YOP Week #10

Fall is here!  The humming birds left this week, it finally cooled off last night,  I have the windows open today and the Iowa Hawkeyes won their game yesterday!  College football is so much more exciting than the NFL.  I used to work in Iowa City where "the Hawks" reside and went to my fair share of games and the best part was the food and the wonderful atmosphere of a college town. 
As for YOP's, they didn't get a lot of attention this week as I was in my Fall cleaning mode and I committed myself to a book club (Cozy Little House) last week, online at Goodreads
It's not the book club commitment, as it is laid back and only 1 book per month, but  I ordered 4 books on wait list at the library lending portion, trying to play catchup (never dreaming they would all come in at once) and 3 of the 4 came in and I have until the 30th to get them read.   And of course, it's walking weather again and outside chores now that it's cooler (it was 97 the other day) and cooking some Fall delicacies such as Ed Debevik's Pot Roast which I always cook at the first sign of Fall. He has a restaurant (or did years ago) in Chicago that I ate at on a business trip and I was able to get the recipe.  It is synonymous with Fall.  I will share the recipe at the end of the post.....so good!
As for my projects.....
I got a little farther on my second sock.  The top ribbing is done and now it's 6 inches of stockinette stitch (great for watching the games this afternoon, lol!) I have my next sock yarn picked out and need to order it.  Wait until you see it....LOVE!!!

 I crocheted some more on the hood of Bina the bear (pattern by Lalylala)
...loving this yarn

and I dragged out my KAL project...remember this one?  Sometimes I literally put things away and forget about them.  I am on block number 25 of 54 so almost halfway.  I'd like to make another one of these using scrap yarn and it is one of those that you could just keep adding to when you have the yarn.

Here's those book club books I need to read.  I haven't read them yet so I have no idea if they're good but they were recommended by someone in the book club.  I started this one already and so far it is interesting and very well written and grabs you from the first page....at least it did me.  I'll do a full review after reading the whole book.   

I've not heard of this author.........

I've read Barbara Delinsky before and although I'm not into romance novels she is a good writer and 

at least she portrays her female characters as having some intelligence and a life of their own.

Here's the Ed Debevic Pot Roast recipe I promised you...if you don't like spice leave out the red pepper flakes and even if you do use sparingly.....those suckers are hot!  I prefer using cayenne pepper sparingly as it is spread more evenly throughout the dish whereas the flakes are hot if you get one in your mouth.

Ed Debevic's Pot Roast    (6-8 servings)
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 3-3 1/2 pound thick sliced beef chuck arm roast (bone in if possible but good luck finding any)
1/4 cup flour
2 tablespoons of oil
1 large onion, cut into 1 inch pieces
4 large cloves of garlic, sliced
1/2 bunch celery, thick sliced
1 1/2 teaspoons dried crushed thyme or 3/4 cup fresh sprigs
4 bay leaves
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3/4 cup burgundy or dry red wine
2 cups aujus prepared from envelope mix
1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, crushed red pepper (be careful with the pepper or leave out, I just sprinkle a little cayenne, very little and leave it at that)
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cups water

Directions:
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Trim fat, season with some salt and pepper, coat with 1/4 cup flour.  In a 4-5 quart dutch oven, brown meat on both sides in hot oil.  Remove meat, add onion, garlic, celery, thyme and bay leaves to drippings in pan.  Cook and stir 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender.  Stir in tomato paste and wine.  Simmer and stir uncovered for 5 minutes.  Add aujus, salt, pepper and red pepper (if you like).  Bring to a boil, add meat.  Cover and bake at 325 degrees F for 3 1/2 - 4 hours.  Remove meat from pan, discard bay leaves and thyme sprigs.  Mix 1/4 cup flour with water ( I use a small jar with a lid and cold water and shake it like the dickens!), stir into pan.  Cook and stir until thick and bubbly.  Cook 1 minute more and serve with the meat.
This makes a great gravy for over mashed potatoes and I usually serve green beans with it or a vegetable of your choice.  Enjoy!

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone and I'll be back to visit later after I get my roast on!
Happy Trails!

Day #6 Porch Cleaning not......Walmart yes, and a few good recipes!

I went to Wally World today and you know I have good intentions but I am so beat after that trip that today is a loss for any progress on the porch.  This porch was my storage area and dumping ground so part of the reason it is taking me so long.  I had to find "homes" for all that stuff!
I should have a post tomorrow on it hopefully as I did work on it yesterday but yesterday was also the first NFL game of the season....Packers vs Seahawks.  I won't tell you how it went in case you taped it to watch later but needless to say I had my own little Tailgate Party.  I made this layered dip to gorge on eat during the game and it was yummy!  It's easy and not actually healthy but come on...it was a tailgate party!  It does have my homegrown tomatoes in it though.

 Here's the recipe below.  I copied it from All Recipes     The picture below is not my doing although what a great idea...unless you're a Seahawk fan. LOL!

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• READY IN 15 mins

Seven Layer Dip

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Recipe by Christina Suggs 

"Quick, easy and delicious. This is my favorite to take to parties. There are never any leftovers!"

