Wednesday 17 December 2014

Something to Ponder....

"Becoming Minimalist' is spot on when he wrote this:

"....what would happen if we stopped getting embarrassed over the wrong things and started pursuing the right things?

What if, instead of being embarrassed over the brand of our clothing, we became embarrassed over the size of our walk-in closet?

What if, instead of being embarrassed over the type of car we drive, we became embarrassed over how often we take that luxury for granted?

What if, instead of being embarrassed because our house is too small, we became embarrassed over the amount of unused space within it?

What if, instead of being embarrassed over the quality and quantity of our possessions, we became embarrassed over how much money we have spent on our own selfish pursuits?

What if excess became the embarrassment? And responsible living that championed generosity became the norm?

Maybe then, we could become a little more proud of normal."

Wednesday 10 December 2014

Cheesy Ham, Potato and Green Bean Casserole

This is a great recipe - down to earth ingredients and a good dish to take to someone needing a meal. This recipe is probably good for six but can easily be adapted for more. No store bought creamed soups for this recipe - just homemade goodness :-)

1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 chopped onion
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp. pepper
salt to taste (maybe about 1/2 tsp)
3 cups milk
1-1/2 cups shredded old cheddar cheese
5 cups potatoes, diced and cooked
4 cups green beans, cooked
2 cups cooked ham, diced
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
1/2 cups bread crumbs (I add a bit of paprika)

Melt butter with onion until bubbly and then stir in the flour. Mix well with a fork until well blended. At this point, I take the pan off the heat for a bit and very slowly mix in the milk. Over medium heat, and stirring constantly, heat until bubbly and thickened. Remove from heat, add the cheese and stir well.
Put potatoes in greased 9x13 baking dish, top with green beans, and then ham.
Pour cheese sauce over evenly.
Melt butter and stir in bread crumbs with any seasonings you may like. Sprinkle over casserole.
Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

What is your favorite casserole recipe?