Jun. 9, 2009 - How to Raise a Chef |
Abigail is seven going on 22. She wants to be like me when she grows up. I hope she is more godly than me and a better keeper of her home. To that end, I am training her early in the art of homemaking. Truth be told, she loves all things about keeping a home. She loves to clean. (Don't ask me where she got that from.) She loves to cook and bake. I know where she got that from. She loves to vacuum. She loves to care for her sisters and her baby brother. She likes to boss people around (I know where she got that from). She is a sweet young lady.
I am hoping one day she can cook a meal all by herself. Here she is helping me make Fettechini Alfredo. She loves it and is so good at helping. Soon she'll be better than me.
 I love that girl!!!!
Susan |
| • 4 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link |
May. 27, 2009 - What's a Pudgy Pie |
I forgot that everyone did not grow up in my family and therefore grew up eating pudgy pies when they went camping. So in my last blog when I wrote about pudgy pies, most people did not know what they are. So, here is a photo demonstration of how to make pudgy pies. The pictures are from our big Colorado trip in 2007. They turned out a little dark. You want a golden brown sandwich. I don't mind my outer crust getting black. I just that as the handle to the sandwich and just throw the black crust away.
What you need.
Pudgy pie iron - This can be bought at Walmart or your local camping store. It is usually close to the hot dog sticks. They run between $10 and $15. The best kind are the cast iron variety, but I have not seen those in years. Now they are mostly made out of aluminum with a non-stick coating. It should feel heavy in your hand. Don't buy the ones that are too light. Also, make sure you buy one that is smaller than a piece of bread so there will be a nice seal.
Food
Bread - We us regular cheapo sandwich bread, either wheat or white. Don't use the fancy stuff, this is not a fancy sandwich.
Pizza fixings - We use sausage, pepperoni, pizza or spaghetti sauce, mozzerella cheese and anything else we want to stuff inside.
Cheeseburger - Browned hamburger, cheddar or american cheese, ketchup. We don't use onions or mustard, but you can add anything you like. I don't like the ketchup cooked so I add it after its cooked.
Chicken - Grilled/cooked chicken, cheese and anything else you want. I like corn and olives in mine. Starnge I know. I also like it with steak sauce.
Brat - My husband's favorite. It has cooked brat, ketchup and onions and anything else that floats his boat at the time.
Dessert - Canned pie filling.
Be creative. Whatever you like in a sandwhich or on a bun, will usually taste good in a pudgy pie. Its fun to try new things.
Let's get started.
So, the first thing you do is build a nice fire. You need hot, but slow cooking coals to make the perfect pudgy pie. A little secret my Dad taught me is to put charcoal at the bottom of the fire. The coals will develop more quickly and they will cook more evenly.
Next, butter the outside of the bread. I prefer butter over margarine. It tastes better and hey, I am from WI and only use the plastic stuff when forced to by lack of money. Put one piece in the iron, butter side down, making sure the gently push the bread into the iron.
Now, the fun part, filling it. Make it pudgy. Fill it with lots of stuff. I like to start by putting the cheese on the outside, just a nice, thin layer, then meat, then extras, then another layer of cheese. I prefer the cheese on the outside because nothing else soaks into the bread and the flavors on the inside blend together.
Then place the last piece of bread on top, butter side out.
We have arrived at the tricky part, puttin the second piece on. It takes practice to do it well, but the pay off is a yummy and juicy sandwich. When putting the second iron on, do it slowly and gently push the top piece of bread towards the top of the pie maker. There should be crust hanging out. You can either cut it off or leave it on. I like to leave it on and then hold onto the nice crisp black edge while eating.
OK, onto the part that requires patience - cooking it. Remember, you want a slow cook to make sure the inside is hot and the cheese gets all melty. Depending on the heat of the coals, you want to let each side cook for 5 - 10 minutes. Check for doneness before flipping it over.
When you take the pudgy pie out, remember its going to be HOT, so make sure to set the iron on wood and not plastic. Keep it out of the reach of children. You also may want to let it cool partway before cooking another one. We cut our sandwiches in half before serving. For our little ones we let them cool for awhile.
Enjoy.
Like I said, the one you see in the iron got too dark. We threw it away (don't tell my Mom) and made another one. Notice the piece of wood under the hot iron. Works great. I made them on top of the Bear Box we had at Great Sand Dunes National Monument.
Any comments, questions or concerns?
