Traditions?

I honestly cannot remember any Easter traditions that my family did when I was growing up except for going to church service.  I do miss the "old days" when we would have Easter Sunrise services at 6:00 in the morning! Those were glorious services....they were always held outside.  The grass was wet with the morning dew, the folding metal chairs were cold, everyone was wearing jeans and their jackets, deacons had their baseball caps on, the sun was just beginning to peek up over the horizon.  There is something special about singing "Up from the grave He arose" as the sun makes its appearance in the sky!

I don't remember if my mother fixed anything specific for Easter dinner.  Our standard special on Sunday was pot roast.  I loved my mother's pot roast.  I have NO idea how she could afford to do it.  It can be so expensive these days.  The only holiday I truly remember what she made was Thanksgiving.

I guess I was yearning for that tradition yesterday as impulsively I purchased a large turkey that was on sale at Wal-Mart.  I put it in the oven before we left for church this morning.  I made my mother's stuffing recipe, mashed potatoes, corn, peas and carrots and deviled eggs.  I completely forgot to do any gravy or bread.  Sort of an epic fail but it was good.

I rounded that hearty meal with a nice afternoon nap with my sweetie.  It was a good day overall.  And the most important thing to remember about today? The celebration of our Savior's Resurrection.

Just as I was getting ready to close this post I suddenly remembered one Easter tradition.  My mother would keep a big white box in the garage with Easter hats and gloves.  Each year she would pull that box out and dress up my sisters and I.  This is a picture I found of it.  I am not in this picture as it was taken before I or my baby brother was born.  The oldest woman in the picture is my grandmother, Cora.

Meatloaf two ways

Tonight my sweet husband requested meatloaf.  I had not made it in quite some time!  Most of my family does not like it with the ketchup baked on top but that is my favorite! I decided to accommodate both of us!

The meatloaves started out with the same basic ingredients.  I went to Harris Teeter today and purchased approximately three pounds of a meatloaf mixture:  ground chuck (poor chuck), ground veal and ground pork.  To this mixture I added two chopped sweet onions, one full sleeve of saltine crackers that I had crushed (great stress reliever!) and two raw eggs (cracked, shells discarded of course!).  I also added some freshly ground sea salt and black pepper, Soul Seasoning and garlic powder.  I mixed it together with the two BEST utensils God gave us (my hands). 

After the meatloaf was mixed well, I made four medium sized loaves into two pans.  To two of  the loaves, I poured on the ketchup! I love ketchup baked on my meatloaf! The other two I added two strips of uncooked turkey bacon to the top.  Into a 350 degree oven for approximately 45 minutes they went!

While the meatloaf baked, I peeled potatoes and made mashed potatoes (or as I call them:  mash-a-taters) and also made some mixed veggies.  

Tonight's dinner had to feed two adults and five teenagers.  Fortunately, there was enough.  I am grateful that God has blessed me with so much.  May I never take it for granted.

Time to go do some laundry so that I can be respectable for church tomorrow! Make sure you say your prayers and get ready and go! Do not forsake your fellowship needs!

Talk to you soon!! :)  

PS...I would love to hear from you! I know I have quite a few readers that are not in America.  Please let me know what you think and if you have any recipes to share. I can't wait to hear from you!

yummy mushrooms and Texas Pete

I went to the grocery store to get some more Texas Pete (I swear it is what keeps my darling hubby all spicy and sexy!).  As I wandered into the store I went straight to the fresh veggies.  In the mushroom section was an interesting package from Modern Farms Mushroom.  It was a mushroom blend of sliced baby bellas, shitake and oyster mushrooms.

 http://www.modernmush.com/products.html

Honestly I have never had anything except the small white button mushrooms! Who knew the complex and earthy flavors I had been missing out on? They were woody and wonderful.  I was surprised at the aroma of the oyster mushrooms.  I put them in a small saute pan with a stick of REAL butter and got them all warm and yummy.  I used them to pour over my roast I made for dinner tonight.  I had made a quick run to the butcher and picked up a new cut of beef I had never tried.  It was called a beef tip roast.  It was already trussed up by the butcher.  I wasen't sure what to do so I just threw it the oven for a couple of hours.  It was pretty good but it was even better with the mushroom sauce.

I also bought a 3 pound bag of red potatoes and made mash-a-taters with some real butter and milk. I meant to fix some brussel sprouts but got distracted and forgot.  It was definately a meat and potatoes night.