I've fallen totally in love....again

Hi everyone.  How is everyone today?  I thought I’d be just fine today with the humidity lower, but the barometer in this body knows when the weather is about to change.  I guess we’re not only in for a hot one the next couple of days but a hot one with rain.  Goody goody.  I’m just so excited. 

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Who have I fallen in love with?  Not a who, a what.  I’ve fallen even deeper in love with this awesome power cooker.  Tonight I made a meatloaf in it.  15 minutes.  A 3# meatloaf cooked to perfection in 15 minutes! 

If you weren’t around in earlier blogs, you might not know my philosophy on meatloaf.  Meatloaf is a meal where it’s very possible to use up things in the frig.  It’s a meal that cooks can sneak in veggies so the family doesn’t even know they’re eating healthier.  If you cook it the way I do, you’ll have most if not all your food groups in your main dish.  Tonight I didn’t do spinach or onions or even peppers.  Tonight, this was what I included.

Meatloaf by Mama for 7/11/2016

   3# better grade ground meat

   2/3 c. old fashioned oats

   1 egg

   1 good size glob of catsup

   1 drained can of mixed veggies

   Squares of cheese – I used Swiss and Colby tonight

I used a good dose of spices.  Mexican spices that were actually meant for a beef rub. 

I just did the squish, squish, squishity squish, turned in out into the pan for the cooker, plugged it in, hit cook and that was it.  The bubbly orange and white are the melted cheeses. If you don't add cheese to your meatloaf, you're missing the one thing that convinced all five of our children that it's an okay thing to eat!  Nothing to it.

We also had Parsley Potatoes and Peas.  I don’t like using canned veggies, but when you have no fresh, you reach for the shelf.  To the drained canned potatoes and peas, I just added about ¼ c. parsley and real butter.  Unsalted.  Canned veggies are salty on their own. 

And I made a fruit salad.  Today’s included cantaloupe, red grapes, strawberries, blueberries and pineapple.  I missed the watermelon, but I had to toss it.  I chose a really bad one!  It wasn’t old enough to rot, but when I picked it up, the shell that was left full of mush felt like a drying gourd!  Ewwww.

The pineapple was fun.  I got one of those handy dandy cut it and slice it and core it deals.  Love it.  No eyes in the pineapple.  I remembered to pull the extra off the green top on it and stuff it into water too.  Finally.  I’d been telling myself to try it for a while now.  We shall see.  Might not get a pineapple like they say, but maybe I’ll have a plant.  

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I had good long talks with our youngest son Adam and my sister the last couple days.  I love staying in touch.  They both understand how I am now being on the phone.  I don't like it much.  I find as I'm losing hearing in my one ear I just don't much like it.  I was feeling good enough for talking and I really enjoyed it. 

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I guess I should let you all know not to expect me here daily as in the past.  It is my goal, but getting to that goal will take time.  Today, the cooking and walking into Corry’s house and out wore me out.  I wanted to stay downstairs and do some fabric cutting and start the deep sweep.  My body looked me in the eye and almost cussed!  So, like a good girl, I worked my way up the stairs.  I’ll try finishing up Melanie’s blanket .  I really want it done so I can get busy on a few other things.  No.  I won’t be showing everyone what I do for charity.  I think giving should be done in secret sometimes.  I’ve gotten praise for it before and feel uncomfortable being praised for charity work.

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Hugs and love,

Mama Sage