#10 Salisbury Steaks

You can make w/ any ground meat.  Ground beef is best, but the last time I made it I used ground turkey and the only thing that Jared didn't care for was the texture.

These go best with mashed potatoes and gravy.

I made everything in this order so it was all done at about the same time.

For the Mashed Potatoes:

4 decent size potatoes
2 tbs butter
1/2 cup milk
Salt & Pepper

Peel and cube potatoes
Boil them with a few sprinkles of salt till soft and drain (Now you can start the steaks while the potatoes boil.)
With your beaters or masher combine butter, milk, and salt & pepper to taste.

For the Steaks:
1 lbs of ground meat
1 egg
1/2 cup of bread crumbs
1 beef bullion cube completely dissolved in 1/8 cup of water
About 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of each of the following, depending on your taste
Cumin
Salt (only use 1/8 tsp due to the bullion cube)
Pepper
Peprika
Minced Onion
Garlic Powder

Mix everything together in a bowl and get your skillet hot with some olive oil (or whatever you have).  Make palm size oval patties and cook them in your pan until they are done, flipping once to get both sides nice and brown.  As they get done take them out and put them on a paper towel to drain. 

Now for the gravy:
2 tbs of flour
1 can beef broth
1 tbs of Minced onion
1 tsp Garlic powder
Salt & Pepper to taste


If you are out of oil in your pan add a bit more.  Add about 2 tbs of flour to your pan and mix into the oil to start a roux.  Keep mixing and when your mix is nice and golden brown add 1 can of beef broth a little bit at a time.  You want your mixture to thicken as you go.  So if you add it slowly and wait for it to thicken back up and then add a bit more, this will be the easiest way to keep it thick.  When everything is added put your steaks back in and cover for about 10 minutes so they soak up some of the flavor.


To keep up with the TV Dinner theme of Salisbury Steaks is to have corn with it as well.  So we had all of this and everyone had a full belly and we ended up with left overs for the next day.

Enjoy!!

Gabrielle 3 months

*2.1.2010*  You've learned how to yell during play time. It sounds like a loud squeak.
*2.4.2010*  When Daddy plays with you you've started throwing your arms and legs around.  It's the sweetest thing to watch.  Usually before shower time you go nuts for your Daddy and almost jump out of your bouncy seat. 
*2.8.2010*  Your tongue and your hands are your new favorite toys.  When you don't have your pacifier you chew on your hands and every once in a while you gag yourself.  You've started playing with your tongue recently and you stick it in and out and make bubbles in the process.  So it always looks like you are blowing bubbles.
*2.10.2010*  Now that you've learned to stand up that is about all you want to do.  When ever you really want to stand you straighten out your entire body and grunt really loud until some one stands you up. 
*2.15.2010*  With in the last week or so you started pulling yourself to sit up.  It's pretty funny when you are in the car seat and do it because the only thing that moves is your head, but that doesn't keep you from trying.  We can sit you up and you don't topple over much, but we are never far away.  I thought the Bumbo Chair would help you but you get annoyed with it after a few minutes.
*2.18.2010*  I'm lucky you are such a good sleeper, we are able to sleep most nights all the way through.  If we get up in between 6 and 7 then you only get up once.  You had a spurt this week when you didn't wake up at all.  Those were good nights!

  Shower times are very serious in our house now.  7:00 is when we wait for the inevitable meltdown.  We know that it won't be long before you loose it; by 7:30 if you aren't in the bathroom in your bouncy, with the water on, then your bound to start screaming.  But once you are in there, and the water is on, you know that it's almost your turn.  When your in the water it's all business, you might talk a little bit but no smiles, it's your turn and your going to soak up every minute of it.  You don't mind the water in your face, you just try and eat it and the bubbles and my shoulder, if they get close enough to your mouth.  When shower time is done we have to work fast...get dressed cause it's cold...get your bottle cause your STARVING....and then it's almost bedtime.  This is the only part of the day where we can't change the schedule.  Most days the naps aren't that big of a deal because you will sleep when your tired and let us know when your hungry.  But showers are always in between 7:00 and 7:30
  We had to start  you on cereal this month and apple juice as needed for your tummy.  We skipped the rice and went straight to the oatmeal for your tiny bum and tummy.  Now we don't have any problems and you have a happy bum and tummy.  On your first bottle of each you didn't even stop to taste it, you gulped them down and cried when they were empty.  The apple juice you SCREAMED when it was gone, you sucked so hard you collapsed the nipples and would freak out while we waited for the air to go back in.  There was no burping during these feedings, you were to impatient.  I hope that the changing foods and then new foods are a good sign for when you are older.  This is another thing that you did just like Ethan, he would eat anything.  If he didn't like it he would show a funny face but keep on eating.  I hope you do the same.

#9 Yummy Country Pork Roast

Country Style Pork Roast

Yields: 4-6 servings

Preparation 20 MIN Cooking 4 HRS Ready In 4 HRS 20 MIN

Ingredients

1/2	teaspoon	ginger
1/4	teaspoon	garlic powder
1/4	teaspoon	sage
1/4	teaspoon	salt
1/4	teaspoon	black pepper
5	pounds	pork shoulder roast	or fresh picnic, or other

Directions

In small bowl, mix all spices.
Rub on surface of 5 lb. pork roast.
Roast on rack in shallow pan to 185 F. on meat thermometer for 3 1/2-4 hours at 325 f.
Can make gravy from pan drippings.




This was awesome and easy!!!

JumBle X

It's been a while since I've rambled about what is new with us.

*Life with Gabrielle has been great. The adjustment from a family of 3 to 4 has been easy. Ethan is in love with her and we couldn't be more happy. She sleeps well and only fusses when she needs something.
*Jared got a job in Huntsville, AL so we are moving. We are still waiting on the final details but we are fairly sure that we are leaving the last week of February. I've started working with a Lender and Realtor so we can move into a house instead of renting for a year. So far everything is working out. We should be able to close on a new house the first part of April. The only bad thing is that we will have to stay in a temporary housing for a month when we get there. We will have to work out what to do with Ethan and school, since they let out May 22 for summer and he is on a track school here. I think that will be the hardest thing to work out.
*We got our relocation packet from the Realtor, and I have to say that I'm excited. I love museums and seeing history. Studying history was boring to me and I didn't care for it, but when you get to see how things were it really puts how we do things into perspective.
*The boys are excited to go fishing and hunting for snakes...(eeeewww gross!) I can help with the fishing but the snakes are off limits and NEVER allowed in or around our house. I've had to put up a fight for this one, because both boys are fascinated with them and they both try to tell me how harmless they are. Needless to say, it hasn't worked and I'm still terrified of them.
*We took Dina yesterday to get bathed and she looks beautiful. So shinny and pretty. They said that she didn't like the blow dryer so it took them an extra hour to kennel dry her. When we went to pick her up she was prancing out of the groomers! And of course the one day we took her to get cleaned up it rains, she hates wet spots on the ground and will walk around them. So just imagine how ucky it was for her to walk on the wet floor with her newly clipped toes and shinny clean coat. She was hilarious to watch!