Regular Lives of the Rutherfords

Each time our turn comes around on the blog, I am excited to share what we have been up to and yet find that it doesn't seem too exciting all in the same sitting. I suppose many of us feel that way as we live our lives day to day, but really that's pretty good. There are so many people out there who have circumstances that make their lives exciting in a way that you don't really want or that are too lazy to be involved in their lives at all, so if day to day activities is all we have to report to one another, I'd listen in every day!

FROM NYC...

Not a lot of new to report.

***There's the Regular:
Kurtis is working at Cedar Lake, Mary is working with Jersey Boys, Nice Work If You Can Get It and the occasional sit in with Cedar Lake. We both love what we do and are mostly grateful to be doing it every day!

The beer is still brewing at our house. We are doing lots of batches now as it will get too hot over the summer to do much brewing - the beer will not have a cool enough temperature to actually work the fermentation process (no central air here). Both of us are working in the garden this year as Mary has planted tomatoes, basil, garlic, onion, chives, parsley, potatoes, has plans for peppers, and is pleased to see the horse radish return. Kurtis is trying his hand at hops, with four plants in the ground along our fence.

Cats are still in house and getting along like two siblings. Need I say more...

***Then, there's the good kind of exciting:
At long last, we have booked tickets to Australia! After we finished our European Adventure and the move to NYC, we started thinking about the next place we really wanted to go together. Having met so many wonderful people from Australia on the road and having lots of people that Grandma Johnston and my dad still know very well we decided that it would be a wonderful place to visit. We are often traveling to visit family and friends, but very rarely just to vacation together. This one is scheduled for 3 weeks at the beginning of August!!! Still lots of planning to do, but we are extremely excited to have tickets, which makes it much more of a reality.

To each of you and your regular lives, we send love and best wishes for a spring full of health and happiness!!!

Something old, something new, something not borrowed and something brown, not blue:

Something Old:
At the Givan house, we are still doing many of the same ole things.  Work, church duties, and some extra curriculas.

Something New:
Something new for me was taking Shona through a dog obedience class with Kate and Ben.  Oh, goodness I have watched Kate do this for years and it is not as easy as it looks.  In fact, I'm in trouble pretty much every week for doing something wrong.  It definitely is not a confidence builder. Kate and Benny of course make it look easy. Something else new are added job duties at the Cos.  I'm now operations coordinator which adds the front desk coordinating to my day.  We have a very good assistant front desk manager so it hasn't been a difficult job so far.  Mostly, I coordinate with other departments.  I have gotten the hang of selling tickets and one day I spent down there recently, I got more done than I do in my office!

Tim's something new is a new certification for his job.  He had to go to school for it and did decide that this could be it for the school learning.  It was rather stressful-the studying and taking tests.  He is also leading a new Bible study at church.  Oh, and he has discovered the joy of podcasts.  It is not unusual to find him "plugged" in to his ipod listening as he goes about the house.  Although, I have wondered if at times he is also using it to block Kate and I out!

Something not borrowed:
Well, we had our oven go out right before Easter.  I walked in the door with my frozen turkey in hand for Easter weekend dinner only to discover that  a power surge had taken out the oven.  Soooo.... you can't borrow someone's oven forever (although Gma and Gpa's worked to bake the turkey) so we now have a "new to us" oven.  It is very nice.  We also finally gave up on the washer.  If you were ever over here during the spin cycle you would have thought you were about to observe a shuttle launch.  Anyway, we now have a "new to us" washer.  It is amazing.  The clothes don't come out dripping water but are actually rung out.

Something brown, not blue:

Meet Ellie Mae.  Our something brown, not blue.  Ellie Mae is my very own pet.  Now you may think that is weird since we have several pets at our house.  You could also consider her to be my mid life crisis or maybe another attempt to find a hobby.  Whatever she is -she is very cute and loveable.  It is really fun to have a pet to sit with and greet you when you come home.  I plan to take her to an obedience class that Kate is co teaching this summer with the goal of doing Reading with Rover with her at the library.

Take care one and all and until next time.

Christmas Eve Potato Soup

Since the weather is so unpredictable, a soup can’t be too wild of a suggestion, can it? We just made this last week.

Christmas Eve Potato Soup

(This one has good memories for me since we ate it every Christmas Eve at my Great Grandma Tucker’s house, hence the name.)

5 lb potatoes
Onion to taste
2 sticks butter
16 oz sour cream with chives, or green onions to taste (we definitely prefer the fresh green onions!)
1 pkg bacon bits
milk to desired consistency
salt and pepper to taste

Peel and chop potatoes and onions (we use powder or none at all). Boil until tender, 20-30 mins. Drain. Add butter, sour cream, bacon and green onions (if using). Stir and add milk as needed. Top with cheese and enjoy!!

