Cooking & Crafting Thursday: Beef Stroganoff & Artsy Update

 

Hi Friends!

It's a gorgeous day here in the northwoods. Low 70's, a little sun and light breeze. It feels like summer hanging on today. However, the last couple of days felt more like this:

The days were in the low 60's with a little chill to the breeze or it was rainy. The nights have been in the 40's. For all of my poor friends in the sweltering warmth - I am sending you cool thoughts from the north winds. We have had some leaf changing happening, butterflies migrating and geese still doing their practice runs over the bay. I hope you get the Autumn vibes soon too!! 🍁🧡

But today, since it definitely feels like summer yet - I made a cucumber salsa/salad situation with fresh cukes, tomatoes, red onion, some cucumber balsamic I have, cilantro, jalapeno, lime etc. It's marinating in the fridge...along with some chicken breasts I put a marinade over this morning and threw in the fridge. Matt will cook them on the grill for dinner and we will top them with this cucumber salsa. Fresh and summery. I will share the full recipe soon. Along with a recipe for a wonderful sheet pan chicken fried rice I made a week or so ago that I have been meaning to share. 

But don't worry, for today I'm bringing the cozy vibes with this recipe to share. This is a beef stroganoff recipe that I grew up on. The recipe card is in my Dad's handwriting. Both of my folks made this different times during my childhood and it was often the dish they made if we had company over. It's so easy, yet rich and comforting. I thought I had shared it long ago here... but I looked back and couldn't find it. So I thought I'd finally share it today! 

My Dad used to go deer hunting when I was a kid - and I even remember he sometimes made it with venison. I definitely recommend it and to make it just as it's written. The key is not to cook the steak too long at the start - just brown it because it slow cooks the rest of the way through in the pot with the gravy. So so good!! Perfect dish for Fall. 

Speaking of my PapaBear, I went out to lunch with him recently to catch up. He and my step Mom have had a busy summer up here. But they head back to AZ next month...as well as Matt's folks too. So it's almost time for the snowbirds to fly - just another sign of Autumn in the air. 🌻🧡

And for the crafting update - here is the progress on the embroidery project I've been doing. I only have a few more small details and then I fill in that hat with black embroidery and it's done! I think it's turning out so sweet and I'm excited to get to work on the next one -which I will share next week. As well as a little side crafty I've decided to work on. 

And I also wanted to share that I found this lovely painting in my closet. My Mom had made it for my last birthday and I forgot to get it framed. She painted it from a kit. It's nice sized and the colors are so beautiful! I just love it and since it's special because she put in all the time for me - I want it framed nicely to preserve it. So I'm bringing it in soon and will share it again when it's all matted and framed. :) 

Blessings to you all for a great weekend ahead! 

xoxo

Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello beautiful Friends!

How are things looking in your part of the world? 

It's a gray and rainy one here this morning and it's been that way all weekend. I can't say I'm mad about that. We really needed the rain and it's been kind of chilly and cozy. It is supposed to get warmer today though (80's). But this past weekend it was rainy and chillier 60's each day. A bit of Autumn preview heaven that's perfect for the beginning of September tomorrow. Last night I fell asleep to the sound of a thunderstorm outside. Is there anything better than falling asleep to that sound? A bit of lightening brightening the room now and then. Soft rumbles and the calm tapping of rain on the window. Blissful 💗

This past weekend flew by. Friday we went and helped my Mom and step Dad with some chores at their apartment and got out their Fall decorations for them. We also brought dinner and played some cards with them. I treasure the time with any of our parents as it is precious as they are all basically in their 80's.  I'm so grateful for the gift of them all!

My Mom got a new little Christmas tree recently. They only had a table top one and she decided she wanted more of a real tree this year. She's already had it up with just the white lights at night. Well I surprised her with some cute little Fall ornaments I had picked up and dolled it up for her. She just LOVED it! I wish I had taken some photos. I found some cute knit pumpkins in different Autumn colors. And some glass looking (but they are plastic) little Fall ornaments that are things like acorns, pinecones, squirrels, pumpkins etc. It's adorable! 🍁🎃

Then Saturday we went to church and then met up with our besties the Conleys for dinner. We saw them at their daughter's wedding - but only briefly. We have all had busy summers and so we hadn't seen them much. So it was so nice to get a great night of gabbing and catch up! Then they came back to our house and we played cards until the wee hours. It was awesome!! We're going to one of their daughter's volleyball games this week. Back to school and back to sports time. 😊

Yesterday was a nice lounging day. We got some things done around the house but then we just snuggled in and hung out, played cards, watched shows and it was wonderful. :) 

Sorry for the long intro so let's get straight into the week ahead (& bring on the BER months, yay!!).....

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

 

hot coffee today and a bowl of cereal I got in our thrive box - seven sundays cocoa cereal (it's all natural and organic and high in fiber and low in sugar) I had it with banana on top and my protein milk and a little bit of natural almond butter mixed in. Tasty and healthy 😋

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

groceries, errands, watch volleyball game, home projects, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

All things Fall and BER months to begin! I sent Annie some boxes of goodies with some Fall decor and useful things for her new apartment. She loved it! :) 

 I have been planning some crafts projects as some Fall gifts and have some to begin for Christmas gifts. I haven't gotten out my Fall decorations yet, other than some Fall soaps and some sunflower things. I will get to decorating soon though! 

