Friday, January 15, 2010

Aunt Brenda's Homemade Chicken or Beef Noodles

Picture is: (L to R) Aunt Brenda, Mom (Joan Hart), Brenda's Daughter Tracy Joan (Davis) McClellan and Cousin Pauline Garrett.
Title: Aunt Brenda's Noodles for Beef or Chicken


Description:I'm going to try & fit her entire letter in here! Here goes and I'm going to write it just like she wrote it to me.


OK Shelly, you wanted to make noodles and I'm going to try and lead you through. You know this would be easier if you were here don't ya? Oh well! Can't blame me for trying to get you out here, I miss you all.


Since you aren't here, here we go, you will need the following:


*A big enough clean area (like kitchen table) to work on.

*An apron on or something that you don't care if you get flour all over the front of you. Don't feel bad! I get flour all over the front of me everytime!

*A rolling pin to roll out noodles

*Big bowl for mixing dough in

*Small bowl to beat up the eggs in

*1 cup measuring cup & 1 Tblsp Measure & 1 tsp measure

*Big sharp knife to cut noodles

*Cutting board to cut noodles on so you don't cut up your table.

*Flour bag or Canister

*Salt box (with salt in it)

*Eggs

*Butter Shortening


Now some tips:


*When you mix up the dough with your hands you can use a little flour to get it off, also to get the dough off the bowl. JUST A LITTLE!

*Do not knead the dough alot you will make the noodles tough!

*You can use A LITTLE WATER in the dough to make it more workable.

*Make sure you have a light layer of flour on table under noodles when you roll out. If they stick use a little flour.

*If you double or triple the recipe roll out you dough in separate batches

* Roll out dough so it's not real thick or paper thin

*There is no certain law when you make noodles. After the first time you will adjust to preferences

*When you add the noodles to broth make sure it's boiling and don't add all at once. Add them gradually or they will all clump up in a ball. So as you add, Stir too! And stir often while cooking to prevent sticking in bottom of your pot. If they start sticking just turn the fire down a little. Don't know how long they take to cook, but I taste at intervals for tenderness.


Boy - I wish we were doing this in person, it would be hilarious I'd love it! We have such a GREAT time! Tell Doug to take pictures of your 1st time I'd love to see them! Really sounds like alot but it really isn't and in time you'll be a PRO! Good luck!!


Now for the recipe... You can adjust this bigger, smaller depending on how much you want to make. This recipe is just for Bernard & I, but I double and triple for all of us! For me at work I "5 times it"! I serve 80 + people (Brenda cooks at a local hospital in Ohio)


OK!Cook Noodles in 3 - 4 Qts Broth (maybe more - maybe less... )


Place flour & salt & butter flavor Crisco in bowl & mix until shortening is mixed up. (Possibly mix w/fork to blend) Add eggs & mix in well til dough is rollable.


Once dough is mixed place on floured surface on table and roll out (not too thick - not too thin) into shape of circle. Works well if you divide the total amount of dough in half or into 4 small batches & roll each into circle. Cut circle into 1/4's or cut in half then half again so you get four pie shaped pieces for the circle. Stack the four pieces with flour between the layers so they don't stick to each other. Roll up, jelly roll fashion and cut slices from one end to the other. Sprinkle with little more flour on slices then toss and separate with fingers. Lay aside and repeat until done.


Then add noodle to boiling broth and cook.


Hope you understand what I've written, tried to cover everything. If you have questions just call me and I'll try to explain further. It's really easy! Really it is!!If you make too many noodles you can freeze them but you got to make sure that they dry out all the way before freezing them in a zip lock bag!


Ingredients:


2 Cups Flour

1 teaspoon (tsp) salt

2 Tablespoons (TBLSP) butter flavor Crisco shortn'g

2 Eggs (beaten a little)


Directions:


See the discription above please.


This is a recipe I've been bugging my Aunt Brenda to give me for a long time! It's the first thing I like to have to eat when I go to Ohio to visit besides Jowl Bacon! Above was a letter pretty much to me from her and I just cherish what ever she tells me and always will. The only other part that's not in her directions is to cook 1 whole chicken in the slow cooker all day while you're at work or whatever OR you can cook stew beef in the slow cooker with some broth then when you get home you just skim off any fat from the broth & add more broth or a little water to cook your noodles in. It's really simple because the noodles can be made up ahead of time!


