An Old Pot and a New Recipe

First: The Pot

I love this dutch oven. When husband and I were engaged I spent a lot of time at his house and his mom would cook the most delicious roast beef dinners prepared in an old cast iron dutch oven. Not realizing that her years of experience had much to do with it, I went on a search for a dutch oven of my very own. The trick, or so I was told, was to not buy a new one, but to look carefully for one that was well used and well loved.
I didn't know where to begin to look, I was just barely 20 and had no experience in such things, but I knew someone that would. My brother Carl! If you had know him, you would know that he was quite thrifty, and loved to find unique items at thrift stores. This was back in the day when going to thrift stores was not cool. Well, what would you know, but one day he surprised me and said that he found just what I was looking for! He found this pot on the shelf at our local Goodwill Store, and I think I had to pay $17.00 for it, which seemed like a lot back then. I was willing to part with the money and I have never regretted it! I have used this dutch oven countless times over the years, and though I know that cooking experience has much to do with it, you cannot beat the flavor of anything slow cooked in cast iron.

Recently, like many things (and people) over the years, my much loved dutch oven needed a face lift. Another brother, Tom, has obtained a wealth of knowledge on all things cast iron, and has perfected a technique for restoration. He took this dutch oven and a couple of skillets home with him last fall, and shipped them back to me all pretty and black, and slick as a whistle. I am a happy girl!

Now: The Recipe

Get ready to drool.

Can't you almost smell the beef stew in the pictures above? Look, really look at the second picture. Now, click on the second picture and take in all of those tender chunks of beef, the beautifully cooked potatoes (no mushy potatoes here), look at the perfect carrots. Doesn't this make you want to run out and grab some Dinty Moore? NOT! It makes you want to cook up a batch of this super easy, super delicious stew! Don't worry, if you do not have my dutch oven, just use the heaviest pan you have with a tight fitting lid.

This recipe came from my good friend Kasi. I have heard her talk about it for several years, and I decided it was time to try it. I will say, it is the best stew I ever ate!

5 Hour Beef Stew

1 1/2 lb. lean stew meat

1 cup of celery, sliced

1 onion , chopped

3-4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed

3 carrots, peeled and sliced thick

1 can stewed tomatoes (juice and all)

1/2 cup soft bread crumbs

1/2 TBS. salt

3 TBS. Instant Tapioca

Mix all ingredients together, do not add water, extra juice, etc. Cover and bake at 250 degrees for 5 hours , or until meat is tender. Stir occasionally. Serves 6. You may add more potatoes, carrots, or meat to serve more.


***What I did different***

My stew meat was closer to 2 lbs, and I used it all. I did add more potatoes (2 more) and more carrots (2 more--wish I had added 4 more, they were g-o-o-o-d). I cut the celery, potatoes and carrots in large, uniform chinks. I then decided to add another can of stewed tomatoes, (mine were 14.5 oz cans).

I put this in this morning before I got ready for church. After church and some errands I checked it for the first time (5.5 hours). I decided to take the lid off and let it cook another 30 minutes uncovered while I made corn muffins and got everything ready.

***Why I love it**

I am actually amazed at a few things. First: it is just so easy. You do not brown the meat or fuss with anything. Second:I did not even stir this for over 5 hours. Third: everything cooked perfectly. Tender meat, vegetables cooked perfect, not mushy, not crunchy. Last, but most important: It is delicious!

Thanks Kasi!

Strawberry Jam and the Sweetness of God

It is funny how some things get etched in your brain. Things, that to most are insignificant, like making jam. Today I am home from school due to our 2nd snow day this week, because of the massive mid-west snowstorm. As far as large amounts of snow, our town was spared. We instead, were hammered with little ice pellets for about 30 hours straight. It could have been much worse.

I decided to use these days playing catch up, and I decided to get some things done around the house. In my freezer there was a tub of crushed strawberries that I had purchased last summer at a great price. Things were very busy last summer with moving husband's parents, so I decided just to crush the berries and freeze them for a better time to make jam.

