Try Something New

A few days ago I tried something new for supper. It was one of those days when you need a quick meal and I just happened to have all the necessary ingredients laying around. I tried a Knorr packaged mix from a nice friend from New Zealand. It was for Greek Style Pita Filling. The package called for ground Lamb....would that be lamburger???? I wonder..... This was the only substitution I did knowing that others more picky than myself would complain if I used lamb (which incidentally I love). It turned out great! I really liked it and in fact I can tell that it would be really really good with the lamb. Yummy and quick and two thumbs up. If you have the chance to try it out....give it a try. BTW thank you Alison!

Today is another such rushed supper and I am making a super quick kid friendly recipe that was sent to me in a recipe postcard swap. It has already passed the test in this house so it was a safe bet and used things I just happened to have on hand. With the exception of taco seasoning mix.
Here is the recipe for a Quick Taco Bake if you would like to try it.





Taco Bake

Makes 6 (1 cup) servings



1 pkg (14oz) Macaroni & Cheese Dinner
1 lb. ground beef or turkey
1 pkg (1-1/4 oz) Taco Seasoning
3/4 cup Sour Cream
1-1/2 cups Shredded Cheddar, divided
1 cup salsa

Preheat oven to 400F. Prepare macaroni dinner as directed on package. While noodles are cooking, brown meat and drain fat away. Add seasoning mix and water to meat and simmer 5 more minutes. Stir sour cream into already prepared macaroni and cheese. Spoon 1/2 of the macaroni and cheese into a 8 inch baking dish: top with ground meat, 1 cup of the cheese and top with the remaining 1/2 of the macaroni and cheese. Cover with lid or foil and bake in oven for 15 minutes. Top with salsa and remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese. Bake uncovered for another 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Should you find yourself without a packet of Taco Season Mix, this recipe will work just fine.....and is probably cheaper:)



Taco Seasoning Mix


1/4 cup dried minced onion
2 T paprika
2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp marjoram
1 T salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2T cornstarch
1 T granular garlic
1 tsp cumin

Mix all together. 2 tablespoons are equal to one packet of taco seasoning mix. Keep the rest in a sealed container for another use. This recipe makes enough to equal 6 packets. I just happen to keep dried minced onion in my cupboard which may be unusual....I'm not sure if other people do. I bought it one year when I was making dip mixes for Christmas presents and have found it useful in the times that I have run out of onions. You can get in here in the East Indian spice section in fairly large bags. Maybe there's a cup and a half in a bag and it's cheap and handy to have around. Now, I always keep some in the cupboard just in case. You could substitute onion powder if you don't have minced onion but you'd want to check the conversion amount on the Internet first.

A Printable Tooth Fairy Receipt

Tooth number four is officially out! It had an unceremonious exit covered in granola bar. Yuck.....It's difficult to be supportive and excited for a child that's just dropped a wad of chewed granola with a tooth stuck in it into your hand.....But I did my best.....All the while thinking "great now I have to get some cash and write a note." We've been through this a few times already.....so really I should have been more prepared. One thing I have learned about selling baby teeth to the tooth fairy is that it's best to put it in a small Ziploc bag so she doesn't have to expend a lot of energy searching for it. I mean.......she works hard for her money already doesn't she?? Plus she is so into recycling that she uses the bag again to leave her payment stub, money, and a little note in, so it's easy to find in the morning. She's so clever! Easy to find for every one but my kid.....that is! Ike came quietly to my room this morning to let me know that the tooth fairy had absconded with his precious tooth ( they don't just grow on trees you know) and left nothing behind:( After assuring him that the tooth fairy would never rip him off, I got up to find that my wild sleeper had worked the Ziploc bag down from under the pillow to halfway down the bed. But it was still there. He read the little thank you note she had left with instructions not to blow it all on candy, and was very impressed with the payment stub also left behind. Perhaps even more excited about that than the actual money which he told me I am to put in his bank account. I think he doesn't want to tick off the tooth fairy......you know you can't slip one past her.....she's a sharp cookie. Since the whole receipt thing is new for Ike......he is certain that this tooth must have been a special one and that it must be of 'Trophy Tooth' quality. 'Don't ask me what that crazy fairy does with all those teeth' I said, 'I think it's all very creepy'. Ike is certain she is using them to build tooth fairy land......he thinks she must be working on an addition just like grampa is at the cabin.

In case you are in need of a tooth fairy receipt or don't feel like making your own, click on the image above and print off your own copy of what the tooth fairy left here. You my may have to reduce your margin and header heights to a minimum amount to get it to all to print out on one page without cropping. Enjoy:)

Some Cleaning, Packing, & Reminiscing

Back from a quick unanticipated trip to Calgary...... The opportunity came up for my MIL to take an opening at a seniors complex which she mulled over and decided to go ahead with. The decision was a very weighty one I'm certain; as leaving the community from which you were born and holds such history has to be very heartbreaking, but sadly necessary. There were lots of items to sift through and stories to share on origins of unusual treasures. Fortunately the new place is a good size so many of her favourite things can go with her, but the task of "house cleaning" gave rise to numerous orphaned items. Above is a silver plate flower vase with glass frog which sat in the China Cabinet for many years......I thought it might like some use, so I pinched a few of my flowers from the front garden.
Also from the china cabinet, this beautiful pair of cups and saucers made their way to my house. I am definitely going to have to do a little clean and purge of my own to make room for them. The teapot in the background is one I picked up on EBay about a year ago. It's a Royal Winton pattern that is not too common at all. My Gramma had dishes in this pattern at her farm, and I remember thinking how beautiful they were when I was a little kid. So, now when I chance upon a piece on EBay I buy it. (So if you see any of this pattern kicking around.....let me know) Curiously enough, after buying a few pieces of this pattern I have discovered that this pattern was manufactured by Royal Winton and also by Royal Windsor with minor differences. If fact, I have one piece which has been stamped by both manufacturers.
This cute set of bone china dogs was also orphaned in the big clean up, and they were so cute I just had to take them home. Honestly there was so much I would have liked to take home......I would have had to get a bigger house. These wall plaques below were very interesting and will likely be my first EBay sales experience as the MIL has requested that these be sold for her. The first one is a scene from 8th Ave in Calgary. The whole piece is molded plaster which has been painted and shows a street scene with street cars and shops.
Another similarly manufactured plaque shows an image of Calgary City Hall. To touch these pieces, it is amazing to realize how long they have remained intact and survived two generations of kids playing. The city hall one does have a chip out of the back which is not visible from the front? I'll have to ask if anyone knows the story behind that chip.
There are more treasures to unpack, but these are just a few of the things that made their way back to my house this weekend. More to come....