Super Simple Pasta Dinner

Super Simple Pasta Dinner

This simple dinner is a family favorite.  I can make this when we are camping or on a night that everyone lands in and I really haven't planned dinner...  Even the granddaughters like this.  

You will need:

1 lb. hamburger

1 can pasta sauce (I use Hunts)

dried pasta, smaller pasta works best.

Brown your hamburger. Add the can of pasta sauce, fill the pasta sauce can with water and add.  Now fill the pasta sauce can with uncooked pasta.  (I like penne, twirls, macaroni, or shells.) Add the pasta to all the rest, stir, cover, and cook on low for 20 to 25 minutes. 

I like to serve this with parmesan cheese and serve a salad and you have a fast and EASY dinner.  If you have a bigger family just double the recipe.  When we are all up in the hills I do.  Its so easy to increase just double your ingredients and get a bigger pan. :-) 

a little bird

  

   

Spring Garden

The spring garden is producing well, lots of onions, chives, rhubarb, the mint is like a forest, harvested some cilantro and oregano as well.

Last year we purchased a larger dehydrator.  It is an Excalibur.  I have been very happy with this unit. The only reason I say this is if you are looking for a new or additional dehydrator this is a good one.
I do a fair amount of dehydrating. Last year we did kale, beets, apples, pears, apricots, plums, tomatoes, squash, many spices and herbs for tea, etc.  We use our dehydrators.  :-)  We live in the high mountain desert so we can do some sun drying as well.  But the ease and speed of using a dehydrator is a real plus.

I use the dried veggies in soups.  We eat the fruits as a snack.  Peppermint, camomile, rose hips, orange rind and the like are used for tea and the spices go into our home cooked meals.  It is a great way to 'put by' the harvest.  It requires less space and stores very well.  

For a free copy of the the below book Drying Fruits and Vegetables CLICK HERE

New

We have some 'new' at our house.  We have a brand new granddaughter.  I had forgotten how very tiny they are to start.  Although she is the biggest baby so far 7 lbs 13 oz.  She is a tiny little peanut.  And of course beautiful.  What a special blessing.  We sure love our girls.  DH and I had boys and I LOVE my boys but I always wanted a little girl too.  Well I now have five beautiful granddaughters.  God is so good.

The other 'new' is the bathroom...  Our house is 42 years old and the bathroom is the original.  The hinge broke on the vanity cabinet and DH said okay it's time for an updated bathroom.  Below are some pictures of the new items.
Note: these picutres are mainly for my mom.  She likes to see what we're up to and this is an easy way for her.  I'm sure our 'new' bathroom items aren't of much interest to anyone else.  :-)  But thanks for indulging me.  a little bird...

We have been buying the materials, tile, vanity, mirror, cabinet, even a new loo.  And today DH started the project.  The old vanity and medicine cabinet are gone. The new floor is going down - good thing he knows how to do tile work!!  We (that 'we' is the royal we as DH is doing all the work) are going to do it in stages as much as possible as we are a one loo household... Thank goodness for the camper.  :-)  The final stage will be a walk in shower.  No more tub but we really use the shower most all the time.

So that's whats 'new' with us.
a little bird

May we never forget

Holocaust Rememberance Day begins today at sundown.

God forbid that we would ever forget.
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. George Santayana

Pure Michigan

Spring Break in Pure Michigan

Yeah - fun was had by all. We took a few days to go visit our family in Michigan.  We spent 4 days but  believe or not we were able to see most of our family.  Not all - it seems there just wasn't enough time to see all but most.

We wanted to check on our moms and just visit.  They both are doing well and were pleased with our visit.  Actually we surprised my Mother-in-Law.  We just showed up at church Sunday.  She was shocked and thrilled.  I guess she was always quite the prankster when the kids were all home on April Fool's day...  So my husband and his sister thought it would be a early April Fool's.  :-)

She loved it.

The weather was 'spring' cool windy - one day was freezing rain...  but all in all it was nice. 

So now we are headed home.  Looking forward to seeing our family in the west and our very spoiled Labrador Chessie.

Hope you too are having a good break.

a little bird

Making a Difference

Happy Thursday! I want you to know there are some AMAZING teachers out there. My Daughter-in-Love, my sister, my cousin, and many others. I have had parents come up to me regarding my D-i-L saying the following. "Your daughter is an amazing teacher, she expected more of my child than any other teacher ever did and my child realizing that he/she was believed in did it." So this is for the great teachers out there. Yes, there are some lousy teachers but thank goodness for the great ones.


 

Re-fried Beans and Spanish Rice

Photo from Food Album

I discovered a cool quick way to make re-fried beans - bean flour - really and true.  If you grind your whole dry beans (in this case pinto) into bean flour you can make re-fried beans in minutes.

Quick and Easy Re-fried Beans
1 cup bean flour
2 1/2 cups water
salt to taste
you can add some bacon grease for flavor or not your choice
mix bring up to a simmer and cook on low for about ten minutes.

Some recipes call for 1 cup bean flour  1 cup water but I don't like that, it is much too thick for my taste.  But you play around and get it to your taste.  :-)

I grate a bit of cheese on top and Craig loves it.  That is one easy addition to a meal that is full of protein and fiber and good nutrition.   I like to serve this with Spanish Rice and a salad.

Spanish Rice

(this can be prepared in 40 minutes or less)
2 to 4 tablespoons olive oil in your large heavy skillet
1 medium onion chopped
1 clove garlic minced
2 cups white rice (raw - not cooked)
Brown your rice, onions, garlic in the olive oil - takes 4 or 5 minutes.

now pour in 3 cups of chicken stock
1 heaping tablespoon of tomato paste or 1 cup of fresh or cooked tomatoes
1 teaspoon salt
Give it all a stir, cover, turn to low and let cook for 20 to 25 minutes
This is my very favorite Spanish Rice recipe and I have tried quite a few over the years.

Rice and beans together have the amino acids to make a complete protein- this is a very inexpensive but good for you meal.  Straight from your pantry how neat is that.

Almost Spring

Oh my goodness can you believe it's almost spring!!  We in the west have had warm weather already for almost a month.  Remember warm at this time of year is a relative term...  But we have had 40's, 50's and some 60's.  The grass is greening and Craig my wonderful DH has even mowed the lawn.

I'm just hoping my fruit trees don't get ahead of themselves and set on blossoms it's WAY to early!!

We have just been busy with the day to day.  Nothing out of the ordinary - but ordinary can be peaceful too.

I would like to introduce Henny Penny, Goldilocks, and Feisty Nugget

These little ones will be egg layers.  They will join Regina in this job.  They will (when they are a bit older) have free range in the garden to munch on bugs, run around and play through the warm days and then be tucked up safe and sound in their coop at night.  Actually these little ones will live in this  horse trough for now until old enough to go out to the coop.

Hope all is well with you and yours.  

May the Lord bless you

    and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you

    and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

    and give you peace.

Numbers 6: 24-26

a little bird

Ash Wednesday

In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).

Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. During some Ash Wednesday services, the minister will lightly rub the sign of the cross with ashes onto the foreheads of worshipers.

Free Printables

I just wanted to share a spot for free printable labels, tags, wrappers, cards and the list goes on and on.
www.avery.com

I use this when I need/want a fun printable - but need it quick and don't want to spend the time to invent one myself.

Sweet treats for our favorite Valentines.

;-)

a little bird