Worked at the consignment store today...tuckered out!

But I did stop at the Dollar store on my way home and picked up a few things.  I went there for some honey and Febreze air fresheners and look what I came out with!  Oh, I did get what I went in for too and then some.

 

Aren't these too cute?  I seem to be into "pretty pottery" these days.  When I repotted my plants I realized I just use the same old clay pots and after seeing some of my blogger friends homes I saw their pretty planters and decided to "gussy up" mine too.  Can you believe this is the Dollar Store.....movin' on up just like the Jeffersons!  Oh!  And I got that rug too for the back door on the porch....it's pretty cheap but I love the colors and it's for the dogs to wipe their paws on which I can never seem to get them to do!  What's up with that?  

 

And will you look at these?  Little bright colored Wellies!  I tried to decide which color I wanted but couldn't make up my mind so I just got both of them! LOL!   My plants are going to be so happy to be dressed up for a change.  Don't tell them....I want it to be a surprise!

And last but not least...and I may have to go back and get more of these! Tee Hee!

Isn't this the bomb?  A red metal tub!  Doesn't it look like it's levitating on that rug or am I just that tired?  It really looks like it's floating above it but I swear...it's not.  It must have something to do with the geometric squares or there's something in this hot cider I'm drinking! LOL!

Well, I'm going to get a fire going in the fire place, get my jammies on and rustle up some grub for me and the girls.  I'll post the before and after of the kitchen cupboards, or part of them, tomorrow.  Tonight it's kick back and knit and stay warm.  Winter has finally arrived in the Ozarks and there's a bitter wind with it and an ice storm predicted for Monday so tomorrow will be gathering more kindling and getting more wood in from the wood pile.  Stay warm and have a nice cozy evening...I plan on it!  

Cleaning cupboards and TRYING to get organized!

Well, I started last night and I'm back at it.  I had to run some errands this morning and now I have the WHOLE HOUSE torn up....well, not really but when you clean cupboards it seems one thing leads to another!  I did manage to get the metal shelf unit onto the porch and got some things out of my cupboards that I don't use all the time and that were taking up valuable kitchen real estate.  The food items are "backups" and items that won't be affected by heat or cold hopefully.

 

After that, it cleared up some space in my "pantry" unit in the  garage which is right outside my kitchen door on the steps down to the garage.  So, then I cleaned that and in both places I STILL have room left over!  Yippe!  Yahoo!  Don't worry...I'll fill it up I'm sure. 

This is the top 2 shelves of the "pantry" in the garage. The top has bleach, ammonia, and water. My kitchen door is directly to the right and I am standing on the stairs leaning up against the opposite wall to take this picture.  That shelf is not bowed like that but for some reason it looks it in the picture.

The bottom 2 shelves above have my floor/carpet cleaning and laundry detergent making supplies.

  And will you "looky there".....an empty shelf! 

 Now, I've started on the kitchen cupboards but I work tomorrow at the consignment store so didn't I tell you....I'll have to leave with the kitchen all torn up but I'm making progress!!!!  Can't fault a girl for that!  Tomorrow I'll have before and afters of the cupboards.  I got smart after I started this post.  Have a great one!

Not feeling too well today..........

   I refuse to say I am sick although I have all the symptoms! LOL!  But I will not give in or give up!  I was pretty slow this morning and took lots of breaks but I'm feeling perkier tonight for some reason.  Maybe it was the green tea I kept imbibing all day or just looking around at all I had to do.  Anyway, I went out on my unheated (presently although it has a heater that I refuse to run)  porch which has become a "catch-all" and tried to do a little organizing and clearing out.  Also, this is my "giant" cold frame when I garden before I plant  the seedlings outside.   Oh, notice my great curtains?  They are everything and anything I could gather up and clip on to tension rods with clothespins! LOL!  I was desperate as I felt like I was in a fishbowl out there at night especially.  It is 3 walls of windows and in the summer when I crank them all open it's nice but it gets lots of western sun in the afternoon too and can get pretty hot out there thus....the "curtains".  Someday I'll sew matching ones when I can afford that much material all at once! Ha! Ha!

