Beef Parmigiana Easy Recipe

 

Treat your tastebuds with this recipe!

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Beef Parmigiana Easy Recipe - (Main Dishes, Beef)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 to 2 pounds beef round steak
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 egg (slightly beaten)
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
1/2 teaspoon basil leaves
3 tablespoons cooking oil
1 can (15 ounce) tomato sauce
1 clove garlic (crushed) or 1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon oregano leaf
4 slices (approximately 1 ounce each) Mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Use round steak cut about 1/2 to 3/4 inches in thickness. Cut into 6 serving-size pieces.  Mix flour, salt and pepper. Dredge meat in seasoned flour and pound. Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and basil leaves. Dip meat pieces in egg and water mixture, then dredge in crumb mixture, coating evenly. Brown in cooking oil. Place in a roasting pan or baking dish, 13 1/2 x 9 x 2 inches. Combine tomato sauce, garlic, sugar, and oregano; pour over meat. With a tight foil cover, cook in a moderate oven, 350 degrees, for 1 hour 10 minutes or until tender. Place a Mozzarella slice on each piece of meat. Sprinkle added oregano, if desired. Bake an additional 3 to 5 minutes until cheese melts. Serve sauce with meat. 

Serves: 6

My Thoughts About Beef Parmigiana:

Beef! You gotta love it! There are so many ways to cook beef. Beef Parmigiana is one of the tastiest ways to cook beef. I have always considered beef parmigiana an Italian recipe but no matter what type it is, I have always loved it. If you enjoy wine with your dinner, enjoy your favorite glass of red wine with this dish.

Growing up my mother mostly cooked chicken parmigiana but there is nothing like the beef taste with parmigian cheese. I do like a little extra cheese on my beef parmigiana, and sauce too. This recipe calls for a whole tablespoon of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. The sweet and salty combination makes you want to take one bite after another. To me, that is the secret of cooking great recipes.

Extra Information For You:

Okay, you know where beef comes from just like everyone else around the globe, but I wanted to share some information I found about specifically, parmigiana. This is another one of my Italian dishes and the word parmigiana strikes up a feeling of Italy for me. Well, it makes me think of Olive Garden mostly. I just love going to Olive Garden. When the server comes with that little cheese grater and asks if I want cheese, I feel bad to say yes but I just can't help myself sometimes. I am almost tempted to ask the server to just leave the grater at the table and I can do it myself because I am afraid they will judge me for how long I make theme crank on the dang thing.

There are several different locations in Italy that claim they originated parmigiana but there is really no way to tell exactly where this wonderful cheese came from. One thing is for sure, each location in Italy has its own version of Parmigiana. You can learn more about Parmigiana by visiting a great article by Tuscookany called Parmigiana, A classic Italian dish, where does it come from?

A Few Questions For You:

First of all, I just have to ask you, because I always do in all my posts, what is your favorite parmigiana dish? I know that eggplant parmigiana is very common, and even chicken, but there are other parmigiana dishes you might like. I'm gonna have to step out here and answer my own question. My favorite is beef parmigiana. Now, being from Missouri, and growing up eating deer meat, I will also add that deer parmigiana is very good. Especially because I love the taste of deer. I hope I didn't lose you on that comment. Some people are very touchy when it comes to deer meat. I really don't understand it other than they possibly did not grow up eating deer. 

Next question. Did you happen to see my last recipe? It is a dessert recipe and if you decide to cook beef parmigiana my last recipe will go well with this one. Trust me when I tell you, it is so delicious. It is called Blueberry Crisp Easy Recipe and I would love to know what you think of it. 

Personal Thoughts I'd Like To Share:

Over the past weekend, I decided to make chili. I used the recipe I shared in previous a previous post. As I mentioned I worked on it for a few years to get it just the way I like it. Do you like chili? God knows I could eat it just about every day. Maybe it's a "guy" thing. I have heard that stereotype in movies. I heard that about spaghetti too. "Men can live on chili and spaghetti." I've heard them say. I think there might be some truth to that. You can make a bunch of it and it lasts a long time. What are your thoughts?

Anyway, a friend of mine mentioned White Chicken Chili and that got my attention because I have never cooked it before. I did use chicken in my chili recipe instead of beef. It turned out pretty good and I think I will have some for lunch today. The White Chicken Chili has my attention because first of all, it's chili, and second of all there are different spices. I love spices and cooking with them.

The chicken chili I made this weekend.