Last night, as soon as I learned school would be canceled for today, I pulled the tub from the freezer. As soon as I pulled out the tub my mind went back to another day. Jake and I did this same thing two and a half years ago. He was living at home, it was in the summer and he had the day off work. We had a tub of berries in the freezer then, pulled it out and started the process. About half way through I received a phone call.

That was the day I learned I had cancer. You can go here to read about that day.

So much is different about today. I am living on the other side of that awful news. Now I can rejoice in simple things, like making jam. Now I can remember the way God led me through a very dark time and how he taught me to trust him.

I suppose I will always think of strawberry jam in a special way, instead of tasting the sweetness of just the berries, I will taste the sweetness of God's promises. God is good. Even in those days of uncertainty about my health, I knew that God loved me and was in control. I hope I conveyed it then. I hope I convey it now.

Christmas is Coming

I decided to post a couple of pictures of my living room. I have a few changes this year from our normal Christmas decor. First, I painted the fireplace this year and I love it. The brick fireplace had become so dark and dingy and I felt like it was a black hole in my living room. I love the new color. It shows up a bit "whiter" in pictures than it really is, the color is more of a creamy white. I like switching out the wreath on the hearth and being able to actually see it.

Second, I purchased a red slip cover for my couch and a bunch of new pillows. I have wanted a red couch for ages, but I am just not ready to spend the money, so I opted for a slip cover and it makes me happy, especially with Christmas decorations.

My decorations are much more simple this year, just enough to make me happy and not stressed.

Christmas 2010

Golden Cream Soup (Cheesy Potato Soup)

I have had a couple of requests to post the recipe for my potato soup. It is yummy and pretty easy, so here it is.

Golden Cream Soup

2 cans chicken broth
3-4 peeled and diced potatoes
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 TBS butter
2-3 peeled and sliced carrots
2 TBS flour
2 cups of milk
1/2 lb cubed Velveeta cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 TBS Parsley flakes
1 tsp salt
dash pepper

Saute the onion and celery in butter until just translucent. Add chicken broth, seasonings, and carrots and simmer until carrots are almost tender. Add potatoes and cook until they are tender. Mix flour with milk and add to pot. Cook until thickened then remove from heat and stir in cheeses until melted. Once cheese has been added , do not boil or cheese will separate.


Yield about 4 servings.

Cupcakes!

I have decided that I love making cupcakes.

I have really gotten into making them since the first of the year, and in the last 6 weeks I have made them for 7 occasions. I buy cake mixes when the are .88 cents or less then I buy several, and put them into the freezer. I also have been shopping at WalMart after each holiday since Christmas and I am buying various sprinkles and cupcake liners after they are marked down. I keep all of my supplies in a covered plastic tub, and I am gaining a nice collection of items to work with. Most of my cake recipes come from The CakemixDoctor

cookbooks that I have collected as well. I love her recipes. You start with a basic cake mix and then jazz it up. I always make homemade frosting and I do not use a recipe for that. I do not know how to do professional decorating, but I purchased a large pastry bag, a large tip and coupler, and after a lesson from my sister I do okay.

These are for an event after church tomorrow, and some will be for our small group which meets tomorrow night.

Updates

The Good:

• Still good.  The boys are still home, and they have been a huge blessing to me today.  I could not have dealt with a broken freezer and transporting all of our coolers filled with food with the way was feeling. 
  

The Bad:

• Freezer was repaired.  This was a big debate, but we decided to see what the repair man had to say.  He was the one who fixed it in December and he cut us a break. No service fee, and he replaced 2 parts, but only charged us for the cheapest of the two.  Our bill was only $48.00.  It is working very well tonight, and I will let it run till tomorrow afternoon to fill it.    I will just have to check this daily from now on , just to be safe.  
•  A funny thing happened today  when the boys were transporting all of our frozen food to the folks' house.  One of them called to report in and I told them I couldn't talk because the freezer guys were here, and I was tied up in the basement...I guess I should be careful about what I say. 
• Laundry has been drastically been reduced, and I am seeing an end to all of the piles.  This has  been an entire family affair, and I am glad to get it done. 
• I am still coughing my head off.  I just took a dose of my codeine cough syrup, so we will see how that goes. Since  I am on steroids and codeine, I sure hope I do not need a drug test. 

