I know three posts in as many days …. it’s almost like the old days.  This is what happens when I sit down and write my posts ahead like a good little blogging Witch.

Anyway, as I’ve been writing, I am determined to simplify our lives and live healthier.  What I have yet to share is that Princess Nature is bound and determined to go vegetarian.

I was vegetarian for about three years back in my early twenties.  I went back to eating meat while pregnant with Miss artistic and never really looked back.  Over the years Gamer Dude and I have talked about the merits of decreasing the amount of flesh foods in our diet, but I’ve never really had the gumption to act on it.

Having promised Princess Nature that she can follow her conscience come summer, and with the knowledge that we can all stand to eat healthier (especially me with my lousy high cholesterol), I am gradually adding vegetarian fare to our weekly meals.

Two of our meals this week will be meat based.  I roasted two chickens from the freezer, which will be served with homemade gravy and vegetable sides.

The rest of the week however will be meat free.

I made a batch of Kosheri.  Its a mix of lentils, rice, and pasta served topped with a tangy spicy tomato sauce and caramelized onions.  I’ve made this before, and for the most part it was enjoyed by all.  This time I added some drained canned corn to add some crisp texture and some bright color.  I made what I thought was enough for two meals and it might last more like four!

I also made a batch of Bainghan Bartha,  Indian curried eggplant.  I used 4 large eggplants and 8 tomatoes, but it made less than I was anticipating, but as it is meant to be served over rice (and odds are Mr Grumpy won’t even taste it) I can manage two dinners out of it.  This was my first attempt at this dish and I found that had to add more spices than the recipe called for (and toss in some peas) to approximate the taste of when we’ve had it “out.”

I have no clue what I’ll make next week.  Its time to dust off my vegetarian cookbooks and experiment I guess.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:cooking, family, food, meals, meat-free, vegetarian

As I mentioned yesterday, a power outage threw a monkey wrench in my weekend plans.  Not only did it delay my once a week cooking, but it also interfered with some of my “get ready for Ostara” cleaning plans.

My original plan was to tackle the pantry and do a thorough reorganization in preparation for not only the change in my shopping and eating habits, but in order to make room for a dehydrator.  This did not get done, or even started.  Instead, my cleaning time yesterday found me and the girls tackling the hall (i.e. kid) closet.

We sorted through a huge bin of Barbie stuff, tossed the most worn of them out, and organized everything else to be gifted to a neighbor (if the mother wants them).  We sorted through all the board games, throwing out the ones with missing pieces, piling up a few that have been outgrown for the neighbor children, and putting the rest back neatly.

We also sorted the shoes and coats and found a few more things to add to a donate pile being picked up later this week.  Last weekend Gamer Dude, Princess Nature and I sorted through a bunch of clothes taking up room in the attic and filled four …. yes FOUR …. large lawn and leaf sized bags.  Over 300 individual items of apparel are being given to the Red Cross.

So between this weekend, last weekend, and another recent weekend I have gotten rid of 9 lawn and leaf sized bags of “stuff” and also given away (or set aside to give away) enough to fill another.

There is so much more clutter to tackle, more “stuff” to rearrange and sort in the attic, more drawers to go through, more papers to file, and whatnot.  But, slowly we are making progress toward the eventual goal of getting Miss Artistic into her own room, and moving toward the kind of life that Gamer Dude and I want to live.

It feels good.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:cleaning, clutter, organization, simplifying

In a few hours my house will be filled with company.  The tree is trimmed, the house is festive (on the inside anyway) and the ‘fridge and freezer are full of food. I still have some prep work to do, but most of the hard stuff is behind me.

The menu is as follows:

• cocktail franks
• mini pierogies w/ choice of applesauce or applesauce
• kielbasa w/ sauerkraut
• sweet & sour meatballs
• hand-rolled cold cuts and baby rolls
• devilled eggs
• shrimp w/ cocktail sauce
• chips & pretzels w/ dip
• tortilla chips w/ salsa
• cubed cheese and sliced pepperoni
• various store-bought hot appetizers

I’d like to say that I am looking forward to it. Unfortunately, I am still feeling rather lousy with my upper respiratory bug and from some side effects of the lovely super-strong antibiotic I am on – Levaquin.

But, I will put on a happy face and be a good hostess certain in the knowledge that, if push comes to shove, I can always make my apologies and retire to the upstairs early.

I hope that you and yours are enjoying the holiday season.

Blesssings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly

As I am still down for the count with a nasty upper respiratory bug – one that includes a diagnosis of both a sinus infection and bronchitis (as well as a delightful fever) I thought I would post the recipe for something my late grandmother used to make for me when I was young.

1/2 cup fresh squeezed (and strained) lemon juice
1/2 cup honey
1 shot whiskey, brandy, honey liquor etc.

In a small saucepan heat honey and lemon juice together until it blends into an even syrup consistency.

Pour honey-lemon mixture into a heat proof mug.

Add 1 shot of liquor and stir well to incorporate.

Take by teaspoons as needed to soothe a painful sore throat and/or to control a dry cough.

