I LOVE Getting Mail Via Post !

"We really didn't get any snow to speak of, compared to what I am sure other parts of Ontario had received, either last night or this morning, but let me tell you it was dang cold out there!"

"Last night, just before I had posted my blog, I had to run out to meet someone, as I had bought this lightly used dehydrator for a great price of $10.00."

Debby over at Nanny's Place dehydrates all her veggies and what not, which caught my interest on trying my hand at it myself.  I was happy to be able to purchase this at a good price, so I will be able to try it all out on a small scale to see how I like it, prior to buying one of those "state of the art" dehydrators for around the $300.00 mark.  The Wild Leeks are ready to be picked, so when we get a "dry" day I am hoping to get out with a friend to get some picked and give it a "go" on dehydrating them as my first try.  If it all works out, this will be great as we do love leeks in our soups and stews.

 Lexus had me up at 2:30 am, needing out, and of course I couldn't get back to sleep so just layed there the rest of the night.  Rob had to make a round trip to Kitchener this morning, but I decided to stay back or I would be way to exhausted had I went.

I got going on a pot of Big Batch Chicken soup instead.  I also had a couple of downtown errands to do, by dropping off a couple of recipes I had promised to the owners of the newly opened "Berford Street Tea Room", dropped off a letter around to the Post Office, and then slipped into the Foodland store to pickup some carrots for the soup, since I had just run out the other day.

Rob arrived home almost right after I had finished my errands and arriving home myself.  He went out to retrieve our mail at about 11:00 am., whereas much to my delight there had been an envelope for me of a personal nature ....

"LOL, I hadn't realized Rob had the camera, do you think I was "surprised" here?"

"I had entered Debby Give Away over at Nanny's Place, last month, and won these beautiful handmade coasters.  Debbie also sent along an "awesome" handmade card for me as well.  Thanks so much, Debby, I LOVE them !"

"I had the perfect place in mind for them all along.  For me, me, me, in my room with my PC .... not sharing them with Rob !  LOL."

I do LOVE getting mail via Post, especially when it contains such wonderful things for me in it.

After my excitement had passed a bit, I got to making some Cottage Cheese Biscuits to go along with the Big Batch Chicken Soup for our Dinner today.

"All ready .... "

"Set .... "

"... and Go !|

"They were a perfect match up with the Big Batch Chicken Soup."

"....and I really do mean "Big Batch" !  Lots for the freezer."

Recipes Please?


Big Batch Chicken Soup

8-10 chicken drumsticks (skin removed), or any chicken with bone (skin removed)
12 mushrooms sliced
4 stalks of celery, diced
4 leeks (white & light green part only), chopped
4 carrots, chopped
3 large tomatoes (chopped) or a can of diced tomatoes (I used 2-28 (lg) cans of diced tomatoes)
1 large onion chopped
1 can (5 1/2 oz) tomato paste
10 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup chopped parsley
Salt, Pepper, dried thyme, and sage to taste (I omitted the sage & added some seasoning salt)

In large pot saute in 1 Tbsp oil heat over medium heat add celery, leeks, carrot & mushrooms; then add all other ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes or longer until chicken is cooked. Remove chicken (before falling off the bones), de-bone chicken & return to saucepan. Simmer until all is cooked.

Yields 20 - 1 cup servings.

Cottage Cheese Biscuits

Recipe Submitted by Exchange Member ~ Joanne Spence

2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
4 tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp margarine or butter
Mix until crumby & set aside
In separate bowl....1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup cubed old cheddar cheese
1 egg
1/4 cup milk

Add cheese mixture to flour mixture, just until blended. If to wet add a little flour. Pat onto floured board and cut into biscuits 1/2 in thickness. bake at 425F for 10-12 min.....don't crowd on cookie sheet.

— at Cindy's Kitchen @ "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".

Today I had used Monterrey Jack Cheese, however I must say it does not do the biscuits justice as does the old cheddar cheese.

After lunch I did up a sink full of dishes for the second time today, to go onto making another mess and yet another sink full of dishes !

"Since I decided I would make up some Black Bean Brownies."

"I do LOVE these brownies.  You may find the recipe for them HERE.  I do not use Chocolate Chips, as they are optional, and I do increase the Vanilla by 1 tsp., along with heaping the 1/4 cup of Cocoa."

I was so fatigued today, I really never did get accomplished what I wanted to ... again !  however, I did get a few extra little things done which are now crossed off my list.  It is all good.

Then of course there are now the "Spectacular Six" in all our lives ....

"I am certain they have DOUBLED their size in only one week's time.  A week old already !"

"My very pretty Lexus girl.  She does LOVE giving me kisses, and I LOVE getting them from her."

Speaking of Lexus, she is being quite insistent at the moment by barking for out by the sounds of it all.  So out we will all go, "Just North of Wiarton & South of the Checkerboard".