Stewed Tomatoes and Hot Dogs

Believe it or not, this is one of my favorite dishes. I don't have a recipe but this is what I do. For my family of eight, I take two packages of Kogel Vienna hot dogs (or your favorite natural casing hot dog) and cut them into bite size pieces. I then brown them in a large frying pan. Once they are browned I add three cans of stewed tomatoes. Sometimes regular, sometimes Italian, sometimes Mexican and sometimes one of each. I try to break up the tomatoes a little as they cook. I then sprinkle in some oregano, basil and mince a garlic clove or two. Then I add a little sugar. Approximately a teaspoon or two. I let this simmer for about 20-30 minutes. I then serve it on minute rice. Lately I've been sneaking in brown rice. Once or twice someone has asked me if this "rice is different" but they have eaten it without complaining. Served with green beans and a piece of homemade flat bread and you have a quick and tasty meal. I usually have left overs and it's great heated up for a Saturday lunch.

Continental Pork Dinner-Pork Scallops alla Francese

I forgot to take a picture but these are great! I don't remember where I found the recipe but I've had it for years. It's a recipe I kind of forgot about. Friday night we had them with twice baked potatoes and then Saturday night I heated them up in the oven and put them in buns with Zesty Pepper Trio mustard (Sara Lee), tomato and lettuce. They were awesome. I use to order a Pork Loin sandwich from Poppin Fresh (now Baker's Square) when I use to work there as a teenager. I've tried to duplicate it many times and this is the closest I've come. We eat a lot of pork loin as it always goes on sale for under $2 a pound and is a favorite meat. A whole loin baked with nothing other than salt and pepper is awesome. I never buy pork chops. I just slice a pork loin for boneless chops.

Continental Pork Dinner-Pork Scallops alla Francese

1 porkloin tenderloin whole (1 pound)
1/3 cup flour
salt
pepper
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
2 Tablespoons salad oil
butter
1 Tablespoon lemon juice

About 30 minutes before serving: With knife held at a slanting position, almost parallel to cutting board, cut porkloin crosswise into 1/4" slices. With meat mallet pound each piece to 1/8" thickness. On waxed paper combine flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/3 teaspoon pepper. In pie plate with fork beat eggs and milk until just blended. Dip tenderloin into flour and then into milk.

Heat salad oil and 2 tablespoons butter. Add tenderloin pieces a few at a time and cook until golden on both sides. Add more butter as needed.

Into drippings in skillet, stir lemon juice and 4 tablespoons butter, cook until butter is melted stirring to loosen brown bits from bottom of pan. Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper, pour butter sauce over meat.

Friday Morning Smile

Brady had his mouth full with a little snack when he saw Papa with the camera. He knew what to do!

Saturday Night at Grandpa and Grandma's

It's always fun to stay at "mom and dad's" no matter how old you are. I can't remember the last time we stayed here. Probably not since before Emily and Matt married as we usually stay with them. Grandpa & Grandma

Fred and brother Dave and his daughter Olivia.

Emily's Brady

Emily's Cale

Daugher Emily and her husband Matt and kids

Katie K., her boyfriend Aaron S. Tom K. and Danny. Danny was loving catching up with Tom!

Daugher Amanda and son-in-law Paul

Emily's Kirsten and my Jeanie

Me & Fred

Winter Wonderland

We had a great time up north. Boy did they have snow!!! It sure was pretty. We lucked out and had good roads coming and going. The top three pictures were taken from the window at my Mom and Dad's. Not too much moving water on Lake Superior. That middle picture was in Laurium. That was quite a walkway into that house!The remaining five aunties. Ina, Ruth, Martha, Lil and Elvie. Elvie is the oldest at 94. Ruth the youngest at 78(?) Martha looks the most like Grandma Edna.

We stopped to see Uncle Ed and Lana. He just turned 90. His mind is as sharp as a tack!

George Washington

I just finished and enjoyed very much a biography of George Washington. I decided to make a goal and read a book on each one of our 44 presidents. I'm sure they won't all be as fasinating as George Washington but I will attempt it. I always loved history in school so hope to find interesting books on each one.


I also picked up a book by Jeffrey Archer, "As a Crow Flies". Thank you Sharyn for your recommendation on this author. It has been good from the first page on. Excited to find a new author to read!


I haven't been too consistant on this blog lately. I hope to improve on that. Fred and I are going to head up to a funeral of one of his dearest Aunts. We also look forward to staying at my Mom and Dad's and spending some quality time with grandkids and kids! May not be back until after the weekend.