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Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Texas Matador Casserole Easy Recipe

 


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Texas Matador Casserole Easy Recipe - (Beef)

Ingredients:

1 (10 oz.) pkg. dry egg noodles
2 lb. ground beef
3 tsp. salt
3 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. pepper
1 (16 oz.) can stewed tomatoes
2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
2 cloves minced garlic (can substitute refrigerated jar garlic)
1 small pkg. cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
6 to 8 green onions, chopped
1 cup. Cheddar cheese

Directions:

Cook noodles in boiling water and drain. Brown ground beef with salt, sugar, and pepper in skillet. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, and garlic. Continue cooking for about 10 minutes over low heat. Add the noodles, sour cream, cream cheese, and green onions. Place in a large casserole dish and cover with grated cheese. Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.

Serve with a green salad and French bread.
Serves 10 to 12 people.

My Thoughts:

I mentioned in my last post about my daughter losing her cell phone in the river and you might be happy to know that I bought her a new phone. I know kids these days spend too much time on their phones but my daughter is a great kid. She doesn't sneak out, do drugs, say bad words, smoke, or any other things that would be considered deviant behavior. Now, before you think I completely spoiled my daughter, I also want to add that I am having her pay for the phone herself.

She will more than likely pay for her phone by continuing to sell her baked goods at the Farmer's Market. Hopefully, I get to take her this week on Friday as long as I don't have to work. I usually have Fridays off if I work a 40-hour work week. The new phone I purchased for her is exactly like the old one she had but it is white. It is a used phone and my provider has let me finance it out over time. This works out for me and I am glad to do it. I purchased insurance on the phone should another incident like this happen again the phone will be replaced or fixed easily.

It has been hot here in Missouri and we have been in an excessive heat advisory. Where I work it is very hot and close to 100 degrees inside. Even with big fans blowing on us it still feels like a convection oven and sweating a lot is just a given. My home air conditioner went out and stopped cooling a couple days ago. The fan would still blow but it wouldn't cool. My step-father works for a heating and air company and has been in that business for many years. You might imagine who I called. It got up to almost 90 degrees in the house and we have lots of shade around my home. Two giant pin oak trees. One in the front of the house, and one in the back. The house is also surrounded by trees. It still got very hot in the house. That's how bad this heat advisory has been.

My stepfather did come while I was at work and fixed the unit. He said it was a blown capacitor. He said it is a common problem and they have to change those out like people change their underwear. He has a unique way of talking. He did say that to help prevent the capacitor from going out I could make sure the filter is changed regularly and keep the outdoor unit cleaned by spraying water from a hose into the unit cleaning out dirt and dust.

Since I worked on the second shift, he did all this while I was at work. When I got home the house was cool to normal. It was a very comfortable 72 degrees. Where do you keep your thermostat set?

Thoughts on Texas Matador Casserole

I'm not sure why this recipe is called Matador but I can tell you, if you don't already know, there is a Matador, Texas. Who knows, you might even be living in Matador, Texas while reading this. Matador is a small rural Texas town that is similar to the one I live in Missouri. They may have more horses than we do but I would guess we have as much cattle here in our area. You can learn more about Matador, Texas by reading this page.

Matador Casserole has egg noodles and beef and it is sure to fill you up. It is very creamy and has lots of cheese. I just love pasta and cheese.

Extra:

Do you know what the most famous food is that comes from Texas? If you guessed Texas Sheet Cake you are right. Texas sheet cake is super easy to make and I will probably share a great recipe here in the future. If you missed my last easy recipe on Chicken Kiev you can read about it here.

Quick Question:

Did you enjoy reading about Texas Matador Casserole? What about my situation with my daughter's cell phone? What is your favorite Texas recipe? I know I usually ask more than one question but I always have more than one to ask you. As always, if you have a recipe or a comment about this one, I would appreciate you for leaving a comment here. Thank you so much for reading and have a great day!

>>See all my recipes here!<<

Sunday, August 20, 2023

Chicken Kiev Easy Recipe - Chicken Dishes

 


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Chicken Kiev Easy Recipe - (Chicken Dishes)

Ingredients:

8 pieces boneless chicken breasts
About 2 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup butter, cut into cubes
Parsley flakes

Breading:
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 cup flour
1 cup bread crumbs

Directions:

Place chicken between plastic wrap and lightly flatten out. Put butter cubes, green onions, and parsley flakes in the middle of each piece of chicken. Fold in the sides and roll up.

To bread, mix egg and milk in a bowl, and place flour and bread crumbs in individual bowls. Dip chicken in flour, then egg mixture, and then bread crumbs. Let chill for 4 to 5 hours or overnight.

To bake: Lightly brown in a skillet, then place in baking dish. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes at 350 degrees or deep fry.

My Thoughts:

Before I get to writing about this wonderful Chicken Kiev Easy Recipe, I need to vent a little in this post. It has been a good weekend but also a bad weekend. I had the pleasure of attending my 30-year High School reunion and seeing former classmates. It really was a great time. Not everyone showed up but the ones that did, came with smiles, hugs, and handshakes. We got to talk about old times and tell stories of crazy things we did as kids.

