Menu-less

I mistakenly didn't get a menu list made this week. I started to on Sunday night, but got distracted, and here we are to Friday already! The weeks fly by for me! I enjoy knowing what I'm planning to make for supper. I simply make a list of the meals I plan to have, and then pick one that sounds good for a particular night. I do not like the "what's for dinner?" question nagging me all day, so going off of a list is an easy fix. To avoid a grilled cheese dinner night, I decided to make something in the crockpot. I love cooler weather, b/c it's great for soups and crockpot meals. I'm all for easy/fast meals nowdays. :)

Here's the recipe:

Cuban Black Beans

1 lb black beans (soaked and then cooked--directions on the pkg)

6 cloves garlic

1 lg onion

6 oz tomato paste

1 gr. pepper

1/4 c. olive oil

5 c. water

1 jar pimentos (4 oz)

1 T vinegar

2 tsp salt (wait till ready to serve, otherwise you'll have hard beans)

1 t. sugar

1 t. peper

~Saute onion, garlic, and green pepper. Cook beans. Put all in the crockpot for 6 hrs or so.

~Here's my variation:

I used way more onions and garlic and I did not saute them...I just threw them in the crockpot.

I cooked my beans all the way and put them in the crockpot...accidentally pouring excess water in too. Thus I added another 12 oz can of tomato paste. And 1 c. of brown rice. I don't keep pimentos on hand, so I axed those. I didn't add the olive oil.

My hubby tries to go w/ the flow if I make something meatless, but he loves meat, so I added 5 diced (cooked) brats...just for him, you know. :)

Happy Friday!

A few things...

The Pumpkin Patch...

Celebrating Max's 19th and Isaac's 9th birthdays...I remember when both of them were born...must mean I'm getting old. :)








Roasting hot dogs...

Daddy and daughter...









Dad & Mom...

My favorite things about mommyhood...

Laundry...ha, ha, just kidding. I like laundry AFTER it's folded & put away. I took this picture to remember my never ending supply. It nags me when it looks like this. :) Teaching my children to have fun...is this called work? They were having a blast getting the 4-runner all spiffed up for Uncle George. :)

Pumpkin Patch days...
The Pumpkin Queen and Kings were not paying attention to the camera-lady. :) William could've cared less about the pumpkins...he liked the Indian corn. He smashed his pumpkin on the driveway before I could catch him. He happily fed the pieces to the chickens and they loved him for it! William, William...

W/ cute friends...


Late summer days and swinging on the swings...

Playing tag w/ siblings...


Apple Orchard Days...apple cinnamon doughnuts...good company...and beautiful weather! (note: William snatched an apple from the apple shop...he has good taste...it cost almost $1 for 1! ;) He sure enjoyed it!


A certain 3 year old, and 5 year old...

My 2 year old...


Rainy days...and rain slickers...and gum boots...



Harvesting days...

Silly children...

Smiling children...

Late night checker game w/ Daddy...

Oh the disappointment to loose against someone who doesn't "let" you win. :)

My hubby...

These are a few of my favorite things...

Visit w/ the Greats. :)

It has been far too long since we've visited my Grandparents. The kids had such a fun time. George, Krista, and Grace came for supper on Saturday night. I was having flashbacks from 15+ years ago when there were 11 cousins under age 8. There weren't quite as many kids, but the action and the noise was pretty loud! My grandparents are going on 8 great-grandchildren. I'm so thankful for the great memories they've made w/ both sets of great-grandparents! Here's Grandma "Nett" reading some books. William loved this one and they read it at least 3 times on Saturday. :)

Hard to get 1 where they're all looking & smiling. ;)

Before supper...

Madeline enjoying ice cream!

The football watchers/kid wrestlers. :) I realized there's not any pictures of my Grandpa. I should've taken more pictures...but I guess we were too busy talking or eating. Hee... Oh, and I do believe Grace won the award for talking the most on Saturday. :)

Here we are at 20 weeks...me, a little more, Krista, a little less. And, yay, we get to find out tomorrow if Gracie gets a brother or a sister! No wonder I feel like I can't breathe...I'm carrying high again. :) We still have the "big" part of pregnancy left to go!

Madeline modelling Gracie's grape hat. Her mommy is so very creative. :)

Happy Monday to ya'll!