Number Of Servings: 2 - 4 but can be doubled, tripled etc....

Preparation Time: Awhile, so do it when you have time.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

My baby boy is 29 years old...


My oldest son, Jason Scott is 29 years old today... He was born 29 years ago tonight at 11:30pm. All 6lbs 15 oz's of him and 21 inches long! He was as beautiful as ever imagined. The next day the nurses were unwrapping that tight swaddling around him to show me he had all his fingers and toes. I was STUNNED to say the least and Jason didn't like it when they unwrapped his little skinny body to leave him flailing in the breeze either! I just wanted them to wrap him back up and keep him warm. I remember being in some pretty strong labor the day he was born but it was induced labor. He was 2 weeks late and really didn't want to come out. The heart rate began to drop so the doctor had to get him out fast! They decided on a C-Section... Dr. Sauter brought in the pediatrician Dr. Wolcott to meet me, in the middle of this horendous pain! I remember spinning my head around like something out of a horror film and spewing "Fine time to meet me now!! I just want to go home and keep the fire going with my Dad!" I wanted it to be over! In the end, I had this beautiful baby boy that has given me 29 amazingly, loving, challenging, fullfilling years! I'm proud of you Jason. I don't tell you a lot for fear that it will go to your head but I hope that it goes to your heart! God Bless you and guide you always baby boy, I love you!






Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Sweet Nothings From Home: Cheesy Ham & Asparagus Bake

Sweet Nothings From Home: Cheesy Ham & Asparagus Bake

Cheesy Ham & Asparagus Bake

This recipe I'm putting on here at the request of a special friend! Hope you find this to be of your liking... ENJOY!

Cheesy Ham & Asparagus Bake

1 1/2 Cups Chopped Ham+

1/2 Cup onion

1/4 Cup Red Bell Peppers

1 (10 ounce) Frozen Asparagus, Thawed

8 Eggs

2 Cups Milk

1 Cup Flour

1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

3/4 tsp Dried Tarragon

3/4 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Pepper

1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Directions: Preheat Oven to 425 Degrees. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish. Mix ham, onion, bell pepper and asparagus in the prepared baking dish. In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, flour, parmesan, tarragon, salt & pepper. Pour over the ham mixture.

Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven or until a knife inserted in the center come out clean. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Continue baking 3 to 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

This is my annual Christmas Breakfast dish for the family... Since my oldest son Jason married his wife Lauren has added to our little tradition sharing a wonderful stuffed French Toast recipe which I'll share another time with you!





Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Spencer & Nicole's Engagement Session *teaser*

My wonderful #2 son, Spencer and his beautiful Fiance' Nicole. This is Millbrook Falls in Thornton NH. I've lived here a many, many years and didn't know about this!! WOW! Not sure I should be posting this yet got it from the photographer's site and probably should give her the credit... www.nddphoto.com She's the absolute best and this is just a sample of her work. Can't wait to see the rest of this shoot and not to mention (the big day)!!

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Have I ever mentioned I truly LOVE my children and the two new daughters coming into our family! Last year Lauren married Jason and this year Nicole is marrying Spencer, I truly am blessed with wonderful beautiful young ladies (and their men) :)
TTFN

Saturday, August 1, 2009

August 1, 2009

This is my weekend that we take every year for a summer get-a-way to the ocean. Well, This is not going to happen this year. I hurt my back and went to a chiropractor for the first time ever. It appears my pelvis has rotated out and is causing some problems... We have joined a vacation club near us though so now we access to indoor/outdoor pools and excercise equipment too! Guess where we were today... You got it 4 hours at the outdoor pool, good thing because our rivers are just to high to swim in with last weeks rain!


My little water bug Connor loved it and even made a few new friends! Even if it was just for a day. Doug and I had some relaxing time too and it was good as a family to spend this time together! Spending time with family or as a family is the best. To the left you can see a picture of two of my favorite guys in my life! My Dad, Carl and my youngest son Connor.
I'm not in too chatty of a mood tonight or feeling to creative so this is all I could come up with for now. Have a nice night everyone and I'll be enjoying the next two days I have off! :)