The classmate who organized the reunion brought a VHS television to play an old VHS tape another classmate had made on the last day of school. It was so much fun to watch the video and to see all of us as young kids again. We all laughed together. There was a taco bar and drinks as well. Cookies and other party favors were provided. One classmate I didn't even recognize. Honestly, it seemed to me that everyone just gets better looking with age and I made a comment that we all age like fine wine. It was the first school reunion I had attended after 30 years. I didn't make it before because I was busy living out of state and raising kids. I should mention I was hesitant to attend past reunions because I didn't graduate with my class. I was a high school dropout and was embarrassed about it. I also didn't attend past reunions because I felt other classmates would not want to include me because of not graduating with them.

I did make up for not graduating with my classmates as far as education is concerned. I got my General Education Diploma in 1992 actually one year before my class graduated. Then in 2006, I began my online college education while being a full-time husband, dad, and employee. It was nice to feel included by the reunion invitation. School kids do grow up and become great adults. Those great adults do invite others to come to visit and talk about old times. It was really nice and I am grateful.

That was the good part of my weekend. Now I need to tell you about the bad part of my weekend. I had listed a Ford F150 camper shell on the Facebook Marketplace. I measured out the camper shell at 80 inches but had listed it as an 8-foot camper shell. It is actually a 6-foot camper shell. Someone contacted me interested in purchasing it. It was a 3-hour drive for the potential customer. I agreed to meet him halfway and drove over an hour. When he looked at the camper shell he discovered that it was actually a 6 1/2 foot camper shell. He was disappointed and I was too. Unfortunately, the sale was not made and I am sure he was saying some choice words about me on the drive home. I immediately changed the listing to the correct size of the camper shell. It was a lesson learned for me and one I do not intend on making again.

My teenage daughter asked if she could go on a float trip today with my second daughter and her coworkers. I agreed and they left out early on their trip. I had a gut feeling that my teenage daughter should leave her phone at home. I had visions of her dropping it in the water or on the river's edge. After some overthinking, I decided not to say anything about her phone. You can imagine what happened. I got a text towards the end of the day from my second daughter that her little sister had lost her phone. I thought to myself that I should've listened to my parental intuition and had her leave the phone at home after all. Turns out she had tipped her kayak over and her phone went over in the water. It was in a waterproof case but it was too late. She could not find it but managed to find her shoes that were off her feet.

I now must call the phone store and cancel service on her cell phone. My teenage daughter also came home looking like a lobster. She is red on her face, arms, and legs. She had sunscreen but I think she did not have enough on her skin. There was an excessive heat warning for the whole state of Missouri and she was out there over 10 hours. I feel like I dropped the ball on listening to my intuition. If you are a parent, have you ever experienced this? If you are not a parent, I can tell you that as a parent you blame yourself for everything bad that happens to your children no matter what. What is the lesson learned here? For my daughter, it was wearing more sunscreen and keeping better care of her phone. For me, it was doing a little more thinking and coaching her more on making sure those things negative that happened do not happen again in the future.



Thoughts On Chicken Kiev:

This Chicken Kiev Easy Recipe is super tasty and I am sure you will love it! What's the secret? In my opinion, it is the insane amount of butter along with parsley flakes, and onion. There is just something about the flavor. Not to mention the texture the breadcrumbs brings to your tastebuds. This chicken dish is thought to originate in the Ukraine but that is not accurate. It actually came from Paris. You can read more about this easy recipe from NPR's article on The Salt page.

Extra:

If you have cooked this easy recipe, as always I would love to hear from you and what you think of it. If you missed my last easy recipe post I would like to share it with you here. It is called Low-Fat Cinnamon Rolls and it is a sweet treat you will enjoy for cutting calories and still enjoying your favorite dessert.

Quick Question:

Do you consider my Chicken Kiev recipe an easy one to create? Do you think I could add another ingredient to make this dish more enjoyable? Please let me know your answer in the comment section of this post. Thanks again for visiting my easy recipe and please be sure to share with your friends.

>>See all my recipes here!<<


Saturday, August 19, 2023

Low-Fat Cinnamon Rolls Easy Recipe - Breads Rolls


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Low-Fat Cinnamon Rolls Easy Recipe - (Breads, Rolls)

Ingredients:

1 package yeast
1/4 cup warm water
2 1/2 to 3 cups of flour
1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt
1/2 cup sugar or sugar substitute (or 1/4 cup substitute and 1/4 cup sugar)
3 tablespoons low-fat soft oleo (margarine)
1 egg (I use 2 egg whites)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Vanilla Glaze:
2 tablespoons warm water
1/2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

Dissolve yeast in water in a large bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy. Add 1 1/2 cups flour, yogurt, sugar, salt, softened oleo (margarine), egg, and vanilla. Beat on low speed for 2 minutes. Mix in 1 cup flour. Knead on a floured surface for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic, adding flour to prevent sticking. Place in a bowl coated with cooking spray. Spray top. Cover. Let rise until doubled in bulk, 1 1/2 hours.

