Sandy

We are safe and we thank God!

We've had lots of rain and wind but we are SAFE!

My heart aches for those who have lost family and home.

Before the storm, I said good-bye to autumn as most of the leaves are down.

- before Sandy passed through -

All is well today!

This Olde House...

A local business bought a property with an old house on it and dismantled it for another purpose. The house was a 'free-for-all' to anyone wanting to take windows, doors, etc. Mr D and I went up to see what we could salvage. There was a lot more I wanted such as the roof of the small porch but settled for some windows and doors. Mr D is sooo good to me and my ideas!

Mr D cut the doors so I could use the window section - boy, are they heavy! 

It's hanging in the front by the garage door, spiffied up for Autumn.

free window

two bucks for the twiggy wreath

 'a dollar a peice' pumpkins 

 a dollar yard sale chair, weathered beautifully 

 rusty wagon our children played with

free leaves from the neighbour :)

Close up at sunset.

Ragu Sauce

Some years back when son L was in Haiti for several months, we spent a week with him. While there, we became acquainted with Doreen and her husband from Ohio. Doreen is a pro at cooking and talked about a pizza sauce that is baked in the oven. I kept it in the back of my head and this summer I finally made it.

The first step:

cut tomatoes in half and lay cut side down in 10x15 pan

bake at 350 for 20-30 min or until skins crack

let cool, peel and remove white-ish core and squish with hands

(I like chunks in my sauce but it can also be blended)

Ragu Sauce

8-10 quarts tomato sauce

saute:

3 lbs diced onion

4 green peppers

2 bulbs garlic

1 cop cut-up celery

1 cup olive oil

blend in and mix well:

1 tbsp pepper

5 tblsp parsley flakes

1 tblsp oregano

1 tsp basil

1 tblsp worcestershire sauce

These ingredients can be blended in a blender before adding rest of ingredients.

I did not because, again, I like chunky sauce.

add and mix well:

1/3 c salt

1/2 c sugar

1 lg can tomato sauce

Place all ingredients in large roasting pan. Bake at 350 degrees 2-3 hrs or till desired thickness.

Process in jars.

I chose to freeze the sauce.