Korean Beef

I came across this recipe and it called for ground beef. That is how I made it, but I don't think it worked. The taste was awesome, but the texture was off in my opinion so next time I will use flank steak.

 Korean Beef

~ 2lbs flank steak

~ 2 medium onions chopped

~ 1-2 T minced garlic

~ 1 cup brown sugar

~ 1 1/4 cup soy sauce

~ 2 T sesame oil plus 1-2 tsp more for sauce

~ 1-2 tsp FRESH GRATED GINGER

~ 1-2 T, crushed red pepper flakes(depending on how spicey you like things

~ Salt and pepper to taste

~ 1 bunch green onions,

Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add the 2 T.  sesame oil and ground beef and cook until almost done. Drain most of the fat and add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion is tender. Meanwhile, in a bowl Whisk the brown sugar, soy sauce,1-2 tsp sesame oil, grated ginger, and red pepper flakes. pour this mixture over the beef and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 20 minutes so the flavors can blend. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve over steamed rice and top with the green onions.

Homemade Laundry Soap

It started with homemade all purpose and window cleaner, now I make my own laundry soap. I got this recipe from a friend, who got it from a blog, who got it from another blog. Not sure where it originated but I love it and will probably never go back!

Homemade Laundry Soap

1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax

1 (3 lb 7 oz)  Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 

1 (3 lb) OxyClean

2 Bars of Soap

1 (4 lb) Baking Soda

1-2 (55 oz) Bottle if Laundry Crystals

 

 

Grate soap and add all ingredients into a large trash bag to mix. I keep mine in a big bucket with a lid.  It smells awesome and you only need to use a little per load. Cheap(er) and awesome!

Low and Slow (All Day Pork)

My coupon-er friend let me know about about pretty good pork roast sale. I don't typically care for pork, but my family does. I told her to pick me up about whatever she got herself. I ended up with about 13 lbs. She suggested that I cook it all at once, divide it up and freeze it for quick dinners. I rubbed it down with what I deemed the BEST RUB EVER! and cooked it at 200 degrees for about 11 hours. My hubby was concerned that was too long, but when I stuck my fork in, it literally fell right apart. I ate it two days in a row, and I would say that is pretty good for a non pork lover.

BEST RUB EVER!

1/2 Cup salt
1/2 Cup chili Powder
1/4 Cup garlic powder
1/4 Cup onion powder
1/4 Cup black pepper
1/4 Cup sugar
1 TBS dry mustard
2 bay leaves crushed

Mix it and rub it on any and everything! Store leftover in the freezer.

Skillet BBQ Pasta

1 T olive oil
2 chicken breasts cut into bite-size chunks
1 red onion, diced (I didn't have one on hand so I used a regular yellow onion)
3 cups water
2 1/2 cups chicken broth(I used one 14 oz can and used more water for the rest)
1/2 tsp salt
12-13 oz penne pasta
2/3 cup bbq sauce(recipe for homemade found here.)
1/3 cup sour cream(use nonfat or lowfat if desired)
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup sharp cheddar Cheese

In a large skillet or pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When hot add the chicken and cook until no longer pink. Add the onions and cook till tender. Remove the chicken and onions to a plate. In the same skillet add the water, brother, pasta, and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 12-15 minutes, until the liquid is almost absorbed, the pasta is tender and the mixture is thick and syrupy. Stir in the bbq sauce,and sour cream. Once mixed, add in the chicken onions, and shredded cheeses. Stir to combine and cook until everything is heated through.

Step One in Achieving Serenity

Frank Costanza -  "SERENITY NOW!"

Hubby and I went on a weekend trip last week for our anniversary. He surprised by picking the best hotel ever. It was a like a B&B but we had our own bathrooms (a must!). Just a handful of rooms that each had a different theme, free snacks and drinks (wine!) all day long. It was simple and quiet. Everything was clean and cool. I didn't want to leave. It really felt like you were in someone's guest bedroom and not a hotel room. It was wonderful to just hang out with Hubby in a peaceful place.

Then we come home. I pretty much instantly started feeling down. I couldn't really figure out why. I mean, yes, it is great to just have one on one time with the spouse, knowing the kids were safe with grandparents, but there was something else. I finally figured out that my house is not peaceful. When I come home, I see chaos. There are toys here, papers there, stuff everywhere. I just can't seem to keep on top of it. I need a system. I need a home for everything so it's not just sitting somewhere.

SO. That is my goal. I will go room by room and make it peaceful. My first room is our bedroom. I really think it makes me the most crazy. It tends to be the catchall room. My dresser is typically littered with school papers and stuff that no one knows where to put  it. "Hey, let's just put it on Mom's dresser, SHE will deal with it." Also clothes. Clean clothes, but not put away clothes. It's just simple things that don't get done that would make a big difference. So I am starting there today. SERENITY NOW!!!

Cajun Sausage Alfredo

Tonight I made something that I never thought I would make, and I got the recipe from an ad in a magazine, which I also never do. Not sure why, but I just don't. I came upon this recipe and thought it was something different and quick and I would get the stuff to have on hand for a night I don't really feel like cooking. Throughout the day, it just started sounding good, so I decided to give it a go. It was so good. It tasted almost identical to a dish I get at Jazz. Son number 1 loved it. The other two were just kind of eh about it, but Hubby and I both loved it. And the best part.... It is so easy and quick. Literally, the time it takes to boil noodles......


Cajun Sausage Alfredo

1 pkg. Smoked Sausage
8 oz. pasta, cooked, drained
2 c. heavy cream
2 t. Cajun seasoning (I used Weber. SO GOOD!)
1/2 c. grated Parmesan


~ Cook noodles 
~ Saute sausage for about 5 minuets
~ Add cream and Cajun seasoning and boil. 
~ Reduce heat, simmer 4 minuets.
~ Stir in Parmesan.
~ Add pasta and toss

You can also add veggies to this. I added peas (cause that is what was in the picture....). Yum!!!

The Little Things

Hubby has a band that he loves. I wouldn't say they are his favorite, but they are probably his second or so. I, on the other hand, don't so much care for them. They are Metal, they are loud,  and I am pretty sure they worship the Debil..(a cookie if you got the Waterboy reference). All that aside, I let him talk me into going to see them in concert. He has been so excited for the past week about tonight. This particular band has somewhat of a mascot. He is a ghoulish looking, zombieish something guy that is featured on all of their album covers. His name is Eddie. He is a creep O.

The opening band was on stage and I noticed that they were only using front half of it, and they other half was filled with big, bulky items covered by tarps. I realized they were props for the main band. I was looking and noticed one rounded tarp looked sort of familiar. I leaned over to Hubby and pointed at it and said "I bet you that's Eddie."  My husband looked at me like I had just handed him a thousand dollars. I said what?? He said, I can't believe you knew that. I thought you didn't care about these guys at all.... Well, I don't. But, he does. Just paying a little bit of attention, I seemed to give him a little gift today.  He was touched that I cared enough to remember that freaky looking guy's name. It didn't take much. I didn't have to listen to hours of crappy music that is so loud that I can't even understand  what the heck they are saying (wow, how old am I??). Just paying the slightest attention is all it took to make a happy hubby for today. :)