Are you a biking enthusiast? Podcast with Bike Dearborn Founder & Lead Biker, Tracy Besek

Posted on May 10, 2023 by Jean Roman

Join me today as Founder & Lead Biker for Bike Dearborn, Tracy Besek & I chat it up about biking safety, advocacy, and being a part of this great group!

This month’s focus has been on local food, and healthy life choices. I tend to focus a lot on farmers markets, but obviously there are so many other ways to invest in healthy life choices, exercise being another obvious one!

My guest today and I met almost ten years ago during my tenure in Dearborn with both the DDA and the Chamber of Commerce. We collaborated together with the city’s farmers market I managed… OK, yep I’m going to tie in the farmers market again, LOL.

So now I’d like to introduce you to Tracy Besek, Founder & Ride Leader for Bike Dearborn!

Some of the awards Tracy has received include:

2016 Beaumont’s Healthy Community Champion Award
2018 Advocate of the Year from the League of Michigan Bicyclists. I’ve since become an active board member and co-chair of the DEI Committee.
2018 Sierra Club of Southeastern Michigan Green Cruiser of the Year.
2022 Received Certificate of Appreciation from County Commissioner Sam Baydoun for promoting healthy living in Dearborn

Watch this episode at my YouTube Channel!

If you don’t have to watch it, LISTEN HERE!

Bike Dearborn Socials:

https://bikedearborn.com/news/ our blog
https://www.facebook.com/bikedearborn
facebook.com/groups/bikedearborn –join the biking discussions here and the most up to date information about our events.
https://www.instagram.com/bike.dearborn/
If you’d like to contact me directly, you can email me at bikedearborn@gmail.com

Join Jean each week as she chats it up about gardening, cooking, organizational tips & tricks, chatting about healthy lifestyles, and of course having conversations with incredible entrepreneurs!

Jump on over to my Podcast & SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss an episode!

If you enjoyed this blog , please LIKE, Follow, Share & leave me a comment! I love your feedback!

If you aren’t following me on Facebook & Instagram, go on over & give a LIKE & Follow me for daily tips & tricks for your home & garden!

Happy Day,

Jean

Copyright Policy

All text and images on this site are copyright of For Dragonflies And Me. Unless otherwise noted, you may not use this content.

Where do you find inspiration?

Posted on April 9, 2023 by Jean Roman

Are you following me on my Instagram page yet? Well friends I post fun recipe and gardening reels there I don’t share anywhere else. I do regular live posts of where I’m going and what I’m doing.

Be sure to FOLLOW me there so you don’t miss out on anything! See you there friends, and be sure to say hi!

Click each of the photo’s to see the topic!

plate of pasta with tomato sauce on dark table, top view

If you enjoyed this blog, please LIKE, Follow, Share & leave me a comment! I love your feedback!

If you aren’t following me on Facebook & Instagram go on over & give a LIKE & Follow me for daily tips & tricks for your home & garden!

For Dragonflies And Me

Weekly tips & tricks for your garden and home!

Read all posts ↓

Added bonus: You can go to my blog at http://www.fordragonfliesandme.com to purchase my original cookbook, Lovingly Seasoned Eats and Treats in either a spiral bound soft cover OR NEW, a Downloadable PDF version. The cookbook has almost 1000 recipes on almost 500 pages! Check out the Cookbook Testimonials while you’re there!

Until next time remember to,
Eat fresh, shop local & have a happy day,

Jean

Copyright Policy

All text and images on this site are copyright of For Dragonflies And Me. Unless otherwise noted, you may not use this content.

Have you checked out my NEW YouTube Channel yet?

Posted on March 8, 2023 by Jean Roman

Jean is trying to grow her Subscriber base there, so please stop over and join her as she shares incredible content only found there! Don’t miss out friends! SUBSCRIBE HERE!

Jean Roman is a mother of six, published author, Podcaster, YouTuber, organic gardener, organizational guru, and influencer. A self-professed master gardener with over twenty years experience, she loves to write and teach about her passion and knowledge in organic gardening, the local food movement, food preparation & preservation.

Jean spent fifteen years as a Mennonite where she co-authored her cookbook, Lovingly Seasoned Eats and Treats. Selling over twenty-thousand copies throughout the US & Canada, the book is cherished by many. Roman recently started her Podcast, sister to her blog. In addition to chatting about her beloved topics including gardening, cooking, & organization she shares topics including healthy lifestyles & entrepreneurship. Jean brings experts in these fields and shares a combined knowledge with her listeners.

The NEW sister, her YouTube channel is filled with great content including recipes, easy & fun how-to projects, gardening tutorials all only seen there! You can also listen to all of her Podcasts there!

