Lazy Day Beef Stew

2 lbs. stew beef

3-4 medium potatoes (peeled and cubed)
3 large carrots sliced
1 large onion cut into wedges
1 stalk celery chopped
1 clove garlic (or garlic powder to taste)
oregano to taste
1 large can V-8 Juice
2Tbsp corn starch for thickening

Arrange the stew beef in your Celebrating Home Bean Pot in a single layer and season with bit of salt and pepper to taste. Add all of the cut-up vegetables on top of the meat. Dot with the minced garlic (or sprinkle on garlic powder) and oregano (you can add any other seasonings that your family likes, as well). Mix the corn starch with the V-8 and pour over the vegetables and beef. Cover and bake at 300 degrees for 4-5 hours. DELISH!!!

Simple Joys

The older I get it seems like the more I enjoy and appreciate the simple little moments in life. I just walked out of my little office on the way to my kitchen to put on a fresh pot of the "daily brew" and happened to glance up into our family room (you know, the room I generally refer to as the "wreck" room~lol). No one was up yet so the room still looked like it did when my sweet hubby and I left it to climb the stairs for the night. The blanket I used to cover up with was still on the sofa, our two snack plates and cups were still on the side table between the sofa and his big recliner. Caleb's snack plate and glass was still on the coffee table. In my younger days I would have fussed and fumed a bit about what a mess it was in there, but being older has given me a slightly different perspective on the whole matter. As I surveyed the jumble of items in their disarray a sweet smile came across my face as I remembered the evening before and the conversations we had while we gathered in that little room. Hubby playing his favorite video game, Caleb and I cheering him on as he reached the goal. I thought about the good little snack we shared together, simple popcorn and my hubby had two muffins left from our breakfast. Coffee in the cups for us and milk for Caleb. Just a sweet simple evening at home for our little family. I will get everything picked up by the afternoon; dishes washed, blanket folded and tucked away, video game put back into place. But for now, I am just taking a minute to relish the moment. God bless and hope that you are all having a sweet day!

Finding Order for My Days...

Good morning friends! I am sitting here with a good cup of Black Cherry tea and Thanking God for this beautiful Saturday morning!!! I have had a rather busy week for a Work-at-home girl and have really accomplished much including my new work schedule and the schedule for our upcoming homeschool year. During the summer months we "unschool", if we must put a label on it~lol! Caleb has many interests and he has plenty of time each day to learn on his own about them. However, come the middle of August we get back to "regular lessons" and learning in a way which is a bit more structured. I really have to be organized with this or we tend to "NO-school", though I do have strong beliefs that children are learning all the time and especially when they are involved in discussions and activities with their parents, friends and family. But, those formal "lessons" are so very important, also and that is why I have taken time this past week to get a schedule worked out for them and a new schedule for my work, as well. I feel so relieved to finally have it down on paper, There is a wonderful sense of accomplishment and freedom that comes from developing some kind of order for your days. My schedule is not a strict, "must follow" set of rules by the minute, rather a structured guideline for the day and the week that has plenty of flexibilty built in for those times where life throws you a curve ball and you have to head quickly in another direction for a bit. I realize that some days may very well include other activities: field trips, family outings, friend days, family emergencies, etc., but the schedule gives me the sense of order I so need to keep things on track in a reasonable way from day to day. I took early morning until 8:30 for my computer time to greet friends on FB and to promote my work-at-home business pages, then 9:00am to 10:00am for our breakfast time together as my hubby and son get up. The official school day begins at 10:00 and will last until lessons are finished (sometimes 2 hours, sometimes 3, depending on the lessons and the willingness of "the boy" to get on with them ;-), I worked in time for Caleb to spend on the computer after lessons so that he can work on some of his favorite online activities (he loves games where you build~Blockland, Legos and the like) and that is when I will record what we have done for the day, work on my writing (by hand in my notebook) and do some cleaning. The late afternoon (somewhere around 3:00pm-5:00pm) will be my afternoon time on the computer M-F for getting my writing typed out, blogging, more online business promo time and to catch up with friends, email and the like. I have 5:00 set as my time to prepare or finish preparing our supper. I do love to cook in our crock-pot or sometimes prepare meals early in the day and put them in the fridge so that can just pop them into the oven to bake for an hour or so later in the day, so this is the time I will go in to finish out the meals I have started and to add those final little touches to them. Our evenings are always spent together talking, watching favorite shows, sometimes playing games together, so I have left the time from 6:00pm til bedtime open for whatever we choose. I have taken Thursday as the day I go to my mom's for her weekly shopping trip and Robin is taking Friday for his mom if she needs him (he and his sister each take time with my MIL, so that alternates a bit) or for family outings with us). I am feeling really good about all of this. I am so ready for a little order in my life. Hope you are having a beautiful Saturday.

