The Answer

Don't you just love this?!

"I know now, Lord, why You utter no answer. You are Yourself the answer. Before Your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice? Only words, words..."

This for all Anderson family relatives. This is the newest addition to the family. Not ours, but Eric's. Isn't she just the cutest thing? Her name is Rooney. 

For Uncle Jon. I thought you would appreciate this photo. Ronnie's nose is forever stuck in a book (just like Daddy's was at that age). Well, this last fall I couldn't take it anymore! I told him "get outside, get some fresh air, and enjoy the outdoors, you'll be stuck inside enough this winter!" Well he did go out, but he only made it as far as the machine shed. Of course, with book in hand : ) 

(This post is for Mom & Dad) When I was a kid, for many years, we made the trip to the craft strore and loaded up on ceramic ornaments. We'd sit and paint at the kitchen table, all four of us, for hours. Then we'd admire each other's handiwork. It was lots of fun and it's neat to look at them now just remember that time, which seems so long ago now. If I didn't have the ornaments as proof, I'd wonder if it really happened because it's seems so long ago. So anyway, here are pictures of a couple of the most memorable painted treasures, as well as a pic of a mouse that my Gram made. This first one is dated 1984, and I think I painted it. I kind of remember doing the detail on the wheels. You'd think I'd remember making these poor baby mice look so evil!

This will forever be remembered as Sticky Kitty. I don't know if the gold paint or the clearcoat spray is what left her sticky, but to this day, she is sticky enough to attract all kinds of fuzz, and she's dated 1979.

This is one of a gazillion of these mice that Gram made. She was very crafty! This mouse is very detailed for only being 2 inches tall. Also dated 1979.

Hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane Mom, Dad, and Mike!

January Recipe(s)

Per my SIL Kathy's request, I'll be posting recipes for a few of the meals we shared over our Christmas visit.
I love recipes that are simple (who doesn't?), and you can't get any simpler than these. Enjoy!

Italian Beef Sandwiches
1 beef roast (4 1/2 lbs), cut in half
2 cans beef broth (14 1/2 oz ea.)
1 cup water
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 envelope onion soup mix
1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix
1 clove garlic, minced
1-1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried basil
10 French bread hard rolls, split

Place roast in slow cooker. Combine the broth, water, vinegar, soup mix, salad dressing mix, garlic, oregano and basil; pour over roast. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours, or until meat is tender.
Remove roast. When cool enough to handle, shred meat, using two forks. Return to slow cooker and heat through. Using a slotted spoon, spoon shredded meat onto each roll. Serve juices as a dipping sauce.



Baked Potato Soup
(from the kitchen of MD of Doodles from the Dahls)
2/3 C. butter
2/3 C. flour
7 C. milk
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
4 large baking potatoes (baked, cooled, peeled, & cubed), enough to make 4 C.
4 green onions, sliced
12 bacon strips, cooked & crumbled
1-1/4 C. Shredded cheddar cheese
1 C. (8 oz.) sour cream

In a large kettle, melt butter. Stir in flour, heat and stir until smooth. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly until thickened. Add potatoes & onions. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat & simmer 10 min. Add remaining ingredients, stir until cheese is melted. serve immediately.


Mom's Lazy Lasagna
1/2 lb. Italian sausage
1/2 lb. ground beef
1 can of diced tomatoes, undrained
2 jars of favorite spaghetti sauce
1 C. Ricotta or cottage cheese
1 egg
1/2 C. Parmesan cheese, grated
8 oz. pkg. regular lasagna noodles (I had a bad experience with ready-to-bake noodles), uncooked
6 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese

Brown meat in large saucepan; drain. Add diced tomatoes & both jars of spaghetti sauce. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, mix ricotta or cottage cheese, egg and Parmesan cheese. Put a little of the meat sauce on the bottom of a 13"x9" baking dish and alternate layers as follows: noodles, 1/3 of meat sauce, half of cheese mixture. Repeat and then finally top with remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top and cover with foil that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until noodles are tender. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting. Serves 8 - 10.