By Teri Cayton
The Parsons Advocate
The New Year is upon us and I just want to forget 2020, put it out of its misery, bury it, burn it, just FORGET IT! I do so hope that the coming year is a little better but I just don’t know what is going to happen. Make a wish and hope the sun shines a little brighter on us. On January 1st open all your windows and doors and let the bad air out of your house. Momma Said, “Take in a breath of fresh air and try to get your life back together.
We can do our best as a united nation, but the fact is we are not. If we would try to pull together and wear masks and don’t congregate in large crowds maybe we can get ahead of this virus. But we all need to do our part, wear your mask and please don’t travel. There are so many ways to stay in contact that it is not worth the risk of dying. Momma Said, “We must live to fight another day.” This is the season of God’s birth and He will not forsake us. We just need to believe and do our best to remember that.
We have just had the first day of winter and I can’t wait to see the spring sunshine. If it would just freeze up and stay that way it would not be so bad but you must remember I have two dogs that do their best to find every mud hole in the yard. Momma Said, “If they can’t find one, they will just make one.” I can’t even see out my porch door it is caked with mud from Gracie. When I get home she must stand up against it mud and all. She is so big now that when she stretches up she reaches over half way up the door.
I guess just like everything else she will get it dirty and I will clean it. They have me trained so well don’t they? I have gotten them some really tasty treats for Christmas. Big bones they can chew on, maybe I should have gotten them sooner because Gracie tore up everyone one of my solar yard lights. They were anchored to the top of the fence posts and she chewed up every one of them. Enough of that, I hope everyone had a great Christmas and don’t party too much on New Year’s Eve. I will be glad to hear the bells ring and herald this year out, out, out!
Beef and Cabbage Stew
1 to 1 1/2 pounds of lean beef chuck or stew meat cut in bite-sized pieces
2 to 3 tablespoons of oil or butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
2 to 3 carrots, scraped and cut into rounds
1/2 large head of cabbage, chopped or about 4 or 5 cups
3 to 4 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (14.5 ounce) can beef broth
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
Brown the stew meat, onions and celery in the butter or oil in a skillet on top of the stove. Add to crock pot or slow cooker along with carrots, cabbage and potatoes. In a bowl whisk together the tomato sauce, beef broth, water, black pepper, salt, minced garlic, paprika and chili powder. Pour over ingredients in crock pot. Cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or high for 4 to 5 hours or until all vegetables are well cooked.