You may notice I have corn in my chili in the picture I shared above. I love how the chicken looks in the chili and it tastes pretty good. I will have to admit I like beef just a little better in my chili and I am not just saying that because this is a post on beef. I genuinely like the taste a little better.

I think this is a good time to show you what I found at the local "Big Box" store while doing some shopping.

UNICORN POOP marshmallows by YUMMALLO

I was in the store and saw marshmallows called UNICORN POOP and I think it's beautiful marketing. It is so funny to me. I haven't looked into this company that makes these but they kind of make me think of marshmallow Peeps but not as cute. I didn't buy the Unicorn Poop but I did find another bag of marshmallows that I decided to get.

Yummallo POPCORN Marshmallows

I found Popcorn marshmallows and decided to get those for my two little granddaughters. I think those are a little more appropriate than Unicorn Poop. They are made by the same company and I was curious to know what they tasted like. I have tried popcorn flavor taffy and I really like taffy. I thought the popcorn marshmallows would taste the same but they didn't have the same popcorn taste as the taffy. There was just a hint of popcorn flavor. Have you tried any of these marshmallows?

After giving these marshmallows a taste I divided them up into sandwich bags for my granddaughters. When I took these marshmallows to them they seemed happy to have them. It's the little thing I do with my grandkids. I want them to always remember their "Papaw" giving them marshmallows. Is that silly?

Well, I want to finish up by saying I will probably give the White Chicken Chili a try this weekend. Maybe share it with family and see what they think of it. It has turned cold here in the Ozarks right now and soup and chili seem to hit the spot for me. 

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Blueberry Crisp Easy Recipe - Low Carb

 

You can afford ice cream on top of this recipe!

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Blueberry Crisp Easy Recipe - (Desserts) - Low Carb

Ingredients:

4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (unsweetened)
12 packages of sugar substitute
2 2/3 cups cold water
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons cornstarch (dissolve in 4 tablespoons water)
7 (3 ounces) large shredded wheat biscuits, crumbled
1/2 cup brown sugar substitute
4 tablespoons diet margarine, melted
4 tablespoons liquid butter flavoring
Sugar-free whipped topping, option (2 tablespoons free)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small saucepan, cook blueberries with sweetener, water, lemon juice, and salt. Stir in the cornstarch mixture. Pour into the bottom of the 9x13 baking dish. Mix biscuit crumbs, brown sugar substitute, margarine, and liquid butter flavoring. Sprinkle evenly over the berry mixture. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbly. Serve plain or with sugar-free whipped topping.

Serves: 8 people

My Thoughts About Blueberry Crisp:

The days are getting cooler and I know you will agree with me, there is nothing quite as nice as some warm dessert with ice cream on top. This is a low-carb recipe and it won't hurt to add a dollop of topping of some kind. I may be a bad influence if you count carbohydrates, but ask yourself if you deserve it. I am willing to bet you do.

A recipe like this brings back memories for me. It is almost like what we call here in the Ozark's a "cobbler" and there is nothing that gets attention more at family reunions than a cobbler. My mother also would make cobbler. I would always enjoy smelling the dessert cooking in the oven. Sometimes I would get a taste of the filling before it baked. It was such a joy for me. So every time I see or taste this kind of dessert it is very nostalgic for me. The holidays are coming up and if you are looking for something to bring to family, this recipe may just be one that will get you a lot of "THANK YOU!" comments from the crowd.

Some Extra Information For You:

It was the Native Americans who Introduced blueberries to early settlers. The settlers loved it so much that it became a main dish and then moved on to the dessert table as a favorite. Blueberries are popular around the 4th of July because they are in peak season then. So like most people when hearing about blueberries you might associate blueberries with Independence Day. Did you know July is National Blueberry Month here in the United States? You can learn more about blueberries in America by visiting TasteAtlas.

A Question Or Two For You:

Have you ever been blueberry picking? I have and it is lots of fun. There is a local blueberry farm here in our area and every year it is open to the public. I took my daughters there and they loved picking blueberries. At the time it cost, from what I can remember, about four dollars a person. We were all given a small bucket and could pick until our bucket was full. We stored them in plastic bags and ate on them all through the winter. We would put them on our cereal and bake with them too.

Did you see my last recipe? This blueberry dessert would go well with it. My last recipe is called Tennessee Pride Hash Brown Casserole. If you missed it, take a look and let me know if you think these two recipes would pair up nicely.