This is a cathedral bookcase that has shingled sides and twig molding on the sides and fronts of the shelves.  It was so different and the price was right so I bought it.  It has "country blue" shelves which is my least favorite color.  I think i got so tired of it because there was so much of it at one time everywhere.  I was going to paint it but of course that never happened!  I store my cleaned, empty wine bottles down there on the bottom right as I plan on making wine someday.  There are 2 metal dishes filled with shells from my adventures in Mexico and Belize years ago, clean empty jars that I use for all sorts of things around here and on the top shelf there's birdseed and the hummingbird feeders that are ready to use this Spring again.  On the left, second shelf from the bottom there's a ceramic sunflower bird feeder (laying down) that my Aunt Alice made several years back.  She was a favorite Aunt (as they all were) and I cherish it along with many other things she made.  All my Aunts are gone...all my relatives are gone except for 2 cousins and their families ie; all the people from the generation above me have all passed.  You know what that means don't you?  I'm next! LOL!

 Lots of the things on this porch are things that need to be fixed, or painted or DIY'ed in some fashion or just waiting to be re-purposed.  Below is a prime example.  The cupboard needs to be "hung" somewhere (on the farm it hung in my kitchen).  The doors need to be fixed as they're falling off if you open it and since I live alone there is no one to hold things for me while I try and hang them.....mirrors, shelves, cupboards.  I might have to hire a handy man just to help me get this stuff off the floor!   The jars hold seeds I collected last Fall.

Here's a little etagere' that folds up and has 3 shelves and some apple ceramic tiles on the back which you can't see because of the flower arrangement there.  My daughter made that for me and it used to sit on my dining room table until I started using it as a sewing table! Ha! Ha!  I have some miscellaneous pots and buckets and decorations for the yard there.  I'm think I might drag it into my kitchen though.  I could use shelves in there and it would go with my apple rugs.  It's dark green metal.  On the farm I used to have it on my screened-in front porch with plants on it.

So, I think I'll make some more green tea and get my "jammies" on and settle in and crochet as I'm starting to feel pretty "tuckered out" now.  Have a nice, cozy evening!

"I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date"!

I need to get my seeds ordered!!!!  If you start your plants from seeds now is the time for many of them to be started indoors and some needed to be started in January.  This is the R. H. Shumway seed catalog.  It's as pretty on the inside as it is on the outside and they have been family owned for the last 142 years!  They are out of Randolph, Wisconsin. 

Here are a few others.  Another beautiful and heritage seed catalog that I love is from Baker Seeds out of Missouri but I didn't receive it this year so I'll have to order from it online.  Of course there are many more wonderful seed companies besides these. 
I am doing something different this year which makes garden planning SO EASY and succession planting, which I never seem to get a good handle on.  It is Mother Earth News Garden Planner  accessible from their website  Mother Earth News 

Just do a search when you get there for "garden planner".  It is free for the first month and you can print off your plan and then if you want to continue you can purchase it for $25.00 a year but it is SO much more than a garden planner.  Here's a peek!

There's a video to show you how to use it and what it's capable of which is A LOT, much more than I can show you here.

Here's one of my little raised beds for example.  Below, you can click on "i" for information on specific plants and here is showing only about half of the information...you can scroll down on that window for Apple tree and there's lots more info!  The garden planner includes fruit trees and bushes in addition to vegetables and flowers.

This is my favorite part!  Based on your frost start and end dates, it tells you when to start inside, when to plant outside and when to harvest.  It also lets you know when you need to rotate certain plants year to year and where and when to plant your succession crops.  It's AMAZING!!!!!  I've had other garden planners both paper and software and this one is the best for the price that I have ever seen!   Thank you Mother Earth News!!!  Their magazine is only $10.00 a year and their website has so much free information it's mind-boggling!  No, I get nothing for saying all this but I have subscribed to their magazine for years and it's one of the few magazines that I will not cancel!  I hope this information is helpful to you gardeners out there.  I always like to share information about products and items that help me in my life.

 

Wal-Mart had some goodies for me!

I found a whole slew of great magazines at Wal-Mart yesterday.  My nemesis, along with books, old furniture, junk, etc.  Here's what I "snagged" on my shopping trip.