The Ugly:

• We are working on that, husband and boys are doing some chores for me, and before the night is out we should have a decent house again. 

I always need to remember that stressful moments have a way of working out.  I will admit that this morning I felt very overwhelmed.  I am doing much better with that right now. 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Good:

• Both of our boys are home this weekend.  I do not think that has happened since Christmas. It is good to have them both home, to talk with and to see them interact as brothers. They are very close. 
• They presented me with a beautiful and delicate sterling silver chainmaille bracelet.  I know that word chainmaille makes you think of anything but delicate, but I assure you this is very pretty.  A friend of youngest' in the art department makes them, and the boys bought one for me for Mother's Day.  I will post pictures of it later on, but it needs re-sized.  The only petite part about me other than my height, is the size of my wrists.  
• Youngest also purchased a used laptop from the same girl and gave that to me as well.  It only needed a new battery and a power cord.  I was able to purchase both of those with my Swagbucks' Amazon gift cards.  I only had to pay $13.00 out of pocket.  I tell ya, those Swagbucks add up.  I have earned over $50.00 in gift cards since Christmas! 

The Bad:

• My freezer went out!  Arrrgh.  This is the second time since December that this has happened.  Luckily my boys were home, and luckily my in-laws have plenty of room in theirs, and luckily we got everything transferred before we lost anything. (I am a stockpiler you know)  I have spent the morning on the phone and have about decided to just purchase a new one.  This is the third time over all that we have had a problem, and this freezer is less than 9 years old!  I have located one in town and I feel that we just might go make our purchase tonight.  Good thing we have not spent our Christmas money from the folks!    Just the process of dealing with this has left me depleted of any possible energy  for the day. 
• I feel awful.  This tail end of whatever is kicking my behind and I woke up seriously dragging.  I had another one of those coughing spells and  felt I pulled every muscle across my upper chest.   On Thursday I returned to the walk-in clinic and an x-ray showed my lungs were clear, but they felt I still had inflammation, and put me on a dose of steroids.   As you see from the above bullet, I did not really need the freezer to go out on this day. 
• There are more loads of laundry than I care to count.  A very busy week last week, and this week, plus my sickened state, have all stacked up our laundry.  The  boys brought home about 5 loads between them.  They are good helpers, and it will get done, but it is a bit overwhelming at the moment. 

The Ugly:

• My house.  Okay, I know, some things we just have to let go.  Along with the boys this weekend came a lot of stuff.  Youngest will be coming home for the summer next week, and he got a head start on bringing home his most valued possessions.  There are just so many storage spaces to immediately put things, and one those are taken, the rest has to sit here and there for a while.  I just hate it that "here and there" are in my main living spaces.  This too shall pass, but for now the house is cluttered, messy, and truth be told , not as clean as I would like. (remember, busy weeks and puny  me)

Well, that about sums it up.  I think I need a personal maid-nurse-organizer-repair person to come to my beck and call.  Anyone out there fit the bill? 

Good Day / Good Supper / Good Company

This was a very good day.  

Today, oldest was home for the day, so we went shopping.  We hit the thrift stores,  both Target, and Meijer among other stores, and had a nice lunch out.  I had some great coupons and did very well at both Meijer and Target.  At Meijer they had whole chickens for .85 cents a pound, so I bought 2. I should have bought more.  As soon as we walked in the door from shopping, I put supper together. 