My Personal Thoughts For Today:

Recently I purchased a portable dishwasher from a friend. It is in very good shape and I got a good deal. I have always hand-washed dishes in the home I currently live in. I have owned it since 2001 and never installed a dishwasher. I owned a home in Springfield, Missouri for about two years and I enjoyed the dishwasher there. 

General Electric Portable Dishwasher with Countertop.

This dishwasher is a General Electric brand and it fits nicely next to my cook stove. I can load it as I use dishes and when it's full I simply roll it to the sick just a few feet away and hook it up for use. The hose in the back of the dishwasher connects to the sink. My faucet is not the right size for the connector so I have to modify it or get a new faucet. That is not an issue to get a different faucet. I was going to sell this house when we lived in Springfield but decided not to after my two oldest daughters moved out of the house in Springfield. I moved back to this smaller home and sold the larger one.

Kitchen faucet without faucet ring.

The connector hose would not fit on my faucet because the dishwasher hose connector is too small. My friend who sold me the dishwasher said she would give me an adaptor that would work for it. I am looking forward to trying this and hopefully, it works well. If you know me at all you know I try to add humor to any situation, although I truly am a very serious person. I am serious about humor. I was looking at the faucet ring and it looks just like a big finger ring. I slid it on and what do you know, it worked well!

My kitchen faucet ring. Not a biker ring!

I promptly went to my daughter's room and she was busy writing. After a minute she noticed it on my finger and asked me if I was turning into a biker person. She is so funny! I said, "No honey, I am not turning into a biker person." and we both laughed out loud. I explained to her I put the kitchen faucet ring on my finger and it just looks like a biker ring, but without the skull. It is little funny moments like this I try to create that have lasting memories for me. I love to laugh and be happy! I hope I made you smile a little reading this. Thanks for reading! Leave a comment because I would love to hear from you.

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Tennessee Pride Hash Brown Casserole Easy Recipe

 

Y'all are gonna love this one!

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Tennessee Pride Hash Brown Casserole Easy Recipe - (Main Dishes, Pork) Casserole

Ingredients:

2 pounds Tennessee Pride Sausage
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 can cream of Chicken Soup
1 cup sour cream
1 (8 ounces) container French Onion Dip
1 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup each of Red & Green Peppers
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 (30-ounce) Package of Frozen hash brown shredded potatoes thawed.

Directions:

In a skillet cook sausage until browned. Drain well. Combine the cheese, chicken soup, and sour cream in a large mixing bowl. French Onion dip, chopped onion Bell peppers, salt & pepper. Fold in thawed hash browns. Mix well. Spread 1/2 of the mixture over the bottom of a 9x13-greased baking dish. Spread 1/2 of the browned sausage over hash browns. Repeat layering the second 1/2 of the hash brown mixture. Wait to add the rest of the sausage to the top until the last 10 minutes of cooking time. Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes. Spread the remaining sausage on top and bake for 10 minutes more. The casserole should be golden brown.

My Thoughts On Tennessee Pride Hash Brown Casserole:

In 1994 I moved to West Tennessee in the County of Dyer Tennessee. It is a beautiful part of the country. I was used to living in Southwest Missouri where we enjoy the Ozark Mountains and hills. West Tennessee is much different. In Missouri, there are plenty of cattle and hay fields. In West Tennessee, I found lots of land without a fence. It was adorned with cotton and soybean. More flat than hills, the cotton glowed with white buds at harvest time of the year. Such a beautiful place. The people there are even more friendly than I was accustomed to in my part of Missouri where everyone waves and says "Howdy!" upon greeting. Tennessee food is exciting. I experienced red-eye gravy and coleslaw on my barbeque sandwiches in Tennessee. Of course, there is Tennessee Pride Casserole. When you try this recipe you will be filled with pride as you receive compliments on its taste. Make plans to share this experience with your friends and family. They will thank you kindly for it!

Extra Information For You:

Hash browns are the best! I enjoy eating my hash browns with ketchup! I put salt and pepper on my hash browns as well. I like to eat hash browns for breakfast and dinner. Not in the same day of course. The hash brown was originally called "hashed brown potatoes" and the dish has a very interesting history. Maria Parloa shared the recipe in 1887. Even though this recipe is titled "Tennessee Pride" it is said that hash browns were first originated in Minnesota. You can read more about the history of hash browns by visiting the Tennesee State Library And Archives.

A Question Or Two I Must Ask You:

Would you please share a memory you have of hash browns? Maybe you remember your parents, relative, or friend cooking hash browns for you? I would love to hear your story. Let me know in this post. Also, I am wondering if you missed my last recipe? It is called Texas Hash Easy Recipe. It is not Tennessee hash browns but it is Texas Hash! This recipe has pork in it as you have read but hash browns alone are great!

