I MADE THIS YESTERDAY AND IT WAS VERY GOOD. EVEN THOUGH I CUT THE SPICES DOWN...IT WAS PRETTY SPICY!!
***made this in a dutch oven (big pot) and used a pkg of fresh spinach....could have used 2.

BEEF WITH GREENS & POTATOES



1 lb. top round beef (STRIPS)

1 tablespoon paprika

1-1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/8 teaspoon red pepper

1/8 teaspoon dry mustard

8 red-skinned potatoes, halved

3 cups finely chopped onion

2 cups beef broth

2 large garlic cloves, minced

2 large carrots, peeled, cut into very thin 2-1/2-inch strips

2 bunches mustard greens, kale, or turnip greens, stems removed, (1/2 lb. each) coarsely torn

nonstick spray coating

1. Partially freeze beef. Thinly slice across the grain into long strips 1/8" thick and 3" wide.



2. Combine paprika, oregano, chili powder, garlic powder, black pepper, red pepper, and dry mustard. Coat strips of meat with the spice mixture.
3. Spray a large heavy skillet with nonstick spray coating. Preheat pan over high heat.
4. Add meat; cook, stirring for 5 minutes.
5. Add potatoes, onion, broth, and garlic. Cook covered, over medium heat for 20 minutes.
6. Stir in carrots, lay greens over top, and cook, covered, until carrots are tender, about 15 minutes.
7. Serve in large serving bowl, with crusty bread for dunking.
Yield: 6 servings
1 Serving Size = 7 oz

Good morning eastern sister I see your little egg a lit. Thanks for the recipe. Sounds yummy, I will have to try it but not when it is 97 degrees out like now.

I have to get to the store and get some clean food for mom to eat. We had some battered fish this week (a favorite of hers) and yesterday had some take out Chinese (another favorite). We are very close to the border of too much salt - don't want her getting all bloated here So I will be studying the weather charts and trying to figure out a meal plan for the week I look at the weather forecast because my prefered meals are to grill a meat and serve it with some veggies as well as fresh fruit. Have to be prepared for alternatives on those rain days.

Oops - started this post 4 hours ago. DH came into the room, I turned around to talk to him and forgot about this. Now I'm almost out the door to take Mom to the library and then stop and get some groceries. DH is shooing us out the door as he needs to shut off the water to repair the toilet. So gotta run. Sorry I can't post individually. Happy Saturday all!

I'm in heaven,
I've been to the Butchart Gardens and the Butterfly House. Yes there is one here just about 2k from the gardens and they are really lovely. Have some huge butterflies - blue morphos and owls eyes (can't remember the real name) and some green jays which almost look like they are checkered. Stripey ones, orange ones, spotted ones, banded ones. You name it.

Butchart - well what does one say. Wish I could have stayed tonight to watch the lights and fireworks however the buses don't run afterwards and taxis are few and far between out there. There were some wonderful things in the gift shop. I could have run amok but I can look on the net later I guess and have them sent out.

When Happy wants to take the DH for a 2nd or 27th honeymoon, she can come here. The Hotel (Executive suites) is good. Free laundry, free internet, free workout equipment, free steam room and spa pool. Rooms are quite nice and you can cook in there if you want as well (I don't). So Victoria Harbour is lovely too. It took forever to get down here on the bus and ferry from Vancouver, so I have scrapped the return journey and booked a seat on a seaplane - 35 minutes instead of 6 hours. Should be an interesting journey too.

After today, only 5 days days to go on my holiday (and 900 odd photos on my camera) It has gone so fast. Ahh well that's life, I guess.

Had to buy another suitcase today - they are expensive in Victoria too. The big purple case is coming apart at the seams. The side handle is nearly off and I am already overweight so a small cabin bag has been bought to take the overflow. Not that it is going in the cabin on the flight home - it will have all the shopping in it for customs purposes. That generally stops them from going through all my washing and stuff.

So it's nearly dinner time and I am getting hungry. Lots of walking today (necessary after a big breakfast - but little lunch) and lots of fresh air and sunshine (still got the good weather going for me).
I've chatted for a short time with Meadow today - think I have got to all of you now. Just one more jaunt with Carla and I'm done.

