tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84661622024-03-13T14:55:10.964-05:00Faith, Family, Food and FunFaith, family, food and fun are priorities in my life. I hope to share my faith, family activities, day to day recipes and the fun of my life (and sometimes, the not so fun aspects, too!)Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.comBlogger623125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-21730513470677912702020-08-07T16:48:00.002-05:002020-08-07T16:48:12.283-05:00My Perfected Pulled Pork <p> Some of you may remember that for Rachel and Miguel's wedding reception here in town, I made about 100 pounds of pulled pork. I was doing it all myself, so I did some in a crock pot (cooked all day while I was at school) and some in my Power Pressure Cooker XL (different brand of Instant Pot and one I highly recommend!) It was some of the best I have ever made, although there was a learning curve, as this was the first REAL food I ever made in the pressure cooker, and I didn't know to let it naturally release. I've learned. </p><p>It was a fabulous reception, with really good food, if I do say so myself. But...I don't have a picture of the food. I only have a picture of...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tB7lHmg9iwI/Xy3C-vg0vbI/AAAAAAAC2Vw/9RMqG3aB75ocEY1--50K4aHvEfzCtKLngCNcBGAsYHQ/w384-h512/2016-09-23%2B17.38.01.jpg" width="384" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the beer. Go figure.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Over the course of the past four years, I have perfected my <a href="http://ronsrib.blogspot.com/2020/04/everything-hamburger-buns.html" target="_blank">hamburger bun recipe</a>. (My friends Julie and Kelly ordered me NOT to make the buns for the wedding reception....) Today, I think I can say, the pulled pork recipe is complete. I don't need to tweak it any more. Rachel is not a BBQ fan, so I had to make pulled pork with no BBQ, but served that on the side for those normal American's who like BBQ. Here is the recipe that I have come up with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Best EVER Pulled Pork </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>1 Pork Roast (shoulder/butt) I go as big as possible. Today's was 7 1/2 pounds</li><li>Dry Rub</li><ul><li>1/2 cup brown sugar</li><li>1 T. cumin</li><li>1 T. onion powder</li><li>1 T. garlic powder</li><li>1 T. chili powder</li><li>1 T. cayenne pepper (really, this doesn't make it too spicy, but if you are worried, cut it down to 1/2 T. or less.)</li><li>1 T. paprika</li><li>1 T. coarse ground black pepper</li><li>1/4 -1/2 T/ Kosher salt (can go up to 1 T. but I find that to be a bit much)</li></ul><li>Brine</li><ul><li>1/2 c. brown sugar</li><li>1/2 c. salt</li><li>3-4 Bay leaves</li><li>3 T Dry rub mix</li><li>2 quarts water (Depending on the size of the roast, and the size of your container, you might need to make the brine 1 1/2 or 2 times the recipe, to make sure the pork is covered.)</li></ul><li>1 1/2 - 2 c. chicken broth (depends on the size of your Instant Pot)</li><li>Liquid smoke </li></ul><div>Make the dry rub mix. This is EXTREMELY customizable. Add more or less of any of the spices that you like. You can also add dried minced onion or dried minced garlic. You can add or take out anything. I don't like it super salty, so I go with a little less salt. We like heat, so I also sometimes add crushed pepper flakes or more cayenne pepper. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Make the brine. Find a container that will hold your pork roast (may I suggest doing this BEFORE you are ready to brine it? I dirtied 3 containers today, before finding one that would hold the roast and have the liquid completely cover the roast!) Put the roast in a container (I ended up using my biggest stock pot, and making 1 1/2 x the brine to get it to cover). Pour the brine over the top. I usually put a dinner plate on top of the roast, to make sure it is completely submerged in the brine. Cover it and put in the fridge, for a minimum of 8 hours, but I usually do it overnight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The next day, cut the roast into 3-4 equal sized hunks (plus the bone). Pat each piece dry, and coat with the dry rub. Rub it into the meat well. (It is ok, GOOD even, if you have a little of the rub left! You will use it later!) Preheat your Instant Pot/Power Pressure Cooker on Saute mode. When it is hot, add some olive oil. When that is hot, add a couple of the hunks of pork and brown on all sides til they are nicely brown and a little crisp. Repeat til all the pieces are browned. Add 2 c. chicken broth to an 8 quart, or 1 1/2 cups chicken broth to a 6 quart instant pot, and deglaze the bottom thoroughly (that just means make sure that all the flavorful bits are scraped up off the bottom after you browned the meat).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Add all of the pork, including the piece with the big bone. Put the lid on, and cook under pressure for 90 minutes. Let naturally release for 20 minutes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When it is done, manually release the pressure, and good luck getting the meat out of the pot without it falling completely apart. If I have any of the dry rub mix left over (and I do try to save some) sprinkle that on top, along with a few dashes of liquid smoke. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">These make fabulous pulled pork sandwiches, (served with BBQ sauce on the side,), but the pork is also so yummy on pulled pork nachos, or pulled pork mac and cheese. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-08YCEzPnG_E/Xy3KhWH7yOI/AAAAAAAC2Wg/NgUT9n8LC7MNjygAxWDZmuyPbl1d6DMUgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/20200807_155547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-08YCEzPnG_E/Xy3KhWH7yOI/AAAAAAAC2Wg/NgUT9n8LC7MNjygAxWDZmuyPbl1d6DMUgCPcBGAsYHg/w384-h512/20200807_155547.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vRC1s6H6SCw/Xy3Km7yzDLI/AAAAAAAC2Wk/q5tZm62sQOs_eTMX1_WDnEAdQMJA5qGzwCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/20200807_155621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vRC1s6H6SCw/Xy3Km7yzDLI/AAAAAAAC2Wk/q5tZm62sQOs_eTMX1_WDnEAdQMJA5qGzwCPcBGAsYHg/w384-h512/20200807_155621.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I based this recipe on this one from <a href="https://www.kevinandamanda.com/pulled-pork-recipe/" target="_blank">Kevin and Amanda</a> . Follow their method if you don't have an Instant Pot! </div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZW7DXhnHDNQ/Xy3CgaMcVVI/AAAAAAAC2Vo/LWUIbTUPEIcAk-WswjMF88Hvv3W2mMZaQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2016-09-23%2B17.38.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-61685206408735134102020-04-07T10:48:00.001-05:002020-04-07T10:48:05.957-05:00Ron's Famous Coconut Shrimp<div style="text-align: center;">
I should tell him to get his own blog. Or make him "guest post" when people want his recipes :) </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aQlHOo3AQLI/Xoyf4lm2l5I/AAAAAAACtUI/2c4Q52EiW1weDnxTPY0pOv9Cujid_1RJgCKgBGAsYHg/s1600/20200403_152732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aQlHOo3AQLI/Xoyf4lm2l5I/AAAAAAACtUI/2c4Q52EiW1weDnxTPY0pOv9Cujid_1RJgCKgBGAsYHg/s320/20200403_152732.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 pound raw, fresh shrimp (we get ours from <a href="https://www.shrimptasticllc.com/">Shrimptastic</a> )</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/3 c. flour</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/2 t. each salt and pepper</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2 beaten eggs</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3/4 c. Panko</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 c. sweetened shredded coconut</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
vegetable oil for frying </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pOyZVUnmmSo/XoybB--8NMI/AAAAAAACtT8/F3pq_wK5YJUIAtXXu-q7LZTkRloguIyYwCKgBGAsYHg/s1600/20200403_130011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pOyZVUnmmSo/XoybB--8NMI/AAAAAAACtT8/F3pq_wK5YJUIAtXXu-q7LZTkRloguIyYwCKgBGAsYHg/s320/20200403_130011.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Peel and devein the shrimp, but leave the tails attached. In one bowl, mix the flour, salt and pepper. In a different bowl, beat the eggs. In a third bowl, combine the Panko and the coconut. </li>
<li>Dip each shrimp in the flour, coating lightly. Then dip in the egg, and finally, roll it in the coconut/Panko mix. Press lightly to make it stick well to the shrimp. You want to make sure it is well covered and coated in coconut for best flavor! Set aside and continue coating each piece of shrimp.</li>
<li>Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry them, a few at a time, for just a couple of minutes. Flip them, and fry for another couple of minutes. They should be a lovely golden brown when you are finished. (For this....he always fries in oil. We hate to mess with a REALLY GOOD THING, and haven't braved trying to tweak it for the Air Fryer.)</li>
<li>When they are finished cooking, place on a paper towel lined plate, and continue frying the remainder of the shrimp. </li>
</ul>
<div>
Ron bases his recipe on one from <a href="https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/easy-coconut-shrimp/">Sally's Baking Addiction</a>, and kind of makes his own tweaks. But he mostly follows this basic recipe. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
We prefer this shrimp with Pina Colada dipping sauce. Ron uses the <a href="https://copykat.com/red-lobster-pina-colada-dipping-sauce/">Red Lobster copycat recipe</a> Make this first, so it has time to chill before serving. <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">1 cup piña colada mix </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">5 tablespoons water</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">2 tablespoons crushed pineapple drained</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">4 teaspoons sweetened flaked coconut</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">3 tablespoons powdered sugar plus 1 teaspoon</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon of water (but we had to use more slurry </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">to make it set up well)</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br style="background-color: white; color: #172b4d; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Noto Sans", Ubuntu, "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;" /></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Mix together pina colada mix, water, crushed pineapple, coconut, and powdered sugar in a saucepan.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Heat on medium-low temperature until sauce begins to simmer, stirring frequently. Let mixture simmer slowly 10-12 minutes.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Mix cornstarch and cold water together; add to sauce and blend well. Let mixture simmer for 3-5 minutes longer while stirring during and after adding cornstarch. Remove from heat and bring to room temperature.**remember...we had to add more cornstarch/water to make ours thicken.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: start;">
