Spring has Sprung

I think spring is finally upon us. I am sure we will still see the occasional spring snowfall, but the worst is behind us. I am looking forward to getting the gardens going, get walking and enjoying the sunshine, and BBQ'ing...lots of it!

I had a great time last weekend at the scrapbooking weekend. I got 12 pages mostly finished. They just need titles and a few extra embellishments. I need to come up with an idea for a card for ladies night on Wednesday but my creativity is running on empty. I spent it all last weekend!

This weekend, Lee is home. I bought him tickets to see Billy Talent for his birthday. The concert was Friday night. Cancer Bats weren't that great and alexisonfire were just OK. I don't really understand the whole screaming instead of singing. Against Me was pretty good. And Billy Talent was awesome! We saw Billy Talent 5 or 6 years ago at a Warped Tour. It was 35 degrees, no shade and $3.50 bottles of water. We got trampled, elbowed, and stomped on. Lee had to pull me out of the crowd backwards and we missed half of Billy Talent's half hour show. So this was to make up for that and we had a great time.

Yesterday, I made a boiled cabbage dinner and flaky dessert. I had never made flaky dessert before, but I had heard of it from my friend Gola. It is supposed to be similar to the Vachon Flakie cakes, and it is close. It was nice and light, and a cinch to make. I didn't get a good picture, but this gives you an idea.

Flaky Dessert

• 1 box vanilla instant pudding, 4 serving size
• 2 cups milk
• 1L Cool Whip, thawed
• 1 cup jam or jelly
• 1 sleeve soda crackers, unsalted

Mix pudding and milk. Fold in 1/2 tub of Cool Whip. Place a single layer of soda crackers on the bottom of and 8x8 pan. Spread 1/2 of pudding/Cool Whip mixture on crackers. Place another single layer of crackers and add another layer of pudding mix. Stir jam or jelly until smooth, and spread on top. Spread remaining Cool Whip on top and cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

A little tip about the jam. I bought Smuckers Strawberry jam in a squeeze bottle and just squeezed it on. It is much easier than trying to spread it on the pudding. If you are going to used jam or jelly in a jar, try microwaving for 10 seconds or so then stir. It will be easier to spread when slightly warmed.

Go Canada Go!

I don't know of many Canadians who aren't watching the gold medal game today. There is 3 minutes left in the 3rd period as I write. My friend Heddy was out and about town this afternoon and apparently it is a ghost town out there. Everyone is hunkered down to see who will come out on top.

Before the game started, I made some cookies. Another keeper from Nanny's book. I had to go to the store for oatmeal in the middle of making them, but they turned out good! Nanny's recipe called for raisins, but I subbed chocolate chips.

Dad's Oatmeal Cookies

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup oatmeal
• 1/2 cup coconut
• 1/2 cup raisins (or chocolate chips)

Cream shortening and brown sugar. Add egg and mix. Add in dry ingredients and mix well. Bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes. (Mine were done at 9 minutes) Be careful not to overbake, they burn quickly!

Friday Night Chili

I am so glad it's Friday. I get to sleep in tomorrow. I love the Olympics, but, I am ready to get back to regular TV. But not before Canada captures the gold in Men's Hockey!


How about Women's Team Canada, eh?? How empowering for all woman, especially Canadian women and girls who play competitive hockey! I don't feel it's about who wins the most medals, but more about pride in our athletes, our country, and our people. What a sense of accomplishment Olympic athletes must feel!


Not much going on with us here in the prairies. I am hoping to prep for next weekend tomorrow. I am going to a scrapbooking weekend, and I trying to be somewhat prepared. Should be good times though.


Being Friday, and having a craving for chili, I put one together for dinner tonight. I think it turned out pretty good. I am even eating it from the bowl I got from the Handicraft Guild's Chili Bowl Supper.









Friday Night Chili

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 2 tsp salt, divided
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 can tomato sauce (398mL)
• 1 can diced tomatoes (398mL)
• 1 can red kidney beans, drained (398mL)
• 1 can Aylmer Accents tomatoes with Chili seasonings (540mL)
• 1 cup sweet corn, frozen or canned
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp cayenne
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1 1/2 Tbs molasses
• 1 1/2 Tbs brown sugar
  

Add beef, 1 tsp salt and pepper to a large saucepan. Brown beef and drain. Add all remaining ingredients and mix well. Simmer on low heat for one hour.

I don't know if Aylmer tomatoes or chili seasoned tomatoes are available in the US, just as we can't get Rotel in Canada. If not, you could used diced tomatoes, you just may need to add a bit more chili powder and garlic. I tasted the tomatoes out of the can and chili and garlic were the predominant flavors, but celery, bell pepper and onion are also listed on the can.

Happy Valentine's Day

I received a special delivery on Friday!







Aren't they purdy?? I have the best husband ever!

I was planning on being Wonder Woman in the kitchen today, but I woke up this morning with a killer headache. I maxed out on my ibuprofen intake for the day, and it only numbed the pain for a few hours. Long enough for me to whip up a cake.

I decided on another recipe from Nanny's cookbook. Her friend Joan's Chocolate Oatmeal Cake. I hadn't made it before, but I recall eating it as a kid when Joan would come to Nanny's for a visit. If raw eggs don't bother you, lick the beater. You can thank me later.




Joan's Chocolate Oatmeal Cake

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup margarine or butter
• 1 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 6 Tbs cocoa
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla

Mix oatmeal and water in a mixing bowl (or stand mixer bowl). Allow to sit until cooled.

Once it is cooled, beat in margarine/butter, brown sugar, and eggs. Sift in flour, baking powder and cocoa and beat. Add vanilla. Mix baking soda with a teaspoon of hot water in a small bowl and add in.

Pour batter in a greased 8x8 pan and bake in a 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes. Don't overbake!

Nanny Ruth's Hamburger Soup

There is a cafe not far from my house that serves hamburger soup every Monday at lunch. I often stop in to enjoy some. My love for hamburger soup began in high school, at the high school cafeteria believe it or not. Those lunch ladies made a mean pot of hamburger soup!

When I graduated high school, my grandmother gave me a hope chest and a recipe book with her tried and true recipes. Hamburger soup was among the select dishes. And for some reason, I have never tried to make it myself! I am not sure if I just missed the recipe in the book or what happened. What happened tonight was a pot of delicious soup!

Nanny Ruth's Hamburger Soup

1 1/2 lb ground beef (I used lean)

1 medium onion, diced

1 can tomatoes (I used 19oz can of diced tomatoes with italian spice. It was in the pantry)

3 cans consomme (I used 2, picked up a can of broth by accident)

4 carrots, chopped fine

2 cups water (I used three cans of beef broth instead)

1 bay leaf

8 tablespoons barley (I used pot barley)

1 cup cabbage, chopped fine

1/2 cup celery, chopped fine

Salt and Pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in a pot and simmer for 2 hours.

I browned my ground beef, then added my remaining ingredients.

Enjoy!