Salisbury steak: a walk through on recipe conversion

Tonight, this was what I was craving for dinner.  Trying a new recipe in our house is always an adventure, because well...we just don't eat the same way as everyone else.  Ingredients in a typical salisbury steak recipe I can't use include, "cream of whatever" soup, worcestershire sauce, "onion soup mix", bread crumbs,  and flour.
It doesn't help that as soon as I start to plan a recipe, someone walks in and says "Mushrooms?  Do we have to eat that?"  or "brown gravy.  yuck.  Can I have tomato sauce instead?"

Tonight the minions were lucky.  I was feeling benevolent.  I needed two pans to make enough for our crew anyway, so doing one with mushroom sauce and one w/ our typical meatloaf red sauce was no big deal.
That was step one.  Break down the recipe into it's elements.  Salisbury steak has 2 elements really, a browned meatloaf patty for the "steak" and the gravy.
Step two:  What are the primary flavorings.  In Salisbury steak, they are beef, onion, salt, and mustard.

So for the "steak"  I started w/ a basic meatloaf blend, 1 egg per # of meat, a couple of forgotten UDI hamburger buns broken into crumbs by the food processor, an onion and four cloves of garlic chopped in the food processor, and two carrots grated in the food processor.  To make it more salisbury, I added Penzey's toasted onion and Rachel Ray beef stock to the mix, along w/ dry mustard, salt, and pepper.
Then I dredged it in potato starch w/a dash of salt and 1/2 sharp paprika, and browned the oversized hamburger/min-meatloaf on the stove in some oil & put them in a 9x13 pan.  Steak part, done.
Now it was time to make the gravy. :)
1) Drain oil out of browning pan.  Put 2-3 Tb potato flour into pan w/ an equal amount of solid fat of your choice.  (Butter, Palm shortening, lard, etc.)  Once the flour looks "sandy" and brown, start adding about 1/2 box of beef broth and a bottle of sorghum beer, and about 2T of brown sugar, and more dry mustard and paprika.  Throw in the onion/carrot bits that were stuck to the sides of the food processor and a package of sliced mushrooms.  Let it simmer a couple minutes and we're good to go.  (Add more liquid/thickener to whatever floats your gravy boat.)

2) Dump over "steaks."  Throw in 375 degree oven for thirty minutes.
3) Let cool about 10 minutes, then stuff face.

All things work for the good

   I really do try to see the rainbow in every hurricane.  It keeps me almost sane.

Yesterday was no hurricane, but it wasn't a picnic either.  While I volunteering at a local clothing center, my phone walked away.  There's not much to make you feel more miffed than something bad happening when you're doing your "good deed for the day."
   After my initial outrage/panic/disbelief, I switched modes.  It is, after all, just a "thing."   We were out of contract w/ the phone company, so I'd get a good deal on a new phone.   The only mild sense of panic I had left was because my entire calendar was stored on that thing.  I was determined not to make that mistake again.  My next phone would have an off-phone calendar of some sort to back it up, and e-mail access, and a decent camera.  So there!
   One advantage of having a spouse with flex-time that works at home is being able to derail their day too for minor emergencies.  In this case I needed him anyway.  The phone bill is under his name after all.  So yes, after lunch I kidnapped my husband to go phone shopping.  Bonus:  the teen had stayed home sick today so the kindie could be left with him.  Woo-hoo! A date!  I'll take any time alone with my husband where a hospital isn't involved.  So we were off....

   Step 1:  Look at what Sprint had to offer.  It was pretty good, but the store couldn't figure out if we were out of contract w/ T-mobile or not.  Fine, we'd run across the street to check w/ T-mobile.
   Step 2:  Get better offer from T-mobile.  Stay with T-mobile.  End up with 4th phone in the process.

     This two step process took about 2.5 hours.  I am forever grateful I let the "maybe sick, maybe allergic" teen stay home from school yesterday.   That kind of time frame without outside entertainment would have been a disaster for Si Guy.  He'd much rather eat junk food, watch t.v., and jump off the couch onto a beanbag chair with his brother "watching" him.
   What, exactly, took so long?  Well, the first forty five minutes were wasted with step one.  Maybe not totally wasted, because by the time we entered the T-mobile store I had a pretty good idea what I wanted for my phone.  So it only took me another thirty minutes to settle down on my final choice...a Galaxy SII.  The 8 megapixel camera did me in...or perhaps, the Android factor.  My calendar would be synced w/ Google online, never to be totally lost again.  Mr. Man upgraded his phone too, so the tortured, babysitting teen could get his phone back.  We also added a "no-frills" call only phone for the elementary age kids to tote to their activities.  It just makes a mom feel better.  Another note, our bill will be about the same as it was before.  Thank you T-mobile for free kid lines, and PTA for a 14% discount I didn't know about for the past 5 years.
 
So here is the proof all things work for the good.
Bad thing:  Phone disappears
Good things:  time alone with husband, better phone than I ever dreamed of, peace of mind with the kids.
Oh, and a kindle app.  Excuse me while I go play with my new phone.

