Quick Mushrooms and Green Beans

Today is the day that my niece Angie at The Jammie Girl is the guest blogger on SITS. She works so hard on her blog and does an amazing job. Please visit SITS today to see what an wonderful talent she is. If you don't know what SITS is just press the button on the sidebar and you will be right there.

Sadly it is the time of the year when I'm lucky to find a pound or two of fresh green beans from the produce stand. But when I do this is a fast and delicious way to enjoy them. Grill a few pork chops and make some of those Smashed Fried Potato things from the other day and dinner is ready in a flash.

See how easy these recipes are getting. I must be getting tired. No sometimes quick and easy if just as good as complicated and all day cooking.

Quick Mushrooms and Green Beans
6 servings
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2 Tablespoons butter
1 (3-0z) can mushrooms, chopped
1 teaspoon salt or House Seasoning
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 pound beans, cut in 1/2-inch pieces

In a 8-inch frying pan melt butter. Add onion and cook gently until golden. Add drained mushrooms, saving liquid. Add enough boiling water to liquid to make 1 cup; turn into medium saucepan. Add beans and salt. Boil vigorously, covered, until tender, about 8-10 minutes. Drain. Add onion-mushroom mixture to beans and reheat.

Two Fat Ladies' Bubble and Squeak

Remember this show? This recipe is too much fun. I got this last year from Recipezaar, it's recipe number 32216. The fun part is when people ask you what it is, and they will because it really is good. Very English of course. The Brussels sprout haters in your family will never know they are there. When you tell the kids the name of it they will love it.

Two Fat Ladies' Bubble and Squeak
Serves 4
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1 pound cold cooked potato
2 ounces meat drippings or lard (I usually use bacon grease)
1 onion finely chopped
1/2 pound Brussels sprout, cooked and chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Finely chop the potatoes and crush slightly.
2. In a frying pan, melt half the fat and lightly fry the onion.
3. Mix in the potato and sprouts and season well.
4. Add more dripping or lard.
5. Press the potato/sprout mixture into the hot fat and fry over a moderate heat until browned underneath.
6. Turn the veggie mixture over, add the last of the fat and fry until the other side is browned.

Saint and Scriptures Sunday- Love One Another

I am charged with only one responsibility today: to love someone, dearly and wholly.

Love soothes, encourages, inspires. Without the expression of love we are severed from our family and friends. It's the bond that strengthens each of us, giving us the courage to tackle what's lying ahead.

Loving must be unconditional. And when it is, it will be returned tenfold. Loving attracts itself, and it will heal us, soften the hard edges of our lives and open us up to receive the blessings of God.

It is such a simple thing asked of us-to love one another. Unconditional love of our sisters, our lovers, our children breaks down the barriers to our achievements and theirs. Loving frees us to enjoy life. It energizes us and makes all goals attainable. We carry God's message through our love of one another.

Please visit Dianna at The Kennedy Adventures - Saint and Scriptures Sunday. Have a wonderful week.

The Mammogram Song

As we all know October is Breast Cancer Month no one needs a reminder to get their mammogram if it's time. But this is so cute and only takes about one minute to watch for those of you that have not seen it.

This was sent to me by my friend Edie, who does mammograms for a living, plus all other x-ray related stuff. Can you tell how little I know about her job.

Thanks Edie and take a minute to enjoy the Mammogram Song.

Fajita Burgers

And you thought grilling season was over. I stop grilling when the snow starts flying. To be honest I don't think I have made these all summer. I forget until something calls my attention to it, like no hamburger buns in the house.

Fajita Burgers
Serves 4
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2 tablespoons oil
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 red pepper, quartered
4 4-ounce beef burgers
4 8-inch flour tortillas
Lettuce
Sour Cream
Sliced avocados
Salsa

Preheat grill to medium-high. Mix the oil and chili powder. Grill the pepper, turning once, 12 minutes. Grill burgers until done. Brush one side of the tortilla with the chili and oil. Grill, oil-side down, 1 minute. Turn over and cook 1 more minute. Thinly slice the pepper. Place the burger on the tortillas and add the accompaniments.

Feel Good Friday- Where Is My Life Going?

Maybe if I try being depressed the time will not go so fast. Nah, to much good stuff going on to be depressed.

A little update on the results of our church auction. Unbelievable is the only word that comes to mind. People were spending money like crazy. $100.00 for a pound of Bourbon Balls, 2100.00 for a quilt, 37.50 for a pint of my Roasted Tomato and Black Bean Soup, actually that Scotty's soup. $375.00 for a yard decoration of dried up corn stalks, with pumpkin and squash around it. It really was beautiful. People were buying Jam Cakes like they were never going to get another one as long as they live.

It was a perfect day, beautiful weather and all. Our total was right at $9,000.00 dollars. We were all very happy at church on Sunday. It wasn't all about the money. It was everyone working together and having fun, seeing people you haven't seen since last year or longer. Some people I hadn't seen since I was a kid. Old boyfriends from the third grade.

Some guys is introducing me to people I went to grade school with and I didn't even know who he was.

I was so busy visiting I missed 4 items I wanted to bid on. Yes, I live in a wonderful little country community that I wouldn't take anything for. Old Union Christian Church's Lords Auction has been going on each year since 1947. I know this how...because Louise(92) told me so.

Yes I feel good just being a small part of this.

For more Feel Good Friday please visit The Girl Next Door Grows Up.

Ham Chowder

I'm such a Pollyanna, I really believed the weather people when they said the end of this week would be beautiful and the temperatures would be back in the 70's. Not.
It is soup weather and I might as well get use to it. I love soup, just hate cold weather. Yes, I will whine about the cold until next June.

This is another Lucy recipe and it is wonderful. A word of caution. This makes enough to feed the neighborhood so you might want to reduce it by half.

Ham Chowder
about 4 quarts plus
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8 cups of ham or chicken stock
4 cups ham, cubed
2 tablespoons dried rosemary
2 pounds bacon, diced
2 large onions , diced
3 leeks, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
6 green onions, diced
6 large potatoes
1 pound carrots, cubed
1 1/2 cups heavy cream

Pour stock into large pot and set over medium heat. Stir in ham and rosemary.

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook diced bacon until crisp. Remove bacon from skillet with a slotted spoon and add to pot. Drain off 1/2 of the bacon grease. Don't throw that away, save it for seasoning. Return to heat and add onions, leeks, garlic and green onion. Cook until tender and add to the pot.

Put potatoes and carrots in the pot and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Turn off heat and add heavy cream.