Thursday, February 28, 2019

Pack Your Bags for a Travel Adventure



Hey, everyone! Sorry I haven’t written for a while. I just got back from a 10-day vacation adventure!

On February 14th, my travel companion, whom I call The Captain (because he likes to think he’s in charge! Lol) and I left Topeka at 6 a.m. {yawn} to head south. We spent time in…










       Memphis…
















       and New Orleans…













…on our way to board the Carnival Dream for 7 days in the Caribbean!








We visited:






The National Civil Rights Museum—very moving!














Graceland—🎼 I'm all shook up! 















The National World War II Museum—amazing!

















The Jamaica Tour with Compassion—with faces I’ll never forget!

















With lots of food…


















…and beverages. (Yes, I got recipes!)









If you’re weary of winter, then I hope you enjoy the following posts. Maybe you’ll get some vacation ideas, or you can just live vicariously through my adventures! Think of this as your virtual vacation, which is one of my favorite ways to travel!

Stay tuned!!!







Sunday, February 3, 2019

Aunt Mable’s Vegetable Beef Soup











This week we said goodbye to my Great-Aunt Mable. She was 103 years old when she passed!













I wrote about Aunt Mable in the past, when I shared her Honey Fruit Salad Dressing. She was a go-getter! She reminded me of the Energizer bunny. I guess her batteries finally wore out.





At the gathering before the funeral, I asked her daughter, Sue, if there was a recipe Aunt Mable made that was her favorite. She instantly replied, “Homemade vegetable beef soup. When I came home from college, she would have it waiting for me on the stove. Even though it was late, the soup was waiting, nice and hot. It tasted wonderful, but I don’t remember just the taste. I remember the comfort eating the soup gave me.”



I know what she means. I feel that way every time I make my Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup. It was inspired by one my mom made and it gives me a lot of comfort, too

Here is Aunt Mable’s version. Give it a try and let me know what you think! I can’t wait to give it a go!









Goodbye Aunt Mable. You were a wonderful lady. It feels like the world has lost a little of its energy without you.








Aunt Mable’s Vegetable Beef Soup

This recipe is shown just how she made it. Feel free to adjust it to your taste. I’m sure she did through the years!

Beef shanks, approximately 2 pounds
1 to 2 carrots, shredded or chopped small
1 large onion, chopped small
3 to 4 stalks of celery, chopped small
1 can tomatoes, diced with juice
1 teaspoon sugar
3 to 4 potatoes, chopped
1/2 cup alphabet macaroni
Salt, pepper, Accent, to taste
3 to 4 drops Tabasco sauce
1 can beef broth

Brown beef shanks in a little oil in a large heavy pan. Cover fully with hot water. Cook on low til tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Watch water to make sure it does not evaporate. Remove meat to mixing bowl and cover.

Add the carrots, onion, and celery to the broth and cook til partly done. Add tomatoes sugar, potatoes, and macaroni. Add some salt, pepper, and Accent. Cook til done. Add a can of beef broth, then add more water if needed.

Chop meat on a board, sprinkle with salt and pepper and add to the soup. You can also add any leftover peas, corn, etc. Important: Add 3 to 4 drops Tabasco sauce. (It warms the tummy and adds flavor.)