Meatless Easter meal options

I quit eating beef (or any red meat) a long time ago, but still find myself struggling with hot dogs, probably the worst food for you and the smell of charcoiled meat on a grill still makes me yearn. Ocasionally I do enjoy a chicken or turkey dog with sauerkraut on a whole wheat bun. Obviously, I'm not a vegetarian, I just happen to love, love LOVE fresh vegetables (and fruits too.) So, I've been including more beans, legumes, nuts and seeds in my diet. I still love eggs and don't mind if I go out to eat where they serve chicken or fish. I will not call PETA and report anyone for killing an animal. I'd probably eat a lot more fish if I could find decent fresh fish.

So, with all the Easter ham and turkey recipes out there, I wanted to provide a couple of recipes for vegetarians or people who, like me, simply love to eat veggies:

This Savory Onion Pie with a green salad would make a perfect meal for an onion-lover like me:

4 to 5 large Vidalia onions (large white onions will do)
3 tablespoons butter (or margarine - personally, I don't touch the stuff!)
1 cup crushed Ritz cracker crumbs (or your preferred crackers. I like simple saltines)
4 large eggs
1/3 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste (I love lots of freshly crushed black pepper)
1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (I prefer Swiss)

Slice onions into thick slices; separate into rings. Sautee onions rings in butter on low heat until clear and tender. Do not brown!

Spray 9" glass pie plate with Pam cooking spray (or lighty brush on some vegetable oil). Press cracker crumbs into bottom; do not press on the sides, but bottom only! Pour onions with butter onto the crumbs.

Beat eggs with fork; continue beating while adding milk, salt and pepper to taste (be light on the salt because it's easy to oversalt the eggs - I don't use any, because the saltines and the cheese is salty - I'd rather add salt later if need be.) Pour egg mixture around and over the onions; do not overflow! Top with shredded cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 to 30 minutes or until eggs are puffed up and light golden brown. Let stand for five minutes before slicing into wedges.

NOTE: if you want to have some meat, this recipe is great with grilled steak or chicken, but I will have a big, green salad instead.

And this one is a Lentil Shepherd's Pie I'm going to try:

1/2 pound lentils, cooked and drained

1 onion, diced

1/2 tsp crumbled fresh sage

1/2 tsp minced garlic

pinch of dried oregano

1 tsp salt

dash cayenne pepper

3 large potatoes, cooked (I will substitute yams or sweet potatoes for this)

1/2 to 1 cup of hot soy milk (or regular milk)

Butter to taste
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Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, mash the cooked lentils thoroughly and add the onion and seasonings. Put the lentil mixture in a lightly oiled casserole dish.

In a separate bowl, mash the potatoes and add the hot soy milk, margarine and salt. Beat by hand or with an electric mixer until fluffy.

Spread the mashed potatoes on top of the mashed lentils and bake for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are dry on top.

Place the pie under the broiler to brown on top. Serve warm!
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This open faced mushroom sandwich is one of my favorites! (you could call it S.O.S. without the S) - it's more or less "mushrooms on a shingle."

This is a very simple way for me to fix one of my big time mushrooms jones':

Fresh mushrooms - any kind - the same or assorted, it doesn't matter
Butter
Vegetable oil
Salt
Caraway seeds
Rye bread (or your favorite whole wheat or seed bread)
Swiss cheese, thinly sliced (optional...or your favorite cheese)

First, I clean and slice the mushrooms and set aside.
In my trusty teflon, non-stick pan, I add a little 1/2 butter and 1/2 olive oil (not too much) just enough to coat the bottom. Turn pan to cover the bottom.
I then add the mushrooms, sprinkle with a little salt and a few caraway seeds (careful with those- they are potent and very flavorful!)
I allow to sautee the mushrooms till tender and most of the juice from the mushrooms has evaporated
(Optional step: toast bread slices in the toaster)
Place a slice or two of bread on your plate and cover with heaping mounds of mushrooms (on mine you can't even see the bread)
Lastly add a slice of swiss - or not - and eat open faced with a knife and fork
A green side salad or a few slices of fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes make this meal complete.

NOTE: If you want to go all out, bake your own bread and be transported to heaven on earth!

Now that I made myself totally hungry, I'll go see what's in the fridge.

Be good to your pets!

If you don't have a dog yourself, chances are you know someone who does.  If you're reading this, you know how nuts I am about my little boy.