Until next time, Stay Cozy,
Charlotte

Feeling Better

Good morning, dear friends! It has been a bit since I posted anything here and I wanted to take a minute to write a little "blog letter" to you and let you know how we are and what has been happening here at our Cozy Home Cottage. After our sweet week-end with the little grandson a couple of week-ends ago, we (all three of us, hubby, son and myself) ended up with a most horrible case of a summer cold or flu-bug or something of that sort. All I know for sure is that it was really bad and has left us feeling "shaken-not stirred"-to paraphrase James Bond. I am still waking up mornings with a cough and we are just now starting to feel "human" again. I HATE summer colds! Well, I have been drinking plenty of tea and hot chicken soup and we have done real well to keep up our regular housework and such. I will just be glad to get back to feeling good and not coughing when I take a deep breath. Hubby and son are feeling much better, as well.

On Sunday I fixed one of our favorite summer-time lunches; Imitation Crab Salad. My mother-in-law taught me how to make this and I have made several variations through the years. It is a versitile little recipe and one of those simple little pasta salads that you can throw together and then heap up a big serving in a bowl or on a salad plate and enjoy as a casual little lunch or snack with your favorite salad crackers. The recipe makes a ton of salad and it keeps for 3-5 days covered in the refrigerator, so you can snack on it for a couple of days or so. Here is the recipe:

Imitation Crab Salad

16 oz box of Shell Macaroni
2 cups imitation crab meat chopped
1/2 cup onion
1/2 cup green/yellow/red pepper (mixed)
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 small can sliced black olives
8 oz shredded colby-jack cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 cup Miracle Whip
Seasonings to taste:
1 teaspoon or more Cajun Seasoning mix
1 teaspoon or more Seasoned Salt
1 teaspoon or more Garlic and Onion Seasoning mix

Cook the pasta according to the package directions (boil for about 8-9 minutes)
Pour the cooked pasta into a collander to drain and rinse with cold water. Finish draining
and then pour the pasta into a large (3 quart or larger) covered serving dish.
Add all the other ingredients and stir well to mix them together.
Cover and chill the salad in your refrigerator for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to blend.
This salad is even better the next day!!! Easy and just yummy!!!

I hope to post more later this week. I did want to ask you all to do me a big favor and remember me in your prayers as this is June and it will be a bit of a challenge for me this year. Father's Day was always such a big deal to me and my dad~I used to always call him early and wish him a "Happy Pappy's Day" and I am still crying sporadically whenever I get to missing him too bad. Also, June 27th was his Birthday and I know that day will be a HUGE challenge. I know that memories get  sweeter with time, but right now I am still really missing our visits and just picking up the phone to talk to him. He was so very dear to me. Sorry, I just had it on my mind and wanted to ask you to remember me. You are all very dear to me, too and I appreciate your prayers and concern for me. I will talk to you all again, soon.

Until next time, Stay Cool and Cozy ;-)
Charlotte

What's New and What's Cookin'

Hello and good morning!!! I hope that you are all well and having a wonderful Monday (even if you are having gloomy, rainy weather like we are here ;-) I wanted to take a moment out of my day to post a little recipe and to tell you about our week-end. We had a special house-guest here with us, our grandson Hunter! His momma called us Friday afternoon and wanted to know if he could spend the weekend with us. Well, you know me when it comes to the grandkids, I might fuss for a few minutes, but I almost always give in. I LOVE those kids!!! (I grouse a bit, just to keep their parents from thinking that old mom is a push-over~lol~now keep my secret~ssshhh ;-) We had a GREAT time on Saturday at our favorite local park, Wine Cellar in Dunbar. This is the park that Caleb and I have always called our "Hundred Acre Wood". There are wonderful paths and little bridges over the creek there, just right for playing a quick game of "Pooh sticks" when Caleb was small. The city had a "Day at the Park" event there this weekend to celebrate National Park Day and there was a fishing contest, the fire department provided a little fire pit and the fixin's for making SMORES and our police had a bicycle safety class for the kids and gave away free helmets to the kids. It was a very pleasant day! The BEST part was when Hunter caught the first fish of the day and won a Rapala fishing lure~he was THRILLED!!! We were so proud of him! Here are a couple of photos from our day:

Saturday morning I fixed a little casserole for our breakfast, just something quick and easy but it was DELICIOUS and so I thought I would share it today for my What's Cookin' recipe. Hope you enjoy it:

Quick and Easy Potato and Egg Casserole

6 slices of bread
6 eggs
1cup milk
1 15oz can sliced potatoes (or fresh potatoes sliced thin)
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup shredded Colby-Jack cheese
McCormick Grill Mates Garlic Onion seasoning

Spray or coat with a thin layer of oil a 9" X 11" pan (you could use a 9' x 9" pan)
Place the bread in the bottom of the pan.
Add the potaoes and spread in an even layer and then the onions.
Beat the eggs and the milk together until well blended and pour over the potatoes, onions and bread.
Top with the cheese and sprinkle with the Grill Mates seasoning to taste.
Bake for 45 minutes in an oven pre-heated to 350 degrees until the eggs are set and the cheese is melted and golden.

I am still working on those fabric yo-yos, but haven't taken any photos, yet. Will post some as soon as I take a minute to snap a couple.

