CAMP STEW

Living in Texas, I had never heard of "Camp Stew".  Even when we moved to Alabama in the early 80's, I never heard of it.  Now in the last five years, I have had plenty.  Now, I am not saying that I don't want anymore, though.


Growing up, my mother would always make a roast on Sunday for our dinner and then on Monday, we knew that we would be getting "Homemade Vegetable Soup".  You never knew what would be in it, but it was guaranteed to be awesome.  My mother could make it in the  summer as well as the winter.
I don't make roast as much as she did, because, for some reason our youngest girls don't like it.  I really don't know what their problem is.


So now, I make camp stew and our 18 year old can not seem to get enough of it.  I decided that it was time that I share the recipe with you.  It is so easy to make.  All you need is a can opener and the required cans and I prefer a crock pot.


Recipe:
Large can of cubed potatoes
can of rotel tomatoes (I use the mild at times and also the original)
can of corn
can of Lima beans
can of Brunswick Stew (I use Castleberry)
can of barbecued pork ( now I always used Castleberries, but I have not been able to find it any more, so I began to use two cans of the large chicken breast, added a little barbecue sauce)
Worcestershire sauce

THIS IS AFTER MY CHILDREN TOOK HALF OF THE STEW.  

Open the cans, dump it all in to the crock pot or large pan and heat.  Serve with crackers and you have a great meal.

BSMB Kindle Giveaway Twitter Handles

BSMB Kindle Giveaway Twitter Handles

Reader Styles

Can You Find Yourself?

The Peeker: This reader isn’t hesitant about reading the ending well before actually getting there. Some start out reading the end, others peek ahead once they’re sufficiently worried or confused about where the story is taking them.
The Dedicated Reader will finish every book they start, even if they’re not particularly enjoying it. They want to see how the reader wraps up the story, even if they complain about how it’s done.
The Wall-Banger has such well-defined standards that when it isn’t met they not only don’t finish the book, they toss it across the room in disgust.
The Skimmer would like to finish every book, but isn’t sufficiently engaged to want to spend the time it will take for a thorough read. They skip narrative, try to read most of the dialogue, and pick up just enough to see where the plot and characters go.
The Picky Reader never spends time finishing a book she’s either not enjoying or learning from.
The Juggler reads more than one book at the same time.
The Voracious Reader: Reads so many books in such close succession that when they shop for new ones they often end up purchasing ones they already own. It isn’t until they’re a quarter of the way into the novel that they realize they’ve not only already read it, but it’s sitting on their very full bookshelf.
The Hasty Review Reader is in a contest with others to see how many reviews they can get up online, for perks and prestige.
The Cliff Note and Reader’s Digest Reader: student’s favorite, but also known to attract those with more curiosity than time.
The Snail Pace Reader savors each and every word, re-reads paragraphs just for the enjoyment of particularly lyrical or imaginative prose.
Bathroom Reader: No matter how good the book is, this is the only spot for reading.
Exercise and audio reader: these readers have been known to extend their exercise time just to find a place in the book where they can put it down or push pause.
Travel and Vacation Reader: Beach readers, airport/airplane readers. This also includes those who don’t get carsick and can read while a passenger in the car.
The Giving Reader: only reads a book once, then passes it on. See next reader style for the opposite style.
Re-Readers: They can read a book twenty times but still enjoy reading it again. Series books are sometimes re-read to refresh this reader’s memory. Or they’re just in the mood for “that kind of book”.
Series Readers are those who primarily read series books; this sometimes means the whole series must be published before purchasing and reading the first. Or they fall into the re-reader category and re-read the earlier books each time a new book is added to the series, so the books that went before are fresh in their mind.
Movie/Book Reader. This reader must read the book before seeing an upcoming movie, or else has already seen the movie but enjoyed it so much they now want to read the book for another, deeper perspective or to relive the movie.
Genre Readers are those readers who never venture outside their favorite genre. Loyal romance readers, sci-fi, mystery, etc.
The Matter-of-Fact Reader only reads non-fiction, biographies, autobiographies, or textbooks. If it didn’t actually happen, they’re not reading it. They have no desire to explore whether or not truth is stranger than fiction, because they only want the truth.
Chances are if you’ve been reading for very long you’ve practiced more than one of the reader styles listed above. I know I have! What about you?