Punch down. Divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each out on the floured surface. Brush lightly with melted low-fat oleo (margarine). Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture. (I use 1 part sugar substitute and 1 part natural sugar and cinnamon.) Roll into a roll and place on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Brush with oleo or cooking spray. Cover and let rise until almost double, 45 to 60 minutes. Bake in preheated oven, 425 degrees, for 8 minutes until golden brown. Brush on Vanilla Glaze while warm.

Vanilla Glaze: Whisk together.
Calories: 120
Fat: 3

My Thoughts:

Wow! What a week for me. I have been pretty busy at my job. I know I mentioned that in my last post about my job but I am known to repeat myself a little. I had to work this Friday so I missed out on helping my daughter at the local farmer's market. I feel bad about that but she is very understanding. She is such a sweet girl.

I also wanted to share here about a former co-worker. He is a young man I had the pleasure of working with who has turned his hobby into a business. He has made soft plastic fishing lures for several years now and even made them when he was in public school. He would sell his fishing lures to his classmates and even his teachers. After he graduated he took a job where I work and for the past year has had his business on a part-time basis. He has set up a booth at the same farmer's market my daughter sells her baked goods.

He has done very on a part-time basis with his job and decided to leave where I work to pursue his business full-time. I tried talking him into staying where I work for another year or so and continuing to work his business part-time while setting up his website to sell lures on. I couldn't talk him into staying so he has left working full-time with me. I completely understand him doing that and he has support from his parents.

He is currently making the same amount of money from his business as he was making from working at the factory with me. I am proud of him and will blog more about his progress in his business as I hear about it from him. I know he will do very well in the sporting goods industry. He is very motivated and a hard worker. He has a very good character and morals. I don't see too many young men like him today.

I decided to share a picture of us both in this post. I hope you enjoy the picture. When he has his website up and his store completely going I will do a post on all those details. His business is Bubba Reds Bait Co. If you are on Facebook you can follow him on his Facebook business page called Bubba Reds Baid Co.

Now allow me to share my thoughts on cinnamon rolls. I absolutely love those cinnamon rolls. There is something about the cinnamon and sugar with the icing that my tastebuds love. I love cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven. My daughter has a cinnamon roll cookie she makes and sells at the farmer's market and they always sell fast. They are one of my favorite cookies she makes. When they are warm they take just like fresh cinnamon rolls. I love to have hot coffee with fresh cinnamon rolls. 

More Thoughts On Cinnamon Rolls:

The history of the cinnamon roll or cinnamon bun is something that many will debate about. The Swedes claim that the cinnamon-baked delight originated there in the 1920s. You can read more interesting facts about cinnamon rolls at The Sussex Kitchen.

Extra:

Do you love cinnamon rolls? What do you think about my low-fat cinnamon roll easy recipe? If you enjoyed this recipe blog post you might enjoy my last easy recipe of Paella Easy Recipe - Chicken Dish. If you like my cinnamon roll low-fat easy recipe please let me know in the comments below. You might have a cinnamon roll recipe you would like to share. The goal with this post is to share a low-fat recipe but I enjoy all recipes too.

Quick Question:

Do you like chopped nuts on your cinnamon rolls? I love nuts but I do not really like them on my cinnamon rolls. I believe chopped nuts can give your baked cinnamon rolls an extra texture many enjoy. Another quick question, do you think that roasting nuts to put on cinnamon rolls would add something special to the taste? It is just an idea I have and I have not tried it but I do think it is worth a try. If I do try this I will share it here on my blog.

Thank you for taking the time to read my easy recipe. Please leave a comment and share it with your friends who might enjoy a low-fat recipe.

>>See all my recipes here!<<

 

Saturday, August 12, 2023

Paella Easy Recipe - Chicken Dish

 


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Paella Easy Recipe - Chicken Dish

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pound chicken, cut up (can use thighs and legs)
1/2 pound large shrimp
3/4 pound clams or mussels
1 medium-sized onion, chopped
1 medium ripe tomato, peeled
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon chopped parsley
1 can pimentos
1 cup canned peas or frozen peas
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cups rice
1/4 teaspoon saffron
1 lemon, cut in wedges for decoration

Directions:

Saute the chicken in hot olive oil and then put in a casserole, covering the chicken with 4 cups of water. Boil for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, saute the green pepper, onion, and garlic in a shallow skillet or pan. Add chopped tomato. Wash the seafood, peel shrimp if needed, and add the small clams to the skillet or paella pan. Add peas and pimento to the skillet or pan, then add saffron and chicken. Wash the rice and add to the pan. Cover the mixture with 4 cups of water or chicken broth. Stir until the ingredients are well mixed. Bring to a boil for 5 minutes and then leave on a low flame until rice is tender and dry (20 to 30 minutes). Decorate the finished dish with lemon wedges and pimento if desired.

Another method of cooking the rice is to boil it and place it in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, then turn the heat down to 300 degrees Fahrenheit for another 15 to 20 minutes. Remove pan from oven and cover for 5 minutes. Serves 6 to 8 people.

