Garlicky Eye of Round
“makes 4 to 6 servings”
Garlicky Eye of Round
- 1 (3-pound) eye-of-round roast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 5 carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 ribs celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 onion, cut into eighths
- 1 tablespoon bottled minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme or 10 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 (10-ounce) can beef consommé
- Sprinkle roast with salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add roast, and cook for 5 minutes per side or until browned. Place roast in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Arrange carrots, celery, onion, and garlic around roast. Sprinkle with thyme.
- In same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour, and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes, scraping browned bits from bottom of skillet with a wooden spoon. Add consommé, and cook, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes or until thickened. Pour over roast.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or until roast is tender. Serve roast, vegetables, and gravy over mashed potatoes.
On a cold and blustery day… like today – – this is the perfect “comfort ” meal to prepare and have ready to serve – – just think about the wonderful conversation around the dinner table – – when all of the FAMILY – – will be giving THANKS to the ALMIGHTY – – and… to be included with this FAMILY and FRIENDS… and able to GIVE THANKS… for their daily bread!” “NO other words… JUST WONDER FULL!”
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Butternut Squash Chowder
Makes about 3 quarts
COOKING WITH PAULA DEEN
- 3 slices center-cut bacon, chopped
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
- 2 (32-ounce) cartons low-sodium chicken broth
- 6 cups diced peeled butternut squash
- 1 1/2 cups diced potatoes
- 10 sprigs fresh thyme, tied together with butcher’s twine
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 cups chopped stemmed fresh kale
- Garnish: shredded Gruyère cheese
- In a large Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon using a slotted spoon, and let drain on paper towels, reserving drippings in pot. Add onion, celery, and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour and sage, and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Stir in broth, squash, potato, thyme, salt, nutmeg, and pepper, and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until squash and potato are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in kale, and cook for 5 minutes; remove thyme. Top servings with cooked bacon, and garnish with Gruyère, if desired P.S. The next time that you invite me over to your home – – and you are wanting to know – – “What would you like us to prepare for a nice meal?” “Just let me know that you will be making the above recipe – – and I will be there with you!” “With LOVE and Blessings…. Mary Ellen…”
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“HAPPY BIRTHDAY… DENNY, JR.”
It is a terrific day to have a BIRTHDAY… today the weather is beautiful – – the SUN is shinning and we have the doors and windows open…for all the nice fresh air. This PHOTO of my brother, DENNY… is the best map of IRELAND – – a true IRISHMAN!” – Even the “shirt” he wears states… “Tis Himself!”
“NOW this is a real favorite – – if I do say so… myself!”
This PHOTO of my brother, DENNY – – sends a message to all of us – – do not forget to make arrangements… for the “HERE AFTER” – – – “ONE” never knows… when and or where our good friend, “Saint Michael” will be sending us our own personal “R.S.V.P.” – – depending on the prior arrangements we made – – – where our own “soft and fluffy CLOUD NINE” will be put into our own special orbit!
“Sure does look like brother, DENNY Jr., selected a choice section of “Cloud NINE” – – to rest back on – – as he continues doing … all of the things – – that he pre-arranged to do – – his “SMILE” tells us … he is enjoying himself!
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“DENNY Jr. will have a BIG BIRTHDAY…tomorrow”
This PHOTO is “seventy-one” (71) years old. When going through my Dad’s things… after he had died – – this PHOTO of us … DENNY Jr., TOMMY and myself – – and he is holding our new baby sister “Eve Karen” – – the reason… for “our” temporarily placement into the Orphanage. This was taken on a “Visiting Sunday” – – early in the year of 1946 and our ages on this PHOTO are 6 – 7 – and 8 years of age.
Another PHOTO from the wallet – – the wear and tear of being in a stuff wallet – it is amazing… that anything survives – – but when you look at these old PHOTOS – – and start to remember back then – – WWII just over – – everyone had to learn to do without… make do… and re-use somethings, till there was just not enough – – and just plain do without!
That “Sailor” outfit that little TOMMY is wearing – – did belong to DENNY. Little DENNY wore that same “Sailor Outfit” on one of his trips to “OHIO” to stay with “Grandma McClarren on their farm.
This “OLD PHOTO” was mine to keep… when they were developed – – and I was given a choice of which one I wanted. Just in case… someone wanted to know who the man was – – I had to write in red – – and of course the red ink had to smear – – and right on top of my “DAD” – – I just hated that I had done that – – but I kept this PHOTO – – no matter that I did not take care of it – – any better!
“CRACKER JACK® Original Caramel Coated Popcorn & Peanuts” In most of the PHOTOS that you see of us three kids – – if it was a “Visiting Sunday” – – my parents would always buy us a box – – and maybe even a couple of boxes -guess I had enough – as I have not had any – since way back then.