Thanks in advance friends,
Until next time remember to eat fresh, shop local, and have a happy day!
Jean

Thanksgiving Day Menu, Here are my favorite recipes!

Posted on November 16, 2022 by Jean Roman

“Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.”
~Henry Van Dyke

The majestic colors of rust, scarlet and turmeric change the scenery as autumn’s coolness triggers the giants to slow down and lapse into their winter slumber. Their summer green changes into something more rich, but also something that will soon be lost. As death is sure, they begin their decent gliding down to blanket the ground in a beauty all too exquisite. When the boys were little, as quickly as they were raked into piles, they would run, jumping into them laughing as they tussled about in that lovely crunching sound made under their weight.

Autumn is a time for food! As the holidays quickly approach we begin preparing for that special feast, Thanksgiving dinner.

Each of us brings traditions, especially where the holiday menus are concerned. When the word Thanksgiving starts ringing around our home, it seems to evoke this happy, warm, fuzzy kinda feeling… ya know?

As you get to know me here and at For Dragonflies And Me, you’ll read much about my family in the kitchen.

From seed-time to harvest, food is a part of all of our lives and I believe we should enjoy it to the fullest! I am never happier than when my boys come in from the cold and I hear these precious words.., “Oooohhhhh, mom, that smells so good!

For Dragonflies And Me

*All recipes are taken from my cookbook, “For Lovingly Seasoned Eats and Treats”. For Lots more yummy recipes you can order my cookbook HERE

Here’s our family’s traditional Thanksgiving Day Dinner Menu

Our Favorite Recipes

Grandma’s Famous Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients:
1 large head cabbage- about 6-8 pounds
1 ½ pound ground beef, raw
2 cups raw white rice
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 quarts tomato juice
Salt & Pepper
2 bay leaves
½ tsp. salt

Pro Tip:

This recipe is not in my cookbook, but you can find my Cabbage Roll Casserole recipe. That’s what I make when I feel lazy!)

Here is the link to that recipe blog Cabbage Roll Casserole https://wordpress.com/post/fordragonfliesandme.com/3090

1.Fill a large pot ¾ ways full with water, add ½ tsp. salt.

2.Take cabbage and carefully cut out the stem and cut into the cabbage to make it so the leaves will remove easily, but not to fall apart.

3.Place cabbage in a pot with stem end up facing you; turn heat on high and bring to a boil; once boiling turn down to medium. Cover and cook for about ½ hour to 45 minutes- till cabbage is cooked but not mushy.

4.While cabbage is cooking, combine all meat, rice, onion and 1 quart of tomato juice; mix until evenly distributed. Place aside until cabbage is ready.

5.Remove cabbage from the pot and place it in a sink of cold water. Taking one leaf at a time, cut out the center rib about 1/3 way up if necessary, being careful not to rip the leaf. Place ¼ cup of meat and rice mixture into the center of the leaf. Carefully roll up once and then fold each side in and then roll up one last time. Place in a roaster edge side down.

6. Sprinkle salt & pepper over each layer of roll and then pour enough tomato juice over to cover; repeat until the next layer is done making sure the rolls are covered with tomato juice. Tuck in the two bay leaves.

7.Cover and bake for 2 hours at 325 degrees.

Real Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:

1- 9” deep dish unbaked pie crust
1 cup pumpkin
1 egg yolk
2/3 cup sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
½ tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 ½ Tbsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. vanilla
1 ½ cup milk
1 egg white, stiffly beaten

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a blender, combine all ingredients, except egg white, and blend until smooth and creamy.

3. Pour into pie crust; add stiffly beaten egg white, folding in very carefully with spatula into pie. Small lumps are fine.

4. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes; lower to 350 degrees and bake for 35 to 45 minutes.

Test for doneness with a toothpick to check the center for dryness. I use actual pumpkin that I can, so if you like a stronger flavor, this is a great recipe!

Cranberry Mousse, pg. 64

1- 6 oz. pkg. strawberry flavored gelatin
1 cup boiling water
1- 16 oz. can whole berry cranberry sauce
1- 20 oz. can crushed pineapple, undrained, juice separated and reserved
3 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. lemon peel
2 cups sour cream
½ cup chopped walnuts (optional) – but so good with!

Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Add pineapple juice to gelatin. Stir in cranberries, lemon juice and lemon peel. Chill until thickened but not totally set- about 1-2 hours. Fold in sour cream, pineapple and nuts. Chill until set.

