Outa the Blue

YES...

2012-02-13T08:34:00.002-06:00

We got WHITE rain...

Online...

2012-01-05T07:50:00.000-06:00

I will be adding photos of the trip a little at a time, so check back for future updates.

I have started a flickr account for everyone to see our photos.
go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/outatheblue, I will start uploading our vacation photos here for you to see. Enjoy what I have started.

We are...

2012-01-04T08:05:00.006-06:00

getting off the electric grid.

Our house is total electric. This means when we loose electricity, we loose everything. So our goal this year is to get some propane alternatives.

In February 2011 Kenneth bought a 250 gallon propane tank ($200.00) for valentines day. I was so excited, one step closer. In the summer we bought a totally propane, freestanding range. No electricity at all! We got it for $50.00 and it is practically brand new.
When the propane man came to test everything, since we did it all ourselves, and change over the stove from natural gas to propane, He just loved the stove.
Basically he said "the U.S. government passed a law that if it had any electrical parts (even a clock) it had to have an electric ignition for the oven. This means that most gas/propane ranges you still loose the oven when you loose electricity.

Kenneth ran pipes from the tank to the fireplace clean out and around to the kitchen wall.

He even put in a connection for the grill next to the patio.

Our Christmas present to us... a fireplace insert ($400.00).
We have fire!

Total cost so far... probable about $1000.00. This included bring the 1953 propane tank up to code by replacing everything on top, black pipe and connections.

Next, remodeling the kitchen to accommodate the new propane range.
For a sneak peak go here to see the new kitchen sink Amanda and I bought.
Note: We ended up spending seven (7) hours here on our first official visit.

Merry Christmas...

2011-12-25T01:01:00.000-06:00

planning...

2011-12-14T01:10:00.002-06:00

We are planning for Kenneth's retirement next year...

Helpful websites I have found...

National Institute of Transition Planning; Government Executives;

http://www.nitpinc.com/gov_ex_archives.html

Happy Thanksgiving...

2011-11-24T01:04:00.000-06:00

Its getting cold...

2011-11-15T12:45:00.003-06:00

fall in our backyard...

and in the crock pot... Autumn Sausage Casserole... from A Year in Slow Cooking.

Love this look...

2011-11-10T01:38:00.003-06:00

it's made with doilies...

Krista Larson - wonderful ideas
Robin Kaplan - I love her designs.
Magnolia Pearl - does anyone wear bloomers anymore.

local store Absolutely Abigails in Shreveport. Check out the prices. I can so sew this style.

I love these looks of rumpled, feminine clothing. I need to get back to sewing.

What's up...

2011-11-09T01:12:00.000-06:00

What I'm doing today... going to make Apple Flognarde,

grain grinder

ground some corn for...

Black Skillet Cornbread... cornmeal soaking in buttermilk.
This is supposed to make it easier to digest.

potato soup base cooking in the crock pot, will use to make...
Baked Potato Soup
Swiss ham and cheese soup
and Kielbasa Potato Soup
We'll have one tonight and freeze the base to use later.
for any of these recipes just do a search, so many different ideas.

Halloween...

2011-11-08T13:07:00.004-06:00

Emily got her face painted...

Leah liked the duck pond...

you can't find us...

Leah

Emily

Amanda made their fairy costumes, very cute. It took her 3 days.
Everyone had a fun time trick-or-treating and going to the church Fall Festival.

Pumpkin & Cream Bread...

2011-11-08T10:51:00.002-06:00

Pumpkin and Cream Bread

Yield: 2 loaves (14 slices each)

Batter:

1-1/2 c. pureed pumpkin

1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce

1 whole egg

3 egg whites

1 c. all-purpose flour

2/3 c. whole wheat flour

1/2 c. Stevia Cup For Cup sweetener

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. ground cinnamon

1/2 t. ground nutmeg

Cream filling

8 oz. reduced fat cream cheese

1/4 c. granulated sugar

1 T. all-purpose flour

2 egg whites

1 t. vanilla extract

1. For the Batter: With an electric mixer, beat the pumpkin, applesauce, egg, and egg whites on medium speed until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine the flours, Stevia, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg. Slowly mix the flour mixture into the pumpkin mixture.

2. For the cream cheese filling: Beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, egg whites and flour until creamy and smooth.

3. Grease 2 8x4x2" loaf pans. Divide half of the batter between the two pans. Pour half of the filling in one pan and the other half in the second pan and smooth with the back of a spoon. Top with the remaining batter.

4. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Don't overbake or your bread will be dry on the edges. Cool and remove from pans. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

One serving (2 slices) = about 100 calories

From Sunday Baker

Decluttering...

2011-11-02T01:28:00.000-05:00

Follow Along at the Nesting Place also here.

Quote...

2011-11-01T01:17:00.000-05:00

Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.

–William Morris.

too funny...

2011-10-31T07:49:00.002-05:00

from Photos of the Week...

1 Million Pillowcases...

2011-10-18T16:37:00.002-05:00

Go to All People Quilt to see the 22 different pillow case ideas for 2010 and 2011.
Easy to follow instructions for each one. I like the Roll It Up.
Also check out the floral designs. Tulips, Crocuses, Roses and Daisies.

You can do it...

2011-10-11T08:33:00.000-05:00

Make your own beauty products at home...
Check out all the recipes at "Our Life Simplified"

Meatless Monday...

2011-10-10T00:41:00.001-05:00

Here are some recipe ideas for those days you want to get off the meat wagon...
Recipes from The Veggie Table Blog.

Protein Sources and How Much You Are Actually Getting By the Numbers

Beans, Nuts, Seeds

1 cup garbanzo beans 14.5 grams
1 cup pinto beans 12 grams
1 cup refried beans 15.5 grams
1 cup soybeans 28 grams
1 oz. cashews 4.4 grams
1 oz. peanuts 6.5 grams
1 oz. sesame seeds 6.5 grams
1 oz. pistachios 5.8 grams
1 cup tofu 22 grams
1 cup lentils 18 grams

Dairy

1 cup yogurt 13 grams
1 oz cheddar cheese 7.1 grams
1 egg 6 grams
1 cup cottage cheese 10 grams

Fruits and Vegetables

1 avocado 10 grams
1 cup broccoli 5 grams
1 cup spinach 5 grams
1 cup peas 9 grams
1 medium artichoke 4 grams
1 cup asparagus 5 grams
1 cup beet greens 3 grams

Woman need 47 grams per day

Men need 56 grams per day

Vegetarian Protein...

2011-10-09T12:21:00.004-05:00

Ok, I know we're supposed to be eating better than my last few posts, so... here's some information you may or may not have known from "The Veggie Table".

There is a popular misconception that meat is the only real source of protein, and thus that a vegetarian diet is inherently unhealthy due to a lack of protein. It is impossible to overstress how untrue this is.

First of all, the Recommended Daily Allowance of protein is not as high as one might think, and many people - vegetarian or not - eat more protein than their bodies actually need. The approximate RDA of protein is only 47 grams for women and 54 grams for men.

Secondly, there are many sources of vegetarian protein. The only problem is that most* vegetable sources of protein are incomplete, so you need to eat a combination of foods to get the complete protein.

Vegan sources of protein

Amaranth*
Cereals and grains - buckwheat*, rye, corn, rice, pasta...
Leafy green vegetables, including spinach
Legumes - beans, lentils, peas, peanuts
Nutritional yeast*
Nuts - almonds, walnuts, cashews...
Quinoa*
Seaweed - spirulina*, kelp ...
Seeds - hemp*, sesame, sunflower...
Soy* products - tofu, tempeh, soy milk...
Vegetables - Brussel sprouts, potatoes, yuca

Ovo-lacto sources of protein

Eggs*
Cheese*
Milk*
Yogurt*

* indicates a complete protein

As long as vegetarians (and everyone else, for that matter) eat a wide variety of foods, they will easily manage to eat enough protein - not to mention other nutrients.

If you want to be absolutely certain that you are getting enough protein, you should eat food combinations which form a complete protein, such as:

Legumes + seeds
Legumes + nuts
Legumes + grains

Chances are you already eat complete proteins without even trying. Here are some tasty and healthy complete protein combinations:

Beans on toast
Corn and beans
Hummus and pita bread
Nut butter on whole grain bread
Pasta with beans
Rice and beans, peas, or lentils
Split pea soup with whole grain or seeded crackers or bread
Tortillas with refried beans
Veggie burgers on bread

Note that these combinations don't necessarily have to be eaten at the same time; you can eat one several hours after the other and still benefit from the complete protein.

cherpumple...

2011-10-08T07:58:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving Already...

2011-10-08T07:37:00.004-05:00

See picture above... (for some reason they wouldn't let me post the picture with my post)

I want to make this for Thanksgiving, Christmas, my Birthday, oh who am I kidding, I am just looking for any reason! Is this not the most perfect dessert you've ever seen! Its called a Cherpumple. Check out Eating Out Part V for her step-by-step instructions.