Easy Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich

As I have shared here before July is sandwich month. There are so many great sandwiches out there. I love it when they are easy to make and delicious. Try this sandwich it may just surprise you, it did me. Easy, and pleasing Enjoy!!

1 lb. deli roast beef, shaved
1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
6 slices provolone cheese
6 hoagie rolls
mayo

Heat chopped onion and bell pepper in a large skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Add shaved roast beef to the skillet just long enough for the meat to barely brown (do not overcook or your meat will be dry and chewy). Turn off heat and place provolone slices over meat. Allow cheese to melt before spooning into hoagie rolls. Spread hoagie rolls lightly with mayo if desired.

International Day of Friendship

The news today reports of many sad and unhappy things. It seems the world is uneasy and no one is very happy. The world today is simply filled with to much hatred and fighting. July 30th is always the international Day of Friendship. It is an opportunity to stop, reverse the world wide problems.

The United Nations sponsors the International Day of Friendship. It is a way of promoting friendship among people, cultures and countries. Making efforts towards peace and building bridges toward future friends are always worth celebrating.

Do your part today and make a friend. Reach out to a family member or sibling, neighbor or old friend who you had a falling out with. See if there is any way to make it up so that the friendship can resume. Trying just a little will help do your part of making the world a friendlier more peaceful place.

Friendship Day celebrations occur on different dates around the world. It was on April 27 July 2011 that the United Nations declared July 30th to be the official International Friendship Day. The day encourages young people to grow toward being our future leaders. The United Nations encourages governments, organizations, and civil society groups to hold events.

Our Kids Can Help IN The Kitchen

My children have always been invited in and expected to help in the kitchen. This helps with bonding and teaches learning experiences as well. Helping out in the kitchen helps to build confidence as well. By allowing our children to help us they become knowledgeable and learn self esteem along the way. The opportunities that we allow our children to help will grow over time allowing them to continue to learn and build confidence. 

Both boys and girls can learn a lot in the kitchen. Learning while they are young will guide them toward better healthy habits. The ability to cook and care for their selves and their future families when they leave home is very important as well. As parents it is our job to help our children learn the abilities that will help them through out their lives.

Today's world there is so much talk about eating unhealthy. Having our children in the kitchen helping to make their own food from scratch will help them grow to a healthier diet. Eating different foods will help them to grow a superior taste and have them looking for new foods rather than being a picky eater. Working together to fix meals will help them to learn the nutrition of homemade meals as well as how to shop thrifty.

Giving our children opportunity to prepare food will help lessen the workload. While supervision is always a must even the young ones can help out in the kitchen. Children can grow to learn how to be part of the team in the kitchen as well as eventually filling independent roles as well.

I started my children out in the kitchen as soon as they were old enough to follow direction. Having them do just one little chore will make them happy and your life easier. Always thank them for coming into the kitchen and helping out. The keys are to give good direction and supervise carefully Our children will never forget the times that we worked side by side with them in the kitchen. The jobs we give the kids should be real, actual jobs that help out directly toward the meal, prep or cleanup. 

I was a mom of 6 children and I had the kids in a routine of what to do. They helped each meal only in different jobs and positions. Each time that you are ready to work in the kitchen grab your little helper(s) up and bring them along with you. Even homework nights should not excuse them from doing a small task in the kitchen.

Mistakes will happen they did with me, they most likely did with you and they will happen with our children as well. Messing up cooking a dish or making another error is something that can and will happen. Remember to not get mad or make a big deal out of something that goes wrong. If you have to start a dish over or enjoy an overcooked part of the meal do not do it negative emotions instead tell them mistakes happen and that next time will be better.

I can recall when mom would allow us to do our own thing in the kitchen as well. Baking up cookies or brownies was our favorite thing to do. She let us complete them from beginning to end and always ate a few with us as well. Let your children to get in the kitchen have some fun make some yummy treats and share them with the family.

Our children should be able to plan menus by giving their input. When our children are older they can become the chef and plan and cook the entire meals you can act as the assistant. Make it exciting to help in the kitchen so that our kids are willing to get in their and help. Along the way there will be messes but there will also be memories built and in time there will be less messes and you will be able to enjoy a job well done.

