Potato topped beef bowl

Great, yummy fall recipe.


Recipe time: 20 minutes start to finish

1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey!)
1 16 oz package of frozen mixed vegetables
1 8 oz package shredded cheddar cheese (2 cups)
1/4 cup snipped fresh Italian parsley
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups boiling water
2 cups instant mashed potato flakes
2 tablespoons butter, melted

1) Preheat broiler. In an extra large skillet, cook ground beef over medium high until brown, using wooden spoon to break up meat as it cooks. Drain off any fat. Stir in frozen vegetables. Cook until mixture is heated through, stirring occasionally. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, the salt and the pepper.

2) Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the boiling water, potato flakes and 1 tablespoon of the butter. Stir until smooth. Season with additional salt if desired and set aside.

3) Divide meat mixture among four 16 oz. broiler/oven safe dishes. Top with potatoes, sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup cheese. Broil 3 inches from heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter, sprinkle with remaining parsley.

Makes 4 servings.

Each serving: 677 calories, 42g fat, 152 mg chol., 692 sodium, 35 g carbs, 5g fiber, 41 g protein.

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Eco-friendly dish washing soap

The last time I was at the grocery store, the price of a small container of Cascade liquid dish soap was about $6. The generic store brand wasn't much better at $4.

I'm all for saving money, and one of my constant expenses is dish washing soap, as I run the dish washer pretty much everyday.

I'm also all for being eco-friendly and getting back to natural products, remedies, etc. Besides, I do not like all the strange chemicals, preservatives and other things that are constantly showing up in everything from cleaning products to food.

So I have decided to take a look at things that cost me money and see if there is a cheaper way to do it, as well as an eco-friendly way to do it.

Running the dishwasher is considered "greener" than doing dishes by hand, especially if you only run the unit when it is full, use a cold water setting, and have an Energy Star model.

So after a little research I found a recipe for an eco-friendly dish washer detergent.

1. One part baking soda (or Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda)

2. One part borax (as in 20 Mule Team Borax)

Some people complained of a film left on the dishes when they used baking soda. So I am going to use the washing soda, borax and put white vinegar in my rinse agent.

I hope to try it tonight and will post how it comes out.

Do you have any cost cutting/eco-friendly tips for household chores?

My next project will be to wean myself and my family off the constant paper towel use :)

Turkey Talk

Thanksgiving will be here before you know it!

Here's some Turkey tips!

~THAW! Don't forget to plan ahead. Your frozen turkey needs 1 day in the fridge for every 4lbs of turkey. So if you have a 12lb turkey you should refrigerate for 3 days.

~What size turkey should you buy? If you are buying a whole turkey you should plan on 1 pound per person.

~Should you really baste? Basting can help your turkey brown evenly, but it is not really necessary. There is very little evidence that basting makes the turkey "juicier". Actually, frequent basting means having to open the oven door frequently which will lower the oven temperature and can prolong your cooking time.

~What is the best way to take a turkey's temperature? Either a probe or a standard thermometer is best, but make sure to stick it in the thickest part of the thigh next to where the breast begins.

Must see Movie list

So even though this is a homemaker blog, I also am a big fan of movies and television so there will be some blogs dealing with entertainment.

As we head into the rush of the busy holiday season, if you find yourself needing a break from the craziness, need a little "me time" or are looking for some quality time with friends/spouse...Here is my list of must see movie releases...

~J. Edgar November 9th

I am a huge DiCaprio fan. (Inception anyone??) He is one modern actor that I can compare with the amazing actors of Hollywood's golden years. He has depth and chooses fantastic movies to star in. In my opinion his body of work is unmatched. No one even comes close, so any movie he stars in I can't wait to see. Especially when it is a period piece. I LOVE anything that is a period piece. (Think shows like Boardwalk Empire or Mad Men).

Hoover was the first director of the FBI and was the most feared man in Washington. He had files on the public AND private lives of everyone from politicians to Hollywood super stars, but his own personal life and many secrets could ruin his career.

~The Artist November 23

I've already mentioned how I like period pieces yes? Maybe it's the history buff in me, but I love the old clothes, the old cars, the old mannerisms, etc. So what could be better than "The Artist"?

Nowadays with so many movies the same...what could be more original than a Silent Modern Film? I'm amazed this hasn't been done sooner! Granted this may not be for everyone, but it is most definitely something DIFFERENT!

~Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol December 21

I soured on Tom Cruise after the couch jumping incident on Oprah. But, I always did like the Mission Impossible movies. Plus super cool special effects, action and an Eminem song in the trailer? What's not to love???

~The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo December 21

The book was AWESOME so I have to see the movie.

That is all.

~War Horse December 25

"Sigh". I just know this is a movie that I should not watch. But it's Spielberg and I've already heard people calling it a masterpiece.

But still...There are just certain movies that I know I should not watch and this is one of them. (Example...Marly & Me. I will NEVER watch that movie because I'm pretty sure I would never stop crying)

~The Adventures of Tintin December 21

Written by the man who did Scott Pilgrim, produced by the guy who did the Lord of the Ring movies, and directed by the man who has made some of the best movies of the past century (Spielberg)...how can it not have promise???

~My Week With Marilyn November 23

Marilyn Monroe was an amazing woman. Michelle Williams is an amazing actress. I am def. looking forward to seeing this one. And did I mention I love period pieces and anything old Hollywood??

Any other new releases that you are looking forward to? Are you excited to see any of these??

Blue Monday

I'm pretty sure that I do laundry everyday.

Or it seems that way at least.

I'm not really sure why, but ever since I had children the laundry has become never-ending.

And I have numerous friends that say laundry is the worst of the household chores.

Today as I was starting yet another load and finding myself growing irritated with it, I thought back to my grandmother and my great grandmother and realized how wherever they are they must be shaking their heads in disbelief at me.

A lesson in laundry of the "good ole days":

Monday was always wash day. (Yes, there was a set schedule for chores!)

The wash place was always located next to a water source, such as a stream or a well. Cast iron pots were used to boil clothes, get the clothing wet and then scrub them on scrub boards or beat them with rocks. There was no such thing as laundry detergent so homemade lye soap was used and in even earlier times sand was used.

After the clothes were cleaned and rinsed, the wet clothing would have to be rolled and twisted to remove the excess water. This process ultimately led to the invention of the ringer, in which you fed each individual article of clothing through two tension rollers to squeeze the water out.

Even once washing machines and wringers were patented, they were still manual and had to be cranked by hand.

It wasn't until electricity became widely accessible in the 1930's that the washing machine started evolving into what we have now.

The amount of time it had to take to do laundry b

ack then is amazing. Everything was done manually as there was no automation of the laundry process. AND, there was no such thing as a dryer. Clothes were either hung on a line or laid out in the grass to dry.

Sometimes I need a little perspective so as not to take things for granted.

No more complaining about laundry for me...