 

Doesn't this look interesting?  I love "old" anything...maybe because  I'm getting there! LOL!  It brings back memories of people and places which are no longer around....along with "lost recipes".  This is a special publication by America's Test Kitchens which have a show on PBS and always do a bang-up job in my opinion.

Another "special" publication, this one from Martha Stewart...the Queen of organization and couldn't I use a little help in that area!

I'm not much of a "romantic" but this one said country which is what I'm all about!  It also had an article on stenciling as an accent and had the catch words...flea market, farmhouse and garden which caught my attention!

I used to subscribe to this awhile back and they always have the cutest potting sheds on the front.  It's a great magazine but I had plenty of them I hadn't even read so I canceled my subscription.  The Vintage Bag Lady
posted this the other day but when I saw it in the store I noticed it had an article on the cottage gardens of Beatrix Potter!  That sold me...I had to have it as I LOVE Beatrix Potter!

 I canceled this subscription also but I could kick myself because every time I see it in the store I end up buying it because I love it so.  I was very intrigued by the article on selling homemade food without a commercial kitchen but after reading the article last night, you are limited in what you can sell and how.  But it is still a great magazine.

 Of course, I had to wander over to the garden section and I was actually looking to see if they had a raised bed kit like the one I bought last year.  It was $30.00 and terracotta colored plastic and you can make it bigger or just have more if you buy additional kits ie; they'll hook together.   I wasn't going to buy one yesterday but I wanted to see if they were still carrying them and if they were in the store yet and they were and for the same price as last year.  Meanwhile, I spotted some ceramic pots that I thought were cute and brightly colored!   They reminded me of my girl, Mary Engelbreit so I had to get them.

  I also spotted this little cutie!  On this one it was the checkered rim that got me!

 Well of course, I had to get some plants to go in them!  But I lucked out as these were $4.00  marked down to $2.00 and 2 of them had those cute little metal tins with them which I can use for something else.  By the time I got home I was exhausted from walking around Wally World for hours. I got a ton...literally...of groceries too while I was there.  Seemed like I was out of everything and I had to stop at the hardware store too.  Then I had to unload it all from the car and put it all away.  I was a tired buckaroo!

Whoopie! Whoopie! Whoopie!

Whoopie pies that is. I got the idea from Cherry Chick 
the other day when she posted some.  She did not include the recipe though so I went to www.allrecipes.com
(my favorite recipe site!) where I found a recipe that was highly rated for them.  Don't make these if you don't have any time to spare because they take time.  But they are delicious!  I'd never made them before.  There was a recipe on Food Network too but it called for shortening in the filling and I wasn't too crazy about that idea.

BTW...it wasn't just me that liked them.  I gave them out to friends too and they loved them! 
You could dress these up for Valentine"s Day too by dyeing the filling pink or decorating the top with something.  As you can tell.....they're going fast!
I'm off to Wally World today to get groceries and some items for future projects so stay tuned!  It's going to be a great week!

Craft Group met today...............

Happy Superbowl Sunday to all!  Go BEARS!!!!!!  Oh...they're not playing, I forgot...Darn it!  Oh well...maybe next year????  A girl can hope and pray and hope and pray and hope and pray.
Okay...enough about Da Bears.
We haven't had craft group for 2 weeks so it was great to get together again!  We laugh and eat and ...oh yeah....we work on our projects, almost forgot about that part.  I forgot to take pictures again!  I think I'm brain dead or it could just be sinuses...I'm hoping sinuses.  Next week for sure!(Excuse the font issue...not sure what's going on here but evidently I have no control over it!)
Karrie..you asked what I'm knitting....here goes...mittens for the Jolly Green Giant!

Told you!  No, actually it is one of a pair of oven mitts that will be felted (shrunk in washer since it is wool yarn).  That is my glove next to it so you can see how big it is.  I've only made a few scarves and then this so I am a fairly new knitter.  This is my first project using circular needles too and a few other techniques I've never done.  Thank goodness I have a great instructor or I would have quit a while back! LOL!  But I'm really not a quitter but I'm certainly not much of a knitter either...I guess you could say I'm not a "quitter knitter"!  Ha! Ha!  I was going to felt the first oven mitt after I finished it but thought I would wait so I can sort of gauge the other one to the same size, as my tension is better on the second one.

