Month: March 2025

Cooking · Recipe of the Month

A Tender London Broil Just Needs Some Time

JanetLeave a comment

As much as I like beef, prices are not exactly encouraging to indulging in more than the usual ground variety. Sound familiar?

Recently, however, I decided to see what was affordable, and interesting, at my local market and came across London Broil.

Actually “London Broil” is more of a preparation or a recipe rather than an actual cut, but my market labels round steak as London Broil to make it easier for customers to find. The cut is usually a tough flank or round steak that might be marinated and then prepared. While this can be quite tasty, I’ve not had a lot of success using the traditional method or preparation. Hence, the slow cooker.

Print

Slow Cooker London Broil

Simple. Easy. Tasty
Course Main Course
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 hours
Servings 4

Equipment

  • 1 Slow Cooker
  • 1 Slow Cooker Liner Easy Cleanup!

Ingredients

  • 2 Pound London Broil or Round Steak
  • 2 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder To Taste

Instructions

  • If you are using the liner, insert it into the crock.
    Season the meat and add to the slow cooker.
    Pour the soup over all.
    Top with the lid.
    Set the slow cooker for LOW 8 – 10 hours.

Notes

This cut of beef is very tough which makes it a perfect candidate for the slow cooker.
Serve over noodles, potatoes or rice. and use the sauce as a gravy.

I set mine up before I head to bed, knowing that the delicious smell might keep me awake.

After 10 hours the meat is tender and juicy and there is just enough gravy to add to the meal.

Granted beef still isn’t <cough> inexpensive, but you can still make a wonderful meal without going broke.

Enjoy!

Around the House

The Challenge Box

JanetLeave a comment

During a recent edition of Dee & Dory, Design Dreamers over on YouTube, the ladies talked about their Challenge Box and it got me to thinking.

I believe it was Dory who mentioned that the Challenge Box encouraged her to try things she might not have done on her own. What an interesting idea!

Check out the video here:

One of the many things I enjoy about these ladies is their willingness to try new things, even if the end results are not exactly what they had in mind. This episode speaks to that, too.

But a Challenge Box could be for anything and I think it might be worth contemplating. Is there a craft you might like to learn more about? Do you need/want to find ways to encourage growth? Do you, or your kids, need some inspiration? It is worth thinking about.

Sometimes I find I need some sort of gentle push to try something I might not have considered doing before or have been putting off ‘because’…

Let me know what you think.

Cooking · Meal Building Blocks

Ideas for Chicken

JanetLeave a comment

Or, I need to freshen my meal rotation

I love these 30 chicken pasta recipes! (click HERE) They are versatile, easy to do, and lend themselves to any updates or changes I want to make.

Don’t have the ‘right’ shape of pasta? Use what you have. Tired of chicken? Try using pork or ham instead.

There is a lot of versatility in allowing yourself to play with your food. Swap out ingredients, try different combinations. Surprise yourself!

Audiobooks · Books

From The Reading Table: A Gentleman and a Thief

JanetLeave a comment

A Gentleman and a Thief: The Daring Jewel Heists of a Jazz Age Rogue by Dean Jobb

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I tripped over this as I browsed an Audible 2 for 1 sale.

Every once in a while I find something way out of my normal rut. This was not only on a different road but a different time period than my usual.

A true crime story about a man whose name is mostly forgotten, 100 years ago Arthur Barry was a burglar who ran the local constabulary in circles until the inevitable end … sort of.

Arthur was one of those kids who was smarter than was good for him and his need for excitement set him on a path that started when he was 12 or 14 and ran until he was nearing 50. He developed a game plan for burglarizing homes that almost always guaranteed that (a) he got what he came for (b) he got away and (c) no one was injured or killed.

Polite, well mannered, bright, quick thinking. Arthur was all that and more. His story is amazing and amusing and even surprising.

Looking for something a bit out of the ordinary? This is it!



View all my reviews

Books

From the Reading Table: The Shardlake Series

JanetLeave a comment

I recently encountered the BBC dramatization of the first 6 books in this series by C. J. Sansom on Audible and decided to give it a try. I’d not heard of the series before but now…

As a rule, Tudor England is not a period of history that captures much of my interest. I know a passing amount about Henry VIII and his family. This isn’t unusual if you have access to some sort of viewing screen and a streaming platform or two… Perhaps that is why I don’t claim any real Interest (yes, capitalization and all that goes with it) in the period.

That being said, I could say the same about Cadfael, that wonderful series starring Derek Jacobi from 1994. Different period of English history but still mysteries. <shrug/grin>

Shardlake is beautifully presented with interesting characters and more than a passing reference to historic people and places. It gives you an opening to walk through a looking glass, so to speak, and meander among the locals.

