Well we made it to the half way mark and all is well. At least up here it is. Today I added a posting showing some of the health benefits of consuming chicken broth. All broth is good for us if it's cooked properly and consumed regularly. I focused on chicken broth because it actually helps reduce inflamation and those annoying, achy joint pains we sometimes suffer from. I may only be speaking for Neccy and myself and if that's so, lucky you. However, for the rest of us, please read the information. Our grandmothers were right!
Yesterday I complained about gas prices being so high and with good reason. I found though that they were outweighed by the beef prices at the local Food Lion. I went in with the intent to get a Mother's Day card for you know who and a birthday card for Kaylee Boo. That being said, I came out less than 20 minutes later having spent $83.00. Whatever, some of you go to Kohls or the mall or wherever and spend just as much in the same amount of time so I don't want to hear it. I happen to despise shopping unless it's grocery shopping. And I admit, the occasional Dollar Tree extravaganza but who's concern is that really? But I digress... the ground chuck was on sale for $1.97 per pound. The gas was $2.83. You do the math. I had to get it it was on sale!! Four pounds of meat and I was outa there... LOL
If you must know, the cards were more expensive than the beef or the gas... so where's the savings? Well in this case it's not about the money, it's about the thought.
I picked up some okra, speckled butter beans and field peas (they didn't have frozen black eyed peas, what's up with that?) for a recipe that Joe Brack gave me. I'll elaborate later. I picked up some beer because it was on sale, hello, $13.99 for an 18 pack. So you can see where the $83.00 went and how quickly.
For the ride home I was almost completely by myself on the road. There was one guy in front of me and one it back. That's it. For the whole 45 minute trip. I don't know where everyone went but they were either gone before I got on the road or lost somewhere behind me. It was so peaceful coming over those hills and around those curves it's easy to get lost in the scenery. The irises are blooming all along the roadside and around the mailboxes. People here just seem to know where to put them to make them look their best. I saw some purple ones, white ones, yellow ones and even some that appear to be multi-colored between yellow, red and a brownish sort of hue. Very, very pretty and apparently very, very abundant. Thank you Francis for the tips on getting ahold of some for myself!
Once home we took our usual stroll around the yard. The outdoor kitchen is really coming along and soon I'll be able to send pictures. We took a couple pics of the outhouse which I'll be posting as soon as they are sent to my phone. It's pretty cool looking if I do say so myself. I brought in the clothes off the line and checked out the new arrangement in the laundry room. The washer and dryer are back on the floor where they were originally intended - sweet!! Wally says they look like they belong to midgets. I guess because they were so tall when they were on the blocks now they look miniature LOL. I'm glad to have them there though, saves me from having to climb up the steps of the stool to get to the clothes. We gave the dog his aspirin, discussed planting the stolen daffodils around the flagpole and then headed into the house.
I made a healthy version of what we aways called "grease and beans." I think Dougy gave it that name? In any case, it's ground beef (good thing it was on sale ha ha) browned with peppers and onions. Then you add a can of dark red kidney beans, juice and all. Heat it up and serve it over rice. Well, as I said, mine is a somewhat healthier version - no offense Mom - in fact, I think you would like it too.
Before browning the meat, I cooked some pearled barley in a cup and a half of beef broth. You can use water but it doesn't taste as good. When that was almost done, I browned the meat with the onions and peppers and added the kidney beans and juice. To that I added about half a can of whole tomatoes that I chopped up myself. I don't like the ones that are already chopped because they chop them too small. I also added a couple spoonfuls of the Recaitro I told you about yesterday and a generous sprinkling of black pepper.
I mixed in the cooked barley and viola! Dinner was served. We ate while we watched Sanford & Son and then we just chilled out; Wally in his recliner and me in my rocker... LOL Okay, enough relaxing, I got up and cleaned the kitchen, took out my contacts and changed into my shorts and tank top. Off we went to bed where Wally promptly fell asleep and I watched Criminal Minds. Party Animals aren't we? I'm pretty sure it was around 9:00 when I fell asleep. That never happened in FL. I should have been a farmer; up before sunrise and down before dark...
So the recipe Joe Brack gave me goes like this: Get either a ham bone or a ham steak or both. If you use a ham steak cut it into pieces. Start it boiling in water to cover. I always add a packet or two of ham bouillon depending on how much water you add.Once that gets boiling, add a bag of frozen speckled butter beans, a bag of frozen black eyed peas (or field peas if that's all you can find) and a bag of frozen okra. I find that they sell the okra in twice the size of the peas so sometimes you only need half a bag of the okra. If you like a lot of okra, add the whole bag. I then add a can of whole tomatoes (chopped by me) and a chopped onion. Let this cook awhile and then check your seasonings. You may need to add salt and pepper if you don't have ham bouillon. It takes about 30 minutes or so for the beans and peas to get done. If you use a ham bone, you may want to take it out, let it cool and then pick the meat off and add it back to the stew.
This is a keeper for me and I thank Joe Brack for the recipe. I know I changed it up a bit but it's still good. Ask Dizzy Debbie. I made some for her and Jamie and she wouldn't let him have any of it!! LOL that's my girl :)
It was 43 degrees this morning and it's supposed to warm up to 69 by midday. Pretty nice weather now that the rain has moved on. Maybe my garden area will get tilled in the next day or so. I'm glad I didn't put out the tomatoes - 43 might have been just a little too cold for them. I'm shooting for this weekend just like I was shooting for all the rest but I have seriously high hopes this time... of course I'll keep you posted.
"Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others." - Buddha
I hope your Wednesday brings happiness to you and those around you even if only by reading what I wrote for you.
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