Perogies

A friend of mine asked for this recipe and I thought I'd put it up here because I know other friends have enjoyed it as well. When I was younger we'd spend most of a day making perogies and then freezing them for later. I have only vague memories of making them, but lots of memories of eating them. You can vary the filling and how you cook them, but this has become our favorite. Brett loves it!

First, make some mashed potatoes. However you like them. I suggest not very chunky though. Shred a good amount of cheddar cheese and add to the potatoes when it's not too warm. It is best if the mashed potatoes are cool when wrapping them in the dough. Pick whichever dough recipe you'd like- I've used them both.

Dough Recipe 1:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp oil
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup warm water

Dough Recipe 2:
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
2 Tbsp oil

Set a pot of water on the stove to boil. Mix dough well and knead for a bit till smooth and elastic. Roll out and cut into 3 or 4 inch circles. Add about 1-2T mashed potato filling. Fold dough over and pinch closed. Drop a few at a time in boiling water for about 2 minutes or until perogies rise to the surface. Scoop out and place on non-stick surface to cool. Spray with a bit of oil to help them not stick. If you'd like to freeze some for later use, do it here.

Now, for the good part. You need kielbasa, a head of cabbage, some butter, and those perogies. Get a frying pan and put about 1T butter in there to melt. Fry perogies in the butter on both sides. Chop the head of cabbage and slice the kielbasa however you wish. When the pergoies have turned golden, add the kielbasa on top and then the cabbage on top of that. Let it cook down a bit, and then stir it up making sure the cabbage gets mixed up nicely in the butter and kielbasa "juice". When the cabbage turns a more vibrant green and is slightly soft- still a bit crunchy- remove from heat and serve up. I like to dip my perogies in ketchup or sour cream.

Soo delicious

What?!? Two blog posts in one day? Yeah, it's because I can't get this out of my mind! It's a good thing I like to cook, because Brett likes to eat. Or, maybe I should say it's a good thing Brett likes to eat because I like to cook.

Over the last week, I tried two new recipes (I'm always trying new recipes). Both of them were very good.

The Pioneer Woman has some fabulous recipes. I needed to cook some beef last week and wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do. Kind of tired of the usual beef stew. I had some mushrooms and wondered if there was a beef stew with mushrooms. To Google we go! When I read the directions for Pioneer Woman's Beef Stew with Mushrooms, I was hooked. I mean mushrooms sauteed in butter and simmered with beef? Somehow, I managed to tap into the fruits of love and kindness and saved a bowl for Brett- he loves mushrooms. Next time, I don't know that I'll show so much restraint. This is definitely a recipe to repeat. We had ours over Amish noodles. It was delicious!

So, when I was a bit at loss the other night as to what we were going to have for dinner, I decided to check her site once again. Pasta Carbonara was what caught my eye. And yes, it was good! However, I definitely prefer the Beef with Mushrooms. So much so, that I really, really, REALLY want it for dinner. But, alas and alack, no mushrooms in the house. So, chicken in the crockpot it'll have to be.

Words of Wisdom from a 3 year old

Little children can be so wise. Sometimes what comes out of their mouths just stuns you, leaving you at loss for words and wondering just how their brain works. Sometimes what comes out of their mouth leaves you laughing uncontrollably while wondering how on earth they thought of that. Here is some wise words from the mouth of a babe, I'll let you decide which reaction to have:

"Ew, Nena pooped in her biaper. We don't eat poop, that's yucky." -Eliana

Yes, my dear, you are right, very right. And where did that come from??

In other news, my morning routine has been mostly successful. With only a couple exceptions, I have been getting up early, exercising, and doing other necessary things. However, one of my children has decided to wake up earlier as well. Fortunately it is only a half hour before the others, and I do enjoy the time I get to spend alone with my girlie.

Kieran and Liam graduated Eliana from "opposing hockey team member to check and beat up" to "teammate and goalie."  My kitchen regularly gets turned into a hockey rink, our stools serving as goals. It's funny to see them play.

Brett has been busy, but it was nice to have him for a bit last weekend. This weekend he will be at the hospital on call. So, the kids and I will have to find something fun to do.

As to the future, I will be posting our (late) Christmas letter on here. Brett finishes his residency in June and we are very excited and a bit nervous about how God is leading us to use our abilities and interests for His glory. 

Morning #1

So, this week I made a decision. I hope it will benefit me, my kids, our home, and maybe my husband. Today was my first day implementing it and, although it wasn't quite like I had imagined, I am quite pleased. Normally my mornings are quite slow. I am slow, the kids are slow, but not Brett. He's already gone, long gone. And then before we get to school and play, I feel like there are certain chores that must be done and things put away. So, often our day starts much too late. Then I am trying to catch up all day.

My decision is to have Brett wake me up before he leaves the house so I can exercise, shower, do morning chores, and other important things before the kids get up. That way, when they wake up we are ready for breakfast and to get started on our day.

However, this could be dangerous. I do not like to be woken up when I am deep in slumber. Or be torn from the comforts of my nice warm bed. And Brett gets up too early. I tried putting my alarm in the kitchen so I have to get out of bed. But, it usually wakes up one of the kids, and then I try to snuggle back in bed with them to get them back to sleep and it all goes to pot.

This morning, I grunted and groaned and tried really hard not to take out my decision on Brett. I mean he was just doing what I asked! He made it a bit easy by plowing out of the bedroom as soon as he had completed his task. Smart guy. So, I laid there thinking, "No one will know if I just go back to sleep. It's not like I have to be anywhere. Maybe just another 15 minutes. What time is it anyway?" But, after a minute or so of that, I heard Eliana's door. "Great! She's awake, got to get her back to bed without waking Sarena, The Crab!" So, I tucked her into my bed and rummaged around for a few clothes. Man, it seemed extra cold this morning.