NEW READING CHALLENGES FOR 2012

I have been browsing through a number of my blogs that I follow and I have noticed that so many of them have already started posting "Reading Challenges" for the new year.  So I decided that it was time for me to get on the same page and start looking for the ones that I wanted to be apart of.

Between now and the first of the year, I will begin to post the challenges that I feel that I can do.  I so love to read and with the house empty of children, my house stays cleaner than ever before.  So this new year, I want to place my energy toward a closer walk with the Lord and then on to my reading challenges.

BOOK CHALLENGES

#1

http://www.bookchickcity.com/2011/12/sign-up-mystery-suspense-reading.html

Challenging Details:

• Timeline: 01 Jan 2012 - 31 Dec 2012

• Rules: To read TWELVE (12) mystery & suspense novels in 2011 (12 is the minimum but you can read more if you wish!)

• You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

• You can join at anytime. All books read in 2012 count towards the challenge regardless of when you sign up.

• At the beginning of Jan 2012, you will find a link to specific month to add your reviews.

• Audiobooks do not count, but all other formats are accepted.

• At the beginning of Jan 2012, you will find a link to add your reviews.

• You don't have to have a blog to join in - for those without a blog justFILL IN THIS FORM and I will add you to the list - just join the discussion in the comments section to let us know when you've read a book and what you thought of it! :)

• You can choose from the numerous sub-genres of mystery and suspense, from cosy mysteries such as Agatha Christie to the more hard-boiled kind like V I Warshawski by Sara Paretsky, or romantic suspense written by the likes of Linda Howard, forensic crime such as those written by Kathy Reichs and even paranormal/supernatural suspense such as Kelley Armstrong. I'm sure this challenge will have something for everyone! :)

1. Shadows at the Window by Linda Hall
2. Fugitive Family by Pamela Tracy
3. Books Can be Deceiving by Jenn McKinlay
4. The Rookies Assignment by Valerie Hansen
5. Next Target by Nikki Arana
6. A Taste of Murder by Virginia Smith
7. River of Secrets by Lynette Eason
8. Keeping Her Safe by Barbara Phinney
9. The Defender's Duty by Shirlee McCoy
10. Her Only Protector by Lisa Mondell
11. No Love Lost by Lynn Bulock
12. Twin Targets by Marta Perry
13. The Guardian's Mission by Shirlee McCoy
14. Undercover Bodyguard by Shirlee McCoy
15. Private Eye Protector by Shirlee McCoy
16. The Deputy's Duty by Terri Reed
17. The Widow's Protector by Stephanie Newton
18. The Lawman's Legacy by Shirlee McCoy
19. The Detective's Secret Daughter by Rachelle McCalla
20. The Black Sheep;s Redemption by Lynette Eason

#2

http://www.babiesbooksandsigns.com/p/z-challenge-2012.html

Technical Stuff

This challenge will run from January 1st, 2012 until December 31st, 2012.

You can join anytime.

If you are blogger, leave the link to your actual post about this challenge.

If you are not a blogger, leave a link to where you will be keeping track of this challenge.

So there are two different ways you can set up your own A-Z challenge.

A - Make a list now of 26 books, picking one for each letter of the alphabet. For example: A - Atonement B- Black Beauty C - The Count of Monte Cristo D - Dances with Dragons etc.

OR
       (This is the one that I will be doing)
B - The lazy way (how I do it) : Make a list on your blog from A-Z. Throughout the year, as you go along, add the books you are reading to the list. Hope that by the end of the year you have read one book for each letter. Towards the end of the year, you can check and see which letters you are missing and find books to fit.

Each month, I will add another challenge to this main challenge. It might to read a book with both A and Z in the title or to read a book with 3 words that all start with the same letter. I might host a few random giveaways too for good measure.

So to join along....
1. Write a blog post about this challenge and whether you are going go with A or B.
2. Add the button to your blog.
3. Attach yourself to the linky.
4. Follow my blog so that you can see when I post the monthly challenge!