My Personal Thoughts For Today:

I usually post or try to post more than once every week but I have been extremely busy this past week with life. I am sure you can relate. I work full-time as you might know, and I am in the middle of several projects. While working on my wood pellet stove installation, I am doing it for myself, and I am also spending time with my youngest daughter. No doubt homesteading is in my mind or at least the subject of homesteading. I would at least like to be more efficient in my living as far as saving money on heating my home.

Recently, I went through some of my quarters and found a Homestead quarter.

Homestead Quarter - Front Side - 2015

I have a one-gallon glass jug in which I keep my change in and I was pleasantly surprised to find this homestead quarter. Honestly, I didn't even know this type of quarter existed. I am not proud to admit that. I should stay more informed on things like this. Am I being too hard on myself? I'm not for sure. I assume most people already know about this quarter. I looked up the price on these quarters and they are worth more than their minted value. Collectors will pay a good amount for these and apparently, there are quarters with a mistake that are valued in the thousands of dollars.

Homestead Quarter - Back Side - 2015

Do you have any Homestead quarters? If you do, you might find it interesting to find the value of your quarters. If you are lucky, you might have one that is very valuable to a collector and if you wanted to sell it, you might have enough money to start your very own homestead.

You can learn more about the Homestead National Monument of America Quarter by visiting the United States Mint website.

I would like to finish up this post by sharing I am excited to know my oldest daughter and her family are moving back to my area. I am excited to see them and that means I will get to see my two granddaughters. I enjoy getting to see them when I can. They are so cute and remind me of when my own daughters were little. I still consider myself to be somewhat young but I am a fairly new grandparent. I am 50 years old so in reality, that is not too young. I try to stay young at heart and my grandchildren make me feel that way. What a joy!

Thanks for reading this recipe post!

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Texas Hash Easy Recipe

 

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Texas Hash Easy Recipe - (Main Dishes, Beef)

Ingredients:

1 pound hamburger

1 large green pepper (chopped)

1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces)

1/2 cup uncooked rice

1-2 tablespoons chili powder

3 large onions (diced)

2 teaspoons salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet, stir ground beef until it is light brown. Then drain off the fat. Add the onions, and green peppers, cook, and stir until the onions are tender. Stir in the tomatoes, rice, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Heat thoroughly, and pour into an ungreased 2-quart casserole dish. Cover & bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

My Thoughts On Texas Hash:

When I was a child I lived in East Texas. Longview, Texas to be exact. I lived there for about seven years. I loved it there but I am originally from Missouri. I picked up a little accent while living in East Texas, which was very noticeable when I moved back to Missouri. It is amazing how a person can adapt to a certain geographical area and pick up an accent. One thing that also was picked up was my love for Texan food. I love Texas Hash! If you have never tried this recipe I would encourage you to give it a whirl! There's some Texas talk for you!

Extra Information For You:

Texas Hash is really a Tex-Mex casserole but I logged it under Beef Dishes in this blog because of the love for beef in Texas and originality. This recipe is something that the whole family will love. The recipe originated in 1971 by the one and only Betty Crocker. I'm just kidding! She didn't invent it. She just published it then to share her version with the world. Betty Crocker isn't even a real person. She is a brand. Texas Hash is originally thought to come from the Great Depression era when families needed to conserve food and make ingredients stretch just to survive. You can learn more about its origin by visiting Apron Advisor.

A Question Or Two For Ya:

Do you remember the first time you tried Texas Hash? If you don't remember the first time then maybe you remember the last time. Did you cook it or did someone else? If you make this recipe would you mind sharing your experience with me here? Great! I knew you would. Also, did you see my last recipe? If you missed it, it is called Choco-Holic Ho Ho Cake. Check it out and tell me what you think of it too.

Personal Thoughts For Today: (Wood Pellet Stove Installation Pictures)

It has been a busy week for me as usual and I have been working on my wood pellet stove, as you may know from reading my previous posts. I got the area wall cleaned up and ready to get this thing installed. The nights here have been colder and I appreciate the warmth of wood heat. I am really looking forward to it being warmer and cheaper to heat my home.

Where the propane wall heater hung.

I need to paint over the spots on the wall where the propane heater used to hang. I got the holes filled and then I moved on to the next step in the process. I had to find the flue exhaust pipe hole and drilled in the area where I thought it was until finally I found it. I began by cutting the hole all the way open until it was completely revealed. I think I removed so many bird nests from the flue I filled up a small trash can.