Note: This is a family recipe and is posted for informational and entertainment purposes only. This is not intended to treat any particular illness. Please consult your own medical professional to get an accurate diagnosis and to determine the safety of this “home remedy” for your own situation.

Caution: Alcohol should not be used by children, pregnant women, or those for whom it may aggravate a chronic health condition.

Written by Mama KellyTags:cold, flu, health, illness, recipe

This year our family has started a new tradition, making a donation to the World Vision Organization.  We sat down with the catalog that came in the mail of possible gifts to donate and my daughter narrowed down a few selections she thought would make the best choices within our budget – chickens, fishing gear, medicine, and clean water.   Together we decided to donate:

•  fishing gear (provides an impoverished family with the means to put food on the table),
• two chickens (which will provide eggs, and since they are easy to breed can multiply and provide food to share and potential income), and
• 3 ducks (provide eggs and multiply, but have the additional bonus of being able to survive in a flood; 1000’s of families in Bangladesh have lost their food and livelihood because of torrential rains that kill their chickens so World Vision is helping to switch to duck farming).

Since I will have more time to plan and save for next year I hope to be able to afford a larger donation for Yule 2010 (perhaps we will be able to donate enough for a cow, or a donkey, or a goat along with some medicine and clean water).

Knowing that our donation will make a real difference in someone’s life and seeing the smile on my daughter’s face is priceless.   I look forward to sharing this tradition with her for many, many years.

If you are interested in making a donation, there is a lot to choose from in a variety of price ranges. For example – it only costs $12 to donate 2 ducks or $25 for 2 chickens and provide a continuous source of food for a family, or $50 to help stock a school; $100 for a small business loan for a woman; medicine for $35 (provides $390 worth), and much more to chose from.

I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the Yule holidays.

Bright blessings, Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:charity, Christmas, holidays, Yule

Simple Full Moon Ritual – as you sweep your home chant the following, ending with visualizing sweeping the negativity out the front door and off the porch (or stoop) and taking a few moments to visualize your home filling with the bright light and blessings of the full moon:

With this Broom, I sweep tonight
Cast out Darkness, raise the Light
All within, blessings surround
Healing, love, and joy abound
A sacred home, this shall be,
As my will, so mote it be.

Wishing everyone a joyous Full Moon, Lady Rose

“Full Moon Power, Full Moon Light, Full Moon Magic on Full Moon Night!”   (~Selena Fox)

REMINDER – ENTER 2Witches.com Contest TO WIN A SEASONS OF THE WITCH 2010 CALENDAR (deadline Dec. 17)

Written by Lady Rose

Thanksgiving is one of our household’s favorite holidays.  It is a day to sit around relax, spend time together, and stuff ourselves silly on all kinds of good food.

I came home form work a little less than an hour ago and after some well deserved R&R I am off to do the bulk of my cooking for the big day and I thought that I’d share with you all this year’s menu.

I make a lot of food, especially considering we are only 5 people.  But, half the fun of the holiday is that we live on leftovers all the way through Sunday.

Most of dinner is made by me (thus the upcoming hours ahead in the kitchen) but I do supplement here and there with pre-made items as I can frankly only do so much.

As I am every year I am grateful for the ability to feed my family.  I am grateful for the happy yummy sounds that will be made.  I am looking forward to serving my family off my grandmother’s china, lifting a glass of champagne and being grateful for making it through another year.

May each of our readers here in the US have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with friends family and feasting.  For everyone else may the holiday season start off happy for you & yours and continue on as such all the way through the new year ahead.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Appetizers/Light Lunch – laid out around noon

Gherkin sized pickles – both sweet and sour
Olives
marinated mozzarella balls
various cubed cheeses
pepperoni, sopresatta, genoa salami
fried ravioli w/ sauce
deviled eggs
spreadable port wine/cheddar cheese & crackers
cocktail franks

Dinner – served around 4pm

Turkey – deep-fried by the men
Bread Stuffing w/ apples sausage and caramelized onions
Candied Yams w/ mini marshmallows
Mashed Potatoes w/ roasted garlic
Spicy Peas & Mushrooms
Cheesy Cauliflower
Oven-fried Artichoke Hearts
Mizeria – cucumbers w/ sour cream
Cranberry sauce – from a can
Rolls – from a can
Gravy – from a jar

Dessert – served around 7:30pm

2 Mrs Smith’s pies – sweet potato and cherry
3 kinds of cookies (store-bought)
fruit
nuts

Written by Mama KellyTags:cooking, feast, holiday, Thanksgiving

Today GamerDude and I signed the final paperwork involved in refinancing a rental property that we own as a means to get out from under the load of too much debt. This is one of those things that I was holding back from talking about here until I was sure that everything went through.

I cannot describe the relief of no longer having to live paycheck to paycheck (and even then only barely making it as year by year we fell into mroe and more debt).

And while we are still in the same amount of debt as we were before, at least the repayment structure will allow us to start building savings (toward college and toward retirement), it will allow me to be able to afford days off from work (in illness and for pleasure) from time to time. It will allow me to keep my kids in Taekwondo and to get myself to Dr. appointments I’ve been putting off for far too long.

