Gifts I made over Christmas

I just thought I would leave some pictures here of the gifts I made for my family for Christmas and also things I crochet for my daughter. Enjoy them!

So it is Tuesday, we had a great supper last night! Grilled pork chops and oven roasted veggies. I love roasting veggies in the oven, for last nights I took frozen green beans, 1delicata squash, 1 zucchini, 3 cloves of garlic, 3 small onions, and  2 potatoes, cut them all about the same size and covered them with EVOO, salt, pepper, and italian seasoning. Roast in oven at 500 for 1/2 hour or until everything is fork tender. These veggies are so good.
I have some leftover and I will freeze them until I can use them in a Ratatouille with pasta. That recipe will be coming soon.

Here is a picture of the Delicata Squash they can be eaten with the skin on they are great.

A quick lunch on Sunday!

This Sunday I didn't have anything ready to go into the crock pot, but I had taken out left over Roast and stock that we had this week. We came home from church at about 12:30pm after a great service, I told Wally on the way home that I would start some stew when we arrived home, he says that sounded good.
I started put my meat and the left over squash into my 3 qt pot on the stove turned it on med high, knowing that this would be quicker. Then is a saute' pan I started 1 medium onion, 3 stalks of celery, 2 carrots and 3 cloves of garlic in a pan to saute until soft. I added a couple of pieces of meat to the pan for about 5 minutes just until it was seared a little.I put the ingredients from the saute' pan into the pot. Then I deglaze  the pan with tomato sauce and balsamic vinegar, pouring that into the pot too. I then added 4 potatoes dicing them so that they will cook quickly.
Then I let the pot of stew cook till the veggies are soft this was only about 15-20 minutes.
It was so good and flavorful! Makes great leftovers, keep in the fridge to eat the next day or freeze some for a great easy meal.
Hope you will try it. I love mixing in kale to this stew also.
Happy Cooking!
Barb

Using the things we have in our the freezer.

When stocking my pantry I use a list that has been proven over the years. I like to make sure there is everything I need when I am cooking or baking. One of the things that is frustrating to me is to have to run and get something at the store in the middle of baking or cooking.
Last night I checked my the inventory of my freezer. We have a small chest freezer in our basement, we want to get a bigger one but are waiting for a great sale. I couldn't do the meals I do, if I didn't have a chest freezer even a small one. Right away I thought of the meals I could make with the the meat and veggies I have in the freezer:) I was excited to see how much there was in there. (I wasn't able to go down and see what was there because of my health).
 I made a list of the things in the freezer and here it is:
2 Beef Roast
4 packages of 3-4 Pork Chops ea.
3 packages of 3 Pork Ribs ea.
15 lbs of 1 lb packages of Hamburger
1 lb of Buffalo
2 freezer bags of Runzas with 10 buns in each.
1 bbq chicken pizza
2 freezer bags of leftover pizza (pepperoni, and artichoke chicken..mmm)
2 bags of rhubarb
2 bags of shredded zucchini
1 bag of frozen green beans
1 bag of frozen corn
1 bag of stir fry veggies.

I take this list and put it up on your fridge and then you can cross off the things you use and add the things you make and freeze. I am such a list person, and I love it.
Now for my menu for the week: I will be attaching the copy.
When I do my menu I write down all the meals I plan then I make of list of the groceries that I need. Some days I do my menu in one day but sometimes life takes over. But last night I accomplished all of the menu and lists. I still need to do the coupons and match up for the weeks groceries.
Sunday is Roast, squash, and roasted green beans with almonds. I am peeling apples for desert, apple pie! Yum!

I hope I have helped you get ready for the week ahead. I will be blogging about some of the recipes I use during the week.

Thankful
Barb






I am attaching my inventory for my freezer on this page.