I put putty in the hanging holes. Next, I need to paint.

You can see in the picture above where I placed putty in the wall holes where the propane wall heater used to hang. You can also see the propane line coming in through the floor. I have a cut-off valve on there and was advised to cap it off with a flair cap to be safe. I didn't have to put it under the floor. I decided to keep it there if I wanted to use it in the future for a propane heater. I still have a central air system that has a propane furnace in it but the more options available for heat is the best in my opinion.

6-inch flue hole I gloriously cut out. 

How do you like the tiny drill holes above my flue exhaust hole? I tapped on the sheetrock that covers my flue and listened. I thought I found the hole but as you can tell, I had it wrong. I think it is funny. Well, that is just some more holes I will have to putty over and paint. I plan to run a 3-inch exhaust pipe up through the flue to use for the wood pellet stove instead of using the original flue itself. My home is an old home and I am sure the flue was built to resist heat but by using the exhaust pipe I am being safe.

Stove pipe for the flue I bought at Lowe's.

This weekend my daughter and I visited Lowe's and purchased three 60-inch stove exhaust pipes. I previously measured my flue that when down to the opening inside and it was about 12 feet. That gives me a little extra when I install the topper and cap on top of the house. I also purchased a 3-inch elbow to connect to the pipe on the inside of the flue. At the time of the purchase, these pipes were about $14 each. After-tax, my total was around $50 dollars. It is adding up for sure but it is an investment that will pay for itself in the long run. 

Hole for cold air intake hose.

Since the wood pellet stove has to have cold air from the outside I figured out a great way to get it. I decided to drill a 2 1/4-inch hole in the floor behind where the stove will sit. I can run the intake hose under the house over to a vent on the side of the house. It really worked out perfectly because the vent is in the exact place I need it. I bought a 2 1/4-inch Craftsman drill bit because that is the size of the intake hose that came with my wood pellet stove. I also purchased this drill bit at Lowe's. It was the cheapest option for me and worked great.

I hope you enjoyed my post for today about Texas Hash Easy Recipe and my wood pellet stove installation journey. Please feel free to share this post with a friend and if you have any tips or feedback about this recipe or my wood pellet stove I sure would love to hear from you. I am learning how to install this stove so if you can, please help me out. Thanks so much for reading!

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Choco-Holic Ho Ho Cake Easy Recipe

 

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Choco-Holic Ho Ho Cake Easy Recipe - (Cakes)

Ingredients:

2 2/3 cup flour

2 cups sugar

6 tablespoons cocoa

2 tablespoons vinegar

2 cups water

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

12 tablespoons oil or 3/4 cup

Directions:

Mix together ingredients. They will be runny. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.

Middle Layer: (Directions)

Cook until thick... 

5 tablespoons flour

1 1/4 cups milk stirring constantly

Cool - (keep covered)

After cooled add to the cream mixture

Cream Mixture:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup Crisco

Spread the flour/cream mixture over the cake. Cool in the refrigerator while preparing icing.

Icing:

1/2 cup butter

Melt 3 ounces of square unsweetened chocolate

Add:

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 egg

2 1/2 tablespoons hot water

1 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Icing will continue to be runny. Pour over the top of the cake. Then refrigerate. 

My Thoughts On Choco-Holic Ho Ho Cake:

I love the Hostess Ho Ho's but this recipe takes the cake! Literally! It is an easy recipe with three steps but you will be glad when you cut yourself a piece of this chocolate lover's delight. If you like coffee it would go great with it too. You will be sure to win some people over with this recipe.

Extra Information For You:

Mr. McKee started selling 5-cent cakes in 1933. Then in 1935, he came out with the Oatmeal Creme Pie. Since then, the family has been selling great dessert cakes. Hostess has the Ho Ho's and The Little Debbie company has the Swiss Roll. They are comparable and both are tasty. You can learn more about Little Debbie and its history by visiting their site in this post.

Question For You:

What is your favorite snack cake? The Hostess Ho Ho or Little Debbie's Swiss Roll? I am sure after you try your hand at my Choco-Holic Ho Ho Cake you will love it the best. Did you see my last recipe? It is also a dessert recipe and it's called Brown Edge Saucies Easy Recipe. It is an applesauce cookie recipe.

Personal Thoughts For Today:

It's starting to get cooler and you know what that means. It's time to make a fire outside in the firepit and enjoy the warmth with family or friends.