Just wanted to share a list of foods that are poisonous to your precious pet, so don't give him a "treat" of these or else he may get deathly ill and possibly not even survive:

Chocolate

Cocoa

Grapes

Raisins

Avocados

Onions/Garlic

Macademia Nuts

There are probably more, other than the obvious chemical substances (including alcohol.) I know some guys think it's funny to watch their dogs drink beer like them - only a dead dog is no laughing matter.

If you have to feed your pets (including cats) people food, please be sure and check with your veterinarian if you've not sure. I know a lot of folks cook for their animals, but I trust they have done the research to know what's safe and what is not.

Also medicating your pets with people medications is a very dangerous thing to do! Please consider that cats and dogs have a different metabolism and what is ok for your dog, is probably not ok for your cat. Always, always, always check with a veterinarian - and they do give out advise for free over the phone if they think you're going to do something drastic! Never, ever give Tylenol® or Advil® - just because it may be ok to give your dog a baby aspirin once in a while, does not mean they can have other pain medications, such as acetominophen and ibuprofen. REMEMBER that Tylenol is fatal for cats!
 
You can read more to learn about things that you should not give your dog on Vet Info.com.
You can also get a pet question answered here.

Never skimp or try to save money by taking a chance with your pet's life if you don't want to see them injured. Most likely it will cost more money trying to save them than to treat them properly in the first place.

You know, aside from cats and dogs, I have owned several different species of animals for pets in my life time, including a California Rex rabbit, two chinchillas, a couple of Hooded rats, freshwater fish and a Teddy Bear hamster and always started out by buying a book about the animal. There is lots to learn and it makes for a much more enjoyable realationship. Look at it as an owner's manual for a living creature. Dogs and cats have been with us for so long that we think of them and therefore treat them like people (myself included) thus it should be ok to feed and medicate them the same - but they are not! Even different dog and cat breeds have different personalities and life styles that should be considered before making them part of our family. Buy a book. Learn about your pet and I promise, you both will be happier for it.

Lucky Me!

I'm not Irish, but I feel lucky and blessed for a lot of reasons. Yes, I have my problems like everyone else, but I learned to focus on the good things in life whenever possible. Today, I want to share, once more, my blooming trees in the front and back of my apartment. I live in a corner unit and am the only apartment blessed with two such magnificent trees near my windows.

The apartment is small, but I keep all my windows and doors open as much as possible and then it almost feels like I'm camping. I know it sounds silly - maybe even sad to some of you - but I used to love going camping. Only now I have all the comforts of home to boot.

I recently rearranged some of my furniture in the living room and now, when I sit in the recliner for one of my marathon crochet sessions, I can look out of the open door and admire the white blossoms that are on the low hanging branches.  With every gentle breeze, I catch the sweet scent of the blossoms. There are so many bees in those trees, I can even hear them buzzing from the inside.

Since it turned out to be another wonderful day, I spent two hours at the park with Gizzy this morning. After our initial investigational walk, I brushed his coat really well and sweet talked him (like I always do.) Then I crocheted one of my $10 Basic Beanies...I wanted to call it "egg head" or "good egg" beanie, but it doesn't quite look like an Easter egg, so I'll try that again later. Maybe I'll even crochet a couple of bunny ears for on top just for fun.
On my drive back home, I noticed the temperature said 77 degrees at 10:30 am and I'm thinking: "oh, boy, summer's coming early this year!" There's a gentle breeze blowing, which makes it very pleasant to be outside.
I did get my first insect bites a few days ago to initate me into the warm weather. Pretty soon, I'll be hiding inside again till the fall, but not today! Today is a perfect day!

This is the beanie I crocheted at the park today. I didn't plan on making one and those were the only two colors I had with me. (All my beanies look a bit large on that styrofoam head, but she's got no hair and is smaller than an actual adult's head.)




There are some violets peeking out next to my potted lylac bush that didn't do much last year. I'm hopeful for this year.




These violets are so adorable, but alas! - no smell! I'm so disappointed. The wild ones I remember growing in the woods in Germany had a very strong and pungent scent. You could smell a batch of those before you even saw them. Maybe it's in the soil, because they look exactly the same and they also grow wild.

I'll leave you with a few more glorious blossoms photos, but this year the trees are blooming exceptionally abundant. Happy Spring! Have a wonderful weekend and try to count your blessings too.