My Thoughts:

What a wild and busy work week. I didn't get to help my daughter with the local farmer's market the week, where she usually sells her baked goods. She had a dental appointment and it was during the time the market was open. We currently live about forty minutes away from the dentist's office. She has had the same dentist for years and I don't want to take her anywhere else. I pride myself and making sure my kids have good dental health. My daughter's wisdom teeth are coming in straight and no issues there so it looks like I won't have to worry about having her wisdom removed.

An update and what my daughter is wanting to do with her baking. She is saving money for a new countertop mixer. The mixer is not cheap but it is a good goal for her to reach and will make her baking for the farmer's market easier. She also wants to buy glass cookie jars to put her cookies in for display. A larger table would be good and she is definitely wanting that as well.

Oh, and I found out through social media that my sister had a car accident and totaled her Mercedes. She is ok but I'm a little surprised my mom did not let me know. Isn't it a big deal when a family member has a car accident? It's just my thoughts on the subject. 

More Information On Paella:

It is said that Paella was first cooked by Valencian farmers. Yep, Eastern Spain is where the dish originally came from. As you read in the recipe ingredients there's shrimp, mussels, and chicken. Old-timers use to put rabbit and duck meat in the dish as well. Original recipes have no seafood in them. It has evolved into what it is today because of time and culture. If you would like to read more about the history of Paella you might find it interesting.

Extra:

Did you enjoy finding this recipe for Paella? If you did enjoy this recipe, maybe you will enjoy my last easy recipe for Spicy Buffalo Chicken Wings. Give it a read and share it with a friend.

Quick Question:

Have you seen other recipes for Paella? Do you consider this an easy recipe? I would love to know your thoughts on this. If you have tried a similar recipe please let me know what it is. Maybe you have a picture of the Paella you have cooked. I will be glad to share it with your link on my social media or even in one of my blog posts.


Sunday, August 6, 2023

Spicy Buffalo Chicken Wings Easy Recipe

 


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SPICY BUFFALO CHICKEN WINGS EASY RECIPE (Main Dishes, Chicken)

Ingredients:

2 to 3 pounds chicken wings, cut off the joint
3/4 stick margarine
1/2 cup cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash
red pepper flakes to taste

Directions:

Melt margarine: Add remaining ingredients. Dip wings in the sauce until thickly coated. Bake in a roasting pan in a 400-degree oven for 1 hour or until juices run clear. Turn once after cooking for 30 minutes. It may be served with Bleu cheese or Hidden Valley dressing. 

My Thoughts:

Every year as long as I can remember, it is a past-time for me to cook Buffalo Chicken wings. I do this for the Super Bowl Football game; it is so much fun. I don't always watch football and mostly like my state team. Don't be upset at me for that, but I guess you could say I am a low-key football fan.

My favorite part about the Super Bowl game is the halftime show and the commercials. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy watching the game. It is usually exciting to see. In the last few years, the halftime show has not been very good. Do you agree with me on this? I am sure others will agree with me.

I like to have a veggie tray with my Buffalo Chicken wings for the game too and some kind of dessert to eat like pie or cake. I'm not much of a drinker but a beer or two usually goes well at a Super Bowl party. Some people even wear their favorite team's jersey during the game. I think I would do that too if I bought a football jersey. 

More Information On Buffalo Wings:

Time Magazine ran an article on the History of Buffalo wings and it is very interesting. Did you know the buffalo wing was invented in 1964? I didn't either until I looked it up. Do you remember when you first tried a buffalo wing? I wondered why they were called "buffalo wings" when I knew buffalo did not have wings. I'm goofy I know.

Extra:

If you liked this easy recipe for Spicy Buffalo Chicken Wings you might like my Bierocks Easy Recipe.

Quick Question:

What is your favorite flavor of chicken wings? Please let me know below in the comments area. If you have an easier recipe for buffalo wings I would love to see yours. Thank you for reading my recipe blog post!

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Hamburger Potato Casserole Easy Recipe

 

So good you'll want more!



HAMBURGER POTATO CASSEROLE EASY RECIPE (Main Dishes, Beef)

INGREDIENTS:

  • 4 Cups Thinly Sliced Potatoes
  • 1/4 Cup Plus 1 Tablespoon Chopped Onion
  • 2 Teaspoons Salt
  • 14 Teaspoon Pepper
  • 1 Teaspoon Parsley
  • 1 Pound Ground Beef
  • 3/4 Cup Evaporated Milk
  • 1/2 Cup Fin Cracker Crumbs or Uncooked Oatmeal
  • 1/4 Cup Catsup

Directions:

In a greased 2-quart baking dish, arrange potatoes and 1 tablespoon onion. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and parsley flakes.

In a separate bowl, mix ground beef and milk. Spread over potatoes. Mix crumbs or oats, catsup, 1/4 cup chopped onion, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Spread over hamburger. Bake for 1 hour in a preheated 350-degree oven. 

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My Thoughts:

You can go right with meat and potatoes. They are the best for sure. I hope that you enjoy this Hamburger Potato Casserole Easy Recipe. While growing up my mom would almost always serve me potatoes. Usually some kind of meat. The meat was most always hamburger. It was a cheaper meat for the family to eat. My mom worked for Wal-Mart and we didn't have much money. With the beef, were potatoes. She would make mashed potatoes or fried potatoes. Then she would make some kind of vegetable to go with the meal. Green beans would go with most meals. Today, I really love green beans.

