Saturday, November 21, 2015

Bacon Broccoli Cornbread

                                Bacon Broccoli Cornbread

  • 2 jiffy corn muffin mixes
  • 1 can cream corn
  • 1/2 soup can of water
  • 1 med. onion, diced small
  • 1 lb. bag frozen broccoli, thawed
  • 5 strips bacon, cooked and chopped                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Mix all ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour in a greased 9X13 pan. Cool for 5 minutes before serving. 
        

Sam

  Our oldest Sam, will be 16 soon. He is very private, but I got his permission for this post. Sam was born when I was 20 years old. I had a really tough pregnancy! I was on bed rest, had ALL day sickness, premature labor,(thankfully the DR. could stop it) among other things. When he was born, his heart rate dropped too low, and they had to use measures to get him out quickly. It was a little scary! I was young, and he was our first. When he was 18 months, he was not walking or talking. I addressed these concerns with our DR. She was also a little concerned, and suggested I contact Ottawa Area Center. We had Sam evaluated at that time by a speech therapist.
   Her name was Val, a great therapist. She came over to our house and evaluated him. She told me that he acted, and had only met the bench markers of a 6-8 month old! A little overwhelming! Sam immediately started therapy! I read any and every book I could get my hands on child development... anything that could possibly help.
   Sam slowly began to say words, along with signing words, we had showed Sam.  He was very uncomfortable around others! Stayed to himself, things always had to be done in the same order. Change of any kind completely set him off! He continued therapy till kindergarten. Than he started seeing the school therapist. It was just a struggle for everything with him! I tried diet changes, different supplements, we saw ALL kinds of alternative medicine DRs... anything and everything!!! Finally when he was 7, he was diagnosed with PDD-NOS and anxiety. It was heart breaking!! PDD-NOS is on the autism spectrum. But...we kept going, and working! Trying everything! I honestly would cry to Jeremy, because I thought he would never be able to leave the house as an adult. There were just soooo many struggles and issues we were working with.
   But... With hard work on our part, therapist, and a ton of work from Sam, and LOTS of prayers, He is now in the 10th grade, taking AP classes, and has been on the honor roll since  the 6th grade!!!!!!! He is so smart! He is one of my biggest blessings! He is responsible, funny, and a great kid! I am crying writing this, thinking of all our struggles, and all our victories! He is growing into being a great man! He is a true testament of what hard work and prayers can do! He is still shy, but you would never know he struggled with all the things that he did! He is just a normal teenager, who rolls his eyes at his Mom and Dad, and picks on his brothers and sister. :)

Fall Harvest Stew

This is one of my favorite stews. Its easy, its good, and it fills you up! Best of all its made in the slow cooker! I LOVE slow cookers! I have 3. My husband thinks I have a problem with kitchen appliances. I don't! (maybe I do)  But, when you have a large garden and raise your meat, cook almost everything from scratch, you kinda need some things. Just sayin' So here is my stew recipe.

Fall Harvest Stew
  • 2 cans diced tomatoes
  • 4 med. russet potatoes, diced into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 med. sweet potato, diced into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 5 C. cabbage, copped
  • 1 med. onion, diced
  • 1 t. garlic powder
  • 1 t. salt
  • 1 can of corn, do not drain, plus one more can of water
  • 4 C. of left over pork roast or chicken breast, diced
  • 1 T. corn starch
  • 1 T. water
Spray slow cooker with non-stick spray. Place first 8 ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on high for 3 1/2 hours. Add pork or chicken. Cook for 30 minutes more. Mix corn starch and water. Add to slow cooker and cook for 15 minutes longer, on high.


Thursday, November 5, 2015

2 Birthdays in 2 Days

  My 2 youngest boys were born on 11-04 and 11-05, 2 years apart from each other. Elijah was born on the 4th in 2003, and Matthew(who we call Chewy) was born on the 5th in 2005. We have a tradition of me making what ever they request for their birthday supper. So this week Elijah turns 12 years old, and he wanted crab rangoon, and pumpkin pie. Not a great combo to cook! Crab meat and pumpkin pie spice... not such a great combo!!! But I am a Mom... and that's what we do! Cook and make our birthday boys happy. Today is Chewys birthday! He is 10! He chose hamburgers, hotdogs, coleslaw, baked beans, mashed potatoes, and monkey bread. If you are wondering... yes, I bought Tums when I got groceries this week! Sigh! But Happy Birthday boys!!! You are great kids(most of the time:) You make me smile, make me happy! I am a very blessed Momma!
Elijah



Chewy

And yes, I know I will be in big trouble for these pictures! :)

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Here Comes the leaves!

  Let me tell you about one of our neighbors down the road! (Sigh) He has a SERIOUSE addiction to... his leaf blower!!! I mean "needs an intervention" kinda problem! All summer he blows grass clippings and than in the fall, he goes NUTS!!!!!! He starts as soon as the sun comes up, and typically does not end before 5-6 pm. It is relentless everyday! It makes me crazy! We needed to get a new blower this year, we thought about asking him what he has, because he really puts his blower to the test! We didn't ask him, but we did get a new leaf blower this weekend, and Sam decided to do this to his sister...
Sam and Anna. Chewy running to her rescue


 Just after I took this picture, this happened. Brother and sister love!