1/31/13

It is just about to get frigid here again.  Tomorrow morning it is supposed to be 10 degrees.  I have to admit I was really enjoying the warmer weather.  The cold just makes me wish even more for Spring to hurry up and get here.   And since my New Year’s resolution several years ago was to stop wishing my life away,  I have to get that under control.  It is just so hard to enjoy the winter with its lack of sunshine and cold weather.

I have been experimenting more with my Cricut and here are pictures of a couple of things I have done. 

Unlike last January when I tried not to spend much on groceries, I decide to keep to my normal budget and see how much I could stock up on.  I have managed to be quite a bit of meat.  Last week I bought 11 meals of meat (not counting leftovers) for $42.00.  I  have already cooked 2 of those meals and came up with enough leftovers to have lunches for the both of us for 4 days.  So that already makes it 15 meals instead of 11.

This weekend since it is supposed to be cold and snowing I think I will make a pot of soup.  I just haven’t decide which kind to make yet. 

I am back at trying new recipes even though I didn’t make it to 3 new recipes in January, I did manage one new recipe.  

Here is the recipe I tried:

Berry Cobbler

Two 12-oz bags frozen mixed berries/peaches

1 box white cake mix

Approximately 1 can of diet 7-up or other clear soda 

Place frozen fruit in a 9x13 baking dish. Add dry cake mix over the top. Pour soda slowly over cake mix. DO NOT stir, this will give you a crust.

Bake 350 for 45-50 min or longer until berries are cooked.

I used peaches and strawberries and sprite zero from a 20 oz. bottle.  I think the next time I will add most of the bottle, I still had dry spots on the cake mix.  It was pretty good the first night we ate it but was only okay as leftovers.  When we reheated it in the microwave it got pretty gooey, where it had been a little crisp the first night. Next time I try it it will be for a larger crowd so I will not have many leftovers.

Have a good day.

Mae

Did You Know Chickens Have Bones?

We are considering raising meat chickens to sell.  We have been checking into the regulations to be able to sell them and asking around for prospective buyers.  One common response is "We only eat boneless, skinless chicken breast."  Now I'm not downing anyone who only eats boneless, skinless chicken breast, because we eat quite a bit of that, too.  Mostly because it is quick cooking and a lot of times I need something that cooks fast.  But do most people realize all the flavor they are missing.  I would much prefer chicken with bones, it has so much more flavor and believe it or not, bones are good for you.  You can search the internet for the benefits of cooking with bones and you will find plenty of articles telling you how good they are for you.

A broth made from a chicken or turkey carcass has so much more flavor than one without.  I know the skin adds extra fat, but it is fairly simple to skin a chicken but the chicken will have so much more flavor and only a few more grams of fat if you cook it with the skin on and then remove the skin before you eat it.

But what do you do with a whole chicken?  The crock pot is my go to way to cook whole chickens.  But they can be cut up into serving pieces.  It is really easy to do and thanks to YouTube there are plenty of tutorial videos on how to do it.  I realize that I have failed my daughter in not teaching her how to cut up a chicken.   But she does know that they have bones.  I am wondering if our children or their children will even know that chicken have bones.  Most kids only get boneless, skinless chicken breast or chicken nuggets, chicken fingers, etc.  I have cooked lots of chickens in my life and I have never seen a nugget or a finger on a chicken.

I challenge you to try a whole chicken.  Put it in the slow cooker with an onion, a sprig of rosemary, a stalk of celery and a carrot stuffed inside the cavity.  Sprinkle it with salt, garlic pepper and Cajun seasoning. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.  It will be delicious.  If you have leftovers make soup or casserole.  We can usually eat at least three meals off one chicken and a whole chicken usually runs $.98/pound instead of $1.99.  More meat, more meals, more flavor, less money-win, win.  And your kids will learn that chickens do indeed have bones.

Have a blessed day.
Mae