Living in the mid-west, beef is such a popular thing to eat. The local cities around where I live today have some sort of steak restaurant that serves steak cuts. One of my favorite steak places to visit is the Texas Roadhouse. I really enjoy their 20-ounce bone-in ribeye steak. I always order green beans with my steak. I suppose it has something to do with my meals as a child. My mom made many different meals and always did the best she could. If you would like to read a post a made about my mother you can read it here called My Mother And All You Other Mothers.

More Information On Hamburger and Potatoes:

I found an interesting article by RollingStone on meat and potatoes you might like. I would love to know your thoughts on it. It is about fast food in America and how the focus on meat and potatoes is the main feature.

Extra:

Try adding your favorite season to this recipe. One of my favorite seasons is Tony Chachere's season. You can also try adding garlic salt to the recipe if you like garlic. I cook with minced garlic a lot. Most always when I try a new recipe I find, I add something to it to make it my own. It might be a spice or two that gives it an extra flavor.

Quick Question:

Have you ever tried this recipe I shared with you? If you cook this recipe, will you please share with me how you cooked it or if you added anything to the recipe?


#hamburger #potato #casserole #easy #recipe #cooking

Monday, July 31, 2023

Bierocks Easy Recipe

 

A German recipe everyone will love!



>>>See all my recipes here!<<<



Bierocks Easy Recipe - (Below)



Take a Cooking Trip With German Recipes You Will Revisit Over and Over!



Uncover the gems of German recipes with this great cookbook. You will discover your favorite German recipes. These recipes will create an authentic experience through cooking traditional foods. Old-world ethnic dishes that you will not soon forget. Take a trip through time with this detailed book.



See the details and order a copy for your shelf today to enjoy the magic of German food!



Quote For The Day:



"Es wird nichts so hieb gesessen, wie es gekocht wird." - Translation "Nothing gets eaten as hot as it has been cooked." - Medium.com



Food For Thought:



The first time I had Bierocks I absolutely fell in love with them. They are so delicious! I was at a family member's house when these wonderful beef pastries first touched my palette. Ok, now I sound like a professional blogger, don't I? I remember eating two or three and then the dough swelled in my belly. I was forced to stretch out on the couch and just moan with fullness.



You should have seen me. I am sure that you are glad you didn't. It was such a sight.
If you don't mind hearing about my day I will be glad to share with you here. I cleaned up in the kitchen and worked on some laundry. After I finished those chores I visited my mother at her house. It was her birthday on Friday.



I was unable to visit her because I went to the local farmer's market with my daughter. She had about seven different cookies for sale. Her newest item was a strawberry crinkle cookie that sold out very well. One customer, in particular, was very interesting. He was almost seven feet tall by my estimation.



He sported a full beard that was speckled with gray hairs. He had bright blue eyes and spoke in the deepest voice I think I have ever heard. He was like a giant and I am 5 foot 11 inches. He softly asked my daughter if he could have two of the strawberry crinkle cookies. He slowly handed my daughter the money and took the cookies in his large hand which resembled a bunch of bananas.



He gave my daughter a little smile and said "Thank you" as he walked away. After visiting my mother at her house, my daughter wanted to go for a drive. We made a large circle on the outer paved roads here in the area. Sometimes a drive is a nice thing to do.



A Few Questions For You:



  • Have you tried bierocks before? Please share your experience with me here.
  • Have you cooked bierocks in the past?
  • Do you know the history of bierocks? I will share more in this post. Keep on reading!
  • Did you see my last recipe post? It is called Spiced Tea Easy Mix Recipe. I would like to know what you think about it.



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More Information On Bierocks:



Bierocks were commonly consumed by European blue-collar workers as a popular staple. Over time German Russian Mennonites brought the beefy dish to the United States when they immigrated in the 1870s. Eventually, bierocks were found popular among those living in the West. Kansas is the state that is most popular for bierocks. You can read more about Why Bierocks Are A Kansas Staple



BIEROCKS EASY RECIPE - (Main Dishes, Beef)



Ingredients:



  • 1 Package Active Dry Yeast
  • 1/4 Cup Warm Water
  • 1/4 Cup Warm Milk
  • 2 Tablespoons Sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons Butter
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
  • 2 to 2 1/4 Cups All Purpose Flour
  • 1 Beaten Egg
  • 1 Pound Ground Beef
  • 1 Onion
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Galic Salt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1 Can Saurkraut



Instructions:



  1. Soften the yeast in a medium saucepan with warm water.
  2. Combine the milk, sugar, butter, and salt in a separate bowl.
  3. Heat and stir until the butter melts.
  4. Add about 1 cup of flour and beat well.
  5. Add the egg and beat well.
  6. Stir in the softened yeast.
  7. Stir in enough flour to make a stiff dough.
  8. Turn out and knead on a lightly floured surface.
  9. Knead until smooth and elastic for about 5 minutes.
  10. Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover it.
  11. Let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles for 1 to 1 1/4 hours.
  12. Cook the beef, onion, salt, and then drain.
  13. Add the sauerkraut.
  14. Punch the dough down.
  15. Divide the dough.
  16. Roll out the dough and put the meat filling in it.
  17. Dampen the pastry edges then seal the edges.
  18. Bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.
  19. Let the bierocks cool a little while and then serve.