Until next time, Stay Cozy!
Charlotte

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY,


May 10, 2011

Outside my window...

So far it looks like it is going to be another beautiful SPRING day! It was lovely yesterday and the temperature was ever so pleasant. Just the right kind of weather for sitting in the rockers on my front porch! :-)
I am thinking...

About all that I am going to try and get done around my sweet cottage home today. I have a few choice chores to do and I am going to try and clean out the closet in my office/ craft room/ homeschool room. If you do not hear from me after today, you will know that I am probably stuck in there behind the piles of stuff~lol. I have been meaning to clean that closet for quite some time now (blush).
I am thankful for...

The sweet life that I have with my family and for God's providence.

From the learning rooms...

We are finishing up our lessons and putting the last finishing touches on Calebs 6th Grade portfolio. We are set to have his annual review this coming Saturday. He is so very excited and looking forward to meeting with the very dear lady that has done our reviews every year since we started homeschooling. We do not have to take him with us to the review, but he really loves this special lady and is always ready to tell her all about his school year. She is a blessing to us. Can't wait to see you Sandy!

From the kitchen...

I am having a bowl of "Go-gurt" (plain yogurt with granola) and a cup of warm Apple Cinnamon tea~mmmm! We are having Navy beans and a BIG pan of Mexican Cornbread for our supper this evening. Sweet simplicity!!!

I am wearing...

My favorite trusty gown with the little rosebuds on it. I will be putting on my good old jeans and a tee shirt in a bit to get started on my day.

I am creating...

Caleb's portfolio and trying my hand at fabric yo-yos. I am hoping to make them into a quilt or a pretty pillow. Will keep you posted on how that turns out.
I am going...

Nowhere today, too much to do around the old cottage.

I am reading...

A Pocketful of Hope devotional book by Mary C. Crowley, my favorite old magazines and poetry books.
I am hoping...

That I survive my venture into that closet today. I keep thinking of the old, old radio program, "Fibber McGhee and Molly" when Fibber would say, "Boy, I've got to clean out that closet".....
We have a number of these old radio shows on cassette tape and love to listen to them every now and again. They are just so FUNNY!

I am hearing...

Sweet birdsongs, my good old computer humming away and many other little sounds of the morning.
Around the house...

Back to doing the regular cleaning schedule and glad that the heavy spring cleaning is done. We sprayed down our porch and scrubbed the porch furniture a couple of week-ends ago. It feels so nice to have everything fresh and clean out there. My hubby may be mowing our yard today, depends on how the weather holds out.
One of my favorite things...


Fresh baked bread, any kind! Looking forward to that Mexican Cornbread this evening. Fresh baked goods always make a house smell like HOME!
A few plans for the rest of the week:

Finishing the portfolio and going for our review, maybe taking a few walks around the neighborhood, planning to get in some time at our favorite local park....one never knows what the week will bring.


Here is picture for thought I am sharing...



Weeping Cherry tree
Picture taken at the Blenko Glass Factory
in Milton, WV a few weeks ago during
a homeschool field trip.

 I hope you have enjoyed this week's Daybook post. If you would like to participate in the Simple Woman's Daybook then visit sweet Peggy's blog to learn how to get started. Once again, my thanks to Peggy for hosting the Daybook.


Sending you warm HUGS!!! Stay Cozy,

Charlotte

Mother's Day Greetings

Just taking a minute to stop by my humble little blog to wish all of my dear friends a Very Happy Mother's Day week-end! I hope that each of you will have a wonderful week-end and a Mother's Day filled with beautiful moments and memories!

 

20 Ways to Refresh with Color

Good morning dear friends!!! I woke up this morning with a million decorating ideas on my mind. I always enjoy waking up with a mind filled with inspiration. This has not been the case lately as I have been having some pretty wierd dreams at night. Nothing really bad or horribly dark, just WEIRD. For example, night before last I dreamed that some of our friends were excited because they had a new pet ELEPHANT....see, I told you, WIERD! Anyway, it was a very nice change to wake up toughts of beautiful color schemes, pretty patterns and ideas for fresh new rooms dancing in my head! Well imagine how excited I was when I opened the email newsletter from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine to see this idea filled article:

20 Ways to Refresh with Color

I simply fell in LOVE with the rooms featured there!!! Makes me want to get out the old sketch book and see what I can come up with!!! Hmmmm.....

Hope that you are feeling refreshed and inspired as well.

Until later, Stay Cozy,
Charlotte

All in a Day's Work

Hello to all of you and I hope you are having a sweet day! We have been busy with our deep spring cleaning around the old Cozy Home. My hubby and I got an industrious notion to take down everything in the bathroom yesterday and scrub the walls. My sweet hubs filled up a bucket with good warm soapy water with vinegar added to it, grabbed the scrub brush and got busy scrubbing away! God has blessed me with an awesome man!!! I took the shower curtain, window curtains, rug and decorative towel sets to be washed, wiped down the pictures and dusted off the little silk arrangements. Before we finished yesterday I had scrubbed down the tub and the surround as well as the sink and the "water closet" and gave the floor a good mopping. We were really tired when the evening came around. My feet were swollen and my shoulders ached, but it felt nice to know we had accomplished the task. We had a wonderful supper of homemade beef and veggie soup that we had put on earlier in the day just before we started our "clean fest". We just put everything in the bath back together this morning and it feels so good and fresh in there. I almost don't want to leave the room. I can't wait to finish cleaning all of our rooms this way!