My middle son is (deca)dent!

Happy 10th Birthday Mr. Sunshine!  Glad to see you're enjoying your day.

This morning we started the day with donuts.  He chose oreo and lemon-filled  for his two.
He still calls me mommy when we're alone, but ignores me when we're around his friends.
He has girl friends, but is mortified at the idea of girlfriends.
He blends in with the group, yet stands alone.
His actions comply, but his thoughts are his own.
He's still a whirlwind, but maturity is starting to peek through.
He's always been kind, but recently he's been learning patience too.

Tonight, we went to a birthday party for a friend.  He didn't seek attention for himself.  He was just happy to be there.  Go Karts, Laser Tag, and heights with harnesses.  It was fun watching him up there.  Some of the kids were swinging from their harness.  He didn't.  He practiced walking the ropes until he knew it was there, but he didn't need it.  I kind of hope that's how this parenting gig goes with all our kids.  They know we're always there, but they practice the skills they need to be "grown" until they just know we're there for them, and they're glad we're there,  but they don't need us.

Happy Birthday to me, about a week ago.....

     Just taking a moment to celebrate how fabulous it is to be me.  My birthday this year started with a kids dentist appointment, complete w/ cavity, and almost ended with meetings.  Then I was surprised at  the last minute with a late night date at Steak n' Shake w/ my husband.  That  definitely ended the day on a good note.  
     My favorite part of the day though, was the afternoon.  Hands down.  A mom of six kids doesn't have much quiet, don't touch me time.  I spent the morning with my husband, picked up the mini-minion from kindergarten, and walked him home.  
     After lunch, it was bye!  I'm off for two whole hours by myself.I stopped at my favorite "forgotten" strip mall.  I decided to window shop in my favorite consignment store "Revival Home Furnishing" to poke around.  We could use a night-stand or two, a couple more dining room chairs, and oh yeah, a table.  Our table needed  some serious repair, and we had neither time nor inclination to do it.  I had been shopping for a new dining room table unsuccessfully off and on for a couple of years, due to my exacting requirements:

• big enough to seat 10-12 
•  not too formal 
• preferably a medium to dark finish.  
• Oh, and not pine.  I really, really, dislike pine.  

Buried in a corner, with it's leaves, a stack of dishes, and a folded up table cloth on top of it, was the table below.  It's hard to see, but this table has great legs.  They even have little brass "shoes" on the bottom.  Maybe it's because I'm a stay at home mom, or quirky, but I really fell in love immediately with the 1950's art deco with a cherry finish.  I called my husband.  We came back for it the next day.  Bonus:  It didn't break the bank.  $98 suited my inner bargain hunter just fine.

If the table wasn't fabulous enough, next door to this furniture store is a 1/2 Price Books.  I counted the table as my "family gift", and had a birthday check from my in-laws to spend.  Nothing is more therapeutic to a bibliophile than an hour alone in a bookstore.  I spent that hour wisely, walking out with five books from the $1 clearance and two regular "1/2-price" had to haves.  This with two more books off Amazon did in the splurge money quite nicely.  What were these titles?

The Time Traveler's Wife- AudreyNiffenager; I've read it before, but wanted it to be MINE.
In the Shadow of the Ark-Ann ProVoost; kind of has a Red Tent vibe.
LOST-Gregory Maguire; creepy, but not gross, better than Wicked IMHO
The Secret Life of Bees-Sue Monk Kidd;  awesome, relatable "sisterhood" 
Fire & Bitterblue-both by Kristin Cashore; fantasy w/ strong women which  doesn't tear down the men!            amazing, isn't it?  
A Ring of Endless Light-Madeleine L'Engle; haven't read this one yet.  I realized  it was book 4 in a series I haven't started.  My OCD side demands finding the first three, then reading them in order.
PEAK-Roland Smith;  This one disappeared into my teenage son's room.  It hasn't reemerged yet. 
Daughters of Rome-Kate Quinn;  I'm a sucker for historical fiction.  I'm going to read this tonight.  It's sitting right here by the keyboard.

All these glorious books, and my  husband even gave me a week off housework to read them.  Did I mention I think he's fabulous?  

One week down for Si Guy!

Short week it was.  The verdict:  School is GREAT mom!
Upon pickup his teacher informed me how transformed he was by his haircut.  So transformed she thought he was a misguided full day student, and sent him on down the hall.  He was returned.   Doh!  Note to self, schedule haircuts for before school starts.
Walking home he was full of chatter.
"What did you do today?"
"We had art! "
"What did you do in art?"
"We read a story." Okaaay.  A few minutes later...
"Mom, a bug!"
"It's okay.  It's just a cicada."
"Wow!  That's a big bug.  They're loud."
"Mmm,hm.  See that hole in the ground.  That's probably where he came out."
Then the inevitable...
"Mom, can we go to Quick Trip?"
At Quick Trip, "Look mom!  A bird!  A hummingbird!"
"Uh, no Si.  That's a dragonfly.  But the way it uses it's wings to hover is kind of like a hummingbird."
So now we're home.  He's eating hot dogs, running back and forth between the living room and his room singing random songs.  I'm glad he's back.