Keep on cooking!
-The Recipe Guy



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Saturday, July 29, 2023

Spiced Tea Easy Recipe Mix

 


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SPICED TEA EASY RECIPE MIX (Appetizers & Beverages)

INGREDIENTS:

1 Cup Instant Tea
1 1/4 Cup Tang Orange Drink Mix
1 Package Lemonade Mix (Country Time or Wyler's)
1 Cup Sugar
2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Cloves

DIRECTIONS:

Mix the ingredients all together. Store in an airtight container. Use about 2 teaspoons of mix to 1 cup of hot water.

My Thoughts:

Growing up, iced tea was always made and available to drink in my house. It was always sweet tea. Unsweet was something we didn't like in the refrigerator. The process of making sweet tea to drink was always the same. I would boil water on the stovetop and then add the tea bags. I would set it for about thirty minutes and then remove the tea bags. I poured the tea into a plastic pitcher that had the desired amount of sugar waiting. Then I would stir it up until the sugar dissolved. Finally, I would add in water until the pitcher was completely full and finish off by giving a good stir.

Do you like to drink hot or cold tea? Do you like your tea sweetened or unsweetened? Do you prefer regular sugar or a sweetener? 

More Information On Tea:

Did you know that tea was introduced to America by the Dutch in 1640? The only other beverage consumed more than tea worldwide is water. I would have thought it would be coffee first but, nope. China consumes most of the tea in the world right now. The United States leads the way for the world when it comes to importing tea. That lets you know that Americans consume a whole lot of tea. I also would have thought that the leading importer of tea might be Great Britain. I know they drink a bunch of tea for sure.

When I drink tea I usually buy the regular black tea you might find at the supermarket. I am not picky about getting name-brand tea. I usually just buy the store's generic tea. I am happy with that. There are tea drinkers with lots of money who drink very expensive tea. The most expensive tea in the world is called Da-Hong Pao-Tea from China. It costs a whopping $1.2 million per kilogram. Now that is some very costly tea and in my opinion, it better taste very good. I would imagine it tastes like regular tea. I am laughing out loud right now because I can't imagine spending that much on tea. The fact remains that it sells for that price.

Extra:

If you would like to read my post about my daughter baking her famous Chocolate Crinkle Cookies then you can read it in a previous post I created.

Quick Question:

Do you like this easy recipe for spiced tea? If you find it interesting or have a recipe of your own, I would like to hear from you. Please leave a comment on this post and share this recipe with a friend. Thank you so much for reading.



Wednesday, July 5, 2023

The Reward You Receive When Your Child Learns

 


A while back, my youngest daughter Zoe asked me if she could sell her baked goods at the local farmers market. It impressed me that she wanted to do this. 

She is such a great little baker and I believe I have mentioned this in previous blog posts. I love to cook and taught her some things about cooking and how to make a recipe her own. I’m not much of a baker, but when she expressed an interest in baking, I told her to take what I taught her about cooking on top of the stove and apply it to baking. She has done this very well, and I have benefitted so much by watching her progress as a baker. I really love tasting her creations. Her cookies, cupcakes, and brownies, are super!

I knew that she didn’t know what would go into getting things together to sell at a farmer’s market, but I also knew it would be a great opportunity for her to learn. It is stressful for her to meet deadlines for the market and deadlines for orders for her baking as well.

I had to take the role of a manager and give her a push now and then, but she has proved true to her word. I told her that if she really wanted to do it that it would be a lot of work. I watched her work very hard baking all day and night while I got market supplies together for her. A tent, table, chairs, and other market supplies were necessary.

After a few markets and some money earned for her, we were able to reflect on our experience together. She expressed to me that it opened her mind. She said most people don’t know what goes into doing something like that. To hear her tell me what she’s learned so far touched me. She has gained a greater awareness. She had a preconceived idea of the market but to hear her share what she learned is a reward for me as a parent.

She had an idea, set a goal, and went to work. She has grown. Maybe I’m thinking too much about it. Maybe I’m not thinking enough.

As our conversation continued the comment concerning what we learned together made us ask another question. What are other future experiences we might have preconceived ideas about, and what else might we learn from our experiences? It questions the possibility of the unknown I think. 

We should stay open and wait to judge until we search and see. It wasn’t as easy as we thought and we learned more than we thought we would. My children are my teachers too. 

It may be a little trip into philosophy but well worth the journey.

Is there something in your life you are wondering about? What would it be like? You might be hesitant to see. There could be challenges. Think about your experiences. You made it through in the past. What did you learn? Your lessons are valuable. You’ve gained a greater consciousness having had those experiences. Some may be good and some may be bad.

