cold season

  As you all know it's cold and flu season just about everywhere in the world . I presume it's worldwide because it sure seems like everyone is catching something .  My husband was sick for over a week and of course he was like most males with a cold. he needed to almost be spoon fed , I am of course exaggerating but it seemed like he was almost to that point . He needed to go to the doctor because of course he wasn't suffering from anything ''normal'' . He did have a sinus infection and she gave him an antibiotic . He is better but still complaining of tiredness .  I made him some homemade chicken noodle soup which he really liked . It wasn't as good reheated as it was fresh. I suppose the noodles soaked up all the liquid overnight .


1              whole chicken 
1/2           yellow onion sliced or diced
2              stalks celery  chopped
2              carrots sliced
1 tsp         minced garlic ( or fresh if you prefer)
1              lemon cut in half
1              orange cut in half   ( I used a meyer lemon if you can find them they're a lemon tangerine cross



      Remove the package of giblets and if you prefer wash the chicken ( I don't always do this )
       Use a large stock pot  place the lemon and orange halves in the cavity of the chicken , I try to remove any seeds but since I strain later this isn't always necessary . then add the other ingredients and cover with water , cover with a lid and turn on high when to comes to a rolling boil, lower the heat to a medium high and let cook for  several hours. I cooked mine for 6 hours . I removed the chicken ( use a large heavily made spoon ) to a large bowl to allow it to cool enough to handle . Save the liquid the chicken was cooking in . I use a skimmer or ladle with the holes and remove all the pieces that are floating around so that just the liquid remains in the pot .
    When the chicken is cool enough to touch , remove all the bones,skin and unwanted meat . I use mostly the white meat. This also becomes very messy and not for the squeamish. But the whole chicken gives such a good flavor to the broth that it is worth the trouble.
   when the meat is separated return the broth to a boil and add the noodles you choose to use - I use egg noodles but occasionally find Amish made noodles and use those . cook the noodles until done . and the add the chicken back to the pot and cook until heated . I serve with warm French bread or garlic knots ( frozen as I haven't been successful in making homemade yeast breads )

2/8/17

   Another day closer to feeling better, that's what I keep telling myself when the recovery process starts to make the day tough. I don't have much energy and it seems like the most simple tasks exhaust me . When the Dr told me the recovery would take about 3 weeks , I was sure I wouldn't take that long., but this is week #2 and i'm still in the process.  I tried this morning to do some light housework and it has made me dizzy feeling and nauseous ! Not sure why that is happening . I managed to hand wash some dirty dishes because the dishwasher is full and I can't bend and stretch to put the clean ones away .
  I feel like a bout of depression is headed my way ,if i'm being honest it's probably already here and I am just now recognizing it . The meds I take make me drowsy and tired all day and I am hoping it's just those leaving my system . I want to go outside and get some fresh air ,which usually improves my mood . I don't feel like chatting with the ones who may see me outside as I'm hurt that they haven't made any effort to see if  we need anything --not even a facebook post from them about how things are and if I need anything . Which I don't because my husband and older son have been doing things around the house . It would still be nice to hear the words. And when they need me , I will still be there for them because I just can't be that person .

Creamy yummy Cole slaw

 I have been trying to make a good homemade coleslaw recipe and although it's a simple thing to make , I need to be accurate with a good recipe before I feel confident enough to experiment .
 Well this one has just the right amount of tanginess, creaminess and is yummy

 16  oz       bag of premade coleslaw mix  ( I like the southern style sold at food lion ) but have used others

1 Tbsp        onion finelt grated ( or teaspoon dried minced onion, onion powder)
1/3 cup       cup white sugar
1/2 cup       mayonnaise ( I only use dukes ) but my neighbor made it with hellmans and got rave reviews
1/4 cup        whole fat buttermilk well shaken ( I like the creaminess whole fat gives the recipe)
1 1/2 Tbsp   WHITE vinegar.. tried apple cider and liked white better
2 1/2 Tbsp    fresh lemon juice .. I just squeeze a whole lemon but measured in the beginning
1/2  Tsp        salt
1/2 tsp          white or black pepper ( I like white better )

