Recipe of the Week

I know I'm way behind on posting recipes, but I will try to get back on track with posting a new recipe each week for you. This week's recipe is a family favorite. I'm not sure where the name originated, perhaps the original recipe was made with pork rather than beef.


PIG SANDWICHES

1-1/2 lbs. ground chuck
3 cups coarsely chopped white cabbage
2-1/4 cups ketchup

Crumble ground chuck in a skillet and cook until no longer pink; drain off any grease. Add coarsely chopped cabbage and the ketchup and stir well. Cover and cook over medium heat stirring frequently until cabbage is tender. Remove from heat and spoon over hamburger buns. This makes about 8 servings.

Note: I cook this recipe in an iron skillet. Cooking acidic foods (tomatoes/ketchup) in an iron skillet releases iron from the skillet and is an easy way to add iron to your diet.

Spring is right around the corner

Come and join me in my country garden! Spring will be here before we know it and then summer....time for a tall pitcher of lemonade under the walnut tree!

The heavenly scent of Carolina Jasmine will fill the air; and while we sit and visit our gaze may fall from time to time on the Angel Garden filled with wild phlox, pink primroses and purple iris, guarded by my little concrete angel.

Your invitation has been posted and I look forward to seeing you here in my Cozy Country Garden!

Congratulations Joyce Lucas of Make Mine Pink

A year ago I opened my online shop and became a member of a wonderful group of online women entrepreneurs.....each of us has our own boutique or online business that is part of Make Mine Pink, founded by Joyce Lucas. Joyce was honored recently to be chosen as one of Country Living magazine's Women Entrepreneurs for 2008 and will receive her award at the Country Living Event in Chicago this March. To read more about Joyce Lucas, Make Mine Pink, and the Country Living Women Entrepreneurs click here.

Sneak Peek

Here's a little sneak peek at the Cozy Cottage Magazine Storage Files I will soon be offering on my website!

Coming soon....

Next in my line of Cozy Cottage Home Organization Products will be magazine storage boxes. These will be much more attractive than stacks of magazines on top of the coffee table and floor other places we just won't mention right now! Plus, now you will be able to have all of your Romantic Homes, Romantic Country, Victoria, Home Companion, Country Living, Cottage Living, Coastal Living, Tea Time, and all of those other wonderful magazines organized!Keep watching my Little Pink Boutique and Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor this week for the debut of Cozy Cottage Magazine Keepers.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

HUSBAND-PLEASING MEATLOAF
With Valentine's Day right around the corner I thought that today I would share my meatloaf recipe and the story behind the title of the recipe. Actually, this is the same meatloaf recipe I've made for the past 30 years; however, about eight years ago shortly before my husband and I married, I cooked dinner for him at his place one evening and decided to make meatloaf. He took a few bites, looked at me and said, "Honey, will you marry me and make meatloaf for me the rest of my life?"

Well, I didn't say yes that time, but when he proposed again on Christmas Eve with a diamond and garnet ring in hand I couldn't resist! And yes, I do still make him his favorite meatloaf....

Ingredients:

1-1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
1/2 bell pepper, chopped finely
1/2 yellow onion, chopped finely
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 eggs
3/4 c. fresh bread crumbs

Place all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix well with hands. Place mixture into a shallow baking pan or casserole dish that has been sprayed with no-stick spray. Shape meat mixture into a loaf leaving about 1" of space around the edges of the pan. Squirt ketchup across top of meatloaf in a zig-zag manner. Cut remaining half of bell pepper into 1/4" strips and place across the top of the meat loaf. Bake at 400* for about an hour. Check after 30 minutes to be sure it isn't browning too fast and decrease oven temperature to 375* if necessary.

Serve with baked potatoes (they can bake along with the meatloaf to conserve energy), and your favorite vegetable. Enjoy!

I've been tagged again......

I did this several months ago but I was just tagged again by Francie at The Scented Cottage and Georgia at Grandma G's so I'll bump my original post up and choose seven lucky people to tag. I'm supposed to tell seven things about me that you don't already know and then tag seven other people. Hmmmm...well, here are seven pieces of trivia about me!

1. I have 12 grandchildren ranging in age from 8 months to 16 years!
2. I have worn several hats in my life.....I worked for the local newspaper when I was in high school, was a secretary for Getty Oil Company, worked as a medical transcriptionist for 20+ years, have been a teacher for 12 years, and own an online boutique.
3. I live on a farm in Arkansas where we raise cattle and donkeys.
4. I am a night-owl...I can stay up all night working on whatever my current project is, but don't do this very often because I usually have to get up for work the next day.
5. I believe in God, but I also believe in reincarnation.....I think God will keep sending me back here until I get it right!
6. Some of my best friends are online friends.
7. In my next life I would love for interior decorating and design to be my fulltime job!

So, now it is my turn to tag seven people.....I choose:

Roxie of Jorabeel's,
Sharon of C'est Chouette,
Cathy of Treasured Heirlooms,
Sita of Silverspoon Scraps,
Lori of Katie's Rose Cottage,
Susie of The Polka Dot Rose, and
Carol of Clutterbug Studio .