As I mentioned, it is a great reward and one you deserve to have. I am writing about both a reward as a parent and the reward of being open to what is possible for you to try.

I hope this post is an encouragement for you. I would love to get your feedback on it. Please share anything and let me know what you think. Let's continue the conversation.

Here is a video on YouTube about staying open to learning new experiences.

Give Zoe a Like on her Facebook page! 


Thursday, June 15, 2023

Beagle Finds Baby Rabbits


 


Zoe has two dogs. A female beagle and a chihuahua. The chihuahua is about half rat terrier and half regular chihuahua. The two really are a pair. Bella lays on the couch and Odie lays on top of her and he can't hold his licker. He loves to lick the couch or Bella's ear.

The other day I took Bella out for a walk in the yard. She loves to sniff for everything. She has to be on a leash when out because she will let her nose take her away on a scent. She loves to ride in the car and would make a great hunting dog.

While she was sniffing on the ground she found a baby rabbit nest. I didn't know it until it was too late. I noticed she was sticking her nose in the background and quickly snatched a baby rabbit from the nest. The baby rabbit let out a little squeal and Bella dropped the baby. Immediately four other baby rabbits ran from the next. I pulled Bella away and took her inside the house.

I went back outside to see the babies. I had a quick thought to get a couple of baby rabbits and show them to my two daughters that were at home at the time. It was a dad move for me because I wanted to see my girls smile while holding the cute little rabbits.

I took one to Zoe my youngest daughter and then one to Jewell my second daughter. They were elated. It was a cuteness overload and I enjoyed them enjoying the baby rabbits.

I was worried the momma rabbit would not return the babies after being touched by humans. Zoe looked at videos on YouTube to learn how to take care of the babies. She made a box with some greens and water. After researching, the girls decided to put the babies back in the nest.

That night they said the momma rabbit was out by the nest. Then today I saw one of the tiny rabbits roaming around the same area. I can only assume they are doing well. I didn't bother the nest again.

I might have done the wrong thing by taking two of the rabbits for the girls to hold but it was worth it to see their smiles. As far as I can tell the baby rabbits are doing well.

Thanks for reading!

If you like outdoors and wildlife, read my story called Fishing With Grandma



Saturday, June 10, 2023

My Mother And All You Other Mother’s

 


This post is about my mother. It’s also about all other mothers out there in the past, present, and future.

First of all, the picture above was taken when I was about sixteen years old. It was a crazy time in my life. I was too old for some things but not old enough for most adult things. It was a very frustrating period for me. My sister, who is four years younger is to the far left. My mother is on the far right side of the picture.

My mom was married to my step-father at the time. He adopted me and I took the last name of West around 1984-1985. I liked getting that name. My first last name was Snow. I liked West better. I thought it sounded more Western or rugged, although I didn’t like watching Western movies as a kid, I most definitely love them now.

My stepdad had never had kids. My sister and I never had a stepdad. My sister didn’t seem to have an issue with my stepfather but I did a lot of times. Sometimes he could be a little harsh. He was, and still is an outdoorsman. I remember on occasions he would attempt to take me hunting. My feet would freeze. I was so cold. My hands would freeze as we marched through the woods like soldiers. All I wanted to do was go home and be warm. I hated it. He hated I hated it.

Today, I don’t get to do much hunting because I’m so busy doing other things. I love the outdoors though and love guns now as a grown man. If my limbs freeze while being in the woods or near the water it makes me feel more alive. It’s primal.

I have always thought my mom got pregnant with me when she was sixteen and gave birth to me when she was seventeen but I found out it was earlier than that. She brought me into this world when she was just sixteen years old. She was a baby that had a baby.

I don’t write this to shame her at all. It is what it is and it happened. It still happens today to many young girls. She just got pregnant young.

My earliest memories of my mom is sleeping with her in the bed. She always made me feel safe and loved. She still does today by bringing me soap from Bath and Bodywork’s. She also tries to give me old food sometimes, I think because she can’t stand to throw it away. I think it’s sweet and funny.

While I was growing up I remember my mother consuming romance books. She worked at the local Walmart and would bring a new book home almost everyday it seemed. She would read and read. She smoked while she read and would sip Coke from a bottle as she would turn each page. I think she lived on cigarettes and soda.

I never picked up a romance book and read it but I would ask her what her books were about. She’d just say they about romance.

My mother would teach me many things. She was, and still is a very independent woman. She taught me to be an independent man. To be strong, loyal, loving, and nurture being sensitive. She would teach me not to lie. She also said she hated liars. I didn’t want my mother to hate me so I dared not lie to her.

She seemed so much older to me. So much wiser. There was a great gulf in my mind between her and I in regard to age and wisdom. Now that I’m grown and lived many years I see she was just a kid with a kid. Read my story about Navigating Parenthood.

I watched my mom work very hard to provide for us. She would by milk for us and never drink it so we would have milk for cereal all week.

Today I’m very proud of my mother. She is in her retirement years and has worked as a hospice nurse for many years. I don’t know how she does what she does but I’m glad there are people who do that job. She brings comfort and care to dying people everyday.

