Another Sunset

Orange

There is nothing that says Autumn more than the color Orange.

Beef Noodle Soup

The other day I was planning on making beef stew, but realized I was out of potatoes. No problem. Instead, I made Beef Noodle Soup.

First chop up a large onion...

Along with 3 cloves of garlic, and 1 lb or so of stew meat (round steaks are good.) Beef pieces should be in about 3/4 inch.

Heat about 2 Tb oil in your dutch oven, and brown your beef.


You want your pot fairly hot, and let it get good and brown.
Add in the onion and garlic.

Let it cook until the onion and garlic are soft and slightly browned.

Now add in about 2/3 c cooking wine (red or white...whichever you prefer)


Now add in about 2 1/2 - 3 cups of your favorite "soup" veggies. Today I am using some chopped carrots...


and some left-over peas from the night before. Why waste?


Pour in one of these...

...along with 2 cups of water.

Now the herbs....


I added 3 bay leaves, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp parsley, 2 sprigs (about 1 tsp) thyme, and some salt & pepper.

Bring it all to a boil, reduce to a low-medium heat. Cover and let it simmer about 35-45 minutes.

Next I added these adorable little things.


About a cup.

(but your favorite little noodle will work)

I also added 1 Tb of Worcestershire sauce.

Let it cook about 10 minutes.

If you want it thicker, use a little cornstarch & water.

We ate this with my "dangerous cheddar biscuits" (winning biscuit recipe with 1 1/2 c grated cheddar mixed in.) and topped with some grated parmesan cheese.


Enjoy!


***


Printable Version:

Beef Noodle Soup

1 lb stew meat
1 large onion
3 cloves garlic
2 Tb oil (evoo)
2/3 c cooking wine
1 quart beef broth
2 c water
2 1/2 - 3 c chopped veggies
1 tsp Oregano
1 tsp Parsley
3 Bay leaves
1 tsp fresh (or 1/2 tsp dry, ground) Thyme
Salt & Pepper
1 c your favorite little noodles
1 Tb Worcestershire Sauce

Heat oil in Dutch Oven. Brown meat well on all sides. Add onion and garlic. Cook until soft and slightly browned. Stir in cooking wine. Add beef broth & water. Stir in herbs, salt & pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 35-45 minutes. Add noodles and Worcestershire sauce. Cook 10 minutes more. Thicken with cornstarch & water if desired.

Serve with Parmesan if you wish.

Enjoy!

Fall Scenes

Yesterday we went to the stable in the afternoon. The water was so calm. I just love the reflections in the water.





Then I enjoyed the flowering bushes in the yard...Enjoy.

Science Experiment in the Backyard

My elder son had a science experiment today in regards to soil erosion. The weather was perfect for this. Sunny and 74 degrees.

Aquiring his materials...


Soil Erosion..


And how vegetation protects the soil from erosion...


And speaking of vegetation...look what I found growing under my bird-feeder.

Yep----baby sunflowers.

Then we turned around and saw this over the grill.

A spider working hard at re-building its web.

Feeling a Little Reminiscent

I was e-mailing with an army wife today, one that I recently met. Come to find out, she is from the area where I met my hubby on a weekend pass to get married, during AIT in the army. So that got me thinking about "old times."

Field Trip, Part 2: The Produce Stand

After the hayride, we headed into the barn/shelter area to browse around the produce for sale.

First they picked out a pumpkin.


There was so much to look at, like these cool pumpkins.


And this pumpkin.


JR liked this neat gourd.


I liked this gourd.


JM liked these "pacman ghosts"


JD liked this pumpkin.


Then JR about flipped out over this GIANT GREEN BEAN!

Okay, really it was a very cool gourd. We brought that one home.

Then JD decided that this was the pumpkin that he liked.


And then my eyes beheld these highly unusual gourds.


These were called "Turk Turbans"


And I'll leave you with this lovely autumnal scene.


Happy Fall Y'all!

Field Trip!

This morning, we went on a field trip. Yes, I have two high-schoolers and one middle-schooler, but who says we EVER outgrow field trips?

So our trip today, was to a nearby farm with a bunch of other homeschoolers. My neighbor, "Mrs. Q" and her "Little Mama" came along too.

We saw the animals...

If this doesn't just scream "Fat & Happy" I don't know what does.


I mean look at that smile!

This is Matthew the Donkey


I miss my chickens!!!

This guy would have been right at home with my hens.


I loved this bell.


Getting ready for the hay-ride.... (WHY do they call them hay rides when it is actually STRAW?)...Little Mama was excited


This is Farmer West. He gives everyone a lesson on all the produce that they grow there on the farm.


And he emphasizes the importance of the honey bee to everything grown.


Going on the hayride. What is it about "teenaged" boys that they don't think you are supposed to smile for a camera?


Little Mama didn't have that problem.


On the ride we saw those "pollinators"


And I loved the row of cows.


More to come....

Something's Not Right

Something is wrong with my rug.

I don't know what keeps making these strange lumps.




Wait a minute.

Is that?

Is that who I think it is?




Yep.