Uncle Tim G Recipes

Yummy and Easy Tilapia
4 frozen tilapia fillets
1 TBSP olive oil
1 TBSP margarine
1/8 c. lemon juice
1 tsp parsley flakes
1 tsp garlic salt (or lemon pepper if you don't like garlic salt)

Salt and cayenne pepper to taste (I usually leave cayenne pepper off)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Spray baking dish with cooking spray
Melt margarine in microwave
Place tilapia in banking dish
mix melted margarine, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic salt and parsley
Pour mix over tilapia

Bake in preheated oven for 13 minutes, broil for 3 minutes

Chicken Foil Dinner
For one serving:  1 boneless chicken breast, marinated in Italian dressing overnight in ziplock baggie
1/2 cup minute rice, 5-7 baby carrots, 6 broccoli florets, 1 TBSP margarine or butter, 4-5 ice cubes

Place marinated chicken in in center of large foil square (heavy duty foil is best). Add rice and vegetables, butter and ice cubes.  Wrap securely and place on grill for about 20 minutes.  Turn a couple of times.

A Taste of Missouri

So I like spicy things...and using black beans. That's a problem because I don't know how much of the family is in the camp of "not spicy" preferences and because black beans just absorb nearly every other flavor you add to them and cover it up so all you can taste are just black beans. Here's three recipes though that I enjoy making!

Black Bean Patties

This one's a little bland as the recipe stands: personally I've had luck adding garlic, paprika, or some chili powder, but that's probably not really everyone else's taste. Guacamole on top has been the best solution so far. Boiling and dicing sweet potatoes was a good choice, and another time I added sweet corn to pretty good success. They're good with pasta (either red or white sauce), or with the guacamole on top they're basically a vegetarian hamburger.

Time: 20m
Ingredients:
15-16oz Black Beans (get a can, cooking them raw is complicated)
15-16oz Diced white potatoes (I also recommend getting these or "sliced white potatoes" in a can to make things easier)
1/4c sauteed onion (this can be left out—in which case I'd really recommend adding something else you'll think will give the patties some more flavor).
1/2t parsley
1/2c oatmeal
olive oil

Instructions:
Mash the beans and potatoes together.
Add the onion, parsley, oatmeal, salt, and pepper (and anything else you've chosen to add)
Mix well
Shape 6 patties
Heat the oil
Cook patties about 5min per side or until done to taste

Carrot Falafel

I hesitated to include this one because I didn't want everyone thinking I only eat things that are round and shaped like discs...but it's a good one as well. The cumin is definitely a flavor we didn't eat a lot of growing up, and I don't know if that's just a Givan thing or if that's a pretty common experience for us all!

Ingredients:
1 can of chickpeas (15oz)
2 cloves garlic (I'm not sure how substituting this one would work if you're not a garlic person)
1c chopped red onion (I leave this out all the time though, not on purpose, and it turns out fine)
2 carrots (finely grated)
A handful of fresh parsley
A handful of fresh mint
1/2t cumin
1/2t coriander
1/4t chili powder
1t tahini (this stuff is super hard to find...if you have seasame seeds you can grind them to a powder and use that. Other substitutions include very plain tasting nut butters apparently. I think you can just skip it...I know I haven't had enough falafel to tell the difference)
2 lemons (organic/unwaxed usually work best)
1 egg
1/2c plain vanilla yogurt
Pita

Instructions:
Mash the chickpeas.
Finely chop the garlic and all the herbs.
Finely grate the carrots.
Coarsely grate the zest of from the lemons
Add the egg
Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Makes between 6-12 patties depending on  size.

Whisk together the yogurt, lemon juice, and tahini to make a dressing.
Serve on plain pita

Easy Bake Banana and Oatmeal Cookies
1/2c oatmeal
2 bananas
Whatever you'd like to add

Mash the bananas up and add the oatmeal. Add nuts, honey, dried fruit, etc, and bake for 15 minutes at 350.

Tolleson Recipe

This is our favorite chicken recipe right now. Enjoy!

Garlic Chicken

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons crushed garlic

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup dry bread crumbs (we use Panko)

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Warm the garlic and olive oil to blend the flavors. In a separate dish, combine the bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Dip the chicken breasts in the olive oil and garlic mixture, then into the bread crumb mixture. Place in a shallow baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes (until no longer pink and juices run clear).

Shook Recipes

Apricot glazed pork roast

1 can (10 1/2oz) condensed chicken broth
1 jar (18 oz) apricot preserves
1 large onion, chopped (about 1 c)
2 T dijon style mustard
1 bonelsss pork loin roast (about 4 lbs)

Stir broth, preserves, onion, and mustard in slow cooker.  Add the pork to the cooker cutting to fit if necessary and turn to coat.  ( I usually just use onion powder)

Cover and cook on LOW 8-9 hours or HIGH 4-5 hours.  (I've only cooked on low)



Shepherd's Pie

1 lb ground beef                           4-6 large potatoes
1 c tomato soup
1 can french style green beans

Brown meat in skillet.  Bring potatoes to a boil and mash.  After browning meat, mix with soup and green beans.  Put mashed potatoes on top.  Cook about 15 min til hot



