Getting caught up.

I'm trying to get caught up.  My Dad is healing from his latest surgery but it's going to take a bit of time.  Unfortunately longer than we'd hoped.  See they found cancer (early stages) on his lung when doing some scans and he needs that taken care of before it spreads.  They will not start radiation till he has healed from the aneurysm surgery.  Because it was the size of a baseball it's left a large gap and it's taking a long time to stop draining.  Not sure it will without more surgeries.  The other problem is he has a leaky valve in his heart which should have been addressed first..but...such is life.  So we have our hands full but I am working everyday. 
I can run more than one machine at a time in my new shop so I can get more than even my brain can keep track of done at the same time :) 
Keep my Dad in your prayers for me if you will.  We really need that guy :)
May you all be blessed,
Janet

Shop is open

Finally today my shops are open and orders are already coming in.  I thank God I wasn't forgotten about after that lengthy close!

There is one thing.
My father is having surgery on Wednesday and it's rather serious.  Family are starting to come in tomorrow and I'll need to pick them up from the airport.  Then I'll be returning on Wednesday to get back to work and I am working on orders today.  I promise to get your orders out as quickly as possible.  Prayers for my Dad are very welcome. 

Thanks,
Janet

Shepards Pie

2 tbsp Olive Oil
1 lb ground lamb (or hamburger if you prefer)
1 large onion chopped coarsely
2 oz mushrooms sliced
2 carrots sliced
2 tblsp All purpose flour
1 tblsp tomato paste
1 bay leaf
1/2 pint beef or lamb broth
1 1/2 lb peeled potato cut into large chunks
1 oz butter
2 1/4 oz of milk
2 oz cheddar cheese crumbled
salt and black pepper

Heat half the oil in a large pan and brown the meat over medium to high heat.
remove meat from pan with a slotted spoon and transfer to a bowl and set aside.
Turn the heat to low and add the remaining oil.  Gently fry the onion, mushrooms and carrots for 10 minutes.or until softened.  Stir in the flour and tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.  Return the meat to the man and add the bay leaf.  Pour in the stock and bring to the boil,  then cover and simmer on low heat for 25 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375.
Cook the potatoes in lightly salted boiling water for 20 minutes or until tender.  Drain and leave to stand in colander for 2 minutes to steam dry.  Melt the butter and add it and the milk to the potatoes and mash till smooth.
Spoon meat mixture into a 3 pint casserole dish.  Remove the bay leaf and check the seasoning.  Cover with mash potatoes (I like to pipe it on :) ).  Sprinkle cheese over and bake for 15-20 minutes until bubbling and golden.  Serve immediately with green vegetables.

Handywoman Shop is moving

I wanted to give a bit of an update while I rest a moment from packing.  :) 

We have been planning to move soon but we found the perfect place a couple years earlier than planned.  I had just taken off a month to work on the wish list and during that time we found our new place.  The house is much smaller so I have to get rid of many things but the shop is super large and is air conditioned.   So I was only able to open for a couple days to let people purchase their wish list items I completed and then I had to close shop up again to pack.

I've been packing now for 2 weeks and have barely started the upstairs.  We close on August 7th so the house is full of packed boxes and it's getting difficult to get around.  Many trips to good will and many items to sell.  I think this is the largest move we've ever done and it's to another city so we can't just take a truck load at a time to the new shop.

I do see packing nearing an end but I am not looking forward to packing up my workshop.  I'm just getting too old for this :)

I hope to see you all soon.  I'll let you know when I'll be open as soon as I figure that out.

Thank you so much for your support and patients.

My best,
Janet

P.S.  Here is the new shop...no the RV isn't ours, this is a picture from the for sale listing .....

Strawberry Sheet Cake

This cake taste like summer time, bursting with strawberry flavor.  Perfect for sharing!

Strawberry Sheet Cake
Prep time 15 minutes
Cook time 25-30 Minutes or until toothpick comes out clean

Cake Ingredients
2 cups self-rising flour
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup veg oil
1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup mashed sweetened strawberries
1 small box of dry strawberry jello

Strawberry glaze frosting
1/2 stick butter softened (real butter)
3-4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup mashed sweetened strawberries

Instructions
Mix all the cake ingredients together and pour into a greased 9x13 pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean
while the cake is baking, make the glaze.

Mix together all the glaze ingredients until smooth - add more sugar or strawberries as needed for a spreading/glaze consistency.   Mix the glaze well to be sure before adding more sugar or strawberries.
When cake is completely cool spread icing over cake.

Store in refrigerator, cake is best after 2 hours in the refrigerator.