A couple more things. Don't worry about cleaning your pie iron. Yes, make sure the food is off the inside, but expect it to get black and dirty. When storing them, losely wrap it in paper towel and secure the towel with a rubber band or twist tie. Use wooden utinsils to get the pudgy pie out if it sticks. Metal will remove the non-stick coating. Be creative and enjoy.
If you can think of any other combinations, please let me know. We are always interested in trying new things. One person has suggested marshmallow fluff, peanut butter and chocolate. I just don't know. And I was counting calories the last time we went camping, maybe next tiem.
Susan |
| • 4 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link |
May. 13, 2009 - Our First Camping Trip In the New Pop Up |
We decided on Monday that we would go camping on Thursday. We decided on Tuesday where we would go camping on Thursday.
Caleb sleeping on our bed during his nap. We brought a port a crib, but he did not like it.
The playground by our campsite. The children would have spent the entire weekend there had we let them.
Miriam enjoying her freedom.
Olivia loving the swing. She sat in that thing for at least an hour each time they went.
Our campsite from the playground.
After we took a walk. Camping is hard work - Olivia.
The inside of the camper in use.
From the door...
To the left, the dining area. Nathan was doing his school work he had not finished before we left. All the sleeping bags are up on the boy's bunk.
Our bed with all our stuff.
Once we get everything organized inside, I hope it won't be so messy while camping.
Our campsite from the camper. I was assembly pudgy pies, Sean was cooking them.
Bethany and Miriam washing their hands. Notice the nice camping box Sean made for me. I love it.
It rained Friday night and on and off on Saturday. We packed the kids into the van and tore down in the drizzles on Saturday. It was fun none the less.
Needless to say, they were all tuckered out and Olivia was asleep before we left the campground.
We cannot wait to go again. There is a campground about 20 minutes away that we can even go to during the week and Sean can still get up and go to work because its only about 15 minutes from where he works.
|
| • 2 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link |
May. 11, 2009 - Rollerskating |
There is a rollerskating rink that does Homeschool days one Friday a month during the school year. We went in March. Thanks Judy for inviting us.
Sean and I laughed at how much more fun it was rollerskating as an adult verses our junior high days.
No girls wanted to skate with Sean in junior high, but now he did not have enough hands for all the ladies that wanted to skate with him.
The boys were tentative to start, but by the end, they were doing so great. They only fell about 50 times each. They have some bruises to prove it, but no broken bones.
I was so proud of the three oldest, although this was their first time skating, they each tried the speed races. None of them won, but they each tried. It seems that most of the others there go skating very often. Now they all want roller blades. Maybe one day soon, we will check Play It Again Sports.
Skating is hard hard work. We were able to bring the stroller onto the skate floor, that was awesome.
After the races.
 Thomas, Bethany and Abigail
Even Miss Olivia got a ride from Daddy
Really it was so fun to go rollerskating. I was surprised how once you learn, you never forget. It was great exercise. The music was fun. The people were kind and gracious. The kids were well behaved. The food was the same. The smell brought back memories of childhood, but this time was so much sweeter.
Susan
|
| • 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link |
May. 7, 2009 - Moving on Up |
We are moving on up. From what, to what, you ask.
To this
We are "borrowing" my brother and sister - in - law's camper for the summer.
Wanna see it? To bad, I'll post pictures anyway. Here it is when we got it.
Grandpa giving Sean instructions in how to set it up. Thomas listening intently.
Sean wanted to set it up all by himself the first time. I have no problem with that. I sat back and relaxed and enjoyed watching him.
All set up. Wanna see how clean it is before we "move in"?
The view from the doorway.
Looking to the left. The dining area converts to a sleeping area. The boys will sleep on the bunk. The girls will sleep on the dining area.
To the right, where Sean and I will sleep, with Caleb until he is old enough to go by the boys or until we bring the port a crib. Its a king size bed and it is big and spacious.
Stay tuned for scenes from our first camping trip.
Susan |
| • 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link |
May. 1, 2009 - It All Started After A Trip to the Dr, Office |
So the day Caleb got the hair wrapped around his finger, everyone in the Dr. office waiting room looked so sick. I hated bringing the kids in there for fear of what would happen the next week. What bug would we pick up there. Sure enough, the next week, Thomas had bronchitis. The week after him, Olivia got the cough. Finally I took her to the doctor. She too had bronchitis and has since spread to everyone but Nathan and Abigail. Sean and I have a less severe version of it.