An optional Thai sauce would be made by mixing 1 part Thai chili sauce and 2 parts orange marmalade. We haven't tried this, because we just like the pina colada sauce so well. </div>
Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-87441551718824249852020-04-06T19:50:00.000-05:002020-04-06T19:50:55.766-05:00Ron's Famous Breaded Pork Tenderloin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4M3KWeIazTQ/XovJkRH3r-I/AAAAAAACtS4/zS_7Q0oM48I7hyzP6APIJpF7g6564YrvwCKgBGAsYHg/s1600/IMG_20190819_201909_029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4M3KWeIazTQ/XovJkRH3r-I/AAAAAAACtS4/zS_7Q0oM48I7hyzP6APIJpF7g6564YrvwCKgBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_20190819_201909_029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Ron is a very good Koch. (ha....get what I did there?) He can make really yummy meals out of almost anything, and often, he just throws things together without a recipe. It almost always comes out...edible. There are a few meals, however, that he has perfected, and he does write down the recipe, because he doesn't feel he can improve much upon it. This breaded pork tenderloin sandwich is one of them. I usually buy the huge pork loin when it is on sale for $1.89 or less. This last one I purchased for just $1.59! That is a steal! I freeze it for a few hours, to make it more slice-able (except when I forget and leave it in the freezer, whole, for 3 days. Then I have to saw and saw and saw to get it sliced!) I usually get 4 packages of 4 ( 1/2 - 3/4 inch ) pork "chops" and then a hunk left over for a "roast".<br />
<br />
Ron takes a package of thawed pork "chops" and makes them into breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches. <br />
<br />
Pound the pork loin slice to about 1/4 thick, as evenly as possible. (Warn people and dogs in your family when you are going to do this....it is startlingly noisy). Marinate overnight in enough buttermilk to cover (2 or 3 cups), with salt, pepper, cayenne pepper and 2 cloves of garlic, pressed. (Sorry folks....he doesn't measure the spices.)<br />
<br />
The next day, when you are ready to cook them,<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>dip them in flour seasoned with salt and pepper. </li>
<li>drench in two beaten eggs, mixed with equal part of the leftover marinade</li>
<li>roll in a mixture of bread crumbs, corn meal, Panko crumbs and Italian seasoning (again...sorry....no measurements)</li>
<li>Preheat Air Fryer to 400</li>
<li>Put in air fryer tray sprayed with Pam and spray the top of the tenderloin with Pam. Air fry at 400 for 10 minutes.</li>
<li>Turn and spray with Pam again. </li>
<li>Air fry for an additional 5 minutes. </li>
</ol>
<div>
He has also just fried them in oil in a skillet on the top of the stove. Much messier, but it works very well and is delicious. Out of love for his wife and concern for her high cholesterol numbers, he has switched to using an Air Fryer. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5F0ZRBVA81M/XovN_xefhZI/AAAAAAACtTM/qb6oixEGgOcRHSfrEZ_ZK_O1mMK1BivdQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200406_194628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5F0ZRBVA81M/XovN_xefhZI/AAAAAAACtTM/qb6oixEGgOcRHSfrEZ_ZK_O1mMK1BivdQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200406_194628.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-10795520280621000732020-04-06T19:17:00.000-05:002020-04-06T19:17:36.221-05:00Everything Hamburger Buns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
After an almost 5 year break, I decided to come back here and check in. A lot has happened in the last five years! The youngest graduated from high school, gone off to college, come back HOME from college (due to COVID-19) and has a girlfriend we just love, the second youngest got married to a fella we adore, graduated from college, and made me a GRANDMA, the second oldest has graduated from college and has a great job and a girlfriend we love and lives only a couple of hours away from us, and our oldest moved from IL back to IA and has a job and a church and a life he loves as well. God is good. Ron and I are enjoying a semi-empty nest, with kids coming back here and there for a short while as they need. We are happy and blessed!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I still love cooking and baking, and that is one of the reasons that I decided to pop back on here. This is an easy spot to share recipes when people ask for them. Today (in the midst of our stay at home/no school/no church services due to this virus that is hitting our country hard) Ron wanted to make breaded pork tenderloins. Since I love to bake, and have a yummy recipe, I decided to make some hamburger buns to go with them. Several people have asked me for my recipe. Never mind the naysayers who tease me and say, "You know they SELL hamburger buns at the grocery store, right?" But, they don't sell hamburger buns like THESE at the grocery store!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I have made these for several years, and have combined a few recipes to get them to turn out the way I like them best. So...here ya go! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LNR8Nde9dGo/Xou6RtzajpI/AAAAAAACtSk/KwSunrWO77wjrdJuEUYRU4WgncrQW2KYACKgBGAsYHg/s1600/20200406_155618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LNR8Nde9dGo/Xou6RtzajpI/AAAAAAACtSk/KwSunrWO77wjrdJuEUYRU4WgncrQW2KYACKgBGAsYHg/s320/20200406_155618.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1 c. warm water</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1 T. yeast</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1/4 c. sugar </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
3 -3 1/2 c. flour</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1 t. salt</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1 large egg, beaten</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
2 T. unsalted butter, softened</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
EVERYTHING BAGEL SEASONING</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Mix together 2 t. each </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
sesame seeds</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
poppy seeds</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
minced dried onion</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
minced dried garlic</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1/2 -3/4 T. Kosher salt</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1 egg white, beaten (for brushing on the baked buns)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Add the yeast and 1/2 of the sugar to the warm water and let sit 5-10 minutes, until the yeast is bubbling and active. </li>
<li>Add 3 cups of the flour, salt, softened butter, egg and the rest of the sugar to the water/yeast mixture. (IF desired, add 2 T. of the everything bagel seasoning, or a couple of tsp. of dried onion powder) Knead (I use my Kitchenaid stand mixer.) Knead for 3-5 minutes. Add more flour if needed, to make a soft and tacky (but not sticky) dough. </li>
<li>Place in a greased bowl and let rise in a warm spot, covered, until about doubled in size. (This usually takes 1 to 1 1/2 hours. )</li>
<li>Dump the dough onto a lightly floured surface roll into a ball. Divide the dough in to 8 equal pieces (about 3 1/2 to 4 oz each). Roll into a ball (I usually do that similar to what is shown in <a href="https://youtu.be/OUE64PuQHBE">this video </a> )</li>
<li>Place on a cookie sheet or (I prefer) a baking stone. Flatten them slightly and gently. Cover and let them rise again until they have doubled in size. This usually takes anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 375.</li>
<li>Bake at 375 for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and, working quickly, brush with lightly beaten egg white and sprinkle with Everything Bagel Seasoning. (Or for just onion rolls, sprinkle with dried minced onion. Or for sesame rolls, sprinkle with sesame seeds.) You have to be quick and brush one roll, then sprinkle with seasoning. If the egg white dries, the seeds won't stick.</li>
<li>Return the buns to the oven and continue baking 5-8 more minutes, until they are golden brown on the top. Remove from the oven and cool on a baking rack. Wait until they are mostly cooled to slice. They are good with any kind of patty....breaded tenderloin, buffalo burger, hamburger, bratwurst patty. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
ENJOY!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-087sQbVt0/Xou6RrSgx2I/AAAAAAACtSk/Awcp6SJ1OkcAp8vycoJmQe_XwBKzFLsNgCKgBGAsYHg/s1600/20200406_162240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0-087sQbVt0/Xou6RrSgx2I/AAAAAAACtSk/Awcp6SJ1OkcAp8vycoJmQe_XwBKzFLsNgCKgBGAsYHg/s320/20200406_162240.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-36093010319089964742015-07-01T21:57:00.001-05:002015-07-01T21:57:11.175-05:00What does a year’s worth of laundry soap look like?<p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5X3WgJESFeA/VZSog4CCkyI/AAAAAAAAaSg/W7LU4SKhupc/s1600-h/2015-06-27%25252011.57.20%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="2015-06-27 11.57.20" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="2015-06-27 11.57.20" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r25fxWU5uQQ/VZSohpiq14I/AAAAAAAAaSo/DTY_sJKI-68/2015-06-27%25252011.57.20_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="568" height="322"></a></p> <p align="center">This!</p> <p align="left">I have made homemade laundry soap a few times. Once I made liquid, and HATED it, because it was so….gloopy and sloppy. But this stuff? I love it! It smells great, cleans really well, and for under $30, I will have enough to last for a year (doing laundry for 3 of us, so around 6-10 loads a week). I have read several articles about this, and yes, it is safe for HE washers. You only need to use 1-2 tablespoons for each load. Here is what it takes.</p> <ul> <li> <div align="left">2 bars of Zote soap</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1 large box of 20 Mule Team Borax (4 lb. 12 oz)</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1 (3 pound or so) OxiClean powder</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1 (3 lb 7 oz) box of Arm and Hammer Washing Soda</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1 (4 pound) box of Baking Soda</div></li> <li> <div align="left">2 bottles (containers?) Laundry Crystals (whatever scent you prefer…I like lavendar) (Brands include Purex, Downy, Gain…)</div></li></ul> <p align="left">The biggest job is grating the soap. I always use my food processor. I shred it using a shredding blade, then I put it back in the food processor with the S blade and some of the baking soda, and blend it.</p> <p align="left">Then, you need a really, REALLY big container to mix it all in. A 5 gallon bucket with a lid is perfect, so you can just mix and shake right in the bucket. A dishpan also works. Just dump everything in and shake/stir…whatever it takes to get it all blended together well. </p> <p align="left">The entire process took less than 30 minutes. Save the Oxi clean container, and the laundry crystal containers, and anything else you can use to store it in. Use 1 tablespoon for small loads, and for large loads use 2. If I see a stain, I will pretreat with a laudnry spray. Overall, we are VERY happy with this stuff.