A Day In My Kitchen

Welcome to my kitchen! Friday's are busy days in here, so grab a cup of something good to drink and get comfortable!!

My morning started with tuna fish. Yep. Tuna. Kyle wanted a tuna sandwich for his lunch, so at 7 am I made tuna salad. There is nothing worse in the morning than the smell of tuna fish. Still, my son went to work with the sandwich he wanted, plus there was plenty for today's lunch. My little kids took care of their own breakfast this morning. I know....bad Mommy. Cold cereal. They were happy. Tomorrow is pancake day, so I will make up for it. I threw the ingredients for whole wheat bread into the bread machine on the dough cycle and headed for the work out room. I do not eat breakfast before I work out. After my session I whipped up a protein shake for myself.

I eat 5 times a day now. Small meals, but balanced. By this time, the whole wheat dough was ready to come out and get split into 2 pans to rise.
I threw the dough for white bread in the machine on dough cycle, and headed for the showers.After my shower, it was right back to the kitchen. Friday is a big cleaning day there. All the appliances get wiped down.And the counter tops get cleared, wiped down and everything put back.I do not like clutter, or a lot of "stuff" on my counters, but I do like pretty. Every once in a while I will move some things around for my own enjoyment. The blue hen holds our butter. I love the look, but it can get messy if that lid falls into the butter....which it does almost every time someone lifts and replaces the lid. I will need to do something about that! The round box contains matching antique coasters. I love them and enjoy having them out to look at.
I always have coffee handy when I have a day in the kitchen along with my Bible, open on the counter. Ready for a glance whenever there is a moment.
The dishes were loaded in the dishwasher.On days when I am doing major baking, bread making, or large meal prep, I keep my dish drainer in the sink and hand wash as I go.
The wheat bread went into the oven and the white bread dough was set in pans to rise. It was lunch time for the kids. Again.....yeesh, I sound like a terrible mom here....my kids make their own lunch on most days. Unless we are having something like leftovers or a lunch that is cooked, like grilled cheese, they make their own. I think it is good for them. They get choices too. Today Zach choose 1/2 peanut butter sandwich, carrot sticks, and a hard boiled egg.
I know. My day in the kitchen is nothing like Candy's or DeNiece's. I have no brewing cupboard, though I did have a sour dough starter....ask Charlotte what happened to it......I do not prepare breakfast the day before....though I think that is a brilliant idea and plan to do that a couple times a week.....and I have none of my own recipes to share. I was raised by a very loving mom who, though she knew how, did not really cook. Oh, we had meals, but they came from a box or package. It was the new age of prepared foods. Processed anything was the way to go! Fast food was born when I was a kid. We ate out A LOT! I had no idea you could make biscuits without opening a tube with the end of a spoon. Anyway, all my recipes are borrowed. I did not need a recipe for my lunch. Open faced tuna sandwich on 1 slice of whole wheat bread and iced tea sweetened with Splenda.Yep, the wheat bread was done and I took an end piece! I make 2, 1 pound loaves because the slices are more portion controlled for me.

Once my lunch was over, I headed upstairs to put away a load of laundry. Charlotte was in the kitchen getting her own lunch. She had been outside helping her dad with the yard work. Here was my conversation with her...

Me: Charlotte I am going upstairs. Please do not touch the bread that is cooling and especially do not touch the white bread that is rising on the stove top.

Charlotte: Ok, mom.

I go upstairs and when I come back down I find a big hunk of wheat bread cut off (crooked at that) and my white bread dough has fallen. Now had I not said ANYTHING she would have left it alone! Noooooo. I had to put the thought in her head. Did I spare the rod of correction. No I did not. Poor Charlotte did not get bread at dinner. White bread is her favorite. 99.9% of the time, my Charlotte is a huge help in the kitchen. Today was not her day!

I did not let you down Sweet P....something is always going on here. I did bake the fallen bread and though it looks awful, I was told it tasted good.

I let the bread cool thoroughly, and sliced and bagged it. 1/2 in the cupboard and 1/2 in the freezer.The fallen white bread was sliced in thick pieces to be eaten at dinner time. It was not fit for sandwiches.I also put some of the whole wheat bread through the food processor to make bread crumbs to be used for tonight's dinner.Time for my 3rd meal of the day.....The kids come in for an apple....again I have not actually "fed" them yet....poor things! For the first time all day, I am able to leave the kitchen for a while. When I go back, it is time to start dinner. Tonight we are having Meat Loaf. Not just any meat loaf mind you, but

Kim's Meat Loaf!

I make meat loaf pretty often. My daughter in law and son love it and so does Sweetheart. My "everyday" meat loaf has ground chuck, oatmeal, egg, garlic, onion, and ketchup. Kim's special meat loaf is something I make every once in a while as a treat. It is THAT good! I pull out my binder and prop it open to the recipe.You can click on the link for the official recipe. I add 2 cloves of garlic and some Italian spices to mine ;)

Once all the ingredients are ready, just throw them in a bowl...except the tomato sauce.I use a lot of recipes from blogs. I think it is very important to always honor the cook by giving the proper credit.

Once the meat mixture is blended....get your hands in there!....you put it in a baking dish and form a loaf. Pour tomato sauce over the top and bake for an hour and a half. It is a BIG meat loaf!

"Always keep your work stations clean!!!" I can hear those words of my Mother-in-love ringing in my ears!!!!!

