Bolognese- not as hard as you think

Most people think of bolognese as one of those sauces you only order when you are at an Italian restaurant--not something you make at home.

Bolognese originated in the Italian village of Bologna. There are about as many versions of bolognese as there are Italian mothers. I have played around with a lot of different recipes and I have come to the conclusion that a good bolognese needs pork with pork fat, carrots, celery, tomatoes, wine and quality parmesan cheese.

My personal 'secret' is using bacon grease instead of olive oil to saute the veggies in the beginning. Yes, bacon grease is about as fattening as you can get but the taste can not be duplicated and bolognese is not a diet food. Why try and make it one?

For the wine, try to go with a hearty red---something you like to drink with pasta. And remember good wine does not have to be expensive--most of my favorite wines are under $10! Shop around, I promise you'll find some good ones.

Now let's turn the kitchen into one an Italian mama would be proud of!


Ingredients

1 TBSP bacon grease (use from frying bacon--I know y'all eat bacon!)
2 carrots (no need to peel)
2 celery sticks
2 cloves of garlic
3 tsp dried oregano
1/2 C red wine (please not cooking wine!)
1/2 lb Italian pork
1/2 lb ground beef
2 28 oz. cans whole tomatoes
bunch of basil
two handfuls of just grated parmesan (perrrocono OK)
pasta of your choice

First things first. Chop up your carrots and celery to fine, very small pieces. Mince garlic to the size of rice grains. Get out a really big bowl and pour in the tomatoes--grab some bored kids or the spouse and have them mush up the tomatoes with their hands (they'll love it!).
In a medium sauce pan, heat bacon grease over medium heat. Add veggies (not garlic) and oregano along with some salt and pepper. Saute in bacon fat until soft (about 7-8 minutes). Add garlic and quickly give them a stir so they don't brown. Stand back and pour in wine--it will sizzle and you'll need to spoon around pan to pick up anything that got stuck.
Add the meat and break up the pieces into smaller sections (the mix and chop tool from Pampered Chef works great here). Before meat is cooked, add the squished tomatoes and give everything a stir.
Take the stems from the basil and finely chop them--add to the sauce. Partially cover sauce and let cook for 45 minutes--when the sauce begins to boil, turn heat to low.
Add basil leaves (chopped) along with the cheese. Stir and do a quick taste. It may need more salt, pepper or basil. I have even added a bit more wine at this point.
Keep at very low heat while you cook pasta.
When you serve this dish, be sure to include the wedge of parmesan with a grater.


Enjoy and God bless!

Time For God

I know God may seem out of place for a domestic blog but I personally cannot imagine my life without God. Before the sun comes up, and, hopefully, right after an early morning work-out, I love sitting back in my comfy chair with some fresh brewed coffee and my bible.

Through the years, I have found numerous morning devotions but I must share my very favorite that I turn back to almost every day. It's  Portals of Prayer.

It comes out in magazine form at my church every three months. The devotions include scripture reading, a great verse and an 'application' reading for each day--all in a quick format that can fit into a very busy mom's day! I am lucky to attend a church that has these at the information desk for free (you may have them too but just never saw them) but you can also order them for $12.00 for a year of devotions here or you can enjoy the devotions  online or (one more option) listen on audio.

I find nothing more calming, inspiring or better way to get my day going right than spending a few moments in devotion.

If you already have a great devotion, please share it with us and if you have never tried it, please give it a try and let me how it goes!


God bless!

Homeschooling can be all fun and games!

I have been a member of the homeschooling world for over five years now. I've had my fair share of mistakes and victories.

I have learned, the hard way, that sitting down and doing worksheet after worksheet after worksheet doesn't work. Especially for the really busy kids! They get bored, you get frustrated and it all ends up with tears--on both sides!

The fact is kids learn better when using different senses at once. Things like singing memory verses can help trigger better memory. Counting objects like pennies and stacking blocks can help with math skills just as much if not more than the drill sheets or flash cards. Going on nature walks and actually looking and touching different plants gives a bigger impression than reading from a book.

And then there are games. And no I am not talking about those 'learning' games you see in the education stores that scream' school'. No, I am talking the fun games--Scrabble, Yatzee, Uno, even Texas Hold 'em. Believe it or not, kids learn from these games.

Think about Scrabble. You are using spelling, vocabulary (looking up odd words) and math (adding your score) all at once. And it's FUN! If your child has issues with spelling, lay a game of travel and award 'bonus points' (we award 100) for using a current spelling word. Voila--spelling lesson done without drills!

Math is even easier--Texas Hold 'Em  (addition), Yatzee (multiplication, addition) and chess (logic and planning).

Video games and apps can also apply--Tetris uses numerous thinking skills--processing, planning. Fun and challenging for the brain!

An added bonus to games (beside that FUN factor), the tactile senses are used more, sportsmanship and, of course, conversation.

Granted games cannot replace all learning but they can a great reward to a child after a busy day or a big push to help that kid that just will not sit still and listen--not like I have any kid like that.

Flowers are so last season......

I love fresh flowers in the house! Nothing says pretty and fresh like a cute collection of gerber daisies in a simple glass container.

But even when the flowers are orange and light brown--they don't really work with the autumn. Autumn just doesn't feel like flowers.

I have seen lots of fall themed tablescapes that use the colorful leaves we associate with fall. Love them but.....I'm in Texas. Leaves here don't change til November. I decided to grab some lower branches of our Magnolia in the back and with the help of my little ballerina, we put together this tablescape.

But still not much fall.

So I decided to go with a totally different approach. Gathering some small branches in the backyard, I found a bigger mason jar and pulled out the glue gun and ribbons. I had some 'fake' branches with berries from a local craft store and added them to  jar I decorated. I must say the process worked for me:

Simple, inexpensive (less than $5!) and very fall. I think the key is various lengths of slender branches to keep it visually appealing.

So anyone out there have a gorgeous fall centerpiece they would like to share? Email me at notexactlydomestic@yahoo.com  and I will share them in the next few weeks!

Enjoy the day and God bless!

Domestic Goddess? Not Exactly

Greetings! I am a stay at home mom with four children in the great state of Texas. My husband is an always working real estate agent. Because being a mom is my job, I have always wanted to do my best. Now in my dreams, I am perfectly dressed in heels, hair coifed and the home sparkling and like a page out of 'House Beautiful' kind of like this :

But the real truth is, I am more like this:

Not exactly together. Not exactly domestic goddess.

The fact is, I am real. I'm flesh and blood, not a goddess, not even Martha Stewart (is she flesh and blood? Has anyone checked?). I can use a glue gun but I can't create an amazing fall decor room using fallen branches and leaves. I can cook but a five star five course meal in five minutes is beyond me. I can use a flat head but creating a bedroom set from left-over rustic timbers found at a charming flea market has never happened.

I think somewhere there is a fine medium.

I intend to find it here. I hope you will join me.

Thanks for reading and God bless you!