</p> <p align="left">(This is not my original “recipe”, but I don’t know who, in the big wide world of the internet, to give credit to. It is all over pinterest. I found it <a href="http://www.smittenby.net/2012/03/26/diy-laundry-soap/">here</a>, and <a href="http://draxe.com/homemade-laundry-soap/">here</a>, and <a href="http://www.howdoesshe.com/gifting-the-worlds-best-homemade-laundry-detergent-free-printable/">here</a> in a really quick browse.) </p> Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-64033416538978580972015-06-11T20:06:00.001-05:002015-06-11T20:06:45.324-05:00Homemade Mixes<p> </p> <p>Ok, I know this is a random post after having been silent for so long. I’m not even going to try to promise to do better. I will try!</p> <p>I spent today trying to track down all my recipes for homemade mixes. I have some in my gmail, some on index cards, some on pinterest boards, etc. I decided to put them all here, in one place, so I know where to find them easily. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0WkGMHY6JPc/VXowoJMDFCI/AAAAAAAAV-w/rD4gne7BZRE/s1600-h/2015-06-11%25252019.47.45%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="2015-06-11 19.47.45" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="2015-06-11 19.47.45" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iWCLAuD79HA/VXowo4o8kwI/AAAAAAAAV-4/WbtbAV5v4hk/2015-06-11%25252019.47.45_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="583" height="330"></a></p> <p align="center"><em>Taco seasoning mix, Italian dressing mix, Ranch dressing mix, Greek seasoning and Cream of chicken soup mix<font size="1">.</font></em></p> <p>The mix that I go through the most of is taco seasoning mix. It is so easy to throw together, and SO much better than the store bought packets! I usually multiply the recipe by 10 and make a really large amount and store in a pint mason jar. (The measurements in parenthesis are the amounts when multiplied by 10) I use 2-3 T. when a recipe calls for taco seasoning mix. I also sometimes add jalapeno, habanero or cayenne pepper to the mix, depending on who I’m cooking for.</p> <p><strong><u><font color="#000000">TACO SEASONING</font></u></strong></p> <p>Ingredients <ul> <li>1 tablespoon chili powder (10 T.) <li>1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (2.5 t.) <li>1/4 teaspoon onion powder (2.5 t.) <li>1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (2.5 t.) <li>1/4 teaspoon dried oregano (2.5 t.) <li>1/2 teaspoon paprika (5 t.) = (1 T. + 2 t.) <li>1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin (15 t.) = (3 T.) <li>1 teaspoon sea salt (10 t.) = (3 T. + 1 t) *I reduce this <li>1 teaspoon black pepper (10 t.) = (3 T. + 1 t)</li></ul> <p>Italian dressing mix is another often used mix. Making it myself just tastes SO much better than the little packets. It is also quite a bit less expensive when you make it on your own! I have a smaller container for this, so I don’t usually double this one…it’s just what fits in my jar! I sometimes cut down on the sugar in this. I use 2 T. when a recipe calls for a packet.</p> <p><strong><u><font color="#000000">ITALIAN DRESSING MIX</font></u></strong></p> <ul> <li>1 T. sugar</li> <li>1 T. garlic powder</li> <li>1 T. onion powder</li> <li>2 t. oregano</li> <li>1/4 t. thyme</li> <li>1 T. parsley</li> <li>1 T. salt</li> <li>1 t. pepper</li> <li>1 t. basil</li></ul> <p>Another staple in my cupboard is homeade Ranch dressing mix. My favorite is one that uses buttermilk powder, so that is the one I use the most. I use 3 T. when I find a recipe that calls for a packet. (I got this recipe from <a href="http://www.foodiewithfamily.com/homemade-buttermilk-ranch-dressing-mix/">here</a>) </p> <p><strong><u><font color="#000000">RANCH DRESSING MIX</font></u></strong></p> <ul> <li>⅓ cup dry buttermilk powder <li>3 tablespoons dried parsley flakes, divided <li>2 ½ teaspoons granulated garlic <li>2 ½ teaspoons granulated onion <li>2 teaspoons dried onion flakes <li>2 teaspoons dried dill weed <li>2 teaspoons dried chives <li>1 ½ teaspoons kosher or sea salt <li>1 teaspoon cracked or ground black pepper</li></ul> <p>And this one is fairly new …I just made it today! I plan on using it to make OPA! fries…mmmmmmm.</p> <p><strong><u>GREEK SEASONING</u></strong></p> <ul> <li> <p>2 teaspoons salt</p></li> <li> <p>2 teaspoons garlic powder</p></li> <li> <p>2 teaspoons dried basil</p></li> <li> <p>2 teaspoons dried Greek oregano</p></li> <li> <p>1 teaspoon ground cinnamon</p></li> <li> <p>1 teaspoon ground black pepper</p></li> <li> <p>1 teaspoon dried parsley</p></li></ul> <ul> <li> <p>1 teaspoon dried rosemary, minced</p></li> <li> <p>1 teaspoon dried dill weed</p></li> <li> <p>1 teaspoon dried marjoram</p></li> <li> <p>1/2 teaspoon ground thyme</p></li> <li> <p>1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg</p></li></ul> <p><img src="https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif"> <p>And finally, I made a big jar of homemade cream of chicken soup mix. I have been making this stuff since our seminary days (that goes all the way back to the early ‘90s!) I also make a batch using beef bullion if I’m going to want cream of mushroom soup for beef based meals.</p> <p><strong><u><font color="#000000">CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP MIX</font></u></strong></p> <ul> <li>2 c non-fat dried milk</li> <li>1.5 c cornstarch</li> <li>1/2 c chicken bouillon powder</li> <li>1/2 cup minced onions (dried)</li> <li>1 t pepper</li></ul> <p>To make 1 can of cream of chicken soup, mix 1/3 cup dry mix with 1 1/4 cups of water. Whisk together in saucepan, and stir til it boils and is thickened. Add it to the recipe that calls for cream of chicken soup.</p> Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-37629195856774298362014-12-07T14:42:00.001-06:002015-06-11T20:24:16.397-05:00Do you know what Braunschweiger is?I can remember being VERY young and hearing my dad “sneak” to the refrigerator in the evening. I would follow, knowing he was going to cut off a hunk of braunschweiger to snack on. If I caught him, he’d cut off a hunk for me, too (bribery to keep me from telling on him!) Mom would pretend to be annoyed when she’d see the half a hunk left in the fridge…”Who ate all the braunschweiger?” Dad and I would just grin at each other, knowing full well that mom knew the truth. Sue Ann, did you ever get any?<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
A couple of years after my mom died (SIXTEEN YEARS ago yesterday…wow…where did the time go?), my dad remarried. Dorothy made my dad really, really happy for almost ten years! They loved life together, and had lots of fun dancing the years away. We love her SO much for that! And she made US happy for many reasons…she made dad happy, she loved us, loved our kids, AND… because she introduced braunschweiger dip to our family!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MikNAMp2D3I/VXo0GEZhucI/AAAAAAAAWAE/j1NMgCB7_Kc/s1600/P6274655a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MikNAMp2D3I/VXo0GEZhucI/AAAAAAAAWAE/j1NMgCB7_Kc/s640/P6274655a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
I think the first time I had this dip was when dad and Dorothy visited for Caleb’s confirmation. She may have made it before that, when we visited at their house, but I don’t remember that. I just know we looked at it and said “ummm…thanks…what is it?” (It is NOT a lovely looking dish, LOL) One bite and we were over the MOON! Oh, it is SOOO yummy! We like it best with Triscuit type crackers or Wheat Thins…(maybe Wheat thins best, but only because we just LOVE saying it like <a href="http://ispot.tv/a/7w2a">THIS COMMERCIAL</a>! )<br />
It is now a standard dip at Confirmation parties, birthday parties, Thanksgiving appetizers and New Year’s Eve. You just gotta try it!<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CgUm5J6UyUE/VIS7qsT_7gI/AAAAAAAATmA/jk92lDL3u5M/s1600-h/2014-11-27%25252011.58.31%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="2014-11-27 11.58.31" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1zNKaLzcvQg/VIS7rciOe_I/AAAAAAAATmI/rPLskfnwo64/2014-11-27%25252011.58.31_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="371" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="2014-11-27 11.58.31" width="210" /></a></div>
<strong><span style="font-size: medium;">BRAUNSCHWEIGER DIP</span></strong><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">1 lb. braunschweiger</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">8 oz cream cheese</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">1/2 cup mayo (or Salad Dressing)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">1 small onion, finely chopped</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">dash Worcestershire sauce</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">2 T. Dill pickle juice</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">1 t. horseradish</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">1 t. garlic powder</span></li>
</ul>
<br />Blend all together (I usually throw it all into the food processor and process til it is smooth) and chill. Serve with Wheat thin or Triscuit type crackers. It is also good with pita chips!<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Thanks, Dorothy! We love you!</span></em></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LT__i85Xixc/VXo0q0rd04I/AAAAAAAAWAM/PFw0p4GOA5w/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LT__i85Xixc/VXo0q0rd04I/AAAAAAAAWAM/PFw0p4GOA5w/s640/IMG_0110.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></em></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Caleb’s graduation, May 2009</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-89238567760920578992014-12-05T19:27:00.000-06:002014-12-05T19:27:00.040-06:00Family Favorite!<p>When I am making a holiday dinner for my family, I generally make the same things every year. I might try a new recipe once in a while, or I might take a break from one (for example…this year, I skipped the 7 layer salad, and disappointed my niece. Sorry, MadiLou! I will for sure make it next year!)</p> <p>There is one item on the menu, however, that will cause a revolt if I skip it. All of my kids (except one), and my hubby, and my sister just LOVE sweet potato casserole. I like it, too. This is one holiday recipe that will be on my table every single time. The main course may switch from turkey to ham, and the salads may be switched up a bit, but this one…it will be there! It’s SO good!</p> <p>I decided to add some of the family favorite holiday recipes to the blog, for the sake of my children (um…Rachel) who might want to replicate a holiday dinner “like mom used to make”.</p> <p align="left">I guess I will have to update the blog next year, when I actually TAKE a picture of the sweet potato casserole! But for now, the recipe alone will have to do.</p> <ul> <li> <div align="left">3 large cans sweet potatoes</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1/4 - 1/3 c. milk</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1/4 c. orange juice</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1 t. vanilla</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1/2 c. sugar</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1/2 t. salt</div></li> <li> <div align="left">3 T. melted butter</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1/2 t. nutmeg</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1/2 t. cinnamon</div></li></ul> <p align="left"><strong><u>TOPPING:</u></strong></p> <ul> <li> <div align="left">1/3 c. softened butter</div></li> <li> <div align="left">3/4 c. brown sugar</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1/2 c. flour</div></li> <li> <div align="left">pecans</div></li> <li> <div align="left">marshmallows</div></li></ul> <p align="left">Beat all casserole ingredients together. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Mix brown sugar, butter and flour. Sprinkle on top. Top with pecans. (I usually leave the pecans off) Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. Top with marshmallows Bake 10 minutes more.</p> <p>MMMMmmmmmm….it’s like eating candy…</p> Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-49993919071528390272014-11-20T22:06:00.001-06:002015-06-11T20:17:16.090-05:00Want to impress people???Make a pizza braid. It is seriously one of the easiest things to make, it never fails to impress, and it always disappears super quickly!<br />