The cough got so bad, we needed a nebulizer for Olivia and Caleb and while they hated it, they realized Mommy was not going to give in so the resolved to do it.
Olivia being a good example to her brother.
Mommy, I hate this.
God is good in all things, even when we don't get a lot of sleep.
Susan |
| • 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link |
Apr. 20, 2009 - Hair Around a Finger = Hospital |
Way back in February...
Its never a good sign when a Mom wakes up after a restless night of sleep to find her 2 month old infant whining in pain. To see his little finger swollen red and deep red lines crisscrossing his finger.
Instead of panicking, I got out my sewing kit and blunt needle and tried to remove the hair that appeared to be wrapped tightly around his little finger. After 10 minutes of trying and some ice, I got one small piece off, but the finger did not look any better.
So I called the Dr. office. They asked me to bring him in.
I brought him and the other 6 with me to the Dr. Office. All the other patients looked sick. I told the children not to play with any toys. We did not want to pick up what everyone else had.
The Dr. tried for about 15 minutes and could not get anything so off the the Children's Hospital we went.
I was able to drop the children off at home for Uncle Ted to watch while I took Caleb to the ER. We did not have to wait too long because the Dr. had called ahead to let them know we were coming.
The surgeon tried for 20 minutes to get it off with no luck. There were three students in there observing because they had not seen such a sight before.
After a rest of 20 minutes so I could nurse Caleb and let his finger relax, the supervising Dr. came in and tried. She could not see the hair. We concluded that somehow it must have come off either in the morning when I got a small piece off or during our travel from the Dr. Office to the Hospital.
They offered to let me just observe him at home and if it got worse to come back in. They suggested next time to use Nair, yes Nair, to remove the hair. It was suggested by a nurse after we had all tried. Now I know, but hope to never have to use it.
|
| • 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link |
Apr. 17, 2009 - I've been busy... |
We have had a busy few weeks. First, Sean's parents were here. Then Sean's Grandpa died while they were here. We headed back to WI for a week. Then we had a week "break" and my Dad and his wife came down. They left Easter Sunday and my sister and her children came on Monday. They left yesterday and I.am.sad. We had so much fun being surrounded by family and friends. We had a good time just being together. I miss our family so much. It was really just a joy to be surrounded by family. We joke that they love us so much because we are hardly around, so when we are, they put up with us so much better than if we lived there.
It has been a world wind and while I am glad to be "home alone" with our family, I do miss them already. The little ones were crying as my sister and more importantly, their cousins drove away yesterday.
Now, even though I am very sad, I still rejoice that we live in the time we do. Had we lived 200 years ago or even 150 years ago, we may have never seen them again or been able to talk and send pictures like we can today. As a matter of fact, right after they drove away, I jumped on my computer and e-mailed my sister to let her know that Miriam was in full blown sobs as they drove away. It was very sad and very cute all at the same time.
I am so thankful when people take the time to come and visit us. I know its a long and boring drive, but it shows their love for us in a real tangible way.
Who's next? |
| • 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link |
Apr. 8, 2009 - Heredity Extends to Behavior |
So I was sitting and playing with Caleb and I look over to the couch and this is what I see...
I just laughed. To which both Thoma and Abigail looked at me without moving their hands and said, "What?" Which made me laugh even harder. I told them to look at each other and they still did not move their hands, just turned their heads. The light bulb went off. They moved their hands.
They both reminded me of Sean and how he sits at times. So, I made them post for a picture.
I love those three.
Susan |
| • 4 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link |
Mar. 23, 2009 - Monday Morning Musings |
So last week I got on the scale and was shocked by what I saw. I lose weight while pregnant and then gain while nursing. WOW. So today I was up at 6:30 feeding Caleb and then came downstairs and did Jazzercise on the college station. It felt good to get up and moving. I even did ab exercises when the program was over. Don't fall over dead from the shock.
I am excited to get back into the schedule of life. Grandma and Grandpa are coming this weekend, so we'll get most of the school work in by Thursday with just a few things to do on Friday. The men in the family will be building a fort this weekend. I'll make sure to take pictures and show them off.
Its raining here today, even storming. I love thunderstorms.
I am glad its not snow. I don't know if I can handle the snow.
Susan |
| • 2 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link |
Mar. 16, 2009 - Happy St. Patrick's Day and We love the Green Bay Packers |
You can move from Wisconsin, but the cheese never leaves the blood.
