Thursday, September 29, 2011

Beef Stew


I have the cookbook Fix and Forget It for my crockpot. I have many recipes that I like and many that we haven't even tried yet. This one is a great find. I started this in the morning and kept it on low for a little over 10 hours. The beef was tender and the veggies cooked perfect. We really enjoyed this meal, we'll have it often over the winter!!

2 lbs. beef chuck. cubed
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp paprika
1 1/2 cups beef broth
half garlic clove, minced
1 bay leaf
4 carrots, sliced
2 onions, chopped
1 rib celery, sliced
3 potatoes, diced

Directions
1. Place meat in slow cooker
2. Combine flour, salt, pepper, and paprika. Stir in meat until coated
thoroughly.
3. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well.
4. Cover and cook on low 10-12 hours or on high 4-6 hours. Stir before
serving.

Apple Picking

On Sunday, we went to Randall's Orchard in Standish with the Wescott Fam! Since I went to Thompson Orchards with the daycare kids, I joked that I was only going for the photo opportunity's, haha. It was a gorgeous fall day and we all had a nice time.

Pam and Cynthia picking away!

Jack was enjoying himself so much in the grass I though it would be great to get a cousin photo..... 

......not so much, I guess Peter really wanted to pick apples! 

Jenny, Craig & Cameron were willing to take a photo :)

Peter and Jack LOVED the tractor ride!

The best family photo we could get!

a beautiful spot!


Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Children's Musuem

Saturday was Pete's birthday and he wanted to do something fun with the kids. It was musuem day so we got two free tickets to the Children's Museum in Portland. Of course since it was Saturday and it wasn't that nice out, it was packed! We still enjoyed it! Jack really liked the infant area :)

Pete and Peter checking out the bee exhibit!

Peter's favorite area was the cascade stream and boats. He played there for quite a while!

Jack and I got to watch from above.

Hiking Mt. Kid-ta-din

Both boys really liked checking out the touch tank. They had starfish, and lots of ocean creatures!

The birthday boy with his sons! After the musuem, we went down to the Old Port to walk around, check out the boats and had lunch at Five Guys Burgers, it was really good!


Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Farmington Fair

Every year since Nicole has lived on Maple Ave, I have gone up to the Farmington Fair. Her backyard abuts the fairgrounds, so it's a VERY easy walk to the gate. Since I've had Peter, I go up the first Sunday the fair starts. Nicole's in-laws, Sister-in-law and her kids go that day as well. My mom also came with us this year.

Gwen & Peter enjoyed going on the rides together. The carnie worker at the train was going through a breakdown when we were there and I almost got into a fight with him.. he should not be operating kid rides!

Nicole, Jack... and Allie(at 35 weeks)


LOVE this photo of Gwen!

Peter loved the slide.. the first time we went on he was nervous when we started down... but was loving it halfway down. We went on a few times!

Nate and I enjoyed it as much as the kids!

Nonni stopped to get an ice cream and got a spoon so she could give some to Peter. Somehow he ended up with the ice cream and her with the spoon, haha!

Riding the motorcycles

Jack watching Nonni & Peter on the Carousel.

Gwen & Peter wanted to watch with Jack after they got off!

Went down the slide with Nonni one last time!
Erica, Nicole and I have taken this photo every year since we were pregnant with Peter, Gwen & Trace.



Monday, September 26, 2011

9/11 Memorial 5K

In July, I was at a liquor store in Windham, getting wine and saw a pamplet for the 1st Annual 9/11 Memorial 5K. As soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to run it. I HATE running, but really wanted to be a part of this. It was started in memory of Stephen Ward from Gorham. He had been working at Cantor Fitzgerald for 6 weeks when he was killed. His sister talked to the crowd before the race and his niece(who never got to meet him) was going to sing the national anthem but got nervous so the whole crowd started singing. It was very moving. Even though I'm not a runner, I plan to do this race every year.

......and we're off!

I wasn't the fastest but I just wanted to keep running. It got a little tough for me around mile 2 and I probably would have walked if I wasn't with Cyn and Kate, then around 2.5 miles, I felt good again and knew I would be able to finish. It was really neat coming around the corner and seeing all the people waiting for their friends and family to cross the finish line, we're almost there!

crossing the finish line.. I'm not the last one!!

I couldn't have done it with these two! Thanks Cyn & Katelyn!

My biggest fans :)

Menu Plan Monday

I am so behind on posting!!! Two weeks ago we got a new laptop!!! I don't want to upload all 2300 photos on my memory card, just the photos I've taken in the last few weeks and I can't figure out how to do that because I am awful with computers!!!! Can't believe we are in the last week of September and October arrives on Saturday, boy did this month fly by! The crockpot is now a regular in our meals and I love it! Hope everyone has a great week!


Monday: Alfredo & Garlic Bread
Tuesday: Wing Night at Stockhouse
Wednesday: Beef Stew in crockpot
Thursday: Tacos
Friday: Takeout for the boys... I'm going to my NEC Alumni Weekend!!!

Monday, September 19, 2011

Menu Plan Monday

Wow, fall is really in the air now! We broke out the crockpot last weekend to make out first batch of Chili!! It was SO good!! They'll be a crockpot night almost every week from here on out! I'll have some guest bloggers sharing their recipes soon! Have a great week :)

Monday: Sloppy Joe's
Tuesday: Wing Night at Stockhouse
Wednesday: Nachos
Thursday:  Crock Pot Chicken & Rice
Friday: takeout :)

Monday, September 12, 2011

Menu Plan Monday


Monday: Tater Tot Casserole
Tuesday: Stockhouse 25 cent wing night!
Wednesday: Lasagna Stuffed Garlic Bread
Thursday: Easy Garlic Chicken(will post recipe soon!)
Friday: Takeout :)

Sunday, September 11, 2011

10th Anniversary of 9/11


10 years ago today. NEVER FORGET!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Canning

Pete works with a couple guys who have large farms. All summer they have bringing in goodies to work. We've gotten tomatoes, green beans, summer squash, zucchini, and cucumbers. They also brought in pickles that they had canned. Pete mentioned how much he liked them so the next morning one of the guys brought in a ton of cucumbers so Pete could make his own!
Pete cut most of the cucumbers into spears. We did a few as hamburger chip pickles.

We had two pots going. On the left is boiling water in order to seal the jars. On the right is where we made the pickle brine. We went to Paris Farmers Union to get packages to make brine.We made three kinds. Polish Dill, Kosher Dill and Dill.

the pickle brine...
Stuffing the cucumbers into the mason jars......

Pouring the pickle brine into the jars......

After the lids went on, we put the jars in boiling water for 10 minutes to seal the jars.

All the jars sealed. The pickles are ready! We're already tried some and they are delish!