Biscuits and Gravy

After working for almost 3 years to perfect Biscuits and Gravy for Jason, I have finally succeeded!!!! I figured I should document the recipe so I don't forget since we don't make it often.

Biscuits and Gravy

1 pound Jimmy Dean Sage Sausage (This brand/kind is key. Trust me.)

3/4 cup Flour

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Italian Seasoning

1/2 tsp Garlic Powder

1/2 tsp Sage

1/2 tsp Pepper

1 quart Heavy Whipping Cream

2 cups milk

Crumble sausage into pan. Cook over medium heat until no longer pink. Do not drain! Stir in flour and seasonings until blended. Gradually add the heavy whipping cream and the milk. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Serve over biscuits. Yum.

Next project?

Well, that is once I finish the quilt I have started. I really should finish buying what I need for that. Anyway, look what I found today!!!!

Basic Grey had a line of paper called Blush out a while back. I LOVED that line. And now it's out in fabric. YUM!!!

I seen this quilt on the Moda Blog and I need to make it!! Or at least make something with the Blush line.

Here is the link to the blog and the pattern.

(Image from their blog.)

Random!

I know that I do a lot of posts called random or something to that effect, but oh well. :P

A while back someone asked me for feedback on the homemade laundry soap I made. I think that was way back in January 2009, and I don't think I ever did. Anyway, the first soap recipe I tried, was a liquid soap and I didn't like it. To me it seemed like it didn't whiten my clothes. After that I tried another soap recipe that Ma gave it. We made that up a while back and really liked it. I just made up a second batch tonight. Here's the recipe if you are interested.

Ma's Laundry Soap Recipe

1 box Borax

1 box Washing Soda (I can only find the Arm & Hammer brand around here)

1 bar grated soap (I use Ivory)

Mix it all together, and ensure that it gets mixed up well. When I mix it up, I tend to layer it and then mix it up. I use anywhere between 1/8 cup and 1/4 cup per load of laundry. Depends on how large the load is and how dirty the clothes are.

I finished wrapping the Christmas presents that are in the house tonight! Reindeer names have been chosen, and now I just need to ribbonize the gifts and tag then with reindeer names. :) We are celebrating Christmas up north next weekend and I gotta be ready. :)

Our Christmas tree looks so lonely in the corner with no decorations or lights on. Tomorrow I hope we can get the tree decorated. With me being sick this week, it just didn't happen. Thankfully Cullen has been leaving the Christmas tree alone, expect he likes to drink out of the tree stand water. Silly cat.

I need to give a big THANK YOU to Heather from Cool Zebras. She brought over a HUGE bag full of clothes and another smaller (but still large) bag of clothes over for Kent and Doreen!!!! THANK YOU so much! I am so touched that you did this.

I also got my pay it forward gift from Heather, but that deserves a post of it's own.

I had good intentions of continuing to blog a few times a week, but I haven't been. I need to get back to it, since I realize how much I miss it.

Speaking of missing things, I also noticed that I haven't been taking pictures. I feel like I am missing memories when I don't take pictures. I need to get back to that too. My blog posts look so lame without pictures. Sorry everyone!

Laundry just stopped, so I best go and switch that around. :)

Help for Kent and Doreen

Most my readers know that last Saturday, November 28, my Aunt and Uncle's house burnt down. Kent and Doreen have 1 son, Michael. The house was deemed a complete and total loss. Since posting the pictures (look down a couple posts) people have been asking me what is needed, sizes, and what hobbies and interests they have, I thought it would be easiest to post here and direct people. I honestly can't say how much I appreciate all of the thoughts, prayers, and offers of help. You all have truly touched me, and I'm honored to know all of you, whether it be in person or online.

Of course in true Amber fashion, I'm going to break this up in list form. Please keep in mind that used, thrift store items are PERFECT! Please don't go out and spend a ton of money on this.

• Rubber gloves--think latex type. They are using these as they are going through what's left, etc. They will be doing this for a long time as the insurance adjusters are going through the rubble literally piece by piece with Kent and Doreen.
• AA Batteries and D batteries. For the flashlights as they are going through the rubble. Flashlights would also be very helpful!
• Socks for all of them--2 men, 1 woman
• Winter/utility type gloves since the weather is getting colder
• Queen size bedding, including sheets
• Full size bedding, including sheets
• Contact for a photo restoration expert who specializes in recovering fire damaged photos. They are finding some pictures that may be able to be saved. The insurance company unfortunately does not have any contact for this. Does anyone know of one?
• Towels, bath and hand towels
• $5 or $10 Wal-Mart or Target gift cards. These are the closest stores to them and about an hour away, but that would help buy clothes and other necessities as well.
• Anything that you can think of that you would need starting a house from scratch. All of that will have to be replaced.

Now for Clothing:

• Kent is a size L to XL
• Doreen is a L to XL
• Michael is an XL

Clothing Items

• Sweatpants
• Sweatshirts
• Hoodies
• Jackets
• Yoga type pants for Doreen
• Long Johns

Now for everything, Doreen really wants it to come from a Thrift Store or be used for the time being. The reason being is that while they are sorting and going through things, right now the clothing will most likely be worn once and then tossed. Obviously if the clothing is new, it won't be worn like that, but thrift store items are perfect!

People were also wondering hobbies, interests and such.

Michael is a 16 year old boy and is into cooking and books. He loves to cook, and try new recipes. His favorite type of books are science fiction/fantasy type books. He also enjoys watching movies, specifically comedies and of course Sci Fi stuff.

Doreen is a crafty woman! She loves to sew, make soap, make clay beads, do beading, quilting, candle making, anything crafty.

Kent does wood working and thankfully all of his tools were in the garage and were not even damaged by the fire.

Right now it is up in the air as to when Jason and I are heading up north, but at the absolute latest it will be December 19. I am willing to come and pick up items, or meet you somewhere if you feel the need to donate something. You can email me at gamerbabe360@yahoo.com Or you can find me on twitter at www.twitter.com/gamerbabe360

I hope that this makes sense and if you have any questions either leave a comment or send me an email.

If you are new to my blog and haven't seen the pictures, scroll down a few days and you can see the pictures.

Once again thank you all.

Everday Minerals

I'm not one to usually post about products on my blog, but I have to share about Everyday Minerals. Since Kent and Doreen's house burned down, I know they are going to focus on the essentials first, as they should. I know that make-up is going to be one of the last things that Doreen replaces. She was the one that turned me onto Everyday Minerals and told me that it was the best makeup out there. I tried it and fell in love.

I thought I would contact the company with her email address, explain the situation, link them to my blog post about the fire, and get a list of the colors that she uses so I don't have to guess. I was going to buy her some since I knew it would help her feel a bit more normal.

I got an email today from CJ at Everyday Minerals saying that they are going to send her products FREE OF CHARGE!!!! Can you believe that?!?! All I was truly hoping for was a list of the colors so I could buy some for her. When I read the email I started crying. It was so sweet of them to do. I know that they have a customer in me for life now. They are an amazing company to do that. So generous.

So if any of you are in need of new makeup please go and buy some from Everyday Minerals!!! If you haven't used mineral make-up before, try out their free sample. You only have to pay shipping. I did that so I could figure out what shade I was. Their prices are reasonable, fast shipping, and a GENEROUS company.

Thank you Everyday Minerals for sending makeup to Doreen. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.