One day down!

Two posts in one day...a bit much.  Yet the after is short and sweet.

A few highlights about their first day.
1) Ms. D can make friends with a rock.  Nobody wanted to talk to her today, except H,J,A,K,.....
2) Both boys the Ethanator knows are in the other class, but he's okay with that.  He's a bit disgruntled to have homework on the very first day.  (Welcome to life, kid.)
3) Princess P isn't sure what to think about school yet, but she certainly enjoyed the walk home!  Oh, and her teacher is the only friend whose name she can remember in her class.
4) And the sixth grader?  I could barely get him to name his classmates, much less tell me how his day was.

And what did mom do?  Well, the kindie and the 8th grader are still home today.  So we went for a teen haircut and ate lunch at Taco Bell.  Tomorrow there will be only one.  And after that, quiet mornings to come.

Welcome to the 2012-2013 school year.

Today is the first day for four of our kids, and the kindie meet and greet conferences.   Around 6:45 when I was trying to get the baked oatmeal for breakfast in the oven, the first kid bounds in!
"What's for breakfast?"
"I'm making baked oatmeal.  It should be ready around 7:30."
"Can I have cereal now?"
"You can wait."
"Can I make my lunch?"
"We need to clean out the lunch boxes first.  They've been stored a while."
"Can I do that?"
"Sure, whatever."  (Translates, just let me get the oatmeal in the oven, pleeeaaaase!)
Repeat this conversation at 6:50 and 6:55...and back to the first kid at seven....except wait, one of these little badgers doesn't start school until Wednesday!  He doesn't need a lunch!

"Mom, can I have yogurt in my lunch?"
"Mom, will you cut up the watermelon?"
"Mom, where's the hairbrush?"

Uh, you guys know Dad is still here too, right?


Hey, where's Ms. D and E1.  Somebody better go wake them up!

"Mom, I can't find any socks!  Never mind.  They're in my drawer."

"Change your shirt.  What's the rule for the first day of school?"
"It has to have a collar.  Really?"
"Really. You can wear your angry birds t tomorrow. (or sonic, or hello kitty....)"
"Lose the athletic shorts too.  Khakis or denim today.  Okay?"

"Okay!  We're ready!"
"Guys.  It's only 7:30.  They won't even let you in until 8.  Sit down and eat your baked oatmeal."
"It has whipped cream on it!  Wow, thanks mom."
"Hey, it's the first day of school.  We have two more first days of school this week, so that means two more hot breakfasts.  Aren't we all lucky here?"
"Can we have pancakes twice?"
(Ha!) "No.  I believe canned cinnamon rolls are on the menu for tomorrow.  Maybe eggs."
"How about waffles?"  (Okay kid.  Ya deaf.  What time do you think I'm getting up?)

Because of the heavy, supply-laden packs I generously offer to drive them today.  Pulling out of the driveway I scraped the bumper on the side porch.  This is not hard to do.  At least I didn't back into the rock wall again.  So you can just imagine the van ride conversation.  I already was feeling kinda off, w/ Dad dropping off the sixth grader and all.  (Mr. nonverbal still hasn't given me a drop-off report, or picture.  He probably didn't take one...even though it's sixth grade, and our last kid in that school.  Men.)

I park on the street perpendicular to the school.  We all unload.
"Hey, I told you guys to wait.  Mr. 4th grader, you need to keep your first grade sister with you.  I will be walking to school with you until you do!" (Eye roll, smirk, then semi-glare.  He does slow down and take her hand though.  I call that a win.)
We get to the door.
"I love you guys.  Have a great day! Not you littlest man, you stay with me!  Your first day isn't until Wednesday."

Then Si guy and I head to Kindergarten.  His teacher is Ms. J.  I walk in the room.  There are frogs everywhere, just like in Mrs. S room at our old school.  He unloads his supplies, and has a frog to color while she has her meeting....except he's done coloring before it starts.  She has books there for him to look at, but reading silently isn't his strong point.  So now all the parents know Si already can recognize his letters and a few words. I turn over his frog so he can draw, but he spills his crayons.  Yet he gets down and picks them up without being asked.  Thankfully, at about this point, she ends her speech, reiterating the importance of coming to back-to-school-night to sign up for stuff.
He is impressed by the faucet thingies that turn the classroom sinks into drinking fountains, the snap-together popsicle letters, and the "Mom!  She has legos!" moment was my favorite.  He has to touch everything.
"Mom what's this? It looks like a hand!"
"It's a pointer."  He uses it to point to the numbers on the calendar.
"13!  Mom, there's 13!"
"Uh-huh.  That's the date today.  August 13th. Look she has the numbers up to the first day of school.  What number is that?
"55!"
"Uh, no honey.  It's 15.  Two days from now is the fifteenth.  That's your first day."
"Yay!"
"It's time to go now.  She's going to have another group soon."
I predict I'm going to have to say that exact sentence again in May.