Here's what I worked on today at Crafts Group.....

If it looks familiar it's because it is....the other oven mitt.  I like things in pairs.  Plus, I have 2 hands so I thought 2 oven mitts would be appropriate.  But I can see the issue with the "2nd sock syndrome" as once I finished the first mitt it wasn't easy to start all over again with a second one as opposed to wanting to start a whole new project.  I just have to tell myself that 2 oven mitts ARE a project so it's not really finished until I get both of them done.  Sounds good....hope I've convinced myself.
Now you've also heard me say I am not a girly-girl and I'm not but I get a kick out of some girly things and one is some of the neat nail polishes they have on the market today.  I think they're fun and though I have no nails to speak of I wanted to try this polish.  The pictures are poor but it's the best I could do.  PLEASE...someone...., point me in the right direction for a digital camera, blog photo tutorial!  I need one badly!

 

See the pretty sparkles?  It has glitter and different colored hearts in it!  It's so pretty.  I couldn't resist!  The first one I looked at though was an OPI polish for multiple dollars which I didn't want to pay as this is just for fun and it will probably dry up before I use it all.  So, I looked around and they had the cheap stuff for $1.95....now that's my kind of price!  The only problem is, even if I shake it well I don't get a lot of the glitter or hearts to come out but I'm thinking that as I use more and more of it they will...maybe.  But it's cute and fun and I like it and in my little world that's all that counts! LOL!

 Oh!  there's a heart....see it?  I snagged one!

Oh!!!  See the glitter...it looks MUCH better in person, trust me!  Not the nails but the polish! LOL!
I am truly blessed as it takes very little to make me happy!  Today it only took $1.95 worth of nail polish.  Although I must admit some days are pricier than others! LOL!  Have a great Superbowl Sunday!

Helped out at the consignment shop today..........

I help out at the consignment store here in town on Saturdays and I just love it!  It gets me out of the house and socializing with people which my therapist says is good for me..just kidding.  I don't have a therapist...yet! LOL!  I'm sure I could use one just like I could use a nice massage, a manicure and a trip to see our National Parks but it's not in the cards this year.  I put my money on "Edna"! Ha! Ha! (See past posts about "Edna").

 

You're probably wondering why I'm posting pictures of eggs...well...it's like this, I was going to post about my egg salad but realized I've actually done that post before plus these are the only pictures I have right now and I'm tired from the consignment store so I figured I'll give you the pictures of the egg salad but tell you about my day at the store which is far more interesting.  Best of both worlds, right?

Oh!  Look!  The eggs have to cook for 15 minutes so we have time to chat before I make the egg salad anyway!  So, like I was saying, I LOVE my Saturdays at the consignment store (I really should take pictures of that!  I will next week...promise).  Today was quite interesting as there were lots of customers since she is having a going out of business sale.  (I know....I'm so sad about it..oh well).  Karen came in and bought some things but had to get to Salem before her meeting so I told her to go ahead and I would wrap up her stuff and she could pick it up on the way back.  Well, she did and brought me a fresh, homemade doughnut from the bakery there!  I didn't even know they had a bakery in Salem....but I do now!!!  Then my friend, Maura stopped by because I had called her because I had made Whoopie Pies last night and wanted to give her some. (I know, you're wondering why I'm not posting about Whoopie Pies....good question since I spent HOURS making them!) This gal has brought me 2, not 1, but 2, containers of homemade chocolate eclaires in the past month.  Now, is that a friend or what?  So, since I never got my Christmas cookies made (whoops)I figured she deserved some Whoopie Pies!  I should really call them "whoopsie" pies.  Oh, just a sec,I've got to chop up some stuff for the egg salad....

So, like I was saying..Maura tried one of the pies and gave one to Karen who was still there and they loved them!  I feel redeemed thank goodness.  

