Food, Food, Food...and gardening

Thought for the Day:
"Sneeze or cough and someone blesses you, choke and someone punches you in the stomach. No blessing given, just life. Think I'd still rather sneeze and get a blessing." rjm :)

This will be more of a fun and delicious blog than I usually put out. I have been trying to get some papers cleaned out and finally got to my shelf full of recipe books and recipe card boxes and notebooks and sheets and notes full of recipies. I decided to gather all the little torn pieces of paper and notes and loose recipes and type them all up in my computer so I can print them to size on sheets for my 3 ring binder.
It is fun going through and discovering long lost family favorites and many I made up myself when I was a new mommy and was learning to cook for my own new little family. There were plenty of bombs along the way but once in awhile I actually did something right and supper was yummy, even for kids.
Also, years ago when I was co-leading a non profit support group for foster and adoptive families through the Social Services Dept. here, we created a family recipe book full of tried and true meals from foster parents and case workers own homes. They were all easy to make and used regular ingredients that most everyone would have on hand. They were especially geared for families with children and my kids loved them too. I entered a huge amount of recipes from my own kitchen and from my parents and grandparents too. There were even crafts for kids and home remedies in the back.
I have decided that once in awhile I would like to share some of these recipes with you all, just in case you like to try new and especially easy things like me. If I print a recipe here it is garanteed to be delicious. Hope you like them.
I will try to take pictures when I get around to making them myself again, but sometimes your imagination will have to do.
Here's two favorites of mine. Try them and let me know how you liked them for your self or your family.

Tuna Veggie Cassarole
By Reva McCandless

2 – 6 ½ oz cans tuna, drained
2 cups noodles, cooked
2 cups diced potatoes, cooked until slightly firm
1 sm can mixed vegetables
½ cup canned milk
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 Tbsp onion flakes
½ cup drained peas
salt and pepper to taste

mix gently into microwavable casserole dish.

Mix together 2 large shredded wheat bisguits, crushed, with 2-3 Tbsp melted butter. Sprinkle mixture over top of casserole mixture. Cover with clear baking roaster wrap. Microwave at high for 15-20 minutes, until hot throughout, or bake in moderate oven 30-40 minutes.

Here is a quick, easy and cheap chili recipi (especially good for new/young cooks)

Chile My way
by Reva McCandless

(this can be doubled or tripled easily)
1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion (diced)
1 clove diced fresh garlic (can be substituted with a little garlic powder)
1 c. kidney beans
1 c. tomato sauce
1 c. diced tomatoes
1 Tbsp chili powder
black pepper to taste
2 tsp oregano

Saute beef, onion, fresh garlic. drain grease. Add kidney beans, tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Add chili powder, black pepper and oregano to taste. You may add more of any seasoning if you prefer but let chili simmer awhile before adding more to make sure it's well absorbed. If you use powdered garlic rather than fresh, only use about 1-1 1/2 tsp to start.
Let chili simmer at least 20 - 30 minutes for full flavor. (I don't add salt since the canned foods are well salted.

This is good when topped with shredded cheddar or mozerella cheeze in the bowl. Ymm.

Now it's almost gardening time for those fresh ingredients in our new recipe's so I incorporated it into Mariahs class.
Today Mariah came over for a day of Grandma home schooling and after all her school work was done we did science. Today we studied, hands on, about gardening. I cheated and bought those little starter kits for seeds to make it easier but it still works. Anyway, she had to gently wet the little starter soil packets until they swelled up. Then she had to loosen the soil and poke a hole in the center and then put in one or two seeds in each hole and gently cover them up. A last little watering and we put the little garden greenhouse lid on and will wait for them to sprout in a few weeks. We will continue to talk about weather and seasons and watering needs for each type of flower or vegetable we planted and when time is right she'll get to plant them in the ground and care for them. I love hands on lessons for kids cause they get so into it and will remember the lesson so much better because it is fun!
Good job today Mariah, I had fun being your teacher.

NOTE: David will be going to Denver for his cancer surgery tomorrow, so please remember him in prayer. I probably won't know much about the results for awhile but will report when I do know. Thank you all so much for your caring and your diligence in prayer, it's very much appreciated.