Tonight was Ethan’s Cross Country banquet. He had a really successful year. He lettered, he got a certificate for running the entire way from the middle school to the high school (13 miles!!!) on homecoming night, and he got to bring home his “beads” where they put a bead on a string for every mile they ran. From mid-August to mid-October, the kid ran 153 miles! I’m impressed, aren’t you??? He also earned his second “100 mile club” t-shirt, for running a hundred miles in one season. Way to go ETHAN (Oh, and HAPPY 16th birthday, yesterday! Seriously…16???? Wasn’t this just yesterday??? (no, really it was 2005!))<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u0qcVa1DUbI/VXox4-GcfbI/AAAAAAAAV_I/YTm_l31LDv8/s1600/PB180099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u0qcVa1DUbI/VXox4-GcfbI/AAAAAAAAV_I/YTm_l31LDv8/s320/PB180099.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
THIS was yesterday…</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FAVz9CFtwHA/VXoyGntUUXI/AAAAAAAAV_Q/eOV7eUHMoQQ/s1600/2014-11-19%2B18.07.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FAVz9CFtwHA/VXoyGntUUXI/AAAAAAAAV_Q/eOV7eUHMoQQ/s400/2014-11-19%2B18.07.29.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
(he’s enjoying Chicken nachos from Rudy’s Tacos in Waterloo, IA. YUMMY place for a birthday dinner!)</div>
Anyway, for the Cross Country awards banquet, the families of the runners have a potluck. (just fyi, this was our 9th or 10th year in a row to attend this banquet!) Tonight, I made a couple of pizza braids. Several years ago, I made ONE pizza braid for the potluck. It was gone after the first 6 people went through the line. So this year I made 2. I still didn’t get any (and it smelled REALLY good in the car on the way there!) Next time I might make FOUR!<br />
<br />
This is SO easy! You start out by rolling out a thawed loaf of frozen bread dough. (Yes, I have made the bread dough from scratch before, and I have used from scratch pizza dough, too. Just about any kind of dough will work) I roll it out really thin, so that it almost covers my Pampered Chef rectangle stone. (mine are really seasoned well…they look nasty…don’t judge!)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-woUv7D1fuaM/VXoyXX5gWJI/AAAAAAAAV_Y/W7DV4u-WMk8/s1600/2014-11-20%2B16.41.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-woUv7D1fuaM/VXoyXX5gWJI/AAAAAAAAV_Y/W7DV4u-WMk8/s400/2014-11-20%2B16.41.10.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
Spoon pizza sauce down the center of the dough. Then (optional) add slices of pepperoni (this is really good with just cheese, too!). Top with shredded mozzarella.<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="left">
Next, cut slices, about 1 inch apart, along the sides. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mWOCveGIln4/VXoyp5ehS1I/AAAAAAAAV_g/KUSAt0UPgWQ/s1600/2014-11-20%2B16.42.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mWOCveGIln4/VXoyp5ehS1I/AAAAAAAAV_g/KUSAt0UPgWQ/s320/2014-11-20%2B16.42.20.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
</div>
Criss-cross the sliced dough, alternating sides, and overlapping just a bit, so that it looks like a braid. I didn’t take a picture of this step, so I hope you can “picture” what I mean.<br />
Tuck the ends in to make it look nice, if you wish. I don’t have good luck with this part.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C70AHAdy7-E/VXoy2YQRqWI/AAAAAAAAV_o/pTkLyaUPIJA/s1600/2014-11-20%2B16.45.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C70AHAdy7-E/VXoy2YQRqWI/AAAAAAAAV_o/pTkLyaUPIJA/s320/2014-11-20%2B16.45.21.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Bake in a 375 oven for about 20-25 minutes, or until it is golden brown. While it is baking, melt some butter in a pan, and add minced garlic. For 2 braids, 1/2 of a stick of butter and a huge tablespoon of jarred minced garlic was just about right.</div>
<div align="center">
As soon as it comes out of the oven, brush the melted garlic butter on top. Keep brushing. LOTS of garlic butter makes this OVER the TOP yummy!</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
One of the high school kids asked me “where did you GET those?” I said (with mock huffiness) “I MADE those!” His eyes widened and he said, “All by YOURSELF?????”</div>
<div align="center">
Made my day. </div>
<div align="center">
You can make someone’s day, too, if you make them a pizza braid!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jLcWyriesJA/VXozEV5yYYI/AAAAAAAAV_w/HwnIDN21Q8c/s1600/2014-11-20%2B17.28.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jLcWyriesJA/VXozEV5yYYI/AAAAAAAAV_w/HwnIDN21Q8c/s320/2014-11-20%2B17.28.58.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-52929002929788798152014-08-03T13:11:00.001-05:002014-08-03T13:11:15.456-05:00Well…how did that happen already?<p>Most of you know how much I love summer time! I love the heat, the sunshine, I love late nights and sleeping in, I love having a laid back schedule. I love summer! It never lasts long enough for me.</p> <p>And now, it’s already time to send Rachel back to college! She has to move in on Tuesday. It seems like I just traveled to MI and moved her home! </p> <p>She’s had a busy summer working at the pool. This was her FIFTH year as a lifeguard! She does a great job. She has a “look” (some of my Tuckerman family know EXACTLY what “look” I’m referring to!) that scares many children into following the rules. She’s working her final day there today.</p> <p>Even with the laid back, easy going summer schedule around here, there seem to be a lot of movies on our “Rachel and Mom’s movies to watch” list that didn’t get watched. There are a several meals and treats that we wanted to make together, that are still on our “recipes to try” pinterest board. There are also countless craft projects that we pinned, in hopes of attempting to create something amazing. (We did have one super success, that I will share at a later date…we made it as a gift for someone, and they haven’t received it yet…don’t want to spoil the surprise!)</p> <p>Rachel did learn to knit this summer. She learned from Isaac, a fellow lifeguard. He taught her how to knit using bamboo skewers. Stay tuned for a picture of a project sometime!</p> <p>It is a bittersweet time for me. I love watching her grow and flourish at Concordia, where I know she’s going to be an absolutely FANTASTIC RA. But wow..I sure do miss the gal when she’s gone. </p> <p>A few highlights from the summer:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-m90ofU2__jA/U9561PG_7lI/AAAAAAAAQB0/Ck2aLoEs_L8/s1600-h/2014-05-30%25252020.56.59%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="2014-05-30 20.56.59" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="2014-05-30 20.56.59" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4Npz790XSTY/U9562gQBY2I/AAAAAAAAQB8/6hzVJsRyPbc/2014-05-30%25252020.56.59_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="233"></a></p> <p align="center">Birthday girl!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-k8GA6XvnfwI/U9564PIc7_I/AAAAAAAAQCE/-prNzbKhASk/s1600-h/IMG_6393%252520%2525282%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6393 (2)" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_6393 (2)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aNcVkXFI7DI/U9565bPzZHI/AAAAAAAAQCM/SZSXM7dlMS0/IMG_6393%252520%2525282%252529_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="398"></a></p> <p align="center">Fishing…a good time, even when nothing was biting!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WyFOz67prKY/U9566kssmOI/AAAAAAAAQCU/kxfM6rcxBNY/s1600-h/2014-07-11%25252019.47.58-1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="2014-07-11 19.47.58-1" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="2014-07-11 19.47.58-1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uE8tKI22xZ8/U956700a2vI/AAAAAAAAQCc/kS5xfWkkIHs/2014-07-11%25252019.47.58-1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="238"></a></p> <p align="center">All the siblings, together for a wedding…Ethan, Rachel, Caleb and Cameron</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VCE2MxJ0deU/U95684qlv3I/AAAAAAAAQCk/cz1EdpNRE80/s1600-h/2014-07-11%25252019.48.09%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="2014-07-11 19.48.09" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="2014-07-11 19.48.09" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2Pm6LfDksKo/U9569x0hEWI/AAAAAAAAQCs/2QF6kpUpacE/2014-07-11%25252019.48.09_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="474" height="268"></a></p> <p align="center">Cousins, and future DORM MATES! Woo HOO!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2O4cOyHIr2w/U956_OMWWyI/AAAAAAAAQC0/rIx7BUO90h4/s1600-h/2014-07-13%25252015.58.58%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="2014-07-13 15.58.58" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="2014-07-13 15.58.58" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8cn8fFNPiDo/U957AEUr9wI/AAAAAAAAQC8/Bgw39IK8wjk/2014-07-13%25252015.58.58_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="228" height="402"></a></p> <p align="center">Ferris Wheel at Cedar Point</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FVCuPXSsfs8/U957Bv4aoPI/AAAAAAAAQDE/kX6u5y0r4Dg/s1600-h/2014-07-13%25252022.08.52%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="2014-07-13 22.08.52" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="2014-07-13 22.08.52" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JrsvesZBm6M/U957Cj3jiDI/AAAAAAAAQDM/pjlwU6InmsI/2014-07-13%25252022.08.52_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="481" height="272"></a></p> <p align="center">Super fun time with family!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YIsP46xrH2A/U957Ec2VwyI/AAAAAAAAQDU/H0mHmVl4Ycs/s1600-h/IMG_6511%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6511" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_6511" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HQw80EGcA24/U957FNry50I/AAAAAAAAQDc/Tta5uFSeyf0/IMG_6511_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="399" height="531"></a></p> <p align="center">Working together as lifeguards this summer has given them a special relationship. I think Ethan got this look a LOT!