Saturday, December 27, 2008

My Family Christmas


What's for Dinner

Crockpot Turkey Cassoulet

This savory turkey casserole crockpot recipe uses only five ingredients.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 9 hours

Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups dried great northern beans
1 lb. turkey breast tenderloin
2 onions, chopped
14 oz. can ready to serve chicken broth
1-1/2 cups water
14 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/8 tsp. white pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves

Preparation:
Place beans in a medium bowl and cover with water. Cover and let stand overnight to soak. Drain beans and discard soaking water. Place beans in 3-4 quart crockpot. Cut turkey into 1" pieces and place in crockpot along with onions, chicken broth and water. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours. Then stir in tomatoes and pepper. Cover again and cook on low for 30 minutes until hot. 6 servings

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

If it weren't for bad luck we'd have to luck at all


Well..... on top of all our other bad luck stuff......... I was in an auto accident yesterday. I was going around a curve here in the neighborhood and when I turned.......the car didn't. I slammed into the high curb with my right front and then my right rear. The car is damaged pretty good. Both tires are warped, the rims are bent and the hubcaps are destroyed. A tow truck is coming to pick up the Saturn today. It is not even drivable!

I slammed into the center console with my right hip (my bad one to start with) and my right shoulder. I am not feeling so hot this morning. That is why I am writing this at 4:30 in the morning.

Matt has been up all night too. He started having some additional pain yesterday and has been very uncomfortable all night. What a pair we are.

I am up and attached to my TENS Unit. Hoping I can get this pain in check before I have to go to work........ and then I have to go pick up food at Sam's Club today.................and spruce up the house for a Family Christmas gathering at our house tomorrow.......

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Merry Christmas
from
The Barber Bunch
We here at the Barber Bunch are wishing you the merriest Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Friday, December 19, 2008

He is Home

Matt is Home!!

Yesterday was a little rough when we got home. He was really tired and in pain. But he was so excited to be home he would not sit or lay. So when he did he was really uncomfortable. So we spent a couple hours trying to find a comfortable position for him. When we did find it he was able to sleep for a little bit which helped.

We were able to come up with a comfortable position for him to sleep in the bed too. He slept thru the night with no problems. He just woke up and asked for a pain pill a little while ago. So I hope he can sleep a few more hours.

We don't have much planned for today. I will probably catch up on laundry and do a little cleaning around the house. We are still planning on having both our Families Christmas Parties here. I thought it might be easier that way with Matt in his current condition.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Matt

Just wanted to explain my absence here in Blog World.

Matt had emergency surgery yesterday.

He was complaining of bad abdominal pain and when he let me take him to the Emergency Room they concluded (after many hours mind you) that he had a "hot" appendix. A few more hours wait for a CT Scan with contrast then they did in fact confirm he had appendicitis and he needed to go to surgery.....stat! So with in a half hour we were up in Pre Op and they were preparing Matt for his first major surgery.

He did well during the surgery and they were able to do it with laporoscopy, so he only has 3 tiny holes in his belly. He will be in the Hospital for a couple days and off work for a few weeks.


Not what we had planned for the week before Christmas but you work with what you got.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

What's for Dinner

Crockpot Chicken Chili

Ingredients:
2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
3 (14 oz.) cans diced tomatoes with chilies and garlic, undrained
1 oz. pkg. taco seasoning mix
2 (15 oz.) cans white beans, drained and rinsed

Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a 4-5 quart crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 7-9 hours or until chicken is tender and no longer pink. Stir well so the chicken breaks into small pieces.

6 servings

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

12 Things of Christmas

Twelve Things of Christmas

1. Real tree or artificial? Artificial

2. When do you put up the tree? Weekend after Thanksgiving

3. When do you take down the tree? First weekend after the new year

4. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Mostly gift bags but if it won’t fit in a bag, Wrapping Paper. My family circulates gift bags. There are some that we have been using for years

5. When do you start Christmas shopping? January of the New Year. It is easier to budget that way

6. Who is the hardest person to buy for? My Dad

7. Easiest person to buy for? My Mom

8. Angel on top of the tree, or star? A Santa

9. What is the worst Christmas gift you ever got? A Calendar and a bag of M&M's from my Ex Husband.

10. What is the best gift you received as a child? I remember one Christmas where I wanted some boots and I got them. I was so excited

11. What is your favorite food to eat at Christmas time? Cookies, Cakes and Sweets!!

12. What do you want for Christmas this year? I want to spend time with friends and family.

Wanna play along?? Copy this and put your answers in your blog or answer in the comment section

Merry Christmas!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Our new Couch

Our new couch arrived!! And we have our Christmas Tree up.
I thought I would show you the new front room decor!



The Christmas Trees lights.
(Can you see Samantha under the Tree?)

The new Couch.
I got the blue accent pillows and throw yesterday.

My Great Grandpa Naylor's Rocker.


A whole new room!!
What do you think??





I feel bad


I did so well during the summer with my back to basics lifestyle. Reading and learning about new things, learning new skills and trying them on in my daily life. I will say it is a lot of work to live simply. It is a lot more time consuming than most people think.


Which brings me to my point........I recently started working again and I am balancing work, home, and a marriage (like most women are these days). I have started falling into my previous life of convenience and I feel bad. I kept some of summertime practices but others..... I simply do not have time for.


Hopefully when I get on more of a schedule, I can balance things a little better and get back to living simply.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

What's for Dinner? Potato Soup



My Grandma Jordan made the best Potato Soup. I am always leery of trying or making Potato Soup...... I just know that no one can make it the way Grandma used to.

I found a recipe for Potato Soup the other day and I thought I would give it a whirl. I am pleased to say that it is ALMOST like what Grandma used to make.

Potato Soup

3 tbsp Butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
4 cups Milk ( whatever you use daily)
2 cups diced potatoes
1/2 cup minced onion
1/2 to 3/4 tsp salt
1/4 to 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

Melt butter in saucepan over LOW heat. Add Flour. Stir constantly until smooth.

GRADUALLY add Milk, Potatoes, Onion, Salt and Pepper

Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture is thickened and potatoes are done.

Shown here served with bacon bits, cheese and chives.

YUMMY!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

First Day at My New Job

My first day went well. I was impressed with the Company and the employees. They really treat their people well there.

UTC services over 200 Hospitals with more being added weekly. I have a lot of information to learn but I don't think it will be a problem. The technology is amazing. I can click a button on my computer and turn on a TV in New York!

I will be training for 3 months in the office and them I will be on my own at home.

What I am reading




Country Matters: The Pleasures and Tribulations of Moving from a Big City to an Old Country Farmhouse

Monday, December 1, 2008

What's for Dinner? Double Chocolate Chip Brownies


Easy Double Chocolate Chip Brownies ..... Homemade!!!
Ingredients:
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels, divided
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, cut into pieces
3 large eggs
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Directions:
PREHEAT: oven to 350° F. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

MELT: 1 cup morsels and butter in large, heavy-duty saucepan over low heat; stir until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in eggs. Stir in flour, sugar, vanilla extract and baking soda. Stir in remaining morsels and nuts. Spread into prepared baking pan.

BAKE : for 18 to 22 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out slightly sticky. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.