Deer Stew WithHomemade Gravy

Recently my husband cleaned out the freezer and found some deer back-strap from last season that needed to be cooked.  I decided to make a deer stew with it.  I usually slice it thin and pan fry it, but I wanted something to bring to the camp ready to go.  I think everyone will enjoy this!

If you'd like to try this recipe, you can substitute beef or pork if you don't have deer meat. I cooked it in a slow cooker for about 6 hours on high.  Easy!

Deer Stew With Gravy

2-3 pounds deer- cut into cubes
3 large potatoes - cut into cubes
2 large carrots - sliced
1 large onion- chopped
2 cups broth - chicken or beef
seasoning to taste

Put all ingredients in slow cooker and cook on high 5-6 hours. Check meat for tenderness.  Make gravy (recipe below) and add to pot.  Let cook until gravy thickens.  About 1 hour on high.  Check seasoning, add more if necessary. Serve over rice.


Homemade Gravy:
2 cups hot water
2 Tablespoons Kitchen Bouquet - see photo below
2 Tablespoons flour

Mix kitchen bouquet and flour into hot water.  Stir until well blended.   Add into slow cooker.  Let thicken.

**I use this gravy in many of my smothered meat recipes.  It works for just about everything! 

Sorry  the picture is sideways! 

Here's a link on amazon if you'd like to buy some for yourself! It comes in large and small sizes. I buy the large because I use it often, but you may like a smaller bottle. 

http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Bouquet-Browning-Seasoning-Sauce/dp/B001GHYO5I

Enjoy!

Steen's Syrup

  Steen's Syrup is one of my families favorite syrup. It's made in a small town called Abbeville in South Louisiana.   It contains 100% pure cane syrup, so it doesn't have many of the preservatives most other syrups do.

    It has a much stronger flavor than the regular syrup you buy from the grocery store.  A little goes a long way!  Since you can use less, it is also economical.  Helps to stretch the food budget!

    I love it on french bread with butter.  It's also very delicious heated and poured over pancakes!

 Order some today at this website and have it delivered to your home!
  https://www.steensyrup.com/


Give it a try and see how you like it!

Spice Cabinet - Organized

      Now that New Year's Day has come and gone, it's time to get organized!  I'm taking a closet, one drawer, or one cabinet at a time.  That way it's not such an overwhelming task.  This is my latest quick and easy project.....

I recently saw a cabinet spice organizer on television.  Instead of another gadget for the kitchen, I decided to try to organize my spice cabinet without one!  It may not be organized exactly like the one on television, but it will do for my needs.

Look around your house and see how you can do things differently.  Think outside the box and use what you have in another way.

I'd love to see some of your ideas!  

Merry Christmas!

     Before life gets too crazy the next couple of days, I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!  I have been busy preparing for the holiday myself.  It will be a wonderful day.  I will have my husband, both military sons and my grandchildren here!  

     I am so blessed to be able to spend the holidays with them all.   I hope you get to spend the holidays with friends and family also!  That's what I love most about Christmas...

     The menu will be deer roast, turkey, rice dressing, green bean casserole, and dinner rolls.  For dessert, we'll have zucchini brownies, cupcakes, candy turtles, and finger cookies.  Most of those recipes are on this blog if you'd like to check them out.

     There will be more posts coming after the holidays.  Until then.....



Merry Christmas!!!

   



   

Christmas Promise

I recently returned from my trip to visit my son and his family.  Now, it's been a mad dash to get everything ready for Christmas! I hadn't put up the tree or any decorations before I left.

We did celebrate Christmas with the grandchildren while I was there, so I don't have as many presents under the tree this year.

Last year, I made a promise that I wouldn't go overboard with gifts for the grandchildren.  I am happy to report that I stuck to my promise!  I bought them each two gifts and didn't spend a fortune on each gift.  I set a limit and stuck to it.  The kids were happy with what they got - they were things they had asked for.

When all is said and done, most children don't care how much you spend.  They are just happy to open presents.  I challenge you to do the same!  We are all bombarded with commercials, etc. to buy more and more stuff....  Think really hard about what they want, and only buy those things.  Less is more!!! 

Sometimes we get upset when they open a present and then just toss it aside to open the next one....does this sound familiar? The fewer gifts they have, the more they will appreciate the gifts they did receive. (Just make sure it is something they really like and want.)

Have you tried this? I 'd love to hear from you!


We should be enjoying this time of year, don't stress yourself out.  Do what you can to make it easier on yourself so you can enjoy spending time with your family!  

Recovering Soldier Christmas Cards

  I recently found about about this program and thought I'd share it with you...There are many recovering soldiers in hospitals that need to be reminded that they haven't been forgotten.  It's such a small thing, but will have a huge impact on a soldier this Christmas!

Send a Christmas Card (or more than 1) to:

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue
NW Washington, DC 20307-5001

Please send what you can.  I have already sent some. Our military have made a huge sacrifice for our freedom.  Even one card would brighten their day!

As a military mom, I thank you!

Thanksgiving Dinner and No Shopping

  I am sure many of you are preparing for Thanksgiving dinner.  We celebrated ours this past weekend at the camp, because I will be visiting my son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren for a couple of weeks. (I will not be posting again until mid December.)  We had the usual turkey, yams, homemade bread, rice dressing, and of course, pumpkin pie!

I wanted to show you how easy thanksgiving can be if you are hosting the dinner.  There are many ways and shortcuts to get dinner ready!  I did most of it the day before.  I cooked the turkey the day before we went to the camp. I only have a toaster oven there, so needless to say, a turkey wouldn't fit!  I also baked the loaf of bread and the pumpkin pie.

Sunday, I cooked the yams, and the rice dressing.   Then it was just a matter of microwaving the turkey and slicing the bread!

 The turkey looks a little funny, but it was very good! Seasoned, baked at 350 degrees for 3-4 hours.

 I love sweet potatoes! Drained juice, added a little brown sugar and butter, heated, then mashed.

Made this loaf of bread from frozen bread dough! Easy...



I found this really easy pumpkin pie recipe.  It was delicious!

Pumpkin Pie

1 can pumpkin
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 beaten eggs
pinch salt
1 pie shell
cool whip topping

Mix pumpkin, milk, eggs and salt.  Pour into pie shell.  Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, then reduce to 350 degrees for 40 minutes.  Let cool.  Top with cool whip.

Don't be intimidated by cooking for the holidays. Do what you can, make it easy on yourself.  It's all about spending time with family anyway!!!


On a more personal note....

I understand people have traditions such as Black Friday shopping.  Now the stores have started earlier- Thanksgiving Day. I will not be shopping on Thanksgiving! I think all people should be able to spend that day with family. Stores have practically 364 other days of the year to make money.

 We should be able to devote at least 1 day a year to be thankful for family and what we already have!  


Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!