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JGcqnREp1-g/U957FwL7_wI/AAAAAAAAQDk/dY7Xjha1zTI/s1600-h/20140720_100706%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="20140720_100706" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="20140720_100706" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-V4F5S6OjiCE/U957GzTFITI/AAAAAAAAQDs/E7VyiMaJl68/20140720_100706_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="434"></a></p> <p align="center">We love it when you use your talents! God has blessed you with a beautiful ability to play piano and organ!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KgRkwObsfJg/U957I-HvU-I/AAAAAAAAQD0/ANSQDPh8h9c/s1600-h/2014-07-24%25252018.30.38%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="2014-07-24 18.30.38" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="2014-07-24 18.30.38" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cUCSyD76bpc/U957KHbtP1I/AAAAAAAAQD8/eLm-ha8VCec/2014-07-24%25252018.30.38_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="495" height="280"></a></p> <p align="center">We went to see Les Mis at the Cedar Rapids Theater! AMAZING performance.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7dYfhwvqiyg/U957LK2jJ_I/AAAAAAAAQEE/q3lB_L3PlIs/s1600-h/2014-07-31%25252017.41.23%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="2014-07-31 17.41.23" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="2014-07-31 17.41.23" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AcBTrOInV-Y/U957L9Y7oPI/AAAAAAAAQEM/j6966UEGZDw/2014-07-31%25252017.41.23_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="228" height="403"></a></p> <p align="center">At Split Rock for Hobo dinners. Dad cooked them perfectly! And Moses enjoyed the outing, too!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WHNwLZikaNI/U957NIQv-pI/AAAAAAAAQEU/OBM5vEP5kAM/s1600-h/2014-07-31%25252019.36.54%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="2014-07-31 19.36.54" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="2014-07-31 19.36.54" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rvlmbTAukes/U957OuQj2uI/AAAAAAAAQEc/jnhtJxkVaR8/2014-07-31%25252019.36.54_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="479" height="271"></a></p> <p>We pray that your sophomore year is fantastic beyond your wildest dreams, Rachel!</p> Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-50222546741398862202014-07-22T11:17:00.001-05:002014-07-22T11:17:54.153-05:00Aunt Sue Ann’s Crock Pot Lasagna<p>There has been recent discussion about crock pot meals among some of my friends. My family’s favorite <a href="http://ronsrib.blogspot.com/2010/01/crock-pot-mac-and-cheese.html">“Crock Pot Mac and Cheese”</a> came up, so I gave that recipe out a few more times. The best part about that recipe is that you do NOT cook the noodles first. You can put it together in moments, and then walk away, and 2 1/2 hours later, you have dinner! Who doesn’t love that?</p> <p>Lasagna is another favorite crock pot pasta dish in my family. I have to give credit to my sister, Sue Ann, for this one. I don’t know where she found the recipe, but it’s a great one. And again, you DON’T have to cook the noodles first. (Next time I make it, I will take a picture, and update this post…of course…I said that a couple of years ago with the mac and cheese one, and yep…still no pictures!)</p> <ul> <li>1-16 oz pkg. bow tie pasta (I have successfully used other shapes)</li> <li> 2 cups sour cream</li> <li>2 cups cottage cheese</li> <li>parmesan cheese</li> <li>mozzarella cheese</li> <li>1 large jar spaghetti sauce</li> <li>1 pound ground beef</li></ul> <p>Spray crock or line with crock pot liners (BEST INVENTION EVER!) Place layers in crock pot: Sauce, noodles, sour cream/cottage cheese mixture, mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers til you are out of ingredients or the crock is full. Cook on high 4 hours. <p>If the sauce seems super thick or things don’t seem to even out well, I will sometimes add a cup of boiling water, just to help the noodles cook. <p>Another family favorite! Thanks, Aunt SueAnn! Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-28334970206373901172014-06-07T22:43:00.001-05:002014-06-07T22:43:20.770-05:00Another PIN WIN…Sriracha Ranch Chicken<p> </p> <p>OK, just gotta say…this is one that I wanna make again VERY SOON! I pinned and pretty much followed the recipe from <a href="http://www.plainchicken.com/2014/06/sriracha-ranch-chicken.html#more">HERE</a>. And I wouldn’t change much, that’s for sure! Super easy, and all four of us loved it!</p> <p>Now, I have to mention that this ended up on the menu a LITTLE sooner than I’d intended. I’d had the recipe pinned for a short while, and knew I wanted to make it. But we had plenty of leftovers and such in the fridge. Since it was my wonderful hubby’s birthday, I asked him what he wanted to have for a birthday meal. It didn’t take him long to figure out that he wanted T-bone steaks. Yum! So he went downstairs to dig them out of the chest freezer. He had to move and shuffle a few things around, but was successful in finding a nice package of 4 huge steaks. </p> <p>Well, the next morning, when we went downstairs to work on some laundry, we discovered….a box of chicken breasts sitting on the freezer. A box that he had left out overnight (In February I made my first purchase of <a href="https://www.zayconfoods.com/">Zaycon</a> chicken breasts. They are a good price, and HUGE and I highly recommend purchasing these if they are ever in your area.) Fortunately for Ron, it was his birthday when this discovery was made. Because it was his birthday, I did NOT throw a screaming hissy fit, but just calmly said “I love you, dear” (or something like that) We brought the partially thawed chicken upstairs, and decided that the Tbones would wait…we needed to use this chicken. (Don’t worry…it wasn’t sitting out too long. It was still mostly frozen and safe. I wouldn’t have used it if it weren’t!)</p> <p>I put 2 breasts (and they are HUGE…close to a pound each. In a casserole, 1 breast will feed all 4 of us!) in the crock pot with some broth to make hot chicken sandwiches (that’s all done and in the freezer…I’ll post the full recipe at some later date), and the rest I decided would be good for this Sriracha Ranch Chicken.</p> <p>And it was.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_HDwlxn0-Jo/U5Pb0H3YSOI/AAAAAAAANpY/z16Izz4obSc/s1600-h/2014-06-05%25252017.23.50%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="2014-06-05 17.23.50" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="2014-06-05 17.23.50" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6IBEU5hyifg/U5Pb1gKQJJI/AAAAAAAANpg/s85FM5I3OG0/2014-06-05%25252017.23.50_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="586" height="331"></a></p> <ul> <li>1/2 cup olive oil</li> <li> <div align="left">1/2 cup prepared ranch dressing</div></li> <li> <div align="left">3 T. Worcestershire sauce</div></li> <li> <div align="left">3 T. Sriracha** sauce (otherwise known by my hubby as “AWESOMESAUCE”)</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1 t. salt</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1 t. lemon juice</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1 t. white vinegar</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1/4 t. black pepper</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1 T. white sugar</div></li></ul> <p align="left">I took the 3 remaining thawed chicken breasts and pounded them to an even thickness. This is important, because these Zaycon chicken breasts are just HUGE, and parts of them are really, REALLY thick, and then you get to the thinner ends. Chicken that is in varying degrees of thickness doesn’t grill very well. So I pounded them a bit, just to even them out. They were still pretty thick. Then, I cut them into chicken tender size pieces…I ended up with TWELVE tenders from these 3 pieces of meat. </p> <p align="left">While I was pounding and cutting the chicken, Rachel was being her gourmet self and preparing the marinade. We put the chicken in the sauce and let it sit. The original recipe said 8 hours, but…it’s summer and I don’t wake up in time to do the prep work and marinate something for 8 hours before we need to cook it at 5 pm. So this only marinated for around 6 hours. </p> <p align="left">**Some in our family don’t care for super spicy stuff. Even those that prefer milder dishes enjoyed this chicken. 3 T. was not too much sauce. If it makes you uncomfortable, you could certainly reduce that to 1 or 2 T. </p> <p align="left">Then..grill it til it is done. Seriously YUMMY chicken! Another WIN for Pinterest!! (I served it with hash brown casserole…another family favorite)</p> Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-878345032894476872014-06-04T23:51:00.001-05:002014-06-04T23:51:48.276-05:00The Man of My Dreams<p dir="ltr">God knew exactly what I needed when He knit together the man who would become my husband. He created a laid back, funny,  loving,  Godly man who is perfect for me.   </p>
<p dir="ltr">I love him when we are walking down the street together,  and he reaches out to hold my hand. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I love him when he randomly bursts into song (and it is a different song daily... maybe even hourly) ... Yesterday it was <i>"And I'll bet you a drink or two that I can make you put that lampshade on your head" </i>While playing a game on his computer,  and today it was <i>"Winnie the Pooh doesn't know what to do,  Got a honeypot stuck on his nose" </i>while walking down the street in Cedar Falls. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I love him when he patiently puts worms on my hook,  because he knows that I don't like to do it. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I love him when he messes up the lyrics to songs<i> "When the world runs out of bubbles,  we'll still have each other..."</i> </p>
<p dir="ltr">I love him when he mows our lawn,  does the dishes, takes out the garbage,  does our taxes,  and all the other things he does to keep our home running smoothly.<br>
<br>
