Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Productivity

I was quite busy this morning cooking away in the kitchen.  Hubby and I both decided it would be nice to have some already prepared foods on hand for when we're having a particularly busy day or when I'm out of town and he has to fend for himself.  I don't like buying a lot of already prepared frozen meals because of the preservatives, etc., so yesterday I went to the grocery store and did some bulk buying and today was cooking day!
17 pounds of ground meat and onions simmering away in my roasting pan on the stovetop.
Spaghetti sauce. Yum. Can you smell it?
Onions, garlic and green peppers sautéing for the Sloppy Joe sandwich filling.
Lasagna pans at the ready.  When all was said and done, at the end of the morning I had: 3 frozen lasagna's, plus 1 to be baked for dinner tonight, 2 gallon bags of spaghetti sauce, 3 gallon bags of Sloppy Joe filling, 6 poached and shredded chicken breasts in broth for future enchiladas or pot pie, 12 marinated and grilled and then frozen chicken breasts to be used for sandwiches or salads, etc.  I think it was a good mornings worth of work.  It would have been even more fun to do this with another woman for company.  I think it would go much faster with someone to visit with while chopping and stirring!  I did have the radio turned up loud and had fun singing along.  :-)

I have a finished project to show you too.  Last night I finished and hand sewed the binding on the quilt.  I found a new method of binding that doesn't have metered corners and it was MUCH easier for me.  I think I have actually gotten over my fear of quilt binding!  I'm actually thinking of making another quilt using just the scraps I have and sewing the entire thing by hand.  It would probably take years but I would do the quilt as you go method and so I would be able to carry it along with me until the very end.
What do you think?  Do you think Mandy's friend will like it?  I love the colors of green and white together and the outside strips of pinky rose she chose, but I still don't care for the bright pink and tan together. But...it's done and I think it doesn't look too bad.
For Christmas I got two Pioneer Woman cookbooks. Have you heard of her?  I've been reading her blog for years, since long before her cooking show on the Food network.  I can't believe how wildly popular she is now.  I feel like "I knew her back when."  I'm reading these cookbooks through like a good book, page by page when I go to bed at night. She's a very entertaining writer, even in her cookbooks.  Last night I finished her most recent holiday cookbook and tonight I will begin this one.  Last night I made her "Sunday Stew" recipe for dinner and it was wonderful.
Tonight I'll be back to crocheting on my cream and white blanket.  I have a few people in mind who "might" be the recipient of it when it's done.  It's fun to think of who to give it to as I work on it and I can pray for whoever it might keep warm in the days to come.

Have a wonderful evening my friends. I'm looking forward to tasting the lasagna I can smell baking in the oven with a nice green salad to go along with it.  Yum!

Blessings,
Betsy

11 comments:

  1. I have that cookbook, but haven't tried that stew recipe yet.

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  2. Wow, Betsy.. you're so industrious! What a great idea to cook so much up ahead. Lucky you to get both of those cookbooks.. I have one of hers. I love her too. When are you coming to visit Piper again? ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  3. Yummy food, and a beautiful quilt...you really have accomplished a lot, Betsy :) I think the quilt is lovely. I want to do a quilt all by hand, too, but first I have to finish cutting squares! xx

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  4. SO much to love in this post Betsy! Love the idea of making a whole lot of dinners ahead of time--I just need to do some organizing first:) Yep, I like Ree too--and my DH likes her pork chops:)
    I can hardly wait to see the new blanket you're making--it sounds beautiful! And your new quilt is pretty--I think the colors are fine together and Mandy's friend will love it.
    Have a great evening.
    Blessings,
    Aimee

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  5. Betsy, I love the quilt!!! Love it!!!
    And I am big Pioneer Woman fan too. I had her two previous books, and got the new one for Christmas. I love them all!! So good. She cooks the way I grew up cooking. Nothing fancy, just good home cooking!
    I sometimes will cook up a bunch of base meat sauce on a weekend too. Such a time saver!
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  6. Omg you worked so hard my dear friend... This is actually a wonderful idea and especially for a working mother of 2 teens. I think I'm going to try to do it this coming Monday which is going to be a holiday for me. I think that if i did it 1 x a month it would save me a. Lot of time and from having to eat out so much... Love the quilt my friend. I cannot even imagine the amount of time that it would take to make a quilt by hand, but after seeing the gorgeous tablecloth that you crocheted I know you can do anything.thanks for the advice my dear fiend I thin I got my blog back working again . Hugs to you.

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  7. The quilt is lovely. I just know that the lucky person getting this quilt will adore it. I love the idea of using up the scraps to make a hand sewn quilt. That is what they use to do way back when. It might take a while, but it will be filled with stitches of love.

    You have been super busy with all that cooking, but it sounds yummy and now when you are tired, you don't have to come home and cook...that's awesome.

    Wishing you a day filled with many blessings sweet friend. :)

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  8. Goodness Betsy, you have been cooking up a storm over there and it all looks so delicious!! Good for you preparing ahead!!
    The quilt is gorgeous as I knew it would be and I would love to know your secret in binding...that also drives me a little nuts.
    Hugs Shari

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  9. What a huge amount of cooking! It will be so nice to have precooked food handy on a busy night. Your quilt looks beautiful. I wish I felt as confident about quilt binding as you do. :)

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  10. I bet your house smelled fantastic Betsy. I bought that book for my husband for Christmas, it is really beautiful to look at.
    The quilt is gorgeous.
    Hugs to you,
    Meredith

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  11. I wish I could discipline myself to make a lot of meals ahead of time to have them when I get home from work...maybe one day you'll rub off on me :)

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