We have a dear friend who sent us some Packer stuff. It was nice because its hard to find nice Packer stuff here. He looks so sweet in his Green and Gold.
|
| • 2 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link |
Mar. 14, 2009 - Playing at Grandpa and Grandma's house |
What can girls spend hours in the kitchen doing besides eating and cooking?
Well at Grandpa and Grandma's they can...
Build with Build a Bear magnet sets...
Pretend to be chef.
 Steal crackers off the counter, which is just the right height for Olivia.
 |
| • 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link |
Mar. 2, 2009 - Updating my blog |
Did you notice that I am updating my blog? Seriously. How fun. Eventually I'd like to learn how to write my own code and get my own website, but that may be a little while yet.
Links - They have been updated. If you have a website I should have in my links, let me know. If you have a blog you want added, let me know. But I am picky in what I will link, so don't be offended if I don't link you.
Goals, updated for 2009, but I need to do more work on them some more to really update them.
Two friends have suffered great losses in the last week and I am reminded that God is good all the time, even if we can't seem to see it. I am thankful for my family and my friends, but most of all to the Lord.
|
| • 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link |
Feb. 27, 2009 - We Love Weddings. |
January 9th we went to a wedding. It was a beautiful snowy Friday night. It turned out to be a very very snowy night, but the snowflakes flying as we entered the church were spectacular.
We chose to sit in the back of the church on some chairs that were lofted so that we could see the uniting of these two people's lives. And the girls could never have seen all the festivities from seats on the floor.
Waiting to start.
Here comes the bride.
We are boys, we don't care about weddings, where is the food?
It was a beautiful wedding. We wish the couple the best as they begin their new life together. May God grow my children up to love Him and serve Him and find spouses that love and serve God in all things and together they can serve God and make a difference for Him.
Susan |
| • 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link |
Jan. 21, 2009 - 2009 Family Goals |
As a follow up to my personal goals, I wanted to share a few of our family goals for 2009
1. Family Game night on Monday night.
2. To eat lunch and supper at the Kitchen table.
3. Family Bible time at night after supper, either at the table or in the family room.
4. Laugh more, play more, love more.
5. Memorize at least 2 Scripture passages as a family. The first one will be from Ephesians 4.
We have already made good progress on our goals. We have really enjoyed family game night. Its so fun to spend time around the table as a family. The little ones don't play a lot, but they get to play alone in the front room, which they seem to enjoy.
Eating at the table is going well, it helps me to keep my kitchen clean.
Caleb is hungry, so I must go.
Susan |
| • 4 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link |
Jan. 16, 2009 - Bethany's Birthday Outing |
We try to do something special for each child's birthday. They get to choose to go out for breakfast with Mom or Dad on the Saturday before or after their birthday. This year Bethany chose Mama (and Caleb) to out to breakfast with. Where did she want to go, you ask.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
We then went to The Home Depot to do their Children's Project.
Did you know that The Home Depot offers free children's building projects on the first Saturday of the month. We always plan to go every month, but we often forget or are busy doing something else.
After she finished her easel, we then went for a special surprise. We went to Build a Bear Workshop and she got to chose an animal to make. She chose a puppy. She loves animals.
Here she is kissing the heart before the heart is put in the puppy and stuffed.
After the puppy was stuffed and sewn shut, she wanted to wash and brush her new friend.
After we got home, we opened presents. Notice the fancy wrapping paper.
She received a piggy bank, a craft kits and a doll house. She was in heaven.
Then we had cake. Its a dog. Don't mock it. I had a child helping me do it. I think it looks nice for a youngin' and a woman with a bad headache making it.
It was a blessed day. I can't believe she is 5 years old already. Where did the time go? I still remember praying that she would be born after midnight so I could be in the hospital an "extra" day. She was born at 12:10 a.m. I love that girl, so cooperative.
Susan |
| • 4 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link |
|
About Me
Life is busy, so I am trying to "just do the next thing"
Links
• Home
• View my profile
• Archives
• Email Me
• Great Building Projects
• Cathe's a Kept Womab
• Jennifer's Blog
• Chautona - Paradoxology
• Cathe shows me how to live frugally
• Pioneer WomanCooks
• DW Washcloth
• Knit One Blog Two
• Do Not Grow Weary
• BEST carseat covers
• Melissa's Military Family
• The Tribe
• Our Pligrim Days
• Money Saving Mom
Friends
|