I’m guessing that the reason we had to have the POP CORN – – was for the “PRIZE” inside the package. Some of the kids would make “trades” for some of these PRIZES – – and it was FUN for us at that time.
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The 24th of January is DENNY, Jr.’s Birthday”
This could be a couple of years later… maybe 1947 or 1948? Again on a “Visiting Sunday” – – and this is the front stairs to the entrance of the “German St.Vincent Orphanage” – – and also before the change – – as you will see in a couple of years later.
Sitting in front is DENNY, Jr., and his BIRTHDAY is coming up… the 24th of January – -next sitting is our MOTHER… and the topper to the FUN and GAMES is our youngest brother, TOMMY – – letting us know, he will entertain us with comedy as he bounces around on top for us. Of course that is “ME” standing on the steps – – the eldest has to act like she knows how to keep out of trouble.
Now that I look at this PHOTO… Tommy doing his “Comedy ACT” on the highest part of the steps… must have been a premonition of his “FUTURE” – -he did enlisted in the ARMY Paratroopers and was stationed in GERMANY. Do we have ways of knowing – – maybe a direction in LIFE that we may take…later?
It sure is difficult to smile for a PHOTO… when the “SUN” is so strong and right into your eyes! “DADDY’s” head shadow is in the PHOTO – – so you know this is a direct hit on the eyes!
“Looks like “TOMMY” is using the “PEACE” sign… long before it became popular with “President Nixon” using it on his flights all around AMERICA! TOMMY would have been a terrific “COMIC” on stage!
Looking at this PHOTO… it just came … into my thoughts… we are getting closer to the road in front of the ORPHANAGE – – “Did we even think about our leaving the ORPHANAGE – – and just go home… with our parents???” “Would that have been a “HOT” story back in the “1940’s”” – – – “PARENTS take their children home… when… pretending that they are taking PHOTOS of their children… on the grounds of the ORPHANAGE?”
Sometimes… I can really dream up – – different ways of having lived my LIFE – – so much good material to work with! – – “WHAT do “you” the “READER” think… about that question?”
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“DENNY’s BIRTHDAY will be on the 24th”
This is 1945…. a “Visiting Sunday”… which would be only once a month, back then… and this PHOTO of little TOMMY – – and MARY ELLEN, center and DENNY sitting on the right in this PHOTO.
When I think back to when we first went to the “German St. Vincent Orphanage” – – it is really hard to believe – – that I was able to stay there – – as I never did like being there.
When we first knew, that we were going somewhere for a short time – – and after visiting several places – – this was the one where we would be able to see each other and play together – – but that was not the case. The boys were only allowed to be on the “BOY’s” side and in their own playrooms and the girls were only in and on their side of this building. So…when we would have our meals – – we would sit at the same table – – but – – most of the meals were to be done with no talking – – so when could we ever have any real FAMILY communication?
This PHOTO was taken with one of those old little box camera’s – – and you would get… what – you got – – no trying for a perfect PHOTO. “BUT” am I ever glad that my DAD had this camera – – because we did get some photos – – which help to remember what our world was really like back then.
“Visiting Sundays” were held in the “Auditorium” – – folding chairs were set up and if you were “LUCKY” to receive a visit from you FAMILY – – you were called from the “PLAYROOM” to meet with them in the Auditorium – – where you would push a number of the folding chairs into a circle – – and this meeting would be like the best day in the world for a kid! Just to be so fortunate to be a FAMILY for a few short hours. The hours were one to five – – and then – – when they would have to leave – – it was like the end of the world.
This Sunday – – there just was not enough “Sunshine” – – but – from one of the windows – near the “STAGE” – my DAD… lifted each one of us kids, up and onto the STAGE – into the bright spot where – – he could take a picture or two and see what happens??? No extra light… and hopefully we were sitting in the right spot – – to where something spectacular would happen.
That dress that I have on – – was called a “spinach dress” it was of a green material and “itched” when you were wearing it – -just terrible. Every girl had this same dress on – – someone must have donated bolts of material – these were the worst of the dresses we had to wear. There were other uniform type dresses – – we all looked alike – they even cut every girls’ hair the same style – bangs and short all around. WWII had just ended and the ORPHANAGE was sending regular clothes – that included those clothes that I had – as my Aunt Irene, had made most of my clothes – – to their affiliated home and schools in GERMANY.
Today…they do not have any Orphanages – – the government doles out money so that FAMILIES can stay in their own home with their families – this is just what I am thinking – – as I do not hear of children having to live – – anywhere but at home.
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