My backyard metal firepit with stars cut in the side.

My daughter asked me recently if we could make a fire. It is such a great thing to do and a great excuse to roast hotdogs and marshmallows over the fire.  I had to get some beef hotdogs because they are the best tasting in my opinion and some marshmallows. I found some graham crackers with cinnamon and sugar on them along with a Hershey's milk chocolate bar for making smores. I only had one but it was so good.

The Smore I made. You know the recipe.

I had some wood logs left over from last year that I purchased from the store. I don't live in the country so I am forced to buy wood for the firepit. I do live in town and have some trees that create small wood in the yard but I use that for getting the fire started. 

An Update On My Wood Pellet Stove:

I got the hole cut in my chimney to run my metal stovepipe through for the exhaust. I figured out how to get cool air from outside based on the location of my wood pellet stove. I am drilling a hole in the floor behind the wood stove and running my intake hose under the house using a plastic pipe. The pipe leads to the vent in the side of my house and is almost exactly where I need it. It will work out great and I am going to be posting more pictures as I get it installed.

Today I am going to the Lowe's store. I will be looking at more exhaust pipe to complete the job and a stove plate to sit the wood pellet stove on. The idea for the stove plate is to catch any ashes that might fall out of the stove and to help protect the floor under the stove as well.

It is 57 degrees today so it is a little cooler and I had to put on my pullover hoodie. I think it will be warmer tomorrow and will give me a chance to work on installing the cool air intake system I have designed. I was thinking about making a video to post on my YouTube channel so you can see it after I have it installed. Please subscribe so you won't miss my videos.

Beef hotdogs over my fire pit.

I hope you enjoyed my post for today. If you have a fire pit, it is a good thing to get out and use it this time of the year. It will give you a chance to unwind and forget about work or whatever you have been distracted by recently. If you don't have a fire pit, maybe you know someone who does. Thanks for reading and be sure to share my Choco-Holic Ho Ho Cake with a friend.

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Brown Edge Saucies Easy Recipe - Cookie And Master Forge Wood Pellet Stove

 

One of the best applesauce cookies you will ever taste!

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Brown Edge Saucies Easy Recipe - (Cookies)

Ingredients:

2 cups flour (sifted)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup canned applesauce

Directions:

Step 1. Measure flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves into sifter. Save for step 4.

Step 2. Cream shortening until soft in a medium-sized bowl. Add sugar gradually creaming after each addition until well blended.

Step 3. Stir in egg and vanilla. Beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Step 4. Sift and add dry ingredients alternately with applesauce blending well after each addition.

Step 5. Drop batter by teaspoon onto lightly greased cookie sheet keeping mounds 2 inches apart.

Step 6. Bake in a moderate oven at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned around the edges. Makes 3 dozen cookies.

Thoughts On Brown Edge Saucies:

The cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves will pop in this cookie recipe so much you will think you are biting into Christmas morning! You can add a small amount of vanilla icing to the top of these cookies for an added flavor if you like.

Extra Information For You:

Here is some information about the history of applesauce. Applesauce came from Central Europe. It was originally found in an English cookbook. You can learn more details about this cookbook and the history of applesauce in the article called Apple Sauce by Tasteatlas.

A Question or Two For You:

Do you like applesauce or apple sauce cookies? Have you ever made these cookies? If you have had any experience with these cookies I would love to hear your story. Please share with me in the comments below. Also, did you miss my last easy recipe? If you did miss my last recipe, I would like to share it with you here. The recipe is called Italian Meatballs Easy Recipe. Take a peek at it!

Personal Thoughts For Today:

In previous posts I have shared I wanted to get a wood pellet stove. I finally got over to the Lowe's store and bought one. It is a Master Forge wood pellet stove.

I picked up my wood pellet stove with my truck.

I had to wait a few days before picking it up at the store. I heat with propane but I wanted to add a wood pellet stove to not only have more of an option for heating my home but it is also a beginning towards being more independent and self-sufficient. Eventually, it would be ideal to produce power as well with solar panels and wind turbines. 

In the middle of the house. It is the dining room area.

My stepdad owns ramps for his truck and brought them to me. We put the ramps on the tailgate and slid the stove down the ramp to the ground. Then we used a dolly to wheel it into the house. The picture above is basically where I want to place the stove in my home. The next step is to measure how much pipe I need for installation. I have to get on top of the roof and measure the amount of pipe I need to run down to the stove for exhaust. I have a chimney flu built into the home so I will run pip down the flu instead of using the flu itself.