Here is a list of jobs for you to start with:

Kitchen jobs for kids: (with proper instruction and supervision)

ages 4-6 
stirring
measuring and adding ingredients (teach them how to do it properly first and stay near them)
getting spices and other ingredients out of the cupboard and fridge (good reading practice)
setting the table
spooning batter (or sour cream or salsa or whatever) into a pan or bowl
rolling cookie balls
spreading frosting, butter, or jam over cakes, toast, etc.
making their own sandwiches (put out pre-cut ingredients and let them put it together themselves)
opening boxes

ages 6-9 (all of the above, plus the following)
opening cans
draining and rinsing canned goods
independently making sauces, marinades, and dressings
grating cheese
cracking eggs
whisking
*peeling vegetables
*slicing (avocados and bananas are good things to practice on, since they can use a butter knife)
*heating things on a griddle--tortillas, pancakes, etc
*frying eggs
reading the recipe (for someone who is standing at the stove and can't get to the recipe)

ages 10-11 (all of the above and the following)
*coarse chopping
*sautéing
*cooking noodles, rice, etc.
pressing garlic
independent baking (cookies, cakes, pancakes, biscuits, cornbread, etc)
tweaking recipes to make them their own
making entire meals once a month or so
menu planning

ages 12-up (all of the above and the following)
cooking meals independently (I have them take charge of a meal weekly in the summertime)
dicing onions and other vegetables that need to be chopped finely
baking bread
basically anything an adult can do

*close adult supervision is highly encouraged during any activity which requires the use of heat or sharp utensils.

Ice Box Cheesecake

Today July the 30th is National Cheesecake Day. In appreciation of such a yummy day take some time and enjoy a slice or piece of cheesecake. Try this easy to make recipe if you find time and save it back so you will be able to find it again. Believe me it is yummy

*Advance Preparation:  Place the can of evaporated milk in the refrigerator a few hours before making the cheesecake as it must be chilled in order to whip properly. 

The ingredients:


1 small pkg. (3-oz.) any flavor Jello (I used lemon)
1 cup boiling water
2 packets graham crackers  (about 16 whole graham crackers)
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 pkg. (8-ounces) cream cheese 
1 cup sugar
1 can (12-ounces) evaporated milk, CHILLED
2 Tbs. lemon juice
pie filling or thickened fruit as desired for topping

Directions:  Dissolve package of Jello with 1 cup boiling water and stir together until dissolved.  Set aside.  

Crush 2 packets graham crackers and blend in 1/2 cup butter (I crushed them in the blender).  Press cracker mixture into bottom of 9x13-inch baking dish. 

In a separate bowl, cream together cream cheese and sugar.  Set aside.  

In a large bowl, whip evaporated milk which has been thoroughly chilled.  Add lemon juice and whip until stiff.  

Add cooled Jello into cream cheese/sugar mixture.

Fold whipped evaporated milk into cream cheese/Jello mixture.  

Pour over crust.  

Chill several hours or overnight.  Serve plain or with slightly thickened fruit.  

Enjoy!  

New Recipe : Lima Bean Salad

Lima bean salad is a new one to me. I love the ingredients that are in this salad. Sounds like a great summer salad to me.

2 cups lima beans, cooked
1/2 cup sweet pickles, finely chopped.
/1/2 cup stuffed olives, sliced or coarsely chopped
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon salt

Toss all ingredients together. Pour into a serving bowl. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Serve on top of romaine lettuce

recipe source here

Angel Trumpets

Angel's Trumpet flowers are very attractive and fragrant. They are often considered a tree but in fact it is a flowering shrub. The shrub is found in Native to South America and can grow up to 20 feet tall. 

The blooms of the popular flowering plant come in attractive variety of colors including white, peach, yellow and orange. Hummingbirds are often attracted to the bright blooms. The  plant is a member of the nightshade family and is highly toxic so be sure to wear gloves when working with any part of the plant.

Through history angel's trumpet has been used as a hallucinogenic drug. The drug is a hallucinogenic and has caused many deaths. Young people have been known to use the plant in a form of tea and ingest it. This often leads to death. Children and pets are at risk as well around this plant so be aware before growing.

Angel Trumpet plants are easy to grow and prefer full sun. Partial shade will be tolerated and weather of damp weather with warm days and cool nights are best for growing. These plants desire a lot of water and nutrients where the soil stays moist. Angel trumpet flowers are normally grown in pots. These will need to water it daily during hot, dry weather. 

 Prune the plant often to reach maximizing blooms. Begin to prune the plant when the main trunk forms the first "Y" Prune older branches or stems to encourage the plant to produce more. 

Crockpot Lasagna Soup

We all know or should know that Garfield loves lasagna. There are many variations of lasagna and I too love lasagna so it goes to reckon that there is a national lasagna day. National Lasagna Day occurs on the 29th of every year. Why July we do not really know??

July is hot and humid and a big pan of lasagna will make the kitchen a lot hotter. The smell will waft throughout the house making it smell delicious. Your mouth will begin to water and you will eagerly await meal time. What if there was a cooler way to get the same great flavor and aroma??

Lasagna is a favorite Italian dish. Multiple layers of lasagna pasta, generous amounts of tomato sauce, cheese and hamburger or italian sausage. The perfect lasagna takes time to make and bake but the same great flavors can be reached in a crockpot dish. What is it ??

