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Showing posts with label VAL'S AU GRATIN POTATOES W-HAMBURGER Recipe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label VAL'S AU GRATIN POTATOES W-HAMBURGER Recipe. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

RELAXING TO THE RHYTHM OF THE RAIN; Castle Rock-WA

Drinking my morning joy juice (pumpkin spice smells so nice!) & scrolling Blog Hops ☕️๐Ÿคฐ๐Ÿ’ป๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ‘ญ, I noticed on Lisa's Blog, that my sun rays coffee coaster had been featured on the Blog Hop she is co-host with:

Pumpkin Spice smells so nice!
MOD Sunny Sun Rays Coffee Coaster featured on Louisiana Lisa's Blog @ (https://athomewithlisajung.blogspot.com/2026/08/starextrafeature-83126.html)

September has dawned - and already, it's gone ๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿป‍♀️

Yesterday afternoon, we drove to Tenino-WA ๐Ÿš˜๐Ÿ—บ️, to get my dental partial started - it's gonna be a process … which will eat into the time needed to get Beast Betsy maintained, and those snafu's are gonna keep us in WA longer than we had planned ๐Ÿ“…๐Ÿคจ But, it is what it is; and that's that.

TENINO & ATTILA~Self-Care 2026; Castle Rock-WA: https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/09/tenino-attilaself-care-2026-castle-rock.html

In the meanwhile - I'm going to savor a second pumpkin-infused indulgence ☕️ (holiday flavored coffees are not available in the southern states, so my flavored coffee, this morning, is the silver lining to the spendy snafu's keeping us hobbled in WA State); & get lost for about an hour ⏰, in the pages of my newest Read ๐Ÿ“–๐Ÿง  while Scrub Jays screech to each other in the trees outside, & intermittent raindrops ๐Ÿ’ง sprinkle the windows:

Coffee & Clive = leisurely enjoyment ๐Ÿ˜Š
Story breakdown of 'The Tomb'; a Cussler-Fargo adventure.
Burial of Attila
Narrative laying the groundwork for the novel's adventure.
The Fargos jet off to Berlin, Germany from Grand Isle, Louisiana; the adventure begins there.
The Professor thinks he may have found Attila's burial site …

{{Attila the Hun’s tomb has not been definitively discovered; recent claims include a hoax in Hungary and a rich Hun warrior tomb in Romania that may belong to the Hunnic elite.

Historical Context

Attila the Hun (c. 406–453 CE), known as the “Scourge of God,” ruled a vast Hunnic empire across Central and Eastern Europe and was a formidable adversary of both the Western and Eastern Roman Empires. He died suddenly in 453 CE, reportedly on the night of his wedding to Ildico, and historical accounts suggest his burial was secretive, possibly involving rivers diverted and servants executed to conceal the location. Legends describe a triple coffin of iron, silver, and gold, but no archaeological evidence has confirmed these accounts.

Recent Claims

Hungary Hoax - No verified evidence supports this claim: In July 2026, reports circulated that construction workers in Budapest had uncovered Attila’s tomb beneath the Danube River, containing human remains, horse skeletons, and grave goods. However, this story was quickly debunked as a hoax. The cited historian did not exist, and the images used were from unrelated historical artifacts, including a Ming Dynasty mummy.

Romania Discovery - The find is significant for understanding Hunnic elite burials but does not provide definitive proof of Attila’s resting place: Separately, archaeologists in south-eastern Romania uncovered a richly furnished 5th-century tomb during motorway construction near Mizil. The tomb contained over 100 artifacts, including gold-plated weapons and jewelry, suggesting it belonged to a member of the Hun ruling class. While some speculate it could be linked to Attila, the ethnicity and identity of the buried warrior remain unconfirmed.

Ongoing Mystery: Despite centuries of searches in Hungary, Romania, and surrounding regions, Attila’s tomb remains one of history’s greatest unsolved mysteries. Modern technology, folklore, and historical texts continue to guide archaeologists, but no confirmed discovery has been made. The combination of legendary secrecy, landscape changes, and limited historical records makes locating the tomb extremely challenging.

