I'm here to stay!

Well...things on the "Blog front" have been a little crazy! I have been working on another blog site that I have just about decided to abandon. It just isn't turning out to be what I expected...there are other factors and people involved in that one. So, hang on - I am going to stick with this one! The bottom line is just that I started this for me as sort of an on-line diary and way to connect to my friends far away. We are not so different...you and me. Many of us have similar stories of love and family, of food and friends, and of just doing the best we can with what we have. I hope that you find some comfort in my struggles and victories, and that you share yours with me, so that I may also share them with you. Together, we realize that our lives can effect others in positive ways - even when we are just living out our Faith one day at a time, doing the best that we can!

Although we have had record snowfall here in the South, I am turning my thoughts towards Spring. While finishing the last bowl of my very own recipe Deer Sausage Potato Cheese Soup, I am planning my tomato plants for this year. Last year was our first year to attempt to grow vegetables (and in containers), and the results were very poor - to say the least! We really started them much too late and they hibernated I guess...they bloomed, but never produced until after summer was over.
This year, I am turning to the professionals. I have ordered two Tomato Success Kits from the Gardener's Supply company. With a name like that, how could I go wrong? With a self watering feature, organic dirt and fertilizer...I am expecting a bumper crop of tomatoes! Now I need to learn how to can my own tomatoes! That is next on my list! Check back and I will post my progress.

Reason # 1 to use my new Bosch Mixer: Cinnamon Rolls that look like this!
I have used my new Bosch several times...I am still getting acquainted with it, so to speak. But, when I made these cinnamon rolls, I couldn't help but share them with you! I used the recipe directly out of the cookbook that came in the package with the mixer. I couldn't have asked for a better result! The dough was kneaded just perfectly. I was able to press the dough out with my hands and WOW, did they rise beautifully! These were made for a special Sunday School class breakfast, but we had enough left over to share with the kids for a few days. Kenner says that he "wants giant cinnamon rolls for breakfast everyday!"

Pizza is a food group, RIGHT?

With a slice of take out pizza filling you with between 350 and 400 calories and upward of 12 grams of fat (25% of your RDA), avoiding pizza seems very logical. After all, we can cook most of the food that we eat at restaurants...fajitas, fried chicken, steak ...but not pizza, right? WRONG! Pizza is on of the easiest things to make! My family prefers our homemade version to any takeout! We made this "Thank you deer" pizza on friday.   I love the excitement in my son's voice when he sees that we are making pizza.

I usually use our current favorite spagetti or marinara sauce. This week, however, when I opened my pantry - guess what? No sauce! How could that be? With the crust rising, and the meat cooked...I decided to make my own sauce. Here's what I did...it was perfect for the pizza - very chunky and very tasty!

Crust: Bosch Recipe
Sauce: Saute Onions and Garlic. Add salt and large can of Diced Tomatoes. Simmer about 30 minutes.
Meat: Ground Deer Meat...browned with diced onion.

My recipe made enough for 3 pizza crusts. I froze one and topped the other 2 with sauce, meat, black olives and cheese. On my Pampered Chef Stone, I baked it at 400 degrees for about 15-20 minutes.

Pizza this good deserves its OWN FOOD GROUP!

What I did with the leftover roast...

I do enjoy having leftovers in the fridge...however, my family and I do get weary of eating the same meal over and over. Here's what I did today with the leftover roast...

We enjoy Chicken Enchilada Casserole. So, why not Beef Enchilada Casserole?
Here's the recipe I created.
Ingredients:
4 Tbs Oil
1/2 Onion
2 Stalks Celery
2 Cloves of Garlic
1/2 Flour
2 1/2 Cups Beef Broth
Leftover Roast
1 Can of Rotel
2 Cups of Grated Cheddar Cheese
12 Corn Tortillas (torn or cut into quarters)

Mince onions, celery, and garlic in the oil over a medium heat. Add flour and cook until flour begins to brown. Slowly add broth and then Rotel. Layer in a caserole dish with the remaining ingredients, beginning with the beef mixture. Top with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees about 30 minutes or until bubbly in the center.