I live in the same city as my mother and when I get a chance I like to visit with her. I don’t get to see her every day but it’s nice ti live close. When I was much younger and lived away, I didn’t value the closeness as much but today it’s important. It’s amazing how life and time changes personal values. Ages and stages we journey through this life.

Maybe you have a mother. If not, maybe you have mother figures in your life. You know who they might be. You might want to be a mother yourself. If you can’t, you can always be a mother figure to someone. You can shape a younger mind to be the best they can be.

Here’s some reasons why mothers are important.






Friday, June 2, 2023

Do You Believe In Angels? My True Story



Do you believe in angels? If you do or don’t believe in angels, no judgement here. I do have a true story you might like to read about me. I think I may have seen an angel.

This is a true story and it happened many years ago when I was a young boy. This event took place before I learned to swim. To the best of my memory, I believe I was around ten years old.

If you have been reading my posts you will know I grew up in Southwest Missouri. There are many places to swim in the summertime. It is very common during the warm season to see people at lakes and rivers in this area.

One day during the summer, all us kids convinced the adults to take us swimming. We packed up sodas, sandwiches, chips, and took off in the cars to a local river that was popular for swimming and fishing.

We went in the late afternoon so the spot we chose had no swimmers except for our family. We parked down the road at a good spot and had to walk down the road, across the river bridge, and then down to the riverbank to enter the water.

It was a great time. It was always fun swimming with my cousins durning summertime. We would always feel exhausted once we got back to the house from swimming and playing at the river. Do you have childhood swimming memories?

We swam for hours and would splash water on each other. The river scenery was so nice until we would spot a snake in the water and it would scare all us kids back to the riverbank until the snake disappeared. Once we were sure the snake was gone, the swim party would continue.

After swimming for some time, we would complain of hunger and being thirsty. Everyone decided to walk back to the cars where the food and drinks were.

I was ok without eating or drinking. I was too excited about being at the river. I didn’t want to miss a second of water time so I asked if I could stay in the water while everyone else went up to eat. After convincing the adults I would stay close to the riverbank, the family group walked across the bridge, down the road, and out of sight. I was left alone to enjoy the water.

I stayed close to the riverbank as agreed. I didn’t know how to swim at the time. The water was about waist high for me and I would bob up and down along the river. While doing this, I came to a washout and my feet slid downward taking my head completely under water.

The washout had me. I knew the second it happened I was in trouble. I tried my best to get above the water. My head could barely seem to break the surface of the water. I could feel my hands reaching above the water as they tried to grab the air. My legs seemed like they were filled with concrete and no matter how hard I kicked them I just kept going under.

I could see the sun shining through the water surface as I flailed to save my life. I remember thinking this was the end for me and visions of flowers flashed in my minds eye. You know, like the big flower arrangements you see at a funeral. I couldn’t help but be amazed that this was how it was going to end for me. How I wished I knew how to swim.

The seconds seemed like minutes. Just when I thought I was going to sink out of pure exhaustion, I felt someone grab me by the arm and give me a good tug to the surface. I grabbed the arm that was pulling me with my other hand and could finally make my feet touch the steep edge of the washout.

I had swallowed a lot of water and even inhaled some water into my lungs. It burned like fire. I coughed and coughed until I got all the water out.

Once I gained a moment of sense about myself, I looked to see who had pulled me from my watery death sentence. It was another boy. I guessed maybe he was at least five years older than me. He asked me if I was ok. I told him I was ok and I thanked him for saving me. He asked me if I knew how to swim. I told him no. He said he was glad he was there to save me and then asked if I was there alone. I told him I came with family and they had went to the cars for food down the road.

I gave him a thank you again and began walking to the bridge to cross it to meet my family. I left the other boy by the bank of the river. There was a good amount of space between the riverbank and the forrest line. As I was walking across the bridge I looked back to get a final view of my hero.

He was gone. My bloodshot eyes quickly scanned the entire riverbank for the boy. He was nowhere to be seen. There was no way he could have made it to the forrest before I got to the bridge. I was in sort of a shock that I almost drowned and in even more shock at the fact the boy seemed to vanish.

I walked across the bridge and could see my family enjoying snacks at the parking spot. As I met them I was asked if I wanted something to eat and drink. The food burned as it went down my throat. I thought maybe it was sore from all the coughing I had done.

I didn’t tell any of my family what had happened. I kept it to myself until many years later. I was afraid if I said anything about it I would not get to swim again. In a way I didn’t want to swim at all.

I set a goal to learn how to swim. I learned how to dog paddle swim after that. Then I learned how to swim under water. I never wanted to feel that fear again in my life because of water.

I have heard many stories of angels in the past and I don’t know if that boy was a real angel or not. I know he was not there when I was alone. I know there was no other people when we came to swim. I just know that he saved my life and then vanished. He was an angel to me and I will always be grateful.

Do you have a similar story about an someone you thought was an angel? I would like to read your story. Please share with me. Maybe your story will inspire others to believe.

10 True Stories of Angel Encounters


You also might like my post on Navigating The Journey Of Parenthood 

#angels #neardeathexperience #swimming #childhood #summer #missouri