This year the weather is following the calendar. When it said “summer,” the heat waves hit – hot, humid, storms, etc. Looking forward to our overnight low of 61 tonight. Open the windows and let the cool air in.
It’s hay season for some farmers. Others are watching their wheat fields which will be harvested soon. I’m quite sure the work is endless during these summer days, not just for the farmer but his entire family.
With that on my mind this week, I thought I would share a recipe that is fairly easy to throw together in the morning and eat it for suppertime. Or make ahead for a camping trip and reheat for a meal. Only the basic ingredients are needed which makes this recipe a keeper. Give it a try on one of your extra busy days.
Hobo Meatball Stew
1 lb. ground beef
1 1/2 tsp. salt, divided
1/2 tsp. pepper, divided
4 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
4 medium carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
1 large onion, cut into chunks
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 tsp. vinegar
1/2 tsp. dried basil
Combine gr. beef, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper in bowl. Mix well. Shape into 1 inch balls. Brown meatballs on each side in a skillet.
Place potatoes, carrot, and onion in a slow cooker; top with meatballs.
Combine ketchup, water, vinegar, basil, and remaining salt and pepper in a bowl. Pour over meatballs. Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours or until the vegetables are tender.
Yield: 4 servings
On a side note, I’ve done this in my electric pressure cooker which cooks quickly. Or I’m sure this dish could be baked in the oven. But if you’re like me, the oven is rarely used on hot, summer days.
Enjoy!
Gail loves the Lord most of all. She delights in her calling to be a wife to Ed Malick and a mother to seven children ages 26 to 42 and grandmother of nineteen. Ed is sixth generation on the homestead family farm in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan.
Seeds of Hope
“I may not always be right,” he said as though he believed it, “but I’m never wrong. Never!” Impressive, right?
We sat there wondering if he truly knew what he was saying — was he convincing himself, or trying to intimidate us? Either way, we all saw the folly in his words.
There are many like him who believe they are incapable of being wrong. They reject advice, double down on their decisions, and become stubborn. Solomon’s wisdom speaks directly to this attitude:
“The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.”
Those who refuse counsel are on a path to self-destruction, blind to their own sin, their need for a Savior and the judgment that awaits. Their worldview is distorted.
The wise, however, listen — even when correction is uncomfortable or embarrassing — because they understand it’s for their good. They seek the guidance of spiritually mature, loving and wise elders in Christ before making decisions.
Prayer: Lord, break the hardness of our hearts when we think we “know it all.” Lead us to those who are spiritually mature, love You deeply and are biblically wise. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Today’s Scripture: “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.”
Proverbs 12:15
This article originally appeared on Farmers Advance: Bon appétit: A tasty meal to make your summer days even better
Reporting by Gail Malick / Farmers Advance
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
