My 10 Things 14 March - 21 March, 2010

14 March - 21 March, 2010

"A happy family is but an earlier heaven".

by either George Bernard Shaw or Robert Browning or John Bowring

Weird, I know. I love quotes and have collected them forever. I thought George Bernard Shaw said it. But, before I put a quote from my book on my blog, I usually check it. This one is quoted all over the Internet by 1 of the 3 men.

#1 Less than 1 week until Mark and Ashley will be married. I am so happy and excited for them. I love Ashley and know they will be happy.

#2 Since Mark is sort of moving into the apartment until the wedding, he took the couch out of the garage. Sadly, a car will not fit in the garage, yet.

#3 Doug is taking 2 DAYS off next week. YEA!

#4 On Thursday Doug and I (and Lindsay and David and Lisa and Nelson) went to "Celebrate the Arts", a fundraising event for the Symphony, Opera and Ballet West. Mom was in charge and she did a really nice job. Thank-you for the tickets, Mom and Dad. I enjoyed the evening. My favourite part was seeing Jamie Wyeth's "Seven Deadly Sins" exhibit. He portrays the sins with seagulls. It was on my list to see after reading about it several months ago. I was not disappointed. I am so glad I went. I am going to see the exhibit again.

#5 Leslie gave me a Cadbury egg on Monday and I still have it :^) uneaten.

#6 I am happy that I got an apron this week. Not THE apron, but an apron. Cute for a $10.oo apron (Target Easter area).

I did not try many new things this week. (Busy week.) But both the recipes I tried for Sunday dinner were great. I loved the corned beef I made in the crock pot. It was my first time ever making this. I adapted the recipe from several sources, and learned some stuff.

First I sprayed my large oval crock pot. I started my crock pot on high and filled the bottom with 3 large potatoes cut into medium cubes, unpeeled. I poured about 1 1/2 cups of sliced carrots over the potatoes. I looked for a piece of corned beef with as little visible fat as possible. When I opened the package there was a thick layer of fat on the bottom that I sawed off. II cut out the streak of fat that ran thru the centre, and cut off all fat that I saw. Then I just set the meat on top of the veggies. I sprinkled the seasoning package on top of the meat and rubbed it in with the back of a spoon, and poured 1/2 cup of water around the edges. I would not use frozen meat.

I cooked on high for almost 2 hours. Then I cooked on low for about 4 hours, and finished on high for 2 hours.

Recap-2 hours high, 4 hours low, 2 hours high = about 8 hours

To serve we put the potatoes and carrots in a glass (about 7x11 size) dish or platter. David cut the meat for me with the grain, on the diagonal. We just set that by the veggies, in the same dish.

Emily bought the corned beef and I am so happy she did. It was so tender and amazingly good. The vegetables, too.

Those that do not like corned beef, did not try it. Those that like corned beef, really enjoyed this. I would remember to make this again next March, but we will want it before then, so I am writing this idea down. (Sorry, no picture. People were ready to eat.)

notes-After cooking the meat will still be almost as red as when you started. Don't worry. This was so tender, we could tell it was cooked.

Also, I put cabbage chunks on top while it cooked. We did not like the flavour. I won't put it in again.

As I was online looking for corned beef recipes, I also read about Reuben sandwiches. Kind of funny because we talked about Reuben in Sunday School today. (I had pastrami to go with the corned beef.) I learned a Reuben sandwich is made with corned beef. If you make it with pastrami it is a Rachel sandwich. I found a recipe for Reuben (Rachel) Turnovers. We liked these, too.

Rachel Turnovers makes up to 8

recipe adapted from a Pillsbury recipe

1 tube large refrigerator biscuits (like "Grands") I used a store brand

sliced pastrami (I used turkey pastrami)

grated Swiss cheese

well drained sour kraut (Don't panic. You can leave this out.)

1 lightly beaten egg

sesame seeds for garnish

Use your hands to flatten the biscuits to about a 5 inch circle. Let each one rest as you make the rest, then go back and finish forming. Top each round with about 1 piece of pastrami, 1-2 table. grated Swiss cheese and sour kraut (or not). Fold in 1/2 and pinch to seal the edges. I put mine on parchment paper on my cookie sheet. Use a basting brush to brush tops with beaten egg and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

Bake 25-30 mins. at 350* We dipped them in a spicy mustard/mayo mix. These were good.

I served the 2 meats (and veggies) with rolls, rye bread, Swiss cheese slices, sour kraut, mustards and 1ooo Island dressing, plus a salad bar. (I also made a pan of funeral potatoes for those that would not eat the potatoes by the corned beef.) Good Sunday dinner.

#7 Nelson made me happy. (Thank-you very much, Nelson.) When I have a lot to do and/or am stressed, I obsess. I needed a ,map for a project I am working on. Nelson works downtown for the Division of State History. I "needed " a map and thought maybe he knew where to get one. I left a message on the house phone. BY THAT NIGHT I HAD EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED, AND MORE. In my hands. Way to lower my stress level, Nelson. Thank-you.

#8 I finished making my magnet birthday board. I love it in my laundry room.

#9 I am happy that Elana and Lindsay both have working washing machines. (Neither had dryer problems.)

#10 Music makes me happy. Today at church we sang "The Day Dawn is Breaking" and "How firm a Foundation". I don't sing well, but I do sing out. I love to sing. I will very much miss singing by Mark at church, and the impromptu singing that happens around our home. He sings parts and rounds with me. I am sure he will sing in his new home.

Welcome new follower, Kayleen.

Two more followers and I will get a winner from random.org. for my give away basket. I have enjoyed finding my favourite things to put in the basket.

Today I am putting in the supplies for a fun project that I found several months ago, while blog visiting. I saw the idea over at http://brownpaper--packages.blogspot.com/ . The idea is @ 21 December, 2009, and is a tiny photo album. These are made with miniature page protectors and scrapbook supplies. I'm kidding. They are name tag holders, and very cute. I made mine with a love theme. I made a kit for the blog follower give away basket that has 6 tiny page protectors, 1 book ring, 10 pre-cut papers (some are double-sided), a flower, a button (I put mine on the flower), brads, ribbon and a few other embellishments. (I love my mini scrapbook, but what should I put in it?)

My mom is coming next week for Mark's wedding, so I will be trying and hopefully posting new crock pot recipes (I have 4 that I am making-2 are new ones) and another breakfast cake. Rachel will guest blog her waffle recipe the next week. We really liked it. Does anyone else want to guest post a recipe between 28 March and 2 April?