A couple from Missouri came in and shopped and then couldn't get their truck started.  It was now afternoon and the local mechanic closes at noon.  The man asked if I had some pliers or a wrench but I didn't when low and behold another couple walk in and overhear us and he says he has one in his truck.  PTL!!!  They got his truck started and he said he wasn't turning it off until they got home!  They were 100 miles from home in a new vehicle in a town that is barely open during the week much less weekends.  That could be why the shop is closing too.  

Oh, I peeled the eggs while we were chatting and that pile of stuff I chopped...that was just some onion and celery I had laying around (in my frig). 

After we got the couple on their way back home to Missouri and I was getting ready to close up shop, another man came in and asked if we had a fax machine as he had an important paper to send and his wasn't working.  Maura thought there was one in the back where the animal rescue part is so she took him back but they couldn't get it to work.  Well, (I happen to have a technical background so) I told him I would give it a try and I got it faxed for him.  I felt like Wonder Woman and my reward was a fresh warm donnut from the bakery!!!  It was a great day!  

Oh!  I almost forgot about the egg salad.  This is my egg slicer, an invaluable tool in the art of slicing and dicing.  You put the egg in one way and slice it and then pick it up and place it the other way and you have diced egg pieces!  Perfect for egg salad.  I've had this particular model for enough years to make it an antique...what does that make me then?  I had already been around for 20 some years when I got it!  But see how they made things to last "back in the day"...I'm talking about the egg slicer/dicer.

 
I throw the chopped onion and celery in a bowl with the sliced and diced egg pieces and add some REAL mayonnaise and salt and this time I  added some curry powder.  Not too much as curry can be overpowering.  Sometimes I add horseradish and today someone mentioned they chop up green olives and/or black.   Yum!  I mixed it all up and put it on my homemade bread (another previous post...no knead recipe) and ate it.  It was so good and afterwards I remembered I hadn't taken a picture of it...oh, well.  I wish you could have seen it but more than that I wish you could have tasted it!
Sorry I'm so wordy tonight....this happens when I get tired.  I'm going to go sit in front of the fireplace (yes, there's a fire going) and do some knitting and pray that the knitting angels are watching over me because, like I said...I'm tired.  Goodnight all!

I think I'm in L O V E......................

With my new Neato robotic vacuum...now named "Edna" after my dear departed Aunt who was the best "home keeper" I've ever known.
Anyway, I told you I would get back to you and give you an update on this FABULOUS product!  First, you have to ensure there are no wires laying on the floor or things that might clog up any vacuum cleaner.  This in itself will keep me clutter free and from placing things on the floor which I do a lot.  I cleaned up my kitchen and laundry room which basically is the same thing you would do if you were going to wash your floors (which I was going to do right after Edna was done).
You can schedule her to clean automatically but my house is not ready for that yet!  There are magnetic-type strips that come on a roll and you cut them the length you need them to block her from going somewhere.  I cut 2 to keep her in the kitchen but they are the same width as most of my doorways so they can be utilized in other rooms.  Next, I picked her up from the charger and set her in the laundry room doorway and hit the start button.  Whoa Nellie!  She ratcheted up like a Ferari engine and still wasn't as loud as my other vacuums and then she was off to the races! 

I was going to time her to see how long it took for the laundry room and kitchen but she beeped after awhile and stopped and the screen said..get this..."Please empty my dust bin".  Okay, this product is made in England and aren't they just the most polite people?  So, I emptied the dust bin which was all DOG HAIR don't you know, and placed it back in and then she said "Thank you for emptying my dust bin"...do you believe it!  I love this gal!!!!
Off she went and then in awhile she beeped again as she had gotten stuck under my laundry room sink so I blocked it off with a stepstool I keep in there folded up.  It's a learning experience for the both of us.  I thought she was almost done but then she ran out of energy (you can't blame her...it happens to me all the time in this house!) so I had to put her on the charger for awhile, but not too long, maybe an hour?  The first time I charged her it took 2-3 hours.
I was sort of in a hurry because I wanted to wash the floors in there but just when I was thinking of finishing up by hand, I heard her powering up and raring to go again.  When she hasn't finished a job she will try to go back and finish when she's recharged and if I had her scheduled for automatic cleaning she would have gone back to the base station herself, charged and then gone back and finished the job.  Amazing, huh????  But since my house is being worked on a room at a time I am not ready to schedule her yet but hopefully that day will come! She finished in just a bit more time and beeped to let me know she was done and I took her back to the charger.  
Now, I have 2 very good vacuums; one is a cannister that I love for regular floors and the other is an Oreck upright that I use for carpeting.  Usually when I wash my floors, even after vacuuming, I still get "stuff" on my microfiber pad mop,mostly dog hair.  When I mopped after Edna was done I think I could have counted all the hairs that I picked up on one hand.  She did a FABULOUS job!  One of the reasons I went with her was because one of the reviewers said she liked Neato because it did a better job than her Dyson!  I believe it now!  I have not done carpeting yet so when Edna does her first carpet job I will post again.  Meanwhile, I am one happy camper!!!!