Today we have been working on some other every day cleaning that needed tending. The sweeper, more laundry, etc. I was just about TWITTERY when our mail ran today and I found a copy of the NEW Celebrating Home Summer Catalog there! OH, MY GOODNESS!!!! There are so many new and wonderful items and collections added!!! We are getting an AWESOME garden cloche with an optional stand so that it can be used as a candle centerpiece, a new GORGEOUS collection designed by Pamela Scurry , as well as a great collection of nature and bird inspired accessories called th  "Nature's Song" collection!!! I think this is our prettiest catalog EVER! I can't wait 'til they post some photos of the newest items on the web site so that I can share them with you all! They will be available to purchase starting April 15th.

Before I end my post today, I wanted to share a couple of recipes that I have tried out lately. One is for a casserole and one is for a salad, they are BOTH just yummy! First the casserole:

Chicken and Vegetables Au Gratin

6-8 pieces of chicken (thighs or breast meat)
1 large package frozen California Mix vegetables (broccoli, califlower and carrots)
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1 jar Ragu Cheese Sauce

In a skillet with a bit of oil, brown the chicken pieces on both sides. When brown, place the chicken in your slow cooker or Bean Pot and season to taste with Seasoned Salt, pepper, onion powder and powdered chicken bullion. Open the package of frozen vegetables and pour them over the chicken. In a separate bowl, mix together the chicken soup and the cheese sauce stirring until well blended and pour the mixture over the vegetables and chicken in the Bean Pot. Cover with the lid and place into an oven warmed to 325 degrees for aprox. 2 hours. Serve with a salad and dessert!

We had this for dinner Saturday and there wasn't a bite left! MMMmmm, GOOD! The salad recipe is one that I had last week with a group of friends. Here it is:

Carol's Berry Good Salad

1 package Mixed Spring Greens salad mix
2 cups sliced Strawberries
2 cups blueberries
1 can Mandarin Orange slices, drained
2 cups Feta Cheese
1 can Butter Toffee Pecan peices (I believe she used Planters Brand)
1 jar Marzetti's Poppy Seed dressing

Wash the salad greens and the fruit and allow to air dry. In a 9x13 Casserole Dish, place the salad greens first and then layer with the Strawberries, Orange Slices, Blueberries, Pecans and top with Feta Cheese. Allow guests to spoon the dressing over their individual servings. This salad can be served alone or as a side dish. Simply wonderful!!!

It feels so good to be back to posting. I enjoy reading your wonderful blogs and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

Until later, Stay Cozy,
Charlotte

This Week's Simple Woman's Daybook Entry

FOR TODAY, March 22, 2011


Outside my window...

The sun is just starting to come up and light the day. The sky is a beautiful shade of azure blue.

I am thinking...

That I am a VERY blessed woman, indeed!

I am thankful for...

The arrival of SPRING!!!!! I am also very thankful for every good BLESSING that God has given me in my life!

From the learning rooms...

Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally (Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction) This little phrase is helping us to remember the order of operation for solving algebraic equations. Thank goodnes for mneumonics! Sometimes we need all the help we can get.

From the kitchen...

Fixing a BIG pot of Chili to take to my weekly women's Bible study.

I am wearing...

My favorite blue toile printed tee shirt and jeans. I have had this tee forever and it is still my very favorite. The pattern includes cornflowers and little hearts and butterflies, so pretty!

I am creating...

A home, a place for my family and friends to gather and create sweet memories.

I am going...

To a Civil War reenactment with a group of homeschool friends this coming Friday! I love going on homeschool field trips.

I am reading...

Lots of poetry this week and lots of blogs along with the books that I mentioned in last week's post (I am a s-l-o-w reader and mull the books over while I am reading them).

I am hoping...

To get my spring cleaning and "shoveling out" done soon! I have our local Union Mission charity coming to pick up the usable items in good condition on Thursday. I pray they will be a blessing to someone.

I am hearing...

The sweet birdsongs that come with this spring season! We have been seeing a good many Robins this week.

Around the house...

Spring Cleaning!!! Emptying closets and drawers, washing down walls and woodwork, cleaning windows, washing curtains!!! It hasn't been that long ago that I did some of these cleaning tasks, but somehow now that SPRING is here it just seems right to do them again!

One of my favorite things...

The first pink blooms on the Weeping Cherry trees around our little town. I am still waiting for the Redbud trees to burst forth in their beautious blooms!

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Cleaning, Bible study, school, field trip and anything else that might present an oportunity.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

I am having a bit of trouble posting pictures on blogger lately for some reason. Maybe next time.