I am thinking I would like to purchase a plate for the stove to sit on and possibly a plate to go on the wall behind the stove as well. If I don't use a plate for the wall I may use some kind of decorative wall board that looks like bricks. It is just an idea. I also would like to use black pipe for inside the house. The pipe going up the flu won't be seen so it will be the cheapest and probably just regular silver metal.

This stove heats 2,000-3,000 square feet and my house is not as much as that so this stove should heat the house very well. I can use the central air unit to circulate the warm air throughout the house. The intake for the central air is in the ceiling of the dining room where the heat from the stove will go to. I think it will work out well and I will keep you updated on the progress and experience.

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Italian Meatballs Easy Recipe And The Taco Food Truck

 

Goes great with the pasta of your choice!

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Italian Meatballs Easy Recipe - (Italian Food)

Ingredients:  - (Meatball Mix)

1 pound round steak

1/2 pound lean pork (ground fine)

1 cup bread crumbs

1/2 cup cheese (shredded fine)

1 small onion (grated)

2 eggs (slightly beaten)

1 tablespoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon ground sage (optional)

Sauce:

1 small can tomatoes (mashed)

1 cup water

1 onion (diced)

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Mix all ingredients for meatballs thoroughly and form into small balls. Roll in flour and put into the pan. Mix all ingredients for the sauce and cook for 5 minutes. Pour sauce over meatballs and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Thoughts On Italian Meatballs:

Meatballs automatically go with pasta of some kind right? This easy Italian Meatball recipe is one you will enjoy eating for sure. The sauce is out of this world too. You might have noticed in the recipe that ground sage is optional. I love the taste of sage but if you don't like it as much you can easily leave it out. I like spaghetti noodles when I eat meatballs because that is what I am used to and it is most traditional here in America. I would say that any pasta will do.

Extra Information:

It is commonly thought that meatballs were invented by Italians and they brought the recipe to America when they immigrated in the late 1880's and early 1900's. According to history, the earliest known origin of meatballs comes from Rome. You can learn more about the meatballs by visiting Escoffier's post on Bringing Spaghetti And Meatballs To America.

A Question For You:

Do you like pasta with your meatballs? What kind of past do you like? Do you like grated cheese on top? Every time I visit Olive Garden I love to watch the server grate the cheese over the pasta. Also, did you miss my last recipe? It has beef and pasta in it. It is called Beef Stroganoff Biscuit Casserole in case you missed it.

Personal Thoughts For Today:

I wanted to share a food story from last Tuesday. It was a pretty good day as far as Tuesdays go. My employer rewarded us by feeding us lunch that day. As I work in a wood product manufacturing facility, we have a record of safety throughout the year. We have gone a whole year without any recordable incidents and that was cause for celebration.

I Love TACOS TAQUERIA food truck

Do you like food trucks? It seems that food trucks are really popular lately and there are many to choose from in our area. With the warmer weather, the restaurants really increase their revenue by going out into the communities and serving customers where they are. They may set up in retail parking lots, festivals, or even in front of their own restaurant location. Most of the trucks are decorated nicely and catch the eye with bright colors and graphics. I just love some of the catchy names these businesses have.

steak burrito with chips and salsa

We didn't have to pay for our food when the food truck came. Our company paid for the food and I was very happy to get it. I was hungry and I was craving Mexican food. I decided to get the steak burrito. You can tell from the picture I shared here that the burrito was really big. Look at it in comparison to the can of Dr Pepper. It was really good! The burrito came with chips and salsa. After I ate everything and I had to go back to work, It took me an hour or two to feel normal again. My feet felt like steak burritos. They were so heavy and all I wanted to do was take a nap. If my employer is reading this they will be happy to know I did not take a nap. I went back to work and worked very hard.

Share a link in the comments to your favorite food truck! 

