Authentic Shepherd's Pie (up-date)

With my Scottish ancestry, I like to experiment with authentic recipes. So, I experimented with a few tweaks to my tried and true Shepherd's Pie recipe that I shared with you in 2011 and I discovered a way to make this already yummy recipe taste even MORE authentic. I was in Shepherd's Pie heaven when I tasted this last night for supper, because it tastes exactly like the authentic Shepherd's Pie at my favorite restaurant, The Pub at The Greene. If you want a very authentic taste, please try this (P.S. I also increased the serving size from my original recipe) . . . 

 









You will need:

~2 lb ground chuck   
~1 med-large sweet yellow onion, diced  
~1 TB dried rosemary; crunched & crumbled  
~1 heaping ts thyme  
~salt and pepper to taste  
~2 cans whole-kernel sweet corn  
~2 8-1/2 oz cans peas and carrots  
~3-4 c mashed potatoes  
~1 TB garlic granules
~1 c of shredded Parmesan cheese (Mozzarella works, too)  
~3 qt casserole

Directions:

1) brown ground chuck, onion, crunch rosemary in your hand and sprinkle it and the thyme over the meat; stir to blend while browning meat 
2) when meat is browned and onions are cooked through, spread meat mix into bottom of casserole   
3) spread the corn and then the peas and carrots in LAYERS
4) mix the garlic granules into the mashed potatoes  
5) cover entire top with the potatoes, all the way to the edge   
6) sprinkle shredded cheese over the entire top of the potatoes  
7) bake at 350* for 25 minutes OR until cheese is melted and potato edges are lightly browned
     
Enjoy one of my new favorite dishes!!!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Oh, What the LORD Has Done

"I waited patiently for the LORD;

He turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

out of the mud and mire;

He set my feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the LORD . . . 

Yet I am poor and needy;

may the LORD think of me.

You are my help and my deliverer;

O my God, do not delay."

~Psalm 40:1-3, 17

How has your relationship with the Lord changed your live? What is your testimony? Do people still share their testimonies anymore? 

I have opportunity to say from time-to-time: "I have lived two utterly and completely different lives." And anyone who has known me more than 30 years can testify to that about me, too. I have been a black-hearted, retched, sinful person who followed the enemy of my soul as if he were my friend. 

BUT . . . God, in His love and mercy for my sorry self, has much better plans for me ~ and you. Hallelujah! 

The words of today's Scripture ring eternally true to my heart ~ He DID hear my cry, He DID lift me from the slimy pit of sin, He DID set me upon the firm foundation of His Word, He DID put new songs in my mouth! Oh, I am unworthy and blessed. I am forgiven and I am a new creation.

How about you? Give this a thought today: What is my salvation story and what Scripture speaks of my testimony? 

Can't wait to hear.

Blessings from Ohio . . .  Kim<><         

Busy, Busy Day

Oh, my goodness! What a busy day I've had & now it's time to head to work and make people healthy and beautiful. ;-) 

Here are some lovely cottages for you to look at until next time . . . 

Which are your favorites?

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Homemade Toothache Remedies

With the changes in health care, and so many out of work, under-employed, living on one income or without insurance, so many of us are choosing take charge of our own health. In doing so, we are reviving many of our parents' and grandparents' home remedies. 

Something that will always come up will be issues with our teeth. Our teeth not only effect how and what we eat, but did you know that the health of your teeth may effect your heart? Admittedly, I do not have the "best" teeth, but at age 54 (as of this writing) I have only had to have one wisdom tooth pulled and have some fillings. I stay on top of my oral health and I am determined to keep my teeth for the rest of my life. So let's try to keep our smile pretty and healthy.

Something that can be used for even the teeniest of toothaches or teething babies is Clove essential oil. You can saturate the tip of a Q-Tip & gently rub over the tooth & surrounding gum, or dampen a cotton ball & gently hold it there by lightly biting it into place. Clove has a calming, numbing effect on the tooth and surrounding area. 

Another related item is clove tea. Steep 1 TB of whole cloves in 2-3 cups of boiling water. Drink as a tea, swishing around your mouth and over the affected area before swallowing. Click on the highlighted link, above, for more on the healing power of cloves.

Also related to tea, take a teabag of green tea or black tea (beware that black tea contains a good deal of caffeine), lay in a microwaveable saucer and use just enough water to soak the teabag OR make a tea and use the teabag. Lay the teabag upon the affected tooth and/or on any abscess for about 1/2 hour. By the end of the 1/2 hour you will notice significant pain & swelling relief. Why? Because these teas contain tannic acid which aids in pain relief and acts as an astringent that draws out the infection.

Also for abscesses, make this paste:

You will need:

~3ts slippery elm root
~2 ts baking yeast
~2-4 drops clove oil
~1/3 ts cayenne pepper
~water

Directions:

1) mix ingredients together, using enough water to make a gummy paste. 
2) Pack the paste around the tooth & onto the abscessed gum.
~~The slippery elm draws out infection, the cayenne stimulates circulation and stimulates the infected cells to release their toxins, the clove oil relieves pain.

Garlic is a well known super healer. If you can stand it, bite down on a clove of garlic & keep it there for about 5 minutes 3-4 times a day. This will cause a little bit of "heat" that will relieve the pain, draw out toxins and go a long way toward healing the tooth and/or abscess. But fair warning ~ it is STRONG.

For an over-all oral health and healing mouthwash, try this ~ 

You will need:

~3/4 c water
~1/4 c vodka
~2 dropper-fulls of calendula tincture
~2 dropper-fulls of goldenseal OR chaparral tincture 
~1 dropper-full of myrrh tincture
~1 or 2 drops of peppermint essential oil
~**optional** 1 or 2 drops of thieves essential oil

Directions:

1) Mix the water and the vodka
2) add all of the tinctures and the essential oil(s)
3) shake well
4) To Use: pour a small amount (about 1/2 oz) of water into a rinse cup, add about 3 TB of the mixture and use as mouthwash; swish, gargle, spit. :-) 

**NOTE** ~ 1-2 drops of Thieves Oil, daily, on your toothbrush will help kill germs and internal parasites.

And one more must-have for combating abscesses . . . Try taking the homeopathic remedy: hepar sulphuris calcareum 30c. I can tell you from experience that this works wonderfully well.

You may have your own remedies, share them in your comment. 

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><