend)*Go for the crockpot!! That makes you feel so free come dinner time!


(Angel)*i say the CROCKPOT MOM!


(sister)*We have a super fun sweet and sour crock pot recipie if you want to try that one some time.

  
ME: *I put a layer of applesauce on the bottom of the crock, then sliced some really thin white onion, only amounting to about 2 Tablespoons worth and sprinkled them over the applesauce. Then I put 3 pork chops (1.3 pounds worth, they are pretty big) in the pot and ground some pepper, salt and dried lemon on the top of the meat. Now they are on high and should be done in 3 or so hours. I would have used sliced apples, but no apples could be sacrificed for an experimental meal. Hence the applesauce, we had left overs in the fridge.

(brother in Texas)*I don't know why you insist on talking about food on here!! You're making me soooo hungry!!! When should Catcher and I be there for dinner? :) 


(sister)*yum that sound so good too. I will have to try that next week!

(Hubby)*says Shari doesn't know what it will taste like , she has had failures before so maybe hold off on coming.


ME: *I do like to just make it up as I go. Most of the time things are edible, so we don't waste much food in testing. But some things will never be tried again, or even tried to be improved. I will post how it faired later.

(brother in Texas)*Awww we were just walking out to the car too!!!! Oh well maybe next time.



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"So the crockpot dinner did go well. We ended up having the pork from the crockpot, it was fork tender, yum! So on the plate was a pork chop, corn, applesauce and mashed potatoes. I thought it was good. Angel liked the pork, Pilot liked it and so... did Hubby. I guess it was a winner! Hurray........"

 Here is my crockpot with a cup or two of applesauce on the bottom.  
Then a few very thin slices of white onion, maybe 7 or eight paper thin slices and finally the very thick pork chops.  

 I also ground some fresh pepper and salt on them.  I have a grinder with salt, pepper and dried lemon in a grinder too, and I used some of that.  I think next time, I will use lemon pepper or pour tablespoon of lemon juice over them.

Then I put the crock on HIGH and let it cook for about 4.5 hours.  It started to smell really good after about an hour and the onions were the first smell to start to waif throughout the house. 



Why the pork chops:

    I have two packages of pork chops that are 4 pounds each and there are 9 chops in each.  Boneless thick chops with very little fat, if any and we got them for $1.90 a pound from Sam's club and still had 4 days to use them.  They were on special because the sell by date was coming. 

So I only used 3 chops for the four of us and that worked fine.  Each chop is about 7 ounces in the raw state, Angel and I split a chop and the boys each had their own.  Not bad.  They are used to more, but we need to re-think our eating habits and fill up on veggies!  So we begin cutting down on our meat consumption....................


So I am going to get 3 meals out of this package and 3 out of the second package too.  That means for less than $16 we are getting 6 large pork chop meals- that is $2.70 a meal for the meat.  Not too bad, well for really good meat it isn't bad at all. - that's $.70 a person for meat.  You really can't cry about that!










Well the meat has been cooking a couple of hours and it is looking really good and the house smells like mom's cooking dinner.  That is such a good thing!  Mom cooking dinner!  Nice..........

  
Dinner- (the meat in the crockpot) was finally done. So then it was what to eat with it?  

I should have done peas or beans- get some green in the meal.  But I made some other choices for tonight.  Here is the finished product.  Pork chop, corn, mashed potatoes, and applesauce.


I did have some small portions on my place, but I had already started to eat when I remembered to take a photo.  
But at least I remembered to take the photo.  
Too bad I forgot to take one of the finished product in the crockpot or the plates from Pilot, Angel and Hubby.


I hope to get back into the habit of taking photos!  It's tough when I don't have the photos I need for my posts!!



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Return to Ann's Blog for the Food on Fridays carnival and find more posts that might be anything remotely related to food.
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We love to hear ideas about how you are making do and being frugal in your daily lives.


Shari



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