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

seeing my old Ruby girl (she is 14 &1/2 already!) still run for the frisbee and get excited to play and the way she loves to snuggle. I know my time with her is precious and she sleeps so much nowadays.

CURRENTLY READING

Lately some magazines and Fall cookbooks

 

ON THE TV TODAY:

Big Brother (& still old seasons too), Ted Lasso, I am watching Sanditon, I think we're going to get back to House of the Dragon. We may start a new series soon too, but not sure what yet?

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - roast chicken, pasta salad, veggies

TUESDAY - sheet pan chicken fried rice(new recipe), cukes from our garden, fruit

WEDNESDAY - beef stroganoff over noodles, steamed veggies

THURSDAY - probably eat up leftovers ahead of the holiday weekend

FRIDAY - out for dinner 

*for the holiday weekend I think we plan to get some time out on the water. For food I think we're going out for brunch one day, making tacos with fun dip and fixings one day, and grilling brats and having fun sides (probably do that Monday). 

I also plan to bake up some monster cookies 🍪

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

work on projects/craft

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

I found this cozy Anne of Green Gables ambiance recently (always loved those books so much) and thought I'd share 💚

This is someone I follow on youtube and have for a while now. She is an American pastry chef, that trained in Paris, and lives in a cute little apartment in Paris with her French hubby and adorable dog. Many of you know I have always loved Paris (and been fortunate to visit a couple of times) and I passed that love on to my daughter. As Annie has also had many years of french language classes and has been to Paris a few times as well. This pastry chef is named Ainsley and she shares cooking and baking videos, tours around different parts of Paris and France and shares history & info about it, and also lots about going to flea markets and finding treasures. I just love her channel!

 

FROM THE CAMERA:

I made a yummy new recipe this past week for a slow cooker honey garlic chicken over rice. I sauteed some broccoli and some green beans from our garden as a side dish. It was so good and I'll share the recipe later this week. Along with a fun little thing I made with the leftovers for our lunch the next day. 

There was also a cool clear evening last week we played some ladderball in the yard and enjoyed the glimpses of Autumn around our yard and listened to some geese honking on our bay.

Our cozy rainy weekend. Yesterday while Matt was downstairs in the media/gamer room for a while, and the pets were napping.... I was snuggled up with my ipad and some hot tea and pretty ambiance on the tv in the background. 

I tried the cranberry hibiscus and it was delightful ☕️

Then later Matt and I were sitting at the dining room table playing cards and I was staring out our kitchen window and he asked me what I was looking at...so I took a pic and then showed him. Lol Just like I see things in the clouds - I make out things in the trees too. Do you see the dinosaur in the first photo? Or am I just a weirdo? 

(wait, maybe don't answer that😂)

PRAYER LIST:

 For an end to the conflicts all over the world and anyone living in war & fear, especially everything going on in the middle east right now. For peace and unity in this country, especially from hate and shootings or violence.  For anyone sick, suffering, in pain, fear, loneliness etc ... that God bring them comfort and peace. For a neighbor friend that recently went through a break up. For the kids to have a safe, healthy and happy start to the school year. 

For the Lord's love and peace to fill all ❤️'s.

For Christ's Light and Love to cast out the darkness everywhere and help the world find its way to loving our neighbors as ourselves. 🙏🏻

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

Happy BER months beginning to you dear Friends. 💛🍁

I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars & Peach Cobbler Overnight Oats

 

Hey my Peeps!

Today I thought I'd share these recipes I mentioned in my previous post. First I'll begin with these apple pie bars that I made for my Dad's birthday celebration. He is like me and LOVES any apple dessert. I found this one at the website sallysbakingaddiction.com and she is often a go-to for me if I'm looking for baking recipes. She always makes the best stuff! 

This one had several lovely layers. Starting with a shortbread crust, then an apple filling layer, followed by a streusel layer and then topped with salted caramel before serving. How could that be bad in any way?? Lol

 It was, in fact, delicious and everyone loved it.

Here is the recipe:

And next is the recipe for the peach overnight oats. I follow Morgan Peterson on social media (under morganpete on instagram) and she always has the best overnight oats recipes. I have made some of her meal dishes too - including the lasagna soup I shared last year. 

I thought these oats were great and I think I may make an apple version for Fall soon. I sauteed the peaches and then put them on the oats I had made and let them set up overnight. Then topped them with some granola and cinnamon the next morning. I sometimes use vanilla protein powder, as she does. And sometimes I don't. I think the key is finding what consistency you like to the oats. Add more liquid or less liquid. Add more creamy yogurt. Through a little trial and error you find your perfect texture you like. But these were definitely tasty!

peaches being sauteed in a tiny bit of butter and maple syrup...then adding cinnamon and nutmeg- mmmmm

topping the oats I made with them

then put on the lid and just throw in the fridge overnight and a yummy, high protein, higher fiber relatively healthy breakfast is waiting 😋

Here is her recipe:

And speaking of tasty things - I have honey garlic chicken thighs currently in the slow cooker making my kitchen smell amazing! I will share that recipe in the future if it's a good one. I'm trying to challenge myself to do a different meal I haven't made before about once a week. Trying to find things I think we would both like and that will be fairly healthy too. Tonight it will be these boneless, skinless asian chicken thighs over jasmine rice with some sauteed broccoli and green beans from our garden. 

