I really am trying hard to not give up on my New Year's Resolutions. Things have been crazy for us all over the past few weeks, so making new dinners and all of us sitting at the table hasn't happened much. I tried making a dish last week, but was sorely disappointed in it. Tonight, however, I was planning on making a chicken dish, but dear husband said he was tired of chicken (okay, so I use it a lot, but it's easier to cook!) He suggested some cube steaks or other type of beef. So at the grocery, I picked up some cube steak, with no idea on how to prepare it. They sounded boring to me, like not quite hamburger, not quite steak. Somewhere in between.
I get new ideas from allrecipes.com so I went there for suggestions. I found this recipe called "Berdean's cube steak" that got rave reviews! Luckily, I didn't wait until the last minute, because the recipe called for it to cook for two hours! So I followed the directions with just a few small modifications, and in the oven it went. Hubby had bought some asparagus the other day. He likes it plain and steamed, I like it with a bit more flavor. So I steamed half of it and pan-fried the other with olive oil, butter and minced garlic. I also bought some red potatoes today, but since I was using the oven at a low temp for the meat, I couldn't roast them as I would have liked. So I decided to microwave them as someone on that website suggested. Drizzled them with olive oil and some seasoning salt, and they were done in 15 minutes.
When the meat came out, the recipe called for using the drippings in the pan as a base for a gravy by adding flour and milk. Now, this recipe didn't give me specific instructions on how much flour and gravy. So I guessed. Just a small handful of flour and a dash of milk. Whisked it all up. And it was delicious!
The family was happy, and I was happy to have a success under my belt!
As for spending more time with family, we're doing a better job. Tonight we all sat at the dinner table. That's only been happening about once a week lately. But hubby decided we needed a family game night this week, so Tuesday, I'll be making my favorite for dinner, beef and noodles, and we'll play Harry Potter Clue. Should be fun!
I am just WAITING for the weather to warm up to start on a major home improvement project. Still at the top of the list is the landscaping in the front of our house, and also our kitchen (floors, walls, maybe counter.) I am gung ho to get started!
Samantha
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Gung Hee Fatt Choi!
Happy Chinese New Year! Yes, it's also Valentine's Day. We're trying to instill an appreciation for Chinese culture into Maya, but the kid is more excited about Valentine's Day and the chocolates, cards, treats, etc., than she is in her birth culture. Shocking, I know, that a six-year-old would pick candy over culture! But we'll be heading to our favorite Chinese restaurant for lunch today and celebrating (post-haste) her Gotcha Day and CNY with friends and family.
I haven't been on my blog much because I just got my computer back this week after a three-week hiatus. The hard drive took a dump on me (second time for a Dell to do this to me) and a friend of mine was able to get all of the data off of it and install it all back on a new one. It's nice to be able to sit here in bed again typing away without feeling guilty asking to borrow my husband's.
We've had some other recent challenges come up, but as they say, new opportunities can arise from challenges (not sure if anyone has ever really said that, but it sounds good.) My husband lost his full-time job last month. I won't go into any details, but it was a blow to both his character and our finances. He still has his two part-time jobs which will bring in some much needed money over the next few months. But the question is, can we afford to take the next step in moving forward with our plan we've been talking about for four years?
He and I would like to start our own theatre/entertainment production company. I joked that I have the brains and he has the brawn (or talent, if you will.) With my business/marketing background and his design/directing background, I think we have what it takes to run a production company. We're talking not only producing theatrical productions, but also hiring him out for set/light design, directing, teaching/workshops, etc. I have some great ideas for some cabaret nights. It could be a really fun and exciting venture.
But that stupid thing called money always gets in the way. What can we do that will have small up-front costs, but still give us seed money to continue another project? How can we fit in running this business while I have a full-time job? Will he be able to make enough from his other work to help keep the bills paid? So many uncertainties and questions.
I decided to put all of this ranting in with the Chinese New Year post for one reason - celebrating Chinese New Year is believed to bring you luck and prosperity in the coming year. And we're going to need all we can get! So, I will wear red today, we will all wish each other "Gung Hee Fatt Choi" which loosely translated in our daughter's Hakka culture to mean "Congratulations and be prosperous" and we will see what challenges we can overcome this new year.
I haven't been on my blog much because I just got my computer back this week after a three-week hiatus. The hard drive took a dump on me (second time for a Dell to do this to me) and a friend of mine was able to get all of the data off of it and install it all back on a new one. It's nice to be able to sit here in bed again typing away without feeling guilty asking to borrow my husband's.
We've had some other recent challenges come up, but as they say, new opportunities can arise from challenges (not sure if anyone has ever really said that, but it sounds good.) My husband lost his full-time job last month. I won't go into any details, but it was a blow to both his character and our finances. He still has his two part-time jobs which will bring in some much needed money over the next few months. But the question is, can we afford to take the next step in moving forward with our plan we've been talking about for four years?
He and I would like to start our own theatre/entertainment production company. I joked that I have the brains and he has the brawn (or talent, if you will.) With my business/marketing background and his design/directing background, I think we have what it takes to run a production company. We're talking not only producing theatrical productions, but also hiring him out for set/light design, directing, teaching/workshops, etc. I have some great ideas for some cabaret nights. It could be a really fun and exciting venture.
But that stupid thing called money always gets in the way. What can we do that will have small up-front costs, but still give us seed money to continue another project? How can we fit in running this business while I have a full-time job? Will he be able to make enough from his other work to help keep the bills paid? So many uncertainties and questions.
I decided to put all of this ranting in with the Chinese New Year post for one reason - celebrating Chinese New Year is believed to bring you luck and prosperity in the coming year. And we're going to need all we can get! So, I will wear red today, we will all wish each other "Gung Hee Fatt Choi" which loosely translated in our daughter's Hakka culture to mean "Congratulations and be prosperous" and we will see what challenges we can overcome this new year.
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