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A Quick Review of 2011 on the Military-Family Blog from MilitaryAve…
What happened to 2011? It is almost gone and the MilitaryAvenue team discussed all the activity we had seen this year! So much to do and write about. We saw the troops come from Iraq, discussions on the military drawdown for 2012 and beyond, military health issues at the forefront, homeless veteran initiatives, veteran employment resources, entertainers supporting the troops, we even grabbed the chance to attend the Military Bloggers Conference and so much more. MilAve’s Leanne Kocsis,Inaugural Blogger of Month at USAAMany of our regular features such Tasty Tuesday Recipes, the DoD Blogger Roundtable features on issues impacting the military community, book reviews, veteran support and military children articles…
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Talking Turkey (leftovers) Tasty Tuesday
A crowd fills the house at Thanksgiving each year. Chairs are mixed and matched to heights of a child’s lap. Tables are added domino style… fitting this end, turning a corner with several tablecloths draped over them. My table is a center point of the Thanksgiving action for me. For me. Now, for more than half of us it is the Macy’s Day parade which spills into football. Hors d’oeuvres fill the gap from the yeasty breakfast rolls or bowls holding fruited steamy oatmeal to dinner. A steady aroma of turkey feeds an appetite that nothing else can satisfy. Our menu has turkey highlighting the table at 2 P.M. and…
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Tasty Tuesday with Sweet Potato Muffins
We went to the pumpkin patch with 2 of the grands today. Fun. Each ran and found their beauty. They surprised me in that they didn’t go for the big one… but each chose their favorite from the ones at the farthest end of the garden… as if the pursuit was the prize!With a little muscle help from Grandpa, the vine came loose, and the chilly orange orb was theirs! Since it is Tuesday, they wanted to perform in the kitchen, and pumpkin was on their minds. Muffins seemed the perfect treat for this chilly afternoon. We got out the ingredients, put on the aprons and set to work. One…
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Blind Pigeons
Names for food are fascinating. The Poles call them Halubky, Betty Crocker titled them Stuffed Cabbage, as a child growing up in an ethnically rich area: NYC suburbs we heard other names, but Blind Pigeons stuck. By any name, as cabbage is coming out of the gardens, and cole slaws have sided many dinner plates, give the cabbage a front row ticket. The tomato sauce tops off the colors with red highlights… oh so fashionable! Halubky or Blind Pigeons1 head cabbage, large1 c cooked and cooled long grain rice2 lb ground beef1 small onion chopped fine2 eggs1/2 t saltpepper to taste1 large can pureed tomatoes 1 can condensed tomato soup1…
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Tasty Tuesday Blackberry Scones
Blackberry Scones. Right there, I am drooling!Warm, wet and wonderful hot out of the oven; berries popping out the sides of blackberry scones. From start to finish, these are ready to eat within the hour using everyday shelf items: with the exception of those juicy berries. We have berries growing and thriving and multiplying like 60. Dale picks them, I clean them; we eat them. Simple! Today we had oatmeal with blackberries for breakfast, a 10 o’clock snack was a blackberry muffin from last night and lunch will be a garden fresh tossed salad topped with… Yep! Blackberries, plump purple and delicious. The scone idea is new. Neighbors are coming…
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Week in Review: July 17 – 23, 2011 (Military News) #MilitaryMon
Popular Military Family Articles for the week of July 17 – 23 on MilitaryAvenue.comLittle Known TRICARE Benefits:TRICARE offers comprehensive, affordable health coverage to more than 9.6 million eligible beneficiaries worldwide. It is an enormous military health benefits system and because of its complexity, many beneficiaries may be unsure of all the benefits and programs available to them. TRICARE has decided to highlight several well-know and maybe not-so-well-known benefits … Let’s Celebrate!: Get ready though… we have big plans for our 1,000 post coming soon! Prizes from USAA, Sears, Home Depot, Army Wife Network, Prudential and more. But I can’t stop there because the list is growing daily. (Are you a…
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We Are Grilling to Stay Cool!
It is hot, so we decided to stay out of the kitchen as much as possible at dinner time. Avoiding use of the oven will certainly keep the house cooler and keep that electricity bill down a few cents. So, with some fresh green beans picked from the garden (1.5 cups with ends picked off), a yellow onion sliced thin, olive oil, four chicken breasts, some “Sweet Baby Rays” sauce and some herbs (basil, parsley and rosemary) mixed into the sauce I headed out the door to the grill. Deb did make some very nice garlic potatoes on the stove but it was an on and off quickly. The chicken…
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Tasty Tuesday! Col K’s Sassy and Yummy Salsa
Col K’s Sassy and Yummy Salsa finaleWhat a refreshing, thick and tasty salsa. We had it with a few chips and a glass of wine on the deck at the end of a busy day and it helped cool us off! As a follow on, we had a 6 year old grandson’s birthday party and knew it would be a hit! Be sure to chill for at least an hour after putting together! Easy to make; place ingredients in a mixing bowl and if wanted you can transfer to a nice dish later. Many of our items were fresh from the garden including the herbs or local farmer’s market! It…
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Tasty Tuesday: Smells, Sights and Tastes of Summer Potato Salad
I am a sucker for Heinen’s Potato Salad! But purchasing it from the deli can be quite a strain on the family grocery-budget. So I had a mission… make it myself. And I think I did it. It may not be “Heinen’s Signature Recipe” but it is mine now and I love it. Leanne’s Smells, Sights and Tastes of Summer Potato Salad4 to 5 Red Potatoes, scrubbed but not peeled5 slices of baconOne packet of Ranch Dressing Mix (8 oz)1/2 Cup of Sour Cream1/2 Cup of Mayonnaise1/4 Cup of fresh chives, chopped1/2 Cup of vidalia or red onion, chopped1/2 Tablespoon dried-basilCut potatoes into quarters and place in large pot. Fill your pot…
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Norwegian Waffles for Syttende Mai
It is almost time to say “Hurra for syttende mai”! I can hear the old ladies in my childhood church chatting and clacking… most of them had dentures that didn’t fit quite so well. They had stamina, girth and a love for breads. Yes, these were Norwegian women. They were a tad formal, my Grandma referred to her best friends as Mrs. Otto Andersen, Mrs. Moy, or Mrs. H. C. Andersen. This made me smile, as I can picture these women in sensible shoes, baggy hose, blue suits of every shade, clutch purses and a handkerchief in hand. Each had an open house policy… come on over and have a…
