Friday, April 25, 2014
I woke up this morning before 9, and finished the book I've been reading before getting up. I threw it into the 'give to Ruth' pile, and had to get more books out of the cabinet to start a new book tonight.
When I got up, I intended to get right into running my errands, but I got sidetracked when I got on the pute to check my banking. (Imagine that?) So, I stayed on the pute and played my games and talked to my two sisters until after noon - way after noon - and finally got going somewhere around 2. I am so glad I grabbed my jacket on the way out the door, because the wind made it very chilly! Even though the thermometer on the car said it was over 60 degrees, it sure didn't feel that way. I had to turn the heat on in the car! Of course, it was 'on' my feet, and not really blowing, but it was on heat. Every time I got out of the car, I put my jacket on, too. Luckily, it did quit raining by the time I got to Amelia, but the wind didn't die down very much at all, and that's what was chilly - the wind. I stopped for gasoline at WalMart on my way down the road - gasoline was only $3.64, and I was afraid it would go up before I got back, it was already $3.85 in Bethel! - and why do these idiots who stop to get their cigarettes and pop think they can just stop and block the whole road? - and then went to Bob Evans for some lunch. I had waited so late to go (and hadn't realized the time), that was probably the best thing for me to do at that time. I wish I had thought to eat before I left, but by the time I realized it was getting so late, I just thought 'get going, get going' and went. I'm blaming my sisters! I love when the three of us are on the pute at the same time, but it was detrimental to my errands today - ah, well, they will get done, just not as early as I had planned. My own fault, too, I should have been paying attention to the time and I was just enjoying the moment(s).
I chose to have chicken'n'noodles for my lunch today. Not the deep-dish, I don't like that hidden biscuit, and they put waaaaay too much juice in it for me, but the regular dish, and I got a side of mashed potatoes, not a salad, so I could dump the c'n'n over on top of the potatoes (minus half the juice) and pick out the carrots, which I did. I also chose banana nut bread as my bread - another surprise, right?
Then, on down the road for my errands I went. Walgreens for prescriptions (just drove through), Verizon to pay the bill, then head back. Stopping at WalMart to do grocery shopping. I got my WalMart Walk in, even though the store was crazy. I think I much prefer shopping in the mornings! It's much, much easier to walk up and down every food aisle when there's not very many people in them than when they are a zoo.
Walking across the back of the store was not an easy task, either, but I made it up to HBA with no problem. I guess people were much more interested in groceries and music/movies than they were paint, hardware, and housewares! Then, they actually had 5 or 6 registers open and I got into a lane where I was the next in line! Whoo-hoo! That's quite an accomplishment, you know.
I leave WalMart and head for home, with one more stop to make - IGA in Bethel. I get to Bethel and traffic is backed up to the school, so I cut through to go through the ball parks. As I turn onto 133, I remembered that I needed to stop at IGA, so I need to turn around and go BACK uptown. Dammit. Dammit. Dammit. I do that, get what I need at IGA - my ice, and some 5-for-$20 meat - and finally, can really, truly head for home. I knew Ron was home, with Corgan, so I knew I would have help carrying everything in. At least the ice, anyway.
Home, everything carried in and put away, and now it's time to make supper. I had gotten the makings for Shepherd's Pie for supper, and I got that started while Corgan and Ron went outside. I haven't made Shepherd's Pie for a long time - Ron doesn't like it all that much - and I really like it (it's topped with mashed potatoes, c'mon!), so when someone had mentioned it on a group on Facebook, it stuck in my mind, and that was that. I make a big pot of it - now I have leftovers for lunch next week!
Oh, you don't know what Shepherd's Pie is? Well, let me tell you how I make it. (of course, you can tweak it however you like) Basics: hamburger (or ground meat), mashed potatoes, vegetables, cheese if desired.
Preheat oven to 350. Brown the ground meat. For a small pan (casserole dish), just one pound. More for the bigger pot. Add chopped onions, if desired. Also, you can spice any way you desire, too. S&P, garlic, etc. When the hamburger was done and drained, I put a jar of mushrooms in the pan with the meat to 'warm up.' Either make your mashed potatoes as the meat is cooking, or warm up leftover mashed potatoes. I made an 8-cup recipe for the family-sized pot I made, but I suppose for a casserole dish, just 3 or 4 cups would be enough. (Depends on how much your family likes mashed potatoes.) You can either use canned or frozen veggies, depends on what you and your family like - we like canned. One can for the casserole dish, two for family size. I use corn, that's what we like. A lot of people use peas or peas and carrots, or mixed veggies. OK, everything is done cooking, now put it all together!
Put approximately one cup, or 1/3 of what you have, of the mashed potatoes into the bottom of the casserole dish (or pot) - spread out evenly. Put (half of) the hamburger (carefully - very little or no juice/grease) on top of the potatoes, then your veggie. (If you're making the family pot, add a second layer.) Now put a layer of shredded cheddar, or whichever cheese your family likes, if using. Now put the rest of the mashed potatoes on the cheese - it's NOT easy - and spread evenly. Bake for 15-20 minutes. You can even broil the last few minutes to brown the top if you wish. Chow down!
A lot of recipes don't call for the bottom layer of mashed potatoes, and if you don't want it, don't do it. Like I said, tweak the recipe as you wish. If you have any questions, please ask!
We all enjoyed the meal very much. Ron and Corgan both had butter bread with theirs, but I didn't. I thought there was more than enough carbs already! But they are fellers...
I even had a second helping, even though I knew I shouldn't have. Man, was it good!
When I put my food and exercise into MFP, I was 33 calories OVER for the day. OVER!! Bummer! But, man, oh, man, was it good.
I was hoping to go to an auction tomorrow, but I don't think I'm going to be able to. I think I'm going to be rained out. Phooey. I haven't been to an auction in a couple of years.
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