Yeah! It's Friday

I admit I must be a little touched, but I love the smell of animals.  I guess it comes from being raised on a dairy farm, but nothing smells better than a field of cows on a warm summer day.  Goats, well, they are a different story.  The smelliest of all animals - emus. 

A couple of weeks ago we went to the auction barn and on exiting the truck and overwhelming odor blasted us.  There were over 200 hundred goats at the barn that evening and I could not believe the stench.  Know I realize that the lover of goats probably think there is no better smell, as does the pig farmer, but really, there is nothing warm and cozy feeling about either.

Tonight means another trip to the auction barn and hopefully all the goat trading has taken place and we can move right on to the chickens, ducks and geese.  I love the beautiful silkies and would buy one for a pet, but every farm animal I have ever made a pet of, ended up in the frying pan.  I just don't think I could face that again.  Poor Blackie, my pet calf who grew to be an enormous cow, was really good eating once I got past the memories of her letting me lay against her belly while I read.  She became meat for the freezer when an even larger cow dumped her upside down in the feed trough.  We didn't try CPR as it took an hour or so just to haul her out of the trough via the tractor and a winch.  How would you do CPR on a cow?  Not sure, but such is life, but I don't think silkies are grown for eating.

It is suppose to be warm, warm, warm today and I might just get my feet in some dirt.  It is starting to look like an outside day already!  Have lots to do so I better get to it.  Thanks for visiting with me and drop in again soon.

Happy reading!
Belle

Cooking Hints

Yeah! My hubby has lost 51 pounds!  A huge milestone and he looks so good!

If we cook it, we will eat it!  If you are trying to lose weight or just cut back on your meat consumption, don't cook as much.  Three boneless chicken breast grilled will not feed five people - BUT - three diced grilled chicken breast in a vegetable and rice casserole yields a hearty meal for the family with no scrimping on taste!  The same applies to boneless pork chops and beef.  With the pork I use cream of celery soup in my casserole and with the beef I use cream of mushroom soup. 

Do you still make biscuits?  If I make a pan of ten biscuits, we will eat everyone!  If I make a pan of 36 biscuits, we will eat maybe five.  I make biscuits twice a week and store them in an air tight container.  Biscuits store very well if kept in a sealed container.  We take out what we want, pop in the microwave for 20-30 seconds and we don't overeat.  We still get our homemade biscuits everyday and I am not heating my oven everyday. 

Ham In A Blanket

I haven't tried this recipe, but have eaten the results at one of the many covered dish dinners/suppers. The contributor did not sign the card, so if it is yours, Thank You very much!

Small to medium sugar cured ham, trim off fat.

1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour
1 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp cloves
1 cup pineapple juice

Mix ingredients adding pineapple juice a little at a time until a stiff paste is formed. Coat the trimmed ham with the paste and cook in 250 - 300 degree oven for 20 minutes for each pound of ham. (example: 8 pound ham would cook for 160 minutes or 2 hours 40 minutes)

Meatloaf

Don't skip this one! Most people either love meatloaf or they hate it! I have eaten good meatloaf and then . . . well, you know. There really isn't any so-so meatloaf. The trick is to find the combination you and your family love. Most any vegetable is good with meatloaf. A good meatloaf sandwich is hard to beat.

I am not a tomato sauce or ketchup eater, but I do love tomatoes. I can't eat - it just won't go down - meatloaf smothered in ketchup. Some people love ketchup on everything they eat and so finding what is right for you is the best route.

Easy Meatloaf

1 pound lean ground beef
1 package of Lipton Onion Soup mix
1 egg
2 tbsp Worchestershire (optional - again this depends on preferences)
bread or cracker crumbs (about 1 cup)
salt to taste (normally about 1 teaspoon)
pepper (normally about 1 teaspoon)
garlic (optional)

Mix all ingredients. Bake in a loaf pan or 8" x 8" oven safe dish in a preheated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour (depending on the baking dish). It is up to you whether you cover in ketchup. This recipe is very adaptable. You can add as many or as few spices as you like. The onion soup mix probably has enough salt for the average person - I am a salt eater, much to the chagrin of my doctor.

Note: Food baked in a loaf pan takes 15 - 30 minutes longer to get done than in an 8" x 8" baking dish due to the depth of the loaf pan.

Mrs. Kinard's Meatloaf

1 pound ground beef
2 eggs
4 stems celery
1 med onion
1 pod bell pepper
1 sm can tomato paste (1/2 can for beef mixture, 1/2 can for topping)
2 tblsp flour (heaping tablespoons)

Mix all ingredients saving 1/2 tomato paste for the top. Press mixture into loaf pan/dish or 8" x 8" oven safe dish. Top with remaining tomato paste, cook covered at 350 degrees for 1 hour, uncover and cook an additional 15 minutes.

Jackie's Meat Loaf

1 cup oatmeal
1 small onion
1 sm can tomatoe paste
1/3 cup celery
dash of parsley
dash of garlic
2 1/2 to 3 pounds of ground beef
1/2 - 1/2 cup evaporated milk

Mix all ingredients, cover top with ketchup. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

As you can tell, I have had to be creative in making my meatloaf. Hubby can smother his with ketchup is he wants after it is cooked, but I am happy without the tomatoe paste or ketchup.

Another note - if ground beef rather than ground chuck is used, add more crumbs, flour or oatmeal. This filler will absorb the extra grease from the beef and make your loaf firmer.

Belle's Meatloaf

1 pound lean ground beef
1 egg
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 finely chopped medium onion
1 finely chopped bell pepper
1 finely chopped clove of garlic
1 cup finely crushed saltines
2 tbsp Worchestershire

Mix all ingredients, press into loaf dish or 8" x 8" oven safe dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.