Sunday Night Chit-Chat

I found this delightful quote on Pinterest...duh! I LOVE Pinterest but have to time myself or I could be there FOR HOURS! Anyway, I love this quote! My calendar in the kitchen is the Mary Engelbreit Wit and Whimsy 2012 Calendar. The picture for September shows a girl at a door with a "B" on it. The quote at the bottom says "Life is all about Plan B." And isn't that the truth?!!! So the quote above fit right in with what I have been looking at on the calendar all month:)

Oh how I love the Sunday Night Chit-Chat started each week by the sweet and very talented Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I love participating. I thought I might not get to participate this week because of traveling to my daughter's but put the trip off a day so I could get a little more done in preparation for my trip. So here I am and there you are; let's get started!

I am...

Reading...Dear John by Nicholas Sparks (nearly finished) and still reading Hiking Thru by Paul Stutzman as our read=a=loud (LOVE this book). Also went to the library this week and checked out audio books for my trip...The Confession by John Grisham; Twelve Times Blessed by Jacquelyn Mitchard (first time for me with this author) and Lethal by Sandra Brown. I will likely only listen to one but got three just in case. I also checked out Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders--will I read or actually MAKE something?!!!

Listening to...
Rocky, our English Bulldog, snoring! I hear that a lot:)

Watching...
Cooking/Baking...Busy cooking day getting ready for my trip: 

• Whole Wheat Bread
• Granola (daughter's favorite)
• Gluten Steaks (another daughter fave)
• Banana Bread
• Oatmeal Cookies

Happy I accomplished this week...

• I made it through a whole week with hubby away and minimal contact! He was in a remote location with no cell service and no land line so had to wait for him to get where he could call me. Now, some you are thinking "what's the big deal!" However, we live off-grid with a small wind generator, solar arrays and a diesel generator. I am fine unless something goes wrong. Thankfully nothing did. Everything worked fine and there were no storms (I don't know how to shut the whole system done)! 
• I made 20 thank you cards and 2 sympathy cards. Still need 2 birthday cards.
• Cleaned out my appliance cupboard
• I made it through a memorial service without Kleenex. Why I go to weddings and funerals without Kleenex is beyond me:(

Looking forward to next week...A whole week with daughter and granddaughter!!! Plus will visit a dear friend overnight Friday:) Lots to look forward to.

Thankful for today...Hubby's home!!!

**Bonus Question**

What is the grossest thing I have ever eaten?
I think canned peas has to top that list. Pair that with liver and you have a double gross!!! My mom used to serve liver with canned peas at least twice a month. Double yuck!!!

Thank you for visiting! 

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good Morning and Happy Monday to you! Maybe THAT will put me in the mood for a Happy Monday! Hubby got out the door this morning for a week of work that will be out of cell phone range. Sure hope all goes well on the home front! I went back to be after he left since 3:30 is just a bit early for me to get up in the morning! 

Yes, I know I promised some cards today but I REALLY wanted to participate in Happy Homemaker Monday so will do the cards a little later today...promise!

Happy Homemaker Monday is started each week by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom so let's get started!

The weather...It's 58 degrees (F) outside right now and is supposed to be near 80 today. This is what is predicted for us all week. Just about perfect:)

On my reading pile...Currently reading Dear John by Nicholas Sparks. Found it at the thrift store last week:) Also on my reading pile are a few magazines...Vegetarian Times, Stampin' Success and Better Homes & Gardens--all arrived in the mail last week!

On my TV...Not sure. Hubby's gone so most likely a couple of Chick Flicks:)

On the menu this week...
Monday--Potato Corn Chowder (can't wait any longer for it to cool off) with veggie Corn Beef & Sauerkraut sandwiches
Tuesday--Tacos
Wednesday--Corn Pancakes, eggs and veggie sausage
Thursday--Eating out
Friday--Tacos again (I told hubby I wanted to eat them every day while he was gone:D)
Saturday--Gluten Steaks (Seitan), salad and ?
Sunday--Leaving for daughter's so whatever she fixes:) I will be taking Gluten Steaks and Granola to her house!

On my to do list...Since Hubby's gone, the list is long:

• Laundry (usual--always laundry)
• Clean refrigerator
• Shampoo carpet
• Clean up messy piles in bedroom
• Wash some windows
• Make cards--sympathy, birthday, thinking of you, thank you, Design Team

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating...I don't have anything started at the moment but plan to spend the next two afternoons making cards and the following two afternoons sewing so will see what I get made!

Homemaking Tip...I know it's not winter yet and I don't even like to think about winter coming but the hint I found on Carolina Charm should make winter just a little easier:

 How to ice-proof your windows. Fill a spray bottle with three parts vinegar to one part water and spray on your car windows at night. In the morning, they should be clear of the icy mess.  How does it work? Vinegar contains acetic acid, which raises the melting point of water – preventing water from freezing. What to do if you wake up to an already frozen car? Just spray the mixture on your window and watch it melt.

Looking around the house...Coffee table is a little messy from hubby's mad dash to get everything packed; dogs are outside; all is quiet:)

From the camera...

Rocky and his new friend:) He chewed up his penguin so Scott brought him home this supposedly super heavy duty stuffed pig. However, he already has a hole chewed in the ear and the tail won't last long! You should see him try to jump on the sofa with the pig's ear in his mouth:D Such a funny dog!!!

On my prayer list...

• Sick friends
• Hubby working away from home this week
• That I will get lots done while hubby is away this week

Bible Verse; Devotional...

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3

Thank you for visiting this morning. I hope you will check out Sandra's Happy Homemaker Monday and come back later today for TWO more Holiday Catalog Swap cards:)

Kat

Gluten Steaks

When I went to visit my daughter last month she had a list of things she wanted me to bring or make while I was there:

• Granola (recipe here)
• Raisin Bread
• Mizidra (recipe here)
• Apple Pie
• Gluten Steaks (also called Seitan--pronounced SAY-tawn)

Her very sweet neighbor came over to try the Gluten Steaks and pronounced them good. She is a Follower of my blog and asked me to post the recipe so here goes!

GLUTEN STEAKS

1 1/2 cups cold water

1 small onion

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup wheat germ

1/2 tsp salt

1 Tbsp chicken-like seasoning (I use Bill's Best)

1 Tbsp nutritional yeast

1 Tbsp soy sauce

1 Tbsp peanut or almond butter

Blend above ingredients in blender for one minute. Pour into bowl and add 2-3 cups gluten flour. Mix well. Form a long roll, wrap in plastic and refrigerate one hour to overnight. Slice in 1/3" slices and drop in boiling broth. Boil 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Boiling Broth for Gluten

8 cups water

1/2 cup soy sauce

Add any or all of the following ingredients:

• 2 cloves fresh garlic
• 1 Tbsp granulated onion
• 1 tsp marjoram
• 1/4 tsp thyme

Bring to boil before adding the gluten. As stated above, boil gluten for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

When gluten is finished boiling, bread with your favorite breading mix and fry like you would chicken fried steak. Best served with mashed potatoes and gravy but my daughter eats them cold out of the refrigerator:)


I hope you enjoy this recipe! Kat