P.S.  I get nothing for saying all this.  The company doesn't even know I exist.  I got mine at Target online and it is the Neato 12.  Stores are still selling the Neato 11 for the same price as the new version so if you get one make sure it is the latest and greatest which is 12 right now.  They fine tuned some things from the 11 to the 12.  I found this out reading reviews.  Also, a tip when using/reading reviews...always read from several stores and not the company store.  The best reviews come from stores that carry lots of different products like Target, Lowes, Amazon etc.  Just an F.Y.I.

Balance...I keep trying and I'm getting better..I think

  

   I have always been a pretty hardworking, nose-to-the-grindstone type person and drove myself ill trying to "do all and be all" to all.
But now I'm all about balance and moderation...a few wake-up calls (in the name of illnesses)are all it takes!
For instance, I love to help the environment and recycle but I also need help with things to make my life easier and I'm not going to apologize for it.  I do what I can, when I can and I wished I would have been that kind to myself all my life but "when you know better you do better" (Maya Angelou).

So, yes, I make my own bread and detergent, hang my clothes out on the line weather permitting and spend extra to try and only buy products that are humane and fair and healthy ie; purchase with my money in one hand and my values in the other. 
But then I had to admit to myself that there were things that would really make my life easier and add joy.  So, this year I took the plunge and bought myself 2 things that I had been looking at and researching and thought would do those very things.  I saved up my money, as they were larger than ordinary purchases, and bought them.  The first one is my Keurig coffeemaker.

  

How do I love thee...let me count the ways!

And even though I live alone I bought the big model so I don't have to put water in every time I want a cup of something.  This appliance has given me so much enjoyment!  I have cider and all types of coffees and teas and hot cocoa.  I also don't have to wash the coffeepot and accessories every day.  It's always there for me ready to offer me a nice hot cup of whatever I want!  And come the warmer weather there are ice drinks too, in a minute!  They say variety is the spice of life and I've got that and more in my Keurig!  

The second item I purchased was a Neato robotic vacuum!  I haven't even used it yet as it came yesterday and I charged it last night.  To say I'm chomping at the bit to finish this post and go "let that pony run" is an understatement!  I can't keep up with the vacuuming and dog hair around here and I have tried and tried but it's a losing battle and one I no longer want to fight! LOL!  I was going to buy a Roomba as a friend of mine liked hers but she lives alone and has no pets.  I wanted reviews from people who had large, shedding machines like mine and although the Roomba had good reviews the Neato's were even better especially on their model 12 version...5 stars from everyone!

I know lots of women who pride themselves on "doing it all" and I used to be that way myself but not any more.  I'll take the help where and when I can get it and I surely do love to hear my machinery doing my work for me!  So....gotta run! I (Neato) have some vacuuming to do! LOL!
P.S.  I'll keep you updated on my review of the Neato and also she needs a name...put your thinking caps on.  I was thinking of Edna, after one of my Aunts who kept an immaculate house and did everything from scratch long before there were many "modern conveniences" but once again..she had no pets....hmmm....coincidence?

I spent hours doing the banner....too tired to post! LOL!