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Ingredients Edit and Save

Original recipe makes 1 9x13 inch pan Change Servings

• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
• 1 (9 ounce) can bean dip
• 1 large avocado
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

• 1/2 cup sliced black olives
• 2 large tomatoes, chopped
• 1 (8 ounce) can jalapeno processed cheese spread
• 1/2 cup green onions
• 1 (14.5 ounce) package corn tortilla chips

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• PREP
  15 mins
• READY IN
  15 mins

Directions

1. In a small mixing bowl combine the sour cream and taco mix; mix well.
2. Spread bean dip into the bottom of a 9x13 inch clear glass dish. Layer avocado on top of the bean dip. Sprinkle the lemon juice and garlic salt over the mixture. Spread the sour cream mixture over the avocados. Layer the olives over the sour cream, the tomatoes over the olives; spread the cheese dip and onions over the entire mixture. Serve with tortilla chips for dipping.

 I also made a dessert for the party of 1......Jan Hagen Cookies.  I have no idea where I got this recipe and I haven't a clue as to who Jan Hagen is but she is a darn good baker as they are one of my favorites and so quick and easy.

Jan Hagen Cookies:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
1 egg white
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Cream butter and sugar together.  Add egg yolk.  Sift flour and cinnamon and gradually add to mixture.  Spread dough on a cookie sheet (I have those big sheets so I can only spread it about 3/4 of the way).  Brush on a film of egg white .  Sprinkle on nuts.  Bake at 300 degrees F for 30 minutes. Cut into squares while hot and then let cool.  *L*O*V*E*
Here are my "treasures" from Wal-Mart............
 mums in colors I don't have.......reasonable prices too....big ones for $3.98.  I also got some "fading ones" on clearance for $1.98.

 I buy some each year and usually bring them in the house for Fall and then plant outside.

 These are the ones I planted last year from little pots!  They are the size of bushes now and take little water.  I've had them on both sides of the house South and North in the sun and they are hardy!

 I've seen this book on several sites and was curious as I think I could have written it maybe but I'll read it first and then let you know.  LOL!

 Today was 95 REAL degrees F...I have no idea what the heat index was...does it really matter when it's that hot?  But I am not letting it bother me.....it is Fall and that's all there is to it so bring on the scents, smells, foods, books, projects and crafts and activities so befitting of this marvelous season!
Here's my small contribution..........

  I also got ingredients for a special dinner I always make to celebrate the season.  I'll be sharing that with you too as I am making it Sunday.  Unfortunately, I am also homesick for the smells of hay and watching the harvesting and the haze and smell of burning leaves and the crisp mornings but I have wonderful memories revived by other bloggers and by just closing my eyes.
Meanwhile, I'm blessed to have a full larder, extra treats and my wonderful AC!  I'll be "kicking back" tonight but it's been a great week. 

I hope yours was too.
 Happy Fall Trails!

Day #3 of porch cleaning

I missed yesterday for blogging and I've given myself 4 days for cleaning the porch (boy am I slow!).  But in my defense there was laundry, ironing, and a bath squeezed in there.  Oh, and I changed the sheets too.  As for the porch, I rounded a corner...............

 

I sometimes feel overwhelmed with all that needs to be done around here but I have decided to just take a room at a time and just CLEAN and ORGANIZE.  I get the urge to paint and fix and I have to ignore that urge and come back later or I'll never get anything accomplished.  Trust me....I've done that before and ended up with a bigger mess!

There's a door behind that bookcase.  I washed the panes on it but the lock doesn't work on the door so I decided to block it off.  I moved the bookcase from the living room and placed some "extra cookbooks" on it but I still have room for more on it.  Yippee!

I put a little magazine rack next to it which also has more room.  Notice the orange paint on the wall around the corner?  Long story but I started painting it when my eyes went South and haven't gotten back to it since I've had my eye surgeries....someday.  But for now I'm just going to CLEAN and ORGANIZE. 

I washed the adjacent window and took down its screen and found an old gauzy type curtain panel that I doubled over and clipped with cafe curtain clips.  

So, that was yesterday and today is Day #3 and I gave myself 4 days but it's looking like it may take more.  I'll see how much progress I make today.

"Use it up, make it do, throw it out or buy it new."  So far, I've used, made do and thrown a bunch out.  There will be no "buying new" until I am done with the entire house but meanwhile I will be making a list of "necessities" that I can purchase or thrift for later.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

I did notice I need batteries for those battery operated candles! LOL!

Wish me lots of progress today.  Am I the only one with the Fall cleaning bug?  Are you getting out your Fall decorations?  

Happy Trails!

Laboring on Labor Day

Yes, I labored but Fall is coming and I have more of an urge to clean now than I do in the Spring.  I worked on my porch today.  I was inspired by Kim over at Camp and Cottage Living who redid her porch by "shopping" her home.  I love her frugal decorating and I was inspired!
I didn't get it all done but I made a big dent.
Everything here is from a thrift store or a garage sale.  I bought the corner unit years ago at an antique store.  The yellow lantern is a gift from my daughter and is battery operated.  The barn wood painting I did for my children back in 1981.  The green bottle is filled with battery operated fire flies.  That might have been new but it was years ago.

 

Okay....these are all thrifted items including the tablecoth. 

 The chairs I've had for years and the green rocker is plastic and used to be on my farm porch. 

I have 11 windows on this porch not counting the door.  Awhile back I snagged some white material for cheap at the thrift store.  I washed it and noticed it was already hemmed so I washed the windows (I took down the screens and will wash another time) and put up the "curtains" with cafe clips and tension rods.  There was only 2 pieces of material so I don't know what I'll do for the other windows.

BLT's are the order of the day for my Labor Day supper.   All fresh ingredients from the Farmer's Market and my homemade bread.

A beer and some fresh green beans and I am in heaven!

 I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day if you live in the U.S. and if you don't celebrate I just hope you had a wonderful day period! Happy Trails!