Meatball Stroganoff

I knew we would have a busy Sunday with the “Snowflake Dance” for the Teen Queen while the Boy was down and out with a fever and terrible cough.  I was going to make a meatloaf for dinner when they all gave me the “meatloaf again” look.  I decided they were right and actually a crockpot dinner would be best so I could focus on the Teen Queen and her friends until they went to the dance.

Meghan, Morgan and Chase

Meghan and Chase have been friends since they were 4 (10 years now) and they met Morgan this year in their first year of high school.  Please don’t think Meghan is sick, she was diagnosed with Alopecia in February and while it has been a hard thing to deal with especially at this age and starting your first year in high school, this girl is stunning and a real trooper.  I forget she actually has it as she never focuses on it and it doesn’t hinder her in any way.  She still has her adventurous spirit when her and Chase are together!

This meatball stroganoff is a delicious meal that everyone will enjoy.  It’s perfect over pasta or served with a side of biscuits to soak up the gravy!!

Here is the basic recipe and it does not have to be exact. I used 2 lbs of beef with this version and doubled it as I had my mother and niece to feed as well as our family lol!!

1 lb ground beef

1 egg

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 soup can of water

1 cup heavy cream or milk

2 TBSP cornstarch

2 beef bouillon cubes

2 TBSP Worcestershire sauce

2 TBSP minced garlic (separated)

1 medium onion diced

1 cup bread crumbs (I used Italian seasoned)

16 oz cooked egg noodles or 12 biscuits

Meatballs: ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, 1 TBSP minced garlic, 1/2 onion diced, dash of salt and pepper. Combine all and form meatballs Brown them in a frying pan and bake through at 375. (approx. 10 minutes) on a foil lined cookie sheet

Stroganoff sauce: cream of mushroom soup, water, cream/milk, cornstarch, bouillon cubes, Worcestershire sauce, other half of onion, 1 TBSP minced garlic. Mix all in crockpot and add baked meatballs. Cook on low for approximately 4 hours. Serve with pasta or biscuits!!

A sad Christmas break goodbye

Today we had our first lunch “cookout” of 2015 complete with hot dogs and chicken on the grill, macaroni salad, potato salad, fruit platter, and chocolate pie for dessert.  It was our salute to the 2014 Christmas break as it’s officially over tomorrow and back to work and school for us.  Our neighbors came over to join in the goodbye.

My friend Julie is a great cook and always makes beautifully displayed and tasty dishes.  She made a macaroni salad with wagon wheel noodles which the kids love.  She also brought a wonderful assortment of fresh fruit. 

I marinated chicken breasts in a store bought Italian dressing and we grilled that along with the tasty hot dogs.

I also made potato salad and a snack tray to pick at while waiting for the food to cook.

The tween queen decided she wanted to make a chocolate pudding pie for dessert.

She assembled the ingredients and using a store bought crust made the homemade filling.  Recipe here: Chocolate Pudding

This is the easiest and creamiest pudding recipe I have used and I am thankful to fellow blogger Jodi from Of Kids and Cows  for this perfect pudding recipe!

It’s a sad day saying goodbye to another year and wonderful break with the kids home from school, but it was a nice afternoon easing us into the coming routine again.

You can find my Classic cook out Potato Salad recipe here:  Potato Salad

Camp Out Visitors

This camp area is about 600 yards from our house.  Tonight while sitting back relaxing and getting the spot ready for a weekend camp out, we had some visitors of all kinds.

Gram and the man of the house waiting to light the fire and having a serious chat about building a cabin.

Gram watching the fire and the ice skating pond and warming shanty

Next came the horses to relax with their family

This is the view the horses see

Shortly after the fire was lit, Chance and 2 neighbor boys wandered over to check it out

Across the pond another neighbor and friends headed out on our trails for an evening trail ride

This was followed by Chance and his friend passing through again with our dog who runs with them while they ride

The fire was going strong enough to lure the tween and her friend and Chance back for some marshmallows and snacks

The kids are nestled in and it’s adult time to relax and enjoy some drinks on a candle lit table

This is what it’s all about 🙂

 

Antique find art

At the antique shop we visited the other day (read about it here), the tween found this shell box.  It was only $5.00 she explained and was full of tiny shells she just KNEW she needed.  My first thought was…HOARDER.  Ok, I’m sorry but she is.  She just LOVES junk and junk which has lots of extra pieces is even more appealing.  But it is her allowance (they feed the animals in the afternoons while I am at work and clean stalls) and I let her spend it.

Shell box and $1.00 glass pieces

Well to my surprise, she really did NEED that junk.  When I came home from work yesterday she asked me about a shadow box I had purchased that was too small and we never returned it.  I gave it to her along with some glue and this is what she created:

M is for Meghan one of her best friends

She took the shells and complemented them with some pretty glass rocks from our local dollar store.  She then decorated the frame.  She used every little shell in that box.

It is all drying today and she will save it to give to her friend as a Christmas present.

Hmmm….maybe she isn’t just a hoarder after all 🙂

Trail Ride Celebration

Our neighbor turned the big 6-0 today and his wishes for his celebration were to take a group trail ride and have a cookout after.  So we all saddled up and took a little over and hour trail ride and grilled some wonderful food.  We came home early from our County Fair to celebrate with him.  A truly awesome day with 5 hours of fair fun and 4 hours of neighborhood fun!!  Happy Birthday to Eric!

Heading out

trying to take a picture of my friend behind me while riding no handed

That is the man of the house in the lead. Of course my horse decided to trot when she knew I had the reins down and was taking a picture..blurry!!

Neighbors Sue and Eric

Happy Birthday 🙂

!

Baseball

You should always try to find a way to support your local sports teams.  I am not a huge baseball fan, but we have a team in Buffalo, the Buffalo Bisons, and I think it’s important to support that team.  Tonight my friend took her daughter, my daughter and another friend to watch the team play.  You can always find deals and tonight’s game was $5.00 to get in and you received a $5.00 food voucher FREE with your purchase. It’s also fireworks Friday so they will get to see a free fireworks show after the game.

Where there’s a will there’s a way to get yourself out and enjoy all the little treasures your area offers!!

Something to think about….

Such a simple quote but so full of meaning.

True Friends

Disco and Mysty

It is said it’s always easier to workout with a friend.  Friends help each other stay motivated and make the time pass faster.   I believe my horses feel the same way.  While I know they look forward to their “alone” time with their mom (yes, I truly believe that!!), I also know they like riding in a “herd”.

Horses are herd animals and that explains why I have to have 3 not just one.  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!!!

  Bailey!!  Couldn’t leave him out of the post

 

Sunset Fishing and Friends

Chase at the end of our street (that is Canada in the distance)

The man of the house had to take a quick overnight trip out of town tonight for work leaving me to handle daughters voice lessons, dinner, homework, studying, and nightly animal chores/stall cleaning.  My neighbor stepped in and took the kids on their bikes to the end of our street so they could fish and hang out in the Niagara River.  This is a little over a mile from our ranch.

Chase and neighbor Parker

Parker helping bait Chase’s pole

These pictures are a reminder of what young friendship is all about and a reminder of how blessed we are to live where we live 🙂

Enjoy the Day!!