I hope you have enjoyed my humble weekly Daybook post. I do enjoy taking time to set down and get my thoughts together like this every Tuesday. If you would like to participate in the Simple Woman's Daybook then visit sweet Peggy's blog to learn how to get started. Once again, my thanks to Peggy for hosting the Daybook.

Springtime HUGS and Stay Cozy,
Charlotte

Spring Thoughts and a Chicken Recipe

HAPPY SATURDAY, Blog friends!!!

This is a real quick post. I am tooling around on my FaceBook page and just having a lazy last-day-of-winter Saturday. This morning I looked out my window to be thrilled with the first really noticeable haze of soft green on the mountain-side across from my little house in the valley. Last night I heard the song of spring peepers for the first time this year! SPRING is indeed here at long-last!!! (Well, tomorrow is the official first day, but who is counting~lol!) I wanted to share a recipe for Honey Ginger Chicken Stir Fry that someone had posted over at FaceBook. It is from the Recipe Goldmine website! They have some pretty great recipes over there! I love anything with ginger! Here is the link:

honey ginger chicken stir-fry recipe

Hope you are having a BEAUTIFUL day!!! See you again on Monday!!!
(or over at FaceBook :-)

Stay Cozy,
Charlotte

The Simple Woman's Daybook (03-15-2011)

FOR TODAY


Outside my window...
Even though it is now 7:00 AM, the sky is still dark and all is quiet in my little corner of the world. This is the result of turning the clocks forward for Daylight Savings Time this past week-end. I am OK with the change, it just means that SPRING is that much closer~(aaahhhh)!

I am thinking...
That it feels very good to once again have the desire to write. My dry season seems to have ended, at last! Praising God for His wisdom and His goodness in bringing me through that season.

I am thankful for...
The blessings of home and family. Blessings that are so dear and fragile at the same time. I just can't imagine how very different life would be without either of them. I am praying for those affected by all of the earthquakes and floods that we have seen this past few weeks. I am also praying for those in Japan who are suffering devastating loss from the recent tsunami.

From the learning rooms...
I am starting the process of assembling Caleb's portfolio for the year. We are doing some last minute projects that reflect what we have been studying the past few months.

From the kitchen...
I am sipping my morning cup of peach tea and having toast with blackberry jam for my early morning breakfast (mmm). My husband and son will be having waffles with maple syrup when they wake up. I am thinking about making pork barbeque for dinner this evening and fixing home fries and peas with carrots to go with it.

I am wearing...
my good old slacks and a tee shirt.

I am creating...
No crafts going right now.

I am going...
to the Women's Bible study group at our church this morning. We are studying the book of 2 Corinthians.

I am reading...
Laugh Again by Charles Swindoll, 15 Minutes Alone With God by Emilie Barns and the book of Ecclesiastes from the Bible.

I am hoping...
to finish sorting and filling a Celebrating Home fundraiser order this afternoon and to finish a few more entries into my son's homeschool portfolio later today.

I am hearing...
the sounds of the busy world waking up outside. The cars on the road that runs by our home carrying people to their jobs and children to school. I hear the birds softly singing and a soft breeze is blowing. Another day is dawning.

Around the house...
I need to vaccuum the floors, the laundry needs to be carried upstairs to be placed into drawers and closets, we will be cooking and doing dishes as we do each day.

One of my favorite things...
I have so many favorite blessings in life that it is hard to choose just one. This morning I am choosing to mention the way that my tea tastes in the morning! My sweet husband bought Bigelow peach flavored green tea at the store this week and it is just WONDERFUL!

A few plans for the rest of the week:
I am going to attend a Celebrating Home meeting with my Unit Director on Thursday evening and will be delivering items sold for the fundraiser that morning. I am talking with a new client about decorating her living room and we will be having our school lessons each day. I hope to make it to my mom's sometime this week for a visit, as well.

I want to thank our dear blog host Peggy for hosting The Simple Woman's Daybook each week.

Hugs to all and Stay Cozy,
Charlotte

My Official Return :-)

Good morning to ALL!!!

I have resolved to return to the world of Blogging! It has been a very l-o-n-g winter and I have had a lot of personal life changes to work through (as stated in a previous post). I have taken time off to pray, reflect and come to terms with this season of my life and now, I am happy to announce, I am ready to get back on track with this favorite old blog. I have missed posting.

Well, today is Monday, so the BEST place to start is by offering a recipe. This past week-end, my FB friend, Shannon (better known as Epic Gifted Academy) posted some WONDERFUL Mexican recipes! Though they all sound so very tempting, my very favorite had to be the one for Sopes! I had never heard of these delicious little corn-based shells! She states that, " Kids love sopes because they can fill them with any ingredients they want".  Without any further delay, here is the recipe:

Sopes are made from corn (just like a corn tortilla) but are thicker and can be filled up with your favorite ingredients.