A.   A PLACE TO BELONG by LINDA GOODNIGHT
B.   BOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING by JENN McKINLAY
C.   (The) CHRISTMAS SINGING by CINDY WOODSMALL
D.   (The) DETECTIVE'S SECRET DAUGHTER 
                     by RACHELLE McCALLA
E.
F.   FUGITIVE FAMILY by PAMELA TRACY
G.   (The) GUARDIAN'S MISSION by SHIRLEE McCOY
H.   HER ONLY PROTECTOR by LISA MONDELLO
I.
J.
K.   KEEPING HER SAFE by BARBARA PHINNEY
L.   (The) LAST BRIDGE HOME by LINDA GOODNIGHT
M.
N.   NO LOVE LOST by LYNN BULOCK
O.
P.   PRIVATE EYE PROTECTOR by SHIRLEE McCOY
Q.
R.   RIVER OF SECRETS by LYNETTE EASON
S.    SHADOW AT THE WINDOW by LINDA HALL
T.   THE CHRISTMAS CHILD by LINDA GOODNIGHT
U.   UNERCOVER BODYGUARD by SHIRLEE McCOY
V.
W.   (The) WEDDING GARDEN by LINDA GOODNIGHT
X.
Y.
Z.

http://bffchallenge.blogspot.com/

Rules:

Challenge starts January 1, 2012 and ends December 31, 2012

1. Write a post on your blog about joining this challenge

Add links to your 5 favorite books

Don't forget to add the challenge button

2. Click on the "Sign Up" tab above and leave the link to your challenge post, not to your blog's home page.

3. Visit the other participants and choose 3-12 of their favorite books to read.

You can choose them all at once or as you go.

Add the title to your original post, making sure to link back to the person whose favorite it is.

4. As you read each book:
Post a review on your blog and leave the link in the "Reviews" tab at the top of this blog

UPDATE:

I've decided not to use the "Review" tab, it will be to confusing. Instead, each month I'll write a post with a linky to add your review links.

Giveaway - Chicken Soup For The Soul

I always like to have some inspirational books on the coffee table that I can look at when I need a pick-me-up, whether it be a photography book with beautiful landscapes or a book from the Chicken Soup For The Soul series. It is nice to be able to spend a just few minutes of my time with a book and feel like I really got something out of it. One of the latest releases from the Chicken Soup For The Soul series, Inspiration For The Young At Heart is one such book. Each story is written by a different senior and what they are experiencing during their retirement years. I think the senior years are so special. Now that my mom is semi-retired, I am trying to make sure that she gets to do all of the fun things that she never had time for before. Reading this book has really given us both some inspiration. 

101 Stories of Inspiration, Humor, and Wisdom about Life at a Certain Age

Life begins again at 60! Crossing that magic age might bring a few new wrinkles but also new experiences. This collection is full of humorous and fun adventures from those who are actively enjoying their "senior years!" Stories about new careers, volunteer work, sports and sport cars, love, family, and travels will amuse and invigorate readers.

Is there a special senior on your gift list this year? I think Inspiration For The Young At Heart would be a very thoughtful and treasured gift.  

If you are like me, I like having a book laying around that I can pick up and read just a a small story at a time.  But, I want something that will be a lift me up story.  And I have found that type of story in all of the Chicken Soup Books.  If you would like to win this one, please click on  http://www.aboutamom.com/2011/11/giveaway-chicken-soup-for-soul.html#comment-form
and enter your name.

Earthy Mama: Health & Beauty 101 Mouthwash

Earthy Mama: Health & Beauty 101 Mouthwash: Fresh out of deodorant? Dab a little mouthwash under your arms. This will kill the the bacteria that cause odor. Pour mouthwash over cuts ...

NOOK TABLET GIVEAWAY

Looking for an e-reader for yourself or perhaps for a gift this Christmas?  Then why not head on over and visit Heather at Full Price? Never!  From now, until the 7th of December you have the chance to enter the giveaway for a Nook Tablet.  Don't let the opportunity pass you by, you could be the lucky one.

http://fullpricenever.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-about-nook-giveaway-enter-today.html?showComment=1322184251465#c8489268670377194718