Hi 👋 We're Val & Holland Redmill … living our Life Story as silver-haired Road Gypsies in our 5th wheel RV Home~41 months married & 65,000 miles traveled across America; covered in grace every Day & trying mightily not to lose our sanctification during the bad & ugly times. I post everywhere - about everything: and if what I post can help someone else, I'm glad for the experience. But from sunrise to sunset, we live our Life for US. Trusting Elohim every step of the way.
I've been hungering for this yummy casserole, reminiscent of a shepherd's pie cooked school cafeteria style - but I've held off cooking it, because I wasn't sure my new husband would like it (he's kinda particular about cuts of meat and how they are cooked).
However, I needn't have worried - Holland liked it, and he says, "make it again, whenever you want it" 👩❤️💋👨
It's simple to make; and I think you'll like it, too 😊
VAL'S BEEF, POTATO & GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE ~serves 6 (1 cup servings)
1 small Yellow Onion, chopped * 1 lb. Ground Beef * ½ teaspoon Salt * ¼ teaspoon ground Black Pepper * 1 c. frozen Green Beans, drained * 1 can (10½ oz.) Tomato Soup * 2 cups MASHED Potatoes * 2 TBSP Margarine * 1 tsp. dry Milk Powder * 2 TBSP Water * 1 c. Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1) Place potatoes in a large cooking pot with enough water to cover; cook over medium heat until fork tender. Remove from heat, pour into a colander set in the sink basin & drain thoroughly. When drained, place back in pot and add butter, dry milk powder & water: mash to desired consistency. Place in a medium bowl, cover with a large sheet of paper towel & set aside.
Potatoes, beef & onion cooking at the same time; to save time.
Cheese added to mashed potatoes.
Rinse pot, wipe dry and set aside.
2) Heat oven to 350-degrees. Over medium heat, cook beef & onion in a medium-sized skillet until meat is browned, and onion is translucent; remove skillet from heat, & turn browned meat & onion into the cooking pot - add seasonings, green beans, and soup: gently blend together.
Casserole coming together …
3) Pour into a 2-quart (8 cup) baking dish, spoon mashed potatoes over mixture.
4) Bake casserole for 30 minutes.
Serve & enjoy 😊
Tomorrow, I get back to my 3-Day Fat Loss Goal, that only allows protein drink & ramen (my choice); then, following those 3 days, Holland will be cooking a meal (or 2), for us 😉
Today dawned foggy - dirty foggy: and stayed that way all day, so, we stayed home.
The day remained foggy; we stayed home today.
We're not like everybody else.
We have to protect our lungs; from grit on the breeze, & from moisture on the breeze that could possibly lead to an ER visit for Holland. The air here has been nearly as bad as it was in Arizona … and Holland has been using his nebulizer machine every day. We've been married 30 months, this month, and I've never seen him use it until recently.
I don't know whether to be glad the macho-man side of him is sliding - or if I should be scared that the COPD appears to be getting more aggressive. I think I'm probably a little of both.
I've had to use my asthma inhaler more than usual, too - which leads to mid-day naps, and all-night-hoot-owl episodes. Between the both of us, we have been burning the midnight oil, and falling into bed in the very early wee hours of the dawning morning: daytime activities haven't been happening until sometime around noon for Holland; sometime around 10 AM, for me.
Adjustments to social activities have had to be made.
Plans to look at the beach artwork and get a few pictures of the sand sculptures this afternoon, fell through: pictures are not worth a trip to ER.
I'll have to wait some more before trying out my new camera pouch 😕
The Bible Studies I had hoped to get to with a reliable frequency, have been put aside. The meeting is a hour away on good days, and a bit further when the winds are up and fog is thick. The sketchy ocean atmosphere has had the warning siren going off more than we've ever heard it - and that keeps us a little closer to home, and to each other; neither of us wants to be an hour, or two hours away from each other if the precautionary warning suddenly morphs into a reality situation.
Visiting with friends (his, mine, ours) has been pretty lax this year; our energies have been pretty drained just trying to stay alive - visiting anyone, for any real length of time has been very spotty. Struggling to breathe makes one lethargic, and attention span lags.
We're not like everybody else.
Some people understand; some people don't … and we can't help that.