Someone is waiting for the computer. See you

Hmm, the site is really being odd tonight... won't allow me into advanced... has frozen twice and lost my message So trying one more time before bed

Shad-talking to you was just like catching up with one of my relatives Did you get a chance to ride on the trolley with the horses around town? I bet the harbour plane trip will be an even better visual adventure... you know it lands in the harbour in Vancouver, right beside Stanley park, so you will have a great view of the city coming in to land. Enjoy!

Mel-the stew sounded very yummy, I liked the spice combo. Especially the dry mustard. I'm sorry your eyes are still being bothersome : Cold compresses and minimum on the eye strain. Be well.

Ruth-what is with the bookends? This nasty fellow probably has tiny ones you could make into earrings as a warning to others! Kick butt! So sorry this has endangered the event, fingers crossed for a good outcome.

Happy-Lots of peppers grilled on the barbecue Clean eats and delicious. What book did your mom get out of the library? Does she like Sue Grafton? I'm reading "S" is for silence right now, very good detective mystery, well written and a fast read.

Holly-You sound busy and happy. Have a wonderful time at the party. I'm sure your kids will have a blast with the teenager over the summer. Peaceful days and lots of sunshine.

I'm going to try and post now

HAPPY~ HOPE YOU GOT TO THE STORE FOR GROCERIES...I WAS GOING TO RUN SOME DOWN TO YOU BUT I GOT SIDETRACKED THE DH WILL BE DRAGGING YOU UP TO CANADA ANY DAY NOW AFTER HE SEE'S SHAD'S POST!!! :cance:

SHAD~ HOW WONDERFUL IT ALL SOUNDS. NOW YOU MENTION THE CAMERA....I NEVER TOOK MINE OUT!! WE SHOULD HAVE HAD PICTURES TOGETHER!! WHAT WERE WE THINKING???? HAVE A GOOD BOATRIDE!!

MEADOW~ SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE EXTENDED FAMILY NJOW! I AM WAITING PATIENTLY WHILE YOU PUT UP THE POOL I'LL BRING THE DRINKS!!
I AM INTERESTED....WERE YOU THE ONE SHAD SAW???
INQUIRING MINDS NEED TO KNOW THESE THINGS....LOL

I HAD A SAD NIGHT YESTERDAY. GOT A CALL FROM A TENANT SAYING THERE WAS A NEWSPAPER STILL OUTSIDE HER NEIGHBOR'S DOOR. A FRIEND OF MINE, KARL, HAD PASSED AWAY. BY THE LOOKS OF IT HE DIED THE NIGHT BEFORE. AFTER MUCH ARGUING AND ALMOST 5 HOURS LATER, HE WAS FINALLY RELEASED BY THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S CREW AND THE FUNERAL MEN WERE ABLE TO MDO THEIR JOB. FIRST HIS SISTER DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT AND THEN AFTER THE COUNTY M.E. CALLED HER SHE SAID "LEAVE THE BODY THERE AND I'LL COME DOWN AND TAKE IT OUT TOMORROW!!" SHE DIDN'T WANT THE ADDED CHARGES THEY DON'T WANT THE BODIES BUT THEY WANT THE CASH IN THE BANK. YOU CAN IMAGINE THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS BEING USED BY ALL OF US AT THIS POINT. POOR OLD KARL. I AM GLAD IT WAS ME THAT FOUND HIM. HE DESERVED SOME DIGNITY.
FEELING A WEE BIT FRAGILE THIS MORNING SO I THINK IT WILL BE A MELIDAY TODAY. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THE RESPONSES I GOT FROM THE OFFICE....GEE SO SORRY TO SPOIL YOUR WEEKEND MY QUEENS!
I WON'T EVEN GO THERE. MAYBE A SHORT RIDE IS IN ORDER ALSO. JUST REMEMBERED MEADOW ASKING ABOUT THE SQUIRRELS.....GOTTA GO AND SEE IF THEY STILL LIVE BY THE RESERVOIR TOO. I FORGOT. BTW...SHAD THE MEN IN THE PARK DON'T SPEAK TE QUEEN'S ENGLISH! I HAVE TRIED TO CHAT TO PEOPLE THERE....NO COMPRENDE!!

HAPPY SUNDAY

So what if they do not speak English Mel. Neither do the Americans
I've decided that Canadians are much like NZers.

1. The Canadians and NZers say eh! a lot. I heard a bunch of Canadians trying to talk to a bunch of Aussies yesterday. One Aussie was overheard to say that it was worse than trying to talk to a Kiwi! I offered to translate.

