Spending too much time watching tv? What else can you be doing?

NETFLIX ~ Who doesn't love NETFLIX?

Many of us spend way too much time on Netflix or just watching tv.  Don't get me wrong!! It's GREAT entertainment.

What? You don't have a Netflix account yet? Click Here to Get Your First Month Free

Ever find yourself sitting in front of the tv just vegging? Everyone loves down time, right? Why not enjoy your favorite show, right?

We all enjoy getting lost in a good movie, weekly show or just plain binge watching Netflix! Heck, we even post on social media about it or are you one who is feeling a little guilty about all that time in front of the screen? What else could you be doing?

It's a new year and could be a new you!

Organizing your home will make you feel great! This past year we moved from Ohio to Illinois so I went through each and every drawer in my house. I can't tell you how daunting I thought it would be. However I knew it had to be done. I know, it's so hard to even get started! Just do it! Start with one drawer. It doesn't have to be that drawer that you've been dreading to look into since it's the go to drawer when you need to clear off the counter.  Actually, don't start with that one. Let's work our way up. What drawer do you have your hotpads in? Let's start with that one!

  - Take one item out at a time.
  - Look at it, hold it. Don't set it down. Do you still NEED it? Or do you want it? If you don't need or want it then make a pile for that. This is your give away pile. You can sell it on a local facebook page, craigslist, Ebay or donate it.



  - Does it need cleaned? If so, wash it. Don't wait or make a pile, just wash it. If not, set on the counter just above the drawer.
  - Once you're done holding each item and deciding whether to keep or give away give that empty drawer a nice clean with your favorite disinfectant spray. Let the drawer air dry.

Cheeseburger Soup (Crockpot Version)

This recipe is one of my boys favorite meals. I've already chopped up all the veggies (3/4c each carrots, celery & onion) and sauteed them. 1# Ground beef is browning. Potatoes are peeled, chopped and dropped in the slow cooker with 3 cups chicken stock, 1 tsp dried basil and 1 tsp dried parsley. I'll add the veggies to the crockpots soon as the ground beef is done. I'll need to let the potatoes cook for about approx. 4 hours in the crockpot on high. After 4 hours I'll melt 3 Tbspn butter with 1/4 c flour in a small pan on the stove and cook over low heat for about 3 minutes then add 1.5 c milk and cook until it thickens then add that to the crockpot and stir until combined and simmer. Add 2 c shredded cheddar then once the cheese is melted I'll add 1/4 c sour cream. Stir and heat thoroughly. **Do not boil or it will separate**

I purchase a few single serve crusty bread at the store yesterday so I'll be serving the bread with the Cheeseburger Soup. I can't wait.

Tip: To make chopped all the veggies a little easier I used my food processor. I was done in a few minutes.

Stovetop Recipe:

Cheeseburger Soup

• ½ pound ground beef (use 1 pound)
• ¾ cup chopped onion
• ¾ cup shredded carrots
• ¾ cup diced celery
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
• 4 tablespoons butter, divided
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 4 cups peeled and diced potatoes
• ¼ cup all purpose flour
• 2 cups of Velveeta processed cheese cubed (I used 16 ounce) or- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1½ cups milk
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ¼ to ½ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ cup sour cream

1. Brown the ground beef in 3 quart saucepan. Drain and set aside.
2. In the same saucepan add 1 T butter and add onion, shredded carrots, parsley flakes, basil and celery. Saute until tender.
3. Add the broth, potatoes and beef and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
4. In small skillet melt remaining butter (3 T) and add the flour. Cook and stir for 3-5 minutes or until bubbly. Add to the soup and bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
5. Stir in the cheese, milk, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until cheese melts. Remove from heat and blend in sour cream. Serve with crusty bread.

Reuben Sandwiches for Dinner

I purchased a corned beef brisket this week to make reuben sandwiches. When I opened the package this morning there was NO seasoning packet. I didn't know what to do. I looked online for a recipe and couldn't really find one. So I headed out to the grocery store. I asked at the meat counter if they had one and they pointed me to the spice aisle and said to get pickling seasoning.