Happy First Day of Spring

It was an exceptionally beautiful day today. The sky was oh so blue dotted with little puffy cumulus clouds (my favorites.) There was a gentle breeze and the air smelled of sweet blossoms whenever I approached my apartment. The two trees are in full bloom now and the bees were busily at work before the blossoms fall off. I took Gizzy for a stroll around the lake where I fed the ducks and stopped to watch the glistening water,  and generally was happy to be alive on such a glorious day. I met up this 93-year old woman who lives alone in her house by the lake and still walks and rakes her lawn. She said to me: "I thoroughly enjoy life and I don't worry." What great advise!

As Spring is in full bloom here in Georgia to celebrate renewed life, I'd also like to celebrate my dear customers (present and future) by thanking them with a FREE gift with every purchase of $5 and up. I've been busy as a bee crocheting more inventory for my Etsy shop called Honey Bee Crochet by SturmDM  and I decided to have a Spring Special.

 

With Mother's Day just around the corner, maybe I can breathe some new life into my little virtual store yet! Wish me luck and please spread the word. Thank you...and,

Happy Spring y'all!

What? No Bees in the Trees?

Since it rained all day yesterday, the bees missed a day of work. I, on the other hand, was busy as a bee crocheting this cute beehive potholder. So, I hung it in the blossoms of the tree branches and voila! Now there are bees in the tree - until the real ones come back!

If you want to see more views of my crocheted potholder (with a cloth backing) please click here.

I'm hoping the sun will manage to break through the clouds today to give the bees a chance to collect before the blossoms all fall to the ground.

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 

The Shamrock (traditional spelling: seamróg, meaning summer plant) is a three-leafed clover that grows in Ireland. A common image in Celtic artwork, the shamrock is found on Irish medieval tombs and on old copper coins, known as St. Patrick's money. The plant is also reputed to have mystic, even prophetic powers-- for instance the leaves are said to stand upright to warn of an approaching storm.

Legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock in the fifth century to symbolize the divine nature of the trinity when he introduced Christianity to Ireland.

The seamróg is a big part of Irish history, as the Shamrock was used as an emblem by the Irish Volunteers in the era of Grattan's Parliament in the 1770's, The Act of Union. When it became an emblem of rebellion in the 19th century, Queen Victoria made wearing a seamrog by member's of her regiments punishable by death by hanging. It was during this dark time that the phrase "the Wearing of the Green" began. Today the seamróg joins the English Rose and the Scottish Thistle on the British flag and is an integral part of Saint Patrick's Day celebrations.

"The Wearing of the Green" also symbolizes the birth of springtime. Irish legend states that green clothes attract faeries and aid crops.    (from: Old Fashioned Living)

You can read this Saint's story by clicking here.

May there always be work for your hands to do;

May your purse always hold a coin or two;


May the sun always shine on your window pane;


May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;


May the hand of a friend always be near you;


May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Click on the links below to listen to some popular St. Patrick's Day celebration songs (courtesy of "Irish Poems, Rhymes and Songs"):



Red is the Rose

The Wearin' of the Green

When Irish Eyes are Smiling

Wishing you all an extra wonderful day, maybe with some Corned Beef and Cabbage and a little green beer. Be sure and wear something green to avoid getting pinched (OUCH!!!)

Tweet-tweet

...rockin' Robin:

(He was so far away that I had to crop the dickens out of that photo to get him barely visible)

Good morning from blooming Georgia and from the birds and all the honey bees buzzing in this tree!

and a reminder to participate in my crochet-a-long this month for a chance to win a surprise gift. Just send me your completed item (just one of your favorites) and I'll enter your name in the drawing!

If you don't have time to crochet anything this month, maybe you could encouage someone else to pick up a hook and some yarn, like maybe a child or an elderly person; after all, March is National Crochet month.

Here's what I call my Greenie beanie that I have crocheted with St. Patrick's Day in mind and the people I know who love green:

This beanie looks nice with or without the removable flower brooch/pin.

You could also wear the brooch with the variegated beanie and still get your green fix:

I'm selling this item in my Etsy shop for a reasonable $15, but my blog followers get 10% discount. Just let me know before you want to purchase it, so that I can change the listing for you. I also have a $10 Basic Beanie Sale right now and I have lots of colors to chose from. If you don't see what you like, ask me, and chances are I have that color of yarn you want. I'd be happy to make one just for you. This price is for either adult or children's beanies and due to the low price, there is no additional discount.

Wishing you all a wonderful day and blessings from my home to yours.

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