Ground Beef Barbeque (Or Glorified Sloppy Joe's)

This is very tasty, but it's pretty much homemade sloppy joe's. Don't forget the bread. They don't include it in the recipe but you're going to need it. Enjoy!

GROUND BEEF BARBEQUE

1 lb. ground beef (or ground turkey)
1/2-1 onion, diced
1/2 c. diced celery
Diced pepper, if desired (I omit this!)
3/4 c. catsup
1/4 c. smoked barbecue sauce
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 tbsp. vinegar
1/4 c. brown sugar

Brown meat, onion, celery (and pepper) lightly in frying pan or in microwave oven. Drain. In saucepan or crock pot, add other ingredients and simmer (the longer the better).

Serves 4-6.

Cute but Strange

So the little one (who will be two soon) is apparently training to be a fighter (we’re he’s receiving this training, his dad and I have yet to figure out). One day as he was standing, blocked by the invisible barrier at the doorway of the kitchen (so not allowed in there for all our sakes) he proceeded to hang on to the wall, stick his foot in the air and shout, “HI YA!” Well the yell was convincing enough (OK not really more like cute) but the kick, well he’s going to need some more training if he’s going to be a successful fighter. However the other thing he does, is to get in your face, yell, “Fight!” then proceed to sock you in the jaw. Really, young sir? No more TV for you.

Well the oldest (a gigantic four year old) isn’t without his specialness either. The other day his dad had told him to do something (or maybe not to do something, who can keep track anymore). So he came to me babbling about whatever it was. The Man says, “Hey I’ve already told you about that.” The Boy comes back with, “But I’m not takin’ ‘bout you. I’m talkin’ ‘bout mommy.” Well knowing he was being a little smart ass (please excuse my language) I replied, “Little boy you need to watch your mouth.” Do you know the little loudmouth came back with, “But, Mom, would I ever steer you wrong?”
*blink* *blink*

Well the conversation was over after that, because The Man and I laughed until we couldn’t breathe. There are times when I am royally depressed I don’t own a video camera. *sigh*

Kids…

They’re such weird interesting little people. So one day (don’t ask me which day though) the boys were taking a bath. The little one thinks the big one is the best things since sliced bread (so what if it’s cliché) except for when he tries to bully him for his toys. Well anyway, they were splashing and covering the bathroom with soapy water (so glad they have their own bathroom... sort of) and all of a sudden we hear this insane, belly laugh coming from the little one (who will be two in August, so just imagine how that might sound). I am not sure what the big one was doing to make the little one laugh SO hard, but it seemed each of the twenty four thousand times he did it the little one laughed, HARD. For the life of us I can’t think of anything I’d find that funny now, but I would kill to be let in on the joke. Ah, to be a kid again… not that I’m that far off from being one myself.

Can I Get to the End Already?

I mean really, is it asking too much to just be done with this book? I mean I really do love the story, don’t get me wrong, and that’s part of the reason I want to be done with it so badly. It has nothing to do with that fact that I’ve worked on it for so long that I am now seeing double. No, no it’s for the love of the story. And if it wasn’t taking me so long to polish this baby up I’d have already submitted it. It has nothing to do with my procrastination issues… and addiction to angry birds. That can’t be it! I refuse to accept it. Soon, hopefully very soon, I’m going to finish this story and move on to something else, just as soon as I finish this game of angry birds get my brain in gear. *starts up another level*

I Could Really Use a Laptop (Random)

*sigh* The one computer we have at our place is totally NOT cutting it. The teenager (well he’s actually more of a young adult now, but that’s not as fun to say) needs it for school, The Man needs it to look for work and I need it for playing angry birds writing. You should see the tussle that takes place in the mad dashes we all take to get to the computer. Seriously, it shouldn’t be this difficult to get in a game of angry birds some writing time. Anywho, if I could get a nice laptop of my very own it would totally make my day, no my week, no my LIFE! Dramatic much? Why, yes I am, thanks so much for asking. I mean come on, is it really that much to ask to want my own space to get in some much needed time for angry birds writing/editing. If anyone wants to donate to my worthy cause I am not above begging. *sigh* It’s really sad what I’ve been reduced to, isn’t it? Wait, never mind. Don’t answer, I’ll be over here playing a game of angry birds. *wink*

Glazed Pork Chops Baked in Mushroom Cream Sauce

I found this one when I was just looking for something other than my usual. You can check it out on Cooks.com if you'd like. It's one of my favorite spots for finding recipes. Let me tell you I didn't have any leftovers or complaints when I made this dish. Yum!

GLAZED PORK CHOPS BAKED IN MUSHROOM CREAM SAUCE

4 pork chops
kosher salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
garlic powder, to taste
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can whole mushrooms (or equivalent fresh)
1 large onion, sliced and quartered
3 stalks celery, sliced
½ cup sweet Marsala wine
3 tbsp. butter
1 cup water

Season pork chops with kosher salt, pepper, and garlic then heat up a frying pan (cast iron preferably!). Melt butter and brown the chops on both sides. Remove chops and put aside.
Deglaze the pan with the Marsala wine and let simmer a few minutes while you scrape up the bits off the bottom of the pan. Put the chops back in the pan, turning them over to let both sides get a nice glaze on them. Put the chops in a large casserole dish. Add the mushroom soup and water to the frying pan and stir until mixed then add the celery and whole mushrooms and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Meanwhile brown the onions in another pan in butter until golden brown then add to the main frying pan. Once everything is mixed nicely together you can pour over your pork chops (make sure you turn the pork chops a few times to get some sauce all over).

Bake at 350°F for about an hour or so.

Vacation!

I’d really love a vacation. Not a staycation, where you take time off from your normal life and stay home or even in the same city. I mean a real vacation. I want to get on a plane, boat or train and go somewhere no one knows me except my travel companions, preferably with beaches and or waterfalls with crystal clear water. I want to eat different/ethnic/exotic foods and do some nice shopping. I want to immerse myself in a different culture for a while and learn a few things about their native land, then spend a good portion of time just… relaxing. I want my room to have a nice balcony or maybe I’ll rent a splendid vacation home and enjoy fresh ocean breezes coming in through my bedroom window. Oh my, that sounds so nice. *happy sigh*

Oh well, back to reality… at least for a little while. *wink*