Still Truckin’ and Summer Flowers

Blessings to you and yours, Friends and Confidantes; I’m back.

Sorry it’s been many months since the last post. I spent rough winter months bundled up; Did much personal journaling/inflection, working on new habits… and my Dad was hospitalized 3 times.

By Spring we became ‘Midwest Sequestered.” {well, except for Captain (Husband); He’s still trucking daily out of Indianapolis. And I’m a freak with Lysol Spray when he gets home. *We keep his truck supplied with wipes, etc also.}

How are you and yours? Are you at the at the crossroads; dilemma of classroom, online or home-schooling? We are leaning towards keeping the Granddaughter home for online Kindergarten. (Indiana, USA)

Are you looking after loved ones or elderly? I haven’t been in any stores (but 1 gas station) in 4 months due to being caregiver for my Dad. Are you home or workin’?   I ‘m back to dog watching and plant-watering jobs.

Have you discovered new hobbies? Puzzles, acrylic painting and and Facebook games take up some

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afternoons. I started seeds early on! Now have carrot, lettuce and cucumber plants! 🙂  We’ve had huge bouts of cleaning and rearranging furniture. There’s so much more open space now. (And that’s saying a lot for a 50 ft trailer.)

Side note: We are poised to resume house hunting in October.

Also, I’ve become a pro at making leftovers out of leftovers.

In closing, I’d like to stand on my tippy-toes and give you all a virtual HUG.  Let’s face it, we all need one. I missed you all 😉  Thanks for stopping by today. Let’s talk again soon  – Gma Auburn

Free Recipe: Captain’s Lasagna

…On Sundays, Hubby takes over the kitchen. Meat and carbs are King.  Portion size is not a thing. He makes huge pots of stew, pre-historic sized chicken parm… and most recently he recreated his mom’s 9 LAYER LASAGNA! And it was enormous — even by #trucker standards.

CAPTAIN’S {10 Layer} LASAGNA {Like Mom used to make}

• Prep time: 30 min
• Bake time: 60 mins
• Cost: $20 to $25.00
• Serves: 8-10 people

• Pre-heat oven to 350F.
• 1 Deep roasting pan- 13x9x4. Butter or non-stick spray.

FIRST: 2 Boxes Lasagna Noodles; prepare according to instructions. Set Aside.

NEXT:  Fry in a large sauce pot; Drain excess grease.

• 1 to 1.5 lbs Ground beef + 1/2 to 1 lb. Mild sausage. Crumbed.
• Reduce heat and Add:
• 1 Med. onion, diced; 1 clove, chopped garlic or garlic powder
• 1 T. Italian blend spices or pesto; S&P to taste
• Stir on med. heat for 2-3 mins
• ADD:
• 3 Lg. cans Tomato Sauce + 1 sm. can Tomato paste
• Stir often for 10 min on med/low heat

THE CHEESES! 

• 2 to 3 Cups each: shredded Parmesan & mozzarella
• Provolone optional**
• MIXING BOWL: 30 oz. {Lg. tub} Ricotta cheese + 1 egg. Mix well.

THE LAYERS =

1. Sauce- Spread a thin layer coating the bottom of the roasting pan.
2. Noodles- Layer noodles in rows
3. Cheese – 1/2 Ricotta mixture
4. Noodles
5. 1/4 Sauce
6. Noodles
7. Cheese – 1/2 shredded Parm
8. Noodles
9. 1/4 Sauce
10. Cheese 1/2 Mozzarella
11. Repeat steps 1 thru 10
12. Tip: This is heavy! HA! Set the roasting pan on a cookie sheet
13. BAKE : Covered for 50 mins at 350F. Uncover and Bake 10 mins. more.
14. Serve hot with garlic bread.

Thanks for stopping by today! Friends and Confidantes, I wore my stretchy-pants to taste test this one! It was worth it 😉 – Grandma Auburn {Jen} 

#Dinner #BakedLasagna #Holiday #mealideas #feedacrowdcheap #Freerecipe  #cheesy  #leftovers

Moving Right Along: The 2019 Winter Edition

Yesterday was another Manic Monday– Where has the time gone? What have you been up to, Friends and Confidantes? We have lots of catching up to do! It snowed for the first time here in Central Indiana. Has it snowed where you are?

