WEDNESDAY WISDOM

Have you ever said (heard):

"God willing and the Creek don't rise"

Did you know this saying was in reference to the Creek Indians and not a body of water?  It was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. He was a politician and Indian diplomat. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington. In his response, he was said to write, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Because he capitalized the word "Creek" it is deduced that he was referring to the Creek Indian Tribe and not a body of water. 

I remember my Grandma Elsie saying this and I catch myself saying it every once in a while!

So a bit of Historical Wisdom for my readers!!

My friend, Jean Ann sent me an email with Historical Trivia. I love trivia and thought much of it is fun to know so decided to use these for some of my Wednesday Wisdom posts.

Meal 13 - Slow Cooker Cooking

Our neighbor has been ill. What's worse, her husband is also ill and in the hospital. So they've had a houseful of company. Last week I made chicken and noodles and took over. This weekend I made a stew.

Doing the slow cooker challenge has caused me to try new recipes. - Usually we have the same meals over and over. So this is the stew I made this weekend.

(this recipe is what I would have made for just us, for taking over to neighbors and keeping some, I made more)

Package of stew meat
bag of new potatoes (these come in the small bags in the produce)
carrots ( just used what I had in the refrigerator)
onion (about half a medium onion)
1 packet dry ranch dressing mix
1 packet dry Italian Dressing mix
1 packet dry Brown Gravy mix 
Beef stock

I cut the potatoes into bite size chunks and put them into the bottom of the slow cooker
put the bite sized carrots on top of the potatoes
put the chopped onion over that
put the stew meat on the top

sprinkled over the top: 
1 packet dry ranch dressing mix 
1 packet dry Italian dressing mix
1 packet dry brown gravy mix
poured 2 cups water over this (I would have used beef stock but forgot I had it!)


Then before serving, I added 1/3 cup flour to beefstock to thicken - then added that to roast and stirred.


I'm sorry I usually don't use exact recipes and I combined a roast recipe with what I had on hand to make this.


It was very very good.

Randy gave it 5 stars

I gave it 5 stars

Andru wasn't here!

 

WEDNESDAY WISDOM

We watch HGTV often. People looking for houses, people trying to decide whether to "List it or Love it", people redecorating... We often hear one mention the importance of "sacrifice" in respect of wants/needs. ... But... we realized that when one talks of sacrifice, it is usually directed towards their spouse.. or significant other.

Very seldom is one willing to sacrifice ones own wants - only the wants of the other....

Hmmmm.

Meal 12 - Slow Cooker Cooking

Heather's Pork Roast

This slow cooker recipe came from my daughter, Heather. 

3 lb Pork Roast

rub with Lawrys Seasoned Salt

put in slow cooker and cover with 3/4 bottle of Sweet Baby Rays Bar B Q Sauce (original)

Cook on low 6+ hours, test for shredding.

Shred about 1 hour before serving and let set in sauce

Serve over rice.

Or can also be served on buns.

This turned out to be one of our favorite recipes. Very good. I'm usually reluctant to try "new" to me bar bq sauce. But we really like this brand. 

Randy gave it a 5

I gave it a 5

Andru gave it a 5

(actually Andru's exact words were "a million out of a million"

It was a hit at the Cohorn house! Thank you Heather for the recipe.

 

Meal 11 - Slow Cooker Cooking

Burgandy Stew with Herb Dumplings

Stew

2 lb boneless beef bottom round roast

4 carrots, cut into 1/4 inch slices (2 cups)

2 medium stalks celery, sliced (1 cup)

2 medium onions, sliced

1 can 14.5 oz diced tomatoes, undrained

2 jars 4.5 oz each sliced mushrooms, drained

3/4 cup dry red wine or beef broth

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp dried thyme leaves

1 tsp ground mustard

1/4 tsp pepper

3 tbls flour

Dumplings

1 1/2 cups baking mix

1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves

1/4 tsp dried sage leaves, crushed

1/2 cup milk

1. Spray slow cooker with cooking spray. Cut beef into 1 inch pieces, place in slow cooker. Stir in remaining stew ingredients except flour.

2. Cover and cook on Low heat for 8 to 10 hours.

3. In small bowl, mix 1/4 cup water and the flour, gradually stir into stew. 

In another bowl, stir baking mix, 1/2 tsp thyme and the sage. Stir in milk just until moistened. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto hot stew.

4. Increase heat setting to high. Cover, cook 25 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of dumplings comes out clean. Serve immediately.

This was a good stew. The meat was so tender it almost melted in your mouth!  However, I'm going to make it again and change it up some. Andru didn't like the flavor the wine gave it, and truthfully Randy and I didn't like the "sauce" so well either. So I'm going to use the beef broth. I'm partial to dumplings with salt, pepper and a small amount of parsley so I'm going to leave the other spices out of the dumplings. Also, the guys don't like mushrooms. I'm not a fan of cooked carrots. So - as I said, I'm going to change it up. Then I'll repost "new" recipe.

Andru gave it a - 0

Randy gave it a 3

I gave it a 3

 This recipe came from Pillsbury.

 

WEDNESDAY WISDOM

As the election draws near, I am as interested as the next on what's happening. I have my dislikes - sometimes I have a favorite. I'm not alone in this confusion of not "Who's best" but "Who will be the least of the worst."

Franklin Pierce Adams, an American Journalist (1881-1960) stated:

“Elections are won by men and women 

chiefly because most people vote against somebody 

rather than for somebody.”

Meal 10 - Slow Cooker Cooking

Fiesta Pot Roast

Pillsbury Slow Cooking

1 3lb beef roast

1 tsps pepper

1/2 tsps salt

2 tblsp oil

1 3/4 cups Old El Paso Thick 'n Chunky salsa

3 tsps ground cumin

2 tsps chili powder

1. Spray 4 quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Sprinkle beef with 1/2 tsp of the pepper and salt.     Brown beef in oil before placing in slow cooker.

2. In small bowl, mix salsa, cumin, chili powder and remaining pepper. Pour over beef.

3. Cover, cook on low hear setting 10 hours or until beef is very tender.

Shred the beef and serve on tostada shells with guacamole, chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce and cheese.

I didn't have tostada shells so used Flat Bread. (Andru ate meat but didn't eat bread)

It was just Okay to us. Tasted good but not our favorite. I'm not a "packaged" salsa fan. I think if I would have done a homemade salsa for it, I would have liked it better.