Unemployment - Day One

The day began in the usual fashion. Up, talking to chickens, looking for eggs. Strong, sweet coffee, bacon, bed making and Aaron bouncing in at 7:30. This time was different. I was still in my nightgown, and I was reading the paper when he came in. I went to bed before 10pm, as usual. I couldn't sleep a wink. I was making mental lists all night and practically squealing aloud thinking of all I could do now. I got up at 11:30pm and greased the cast iron pots with bacon grease. I'm not kidding. I sat up til 1:15am looking at sewing books and poking around on blogs.

I got up at 5am to make Glen's lunch. That's m'job.

I'm having a lot of mixed emotions. I applied for unemployment. I'm still maintaining my good attitude, and secretly I'm on my knees thanking God for this, but I do feel that it was wrong to get fired over this. Policy set aside....it's just wrong. What if I were a single mom? Or just single and needed this job to survive? Then what? How does one go to work when they have the flu? I'd been told in the past that I needed to 'save' my sick days. I get like five a year. You know what? Not worth talking about!

You know what is worth talking about?

This Pot Roast. Oh my. This is my secret plan. This is my job security. The recipe will follow at the end of the post. It's from an Amish cookbook. Secret ingredient? Coffee. I figure if I keep putting meals like this on the table....I won't get fired from 'this' job!

Here's another yummy I made today, from the Pioneer Woman's website. It's that Cast Iron Apple Skillet cake. It was 'good'. Not three sticks of butter good. It was a pretty cake, very rustic. This isn't a very good picture of it. Doesn't really do it justice. Aaron loved it, ate almost half of it.

Made some Banana Walnut bread today. It's a new recipe, from my Garden Club cookbook. It has vinegar in it. The proof will be what it tastes like tomorrow. If'n it's good, I'll share the recipe.

After school was over, we went out and power washed the Happy Squirrel. Oh how I love the Squirrel. I worked on the east side of the house, power washed it, worked on the garden there. How I've neglected that side of the house. I was gonna show you, but, then I'd have to kill you, and I like you too much for that.

While dessert was baking, I sat on the couch and closed my eyes. This is new. A nap in the afternoon. I had a hard time keeping my eyes open. I loved the way the sun was coming in the window. I just dozed off and the oven timer went off!

It's just after 7pm, and I'm putting up the chickens and heading to bed. What cost me my job in the first place (being sick), I'm still not over.

Thanks SO much for all of your kind, thoughtful, encouraging comments! I had no idea I had so many readers!! I'll try to make this much more interesting from now on. :-)

Job Security Pot Roast

3# chuck roast

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 cup coffee

2 bay leaves

1 clove garlic, finely minced

1/2 teaspoon oregano

2 onions, sliced

Preheat oven to 300. Do not pound or flour the meat. Heat oil in a heavy skillet over high heat, then sear meat on both sides.

Meanwhile, in large roasting pan, combine the remaining ingredients (hold back one onion). Tranfer the browned meat to the roasting pan. Top with the second sliced onion. Cover and back for 4 hours, basting every hour with pan juices. You can add more coffee and soy sauce if needed.

I always add a generous portion of potatoes and some carrots in the last hour. I also thicken the juices with flour, and make a gravy before serving it. Just take out the meat and veggies, plate those, and put the pan on the stove, add about a 1/4 cup of flour, and simmer til bubbly and somewhat thick.