(Now, I know that traditionally this is a "beer in the rear" chicken, but we do not have beer in our household.   Well, let me re-phrase that.  We actually do have a beer in our house.  We found it in our side yard about 2 years ago.  It is a full bottle.  It is in storage way back under our sink, because I know for a fact that it works wonders in keeping slugs away from your outdoor plants.  Just pour a bit in a bowl,  place it in your flower bed and wait for the slugs to party!  They come slithering in from all over the place, slide into the awaiting bath and then drown in their beer.  A true "slug-fest"!) 

So, back to my chicken.  

I used 7-up.  It is in the can nestled up the middle of the chicken.  Any liquid will do, it just bubbles away inside the bird and keeps it all moist inside and out. I did have a potato sticking out of the poor bird's neck, but that was removed before the photo.  Prior to roasting, I just oiled this baby up a bit, and sprinkled with my usual homemade rub.  Next time, I will omit the brown sugar from this rub and add garlic salt instead.  A few parts were a bit sweet.  After about 1/2 hour of roasting we prepared some potatoes, onions, and carrots and threw them in the pan.  I would have thrown in some parsley if I had thought about it.  One more hour later and we sat down to a pretty tasty dinner after a day of shopping. 

The bad thing, is that we ate way too late for us.  Husband and I are too old to eat dinner at 8:30!  We will see how the night goes.

As far as today went though,  I love spending time with my boys.  

Lately though, it has been one boy or the other.  The days are getting less frequent when we are all together.  I was reminded of this when  I saw a mom in Target today.  She had two little boys in tow.  They were walking along while she was pushing the cart.  A microphone toy on a low end-cap caught  their attention, and soon both boys had stopped in their tracks to perform for the rest of the Target Shoppers.  I for one loved it, but I saw that familiar look in the mom's eye.  You know the look, the "hurry up" look.   I wanted to freeze time for her, just to make sure she appreciated this spontaneous moment of childhood.  I just turned to her, smiled, and said, "Enjoy them mom, they don't stay little very long."   At that moment about 26 years of memories flooded my mind, and I felt a sweet peace to know that I still enjoy my boys. 

Today was a "keeper" 

Monday Madness

I cannot blog for long right now.  Husband and I are in the midst of a cleaning frenzy!  I do not want to do anything to detour the process!  As of right now (12:47 pm) between the two of us (with a lot of it being done by husband) we have done the following:

• Made waffles, bacon, and homemade blackberry syrup (with actual blackberries floating around in it)
• Thoroughly emptied and cleaned the bathroom
• Cleaned out fridge, discovered a lot of apples needing attention = a break long enough to make 2 completely from scratch apple pies (can you smell them?)
• Gathered all throw rugs,  all shook and vacuumed
• Vacuumed all carpets thoroughly
• Emptied everything from under kitchen sink (yuck) that was a mess, wiped down and replaced only what is necessary
• Turned oven on to self clean mode
• Stripped the bed
• Started laundry, moved to dryer and started more
• Finally emptied and washed turkey fryer that has been sitting in garage since Christmas (ewww) it is washed and shiny now
• Emptied my crock full of kitchen gadgets that sits by my stove, washed everything and will selectively put things back
• Emptied basket of gadgets that sits on my counter, washed everything and will selectively put things back

We are still working and my 15 minute break is almost over, so I will report again when we are finished! I love starting spring  break with a nice clean house!

Quick Trip to CVS and an Easy Supper

I am shopping less as of late, because we need so little.  I did run into CVS tonight to pick up just a few things.  I spent a total of $7.08 out of pocket and earned back $4.00 for my next trip.   I love these Glade candles, and these are the nice big 3 wick style.  This is our favorite toothpaste, so I was glad to get it as a money maker.  The other items were great deals as well, and I needed the milk.  I pretty much copied some of the deals from this site, so go here if you want the details.  Thanks to Jamie for the deals, and thanks to my friend Kara for one of the necessary coupons.  Can you believe it, I left home without a needed coupon? 

