View from the Prairie Box

V-Day, with all its vibrant colors and accepted cheeseball flair, brings out the crafty in me. So life has been on the crafty side for Liv and me this past week. We discovered these fabulous window markers by Crayola (Walmart carries a large version); we cut, baked and painted the hearts (shown above) to our hearts’ content; and we made a unique version of this valentine for the man in our life (thanks, Monica, for sharing the idea!).

Happy Valentine’s Day to my dear friends. Pass along a hug or kiss, an email or blog post to warm someone’s heart.

Livia: Make waters? [A few others words, pause.]

Me: You want to make waters.

Livia: [Smiles and shakes head.] No. Make waters. Hood.

Me: Hood? Like a hat?

Livia: [Smiles and laughs.] Make waters. Hood.

Me: [Now at a total loss.] Neighborhood?

Livia: Yeah!! Watch make waters neighborhood?

Me: You want to watch Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood?

Livia: [beaming] YEAH!

We’re both relieved at our communication for exactly two seconds until I say No and she wails the wail of a toddler who skipped her nap. Darn that Rogers for only being on PBS on weekdays.

I know that first shot is gross, but I’m compelled to post it here (compelled, I tell you!). The smooshiness of the beef, eggs and various spices somehow tickled my inner photographer and I just couldn’t help myself. Then I decided to snap a few more pics, because of course everyone is blogland is interested in my cooking day activities, right? So here it is, my final moments of assembling, packaging and collating (for lack of a better word) three meals for ten families.

And guess what?

The extroverted, community-loving, somewhat social butterfly-ish me really enjoyed preparing the meals alone. Go figure.

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments; love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds
Or bends with the remover to remove.
O, no, it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand’ring bark,
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.
Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle’s compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error, and upon me proved,
I never writ, not no man ever loved.

William Shakespeare, Sonnet 116

I have heard a lot of people talk of basing love on their feelings, which is frankly a dangerous proposition as feelings change like the weather in Nebraska (very quickly for those of you who don’t abide in the Cornhusker state). This sonnet has been a favorite since I heard it quoted on Sense & Sensibility. It reminds me that true love is faithful, that it remains steadfast even when temptation arises. None of us are perfect or immune to the storms of life, but God sets an example of true love for us. All we can do is seek to remain true to His perfect example. Time and time again we fail, and time and time again His grace sets us back on our feet and urges us to love faithfully in response.

This is a post I needed to read today. It’s for all the mothers out there…

Jeremy and I stumbled upon a strange sight in our kitchen after putting Liv to bed. So we put you, dear readers, to the test. Livia will be the judge.

Is Baby Elmo:

a. looking for something?
b. taking a nap?
c. deeply regretting last night’s bender?
d. none of the above

I snapped about 20 million photos this morning and thought I had a non-blurry one here. Wrong. Toddlers are busy people… Standing still (“like a statue!” as I always plead with Liv) is seemingly impossible when there’s all sorts of cool activities out there like beating your face with your pigtails and jumping like a frog.

There is something absurd about buying 10lb logs of ground beef. It just seems a bit ridiculous somehow. In fact, Mom commented that she’d be dry heaving if she had to deal with that much raw meat. (She’s gonna love me for saying that on my blog.) I don’t mind handling the wrapped packages but I know I won’t be thrilled when I’m up to my elbows in cow as I prepare our salisbury steaks. Alas, I picked the recipes so there’s no one to blame but myself!

By the way, Sam’s Club won the ground beef price war with 90% lean beef at $1.88 per pound. Walmart had the cheapest eggs ($1.32 for 18) and the cheapest boneless, skinless chicken breasts ($1.83 per pound). I don’t have a lot of time to spare or else I would’ve waited for huge sales.

The title comes from Stu’s youngest son who once endearingly said, upon seeing a 10lb tube of beef at the grocery store, “That’s one big dot dog!” Those quotable Kerns’…

Cooking Day is a little different this time around. Ten women are involved and each will assemble three meals at home before exchanging them in a few weeks. I’m a little consumed by this project right now; there are visions of 60 chicken breasts, 15lb of hamburger and 100+ eggs dancing in my head. I enjoy the communal aspect of our regular Cooking Day — preparing a ton of meals amongst a ton of women has a certain appeal — so I’m not sure I’ll like doing the prep part by myself. However, the night of the exchange involves margaritas, so I think it’ll all work out nicely in the end. Not to mention the fact that my freezer will be stuffed full of 30 meals for my family.

Here’s what I’m preparing… The first two recipes our on our usual list of meals; the last is one I’m introducing.

Italian Chicken Marinade

Italian dressing
Soy sauce
Garlic
6 chicken breasts

Mix and bag it. Freeze.

Thaw and cook on grill/oven/stovetop until done.

Salisbury Steak

2 Eggs
3T crackers
2T onion
1 t salt
1 t pepper
1/2 t rubbed sage
1 1/2 lb hamburger
1 can mushrooms
4 T Butter
6 T Flour
4 beef bouillon cubes
6 servings instant mashed potatoes

Combine egg, cracker, onion, salt, pepper and sage. Add beef and mix, then shape into patties. Bag it. Put mush, butter, and bouillon in small bag. Place potatoes in another small bag labeled with instructions. Freeze.

Thaw. Sautee mush bag and all 6 T of flour then add 3 1/2 cup water cook and stir until smooth and thickened. Brown patties, a few minutes on each side, then add to gravy and cook for another 10 min or until no longer pink. Serve on mashed potatoes.

Breakfast Casserole

1/2 lb pork sausage
1 pkg (8oz) crescent rolls
8 eggs, beaten
1/2 C milk
1 C mozzerella
1 C cheddar
1 t dried oregano

Brown sausage, drain and cool. Place in small bag. Beat eggs, add cheeses and oregano, then pour into gallon bag. Double bag to prevent leaks. Freeze.

Thaw. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly spray of 9×13 pan, then roll out crescents
on the bottom. Bake for 4-5 minutes. Place sausage over rolls, then pour egg mixture over the top. Bake 35-30 minutes or until set.