Ingredients:

3 cups of Masa Harina (I use the brand Maseca)
2 cups of warm water
1 tbsp salt
Corn oil (for frying)
Toppings

Prep:

Mix your Maseca, water and salt until you get a soft (Playdough-like) dough. I usually have to add more water to get the consistency I want if the masa is too dry. If you get it too moist, you can always add back in a little more masa. Once you're done kneeding out all the dough, let it sit for about 10 mintues. This usually gives me time to clean up and get the rest of the ingredients I need out and on the table.

Make small balls out of the dough (I usually have them fit in my hand, about 2 inches unless I'm making mini-sopes for appetizers). I have a tortilla press but if you don't have a tortilla press, you can lay the ball on a flat surface, put plastic wrap on the bottom and on the top, then press firmly with something flat. You don't want it flat as a tortilla (or pancake) but rather, relatively flat and thick.

Once you have all your sope balls flattened out, get ready to fry them. I do not use a lot of oil but these do require oil to cook (you can always dab them afterwards and absorb much of the oil).

I put a small layer of oil in the pan just so it's entirely coated (about 1/4). You do need to submerge them a little so they cook evenly.

Once you're done frying the sopes, which should not be overcooked or undercooked. You can tell when you look at them. They look like thicker cooked fresh tortillas.

Take them out to cool a little. When they've cooled just enough that you can actually handle them without getting burned, poke your finger or a knife toward the rim of the sope and follow it around (like you're opening a can of soup). Cut with your finger or knife a ridge that leaves a wall on the outside of the sope. The rest you will push in. It ends up looking like a little boat that you can fill. You're going to want to fill the sopes with refried beans (traditional recipe) and you don't want the beans falling out.

Once you have your sopes made, fill them with refried beans (will post another recipe for homemade refried beans so NO ONE buys them in a can, yuck!) and serve them on a platter on the table.

There are many things you can fill your sope with... traditionally speaking, they are filled with cheese (oaxaca or queso fresco - fresh cheese), cream, sliced avocados, diced tomatoes, grated cabbage (not lettuce like they serve stateside), red or green salsa, or meat products (tinga, chile con carne, chicharron)...

Buen provecho!

Thank you, Shannon! These are WONDERFUL!!!

I will see you all tomorrow with my weekly entry in the Simple Woman's Daybook!!!

For now, Stay Cozy!!!
Charlotte

A Re-Post

Good morning Friends,

I was over at my old Cozy Home Journal blog re-reading old posts and I ran across this one. I haven't posted here for a while so I thought I would "recycle" this little post from back in 2008. The recipe that I have listed here is one that we use often in the spring and summer months. I LOVE potato salad, but I don't always have fresh 'taters on hand. This is a QUICK alternative! Hope you are having a sweet Sunday!!! Enjoy the post:

Of Tea and Laundry….


Filed under: My Recipes — Char5 at 11:04 am on Monday, June 9, 2008

I am sitting at my little computer listening to the hum and the swish of the washing machine and the dryer hard at work. I am contemplating on what type of tea I would like while enjoying this quiet time before the dryer stops, forcing me to get up and fold those towels. I love a good cup of tea no matter what I am doing during the day. One of my favorite suppliers for bulk tea can be found here: Atlantic Spice Company at http://www.atlanticspice.com/. They have a WIDE variety of teas and spices to enhance all of your favorite recipes.

I also had a new little recipe that I wanted to post that is a bit unusual, but, if you are a potato salad nut like me, you may appreciate it greatly. I discovered it on a week-end when I was out of fresh potatoes and was really "jonesin’" for some yummy ‘tater salad to go with my famous ‘tater chip chicken. I decided to try using whole canned potatoes instead and was really surprised at the result. I love it when a plan (no matter how kooky) comes together. Here is the recipe:


Charlotte’s In-A-Pinch Potato Salad

2 15oz cans cubed potatoes
1/2 medium onion chopped

1 stalk celery chopped

1/2 C Mayonnaise

1Tblsp Mustard

1-2 Boiled Eggs

Ground pepper, season salt, Mrs Dash to taste

Combine all of the above ingredients in a pretty serving dish and chill for at least one hour.


Take it to your next picnic or church dinner and just see if anyone can tell the difference.


You will be amazed. Enjoy!!!

Stay Cozy!!!
Charlotte

How to Make a Flower Press | eHow.com

As so many of us are experiencing the heavy rain, snows and ice of the most recent winter storm, it is hard to believe that we are just a scant 48 days away from that most blessed season of SPRING!!! I find my mind is turning toward the return of sweet sunny mornings, birds building their nests, that soft green haze of new foliage on the trees of our dear WV mountains and, of course, that miraculous blaze of deep pink on the Redbud trees~ahhh, such sweet thoughts. This year I think that I will try my hand at pressing a few spring flowers to frame and give as gifts to my friends when they need a little "reminder of spring" lift next winter. I did a search to find instructions for making an easy flower press. Here is what I found:

How to Make a Flower Press | eHow.com



I can't wait to get started. Bring on the SPRING flowers!!!!

Hope you are staying warm and COZY,
Charlotte

Return to My Cozy Posts: What's Cookin' Monday!