After CVS and a trip to the bank, I needed an easy supper.  This is one of my "go to" recipes for a tasty pizza supper.  My friend Kelley gave me the pizza dough recipe years ago and I have used it countless times.  Oldest son took this recipe with him to Amsterdam and made pizza for the crew at the hostel on several occasions during his 6 month employment there.  So, you could say this recipe has been around!   Tonight I doubled the recipe to have a thicker crust. The recipe below is the original recipe (not doubled)

***Take notice of what the pizza is on.  I bake my pizzas on what is known as a pizza screen.  You can get them at most restaurant supply stores.  They allow a more uniform baking on the bottom crust.  They are also amazing for oven fries.   In this picture the pizza screen is on top of a pizza pan, that is how I cut it (less crumbs on my stove)***

Pizza Dough

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 pkg dry yeast

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup hot water

1 TBS vegetable (or olive) oil

3/4 tsp sugar

Mix flour, yeast, salt, and sugar together in medium bowl.  Stir in water and oil.  Mix well and place in bowl with 1 TBS oil, turn dough to coat well with the oil.  cover and let rise 45 minutes or until double. Roll or spread into greased pan, top with favorite toppings , and bake at 450 degrees for 12-15 minutes. 

Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls

You know the drill...click in the middle of this picture if you want to see these up close and personal! 

Do you remember the old Rice Krispie Treat commercial where the mom pretended she worked all day making them?  Well, this is one of those recipes.  It is so easy that you feel guilty.  Just throw your ingredients into the bread machine, walk away for a while.  Then you roll the dough out, slather it with goodness, and pop those babies in the oven.   A second rise is not required, although I might let them at least rise about 1/2 hour before baking.  They did spread out a lot, but did not rise much in height.  Other than that I would not change a thing.  But believe me, not having them rise a second time will not prevent us from gobbling them up!    The icing is very yummy as well.  

I found the recipe on Money Saving Mom's site and have included the link here.  I made mine a bit smaller than hers, because then I think I can eat twice as many...

I just decided this was "Be kind to husband week"  and have done my baking based on his favorites.  Tomorrow is Valentine's Day you know. 

Husband just had one and declared this recipe "A Keeper" 

Oatmeal Sugar Cookies

(To truly appreciate this picture, you need to click in the middle of it so you can see the "sugary-cinnamony"  goodness.)

I told husband that since I was out of school today that I would make him something special.  These are some of husband's very favorite cookies, but for some reason I forget about them.  They do require the extra steps of rolling into balls and then rolling in cinnamon-sugar, so maybe that is why I neglect making them.

They are very tasty though.  They are not your old fashioned soft and chewy oatmeal cookie. When baked just right they have a slightly crisp sugary outer "shell" and then they give way to a slightly bendable soft inside. The cinnamon-sugar coating sets these apart from most oatmeal cookies.  I think you would enjoy them.  

 There, I took a bite for you.

Husband should hurry home before they are all gone. 

Oatmeal Sugar Cookies

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup shortening

Cream together, then add:

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla

Then add 3 cups quick cooking oats

Mix well, roll into small balls, then roll balls into a sugar-cinnamon mixture.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes.  I usually rotate my cookie sheets half way through. Remove immediately to cooling racks.   Enjoy! 

SNOW DAY- 2nd in a Row!

I needed these days.  Yesterday I organized all of my coupons flyers, stripped the bed, made a yummy supper and relaxed (a lot).   Today I am emptying out my chest of drawers and completely sorting the contents.  This has needed done for a while.  I might move on to husband's clothing after that...He has accumulated quite a stash of tee shirts.  

Merry Christmas / Happy New Year!

Yeah, I know, I am a bit late with those greetings.  

Can I fall back on my old excuse that things have been busy here?

In all honesty, things have been busy.  I am so glad I have had the last 2 weeks off of school, because I have been needed.  Husband's folks have both been having health issues lately.  Since I have been off work, I have been able to help some with laundry, dishes, cooking, appointments, shopping, un-decorating,  and other necessary tasks.  My first week off was the busiest.  Things have settled down a bit now, and for the last few days, I have been able to focus on some much needed tasks at home.  