I love him for so readily forgiving me when I say or do something stupid. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I love watching him cheer on our kids in any of their sports or music activities. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I love him for being a man my kids look to for answers to their questions. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I love watching him be a pastor that is loved and respected by congregation and community members. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I love hearing him laugh. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I love seeing new places with him,  and doing new things with him. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I love that my kids respect him. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I just really love Ronnie Koch.   I thank the Lord daily for creating him.   He is the best part of me. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Happy birthday,  Ron. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-un7_F-9A7mA/U4_3YWmgLCI/AAAAAAAANns/dpKcKC0QbqI/s1600/20140604_225940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-un7_F-9A7mA/U4_3YWmgLCI/AAAAAAAANns/dpKcKC0QbqI/s640/20140604_225940.jpg"> </a> </div>Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-77084375849273002202014-06-03T22:49:00.001-05:002014-06-03T22:49:15.933-05:00Gone Fishin’<p>Today is the one day this week that neither Rachel nor Ethan had to work. Since it was Rachel’s birthday last Friday, and tomorrow is Ron’s birthday, we decided to go fishing together to celebrate. We always enjoy fishing, but I must admit…we enjoy it a BIT more when we actually get some bites!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0oN_wVdN8TA/U46W4SYZbUI/AAAAAAAANkA/hAzLBIFdD-M/s1600-h/IMG_6390%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6390" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_6390" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uAFpoNi6i_Y/U46W52ey7KI/AAAAAAAANkI/lgHY2luTFG0/IMG_6390_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="414" height="312"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DH_7ppN9als/U46W66EYgsI/AAAAAAAANkQ/E1G4KneE9YU/s1600-h/IMG_6391%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6391" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_6391" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bSPl0EMI_g4/U46W7-zYwUI/AAAAAAAANkY/Ngpdpl0b-h4/IMG_6391_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="284" height="378"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wUCcnFLteI0/U46W8sSNmaI/AAAAAAAANkg/ckPHVRb-SWU/s1600-h/IMG_6395%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6395" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_6395" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u0-mSL5b-FY/U46W9tMaGxI/AAAAAAAANko/xyJ7SjXsm-E/IMG_6395_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="292" height="388"></a></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="left">We went to the dam in Nashua. We often have good luck there. Today? Not so much…</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-G2VcpAAm_no/U46W_CkFlYI/AAAAAAAANkw/412i0cavuAI/s1600-h/IMG_6408%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6408" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_6408" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yH_OmY6uPWU/U46XAP_JOGI/AAAAAAAANk4/-i4SBOeiws0/IMG_6408_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-POg7yjecgNw/U46XCMjedsI/AAAAAAAANlA/n1ozfP6bgls/s1600-h/IMG_6409%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6409" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_6409" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0yZOM2B6gKU/U46XC-9A7GI/AAAAAAAANlI/OuxXkXxBCvM/IMG_6409_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SwBiMMxtyw8/U46XDg82M9I/AAAAAAAANlQ/cAJ_IZzfZvs/s1600-h/IMG_6410%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6410" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_6410" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UXj2SLzWR5Q/U46XEYbAIZI/AAAAAAAANlY/SyjvfGs0HmQ/IMG_6410_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-idAeRSm3_f4/U46XFdOvYrI/AAAAAAAANlg/jcYso416j2g/s1600-h/IMG_6412%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6412" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_6412" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n2ZtFzGmdrU/U46XGMTNcXI/AAAAAAAANlo/uQCCaJizOeE/IMG_6412_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-cksej2MWgmk/U46XHE9yUQI/AAAAAAAANlw/xeHEoEmSYeY/s1600-h/IMG_6415%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6415" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_6415" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WAl0MLeASh8/U46XHhhMLZI/AAAAAAAANl4/1pqyL0SKurY/IMG_6415_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="left">So…what does every good mom do when the fish aren’t biting? She takes photos, of course!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3e0CCQoA_HY/U46XIokfANI/AAAAAAAANmA/K4DRopN68xM/s1600-h/IMG_6398%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6398" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_6398" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hvxvUf9oBzM/U46XJpgPGYI/AAAAAAAANmI/1nFU0CiU91Q/IMG_6398_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="507" height="381"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-C5r83J4r15g/U46XKa5Ni8I/AAAAAAAANmQ/a6MQl4md4-A/s1600-h/IMG_6401%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6401" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_6401" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lmXlcSJgrsY/U46XLdcFfzI/AAAAAAAANmY/BMIeJOJ8np4/IMG_6401_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="328" height="436"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lYfuRt2_A7E/U46XMChhfCI/AAAAAAAANmg/L9lj634IL6Q/s1600-h/IMG_6402%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6402" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_6402" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IPKTRyfGjLk/U46XM4dCAgI/AAAAAAAANmo/fFUeLuNR7qk/IMG_6402_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="430"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zkSVvCJvpKY/U46XN67umPI/AAAAAAAANmw/eesyRxhMkQQ/s1600-h/IMG_6403%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6403" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_6403" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_4GqRd0kEj8/U46XOm8pRQI/AAAAAAAANm4/j7THKXPiYPU/IMG_6403_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="316" height="420"></a></p> Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-70257492721778168652014-06-01T17:52:00.001-05:002014-06-01T20:49:51.736-05:00Pinned it. Made it. Strawberry Poppyseed Salad<div dir="ltr">
And it was seriously FANTASTIC! Everyone thought it was yummy. I followed the recipe from <a href="http://%20http//lecremedelacrumb.com/2014/02/strawberry-poppyseed-bacon-chopped-salad.html">HERE</a>. I did it exactly as the recipe stated, (except the I really didn't measure much, lol) and added grilled chicken. Oh.. And I used the whole pound of bacon... 'cause you can never have too much bacon, right? </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<b>Strawberry Poppyseed Salad (with bacon and chicken) </b></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Salad ingredients :<br />
6 cups romaine lettuce, chopped <br />
2 cups strawberries, sliced/chopped <br />
8 strips (or the whole pound) cooked and crumbled bacon<br />
1/2 red onion, chopped <br />
1 cup feta <u>cheese</u></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Dressing ingredients :</div>
<div dir="ltr">
1 tsp. minced garlic<br />
1 tsp. diced red onion <br />
1/3 c. sugar<br />
1/3 c. white vinegar<br />
1/4 c. chopped strawberries <br />
1/2 c. olive oil<br />
1/4 tsp. salt<br />
1 tbsp. poppyseeds </div>
<div dir="ltr">
Additional optional ingredients :<br />
Grilled chicken<br />
The family suggested cucumbers<br />
I suggested candied pecans<br />
And next time, I would do it with Bleu cheese instead of the feta</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Mix the dressing ingredients in a blender or food processor and process till smooth. Mix the salad ingredients in a big bowl (and if you are like me, you have to set aside a serving with no onions, for the picky eater). Add dressing and mix well. Yummm! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1RRpbUApg3s/U4uuojHtmPI/AAAAAAAANhw/w9xhL9orUL8/s1600/20140601_171429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1RRpbUApg3s/U4uuojHtmPI/AAAAAAAANhw/w9xhL9orUL8/s640/20140601_171429.jpg" /> </a> </div>
Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-40068504313752307752014-05-30T23:33:00.001-05:002014-05-30T23:33:13.126-05:00My husband is a better blogger than I am! <p dir="ltr">My hubby started a blog years after I did. He posts more regularly than I do. Today, I took a picture of him, setting up and taking a picture for his blog. He already had posted today's entry. Check it out! It is his "<a href="http://www.lifetimebeerbook.blogspot.com">Lifetime Beer Blog"</a> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7DRwibII6yc/U4lbf14DYuI/AAAAAAAANgY/-p9IciHdfGI/s1600/20140530_195343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7DRwibII6yc/U4lbf14DYuI/AAAAAAAANgY/-p9IciHdfGI/s640/20140530_195343.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UzKtY52ET7E/U4lbh2w3DgI/AAAAAAAANgg/K4-5YzpUR84/s1600/20140530_195330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UzKtY52ET7E/U4lbh2w3DgI/AAAAAAAANgg/K4-5YzpUR84/s640/20140530_195330.jpg"> </a> </div>Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-65262951145575978202014-05-30T00:14:00.001-05:002014-05-30T00:14:38.365-05:00Pinned it and Actually DID it! (new blog topic…)<p>I saw this on a blog somewhere and thought it was a GREAT idea. You know all those things you “Pin” from pinterest? Well, I actually DO try to do some of them. And honestly, I have yet to try one that is a “pin fail” or a “pinstrosity” I’m sure my time is coming. But either way, when I try something new from Pinterest, I will try to share it here, and let you know…thumbs up or thumbs down. </p> <p>First up…<a href="http://foodgasms1.blogspot.com/2013/05/margarita-cake-1-cups-coarsely-crushed.html">MARGARITA CAKE</a></p> <p>OK…just to be clear…this is a total and COMPLETE thumbs up. This. Was. AWESOME!!! My best friend and coworker has decided that she isn’t coming back next year to work as an associate with me. Often, our beverage of choice when we get together after a long, HARD day of work, is a margarita. In honor of her last day of school, I made this <a href="http://foodgasms1.blogspot.com/2013/05/margarita-cake-1-cups-coarsely-crushed.html">margarita cake</a>. </p> <p align="center"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g2xgSfEx1fM/UYxeeaswkuI/AAAAAAAABJg/E7UM0wom6zk/s400/933965_334552790003671_88977962_n.jpg"></p> <p align="center"><em>THIS IS NOT MY PICTURE….it is from the above linked site where I originally found the recipe I was going to follow! (I would have taken a picture, but…umm…well…the people that I work with tend to make things disappear quicker than I can get a picture!)</em></p> <p>It was a hit by all who tasted it. Seriously good cake. There is a crushed pretzel crust on the bottom, which took this cake over the top. </p> <p> <ul> <li>1½ cups coarsely crushed pretzels</li> <li>½ cup sugar</li> <li>1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted</li> <li>1 box white cake mix</li> <li>1¼ cups bottled nonalcoholic margarita mix</li> <li>1⁄3 cup vegetable oil</li> <li>1 tablespoon grated lime peel</li> <li>3 egg whites</li> <li>2 cups heavy whipping cream<em> (I deviated from the recipe here…it really called for cool whip, but I SO MUCH prefer whipping cream!)</em></li> <li>1/3-1/2 cup sugar</li> <li>Grated lime peel or wedges, if desired</li></ul> <p>Preheat your oven to 350*. Spray the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan with Nonstick cooking spray)<br>Place pretzels in food processor and pulse to a crumb (or…if you need to get out some aggression, pound it in a baggie) Add sugar <em>(I think next time I might leave out the sugar and just go for the salty in the pretzels. There is enough “sweet” in this cake)</em> and butter and press into the greased pan. Press down gently. </p> <p>In large bowl, beat cake mix, margarita mix, oil, lime peel and egg whites with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Continue beating on high speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour batter over pretzel mixture.