Good morning to all of my dear friends in the "Land of Blog"! I am going to try my level BEST to return to my regular posts here. I truly do miss getting on here and posting, I am still kind of having a bit of trouble getting words to come. I am afraid part of me is still clinging to my little "safe~shell" but I trying to bust out of there and get back to my normal writing activities. I think my blogging will do me a world of good! I miss posting recipes and decorating ideas and such. I thought I would start with my easiest post of the week: What's Cookin' Monday! I thought and thought and then I remembered a really YUMMY recipe that I had posted about this time last year over on my former Cozy Home Journal blog. It was a really easy crock pot version of one of my favorite Chinese dishes. I don't know if you could cook it in your Celebrating Home Bean Pot, but it would be worth a try! Just remember, in your Bean Pot, you will just need to layer ALL of the ingredients before baking and you will not need to stop cooking to stir. Set the oven to 325 degrees and bake for 3 hours. You can bake your frozen eggrolls in the oven right along with your Bean Pot dish during the last half-hour of baking. Either way, Bean Pot or Crock Pot, this is a really tasty dinner!


What's Cookin' Monday!

Crock Pot Chicken Chow Mein

4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

1 Large Onion sliced in thin wedges

2Tbs Oil (your favorite) though peanut or

sesame are the traditional asian favorites

2 Cups chicken broth

2Tbs Soy Sauce

1 Rounded Tbs Corn Starch

1 12 oz Package Frozen Stir Fry Vegetables

1 can Sliced Mushrooms

1 can Sliced Water Chestnuts

First, cut the chicken breasts into thin slices and the onions into thin wedges and place both in the crock pot with the oil. Season to taste with ground pepper and garlic powder (or you can use minced garlic, if you prefer. Cook the ingredients on the highest setting for about an hour or until the chicken is cooked through. You will want to stir them at least once during their cooking. Next, pour the mixture of the chicken broth, soy sauce and corn starch over the chicken and onions and stir. Add the bag of frozen veggies, water chestnuts and the mushrooms and stir them together. Cover the crock pot and reduce to the medium setting and cook until the sauce thickens and is clear (about 2-3 hours). Serve with rice and frozen egg rolls if you wish.

I would love to see "What’s Cookin’" at your house, too. Hope this inspires you!!!

Big ((HUGS)) and Stay Cozy,
Charlotte

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY: January 12, 2011

Outside my window...
Snow is falling. It looks like our town is being sprinkled with powdered sugar.
I am thinking...
Of all that has changed in my life over the past few months. My sweet kitty, Zoot, became ill in late October and we finally had to say good-bye to her the second week of November. She was 10 years old. My dear cousin lost her husband in November, he was a very dear part of our family. My sweet daddy passed on to be with the Lord on December the 8th after coming to our house with Hospice Care just one week before. We had many wonderful conversations during that week and family members were in and out visiting with him here. He said it was so peaceful at my house. God bless him. I miss my daddy. My brother lost a son and a daughter due to Mitochondrial complications, one in July and one just this past week. His son was 19 and his daughter was 24. It has been a very trying time for us. I have complete faith that each of these dear ones has gone home to be with our Lord, but we are missing them being here with us. I am praying that the coming year will be blessed with good health for all of my family members. I am praising my Lord for his tender mercies and for staying closer than a brother to us all during this season!!!
I am thankful for...
My Lord and Savior who lifts me up when I would surely fall without Him! I am thankful for my dear husband and my family which are gifts from God around me! I am thankful for my warm, cozy, sweet home and all of the bountiful blessings my Father in Heaven bestows upon me each and every day!!!
from the learning rooms...We are studying WV History, reading October Sky, polishing our algebra skills and enjoying Art Day on Fridays. We have been working on a new schedule and I am really pleased with the way it is working for us. I will be blogging more about our Homeschool Days over at my HS blog: Cozy Home Academy
from the kitchen...
Breakfast: Cream of Wheat
Lunch: Tomato soup and sandwiches
Supper: Pork Roast with Veggies
I am wearing...
Pretty new pajamas that my mom bought me for my birthday (December 14th)
I am creating...
A home filled with love and joy; a place where my friends and family love to gather in.
I am going...
to stay here where it is warm today and try to make it out to mid-week service at our church this evening.
I am reading...
The book of 2 Peter in the Bible, Lord Let Me Love, a collection of poems and prose by Marjorie Holmes (1978 Doubleday) and Home Education by Charlotte M. Mason. I just love to read it again, every now and then, in case I forgot something important.
I am hoping...
to start back to my regular blog posts this week and I am praying for my decorating business and online business to increase this coming year. We are in such bad need of a new van or car. Our good old girl (1998 Ford Windstar) is really starting to show her age. I am also hoping to lose some weight this coming year so that I can have more energy. My goal is to lose 50 pounds. I know that is a lot, but if you are going to dream, dream BIG.
I am hearing...
the sweet soft sounds of morning: traffic up on the interstate, our warm furnace kicking on, my good old computer humming away~all so sweet to my ears.
Around the house...
my husband and dear son are beginning to stir upstairs. The house will soon be alive with our busy scuffling about in the kitchen as we begin our day.
One of my favorite things...
A warm cup of good tea on a cold winter's day!
A few plans for the rest of the week:
Housework, cleaning out the upstairs bedrooms (they have become clutter collectors~oops), creating a new wreath for our front door, blog on my Homeschool blog.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

My sweet hubby and son having some fun in the snow!