I must say that my boys are wonderful!  

There is no way I could accomplish so many things without them. 

 Each has been a huge help.  

Youngest has helped with the following since Tuesday:

• Took down the tree and all the trimmings
  
• Re-arranged 3 rooms of furniture.  They look so nice now.  Remember when I bought the used furniture for our spare bedroom?  Well, it was too nice to never be seen, so it is now in my sun-room. (Picture at end of post). 
• Helped with a massive amount of paperwork that needed sorted and  filed, and then  burnt the paperwork that was discarded (we do not have a shredder, but we do have a wood-burner in the garage)
• Completely emptied 3 big shelves in my hall built-in cabinets that desperately needed sorted, and organized.  He then helped to put what we kept back inside. 
• Emptied my buffet storage, helped to pitch, sort, and organize the contents. 
• Put together a small storage unit that now houses all of my coupon files and supplies.  (I will take a picture of that soon.  It is in our spare bedroom along with our old love seat from the sun-room, and my treadmill.) 
• Helped hang 11 new mini blinds! (Ours are getting brittle, they are 10 years old, so I replaced all 8 in the sun-room, and replaced 3 in the living room.  More to come)  

Oldest helped in these ways:

• Came home on New Year's Eve so he could help out
• New Year's Day he went through a lot of his old belongings in the basement and pitched out about 3 boxes of  unwanted items.
• Did a few loads of my laundry
• Completely emptied my stand alone pantry cabinet,  washed it out, and helped me pitch a few things, and organize the rest
• Emptied my lazy susan cabinet, washed it down, and helped me replace what was kept
• Made pancakes for breakfast today!
• Did my grocery shopping!

Am I spoiled or what?   I tell you, they are good boys! 

 I accomplished a few things on my own as well this week:

• Organized my vanity area, and re-purposed a cabinet that I had to use beside the vanity to hold extra nail polish, and other girly items
• Organized my pots and pans cabinet
• Organized my coupon filing system
• Walked on my treadmill and have read my Bible two days in a row! 

I will not quite go as far as to say I am ready for school on Monday, but with all of these things done, I am much closer to being ready than I was!

My cat is so funny.  She loves the radiators so much, that she cannot even lay completely on her bed, she sort of slides to the end so she is directly on the radiator. 

My sun-room is decorated very frugally.  The furniture was all purchased second hand from a friend of our sons, and the TV and cabinet were purchased second hand from my sister!   Works for me. 

Wicked Good

Click on picture to enlarge.  Just don't drool on your keyboard.

These are by far the most dangerous things I have ever made.  This afternoon, while watching The Food Network, I happened to see these yummy creations being put together.  They looked so easy, and I knew I had the ingredients lurking in my pantry. I thought this would be a good use for part of the chocolate I just happened to buy last night at Kmart with a double coupon, so I got to work. 

 

These are called Millionaire's Shortbread, but you just need to think  "Twix Bar".   They taste exactly like a caramel Twix.  They really were easy to make, and in case you truly are drooling now, click here for the recipe.  I put mine in a bigger pan than the recipe calls for, so mine are a bit thinner.  ( I can eat more that way, right?)  As I was looking around on the web at different recipes, I saw that some had really fat layers. That could be deadly.   The recipe calls for "good quality" milk chocolate, but I have only met one type of chocolate that I don't like.  These were made with Hershey's Kisses, melted in the microwave for about 2 minutes.   The only other adjustment I made to the recipe, is that I lined my pan with parchment paper instead of using butter and flour.  Only thing I might need to do better, is cook the caramel layer just a little bit longer.  See it oozing out of the edges.  Although, oozing caramel is not necessarily a bad thing. 

I can think of much worse.