After looking for about 10 minutes I found it. McCormicks Pickling Seasoning. I have to say I was hesitant at first. So I headed home and added two tablespoons to the crockpot with an onion a few cloves of garlic.  After about 7 hours on low it's now done. It tastes great!

I just finished slicing the corned beef and swiss and will start assembling the sandwiches. 

I have Rye bread, sauerkraut, thousand island dressing and I'll be cooking them in my cast iron pan to a nice buttery toasty goodness.

~ Bon Appetit

Carrie

 

Mushroom Risotto

Mushroom Risotto By Carrie Fath

There is one food I could eat everyday and that's rice. I love it prepared all different ways but risotto is also a favorite. Today I realized I had everything I needed to make it a pan of mushroom risotto so here is what I did...

Carrie's Mushroom Risotto

1 small onion diced

1 clove garlic minced

One package of your favorite mushrooms chopped

1 cup white wine

4 cups chicken stock warm

2 cups arborio rice

Salt & pepper

1/4 c cream or milk

1/4 c Parmesan cheese

I saluted the onions, garlic and mushrooms in 1 Tblspn butter. Add the rice after approx. 5 minutes and sauté for a few more minutes. Add the wine and simmer for a minute or so. Now add one ladle of broth  and stir until the rice soaks it almost all up. Keep repeating this until the rice is done. It should take about 20 minutes. Keep stirring so it's creamy. Once the rice is done then you can add the cream and Parmesan. Salt & pepper to taste and serve. Enjoy!

Enjoy!

~Carrie

Steak Dinner 😍

Last night my boys wanted a steak dinner. So I took out a couple porterhouse steaks from our side of beef we purchased.  I sprinkled them with a little Chicago Steak seasoning from Penzey Spice (one of my all time favorite stores) and grilled them on the Green Egg at 600 degrees for a few minutes on each side. I cut up two small white onions and dropped them in a quick beer batter and fried them into onion straws...yum!!!!  Did I say yum! OMG, these are so delicious. I also whipped up some mashed potatoes. I add milk, butter and little sour cream, salt, pepper, parsley, onion powder and garlic powder. They are the best mashed potatoes. I only use three or four small potatoes for the three of us.

I took the two small pieces of meat and let the boys have the strips. What a wonderful dinner.

~carrie

Chili's On & Cornbread is Made

What a chilly day I woke to this morning. In the 50's with highs in the low 60's if we even reach 60. Sounds like a good day to make chili and cornbread. That way dinner will be ready before I have to leave for my buyer consultation this evening and the boys leave for hockey.

I had a packet with the beans and seasoning already in it so I chopped up half a large onion, on red pepper and three cloves of garlic. Added that to a pound of browned ground beef into the crockpot with a can of crushed tomatoes, beef stock, the seasoning packet and the beans that I had boiled for 5 minutes and let sit for another hour. That's in the crockpot getting all yummy for dinner. 

Now I just finished up the cornbread.  I found a great sweet recipe online and cut it in half and here is what happened...

It turned out perfect. You can find the recipe right here... Dailydishrecipes.com/moist-sweet-cornbread-recipe/

Enjoy!!!

Xoxo

~Carrie

What to do with all that basil

My garden is a little overgrown with basil so I made pesto tonight. I'll use it on pasta when I want a meatless meal. I like to say meatless so o don't scare off all the meat eaters with the word vegetarian. 

Here's my recipe:

1 cup toasted almonds

1 cup good olive oil

6 cloves of garlic

3 cups fresh basil

Dash of nutmeg

Salt & pepper to taste

1/2 c grated Parmesan

Add all ingredients into a food processor and process until it's the consistency you like. 

I'm freezing some of mine and eating some tomorrow night.

Enjoy!!!  Here is a link to 50 Things To Make With Pesto