~Various Info Sources}}

Just as the plot ✈️ was beginning to thicken ๐Ÿง … Holland whisked me off, for a Day-out-of-House ๐Ÿ‘ฉ‍❤️‍๐Ÿ’‹‍๐Ÿ‘จ๐Ÿš˜: enjoying finger-licking chocolate frosted Bismarck's ๐Ÿฉ, by the river's edge ⛵️

When we returned home, we saw that a tiny house had been moved into a space, across form us:

A Tiny Home brought in this afternoon, & set up across from us.

Walking through the front door, Holland's cell rang with good news ๐Ÿ“ฒ๐Ÿ˜! It appears that there was no need, after all, to have my regular dentist engaged in my partial process … a new appointment has been scheduled for Tenino's finish up, on the 23rd ๐ŸŽฏ๐Ÿ‘ THANK YOU, LORD, for opening that door ☝️๐Ÿšช Now, we can focus on funneling ๐Ÿ’ฐ towards Betsy; and get that under way.

The predicted rain showed on schedule.

And that set the mood for a good, comforting, easy to prepare meal:

VAL'S AU GRATIN POTATOES W-HAMBURGER Recipe; Castle Rock-WA: (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/09/vals-au-gratin-potatoes-w-hamburger.html)

After the kitchen was tidied & dishes were done - I relaxed with the rhythm of the rain, & started a new design:

MOD CROCHET LOOPY HAIR TIES Pattern; Castle Rock-WA: (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/09/mod-crochet-loopy-hair-ties-pattern.html)

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

VAL'S AU GRATIN POTATOES W-HAMBURGER Recipe; Castle Rock-WA

Val's Au Gratin Potatoes W-Hamburger

Rainy Days call for comfort foods ๐Ÿฅ˜

This quick casserole hits the spot, & it's a snap to make because a boxed Au Gratin mix is used - just brown the 'burger, add a spice or two ๐Ÿƒ, and you can practically snap your fingers and have it done in no time at all ๐Ÿ˜‰

A nice respite from the wildfires.

Val's Au Gratin Potatoes W-Hamburger ~serves 4

1 Box Au Gratin Potatoes, dry packaged * 1-lb. Angus Hamburger * 1-1/2 c. Water * 3/4 c. Milk * 2-1/2 TBSP Margarine * 3 Garlic cloves, pressed * 1 Onion, sliced * 3/4 tsp. Thyme, dried * 1 Bay Leaf, medium-size

1 Med. Skillet * 1 Kitchen Spoon, slotted * 1 Kitchen Spoon, serving * 2 Quart Oblong Pyrex Baking Dish * 1 Garlic Press * 1 Lrg. Kitchen Knife * 1 Cutting Board * 1 Hot Pad * Measuring Spoons * 1 lrg. Pyrex Measuring Cup * 1 Sm. Whisk * 2 Tea Balls, chains removed * Supper Plates & Silverware

1) Preheat oven to 450-degrees.

2) In the skillet, place the onions & garlic; sautรฉ until onions are transparent & the garlic is fragrant - add meat, and cook until the meat is browned.

3) Pour the water into the Pyrex measuring cup & microwave about 2 minutes, until it boils - carefully remove from microwave & place on the hot pad. Add to the boiling water, the thyme & the sauce packet that came with the boxed potatoes; whisk together until well blended.

4) Place the dehydrated potato slices into the baking dish - pour flavored water & add butter; stir to incorporate. Add milk & hamburger, gently stir to blend well. Break Bay Leaf in half, place each half into a tea ball - put tea ball into the blended ingredients.

5) Bake in preheated oven - uncovered - for about 25 minutes … or until top is golden brown & potatoes are tender. Remove from oven & let stand for about 5 minutes (sauce will thicken while it stands).

6) Serve, and enjoy.

I serve my casserole with a vegetable side dish & biscuits - that's what my husband likes … that's how I serve it.