The stories are well written and the mysteries do not require the reader to dive in head first if they don’t want to.

This article, from the Adventures of a Tudor Nerd, provides a great introduction and might answer any questions you have before you dive in. Click HERE to read it.

I thoroughly enjoyed the BBC production but I will also be checking out the standard books in the series.

If you are inclined, Hulu / Disney+ has the 4 episode live action series. It is on my To Be Watched List.

Audiobooks

From The Reading Table: It Seemed Like A Bad Idea At The Time

JanetLeave a comment

It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time by Bruce Vilanch

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Every once in a while I come across a book that is so much fun, so delicious an experience, I hate to see it come to an end.

This is one of those books.

I admit I am a fan of the Hollywood Behind The Scenes scene. I love the stories about the things that go on that most folks have no clue about (even with social media) and I love it when I learn about stories that go back decades to a time when I remember either the show or the performer from days gone by.

This is one of those books.

For some readers (or listeners like me) the names might not connect but for others, we know who those folks are/were and had seen the shows or performances.

Memory lane!

For good or bad, every person has one of those folders in their heads labelled “It Was A Good Idea At The Time”. This is just a collection of items in a differently labelled folder.

Fun? Yeah.

Interesting? If you like the material.

Worth a listen or a read? Yep!



View all my reviews

Around the House

Does Decluttering Overwhelm You?

JanetLeave a comment

The accumulation of stuff can be debilitating in so many ways. Basically, it robs us of the space we live in. It also robs us of the money spent on all the stuff that takes up space in the place we live.

I am just as guilty of this as anyone else but I have managed, in my own way, to find solutions to the problem. I live in a very small home (less than 1,000 sq. ft.) that has limited storage space. When I moved into my home I made a conscious decision to keep the stuff to a minimum.

As most of you know, it hasn’t been easy.

I came across this article in Apartment Therapy that provides a different way of solving the problem and thought it was on target. Check it out by clicking HERE.

The idea of choosing what you like and having a clear view at what is left so you can decide how to deal with that is a good one. It also provides a bit of clarity when it comes down to being realistic in what we like, want, need, or not.

The other thing to do is give ourselves permission to let go of the stuff we don’t want, use, or need.

While I might not advocate for rushing this process of decluttering, no matter how you go about it, I do think it is worth setting goals and limits so there is actual progress.

Thoughts?

Meal Building Blocks

Restocking The Magic Pantry

JanetLeave a comment

Here’s What I Am Thinking

I have been contemplating my next grocery order. As March has arrived (hooray!) Spring is also in the air and that is when I tend to yearn for fresh produce. I love oranges, grapes, plums, and such so this time of year is the beginning of a monthly indulgence.

I am also thinking about getting back to salads and fresh veg. A nice grilled chicken Caesar salad sounds wonderful at the moment. The trick, for me, it to have enough, but not over do it, so I can enjoy the benefits without much waste.

Chicken… There are a lot of options here. I enjoy grilled chicken as much as baked or roasted chicken. Ditto pork. And I won’t lie, the other day I caught an episode of ‘The French Chef’ where Julia Child walked us through pot roast and it made me HUNGRY in a way I haven’t been in a long time.

Pasta is always a good thing to have on hand and I found myself browsing through the pasta aisle in my local market online shop just to see what they have. I need to check space in my pantry but I think I could grab a couple of different options to work into meals with the chicken or pork. And who doesn’t love a good Mac & Cheese?

I really liked See Mindy Mom’s idea for frozen peaches and mangoes. Good to munch on, easy to run through a blender or food processor for a quick sorbet, a slam dunk when paired with an easy shortcake. Other frozen fruits and berries could fit that bill, too.

While it might be a tad early for iced tea season (or not depending) it might be a good idea to stock up on tea…

Now is the time to start weaning off Winter Menu Items. Not exactly a thrilling thought as I really enjoy a good casserole or pot pie. Then again, it might be a good opportunity to look for recipes that straddle that line between Winter fare and Spring lighter foods.

What are you contemplating for your next grocery shop?

Cooking

Looking For Healthier Menu Ideas

JanetLeave a comment

I don’t know about you but around this time of year I find I need to look for updates and alternatives to my regular menu rotation. Recently See Mindy Mom posted a great video about how she eats healthy on a budget. Check it out:

Sticking to a budget can often be a hurdle when you are trying to eat healthy food. It is not impossible, but it can be frustrating. Mindy has some great ideas and food for thought.

Enjoy!