Country Style Steak

Happy Father's Day!! =)

Oh my!
That's about the only way I can describe this dish.

• 2 lbs. cubed steak (I had close to 2½ lbs)
• flour - about a cup or so
• salt and pepper
• ½ c. oil or so
• Two 10.5-oz cans of cream of mushroom soup (I had a little more meat, so I used one 26-oz. can)
• Two cans of water (or 1 large can)

►In large pan, heat the oil on medium heat.
You can mix the salt and pepper with the flour, but I just did the pepper.  I can see it, and know about how much I put in.  =)  I didn't use a whole lot - just a little.
Salt both sides of the meat then bread both sides with the flour.
Cook on medium heat about 4-8 minutes each side, depending on how many you have in the pan and if your pan fits your burner, how hot your oil is, and how thick your steaks are.  (I cooked mine about 7-8 minutes in a large, full pan -- they were around 1/2 - 3/4 inches thick.)

These will not be tender yet, and will not be totally cooked through.

►►Cooking the meat the night before saves a lot of time in the mornings if you're going to church, etc.

►When meat is browned, place in crockpot.

►If there are any burned clumps of flour, etc, in the pan, scrape and remove those.

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►►If need to cook the night before, put the meat in another container, put a lid on your pan and put it in the fridge, then reheat in the morning.
Don't add the soups yet.  They will heat quicker at room temperature the next morning.
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►Pour can(s) of cream of mushroom soup into the pan along with the still-hot drippings from the meat.  
Add can(s) of water.  (I tend to forget this!)  Mix thoroughly with whisk and heat for a few minutes.

►Pour soup mixture over the cubed steaks in the crockpot.
Cook on high for 6 hours, or on high for 1 hour and low 9-10 hours.

Serve with mashed potatoes and biscuits.
Cut with a fork.
Yummy!


Update: 
I saw this video on facebook that showed that after browning it on both sides, you could add the soups then cook it on low in the pan, covered, for 45 min - 1 hour. 


sMiLeS,

Class Party

PARTY!!
We had Ham and Cheese Rolls, Ranch Roll-ups, home canned garlic pickles from one of the moms (and she brought me strawberry jelly -- strawberry!  My favorite!),  and homemade cupcakes from another of the moms who runs a business making yummylicious cakes!  And she left extra for my family!  And one of her daughters made homemade cookies.  And of course we had the regular chips and dip and drinks, etc.

It's been 3½ hours since lunch... and now I'm thinking about the leftovers that are for supper.  =D  Hubby will be happy too.  He loves those ham and cheese rolls.  =) =)


When we have class parties, I always invite all the family.  After all, we can't leave the littles at home!
I wanted to include them, so I figured some allowances in our Minute to Win It games.  We had 2 teens per team and one younger sibling.  They participated in the games a little, but usually ended up running around, lol.  And "helping."  =D  But it was fun anyway.  Even for the losing team, who had a wonderful "helper."  ;)  We had a great time.

The boys' team was simply The Boys.  Courtney and Ava were Team Cava, and Bethany and Sarah had to choose between Team Barah or Team Sethany.  They chose Team Sethany.  =)


I tried to name these games, but couldn't come up with anything catchy, lol.

Without touching the balls, each teen had to thread all 3 Wiffle balls onto a pipe cleaner, then drop them all into a glass.  The littles had to place a ball on a magnifying glass and "pour" it in, one at a time.  They were allowed a little assistance, esp the 4-year-old.  =)

The teen teams had to blow 4 cotton balls onto the same sticky note (Post-it), and the littles had to do 1, 2, or 3, depending on age.  They each had their separate sticky note, placed strategically away from the older kids.  ;)

 ↑The timer  ;)          

We did this game twice because the Wiffle balls kept bouncing out, but the second time we put a hand towel in the bowl.
Each team went separately on this one.

We had about 25 Wiffle balls, and even though kids were scurrying around trying to re-gather them up for the throwers, we still kept running out.  How many balls can 2 boys throw in one minute??  A LOT!
Some girls got tired of scurrying... and decided to be catchers.  ;)

Awww, little Jeremiah hugging his sister.  =)  He kinda "launched" himself into her arms, lol.  =D

And here we have one of our helpers.  ;)

We did have to keep a lookout for helpers who wanted to put the balls into the orange bowl instead of back into the clear bowl, lol.  It was kind of chaotic, but altogether a lot of fun.  =)  I guess I wasn't very clear about where to return the balls.  ;)

We actually played a few more games than these - using straws to put beans into a glass, and a relay with 8 items that had to be picked up with skewers! (littles used clothes pins), but I forgot to get out my camera!  And... those were the pics Ava would have been in!  But she had to leave early for Driver's Ed!  First day driving.  (Hang in there, Mom.)

So... go here to see Ava.  ;)  She's one of the cute ones.

No, not those goats... keep scrolling!  =) =) =)


sMiLeS,