Minimalist Game Day Four

This is from Thursday.

The rules are simple, you get rid of things from your life, either by selling them, throwing them away, or donating them. On the first day, you remove one item, and then on the second day, you remove two items, you keep on playing until it’s the end of the month, or whenever you run out of things to remove from your life. It is okay if you can’t make it until the end of the month. Personally, I would rather see items get donated, or sold to someone else. If you must throw something away, I hope it’s because it isn’t fixable. Even if you have removed three items from your life, you should still be proud of that, because it is three more things you removed before the challenge. But if you are able to complete this challenge, you would have got rid of almost 500 items! That’s a lot of stuff.

If you are participating, I would love to know what you are parting with, feel free to let me know in the comments. This is such a fun way to welcome Spring cleaning.

Here are my four items… I have deciding to sort through my tea ware, and teas, and their tins first, since that would be the easiest for me. I have bought this sample kit, awhile ago, so I have decided to part with these small jars. I am going to offer these to my Mom and see if she wants to keep these for her spices, or for whatever else she thinks of keeping these for. And if she doesn’t want any of these, then she can give them to her mom. Although they do need a good cleaning.

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Beef Soup

I love cooking, and I have promised to post some of my recipes.

This is something my mama used to make us every winter. I love it so much.

Ingredients

• 2 onions
• 2 gloves of garlic
• 5 stalks of celery
• 4 carrots
• 4 parsnips
• 4 potatoes (peeled)
• 1 pound of stewing beef, or any type of beef
• 8 cups of beef broth
• salt and pepper
• 1 tsp parsley
• 1 tsp orageno
• 1 tsp basil
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp rosemary
• 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 3 bay leaves

This recipe serves about 12, which works for me because I live with four other people. Make some adjustments if needed.

I cook this in my crock pot, and I’m able to cook everything inside the pot of the crock pot. If anything you might need to use another pot to cook everything in.

Directions

1. Peel and wash the carrots, parsnips, and potatoes.
2. Next slice them into smaller pieces.
3. Wash and slice celery, onions, and garlic.
4. Cut the beef into smaller pieces.
5. Heat up the crock pot, or cooking pot on medium-heat. When hot enough, begin browning the beef. Add a bit of salt and pepper
6. When it’s no longer pink, add the onions, and garlic
7. Let that cook for five minutes.
8. Add celery and let that cook for another three minutes.
9. Add carrots, parsnips, and potatoes, let that cook for five minutes.
10. Add the spices, and Worcestershire sauce.
11. I actually use 4 beef bouillons, and eight cups of water. Although I add the water first, and let it get hot, before adding the cubes.
12. Give it a taste test, and sure you are satisfied.
13. Add in your bay leaves.
14. I would recommend that you let it cook on low for at least six hours, you can even do eight, or ten hours, if you have the time. Although if you are pressed for time, you can cook on high for four hours.
15. Once done, remove bay leaves, and serve immediately!

French Onion Soup

As promised, I am posted a recipe that I made not too long ago. And since it’s Autumn, which is Soup Season! I’ll be posting some soup recipes in the upcoming weeks. This season I vow to make and eat new soup recipes. I love trying new foods.

Here is my chicken noodle soup recipe, threeyellowdaisies.ca/2020/06/16/chicken-noodle-soup-4/

French Onion soup is a really easy recipe. What I like about making it, is a lot of ingredients are already on hand. I always have onions and spices it requires.

Ingredients
8-10 small onions, or 6 large ones
3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
Salt and pepper
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 teaspoons of thyme
2 teaspoons of basil
2 teaspoons of parsley
2 teaspoons of oregano
2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce
6 beef bouillon cubes
12 cups of water
1 cup of Sherry (optional)
Bay Leaves
French baguette
Gruyere cheese, shredded

Directions
1. Slice the onions in circular shapes
2. In large pot, or in your crock pot bring to melt the butter
3. Once melted, add the onions. Make sure your onions caramelized, usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes to become a golden brown
4. If you like to cook this in a crock pot, now is the time to transfer everything into your crock pot
5. Once everything has transferred into your crock pot, you can start making the broth
6. By using the same pot you had used to caramelize your onions, you help deglaze your pot, ensuring you have all of the amazing flavours of the spices in your soup.
7. Bring the 12 cups of water to a boil
8. Add all of your spices
9. Once the water is boiled, add your beef bouillons
10. Once dissolved you can transfer the broth to the crock pot
11. You can allow this to cook on low for 8 to 12 hours, or on high for 5 hours, although this is the best soup to slow cook, so I always prefer to slow cook
12. When the soup is ready to be served, you can begin to shred some cheese to place on your baguette. I like to butter the baguette with garlic butter
13. If you have any ovenproof bowls, you can serve your soup in that, and place your baguette on top. Allow it to broil for 3-4 minutes.
14. If you don’t have any ovenproof bowls you can let the baguette broil on a baking sheet. Cut in portions to place on top of the soup.

Chopped onions

Onions with the spices

Final product of the soup.

My crock pot has a setting that lets me sautee and brown my ingredients, so I don’t necessarily have to use another pot to cook my meats, or sautee anything and then transfer everything over into my crock pot.

I am so happy because next time I make this again, I will be able to use my French Onion Soup Bowls that my mama gave me. I am so excited! 🙂

Fried Sausage

My boyfriend’s mama fried up sausages for me and her daughter. It was delicious as always. She added a bit of spices to it but it wasn’t overly spicy.

Spaghetti

Earlier today my mama and I made dinner together. We made spaghetti with hamburger meat, celery, garlic and spices.

We also added bread with melted cheese since it is National Cheese Day (well the 20th).

It was delicious!