It was Christmas, many years ago....she was working with me in my kitchen and I read the horrified look on her face. I was a terrible slob when I cooked. I never cleaned up as I went. She taught me to do that. It has been a wonderful lesson for me. Silly I had to be taught that, but I did.At this point is was time for my 4th meal. It sounds crazy to eat 2 hours before dinner, but it really is key. It will fuel my body AND I am not allowed to eat a BIG dinner, so I won't be starving when I sit down to eat. Apple slices and natural peanut butter.....Now for the real dinner......Here is Sweetheart's plate....the kids all had the same on a smaller scale. Finally, those kids get a meal from Mom! Meat Loaf, baked potato (he slathered it in butter and sour cream), peas and homemade bread with butter. Yeesh that's a lot of carbs!My plate looked a little different. I do not eat any "white stuff".....I had meat loaf, leftover baked brown rice, and salad.
Have you ever had "baked brown rice"? It is SO good. Niki taught me how to make it. 2 parts hot water to 1 part brown rice...a pat of butter, and bake covered for an hour. I usually use 2 cups water and 1 cup rice. It is wonderful!

Once dinner is over, the kitchen duties are still in full swing. A clean kitchen is so important. Don't leave those nasty dishes til tomorrow if at all possible. Not that I have not pulled the towel trick before, but it is rare! Get all the dishes in the dishwasher, wash, dry and put away any large items, and wipe down the counters.I did not forget to shine my sink and put out a clean towel and dish cloth for tomorrow....yes, it is the one Charlotte made. I use it whenever it is clean!It will be nice to get up in the morning to a clean kitchen. Making pancakes will be a joy to do!Goodness, that was a long day in the kitchen and a very long post. If you stuck it out to the end, God Bless you!!!! I did put my jammies on and threw my feet up at the end of the day

Be Blessed,

Bren

She's Mobile!!!

And she is proud of it!!! One minute she is sitting there playing nicely, and the next minute she is GONE!!!!

Where did she go? She went to the next room to look outside.Emerson has been rolling for a while now, but she only traveled short distances. Now she is army crawling like a pro. She loves her new found freedom!I had a wonderful afternoon/evening with the grandkids yesterday. Today I am cleaning and working on laundry. I want to spend a good chunk of tomorrow on more of these..... I have been enjoying some videos this week done by Candy and DeNiece. They are doing a series called "A Day In My Kitchen" and each day they post a video of food preps, recipes, and different tasks that are done in their kitchens. I would love to join in, but for 2 reasons I won't...

#1 I have no high quality video equipment, and

#2 a week in my kitchen would bored you to death.

I did decide to do a post of pictures titled "A Day In My Kitchen"...it will be a day and not a week long series. Check back tomorrow when I hope to have it posted. In the mean time, pop over to Candy and DeNiece and watch their series....both wonderfully done!

Be Blessed,

Bren

Bunnies and Baskets

Yes, Bunnies and Baskets...that has been my thing lately!

My days have been so very full. I am focused on so many different things right now and there is not enough time in each day to accomplish what I desire to accomplish. Still I have accomplished some. The Peter Rabbit quilt is finished. All hand quilted and bound. It turned out very nice. The bunnies all became 3 dimensional with the quilting.
The colors are beautiful.
Of course, the back is full of stitches that just need to be shown.I got it all wrapped up and ready to take to it's new home. (look Nancy...the bottom of my tv screen is in the top left hand corner. Recognize it? Yep, Fox News!)
My dear friend Candy (who just happens to have a Peter Rabbit room) was thrilled with her new quilt. She said with a catch in her throat, and I quote, "No one has ever made me a quilt before." Awwwww. I was honored to gift her with one made in her favorite theme.
Now I can poke away at the Pink and Brown until the baskets are ready for the hoop. That poor 'ol Pink and Brown....I am it's fair-weather friend! Still, it is faithful to be there for me when there is nothing else ready for the hoop! I better get going on those baskets!!!

Be Blessed,

Bren

Memorial Day

Ralph F. Haws, PlSgt, KIA, Iwo Jima, 9th Marines, USMC

and in remembrance of all our fallen Heroes.

Eating 2 Live Videos

I am still working hard and spending very little time on the computer. My Peter Rabbit quilt is 1 block away from being finished...I should be putting binding on tomorrow. Both quilt tops are coming along nicely and my garden is almost in. It is small....very small, but will give us some wonderful veggies for our summer table.

I hope to be back posting mid week, but wanted to let you know I put up a couple of videos on

Eating 2 Live.

They are to motivate, inform, educate, and inspire. I have a few more scheduled to post so check back to see them. They are short, but worth the watch for those of you who need to change some food/exercise habits.

Charlotte was tickled by your wonderful comments to her. You are all so sweet!!!

Be Blessed!!!

Bren

Charlotte's Post

My mom is still on her blogging break, but she said I could do a post for you to read. She is helping me a little. Things have been good. I finished a washcloth for my mom. It is not a perfect square, but my mom said it is perfect to her. She used it yesterday and told me she loved it. I want to make more for Christmas presents. I am still working on my lap blanket, but it is getting closer to done.

TJ and Emerson have not been here in a few days. Daddy said he is having "TJ and Emerson withdraws". We have not seen them since Sunday! Saturday Emerson had her friend over to play. Her name is Zoey and she is my friend Anya's niece.Emerson loves Zoey, but Zoey was scared of Emerson. Emerson LOVES pop bottles!TJ spent the night that night. He took a bath with Zachary and was shivering cold when he got out. Isn't he cute? I love to be an Aunt. We made some chocolate chip cookies this week and then some oatmeal raisin, which are my favorites. Grandma gave my mom some red rubber cookie sheets. They feel weird.The cookies were good!Today is my laundry day. I always sort and bring down my own laundry and I always put it in the dryer and then put it away, but today I got to use the washer too. I need to get use to the soap. It poured out too fast. I don't know when my mom will be back to her blog. She planted our garden the other day and she has been sewing a lot. Her sewing room is a mess.I like these quilt blocks she is making.
She is making another green one right now. She said to tell you hi. She wants me to finish this, so I am going to go play outside with Zachary.

Bye.

Charlotte