1 lb extra lean ground beef/turkey or sausage
1/2 C grated onion
1 heaping tsp fresh garlic
1 1/2 tsp seasoning salt
1 1/2 Tlb dried basil (you can use fresh also just not as much)
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp oregano
pinch of nutmeg
1 - 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 - 14.5 can diced tomatoes
1 - 6 oz can tomato paste
1 C apple juice
4 beef bouillon cubes
1 1/2 C water
1-2 C sliced or cubed zucchini
12 oz package Armoniche noodles - itty bitty lasagna noodles but any small pasta would really work fine.
2-3 C mozzarella and parmesan cheese for garnish - I usually do equal parts of each and mix it together

Cook meat and onion together until cooked, drain then combine in a crock pot all other ingredients. Let simmer on low minimum 3 hours. Boil noodles until tender but do not overcook, add to soup within 30 minutes of serving. Do not let it keep cooking or the noodles will overcook and get mushy. 

serving suggestions, 
cheese, and a hard bread or roll

Refrogeratpr Cucumber Salad

Refrigerator Cucumber Salad

"This is a great yummy summer salad and can stay in your fridge up to 2 months."

Ingredients:

4 thinly sliced cucumbers

1 large sliced red onions

1 large sliced green bell peppers

1 tablespoon salt

2 cup white vinegar

1 ½ cups sugar

1 teaspoon celery flakes

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Preparation:

Mix cucumbers, onions, peppers and salt; set aside.

Put vinegar, sugar, celery flakes and pepper flakes in a pot and bring to a boil.

Remove from heat and add 2 handfuls of ice until melted.

Place all veggies in large mouth canning jars (2 quarts or 1 half gallon jar).

Pour mixture over cucumbers.

Store in refrigerator.

You can combine this excellent recipe with some others from our collection.

Will keep up to 2 months.

Makes 2 quart jars.

Picture from  recipeswelove
Recipe Credit Ann Kelly

Grow Up Some Elephant Ears

One term that has been used in more than a few ways is the term elephant ear. An elephant ear of course could belong on an elephant, it is a sweet carnival treat and the third way elephant ear is used is a plant that has big leaves. As you can guess it we are not going to talk about how an elephant hears or as much as it may come up later the sweet treat recipe. Yes we are going to talk about one of my favorite plants elephant ears. 

The Elephant ear is a member of the Caladium family. The large colorful leaves have a shape that resembles an elphant ear. These plants can grow three to five feet tall. Originally from the tropics or sub-tropical area they love sunshine, heat and high humidity. Easy to grow and love both sun and shade. Take note that this plant can be poisonous to children and pets.

Elephant Ears are grown from tuberous bulbs. Each year in the fall after the plants die back dig up the bulbs. In the off season clean and store them in a cool, dark area until time to plant next spring. It will take several weeks for the plant to emerge after planting. But once you see sprouts it will grow taller very fast. If you live in the southern warmer part of the states they can remain in the ground over winter with proper mulching.

While these plants grow up they also like to spread out. They love moisture and desire soil that drains well. You may want to install a border edging 3 to 6 inches deep into the soil around the plants. 

Bacon Cheddar Dip

Sometimes in the summer time I do not feel like a real meal. Rather I would suggest a sandwich, lighter meal or even a snack. This one that I found here is an awesome one that the kids love as well. 

• 16 oz sour cream
• 1 packet Ranch dressing mix
• 3 oz bacon bits (in the bag not jar)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Mix together and refrigerate 24 hours. Serve with chips & or veggies.

Buffalo Soldiers Day

Buffalo Soldiers were African american soldiers who were enlisted in the regular Army regiments. The first troops were formed in 1866 during peace times. The buffalo soldier troops were made up of former slaves, freemen and former black civil war soldiers There had been African American soldiers battling since colonial times. 

The buffalo soldiers helped the westward expansion as well. They became escorts for those traveling west. Settlers, cattle herds and railroad crews were led by the African American buffalo soldier troops. Buffalo soldiers who helped make up troop 9 & 10 regiment also helped to battle toward the U.S. expansion into the southwest against Indian civilizations. 

It was during the Indian wars that the black troops got their names. The Indians named the troops they faced the buffalo soldiers because of their pride and bravery of the black men. It was a name of respect. The black troops accepted the name and carried it with pride. Buffalo soldiers were involved in many major battles through out time. During the 1940s and 1950s the army embraced integration and disbanded the all black troops. 

. The Buffalo soldiers will forever stand for patriotism and pride. In 1992 a monument dedicated to the buffalo soldier was dedicated at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas by General Colin Powell. 

resource tool

http://www.buffalosoldiermuseum.com/who-are-the-buffalo-soldiers/

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