Thursday, February 25, 2010

Yes you can teach an old dog, new cooking tricks

My daughter gets credit for this cooking tip. Thanks baby!
It saves lots of money, time and tastes can't be beat!

When I first heard of using a pressure cooking, It was about 30 years ago. I have been using for canning for years. But I am talking about pressure cooking meats. Yes, meats.

You can take the cheapest cuts of meats and they taste like the most expensive. I kid you not! I know I didn't believe it either but I can eat pork roast , hams, chops almost everything and not a knife in sight!

It takes about a third of the time. So you know me that is important, especially when i forgot to defrost and need a few hours for defrosting or need to go somewhere. Yeah like work.

You want to know how? I am going to send you to the expert.But first, some people are afraid of pressure cookers. The whistling and rattling can be unnerving but not if you know what you are doing. Get you a pressure cooker with directions. Read them also the web site I am about to send you to has lots of great info on selecting a pressure cooker, how to cook with, recipes. Everything you will need.

Seriously I can't make meats to compare with these even after cooking for 30 years!

Ready to enjoy the most succulent tender meats of your life?

Step into Miss Vickie's Wonderland! Yes I love this site!

Thanks for visiting! Come back soon ya'll!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Another tip for the Perfect Homemaker- They think so anyway :.)

My Best tip to save time, money and reduce stress.

Every cook has had a meal or hundreds of them, when they don't have the time, ingredients or inclination to cook. When that happens to a cook-from-scratch girl what do you do? Well I can't speak for you but this is what I do at times like that....

I pull a pot (freezer bag) of soup out of the freezer. No I didn't buy it, I made it.(all of them) on my back up day.

At the beginning of Fall or when I run out of "back ups" I have my "back up day".

But the day before "back up day" starts the process...I select my 3 soup menu. Then you add the ingredients into one list. The list should have amounts to shop and chop by. Now Shop!

On back up day you gather all of the ingredients. And chop and prep!
Most stews and soups need the same veggies and meats. So chop ,cook or prep all of that ingredient at one time. Prep meats last to keep it safe!

So if i need 6 cups of chopped carrots I chop and then place in one large bowl. all of the bowls are lined up on the counter. When the meats and veggies are prepped then...

Grab one recipe and one big pot and collect your ingredients. Add spices and any missing parts :.)

Put the pot on stove and start cooking. Proceed to next recipe. You will have your Back ups cooked in no time. In fact, This process hardly takes longer to cook 3 big pots than it does to make one.

Once cooked, I let cool some and then put in refrigerator. (if you refrigerate the soups, the liquid will be solid and easier to put in the freezer bag.) You can skip this step , if you want :.)

You can divide your soups into meals or individual size. I use half gallon for meals and quart for individuals or lunches. Plan you sizes to fit your needs. Do you provide lunches or have teenagers who eat all the time? Do you only need the family meal size?

When the soups/stews are ready to bag I distribute into the correct bags. Mark the bags with the meal name and date to keep everything right on schedule.


So now when you are running late, have an unexpected guest drop in, or you would rather read your book then standing in the kitchen cooking - You will have a wonderful meal on the table. Once again the perfect homemaker :.)

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

What are you teaching your children today?

The Wooden Bowl
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson.
The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered

The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and
failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor.
When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.
'We must do something about father,' said the son.
'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.'

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.
There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.
Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone.
Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor.
He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the boy responded,
'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.
' The four-year-old smiled and went back to work..

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.
For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason,
neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

What are you teaching your children today?

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