   If you want to use cabbage I would use 8 cups of finely shredded cabbage  and add some sliced carrots , I used one carrot finely sliced or shredded which equaled a little over 1/4 cup of carrots

Put cabbage mix or cabbage and carrots into a container with lid , I use a medium sixe storage bowl
 in separate bowl for mixing , small to medium add the rest of the ingredients and mix really well . I use a egg beater or whisk  and mix really well . When squeezing the lemons be sure to remove any seeds that may fall in . then pour this over the cabbage mixture and stir well. Put the lid on the bowl and shake well. I think it taste best the next day or after it has set for at least 3 to 4 hours . I also shake the bowl throughout  the day when I remember it's in there.  Mine will keep in the fridge for about 7 days , but doesn't usually last that long .

I serve this with pulled pork , fried chicken or any other heavy main dish. I haven't tried it on hot dogs and hamburgers , so if anyone does and likes it please let me know.  This has been requested at many gatherings and I 've had a few tell me it tastes very much like KFC cole slaw. My neighbor who doesn't like to cook offers to pay me to make this for her to take to company dinners or family get toghethers

Another recovery day

 I had the surgery to remove the left ovary and fallopian tube , and while in there she scraped some endometriosis and noticed that my intestines were attached to my fallopian tubes and she separated that as well. It's been a week and 1/2 and recovery hasn't been too bad. The first three days was pretty painful but then it slowly became less pain and more uncomfortable. I have been trying to lower the use of the pain medication that she sent me home with , and I have gotten down to only taking them once a day and last night I needed them , because I guess I tried to do too much.  I feel as if I need to at least be doing some minor things around the house. Yesterday I began with the simple homeschool lessons and worksheets , and I moved a few things around in our schoolroom but nothing heavier than a pack of printer paper . Then I wanted to tidy up A's room ( he's 6) ad just moved a few very light items around and by the time I did that I felt as if i'd deep cleaned the entire house and was carrying a bowling ball in my stomach .
    Dinner was simple because I reheated a chicken that didn't cook completely the day before and baked some potatoes ....super easy and simple .

Hello

          I will begin by introducing you to the details that are my daily life ... just like most of your days mine are either so boring it's sad or full of some other adjective used to describe chaos. I am a 43 year old mom of 4 boys and 1 daughter who passed away at birth. I have 2 grandchildren. A boy (2) and a girl (6months) . I am typing wondering how much detail I want to reveal to the blogging world. So I think I will play it by ear, as they say.  I hope to bring some comedy and some inspiration to the readers . And make others feel as if they can relate and not feel alone at times. I am a stay at home to my 6 year old who I also homeschool . My other boys are 23,22,& 20. The 20 year old is the only one of the adult children who still live here with us . 
          I like to cook and try new recipes . I don't like to clean some of those messes, but alas I do it so that my little ole doublewide doesn't end up on the TV show Hoarders... And I believe I am just one yard sale, thrift store trip away from that being a reality.  As you've guessed from the name I live in a doublewide , it's almost 20 years old but at the same time it's almost paid for as well. Do I want a big newer house YES, but I don't want to have to pay for it. My husband is a project manager and he makes a decent salary . so we could technically afford a bigger mortgage. And some days I dream of having that luxurious home with much more room and more updated style, but I like the security of the less than $500 a month mortgage and knowing that if anything happened and we didn't have the hubbies income, I could still work and pay the mortgage payments.  I hope that I will be able to share the successful recipes and lament over the failed ones.
         I recently had surgery to remove my left ovary and fallopian tube due to a hemorraghic cyst which just wouldn't go away. (1-26-17) I have PCOS as one of my many conditions. The medical diagnosis list I have for all my conditions is one that most just wouldn't believe was from ONE person . But its true and I live it everyday . I struggle to conceive my daughter who passed in 2009 and my son who was born in july 2010 . and you're probably wondering about the other 3 ... they are not my bio children but they are MY KIDS.. in every since except DNA. They are my husbands birth children from his first marriage and I have raised them since they were 8months,2 and 3 years old 24/7 . The birth mom isn't in their life by her choice . That is another part of my crazy hard to believe life !!  I've had several miscarriages thanks to a blood clotting disorder factor V leiden.