Another action packed weekend has come and gone in our household! We actually had a rare Saturday home - well, Scott worked all day as usual, but we didn't have any school activities or social events we needed to attend, so it's still a day home! One of our nieces, Emilia, and nephews, Damion, came over for the afternoon so we decided to do manicures with a Jamberry nail accent.
Their nails :)
Being the CRAZY girls they are!
I took advantage of the BEAUTIFUL day and washed all the bedding and hung it on the clothesline - let me tell you, if you've never experienced sheets dried outside, you have never had the best night's sleep possible! EVERYONE slept through the night in their own beds last night!
There is a story behind my clothesline, too. I have wonderful memories of hanging clothes on the line with my Mom and my Grandma Hellickson. It is something important to me and there are some smells and experiences that just can't be re-created by dryer sheets! My mom knew not having a clothesline was a big deal to me, so she purchased a retractable one for my birthday 3 years ago. We went back and forth over where to install it as we didn't want to lose yard space and Scott didn't want anything unsightly in the yard ;). My amazing oldest brother, Deric, figured out a way to attach the clothesline base to our deck in a discrete manner.
Then it latches to a pole between the lilacs. The pole also conveniently comes out of the ground so you are only left with a little cement circle.
Ta-Da!!! Our kids now know the benefits of drying clothes outside - not only does it save electricity, but they smell SOOOO much better!
While the sheets were drying I started prepping some sirloin steaks for supper (taken from our bulk meat in our extra freezer so they are not as "red" as fresh) - a little fresh ground salt and pepper rubbed on each side...
Then into a bag to marinate with some red wine - any will do - just pour some in and lay them flat in the fridge and flip a few times for an hour or so....
While the meat was marinating, I gave Mr. Runge a ride back to the shop to get his Harley to bring it back home for the season. Yay! If you had told me when we were 17 that this boy was ever going to ride a motorcycle I would have laughed in your face! I was the one to wildly ride 3-wheelers and dirt bikes with my brothers and nephews! Scott was way too safe and straight laced...apparently over 17 years we unknowingly figured out a way to balance my wild with his sensibility and it works! Nonetheless, I wouldn't trade my Harley riding "Scott 2015" for anything - we are constantly growing and changing together and he still is the perfect guy for me!
Back to the meal - The original recipe came from "The Pioneer Woman" Steak with Burgundy Mushroom Sauce, but I adjusted a few things, of course. Chop up a pound of mushrooms - or buy them pre-chopped, really doesn't matter. I'm weird and find chopping and food prep soothing.
I also made a foil packet of potatoes - these are SUPER easy and use whatever you have on hand. Start with a sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil and spray it with Pam. Then wash and chunk up how many potatoes you need to feed your fam. Dot with some butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Top with whatever cheese you want - I used cheddar and a little bit of gouda. I also added green onions and rosemary. Whatever herbs you like!
Then seal up your packet and grill on medium heat for about 25 minutes.
Back to the mushrooms...melt 1/2 stick of butter in a pan over medium high heat. Add 3-4 cloves minced garlic and 3-4 green onions, sliced. Then add your mushrooms.
They will reduce down - cook until golden - about 10 minutes.
Then pour in a cup or so of red wine. I used a sweeter one this time because that's what we had in the fridge.
Now it's time to throw the marinated steaks on the grill. Season with additional salt and pepper if you want.
This is what the mushrooms look like when they are done. Most of the liquid is absorbed or cooks off. You can add additional red wine if you would like it more sauce like - my kids love the mushrooms but don't like sauce running into other meal items on their plate...
The delicious potato packet fresh off the grill!
Top with some fresh parsley or chives to make it look pretty!
Top your steak with a generous portion of mushrooms and add some parsley. (Pardon the over-use of parsley - I would typically use chives on the potatoes but it is too early in the year yet.) DELICIOUS!
When you have recovered from your food coma, you should go soak your daughters headbands in Oxiclean - those suckers are dirtier than you think! And your daughter MIGHT have a piano contest in the morning and should look her best!
Sunday we were off for a rare day in the Cities. So proud of Keeley for making it to the State Piano Contest on her first try! No matter what the outcome - she's braver than I was at 8!
After piano we headed to the Mall of America - we promised Kate and Keeley a visit to the American Girl store to get their dolls ear's pierced and get their (rats nest) hair fixed.
All done! (Meanwhile the boys hit up Carhartt, Boot Barn, and Harley Davidson...)
Ending a Sunday night the way it should be - snuggles with Dad and an old school Disney move - Cow Belles!