THE KINKS - 'I'm Not Like Everybody Else':
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y76ilaVZ5FM)
Our Life is what it is - our social life is pretty much determined by how Mother Nature treats our lungs, and currently she hasn't been too friendly. And it's not just here in WA State, where she's kicking up a fuss 😵💫: she's going on a rampage, nationwide 😳
Holland has been checking weather reports everywhere, trying to find us a safe harbor when we leave here in September. Brookings-OR, is still on the docket, but afterwards is anyone's guess. He feels bad that he can't promise me anything in regards to exciting and adventurous explorations - and I assure him that everything is fine; he's doing what he can, and all we can do is just go with the flow, and ride this time of uncertainty out, knowing that Elohim has everything under control.
Holland has done righteous by me, always looking for ways to make my Road Gypsy Dream come true.
Elohim has done righteous by me in all ways, at all times: even when I don't understand. He had never let me down. I can blindly trust him - and I do.
Yeshua does righteous by me, every Day. Regardless of the tempestuous weather … He still breathes life into my bodyso I can enjoy Life with my new husband.
I am truly blessed.
I am daily thankful.
And I am eternally grateful.
We enjoyed our mugs of warming, eye-opening joy juice that allows us to function at adulting.
Holland spent some time outside fiddling with stuff that needs to be taken care of before time runs out to take care of it. Thankfully, he wasn't out there all day long.
I really wasn't that upset to have missed today's big event - it is Shabbat, after all - a Day of Rest = the ultimate Health Day. Shabbat is a reminder that there is an alternative to being upset: there is a world of peace that comes at least once a week if we lend ourselves to it.
I enjoyed working my body 🏋️♀️ keeping "the temple" operating smoothly & efficiently, is important. Yeshua, Himself, walked all over the place on Shabbat - gritty fog may keep me from outdoor exercise, but it needn't keep me from indoor exercise; I puttered around in the kitchen preparing a meal that was more than a protein drink & ramen noodles 😊; and I even had time to fiddle around with a yarn project ✂️
Chicken-Rice Casserole & Biscuits, for Supper tonight.
MOD COCHET PLANT POT COVER Pattern; Ocean Park-WA: (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2025/07/mod-cochet-plant-pot-cover-pattern.html)
And when my tired hands couldn't summon up enough strength to move the lid even a tiny bit off the honey jar … I was thankful there was a big, brawny man 💪😊👌 in the house.
My hands were worn out from weights & busy work … I needed my man's strength; & took the ribbing 😉
My man is a good man; and some day, he'll realize what I know 😘
US~Newlyweds, January 2023; Lexington-WA
Despite the rough beginning of this marriage, we are truly thankful Elohim put us together ❤️ All things considered, I have a good husband. And Holland knows he has a good wife.
We know we're not like everybody else, and we know we have a good Life.
We're building a Home: aware that we're not like everybody else.
Two of my newer plants are still in their plastic store pots … that will be changing soon; they don't need large pots yet, but they do need colorful pot covers - so, I got busy and made this cute little crochet turquoise pot cover 😊
This pattern is very simple to work.
And, it will complement my baby spider plant, nicely 👌
Materials: 15-oz. Butter Tub, thoroughly washed & dried; Turquoise Worsted; #G aluminum hook; Tapestry needle; Scissors; Plastic Bag; Decorative trim (I used Dollar Store Dragonflies)
Terms Used:
CO = cast on
ch = chain
st = stitch
sc = single crochet
sl St = slip stitch
inc = increase 1 st
T = turn
dec = decrease 1 st
rnds = rounds
EA = each
X = number of rows to be worked
MOD COCHET PLANT POT COVER Pattern
Cover bottom ~ Row 1: With worsted & crochet hook, CO 15 sts: ch 1 & T
Row 2: Inc 1 st in the first & last sts (16 sc); ch 1 & T
Row 3: Inc 1 st in first sc, work even to last sc - inc in next sc (18 sc); ch 1 & T
Rows 4 thru 7: Sc evenly in each st across row (18 sc); ch 1 & T
Rows 8 & 9: Make 1 dec over the first 2 sc's, work even to last 2 sc's - make 1 dec over last 2 sc's; there should be 14 sc on last row worked. Ch 1 & T
Cover Sides ~ Rows 10 thru 14: Sc around the bottom base piece, increasing 1 sc in EA corner - do not ch 1 & do not turn work on either row … you will work each row now in the round; there should be 68 sc on last row worked.
Rows 15 thru 28: Work sc rows evenly, without inc's; at the end of last row, T & work 1 row of sl st along the backside of sts worked. EO
Backstitch sl sts thru back loops = BACK of work view.