2. We both have bigger, noisier more powerful neighbours. Notice I did not say they were good neighbours!

3. We both have beautiful countries - real chocolate box stuff. Not saying there is no beauty in US or Aus. There is - It's harder to find that's all.

4. The Canadian sense of humour is aligned with the Brits as is ours. In fact sometimes the Canucks seem to be more British than the Brits - just like us. Every hotel seems to have a British style bar or Restaurant.

There's more but it is only 7am and I am about to move out into the cool morning and walk off some excess food.
I catch the plane back to Vancouver today to begin the last part of the US trip. I'd better get busy and get packed. I'm not sure the seaplane receptionist understood how much luggage I have. I will be paying excess so I have to take it down early.

This is just a quick hello - don't really have an opportunity to post properly at the moment, but wanted to check in.

Mel, so sorry about the sad event. You've earned your Meliday, that's for sure. I think you see more than your share of endings, and far too much of the nastier side of human nature. Communing with the squirrels may be just the ticket.

Shad, good choice to fly back to Van, especially since the weather gods are no longer with you... It'll be an early start tomorrow too. If we don't see each other at check-in, I'll be the one with the hollow eyes clutching an extra-large Tim Horton's...

Happy, keep enjoying the time with your mom, and the healthy eating. This last week I've been a little sloppy with my diet, and am paying the price with a sore mouth and, erm, a little sluggishness. Am now knocking back regular doses of ground flaxseed to compensate, hoping the bag doesn't get confiscated at Customs tomorrow...

Ruth, was the mixup about the fair actually sabotage? Time to call in Miss Marple - small-town intrigue strikes again!

Gotta go before the battery on this baby dies on me.

to all the chicks I've missed.

Happy, I see your egg is lit. I once met some people from Tennessee, and was delighted to hear them say "boy howdy!" as a exclamation... Has that one crept into your speech patterns yet? Did you sit there like a stunned mullet first time you heard it?

I'll be sitting on my case, muttering hail mary's and a couple of novenas and cursing the hour.

What's wrong with the weather. Sunny and nice where I am

SUNNY AND LOVELY HERE TOO
GLAD THE WEATHER IS HOLDING UP FOR YOU SHAD. SEEMS LIKE YOU HAD PERFECT WEATHER THROUGHOUT!
THE NZ/CAMADA THING WAS TOO FUNNY!!MAKES ME GLAD I'M A YANK

CARLA~ NICE TO SEE YOU PEEK IN. HOPE THE JOB IS GOING WELL!

I GOT UP EARLY AND PUT A LOAD OF WASH IN. ALREADY STARTED THE DAY OFF. NOW FOR BREAKFAST AND THE HAIRDRYER. IT WILL BEGIN TO WARM UP THIS WEEK OR SO THEY SAY. NO SQUIRRELS WERE VISIBLE AT THE RESEVOIR BUT THEY WERE IN THE PARK. NOTHING NEW TO REPORT. QUIET WEEKEND.
HAPPY MONDAY

Good morning chicks,

Where did the weekend go? Mom and I did a marathon of shopping this weekend it seems. Of course I bought way more than she did. Some times stores are as bad for me as chocolate Needless to say, we have LOTS of food here this week. I also took her to chuch yesterday. The priest gave a very funny sermon - had the whole church laughing several times. Then at the end of mass he announced that it was his last Sunday mass and that he'd be leaving (reassigned) on Tuesday. Too bad - he might have sparked an interest in me to attend more regularly Mom of course had to comment at the people who continuously came in late. I'd say at least a 3rd of the attendees came in AFTER the services started. Shame shame The weekend whizzed by too quickly and here it is again Monday. Off to the salt mines again so soon...

I'm delighted Shad that you liked the Gardens. Would have felt bad if you didn't considering I practically pushed them on you. I thought they would be of interest to you considering your love of flowers. I overheard DH telling Mom about the Rocky Mountaineer - perhaps we'll do that soon. I can see where the travelling would wear thin by now. Wouldn't be bad I think if you spent an entire week in one place but these short term pack, unpack, repack up move here there in short bursts would get to me too. I remember one of the few times we took a 2 week vacation though the western states. By the end of it I was sitting in a restaurant and I couldn't even make up my mind what to order - was desperately ready to get back to the hum drum but still orderly pattern of regular life. You still have a few more sights to see. Have a good time. See if you can take a bus tour to see the forests of giant California redwoods just north of San Francisco.