I like the cookie idea for another blog day:)

The Recipe from the Rivers

Alright, I admit that I prefer baking to cooking...and love simple cooking recipes.  Here's a favorite at our house:
Bruschetta 'n Cheese Stuffed Chicken

1 can (14.5 oz) Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained
1 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup fresh basil (optional-I usually don't use)
1 package stuffing mix for chicken
8 small boneless chicken breast halves (~2lbs)
1/3 cup Italian dressing

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare stuffing mix by combining tomatoes, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, basil, and dry stuffing mix.  Stir until just moistened.
2) Put chicken breast halves, 2 at a time, into freezer-weight resealable bag. Pound with side of metal can until 1/4" thick (approx.)
3)Place pounded chicken breast on cutting board; spread with 1/8 stuffing mixture.
4) Roll chicken breast, starting at the narrow end, as tightly as possible around stuffing mixture.
5) Place in 13x9 baking dish with seam side down; pour dressing evenly over chicken breast and bake for 40 minutes.
6) Sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup cheese and bake 5 min longer or until cheese is melted and chicken cooked throughly.
Any extra stuffing mix can be placed around the chicken--it is good plain too!  Everyone at our house likes this dish and the chicken turns out moist.  :)

Now...I think we need a cookie recipe sharing week! Sarah

Kate's Recipe

Family, this is my favorite meal that I cook. It's very delicious  And oh so simple. All it requires is a microwave bowl, a microwave and a spoon. Oh and don't forget saran wrap or a lid to cover the bowl or you will have a large mess.

And that family is (one) a meal I cook. :) 

Fast and Easy

As we are back in tech together this week, Kurtis and I have been using some of our fast and easy recipe. There's one for those who have a wee bit more time, and one for the college kids to pre-prep and warm up in the microwave later - can you guess which one belongs to who?

The Healthier Frozen Burrito ---
* Buy 10 Taco Shells, 1 can of refried beans,  1 package of shredded cheese, freezer quart bags.
* Take ingredients home, open can of beans, package of cheese and shells.
* Put together: spread beans out over 2/3 of shell, layer some cheese, fold both ends and roll
* Put burrito in freezer bag and put in freezer for later. (Should be able to put two burritos in 1 bag.
* When ready to use, pull out bag at top of day, carry around as it defrosts and keeps things cool like an ice pack until lunch/dinner, then heat for 45sec and enjoy!
* Note: for fancier burrito, you may add taco meat, etc...
* Cost of Meal: 50-75cents/burrito

Simple Beef Stroganoff ---                                                                                                                  
* Buy 1 can mushroom soup, 1 thing of sour cream, 1 package of wide egg noodles, 1/2-1 pound beef
** Start water boiling for noodles.
* Put beef in skillet to brown.
**  Add noodles to boiling water - cook for 10 minutes.
* Once brown add entire can of mushroom soup plus 1/2 can water.
* Stir around beef/soup and let simmer.
* After about 5 minutes, add a tall spoonful or two of sour cream to beef mixture. Season with salt/pepper and allow to simmer for another 5 minutes.
** Remove noodles and drain.
* Serve together, noodles/sauce with extra sour cream for topping on the side.
* Total Prep Time: approx. 20min
* Cost of Meal: approx $10 for 4-6 servings or approx. $2/person

Hope you all enjoy!
Love,
Mary and Kurtis

Auntie via Aunt Aggie

Porkies

1 lb. ground cured ham
1 1/2 lb ground pork
2 beaten eggs
1 c. milk
1 c quick oats
Salt and Pepper

Mix well.  Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour

Baste with
1 1/2 c brown sugar
1 T mustard
1/2 c vinegar
1/2 c water



Monster Cookies

1/2 c white sugar
1/2 c + 1T brown sugar
1/2 stick oleo
1 1/2 eggs
3/4 c peanut butter
1/4 t corn syrup
1/2 t vanilla
2 1/4 c oatmeal
1 t soda
2 oz choc chips
2 oz M and Ms

Cream sugars, margarine and peanut butter.  Add beaten eggs, vanilla and corn syrup and mix well. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.  Drop on greased cookie sheet using a small spoon or larger spoon for larger cookies. Flatten with fork.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.

Makes about 3 dozen regular size cookies.

Recipes

Spicy Wine Pot Roast - submitted by Pam Johnston

3 to 4 pound beef chuck roast
Salt and pepper
1 package (3/4 oz.) brown gravy mix1 cup water
1/4 cup catsup
1/4 cup dry red cooking wine
2 teaspoons Dijon style mustard
1 teaspoon Worchestershire sauce
1 small onion chopped (optional)
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)

Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper; place in crock pot. Combine remaining ingredients; pour over meat. Cover and cook on low 8 to 10 hours. Remove meat and slice. For gravy thicken sauce with flour or corn starch dissolved in a small amount of water, and serve over meat. Makes 6-7 servings.

Fun Times for All - A story in pictures!
Visit from Mary and Kurtis, Easter and Adelynn Birthday 2013