</p> <p>Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until the cake is done (very lightly golden on top) Cool completely, about 1 hour. **Stick the bowl and beater of your mixer into the freezer for about 15 minutes. Pour heavy whipping cream and 1/2 cup sugar into bowl and whip til stiff peaks form. Top the cake. Sprinkle with freshly grated lime peel. Store, covered, in the fridge.</p> <p>**Now, IF a person weren’t taking this to school, one could take a little bit (1/4 cup or less) of Jose Gold tequila and, using a pastry brush, just lightly brush tequila over the top of the cake. Not much, but it can add just a nice touch. THEN frost it with the whipped cream. OOOH…sends it over the top!</p> Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-7302881343033855212014-05-29T23:49:00.001-05:002014-05-29T23:49:42.007-05:00Long Lost Hello<p>Ok, so It has been over a year since I last posted, (as I was so kindly reminded a couple of weeks ago by a longtime friend) This blog started as a way to easily keep family and friends from all around the country updated with pictures and stories of what was going on here in Iowa country. But then facebook came along, and it became quicker (instantaneous!) to post pictures and status updates about what was going on in the lives of myself and my kids. It was just easier. But sometimes I miss blogging…and being able to browse back through the online journal. So…we will see. I will try, once again, to post a bit more regularly. We will see. It may, or may not happen!</p> <p>Since my last post, we have had a high school graduation (Rachel), the completion of a freshman year of college (at Ron and my Alma Mater, no less!) (Rachel) a college graduate and successful completion of a move and first year of a “real” job, (Caleb), a new collegiate “Ultimate Frisbee” player and completion of junior year of college (Cameron) and…a cross country running, Sensation show choir performing, vocal singing, band playing, driving, socializing, dating AND first ever in the family to have a broken bone high school freshman (Ethan). That is a bit of why I just haven’t kept up…too much going on. But again, I kind of miss the “journal” aspect of this blogging thing, so…I will try again.</p> <p>Send me a “nudge” if I get lax again, would you please?</p> <p><font face="Pea Amy*Rica Script">Sandy</font></p> Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-66368383967458946332013-05-12T13:21:00.001-05:002013-05-12T13:21:40.612-05:00The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies …<p>I have come full circle in my quest for the perfect chocolate chip cookie. After trying dozens of recipes over the years, I have returned to the first chocolate chip cookie recipe that I ever made. I have determined that everyone’s opinion of “the best” chocolate chip cookie depends on what kind their mothers made. If your mom made well done, crispy and crunchy chocolate chip cookies, then that kind is your favorite. If your mother made the kind of chocolate chip cookie that is a little under done and chewy, then that is your favorite kid. </p> <p>For years, I’ve tried new recipes for chocolate chip cookies. I’m always in search of “the perfect” one. (Which is really going to mess up my kids, because THEIR mother doesn’t have that ONE kind that they were raised on) It’s been difficult, because Ron and I were raised on different types of cookies. He likes his crisp and crunchy, and I like mine super soft, chewy and gooey. So I’ve been trying for almost 25 years to find one that makes us both happy. Each recipe that I’ve tried, I make half or so that I underbake for me, and half or so that I “burn” (as I lovingly call it) for him.</p> <p>I’m not going to search any longer. I have made my decision and counted to ten (anyone know what movie that quote comes from?") I have found the perfect chocolate chip cookie FOR ME, and it is my mom’s recipe for soft chocolate chip cookies. Especially when they are just warm from the oven, they are crispy on the outside and chewy and gooey in the middle. So if you like chewy and soft….TRY this recipe. I think you will love it! (and I will continue to “burn” a couple of cookie sheets of them for my wonderful husband !)</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--Rg1bdiw55E/UY_dpvt7KVI/AAAAAAAAItc/CLWbBLvw4Rw/s1600-h/919250_4961309156513_1479654670_o%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="919250_4961309156513_1479654670_o" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="919250_4961309156513_1479654670_o" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sN-LPQCyydc/UY_dqGy16tI/AAAAAAAAItk/vexpfAb5LhA/919250_4961309156513_1479654670_o_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="396" height="275"></a></p> <p align="center">This is a picture of my mom and dad on “their bench” at the Fulton County Fair. I LOVE this picture. This is my 15th Mother’s Day without my mom, and tomorrow will be the second May 13th without my dad (his birthday). I love and miss you both! Happy Mother’s day, Mom, and Happy Birthday, Dad!</p> <p align="left">SOFT AND CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES</p> <ul> <li> <div align="left">1 c. unsalted butter</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1 cup vegetable shortening (I like butter flavored Crisco sticks)</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1 1/2 c. brown sugar</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1 1/2 c. white sugar</div></li> <li> <div align="left">4 eggs</div></li> <li> <div align="left">2 t. vanilla</div></li> <li> <div align="left">5 c. sifted flour</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1 t. salt</div></li> <li> <div align="left">2 t. baking soda</div></li> <li> <div align="left">1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips (I <em>might</em> be guilty of using more!)</div></li></ul> <p align="left">Cream butter, shortening and sugars til light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat again til light and fluffy. Sift together flour, salt and soda; stir into creamed mixture. Add chocolate chips. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in 375 degree oven until cookies are brown around the edge but centers are not done, Between 8 and 9 minutes. Makes 96 cookies.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QWXqJiekuMQ/UY_dqx5gB_I/AAAAAAAAIts/zJrB2A2x7As/s1600-h/IMG_0637%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0637" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0637" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-a9CniFnYFps/UY_ds2ZPivI/AAAAAAAAIt0/VmDqCiXiBNI/IMG_0637_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="470" height="315"></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="7" face="Pea Miss Mary">YUMMY!!</font></p> Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-78583741170182284652013-02-09T17:05:00.001-06:002013-02-09T17:05:56.658-06:00Shutterfly book complete!<p>Whew…what a project. I had a coupon to shutterfly.com that expires next week, so have been cramming out the scrapbook pages for Rachel’s first book. Big sigh of relief here…it is ORDERED!</p><object width="425" height="425" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf" /><param name="flashvars" value="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=2AcsmzZi2csYet&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="quality" value="best" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="425" height="425" align="middle" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" name="wrapper" quality="best" menu="false" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=2AcsmzZi2csYet&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true" src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"></embed></object> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; width: 425px"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2AcsmzZi2csX4Q&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=118">Click here to view this photo book larger</a></p> <div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 10px; width: 425px">You'll love award-winning <a style="color: #6666cc" href="http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books">Shutterfly photo books</a>. Start your own today.</div> Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-56044921286493068842013-01-28T18:21:00.001-06:002013-01-28T18:21:58.174-06:00French Market Soup<p>Ok, so please ignore the fact that I haven’t posted on this blog in a long, LONG time. Between Facebook, Pinterest, creating Rachel’s senior (!!) scrapbook, work, and attending all the kids activities…well…my time is just tied up in other things. Once again, I will try to give some time to updating my blog every few days. No promises, though.</p> <p>I mentioned on Facebook that I have a HUGE pot of French Market Soup simmering on the stove. That led to several inquiries as to exactly what that is. I decided to write it up quickly so that others can enjoy the deliciousness of this soup.</p> <p>It has been a family favorite for 20 years or so. It’s usually a big hit at family gatherings. It makes a huge pot, and it freezes really well. Try it!</p> <ul> <li>1 pkg. 15 bean mix</li> <li>1 meaty ham bone or several pieces of ham</li> <li>2 bay leaves</li> <li>pinch of thyme</li></ul> <p>Soak the beans overnight (I usually cheat and do the “quick soak” method on the package) as directed on the package. Drain. Simmer the above ingredients in 3 quarts of water for about 3 hours, covered.</p> <p>Then add:</p> <ul> <li>1 quart of tomatoes (or juice)</li> <li>2 whole cloves</li> <li>6 stalks chopped celery and leaves</li> <li>1 large chopped green pepper (I don’t like green pepper in my soup, so I leave it out)</li> <li>2 finely chopped garlic cloves</li> <li>2 medium chopped onions</li> <li>salt and pepper, to taste.</li> <li>several pieces of raw chicken</li></ul> <p>Simmer until chicken is done (I have already added the chicken at the same time as the ham bone, but not always). Remove chicken when it is done, and debone, putting the chicken back into the soup. Also add </p> <ul> <li>1 pound smoked sausage, sliced thick</li></ul> <p>10 minutes or so before serving, add some chopped parsley if desired.</p> <p>(Remember to fish out the bay leaves and cloves before serving. This is made easier if you tie them into cheesecloth or something before adding to the pot )</p> <p> </p> <p>Enjoy!</p> Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-63711036074449441092012-08-30T18:52:00.001-05:002015-06-11T20:40:03.453-05:00Stuffed Pepper Casserole…it’s what’s for supper tonight!<br />
Ingredients<br />
<ul>
<li>4 large green bell peppers</li>
<li>1-1 1/2 lb ground beef</li>
<li>1/4 – 1/2 cup chopped onions</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon salt</li>
<li>1/4 teaspoon pepper</li>
<li>1 (12-14 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained</li>
<li>1 1/2 cups cooked rice</li>