Mel - enjoy the sun. Looks like we'll get rain on and off all week here - we need it. So sorry to hear about your friend Karl. Families can be so shallow.

Carla - never heard of "boy, howdy" but I have lots to learn here. I was giving Mom a running monolog (sp?) in the car while driving the other day. All sorts of Southern excuses for driving poorly. She was cracking up. Have a good time with Shad exploring California.

Meadow - we never made it to the library. Somehow time got away from us. I had heard that Sue Grafton writes well. Will have to try her out before she runs out of alphabet

Ruth - you comment on the bronzed balls was a classic - still laughing over that.

Well I am overdue my computer time this morning - I swore I was going to get into work earlier although unless you go in way way early (just after dawn) you get stuck in traffic. So leaving 1 hour earlier takes you 50 minutes instead of 30 and you're much more peeved when you arrive because you are contending with the worst of the lot. I long for the day I can be done with this mess and be a stay at home wife.

Happy Monday ladies - use it well

Quickie this morning as I have some bronzed balls hardening in a 250ºF oven! I need to get the job finished as there may be more to do later.

I'm back from the gym and refereeing a big drama down at the Long Horn. Why me? I seem to be a sort of MEL - everyone's mother. Hey, MEL, move here and take over - OK? I may do a drama dump in my journal but for now I intend to have a nice lunch on the cool wicker on the front porch and practice being an island of calm in a sea of chaos!

Shad, I'm glad you got to Butchart Gardens - one of my favourite places in Victoria. I hope you are not yet jaded by all the travel because you've got a bit more to go!

Carla49, did you meet up OK with SHad or am I confused?

Happy, sounds like you had a great visit with your mother. I hate it when people come late to Church too and am very adept at giving them a dirty look. One couple is consistently late!

Meadow, Sue Grafton? How did I miss reading her books? I'll let you know next time I fly over on teh way to Nanaimo so you can do the chicken waving routine. I wish I could have seen that!

Hotter than heck is the forecast for this afternoon - and that's just the weather!

Just popping in to say hello.

I AM POSTING TONITE FOR TOMORROW. FOOD SHOPPING IS FIRST THEN A WEE STINT IN THE OFFICE. LUNCH WITH A FRIEND IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM AND JEN & COMPANY IN THE AFTERNOON. BY THE TIME I AM ALONE IT WILL BE A HOT SHOWER AND JAMMIES! LOL
THE COPS AND THE OFFICE TOO ALMOST 3 HOURS. TALK,TALK,TALK. AND NOTHING BEING SAID. I FINALLY LEFT MY REPORT AND TOOK OFF. AT LEAST I GOT ONE LOAD OF WASH DONE. JEN AND I SPENT SOME QUIET TIME ALONE WITH THE GRANDSON. HE WAS HAPPY TO SEE HER BUT SHOWED NO SIGNS OF WANTING TO LEAVE NOT SURE IF JEN IS SAD OR RELIEVED! LOL ALL IS WELL HERE IN THIS CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE. HAVE A GREAT DAY TOMORROW. SEE YA WEDNESDAY
SHAD & CARLA~ HOPE YOU BOTH HAVE A GREAT TIME!!

RUTH~ TAKE A PIC OF THE BALLS AND MAKE A XMAS CARD OUT OF THEM!!

HAPPY~ WE WOULD LOVE TO SHOP TOGETHER....BOTH OF US ARE OUT OF CONTROL HAPPY WORK WEEK!!

CEEJAY~ HELLO TO YOU TOO

MADCAT~

TO ALL OUR MISSING CHICKLETTES: NAE, TIG, TEEL, PAINTER, LINUS, MEADOW, HOLLY, AND ANYONE ELSE I FORGOT OR WHO IS LURKING! JUMP RIGHT ON IN....THE WATER IS FINE

Busy, busy, happy bee. School out for the kids on Wed. Getting ready for the new sitter and such. Worte 2 hours of school council notyes up today. Did 5 loads of wash....... the usual fun stuff. Been eating lots of fresh strawberries!!

I must say I agree with Shad about Canadians but I am biased.

HUGS!!!