 

MOVING: Spent crazy hours yesterday on home loan/credit papers, faxing crap, umpteen emails, blahblahblah… I was fried by 6pm. On the bright side– we’re putting in an offer on yet another property this week! YaY! – Here’s to hoping the stars align this time 😀 I continue to tidy and pack…

• WAH 1. new gig:  with my fingers to the grindstone, err keyboard- practicing my transcribing skills. I’ve been accepted by a couple of transcribing companies that work with beginners. I’m so exited for these opportunities.
• WAH 2.  new direction: The gift design department– will be shifting focus from apparel to home decor {pillows/blankets, tapestries, posters/wall decor} in Gma Auburn’s Teespring Stores; at least through the winter months.
• The “In Hibernation Mode” Hoodie is available!
• WAH 3. The cookbook is on hold a wee bit longer. There’s a queue of recipes that need typesetting and pictures need editing. #FreeRecipes will be back tomorrow for Mid-Week Motivation {Wednesdays.}

SIDE JOBS: Weekly-I’m officially helping my 85 yo. Dad clean his house. Pay varies by task/time. Also took a 4-day dog minding job for vacationers, so that fattened the porcelain pig a bit.

SELF-Care: Overall I’m in a pretty good place mentally. I’ve spent the last 5 weeks {give or take} waking up earlier; and spending less time on random/shiny, internet things. Ordered new glasses too, which was long overdue! I’ve been getting eye-strain headaches more frequently; the more time I devote transcribing.

I cut back on coffee and added in a lunch break… for an actual lunch! Yay food! However, I’ve gained a few pounds- Boo! So I’m still tweaking dinner and snacks. Ugh

New schedules/New Routines: RT and I had to take on more hourly work for the next 3 to 5 months. As winter settles in, I hope to settle into a new daily pace. I’m making new strides toward home life/work goals and money-saving.

My planner is filling up for the remainder of 2019. My older projects/ideas, online stores and social media accounts are all getting make-overs; with deadlines. I’ve blocked off times for joyous coloring, crafts and reading too 😀 It’s yellow

How are you wrapping up 2019, Friends and Confidantes? Until next time, be warm & safe – Grandma Auburn {Jen} 3 pics: Rosey’s first snowflakes!   #Bordercollie #hibernation #moving #Indiana #snow

 

 

 

Quick Recipe: Bacon Cheeseburger Pie

Sadly, I had no mushrooms. This is Cheeseburger Pie topped with fresh garden tomatoes and cheddar cheese. Total time: 40-45 min./ Total cost to make: $5.00-$6.00

FIRST- Par Bake the crust & let cool: Baking Mix method: Via – Betty Crocker

Pat in the Pan Pie Crust

• 1 cup Bisquick® Original baking mix
• 1/4 cup margarine or butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons boiling water

1.  Heat oven to 400º. Mix baking mix and margarine in medium bowl. Add boiling water; stirvigorously until very soft dough forms. Press dough firmly with hands dusted with bakingmix in 9-inch pie plate, bringing dough onto rim of plate. Flute if desired. Bake 8 to10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack. {I let mine cool for 15 min before filling}
2. Turn the oven temp back to 350F –Meanwhile:  In a skillet

• 1/2-3/4 lb.  lean ground beef: browned.  Drain excess grease; return to pan.
• Then add:
• 1 med onion, diced
• 2 T Bacon Bits or fried & crumbled.
• 2 sm. cans {or 6-8 sliced, fresh} baby bella/white button mushrooms
• 1 tsp. garlic minced
• 1 tsp. butter
• {Optional: 1 tsp. worcestershire}
• 1 T. Italian seasonings and S&P to taste
• Fry and stir on med/low heat for 5-7 min.
• Assembly
• Bottom Layer Sauce:  Spread a thin layer of canned or home made
• Tomato sauce onto the crust. {1/2 c.}
• NEXT: Add hamburger mixture in an even layer.
• Then add a layer of drained {1 canned or 3-4 fresh} diced tomatoes
• TOP: 1 1/2 to 2 c. Shredded sharp cheddar or Mexican blend.
• BAKE: 350F for 10-12 mins, uncovered.
• Let cool 10 mins before cutting.
• Serve with pickle spears, green olives or zuccini sticks.

Take this and make it yours, Friends and Confidantes. Use what’s at hand! – Grandma Auburn {Jen}

#mealideas #supper #hamburger #tomatorecipe #fromthepantry

A Fat House Cat

Listening to birdsong on TV. He knows I just dusted -0.o

Grandma Auburn

#petownerproblems #cleaning #furbabies