Taking a page from the Christmas Book

[cybermathwitch]

To some degree or another, it is still hardwired into our cultural DNA that this time of year (Fall) is a time for preparing for winter, nesting, and community. 

 

Over the summer, the Housecleaning Co-Op some of us did was, overall, a resounding success... but with changing schedules, stress-levels, job requirements and daylight to nighttime ratio, it's not a workable solution right now.  That said, the idea for something a little more flexible, organic, and less specific came to mind... based loosely on the "Christmas Wish Lists" that float around blogs during the holidays.

 

We all have different skill sets.  We all have different things we're good at.  Also, one man's trash is another man's treasure, so to speak.  So here's the idea.  Post a list of your Needs.  It can be anything from ideas to assistance to items to basic company.  Then, peruse everyone else's blogs, and see if they've posted a Need that you may be able to fulfill.  No pressure, no requirements - just assistance if it's possible.  Feel free to repost and refine your lists as you need to throughout the fall and keep checking on other people's lists. 

 

To start:

 

1. I Need to have more shelves and storage space arranged.  I don't know what supplies I'll need or how to do it - I just know where I want shelves and approximately what size shelves I want.  Nothing as fancy as building cabinets or anything, just basic stuff.

 

2. Company in the evenings, to help keep my energy up and keep me on task while I work on getting my home cleaner and more organized.

 

3. Simple recipes that involve a negligible to mild amount of cooking so that I am better equipped to handle dinner-making responsibilities now that my husband is working nights.

 

4. I'm currently very allergic to our couch.  It's got several years of set-in allergens that using the carpet/upholstery cleaner hasn't really helped with much.  Right now we can't afford a new couch, so suggestions as to how to minimize the allergens would be appreciated.

Comments

Erin's Cheap Quick Recipes

[wodentoad.livejournal.com]

I'm studying to be a Housewyf, so that means I have to feed two people quickly and cheaply and still make it interesting. Since I can't eat any kind of bottom feeder, tuna or such like that for Thomas's safety, I have to avoid it. This week? Octodogs and chicken Parmesan. Also Chicken packets and Taco Pie, which are big hits in my house.

Octodogs: Need Usual hotdog fixins, but I recommend using bread rather than buns. This was inspired by bento with cocktail sausages. If you DO use cocktail franks, cut the legs as quarters, it just works better.

Take your hot dogs and cut them almost in half leaving an inch or two connected at the top, then cut that section in half again. Now the hard part. Cut each of the quarters down once more. Once they are all prepared, fix the *bed* they will be on. I suggest a piece of bread, toasted, decrusted and smothered with chili, then melt some cheese on top of it and some lettuce *seaweed* around it. Relish also works, but anyway... When that's done, get a small saucepan and get some water to a rolling boil. (I hope you have tongs!) Let the dogs boil, only one or two at a time, for about 2-3 minutes, then pull from the water by their heads and set on the *ocean floor* you have created.

Chicken Parmesan: Need: Ready made breaded chicken fillets, spaghetti sauce, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, spaghetti. (I always use whole wheat store bought spaghetti, it's healthier and tastes better.)

Bake the chicken according to directions, and leave the oven on. While it's cooking, make the spaghetti (be sure to add a dash of oil (olive is best) to the water to keep it from sticking. Once the spaghetti is done, place it into a glass dish and mix in some of the spaghetti sauce. Lay the chicken on top, cover with more sauce, then sprinkle cheeses on top. Bake until cheese is bubbly.

Taco pie: Need: Crescent rolls, Refried beans, prepared taco meat, tortilla chips, mexican cheese blend, sour cream. Lettuce and chives are great but not a necessity. Crushed tomatoes and hot sauce may be added to taste.

Prepare your meat (I add chives here). Preheat the oven as directed on the crescent roll pack. Line the bottom of the dish with the crescent rolls, overlapping as necessary. layer with crushed chips, beans, sour cream (or not, and tomatoes), then crushed chips and cheese, meat, and lots more cheese (and your hot sauce). Bake for 15 mins or so, a tad longer than crescent roll directions tell you. I serve it in a bowl on a bed of lettuce with a dollop of sour cream on top. All of the alternate ingredients can be added at the end or not at all as you wish.

Now, this last one looks horrible when you start but after baking looks Fabulous. I didn't believe it! The trick here is properly preparing your crescent rolls. Yes, it's another crescent roll dish. I keep about four in the fridge at all times. If I can't make something with them, they'll keep or I'll just make crescent rolls.

Chicken Packets: Need: Cream cheese (I replaced this with sour cream, and it turned out fine. Two Tablespoons milk or chicken broth, two tablespoons chives or minced onion, 1/4 stick unsalted butter, 2 cups shredded chicken (I used a single 16oz can of chicken), and a tube of crescent rolls.

Preheat the oven to 350`. Combine cream cheese and butter in medium bowl, beat in milk or broth, add chicken and seasonings (salt, pepper, paprika, whatever). Now here's the trick. I fold my crescent rolls into packets that look a bit like pillow cases with an open end. It's a bit easier to get the filling in. Alternately, and when I tried this it looked great too, is to fold them up into almost a hobo bindle (the handkerchief on the end of a stick) and stuff them that way. Your preference really. Place on an un-greased (Or foil lined) cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 mins or until golden brown.

I hope these have helped. I can cook quite easily for two with these and my shopping bill with baby food, diapers, snacks and all that is @ $80 a week.