Vegetable Dressing, pg. 197

1- 1# loaf, day old bread
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup diced, cooked potatoes
1 cup diced, cooked carrots
1 cup dice, uncooked celery
½ cup fresh parsley
¼ tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
4 eggs, slightly beaten
2 cups milk

Break bread into cubes and mix with butter. Add milk to eggs. Combine all ingredients and mix well. Pour into a well-greased 2 quart baking dish or stuff in the bird, any excess putting around the base of the bird. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 ½ hours if in a baking dish or until the bird is fully cooked. If using a bowl, stir several times while baking.

Did you think I forgot the main dish? We always get a farm raised turkey from a local farmer at the farmers market (now that I don’t raise my own).

Roasted Turkey
Preheat to 325 degrees.
1. Remove turkey from any packaging and remove giblets from the cavity.

2. Spray your roaster with non-stick butter flavored spray; Place turkey in an electric roaster or in a large roasting pan.

3. If you are stuffing the turkey, now is the time to do so- pack stuffing into the cavity of the turkey until it is almost full.

4. Spray turkey with non-stick butter flavored spray; sprinkle whatever seasonings you enjoy over the turkey. I use some Seasoned Garlic Salt, a bit of salt & pepper.
You can also use a poultry rub with great results!

Pro Tip: How long do you cook my turkey?

For 10- to 12-pound turkey, roast 3¼ hours to 3½ hours.
For 12- to 14-pound turkey, roast 3½ to 4 hours.
For 14- to 18-pound turkey, roast 4 to 4¼ hours.
For 18- to 20-pound turkey, roast 4¼ to 4¾ hours.

If you enjoyed this blog & bonus recipes, please LIKE, Follow & of course Share! Let me know what you think, I love your feedback!

Added bonus tip: To find recipes like the ones you’ll find in my posts, you can go to my blog at www.fordragonfliesandme.com to purchase my original cookbook, Lovingly Seasoned Eats and Treats. The cookbook has almost 1000 recipes on almost 500 pages! Check out the Cookbook Testimonials while you’re there!

If you aren’t following me on Facebook go on over & give it a like & follow me for daily tips & tricks for the home and garden! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100049613212778

Happy Day,
Jean

Copyright Policy

All text and images on this site are copyright of For Dragonflies And Me. Unless otherwise noted, you may not use this content without written permission.

Sister’s Day: How-to host a fun day of activities with your friends and family

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Jean Roman

“What’s a Sisters Day?” you’re all wondering. Well, quite simply it’s when you and a group of friends or relatives plan a day to be together doing something you all enjoy. It can also be geared toward helping one another get specific ‘big jobs’ done that would otherwise be difficult to do alone.

Today we had an apple themed sisters day! This has been a prime year for fruit in Michigan and apples are absolutely abounding. Last week we picked fifteen bushels off our tree! What a yield. I made more apple sauce, my apple pie filling and with the rest of it we’ll do apple cider… and what goes better with fresh pressed apple cider than doughnuts? I’d say nothing!

So today I thought I’d share some ideas on how you can host a fun day of activities with your friends and family. Here are some Sisters Day activities, planning/organization tips and group ideas.

Activities can include but are certainly not limited to:
*Spring or Fall house cleaning
*Spring yard prep or Fall yard clean up
*Garden planting
*Harvest day- potatoes, pumpkins/ winter squash, etc.
*Sewing/ mending
*Comforter knotting/ quilting
*Card making
*Scrap booking
*Canning and preserving
*Cookie exchange
*Dinner/meal swap
*Crafty day

Basic planning/ organization of the day:
*We go in the order of the ages for our group of ladies; oldest to youngest.
*The day is typically planned at the ‘sister’s’ house whose turn it is.
*The sisters whose turn it is chooses the activities/themes for her day.
*The lady whose turn it is plans for the next one in line.
*Everyone brings a dish to pass for lunch. You can plan the menu and give everyone a designated dish or let it be a surprise pot luck.
*The sisters whose turn it is typically provides all the throw away lunch plates, cups and silverware.
*Each person brings an assigned dish for the sisters whose turn it is supper meal. This makes it nice for her, because after having a house full of company, who feels like cooking supper for the family? 😉
*I like to include a guest book for each person to sign when it’s at my house. I write the date and what the theme was. I have each sister sign her name and what she brought for lunch and my supper.
*Depending how many are in your group will determine how often you want to get together. You can choose monthly, bi-monthly or bi-weekly.

Who to include in your group:
*Your family members; sister’s &/or cousins you are especially fond of 🙂 mom, mother and sister in-laws, grandma and special aunts too.
*Coworkers Is there a group in your work place that you enjoy spending time?
*Groups that you affiliate with- M.O.P.’s, homeschooling, Bible study group, Brownies or Girl Scouts, Master Gardeners, etc.
I’m sure you can think of several other groups you may have fun with!