I Shouldn't Be The Only One Who Is Bored

So, I'll let you all in on my quiet morning. It's currently after 8 A, and Sissy is still in bed! She is usually up anywhere from 7:30 to 8:15. Sometimes, even earlier than that. I guess she must be extra tired. These days, she stays up half the night singing to herself or whatever. We can hear her on the monitor.

As long as she isn't getting out of bed every 20 minutes, we're cool with letting her sing or chit chat for a bit.

The cable company called us last week and offered a deal of all the Showtime channels, plus Showtime on Demand for $5 a month for three months. We can cancel at any time (and plan to, when our three months is up). However, we've been taking advantage of it as much as possible. Especially Showtime on Demand. We're catching up with Season 4 of Dexter. It's the one show the Evil Twin and I both really love.

So far, we're up to episode 4. We watch 2 a night, although I could stay up ALL night watching them one right after the other! It's just a well written show and the cast is perfect. If Michael C. Hall hadn't married that skinny chick with the mosquito bite boobies who plays his sister on the show, I would totally be stalking him.

Onto crock pot Sunday. Yesterday's feature was Old Fashioned Swiss Steak. I have no idea why it's called that, but I got the recipe from my mom who got it.....somewhere. This is originally a "bake in the oven" dish, but I altered it to be a crock pot dish.

Old Fashioned Swiss Steak
1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1 lb. boneless round steak (about 3/4 inch thick), cut into serving sized pieces
1 1/2 tbsp cooking oil
1/2 clove garlic, minced
1 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup beef broth
1/2 tbsp soy sauce
1/8 cup cold water

In a large plastic bag, combine 1/4 c. flour, 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. pepper and garlic salt. Toss beef to coat. Heat oil and brown meat. Put browned meat in crock pot. Add garlic, green pepper, celery and onion. Then add tomatoes, broth, soy sauce and a bit more salt and pepper. Stir. Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours. Combine water and remaining flour, stir into juices and stir constantly until thickened.

So, basically, brown the meat, dump everything else in and set it and forget it until the stuff is finished, then add the water/flour paste the last 10 minutes or so. It sounds much more complicated than it really is. I just winged it on the spices and the Evil Twin said it was perfect. In fact, he said it was better than my mother's - and that was his favorite dish she cooked for him.

I feel so honored! If you try it, let me know what you think! :-)