Single Girl Supper

When the fellows in my house go out of town to have fun - fishing, watching a NASCAR race, camping, or some such "boy stuff" I'd rather leave to the two of them - I usually putter around all day, doing this and that. At the end of the day, we live far enough out that it's not convenient to run out and grab a dinner to go. Besides, I usually have dirt under my fingernails from digging in the garden all day. The guys turn up their noses, but it's my idea of fun.

So, back to supper. When I get hungry enough about sundown, I'll find a few leftovers or whip up something "girly" that no one else in the house would ever consider fit to be called supper.

Here's what happened the other weekend when they ran off to the racetrack.

Leftover quiche from the meal I made the same morning, heirloom cherry tomatoes, and leftover grilled shrimp from the previous night. If there was any testosterone in the house, I would have been run out for suggesting this was a proper supper.

It was just right for me.

Here's one version of my quiche, but you can use just about anything you have on hand. I believe this one was ham and Swiss cheese.

Sometimes it's great to live simply, eat simply, and save money.

Have a wonderful day.
Love,
TCB

Best Friends

Best Friends

Have a happy day. Call or see your best friend!

Love,

TCB

A Present for Me

Over the holiday weekend, our kitty cat, Miss Pitty Pat, brought me a present. I was minding my own business, taking a break on the front porch wicker chair when she decided it was the right time to present it.

Hmmmmmmmmm..........What kind of presents do Pitty Pats bring? (Warning to City Girls: Look away now if you get squeamish easily).

Let me tell you, she just plopped it right down at my feet.


I think I was supposed to show my total pleasure, but I wasn't sure how I should do it. At first, I was a little mortified because as a mother, my first thought was of the poor baby bunny's mother. What was she thinking?

Miss Pitty Pat pretended to show indifference, but I could tell she was proud to bring it to me. So I petted her head and said, "What a great hunter you are! Thank you!"

Then I thought about where I had left the shovel so I could kindly take it away.

After a full minute ticked by, and I didn't pounce upon the little bunny and eat it (well, of course not!), Miss Pitty Pat snatched it back up and ran off with it.

I"d like to say that was the end of the story, but later that night, under cover of darkness, I found her doing what all country cats do with their prize hunts.

I'll leave out the details. Let's just say she wasn't interested in dry kitty food for supper that night.

Oh, my. And I thought mothers developed a tough mind and stomach as a result of what their little boys put them through. Apparently, the pets help out, too.

Happy short week to you!

TCB

Five-Minute Southern Slaw

It's just starting to heat up in South Carolina. Once it hits the mid-80s, there's no going back until October. It's helpful when I can fix a quick side that doesn't heat up the kitchen by not using the oven. Tonight, I made Southern Slaw to fit the bill. It's also a nice dish to make when soccer practice (in our case, swim team practice) keeps you away from home until it's actually past time to eat dinner. Having quick fix meals on the routine menu are necessary around my house.

Other than my mom's slaw, I've never seen anyone use tomatoes in a slaw recipe. I want you to try it; the addition of tomatoes in a cabbage-based slaw adds a little something extra nice.

Five-Minute Southern Slaw

1/2 head of cabbage
two tomatoes cut into chunks
salt and pepper to taste
sprinkle of white wine vinegar
pinch of sugar
2-3 Tbsp. light olive-oil mayonnaise
1-2 tsp. mustard

Wash and cut the half cabbage into two wedges. Slice each wedge into thin strips and put them in a large mixing bowl. Add the mayonnaise and mustard to suit your taste, until the cabbage is no longer dry but is not saturated. Toss well with a set of salad tongs or two forks. Then add the vinegar, salt, pepper, and sugar to taste. Last, add the tomato chunks and toss lightly together. Serves 4.

I served this last night with baked chicken strips and sweet potato fries. It would also pair well with baked or fried fish or in place of a side salad with an entree.

Enjoy!

Have a happy day,
TCB

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Tilapia for Supper

When the River Floods

We had lots of rain last week. After a couple of days of heavy rain, with the addition of heavy rains upstream from our house, the banks of the river flooded.

The land on this side of the far trees used to be all green grass.

Suddenly, the fire pit was under water. We held our breath to see if it would make it or be swept away with the current.

After about two days, the water receded. The fire pit made it - and so did the canoes. Yahoo!

While the water was swirling around on our land, my son did what any good red-blooded country boy would do.

He went fishing and caught a bream.

And saved a baby turtle by expediting its trip down to the water. (Baby T had just hatched up on the hill and was making its way down to the water).

There's so much to learn in the country even when homeschool is not officially in session!

Love,
TCB

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Something's Burning in the Country

Save Money on Family Night

We are on a mission to pay off our house mortgage. We're pretty close, so we're being extra frugal. It's our habit to eat out on Friday nights, but we're mixing it up a little now. Sometimes, we will just eat in and save lots of cash. Haven't you noticed how expensive restaurant meals have gotten?

More infrequent dining out can save some serious cash over the course of a year. We aren't cutting out restaurants altogether, of course. To keep me out of the kitchen on Friday nights, I sometimes resort to pizza. Most frozen pizza is not that tasty, however, and we live far enough out that no pizza delivery guy will make the trip. Plus, delivery is kind of cheating, and that doesn't save very much money.

You all have read about my good experiences shopping at Aldi and the grocery dollars I am able to stretch because of it. I have mostly enjoyed my purchases from the store, but there is one thing I buy at Aldi my family loves.

Pizza!

Aldi's brand of refrigerated pizza from the deli case is very good. In fact, we like it better than many restaurants' versions. I can walk out of the store with two huge pizzas, feed my family for pizza/movie night, have leftovers for lunch the next day, and spend only $10.

Pizza is a special treat food - I admit it's not the healthiest choice out there - but it makes for an inexpensive, fun family night.

When I pay off the mortgage, I'll invite y'all to a big party on the deck.

Love,
TCB

Something's Burning in the Country

When living in a rural area with a few acres to tend, it's inevitable there will be heavy yard work and maintenance. We are surrounded by hardwood trees, which are quite beautiful but sometimes messy. Take for instance spring pollen season. (We're finished this season, hallelujah! Here's how I deal with that and the mess it makes.)

Besides pollen, our hardwood trees often fall. Whenever we have heavy rains followed by heavy wind, I close my eyes and start praying they'll fall the other way. And by other way, I mean NOT on my roof.

We have found a solution to lots of excess wood.

The pyromania evident in my son from a young age is very satisfied.

Mr. Country Belle, however, needed something larger for the land down by the river.

Why do men like fire so much?

If I lived here alone, I probably would never build a fire. I would just call a nice, burly man with a chainsaw and a big truck. Oh wait, I have that now, only Mr. Country Belle has never been accused of being burly. (I feel a hint of dislike coming on for someone close to *ahem* a certain age that doesn't think twice about weight gain. But I digress....)

Here's the story:

Just a few days ago, Mr. Country Belle said to me (casually, I might add): "The tree in the side yard looks dead. I don't see any leaves on it."

I didn't notice the lack of leaves. After all, spring just started and the tree was lively and healthy last year.

I took a peek.

Uh-oh. I smell something burning.

Happy Day to you! (I'll be out in the side yard trying to nurse a tree back to life before Mr. Country Belle gets back with the chainsaw).

Love,
TCB