After a bit more deliberating I dressed and went to the basement. I thought I'd start the fireplace since it was so cold, but for some reason it wouldn't start. Finally figured out that if I just start exercising I will warm up just fine. After 25-30 minutes of kickboxing, I felt much more awake and quite warm. I didn't get quite as much done as I wanted this morning. But it is a start, a very good start for me. It sure was nice to be awake before the kids and get something accomplished. I felt much more ready to tackle the day this morning. Let's see how long I can keep this up.

3 Years.. a taste of heaven!

The last week or so we've all at one time or another been sick. It seems like it just hops from one person to the next. But, we are finally recovering. Not much has been happening other than sleeping, pushing meds, pushing fluids, and watching movies from the library, haha. So, I figured I'd do a little post about something nice and sweet- Eliana's 3rd birthday.


Dec 30th was a very fun day for Miss E. Brett's family treated her to an afternoon of roller skating. It was interesting to say the least. By the time we left, at least Kieran could skate. Liam and Els still needed quite a bit of help. But, they enjoyed it. We went home for a yummy ice cream cake, decked out in pink! Eliana was a bit tired after roller skating and dinner, she didn't finish her cake and instead wanted to go to bed. :o) One of her favorite things about her birthday was the pink and the princess dresses. Funny girl. Happy 3 years my sweets!

Christmas Catch-up

We had the awesome gift of seeing both our families this Christmas/New Year season. We loved every minute of it. The kids enjoyed being with their cousins so much and were very sad to come home. Sarena brought home another black eye, thanks to me and the horse racing game we played. Brett brought home a cold. But, we all brought home great memories to store in our hearts.
Here are a few pictures to share of our time. The night before Christmas Eve, the children and I lit up the advent candles and read what each candle tells about the gift of Jesus. This was our first time with the advent wreath and I am so glad I decided to add this to our family tradition. The children loved it, though Liam couldn't wait to blow out the candles as if it was his birthday!

Christmas Eve we arrived in Michigan. We celebrated Christmas Day with my parents. My siblings came the day after. Then chaos broke loose, as usually does with us. Here is a sampling of that:

 

We went to a wonderful Bavarian town called Frankenmuth for a couple of days. Got a little snow, enjoyed the pools at the hotel, and visited the little shops in town. Then we traveled south for some pretty nice weather and spent some time with Brett's family. 

In all we had Brett for 10 days!! It was nice for him to get a break from the hospital. Fun times, precious memories.

Christmas Past and Present

Certain things shout out Christmas to me. One of the big ones is Clementine oranges. They were a special treat Mom would buy at Christmastime. We'd find a few of them in the bottom of our stockings. Whenever I peel one of those the scent of Christmas is released. And it triggers memories of Christmas past.

A pot on the stove, filled with water, orange peels, cinnamon, maybe cloves. As it boils a wonderful aroma fills our home. I breath it in. Ah! Christmas. And the picture of my mom's smiling face, as she stands by the stove flashes in my mind.

Cookie cutters. The 12 days of Christmas variety. Colored corn syrup and paintbrushes. The laughter of my brothers and sister as we paint each cookie, run string through it, and hang them on our tree.

Real trees. The running and searching for just the right one. And then inevitably the image of my brothers adjusting a tree in their...uh....hmm... pajamas. (My family will know exactly what that means!)

A lighted tree at night. I hear the soothing melody of Manheim Steamroller's O Holy Night in my head. I picture myself curled on the couch sipping tea and just resting, pondering on the words of that song.

My dad's big black Bible. His voice reading over the Christmas story comes to me, refocusing my heart on the meaning of Christmas. Immanuel, God with us.

My parents gave us so much, so many memories, and fun times. And even now, today, in Christmas present they live on.

But, not every memory is joyous and peaceful. Usually about a week or so before Christmas my heart grows heavy. Something happens that triggers another memory. It could be something totally unrelated, but it happens. And so it should. This year it was the words of my son while in the car, "I miss Daddy." Memories of excitement, driving with my future sister in law to see my sister and my brothers at the beginning of Christmas break. Excitement that turned to utter grief. I will never forget the day my sister-in-law's father died. It burns in my mind: the look on my brother's face when he answered that call, his eyes that spoke volumes to me. If I could give one gift, if I could change anything about the past, it would be for her to have had one last day with her dad. I did not know him well, I only met him a couple of times. But, I knew my sister in law. I loved her. I told my brother he had to marry this girl because she was the closest thing to an angel on earth. I know we aren't as close as we were during college days, but I still feel the same way about her.

Christmas Past is always in Christmas Present. I know there are many who are grieving right now, whether because of a death, or because of abandonment, or because of a loved one who is half the world away. Some I know their names, some I don't. But my prayer is that this Christmas Present you will feel the comfort and peace which comes from the Prince of Peace, the Almighty God, the Everlasting Savior. That sweet memories of Christmas Past will fill your hearts making Christmas Present even sweeter. I pray that each one of us will finally come to a place of stillness and worship as we realize that Immanuel is with us.

I am looking forward to being with my family this Christmas. I hope some of the old memories will be reborn into new memories. Memories my children can share as well. I look forward most of all to hearing my dad's voice, drawing us back to the purpose of Christmas,

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.... Glory to God in the highest,
      And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!