Next time I make them I am going to find a way to make a peanut butter layer in the middle instead of the caramel and I will have my very favorite Twix Bar.  I am wondering if just peanut butter, straight up would work. Well, that might slide off.  Maybe I will a bit of peanut butter to the caramel while it cooks, and make sure it is cooked long enough.  Then it will be a gooey-caramel-peanut butter layer. 

I am taking some to church tomorrow to share with my high school group of girls. They are just too dangerous to leave them all here.  Let me know if you make them, or if you really are drooling. 

One of Those Nights

I am so sleepy right now.  it is 7:37 p.m. as I type and there is no real reason for me to be so tired.  After school today I did just a few errands, but I ran out of steam so fast.  I sat for a while, and hubby came home to me still sitting, and to me having no clue as to what to fix for supper.  Finally I got my act together and made quite a good supper in my sorry state.  I went rummaging through the house and found some chicken in the freezer that I had roasted, picked off the bone, and froze a while back.  I knew I had some heavy cream and a block of parmesan that I needed to use, and some fresh broccoli in the fridge.  Before you know it I whipped up some delicious (and very fattening) broccoli / chicken  fettuccine alfredo. Check out the sauce recipe here. 

Maybe that is why I am so tired. I really did not eat a large portion, but it is rather rich. Other than doing a load of laundry, filling the weekly pill containers, and cleaning up a bit in the kitchen (hubby is helping) I do not plan on much else for the night. 

I guess we all have lazy nights once in a while. 

Sweet Deal

What do you do when you are able to purchase $2.49 Ghiradelli Luxe Milk Chocolate bars for around .20 cents a piece?   Buy lots.  

Then what do you do?  Eat them all in one sitting with a Diet Pepsi?  Tempting, but no.

Break some up and make cookies!  I made 4 batches of Ghiradelli chocolate chunk cookies. 

Due to the perfect combination of deals at Walgreens, and having the right coupons, I snagged 40 bars of milk/dark combination chocolate bars.  (Not all of them posed for the picture.)   

The math went like this:

 The grand total for 40 bars was around $7.50, this was for a total of 120 ounces of chocolate.   120 ounces could be translated into 10  bags of chocolate chips, 12 ounces each.  This would be like paying .75 cents each for premium bags of chocolate chips.   Pretty good deal, I'd say.  

Now, the most fun thing about it all, is that I made a double batch of cookies just for the staff at my Walgreens because they always welcome my crazy coupon habit!    (CVS needs a treat soon as well, because they are great also.) 

The majority of these chocolate bars will go in the freezer.  I used 6 bars total today for 4 batches of cookies.  

In the Freezer

*Corn: both on the cob and off

*Strawberries:   some individually frozen,  some sliced and sugared, and some chopped and frozen waiting to make jam

*Peaches: sliced and sugared

*Green Beans, 4 quarts given to us: blanched and frozen

*Blackberries:  3 lbs, individually  frozen and bagged

Yum, it will taste like summer for a long time. 

Huge Blessing!

Husband and I were graciously given corn from two of our friends today. 

What a blessing this was!  Our family has quite a history of putting corn up for the freezer.  Before husband and I were even married I would help "do" corn.  I have done corn for over 30 years.  We used to get corn from a relative, then when he retired from farming  we were lucky enough to find another source.  Last year due to my health issues we did not do corn, but fortunately we were blessed by some people from our church who did some for us.  

Today, when husband got off of work we drove to a field and picked our corn.  Just the 2 of us.   About 6 bushels!  We were also given about 1 bushel today already picked from someone else.  We then headed home to begin husking,  and our "silking team" arrived.   Three  friends dug right in and silked their way through the mound of corn.  I started as soon as I could inside with the blanching, and cutting.  Truth be told, husband and I finished just after midnight, but oh, what a wonderful feeling to have two freezers full of corn!  (Ours and husband's parents) 

Grand total:

99 quart bags cut off the cob

20 bags of 4 ears each, on the cob

60 ears given away

 Just a portion of our bounty, isn't it beautiful?

   Cut and ready for bagging

  Nearing completion