What have you got cooking? And have you ever tried overnight oats? 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Monday to you Friends😊

It seems like we are flying with lightening speed through yet another month! This past weekend we celebrated some birthdays. My son's was last week and my Dad's is this week. My son came up to stay with us this weekend (his partner Jill was out of town with friends). So we celebrated both bdays together this past weekend. To me, their birthdays are always a sign of how late into summer we are - and how close September is coming. 

It has been such a dry summer so we are also already seeing moments of leaves changing color around our area. And the geese have been flying over, or gathering on the bay, in abundance. More signs of Autumn in the air. 🍁

I have the windows open today as it's only in the high 60's and partly overcast with a nice breeze. It feels heavenly! I was cleaning up from our birthday party fun from the weekend this morning. And doing my morning workout. Now that my back is feeling better I've been back to it (gently). And it sure feels wonderful to feel back to myself. And I know many kiddos started back to school this week. Including my Annie away at college. I think the local public schools here start right after Labor Day as well. So there is that back-to-school feeling in the stores and everywhere now too. I just sent Annie a fun goodie box to wish her a happy new school year and to send a few cute things for her new apartment. I always loved this time of year as a kiddo myself and I still embrace that  fresh start feeling in everyday life. I've been organizing some things in my bathroom and office. And the next job I will tackle will be our pantry cabinets in the kitchen. I guess that's my version of jumping into the start of a new season. 🍎❤️

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

 

I fasted this AM and just had iced coffee

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

errands, run things to my Mom & help her with Fall decorations, lunch and walking with a friend, groceries, cleaning projects, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT: 

how fun it was to catch up with my Aaron and how I hope Annie has an amazing school year ahead

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

sitting outside on the rocking glider with a cool breeze reading my book and hearing geese fly over

CURRENTLY READING

I still need to finish my latest book but not sure what I'm going to dive into next?

 

ON THE TV TODAY:

Big Brother, Ted Lasso, I am watching Sanditon I never watched it when it was on PBS, we may start Widows Bay in the future? we still need to go back and finish this season of House of the Dragon though too

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY - french onion soup and leftover pasta salad & veggies from the weekend

TUESDAY - fried eggs with chili crunch on toast or protein pancakes, berries

WEDNESDAY - slow cooker honey garlic chicken (new recipe) with jasmine rice, green beans from the garden & broccoli

THURSDAY - sesame ginger chicken crumbles over cauliflower rice, veggie spring rolls

FRIDAY - out for dinner or leftovers

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

work on holiday projects, read 

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

 

FROM THE CAMERA:

It's been fun picking things out of our little garden to add to our dishes. The green beans are really coming in and we have had several meals with them as our side dish already. I pick a handful like this almost every couple of days. One night we had a yummy garlic & herb pork roast and with it some zucchini & the garden green beans sauteed with garlic and oregano from our garden too. Also, roasted potatoes that included rosemary from our garden. Love that part of this time of year. :)💚

We set the table for our birthday celebration and my Dad and step Mom came over. We started with some appetizers and then Matt grilled steaks, burgers, & corn on the cob... and we had veggie pasta salad, and melon too.

the card I got for my Dad (gnomes always remind me of him)

I made Ghiradelli brownies for Aaron and I made these apple dessert bars for my Dad. I made a short bread crust and baked it a little, then apples I tossed with sugar and cinnamon etc on top of that... and then I added a streusel topping and baked the bars until they were done. I topped them off with salted caramel sauce before serving. They were a hit! I will share the recipe in the future.

I follow a gal on social media that makes the best overnight oats recipes and she recently made a peach cobbler one - so I made that today to have tomorrow. They look &smell so good! I will share that recipe in the future too. Basically I cut up a peach and sauteed it in a tiny bit of butter with a tsp of maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon & nutmeg. And the oats have vanilla protein powder, milk, greek yogurt, chia seeds & a tiny bit of maple syrup, cinnamon & nutmeg too. 😋 Tomorrow I will stir it up and top with a little bit of granola or crushed graham cracker.

pretty late summer on the bay:

PRAYER LIST:

 For an end to the conflicts all over the world and anyone living in war & fear, especially everything going on in the middle east right now. For peace and unity in this country, especially from hate and shootings or violence.  For anyone sick, suffering, in pain, fear, loneliness etc ... that God bring them comfort and peace. For a friend that recently went through a break up :(

For the Lord's love and peace to fill all ❤️'s.

For Christ's Light and Love to cast out the darkness everywhere and help the world find its way to loving our neighbors as ourselves. 🙏🏻

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

I wish for you many of those wonderful unexpected moments my Friends. 

I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.