Happenings from the Bush homestead

Tuesday in Bushville

but it's snowy and freezing despite the beautiful sunshine.

Today finds me doing laundry.  Lots of it.  With 7 of us, there's lots to do.  Plus the towels and some blankets.  I've also been working on a rooster apron some more today.  And got a fruit patterned apron cut out.  I probably won't get to sewing thyat today though since I have the red thread in the machine for the rooster apron.  I'd also like to get some squares done for our pinwheel quilt.  We are just using scraps that are large enough for our material.  So I'll need to decide what other base color for around the pinwheels and edges and back.  Tonight I will crochet more on my nephew O's blanket.  It's coming along, just slowly.  He's not until June anyways.  So I've got time.  The aprons are more pressing than his blanket.  The aprons are first in line. 

Yesturday, I made bread.  A new recipe.  Flopped!  It was hard as a rock.  So, it's back to the old recipe for me.  I know that one turns out.  This one made 3 big loaves at one time.  Bigger is not always better.

I also made chicken tetrazzini and pear custard bars. 

Here are the recipes for them:

Chicken Tetrazzini   

2 cups sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup half and half
1 tbsp chpped parsley
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp pepper
3 tbsp additional chicken broth
3 cups cooked cut up chicken
8 ounces cooked spagetti
3/4 cup motzarella cheese
Additional parsley for garnish is wanted.

In a skillet, cook mushrooms, in butter until tender. 
Stir in flour
gradually add chicken broth
cook, stir constantly, until sauce comes to a boil
remove from heat
stir in cream, parsley, salt, nutmeg, pepper and additional broth.
fold in chicken and spaghetti
dump into a greased 12x8x2 (I just used my 8x11 pan)
sprinkle with parmesan cheese
bake, uncovered, at 350 for 30 minutes or until heated through.
garnish with parley.
serves 8 very small portions.

***The orginal recipe calls for 3/4 cup parmesan cheese.  I however, used the 3/4 cup motzarella cheese I listed above.  We don't care much for parmesan.  I don't really know that I used 3/4 of a cup.  I just grabbed it out of the bag, sprinkled a little bit over and stirred it up.  Then sprinkled a little more over top.  Not enough to cover it.  Just enough to have some cheese flavor, and still see through the top to the casserole.  Just a light layer.   kwim? 

The original recipe also called for just 1/4 cup half and half.  I added more.  It was tooo dry.  I didn't add quite a full 1/2 cup, but pretty close to it I think. 

The longer it cooks, the dryer it gets.  I wouldn't bake it the full 1/2 hour.
Cooking is a big guess with me.  So sorry for the differences in the recipe.  I don't measure exact amounts unless I"m baking bread. 

I hope everyone is having a good day!