But, we know that this is our last chance to start over.

From here forward we both have to make the commitment to buy less, to create a simpler life, to actually save the money we need to save and to make the extra payments toward this mortgage that we need to so that when one day we have the opportunity to move we will actually have some equity to put toward the purchase of a new home (in a much more rural setting).

Mr Grumpy does not approve of our choice, in his defense he’s been down this road himself and knows that the temptation is high to simply start cahrging again once the debts are paid off. He knows that we could wind up with a mortgage around our neck until we are his age. He wants an easier future for us.

But, I know that it was the right thing to do. I couldn’t find the light at the end of the tunnel and could only see a future of ever increasing poverty ahead of us unless we did something. Maybe it wasn’t the best choice – but it was the best one we could see and now we simply have to be mature and responsible about creating and sticking to a plan that will allow us to create the future we want.

I am hoping that having this weight off my back will allow me to get my stress levels under control and allow me to once again hear the whispers of creativity and of Spirit so that I can both work more on the blog, and maybe even start really working on the book I dream of.

Wish us well!

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:life, money

Yesterday was a particularly busy day – a fitting end I guess to what felt like a really busy week.

I worked 6 hours, finishing up my 40 hours and earned a nice amount of commission for the week as well.

I picked up Miss Artistic early from school. She’s had a cough that I originally attributed to allergies after her weekend away camping over Labor Day. Except instead of getting better it gradually got worse. The past week has seen it really kicking up especially during exercise. So, I brought her to the Dr. who prescribed some antibiotics, more as a “just in case” than anything else.

Then we went food shopping. I overspent. Granted I stocked up on a few items that were on sale that will see me well beyond this week alone. Granted I purchased a lot of meat, toiletry items, and more goodies for our friend “D” who is serving overseas. His box is as full as it is going to get at this point, and will be being shipped out soon.

We came home and in the midst of unpacking the car and putting away groceries I did a quick straightening of my pantry, filling a bag for Princess Nibbles’ school’s food drive collection, and my ‘fridge. At this point Miss Artistic ran off to the Mall with her friend “S” and I was in the middle of dishing out food for leftover night when Mr Grumpy announced that he wanted access to our bedroom today so he can start replacing our windows. Now, I’ve mentioned before how the 4 of us live in the upstairs of my dad’s house. I’ve mentioned before that I live surrounded by clutter, that I am gradually dealing with. I’ve also explained that we are trying to dismantle the room we use as a mini living room of our own so that Miss Artistic can have her own room. Needless to say my room was a sight!!!

So instead of eating, instead of putting my feet up on the recliner, I wound up doing a mad dash clean of my bedroom for the next 2 hours. Sad thing is that, it still has as much clutter in it as before, but now its an organized clutter and it gives me a head start on spending time in the coming weeks finishing the reorganization of our upstairs living quarters.

The plan for today’s once a week cooking includes a pot of meat sauce (with meatballs and both hot & sweet sausage), a batch of tuna casserole, Swedish meatballs (some of which are going to a neighbor’s house as he had asked for them some time back), and roasted pork loin. I fully expect to be able to freeze some of it when I am done.

In the meantime dear readers I wish you all a glorious weekend filled with blessings that carry you all through the Fall.

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:cooking, food, life, once a week cooking

It is only 2:30 and I’ve already had a rather productive day.

I slept in and woke up with a headache for the third day in a row. I took a hot shower, took 3 Advil, had a cup of coffee and started on a round of once a week cooking.

I put up a batch of pot roast based on this recipe of Ina Garten. I used a different cut of meat, a different mix of vegetables (I used onions, mushrooms, carrots, string beans, and potatoes), and used beef stock/boullion instead of chicken. I also had no cognac and used 2 TBSP extra wine in its place. It is currently simmering on the stove and when served over egg noodles should be 2 full dinners as well as leftovers for a couple of lunches. It smells (and tastes) fabulous!!

I also put up a batch of clam sauce. Lots of onion and garlic. Canned crushed tomatoes and the juice from 3 cans of clams. The clam meat itself won’t be added until the end so as to avoid it turning into rubber.

In the oven I have 2 disposable pans (I use them a couple of times before tossing them into recycling) with chicken thighs roasting on a bed of potatoes, onions, and carrots. It has a half spring of rosemary in each and I will be straining hte pan juices out and turning it into gravy.

Additionally, I made a double sized batch of chocolate pudding (from scratch) based on this recipe. The only thing I changed was that since I used skim milk, and the pudding looked like it might not set as firm as I wanted, I added 1 egg to the mix. Oh yeah, and I accidentally added too much vanilla when my hand jumped. We had finger licks off the mixing spoon before I washed it and OH SWEET GODS was it good.

And finally, we made a batch of brownies (from a box) that Princess Nibbles brought with her to a sleepover tonight.

The only things left to do tomorrow is to whip up a batch of tuna casserole and to mix up a batch of chicken salad so there is something to bring as lunch for the girls at school and me at work.

Now, I am probably off to do some cleaning or de-cluttering upstairs. Though what I really and truly want to do involves curling up and either watching TV or napping. LOL

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:once a week cooking