Backstitch sl st = FRONT of work view.
Cut plastic bag to fit with a little overhang to tuck under pot edging as you stitch it down …
Fold overlap under & secure.
Tack dragonflies to front.
When the soil dries, I'm going to transplant this baby Spider Plant into this new pot cover - and place it atop my bathroom cabinet.
I haven't made this casserole for some time … but I've been missing it - and tonight those left-over chicken bits in the freezer from a recent chicken meal served us again, in tonight's Supper dish 👌
I liberally sprinkled paprika over the surface of this casserole before popping it into the oven, to add flavor as well as a vibrant color; I like color 😉
But Paprika, derived from dried peppers, also holds a treasure trove of health benefits in it's vibrancy: it's a good source of vitamins A and E, which support eye health and immune function. Paprika is rich in calcium, potassium, and phosphorus, all of which are important for building strong teeth, bones, and muscle. Paprika contains zinc, a mineral crucial for collagen synthesis, which can support wound healing and skin health.
Paprika also contains capsaicin, a compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, potentially aiding in pain management; and may help improve heart health by potentially lowering LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Capsaicin, found in paprika, may also have a positive impact on blood pressure and blood vessel health.
The capsaicin in paprika may have anti-obesity and appetite-suppressing properties. Studies have shown that it improves fat metabolism, especially the oxidation of abdominal fat. Capsaicin may also reduce appetite and caloric intake when incorporated as part of a healthy diet.
Other compounds in paprika called xanthophylls also show the ability to reduce abdominal fat and BMI.
Incorporating paprika into your diet may help protect your skin from UV-induced skin damage.
Chicken-Rice Casserole; with leftovers for tomorrow's lunch.
CHICKEN-RICE CASSEROLE– 6 servings (about 1 cup EA)
¼ cup Margarine, reduced-calorie * 1/3 cup Flour, all-purpose * 3/4 teaspoon Salt Substitute * 1/8 teaspoon Black Pepper * 1-1/2 cups Skim Milk * 1 cup Chicken broth * 2 cups COOKED chicken, cut into bite-size pieces * 1-1/3 cups COOKED white rice (to make 1-1/3 cups of cooked rice, you'll need approximately 1/2 cup of uncooked rice & 1 cup of water)* 1/3 cup Green Bell pepper, chopped * a drop of Almond Extract * 2 TBSP Pimento, chopped * 1/2 c. Mushroom pieces, chopped * 2 tsp. Paprika
Ingredients
1) Heat oven to 350-degrees.
2) Heat margarine in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat; stir in flour, salt & pepper and cook. Stirring constantly, until bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in milk & broth and heat to boiling – stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in remaining ingredients.
Move cooked rice off burner & to the side; melt margarine …
Whisk in the milk & broth - cook as directed.
3) Pour mixture into UNGREASED 2-quart casserole or square baking dish, 8 x 8 x 2 inches; sprinkle with paprika.
Casserole, oven ready.
RV Ovens are small things, & timing is everything: the casserole will be slipped into the oven as the biscuits are pulled & set on a cork hot mat; cover the biscuits with a kitchen towel to keep warm.
Bake UNCOVERED for 40 to 45 minutes … or until bubbly. Garnish with parsley if desired.
This casserole is not spicy - it's kinda bland; but my husband , who douses everything pretty liberally with black pepper, says this chicken casserole is "a repeat" 👩❤️💋👨
The sun put in a brief appearance yesterday afternoon, blue sky; but, this morning, the thick gray clouds are back 😕
The Day stayed in the 50's all day long; but we stayed warm and cozy, in Independence; Ocean Park-WA
Holland planning our Fall Adventure Route; I appreciate everything my husband is doing for me, & for US ❤️
I stayed tuned into my fat loss goal …
Protein 'Meal' … halved with water, between 2 bottles - and veggies for my Ramen Noodle Supper.
And I spent several afternoon hours making a crochet "rope" to thread through the leather pouch I bought the other day: I will greatly appreciate this backpack adaptation on my next exploration/picture taking walk 😉
MOD pouch 'rope' to attach to buttons on my backpack straps; easy on, easy off.
Now, it's time to relax for the next 24 hours 😁🕊️
SHABBAT SHALOM.THE BLESSING in Hebrew! HA BRACHA הברכה (Official Music Video) Jerusalem, Israel | Joshua Aaron:
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