<li>1/2 pound raw bacon</li>
<li>8 oz. tomato sauce</li>
<li>2-3 chopped tomatoes (or a can of tomatoes)</li>
<li>up to 2 cups shredded cheddar (optional)</li>
</ul>
Directions<br />
Cut tops off peppers and set aside (for later use). After removing seeds/membranes, cut each pepper into 8 pieces. Cook peppers in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Remove and place in the bottom of a casserole dish. (A 7x11 pan would be a good size. This dish is EASY to add to if you want to use a 9 x 13)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BFi4veeualg/VXo3jLAG7PI/AAAAAAAAWAc/ZcjiAfzei4M/s1600/IMG_5453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BFi4veeualg/VXo3jLAG7PI/AAAAAAAAWAc/ZcjiAfzei4M/s320/IMG_5453.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Brown ground beef and onions. Add salt, pepper, rice, corn, tomatoes and sauce. At this point you can also add black beans if you like them…or pinto beans…and we really like it with jalapeno peppers sliced into the mix as well. Heat through.<br />
Spread hot filling on top of peppers. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8lIBxmqVCkQ/VXo374PNtuI/AAAAAAAAWAk/EeL3OD62xcs/s1600/IMG_5454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8lIBxmqVCkQ/VXo374PNtuI/AAAAAAAAWAk/EeL3OD62xcs/s320/IMG_5454.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
Top with pepper tops, (only 4 pepper tops is never enough to cover the whole casserole, but it looks nice) raw bacon slices and cheese (or cheese and then bacon…whichever you prefer.)<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YJoMPauqw3g/VXo4Tj3rQvI/AAAAAAAAWAs/1m63d6fx4xI/s1600/IMG_5457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YJoMPauqw3g/VXo4Tj3rQvI/AAAAAAAAWAs/1m63d6fx4xI/s320/IMG_5457.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<br />Bake stuffed peppers at 350° for 30 minutes, or til the bacon is done.</div>
<div align="center">
ENJOY!</div>
Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-28149578270928394282012-08-26T22:55:00.001-05:002012-08-26T22:55:09.095-05:00Wow. Just….WOW!<p>It’s August, and I’m not ready. Mentally…I think it must be, oh, about June or so. I really, really, REALLY want to flip the calendar page over and discover that it is June again. </p> <p>It was really such a wonderful summer here this year. Cameron was home and manager of the pool. Rachel worked as a lifeguard. We had no traumas, no sickness, no hospital visits, no deaths this summer. Instead we had our niece Jenna’s wedding to the amazing Justin Brown (We’re SO glad you are now officially part of our clan!) and a graduation (Congrats to Adam!) Caleb was able to be home for a long weekend or a week at a couple of different times. Ron and I got a couple day trip in to a lake side hotel along Lake Michigan in Wisconsin (the trip also included some beer brewery tours and some shopping) Ethan enjoyed low key time vegging out with his friend Uriah. They ran a LOT this summer.</p> <p>We all spent time alternately loving our dog to death and being frustrated by some dumb dog behavior (why does he want to run away from us? He LOVES us!)</p> <p>So, since it was such a nice…pleasant (although the hottest summer on record in a long time!) summer, I’d just like a do-over. I know that reality won’t allow that. I know that God has plans for my next few months (and years), and I need to joyfully walk toward that future and not spend too much time dwelling on what I WISH I was still doing. But really….I do wish it were always summer, always sunny and I were always sitting by a lake …clear…blue, beautiful lake.</p> <p>Part of my not wanting to face the year ahead is that it is Rachel’s last year home. I’ve promised her already that I’ll cry at the silliest (to her) things. But that I won’t be able to help it. She’s making big decisions, doing great things. Running Cross-country…(I’m going to miss watching her run in those things!) Drum Major in marching band (she does AWESOME, and I love watching her), playing beautiful music on our piano(might the the thing I’m going to miss the most!), and her playing the organ at church. She’s at a point in our lives where she isn’t stressful to be around. She’s just a joy to sit and visit with and work with. I’m going to miss her terribly. But before I miss her terribly, I’m going to enjoy every moment we have together!</p> <p>So….no pictures in this post (I don’t have my pics all on this computer yet, but had to give up on my old one til I get it cleared out). I’m sure there will be some senior pictures posted soon, as well as band, cross country, music performances and who knows what else!</p> <p>Praying that Jesus helps me to keep a positive outlook on what He has planned for me this week!</p> Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-55378861546240695762012-06-17T22:56:00.001-05:002014-05-30T11:04:27.346-05:00Happy 17th, Rachel!We DID celebrate on her birthday. I have pictures to prove it. I just am not sure where the weeks have gone since then (although…my kindle has been in my hands almost constantly…I’m either on the couch reading, or out on the deck reading….have I mentioned that I LOVE SUMMER?)<br />
Anyway, to celebrate Rachel’s big day, she told Ethan she wanted him to make her cake. She wanted “white cake and funfetti frosting”.<br />
So….we bought a white cake mix. Does it matter if the COLOR is actually white or not? I hope not, ‘cause we made her a tie dye cake. It was pretty awesome, if I do say so myself!<br />
First, Ethan made the cake as directed on the package. Then, he divided the cake into 6 fairly even portions. He added food color til the batter was the color he was looking for. I really wanted to try it with neon colored food coloring, but we had to go with what we could get at our little store here in town.<br />
Then, he layered the colors. He put most of the purple in the bottom of pan 1. Then he put just a LITTLE less blue on top of the purple. And then a little less of the green than he used of the blue…and so on with the yellow, orange and red (ending with just a fairly small spoonful of the red.<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Then, in the second pan, he did the opposite, using all the rest of each color, but using lots of red, and then there was a little less orange, and less yellow, etc.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UBBujz39oLs/U4ipYflhQ7I/AAAAAAAANbU/M78mI6x7bhU/s1600/IMG_8064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UBBujz39oLs/U4ipYflhQ7I/AAAAAAAANbU/M78mI6x7bhU/s1600/IMG_8064.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wRaa6b1w_40/T96m4lH1EhI/AAAAAAAAIoI/tYJjQ3Mv7z8/s1600-h/IMG_8059%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8059" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-89QhR2ceAd8/T96m5UPo5JI/AAAAAAAAIoQ/HQ4BBUBEDgY/IMG_8059_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="268" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_8059" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="left">
Then, we baked, cooled, frosted and decorated the cake.</div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-btimYZa-iqQ/T96m50floiI/AAAAAAAAIoY/2Cx9kLNKFZ0/s1600-h/IMG_8071%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8071" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WEtgMSEyl-4/T96m6KqJ_wI/AAAAAAAAIog/JUN1QzViLLU/IMG_8071_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="260" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_8071" width="388" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G7JKx7orRwk/U4iqBU-VrJI/AAAAAAAANbc/fU-tr79nxcY/s1600/IMG_8075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G7JKx7orRwk/U4iqBU-VrJI/AAAAAAAANbc/fU-tr79nxcY/s1600/IMG_8075.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RhZPIwAyay4/U4iqD4U3nPI/AAAAAAAANbk/2-nP4scnmo8/s1600/IMG_8076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RhZPIwAyay4/U4iqD4U3nPI/AAAAAAAANbk/2-nP4scnmo8/s1600/IMG_8076.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
Next, we took pictures.</div>
<div align="center">
The beautiful, amazing, talented, creative, funny, smart, adorable, kind and loving BIRTHDAY GIRL!!</div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bsD0GYlzgtk/T96m8k0k3uI/AAAAAAAAIpI/lzKTdvLdits/s1600-h/IMG_8080%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_8080" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ggsntl37xq8/T96m9IcdCCI/AAAAAAAAIpQ/4LpwCHWywGU/IMG_8080_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="326" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_8080" width="335" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
You bring joy and laughter, sunshine and happiness to me. I’m SO glad to have you as my daughter! I really can’t wait to see what all God has planned for you! I just know it’s gonna be AMAZING!</div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tKun5wuhsI4/U4iqfwundTI/AAAAAAAANbs/-H1YWQ38N0E/s1600/IMG_8078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tKun5wuhsI4/U4iqfwundTI/AAAAAAAANbs/-H1YWQ38N0E/s1600/IMG_8078.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
And these are her amazing friends, Alexis and Katelyn. I love these 3 girls! </div>
<div align="center">
And then we sang. And then we ate it! And it was beautiful AND delicious!</div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Tr8o50KJvA/U4irbb-PZyI/AAAAAAAANb0/Pr5-T-B7OmQ/s1600/IMG_8082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Tr8o50KJvA/U4irbb-PZyI/AAAAAAAANb0/Pr5-T-B7OmQ/s1600/IMG_8082.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IeWPTNq51kI/U4irc0NVOnI/AAAAAAAANb8/qaQ9K0EgjFU/s1600/IMG_8083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IeWPTNq51kI/U4irc0NVOnI/AAAAAAAANb8/qaQ9K0EgjFU/s1600/IMG_8083.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
Happy birthday, Rachel!!</div>
Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466162.post-77020028298071123202012-06-17T22:30:00.001-05:002014-05-30T11:22:16.768-05:00Memorial DayFredericksburg always has a really nice Memorial Day service. Our Middle School band performs the theme songs from the different branches of the military. They did a great job again this year! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTG54ATfFd4/U4iuf9uQd3I/AAAAAAAANcE/5qLC_vibISw/s1600/IMG_4815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTG54ATfFd4/U4iuf9uQd3I/AAAAAAAANcE/5qLC_vibISw/s1600/IMG_4815.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UE0s6wvQ5uo/U4iur3QRV1I/AAAAAAAANcM/s_6CMmuXi4M/s1600/IMG_4816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UE0s6wvQ5uo/U4iur3QRV1I/AAAAAAAANcM/s_6CMmuXi4M/s1600/IMG_4816.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
One of the highlights of the program is always a flyover , but they flyover so fast that I rarely get a picture! This is one from 2009….the last year that I was able to capture the shot.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nN0NKHkd4AI/U4ivoDiAGLI/AAAAAAAANcU/DD3YiXVyhvE/s1600/IMG_0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nN0NKHkd4AI/U4ivoDiAGLI/AAAAAAAANcU/DD3YiXVyhvE/s1600/IMG_0161.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
Then we came home, grilled out and had a relaxing day. I LOVE summer time!Sandy Kochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05097575568312922177noreply@blogger.com0