The Final Friday Of January

And may I just say, this has felt like a very long month! Why does Christmas feel like forever ago??? Maybe because it has been cold. Like very cold. Good thing I like being inside and reading inside, and drinking coffee inside and not being outside. Because that is what I have been doing. Add in some homeschool, some laundry, and some cooking, and that was my week. Oh! I did venture out for Mocha's follow-up appointment. She was all cleared and has no restrictions. She was happy.

What exactly did I cook this week? First up, we had a family favorite that we simply call Chicken Bowls. I just put some chicken breast in the crockpot and pour a cup of salsa over it. It cooks 7 or 8 hours on low, and then I shred it. We add rice, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, cheese, and Greek yogurt. 

I also made another family favorite this week: tuna and noodles. I know this is a controversial meal, and some people don't care for it, but believe me, my kids absolutely love it! I have shared the recipe before, but if you missed it, here it is again.

Tuna and Noodles

Ingredients

• 8 oz egg noodles
• 2 cups milk
• ⅓ stick of butter (about 2½ tablespoons)
• 1 can (7 oz) tuna, drained
• 1 can of cream of mushroom soup
• 3 slices of cheese (e.g., American or cheddar)
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• Garlic powder, to taste
• Parsley, for garnish

Instructions

• Cook the egg noodles according to package instructions, then drain and set aside.
• In the same pot, combine the milk and butter over medium heat, stirring until the butter melts.
• Add the drained tuna and cream of mushroom soup to the pot, stirring to combine.
• Mix in the cooked noodles, then add the cheese slices, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Stir until the cheese melts, and everything is well combined.
• Cover the pot with a lid and let it simmer on low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Garnish with parsley before serving.

And then, because Valentine's Day is coming up, we had a little pre-Valentine's Day dinner. Tyson makes these cute and delicious heart-shaped chicken nuggets. I made macaroni and cheese and a tossed salad. This is the most delicious macaroni and cheese recipe ever! Click right HERE.

And because it was National Chocolate Cake Day, Flynn made a delicious chocolate cake. 

And Peyton sent us a picture of her chocolate cake, too! 

Well, we are supposed to have some more very cold weather and possibly some snow this weekend. If you need me, you know where to find me! 

Happy Weekend, my friends! And Happy February!

Billie Jo

Just Sayin'

Happy Wednesday!

BillieJo

Monday Morning Coffee

Good Monday morning! I hope that if Winter Storm Fern paid you a visit this weekend, you are safe and sound, cozy and warm. We were initially forecast to receive an excessive amount of snow here, so when I awoke yesterday around 6:30, I got up, made my coffee, and settled in, anxious to watch the snow fall as soon as the light of day appeared. I am certainly glad I did. This is what I saw. After a few more flakes and a small amount of ice, everything turned to rain. While I was disappointed, I also acknowledge that we were spared the shoveling, plowing, and power outages that so many are dealing with. If that is you, I hope you are back to normal as soon as possible.

Aside from the mass on Saturday night, we canceled all our plans. This translates to a weekend of games played together. Did you know that you can play Boggle and Pictionary with your family on Netflix? You just connect and use your phone. It is so fun! There was also reading (me), watching football (others), and napping (also me). I also finally hung the family pictures that have been in a big plastic tote since we moved in last August! I don't have a kitchen wall for them, but this one near the steps works well for everyone who came before us. These are my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Steve's parents are there also. I love having these people right near me as I go about my day.

I often share our dinners here, but did you know, we also eat lunch?? I have this thing that I become fixated on a particular meal and eat it every day for as long as I can. This is the current selection.

Another thing I share here is the beautiful sunrises. Did you know we also have sunsets???

Well, that is all for this morning. I am going to pour another cup of coffee and sit by the fire for a few minutes, just like my parents used to do. Just themselves, the quiet, and some hot coffee by a fire. Social media, cell phones, streaming services, and polarizing news media were not yet available to intrude on the cozy little life they had created. Imagine that. 

Have a cozy Monday, my friends. Stay warm!

BillieJo

Wrapping Up A January Week

January is growing on me. As a teenager sitting in Physics class, I remember thinking how long January felt. After the excitement of the holidays, January felt endless, boring, and cold. Older and wiser now, I still think January feels like a long month. Now, however, I totally embrace it. After the excitement of the holidays, January feels comforting, unrushed, and yes, still cold. Now, though, cold weather means cozy and calm. It means evenings spent inside, with warm throws, books, and movies, and home-cooked meals. I miss my morning walks and swimming outside, of course. There will be time for that soon enough. Now I live in what is, not wanting what will be.

This was indeed a January week. Deceptively sunny, yet the air was cold! I stayed home for the most part, venturing out Tuesday morning for a haircut and color. And some Dunkin coffee, of course. Shorter, because, why not?

This pretty much sums up my week.

Mocha has recovered beautifully from her teeth removal surgery. She is back to normal, and I am relieved. Oddly enough, fewer teeth have not impacted the decibel of her bark. 

Favorite meals this week included a new recipe and an old favorite.

This is a new chicken recipe, and we loved it. It's delicious and so easy. The marinade is only fresh garlic, olive oil, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. For the link, click HERE.

Flynn requested lasagna, not just any lasagna, though. Grandma Flo's lasagna. Steve's mum made this, and I know I have shared it before, but I'll share it again in case you missed it. 