     What else can I say other than it took hours to get my banner done and I still can't seem to get that "Farmgirl Sam" out of the right hand lower corner.  If anyone knows how please let me know!  I did "seasonal" banners...what was I thinking?  Now, I 'll have to start working on one for Spring! 
Also, I started "following" quite a few blogs because I didn't want to lose them and now I get an email every time someone makes a comment on one of them.  That's a LOT of emails.  Does anyone know how to avoid the emails?  Any critiques or suggestions are welcome and tips too! 
I did find a very helpful blog about blogging though...it's called Blog Guidebook and I will give you a link on my blog...tomorrow but for now just Google her if you want...I'm "hittin' the hay".  Blogging can be very tiring!  Goodnight all...sweet dreams!  
P.S.  Does anyone know how I can get the same font and size in my text here as I have in my post title?  I'd like it to be permanent and not have to constantly change it every time I post.  I used Advanced settings in template designer for the other fonts but couldn't find the one for the actual post text.  HELP!!!!
Thanks!

Here's the German Meatball and Spaetzle recipe with pics!

Unfortunately, I messed it up thinking I knew what I was doing without paying too much attention to the recipe...WRONG!!!!  But I will give you the recipe and you can follow it which I..as you will soon see...did not!  This recipe is delicious IMHO and why I haven't made it in awhile is beyond me.  It could be that it is a little time consuming and dirties a lot of dishes...hmmm.  I think that's  why but just save it for when you have the time to spend.  A big plus is it is extremely inexpensive to make and you get a lot for your  money in this dish.  So, here goes...I'll show you the pictures with some comments and then I'll give you the recipe at the end.


Here's the meatballs:

After the meatballs are cooked you add beef broth, mushrooms and some onion:

This is the sour cream, flour and caraway seed that you mix together to make the yummy sauce:

This is what it looks like after you add the yummy sauce to the pan of meatballs, broth, mushrooms and onions that have cooked:

This is what happens when you don't pay attention to your recipe and think you "know it all" and add 2 cups of milk to the spaetzle recipe instead of just 1 like it calls for...DUH!!!!  Yours..if you follow the recipe which you probably will, will not look like the following:

The above does not even look anything like spaetzle and I couldn't take a picture of the process because it takes 2 hands and I couldn't get "the girls" to help me....per usual!  Spaeztle is like a dumpling/noodle and I set a colander over a pot of boiling water and pour the batter in and then stir with a wooden spoon to get the "noodles/dumplings" to drop into the boiling water and cook and then you drain the water off like you would for ordinary noodles. Unfortunately, since I added twice the amount of milk to the batter as was called for, my "noodles" turned out more like lumpy grits!  So, I did not drain them as it would have all drained out so I decided to eat "as was" and actually with some butter and salt and the yummy sauce it STILL tasted great!

I think next time I will make the meatballs ahead of time and freeze that way it won't be an all evening cooking extravaganza.  I usually serve a green vegetable on the side such as green beans.  
Here's the recipe...and do as I say not like I did! LOL!


German Meatballs and Spaetzle            4-6 servings

Meatball Recipe:
1 slightly beaten egg
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup fine, dry bread crumbs
1 T parsley (fresh if you have it but I had to use dry last night)
1/2 t salt
1/4 t poultry seasoning
dash of pepper
1 lb ground beef ( I used lean ground chuck and there wasn't even any fat to drain off)


Combine the 1 egg, 1/4 cup milk, bread crumbs, parsley, salt, poultry seasoning and pepper.  Add the ground beef and mix well.  Shape into 1 1/2 " meatballs.  In skillet, brown meatballs, drain fat.  Add the following:
1 can condensed beef broth
1 3-4 oz can chopped mushrooms, drained
1/2 C chopped onion
Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile mix together in a bowl:
1 C sour cream
1 T flour
1 t caraway seed ( you can adjust this to suit your taste)
After the meatballs have cooked their 30 minutes add the sour cream mixture.  Cook and stir until thick and bubbly.  Serve with spaetzle.


Spaetzle recipe:
2 C flour
2 slightly beaten eggs
1 C milk
1 t salt
Mix together the flour and salt.  Add the eggs and milk and beat well.  Let the batter rest for 5-10 minutes.  Run the batter through a colander with a wooden spoon over a pot of boiling, salted water.  Cook and stir for 5 minutes, drain and sprinkle with parsley.