The Mennobrarian

In and Around the Home this Week

11:50, Thursday, January 31, 2008 .. 4 comments .. Link

A lovely person who works with my husband has given us two house plants. I love plants, but we have been caught unprepared as we do not yet even have window sills to place them in! And the two plants are rapidly out-growing their pots, so I have acquired some larger pots for them, and once I get some potting soil, we should be in business.

Meal planning is being stretched this week, as last week we did not know that my husband would be working three nights in a row, which will leave him sleeping most of the day on Saturday. That would make Saturday afternoon an ideal time to go shopping, so I just need to be creative until then. My husband's work schedule changes frequently, so everything has to be flexible. Last night I made an egg/sausage/cheese casserole that should cover the next couple of days, and will go perfectly with some greens that are defrosting in the refrigerator. That's right, you usually can't freeze green leafy vegetables, but you can freeze collard greens, which my husband really enjoys! I think they taste "just okay." One day he arrived home with half a crate of collards and asked me to cook them. I had never cooked collard greens in my life and could not find anything in any of my cookbooks that told me what to do with collards. After navigating complex recipes online involving pork shoulders and ham hocks, it turns out you just have to boil them to death for a really long time to make them tender.

I am also enjoying a lovely addition to my kitchen in the form of a kitchen cart, which consists of a large cabinet on wheels with a stainless steel top. It has solved so many problems in our small kitchen. The primary purpose was for it to hold my mixer, which was taking up precious counter space, but the cabinet underneath has been extremely handy for holding baking supplies and ingredients. Since it is on wheels, it is my portable baking station. A friend actually sold me on this idea, as it was something she tried and it worked out for her. She actually wheels her cart into her pantry when she is not using it, and just takes it out when she needs to bake.

Also, my broiler pan arrived for the oven this week. Can you believe our brand new stove did not come with one? We found a sheet of paper inside that told us to call the company and order one "at a discount." It was like buying a new refrigerator and finding a note inside that says "If you would like your fruit and vegetable bins, please send $19.95 to..."

And finally, if you have never read A.W. Tozer's "The Pursuit of God" it is so worthwhile to read or reread it again. And it's free, right here.
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04:41, Thursday, January 31, 2008 .. Posted by Kitty
I would love to have a kitchen cart for my kitchen. I so need the storage space for things. .......Kitty

***Kitty, it makes a world of difference, and if ever we add more space and no longer need it, it would make a nice sewing cabinet, too!****

Edited by Mennobrarian on Friday, February 1, 2008 at 01:00

Lovely blog

08:56, Thursday, January 31, 2008 .. Posted by deedee06
I truly enjoy your blog. It feels so homey! I enjoyed your tale of the tv cable. We don't have tv in our house and a number of years ago we accidently rototilled our neighbors cable, which was under a tiny bit of soil in our flower bed. Oops. We did apologize!
I realize we are barely acquainted, but I admire Mennonites very much and wondered if there is a particular women's Bible study you could recommend for me. I am finishing a good one on the mind of Christ and am praying for the Lord's direction as to what He would have me study next. Thanks so much...................Denise (prairiemom)

***Hi Denise, thank you for your kind words! In case you have not yet checked your messages, I sent you some ideas for Bible studies. Many Blessings, Monica***

Edited by Mennobrarian on Friday, February 1, 2008 at 06:33

Hello, Monica!

03:11, Saturday, February 2, 2008 .. Posted by Rose
I enjoyed your post. :-)

~Rose

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10:41, Sunday, February 3, 2008 .. Posted by gabbie427
I still am shaking my head at the new stove coming without a broiler pan. I am in agreement with you on this one. The new kitchen cart sounds wonderful!!!

My new kitchen toy lately has been a bread baker!!! I am so excited! LOL Sometimes it is the small things that please me so much!!!

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo

***A bread baker? How exciting!! It doesn't sound like a small thing to me, but rather a big convenience! ***

Edited by Mennobrarian on Monday, February 4, 2008 at 08:54