Grandma Flo's Lasagna

Ingredients:

1. One pound of ground beef
2. One onion, chopped
3. Salt and Pepper
4. One large jar of your favorite Pasta Sauce 
5. One box of lasagna noodles
6. One package of WHITE American Cheese slices
7. Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef with salt, pepper, and onion.
2. Drain all fat.
3. Add pasta sauce and simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain.
5. Spray the bottom of a 13x9-inch baking dish.
6. Cover the bottom with a thin layer of meat sauce.
7. Layer noodles and cheese slices, followed by meat sauce.
8. Cut each cheese slice into 3 strips and put one on each piece of noodle.
9. Layer until the pan is full.
10. Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese.
11. Bake according to directions on the lasagna noodle box.
12. Enjoy!

I hope you have a lovely weekend, my friends. If you are in the path of the winter storm, stay safe and warm! Here, we have forecasts for tons of snow, a dusting of snow, some ice, dangerous amounts of ice, rain, sleet, you name it! It is what it is, right? We are prepared either way. Thanks for reading, and see you back here Monday!

And in case you need a smile, here is a picture that I did not draw of a little mouse drinking tea.

Happy Weekend!

Billie Jo

Things I Am No Longer Apologizing For

Staying home 

Avoiding conflict for the sake of peace

Sayin No

Being me

Eating pasta

And loving dessert.

How about you, my friends?

Have a cozy Wednesday!

Billie Jo

Monday Morning Coffee

 

Good Monday morning, my friends. How was your weekend? Steve, Flynn, and I spent our weekend at the condo, venturing out for mass on a cold Sunday evening. Thank you for the kind words and messages on my last post. I appreciate every single one. Saturday, my mom sent a beautiful sunrise...

And my family sent me some beautiful flowers to brighten my day. 

I don't have many more pictures from the weekend, but I did take this one. Remember when your children were little, and you couldn't go to the bathroom without them right outside the door? Well, don't expect much to change when they grow up!

Yesterday was cold, dark, and rainy. Not that I minded! But today is clear and calm. Perhaps a reminder to me to begin this new week the same way? 

We will tidy up here and head across the bridge soon. Today, Flynn and I will do homeschooling. I have a chicken recipe to try tonight, and then some of us will watch the college football championship. Others may be snuggled by the fire with a good book. Just sayin'.  

Have a wonderful day, my friends! Thank you for visiting.

Billie Jo

Wrapping Up A Week

Hello, my friends. Here we are again on a Friday. Time is flying so quickly anymore, I can hardly keep up! How are we entering the second half of January when I was planning Thanksgiving dinner yesterday?? In any case, we are helpless to stop it, so we might as well enjoy it. This week was a relatively quiet one here, with one exception. Little Mocha had to have a dental procedure to remove more of her teeth. This time, the vet removed eight teeth and also did a chest X-ray of her. She has been wheezing recently, and the X-ray showed some activity that could be bronchial in origin. So, she is on an antibiotic and medication for her mouth. I am having flashbacks to those days of the sticky pink liquid and bribes, if you know what I mean! 

She was a little uncomfortable the first day or two,

But soon enough, she felt better, and these two were back up to their antics.

Rhett and Kyrstin went up to Pennsylvania this week. First stop? The Steeler playoff game on Monday night!

The game started off great, and then? Not so much. Maybe next year! They also spent a day with Peyton and Chris at the skating rink, followed by lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse. I can remember Rhett and Peyton sitting at our kitchen table after lunch on homeschool days, playing Battleship. Years later, they still enjoy spending lunchtime together! 

Our favorite meals this week were two old-time ones. 

Sloppy Joes

Servings: 4-6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 lb. lean ground beef

• 2 T. Worcestershire sauce

• 2 T. mustard

• ½ C. ketchup

• 2 T. vinegar

• 2 T. sugar

• 4-6 hamburger rolls

• American cheese slices (optional, for topping)

Instructions

1. Cook the Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, lightly fry the

ground beef until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain any excess fat.

2. Make the Sauce: Add the Worcestershire sauce, mustard, ketchup,

vinegar, and sugar to the skillet with the ground beef. Stir well to combine all

the ingredients.

3. Simmer: Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for 10-15

minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the flavors meld

together. If desired, mix in American cheese slices until melted and well

incorporated.

4. Serve: Spoon the Sloppy Joe mixture onto hamburger rolls. Serve hot.

Taco Pie

8-oz. tube refrigerated crescent rolls

1 cup tortilla chips, crushed and divided

1lb. ground beef

1 onion, chopped

8-oz. can tomato sauce

1-¼ oz. pkg. taco seasoning mix

3 T. sour cream

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Separate crescent rolls and line an ungreased 9" pie plate with them; press together to form a pie crust. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup crushed tortilla chips and set aside. Brown ground beef and onion in a skillet; drain. Add tomato sauce and taco seasoning; simmer for 5 minutes. Pour into the pie plate. Spread sour cream over top; sprinkle with cheese and remaining chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

With this, I double it and bake it in a 13x9 dish. 

And for lunch this week?

I've been enjoying this arugula salad. And yes. I eat on the job. : )

Arugula Salad

And finally, tomorrow marks one year since my dear momma passed. I miss her so much every single day. My sister asked me to write something for the local paper. This is what I wrote for my mom.

Have a lovely weekend, my friends. See you back here Monday. Thanks for visiting!

Billie Jo