Eggrolls

1 lb maple flavored sausage (use a quality brand)
1 small onion, diced
1 small bag coleslaw mix
1 T soy sauce
1 tsp Worcester sauce
pepper to taste
sesame seeds (optional)
ginger (optional)
package eggroll wrappers (usually found in produce or deli)
oil for frying

Remove casing from sausage and brown sausage in pan with the onion, turning frequently and breaking into small pieces.  Drain fat.  Return to pan, add coleslaw mix and cook for about 5 more minutes.  Remove from pan and add sauces and salt, pepper, and ginger to taste.  You may also want to add a sprinkle of sesame seeds at this point.  Put 1/3cup of meet mixture in the eggroll wrapper, roll up like an envelope.  Dip your fingers in water and rub on wrapper to seal.  Place seal down in hot oil, fry a few at a time, do not overload pan.  Usually 2 minutes per side, rotating so each side is nicely browned.  Remove to a warming pan while you fry the rest.  Serve with sweet and sour sauce and some white rice for a nice dinner!  Is a bit time consuming, but totally worth it!   Any leftover wrappers can be cut and fried in the oil too.

Easy Chili

1-2 pounds ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 large can crushed tomatoes (I like Contadina)
1 tsp garlic
2 T Mcormick Chile Powder
1 can kidney beans, drained

In large frying pan, brown ground beef with onion.  Drain fat.  Rinse pan, return meat/onions to pan.  Add crushed tomatoes, garlic, chili powder and kidney beans.  Put on low heat for an hour for flavors to blend.     Serve with crackers, shredded cheese, and cornbread.

Note:  This is a kid friendly recipe, not too spicy.   Add more chili powder and red pepper flakes to get desired heat and flavor.

Best Brownies Ever!!

1 cup butter
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 c sugar
3/4 c cocoa powder (unsweetened)
4 eggs
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 c flour

Melt butter.  When it is cool, stir in sugar and vanilla.  Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well.  Mix dry ingredients in a bowl, use a whisk or sifter to ensure no lumps!  Add dry ingredients while slowly mixing.  Do not over mix  or the brownies will fall.  Bake in a 13x9x2 greased pan at 350 for 30 to 35 minutes.  (Brownies will start to pull away from side of pan).

Variations:  You can add 1 cup of chopped walnuts, or pour into individual cupcake liners.  If using cupcake liners, you will need to adjust time, about 18 minutes.

Pie Crust

Basic Pie Crust

2 c flour
1 tsp salt
2/3 cup crisco shortening
6 -7 T cold water

Measure flour and salt in a bowl.  Use a whisk to mix thoroughly and remove any lumps.  Add shortening, using a fork, cut the shortening in and continue to mix until mixture has small lumps (about size of peas).  Add  6 T water, mix with large spoon gently only until water in incorporatated into mixture.  If very dry, then add last tablespoon of water.  DO NOT OVERMIX!!  Shape into a ball, use a knife to cut in half.

To roll out, lightly flour a clean surface.  Use a floured rolling pin and roll gently from middle out, flipping and flouring several times.  Remember, a crust need not look perfect, you can always patch your holes once in the pan.

I have used a mixture of half butter, half crisco, but I think an all crisco shortening tastes best.

This is the recipe my mother and grandmother taught me over 40 years ago.

Macaroni and Cheese

Mac N Cheese

1 pound of macaroni
1 8oz block of sharp cheddar, shredded
3 T flour
3 T butter
1 1/2 c milk
dash of red pepper (about 1/2 teaspoon)
salt and pepper to taste

Cook the macaroni (do not overcook) and drain.  In frying pan melt butter, add flour and mix until all lumps are gone and pasty, keep on medium heat and add milk and red pepper.  I use 1% milk, but you could use 2%.  Stir frequently and heat until thickens.  Remove from heat and add cheese.  Stir til melted and add hot spaghetti.  Place in large baking pan, cover with foil, cook at 350 for about 15 minutes.

Notes:  You can experiment with different types of macaroni and different cheeses.  Aunt Tricia likes to mix mozzarella with cheddar.  Sometimes I add a can of chicken for an entree.  You could also add ham or tuna.

Soccer Days

The soccer playoffs have come and gone.  We had fun watching Andrew (age 17) and Anthony (age 13) win their league championship game.  They are both on the same team, AJ plays defense and Anthony plays offense.   Both teams were scoreless, until the last minute of the second half.  Then their team scored and won the game, so exciting and fun to watch.  AJ has been on the team 5 years now, the first 2 years they didn't even win a game!  Both teams played well, its a shame someone had to lose.  


Fans are pretty civil at the older boys games, not so in the U8 league.  The parents are the worst, screaming and carrying on as if the future of the world depends on their son getting the ball and scoring for their team every time they get near the ball!!  There is always one grandfather screaming at the ref and coaches, usually the older man looks like he never kicked a soccer ball in his lifetime!


Michael's team (U8) only won 2 games all season, but it was fun seeing the boys play better and improving each game. They had a playoff game on Sunday, somehow they had made it past the first round.  Michael's team scored 2 goals late in the game to tie which forced overtime periods.  And guess who volunteered to be goalie????   Not me, but my 8 year old son, who by the way, is too hard on himself when he fails!!  


Mike and I were still at church, so the other 2 boys were watching as Michael did great and the game went to PK's.  We arrive at the field and as I am walking toward the field I see Michael in the box and lots of spectators (from all other games) watching and cheering as the other team take a PK.  I was MORTIFIED!!!  I hate seeing him miss the ball, then he's talking to himself, hitting his fists, and kicking the ground.  But Andrew and Anthony assure me that Michael is doing very well, he even made a diving save.  


The PK's are done for our team, we have 2 pts.  Now all eyes are on Michael as the last kid from the other team kicks the shot.  Right to Michael and through his legs....  Ugggg.  I feel so bad for him, I know he's mad at himself, I was sure he was going to cry.  


The other team is jumping up and down, celebrating.  Thankfully, our parents and coaches are congratulating our team and Michael.  They played a great, exciting, competitive game.  Michael didn't cry, and he seemed OK with missing the last ball, he's even smiling.....


Something for us all to think about when we are cheering on youth events.  If we are so happy for our kids who won, what about the kid on the other team who dropped the ball, missed the shot, or struck-out??   I am not saying that we should not have winning or losing teams, but simply that we should be dignified and respectful in our celebrating.   

A note about Sophie by Amyanne

Sophie is becoming such a chatterbox now.  Sometimes it sounds like she's actually speaking English!  The other day, she said her first sentence.  It was so inspiring, clever, astonishing, brilliant.    "I poop."  Such a profound choice of words.  Such a brilliant statement!  (Such a smelly concept.)