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Weights And Measures For Cooking Easy Recipes

 

some of my cooking tools

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Weights And Measures For Cooking Easy Recipes

Standard Abbreviations

(I may not use these in my recipes but if I do this will serve as a useful guide)

t. --- teaspoon

T. --- tablespoon

c. --- cup

f.g. --- few grains

pt. --- pint

qt. --- quart

d.b. --- double boiler

B.P. --- baking powder

oz. --- ounce

lb. --- pound

pk. --- peck (learn how much a peck is here)

bu. --- bushel (learn how much a bushel is here)

Guide to Weights and Measures

1 teaspoon = 60 drops

3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon

2 tablespoons = 1 fluid ounce

4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup

5 1/3 tablespoons = 1/3 cup

8 tablespoons = 1/2 cup

16 tablespoons = 1 cup

1 pound = 16 ounces

1 cup = 1/2 pint

2 cups = 1 pint

4 cups = 1 quart

4 quarts = 1 gallon

8 quarts = 1 peck

4 pecks = 1 bushel

Substitutions and Equivalents

2 tablespoons of fat = 1 ounce

1 cup of fat = 1/2 pound

1 pound of butter = 2 cups

1 cup of hydrogenated fat plus 1/2 t. salt = 1 cup butter

2 cups sugar = 1 pound

2 1/2 cups packed brown sugar = 1 pound

1 1/3 cups packed brown sugar = 1 pound

3 1/2 cups of powdered sugar = 1 pound

4 cups sifted all-purpose flour = 1 pound

4 1/2 cups sifted cake flour = 1 pound

1 ounce bitter chocolate = 1 square

4 tablespoons cocoa plus 2 teaspoon butter = 1 ounce of bitter chocolate

1 cup egg whites = 8 to 10 whites

1 cup egg yolks = 12 to 14 yolks

16 marshmallows = 1/4 pound

1 tablespoon cornstarch = 2 tablespoons flour for thickening

1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice + 1 cup milk = 1 cup sour milk

10 graham crackers = 1 cup fine crumbs

1 cup whipping cream = 2 cups whipped

1 cup evaporated milk = 3 cups whipped

1 lemon = 3 to 4 tablespoons juice

1 orange = 6 to 8 tablespoons juice

1 cup uncooked rice = 3 to 4 cups cooked rice

Thoughts On Weights And Measures For Cooking

It is essential that you do not confuse "weight" and "volume" when it comes to cooking. I want to share the Guide to Common Cooking Measurements by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Hopefully, this guide will be helpful to you. If you have any comments about these measurements please let me know at the end of this post.

Extra Information For You:

Maybe you have been cooking for a while and you have heard someone use the term "smidgen" or "dollop" when they provide instructions on a recipe. These terms among other cooking terms are very unique. It is almost like a cooking language. I would like to share a great article that explains these terms on these weights and measures. It is by Lapham's Quarterly, and is called How Much Is a Smidgen?

Quick Question To Think About:

Do you have a memory of being in the kitchen with a loved one and they used a cooking term concerning weights and measures? I remember my grandmother cooking and saying "dash" or "pinch" and sometimes she wouldn't use a measuring device except for her hands. This confused me because I am a very analytical person. To me, it made more sense to use a measuring spoon or cup. It seemed to work for her very well and all of us benefited from her tasty cooking. What words do you recall hearing in the kitchen while someone cooked your favorite meal?

Did you miss my last easy recipe? If you did, then you can read it now. It is called Beef Stroganoff Biscuit Casserole where I share a BONUS recipe for BEST CHILI that you just love. Check it out and let me know what you think!

My Personal Thoughts:

Me at Barnes & Noble Bookstore

It has been a very busy week and I intended to share more recipes but just haven't been able to. Friday night my daughter had her friend over to stay the night. I took them to eat Chinese food and then to a local thrift store. I found a couple good T-shirts and some books. I did find an old wood walking cane I plan to refinish and maybe sell. I will share pictures of that later when I get around to working on it.

The girls found a few items at the thrift store and then we went next door to the Aldi grocery store to get snacks for them. After the sacks, we went to the Vintage Stock store so they could shop there. I sat in the car while they looked. The Vintage Stock store is a video game store that also sells posters and movies. I am not into video games that much so it didn't interest me.

Auto Problems:

Before we went into the thrift store I had problems with the side van door opening up. It is automatic and it didn't seem to want to work. No matter how hard I tried or what I did it just didn't work. I had filled up my gas tank at the station and I figured out my gas cap door was not all the way closed. This prevents the sliding door from opening. Once I clicked the gas cap door all the way closed, the sliding door began to work correctly. This happened before but it was so long ago I forgot all about it. The girls had a good time and I got a dad-win taking them out. One thing I learned was that when pumping gas it is very important to make sure the gas cap door is all the way closed before leaving the station.

Ok, I hope I haven't bored you with my dad journeys and making teenage girls have a fun time shopping. I'll be finishing up this post and hopefully, you find the information I shared here helpful. If you have a recipe you would like to share please send it to me. I will give you recipe share credit and link back to your page or social media. Until next time, thanks for reading!

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