I pray that each of you will have a Blessed week!!!! A special thank you to Peggy for hosting this Daybook!



Happy New Year, New Beginnings

Hello dear friends. I was just blog browsing and decided to stop by the old blog and put up a small post. I wanted to take time to wish everyone a Happy New Year (it is still early) and hope that all of you had a wonderful and blessed Christmas this past year. I am still not really ready to write a post about all of the changes that happened around the old Cozy Home in the past few months. I tend to grow quiet when I am faced with adversity and changes. Just one of my little character quirks, I guess. I am the kind of person that holds onto events in my heart and will mull things over until I am able to talk about them. I promise to write something soon as I am working on sorting all the events out in my mind. My dear hubby, our little Caleb and myself are all doing well and ready to begin a new year with our focus on finding God's direction for our days. I will try to post more in the next couple of days.

Hugs to all and Stay Cozy,
Charlotte 

Will Return Soon

Dearest friends,

I am taking an extended leave from my dear little blog. My dad is now with us at our home and is very weak. He has been in the hospital all of last week due to failing kidneys and some heart issues. Over the past couple of years he has had several trips to the ER and some long hospital stays with problems varying from blocked carotid arteries, replacement of his defibrilator unit, mini-strokes and a few falls at home that left him a bit bumped up. His appetite is almost gone and he can only swallow soft foods and liquids. He can no longer eat his favorite food, pizza. We have him on Ensure and any soup or juices that he wants. He can eat mashed potatoes and gravy, but that is about it. Sometimes he just takes one or two bites and says that is all he can handle. It is VERY hard for me to see my daddy withering~my big strong daddy....

He says that he is tired of hospitals and doctors and has opted to come here to finish out his life with us. At his request, we have Hospice Care helping us. I am heartsick over it all. He is saved and has been a wonderful witness for our Lord and Savior. He says that he is ready to go home and is just waiting for the Lord to take him there. My mom has her own health problems and just can't handle seeing daddy becoming weaker. She wants to help him, but she is also not as physically strong as she once was. Her wonderful neighbors have been most generous and kind hearted to help take her to doctor's appointments and lend a hand when needed. We are very blessed to know such fine folks! I know that our Lord is faithful and that He will be there with us every step of the way! I am still having some issues with my fibro, but praying that the Lord will sustain me and keep me strong through all of this. I hope to be back sometime in January and maybe put on an occasional quick post just to keep in touch. Keep us in your prayers.

God bless you all and keep cozy,
Charlotte

The Secret Storm...

Good morning dear friends. I am taking time to try and get a new post on my little blog today. I have not been on here for so long that I would bet that some of you thought I had vanished from the Land of Blog. I will assure you that I am still around and have been visiting your dear blog sites to read about what is new with you. So many pretty posts, I love all of those with fall foliage, pretty new household ideas and wonderful stories shared. You girls are all so talented.

It is very hard for me to write my post today. I am having some issues with muscle pain and a horrible headache. I probably should just forget about it and go lie down, but that is what I have done for the past couple of days. I had a really good morning on Tuesday, but then my energy just drained and I ended up taking it easy the rest of the day. I have so much that I would like to get done, so many projects started that are just waiting to be finished. I have been able to work with Caleb on his schooling, but not to the degree that I would have liked to work on things. This is not a new thing for me, but it is part of a larger condition that I rarely mention that has affected me in some degree or another over the past 6 years. I have my good days and then my very painful bad days (those are the ones that no one but very close family and friends ever hear about). Over time, the bad days have become more frequent and painful and I am now going to share that I have, do I dare say it, Fibromyalgia. There, it is out.

I have thought about posting this before, but have hesitated due to the reaction that some have toward the condition. I will tell you that my pain is VERY real and that I have chosen not to take Lyrica at this time. I have made several changes to my diet and would like to make even more. I am working on that. I have a real problem with "signing up" for activities or commitments only to later discover that they are all just too much for me. I would LOVE to do so much more than I am able to do. I have found, however, that when I fill my days with too many activities, I suffer painful retribution for 2-3 days afterward.

I am not meaning to sound negative and I am not hoping for an outpouring of sympathy here, dear friends. I am simply posting this to let you know that if you don't see me around for a while, this is probably the reason. My parents are both at home and doing somewhat better, but are still calling on us to help in taking them to appointments and running some errands. My dad has given up driving, this was very hard for him. I will try to get back to my regular recipe and decorating posts, soon. But for now, I am just hurting and it is hard to think when you hurt. For now I am sending you all hugs and hoping that you are all having a good day and week.

Stay Cozy,
Charlotte