Redecorating the Living Room

Contribution by Stevie Kirby

We are doing some decorating in our home. I have decided to change the color of the living room from a light yellow to an egg shell tone. We have a vaulted ceiling and I am going to go with the current trend of doing an ombre ceiling. I have seen several designs similar to what we are doing in “Architectural Digest” and “Town and Country”. I have decided to keep the same sofa, but change lamp shades and cover a couple of chairs. I chose a great fabric that is also ombre in jewel tones. I have been moving things around all week to get ready for the painters. I took down all of the pictures on the walls, removed the outlet covers, and removed the light switch covers. I did not move the ADT equipment . The painters are going to be able to paint around the keypad. I have been waiting a long time to be able to redecorate. I hope that everything is going to turn out exactly how I have imagined it.

Kitchen Thoughts

I've been thinking about a kitchen makeover.  Some articles say that the quickest way to freshen a kitchen is to replace the cabinet doors and update the hardware.  That may be true, but I always like to change out tablecloths with each season.  And, without a doubt, Autumn is my favorite time of the year.  Of course, it helps that the colors of the season match well in my kitchen.  Some new towels and potholders are an inexpensive way to freshen up your kitchen.

Do you ever notice how efficient kitchens are on all those yummy cooking shows?  There's almost always a kitchen island decked out with all the latest cooking tools.  They certainly make us take more interest in cooking these days.  And, it's not just at home.  I have a friend who can make a gourmet meal with a hot-plate and stuff stored in a mini fridge at the office.  It helps remind us all that a true cook can take nothing and make something delicious for dinner.

What's your 'go to' meal when you're running low in the pantry? 

Crockpot Steak & Potatoes

It’s simple and makes the most delicious gravy.  I used top round steak, but you could make this with any kind of beef roast.  My favorite part about using a crock pot is that it doesn’t heat up the kitchen and you don’t have to worry about the food while it’s cooking.

What’s your favorite Crockpot meal?

Crockpot Steak & Potatoes

4 top round steak medallions, about an inch thick
1 jar (12 oz) medium chucky salsa (use mild if you prefer)
2 cups sliced portabella mushrooms
1 medium onion, sliced
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon teriyaki sauce
12 small potatoes
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup water

Place steak in Crockpot. Cover with salsa, mushrooms & onion.  Stir in honey and teriyaki sauce.  Cook on high for 2 hours.  Add potatoes.  Cook on high for 2-3 more hours or until ready to serve. Mix cornstarch and cold water until dissolved and add to Crockpot.  Stir until gravy thickens and enjoy.

Corn Beef Hash

Growing up, if times were good, we'd have a beef roast for Sunday Dinner.  Then on Monday, Mom would make Hash.  I ran across this recipe and it brought back memories so I thought I'd share it with you.  This uses corned beef, but you could use any leftover meat.

Corn Beef Hash

Corned Beef
Milk
Potatoes
Salt and Pepper
Lump of Butter

Chop the meat fine, add the same bulk of potatoes or a little more. Put into a saucepan or spider a lump of butter the size of an egg, and a few spoonfuls of milk or water. When bubbling, put in the meat and potatoes, and a little salt and pepper, if you like. Stir for a while, then let it stand ten or fifteen minutes, until a crust is formed at the bottom. Loosen from the pan with a cake-turner. Turn a warm platter over it. Turn pan and hash together quickly and serve. If you have a scant quantity, place it on slices of toasted bread, which have been buttered and wet with hot water.

Baby Showers

Do you ever think about how many baby showers you've attended?  I've been to dozens and I bet many of you have been to several.  I always end up giving the same kinds of gifts so I was searching online the other day for something different.  Who knew that there were scrubs for kids?  And, cute little scrubs for babies too!  What a perfect idea for someone in the medical field!  Well, actually, I think it would be perfect for just about anyone and I have not seen any at showers that I've attended recently.  If you get a chance, check out their site:  http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Men/

Thankfully, I've never planned a shower all by myself, but I've helped out plenty of times.  And, I have to admit that I love the finger foods.  A quick and simple appetizer is to make Ham Roll-ups.  You just take cooked ham slices, dry them off and spread with flavored cream cheese - the savory kind you use for bagels.  Then roll them up and slice into bite-size pieces.  You don't need a toothpick as the cheese will hold it together.  But, they are very pretty with some fancy toothpicks added. 

What's your favorite finger food?

Of Spiders and Wasps

I recently had a run in with a spider and a wasp in the same day.  The spider bit the back of my leg.  And, the wasp got the back of my shoulder.  After the initial pain, my first thought was how soon I'd be sitting in a doctor's office.  Why is it we spend so much time there as we get older?  If I'm not too under the weather, I enjoy 'people watching' while in the waiting room.  Have you noticed how much scrub clothing has changed over the last few years? 

The uniforms out there are so much cuter these days.  I would imagine some of the designs are a comfort when 'little ones' are visiting the doctor.  Who wouldn't find scrubs covered with cuddly animals comforting?  After my last visit, I checked out http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Women/ and was amazed at the wide selection available.  Scrubs aren't just for nurses anymore. 

My bite and sting?  Thankfully, I didn't have an allergic reaction and I'll definitely be more careful in the future.  Funny thing is, I craved chicken soup!

Cauliflower with Cheese Sauce

Doesn't cheese make everything taste better?  I love this dish - not only because it's simple, but because it tastes so good.

 

CAULIFLOWER WITH CHEESE SAUCE

Select a medium-sized, firm cauliflower. Trim off leaves, cut off stalk, and soak one hour (head down) in cold salt water to cover. Cook (head up) until soft but not broken (about thirty minutes) in boiling salted water. Drain and place carefully in a buttered, shallow baking dish, pour over one and one-half cups of Cheese Sauce, sprinkle with buttered crumbs and place in oven until crumbs are browned. Serve in baking dish.

CHEESE SAUCE

3 tablespoons butter.
2 tablespoons flour.
½ teaspoon salt.
¹/₈ teaspoon pepper.
Few grains cayenne.
1½ cups hot milk.
½ cup cheese cut in small pieces.

Melt butter in a sauce-pan, add flour, mixed with seasonings, stir to a smooth paste; let cook one minute, stirring constantly. Pour on gradually hot milk and beat until smooth and glossy. Add cheese and when melted pour over cauliflower.