Oil Lamps

Last night, while on an evening Walmart run, I came across an oil lamp in the candle section. It wasn't really big, or colorful or anything, but it immediatley reminded me of my great grandmother. She had big, old-fashioned oil lamps. From the stories I've been told, when her family got electricity she would watch their meter, and when it got to five dollars she would stop using the lights in the house and switch to her oil lamps. Every time I see oil lamps I think of her, and how strong and smart she was.
     I always wanted an oil lamp, so I picked this one up. I think it only cost about seven dollars, and the oil is another 4. I have used it for 2 nights now, and I've got to say, I think it will actually save us money. We normally have 2, sometime 3 lamps on in our living room in the evening. We don't use any with this on. I like dim lighting in the evening (hence the lamps and not our overhead lights) So this isn't much of an adjustment, however I may just move this one to the kitchen and get a larger one for the living room. Any suggestions for a place to buy larger ones? I wouldn't mind antique ones, I think I might prefer it.

        I hope to make this a permanent change in our household, not just because of the money we might save, but because of the nostalgia. I hate that young people never have homes that feel like homes. They always have houses that look so staged. I want a home that, while decorated, makes you feel something. A home that's lived-in and charming. My new oil lamp certainly lends itself to that feeling. I hope you all try it!

Hamburger Steaks with Gravy

So I recently thawed a pound of ground beef in order to make the aforementioned Shepherd's Pie, only to find that my potatoes had gone soft. I don't cook a lot of beef simply because it doesn't go as easy on my stomach, and I haven't tried many recipes with it. So generally, if I'm not making a Shepherd's Pie, or my husband isn't making hamburgers...I don't know what to do with it! It was too cold to grill out so I started searching online and came across hamburger steaks! I have never eaten hamburger steaks and I was surprised at how easy the recipes looked! I ended up winging it, as usual, after finding a few different options online. This is what I came up with!

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 an onion chopped in big pieces
1/4 cup of bread crumbs
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp of pepper
1/2 cup of water

You will also need a bit of all-purpose flour and a container of beef stock for the gravy.

Combine the first set of ingredients, except the onions, in a bowl (I use my fingers) and, after combining them well, form 4 patties. Put them in a large pan at medium heat and brown both sides. Be careful when flipping because the patties are delicate at this point due to the water that's in them. (This steams inside and makes them super moist!)
       After you get a decent amount of grease in the bottom of your pan, carefully pour it off into a medium pan and then set it at low heat. Leave your patties on the burner, add the onions and cover. While they continue to cook, begin adding your flour a little at a time to the grease while whisking quickly to avoid clumps. When It begins to look pasty, add your beef stock slowly. Gravy is a finicky beast. It is best to alternate, little by little, between flour and stock, until you reach your desired consistency. I found that I used about 1/4 cup of flour and about 1 cup  of stock. Once you've reached the right consistency, add some salt and pepper to taste.
You may want to flip your steaks at this point, and of course stir around your onions, add the gravy to the top of the steaks and cover again until they are well done. I found that mine cooked in about 35 minutes after covering.

I loved how mine turned out and my husband assured me that they tasted how hamburger steak should taste. He really liked them and requested that they be added to our "permanent list" of recipes. I will definitely make them again, but I may add a dash of Worcestershire next time, please let me know if any of you try that! I served mine with green beans and corn muffins!

Mashed Tatos! and the New Year!

So my Husband's family has gone back home (see y'all!!) and we are enjoying the quiet again <3 We have definitely enjoyed our time with family at the end of this fabulous year. This past year has been the most life changing year for me thus far. Part of me is sad to see it go. It's the year I picked up and moved away from the town my parents brought me to. It's the year I reconnected with family both on the internet (thanks facebook!) and in real life. It's the year I gained a husband, and the year I lost a grandfather. My heart has changed this year. The way we ended the year was definitely fitting. After talking about how we wanted to toast the new year with our family that was visiting....we all went to bed around 9:00! I can't say I'm disappointed. What a better way to begin the new year than cuddled in a warm bed with Christmas lights flickering in the window? Our Company left the next day after we took them to see Cadillac Ranch.
      While they were here, my sister-in-law enjoyed the shepherd's pie I prepared, but I think she was more impressed with the mashed potatoes! (You may refer to my previous "Shepherd's Pie" post for a list of seasonings.) I would also like to share that mashed potatoes really don't have to be such a "production." As I have said before, I use the red potatoes because they get soft quickly in salted, boiling water, and I simply put them in my stand mixer to mash them! I then add my seasonings, milk and butter while they are mashing, and it's just that simple!
 I hope you all had a lovely New Year's and a blessed year to come for us all!
                                                                                                                See Y'all!
                                                                                                                           Staci