Runza Recipe

My grandmother used to put me in a step stool so I could cook with her. One of our go to recipes was Runzas. Yummy dough filled with ground beef and cabbage…. Perfectly seasoned with salt and pepper. 

Even as a little girl I could eat a whole Runza myself. I would dip it in ketchup. 

You will need the following ingredients:

• 1 package of active dry yeast
• 4 cups of all-purpose white flour
• 1 lb ground beef or turkey
• 2 eggs
  
• 1/4 cup margarine or butter
• About 3 cups of shredded cabbage
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup very warm water
• Dash of salt/salt alternative and ground pepper (in the cabbage mixture)

Start by proofing the yeast in the warm water with the sugar. 

Next, add the eggs and butter. Mix together gently to combine.  

Add the white flour and mix well. You may need a bit more water, depending on your room's humidity. 

The dough should be soft but still firm.

Lightly flour your countertop or cutting board, and knead the dough.  This is important as it helps activate the gluten in the flour. 

Place the kneaded dough in a large bowl, put it in a warm draft-free space, and cover with a towel for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The dough should nearly double in size. 

While the dough is rising: Brown ground beef or ground turkey in a skillet. Add the shredded cabbage and cook them together until the cabbage starts to soften. 

Roll out the risen dough on a clean, floured countertop. You want the dough fairly thin, but not so thin that it tears. It needs to be thick enough to fold and tuck. 

Take a piece of the flattened dough and spoon some of the meat/cabbage mixture into half of it. Fold the other side over and seal the edges closed. You can make them round or loaf-shaped.  You should get about 8 Runzas from the dough and filling. 

Make sure the seams are pinched tightly, and then place the runzas on an ungreased baking pan. 

Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, until the runzas are golden brown on the tops and edges. 

Enjoy the Runzas right out of the oven--- but beware, they will be hot!  

Some people like to eat them with ketchup or ranch dressing. 

***If you want to add some extra fun inside the Runzas, add some shredded jack or cheddar cheese when you add the ground beef/turkey. Mushrooms are also delicious inside. You add chopped onions to the cabbage mixture, which is traditionally done, but I am not a fan of cooked onions.  

Good Morning Routines

Early mornings set the stage for success.  Even when my son was young, a low-stress morning routine helped us ease into a smooth and productive day. Now that we're all adults heading off in different directions, these simple habits keep us grounded.

Three simple things. 

First, drink a glass of water. I won’t cite scientific journals, but that first glass helps wake up your digestive system and soothes a dry throat after a night's sleep. 

Second, open the windows. 

My grandma opened the windows on the hottest and coldest days of the year. She believed we needed fresh air, even if it was just for a few minutes. She always said that if you only open one window, make sure it’s in the bedroom --- and do it before making the bed. I still do this. I still follow her advice.  It feels wonderful to stand by the window and feel the fresh air coming in, knowing the stale air from the previous day is on its way out. 

The final task is to make the bed. 

When my son was little and wanted to help me, I told him that the best way he could contribute was by making his own bed. He would lay his blanket flat on his toddler bed and carefully smooth it out. As he grew older, I showed him how to straighten the layers of the sheet and quilt. It wasn’t always perfect, but it always made his room look tidier.  

Every morning, I pull back the sheets and blankets to let the bed breathe. About ten minutes later, I make the bed. Now, whenever I want to rest my eyes, lose myself in a good book, or play a brain game on my tablet, I find peace in my bedroom. Even if the rest of the house is a mess, I know my bed is a calm, tidy place to retreat to. 

Three small tasks that will help start a good day.

There is one more thing I haven't listed as a task: give your family a good-morning hug, greet them with a smile, or send someone you love a cheerful good-morning text message. 

Welcome

It has been a while since I blogged. In the lapse, I tried Instagram, but it was not my Wonderland. 

When my son was little, I blogged almost every day. It was my opportunity to interact with adults and share glimpses into our simple life...and stay in touch with family. 

I am back!!  

My re-launch will be domestic life. Cooking, cleaning tricks, and home decor. 

I am currently doing a self-study into interior design. It is great to keep my brain active, and I am finally honoring an old commitment to myself to study interior design.

This blog will also be a place to share with you the lessons my grandmother taught me when I was young. I could get into trouble very easily, making a walking path in the living room with my grandmother's treasured music books or drawing on my face with permanent markers.

My grandmother bought me a little broom, dustpan, and made me a "mini-me" apron.  

I accompanied her daily, offering assistance with household chores, cooking, and gardening.

It wasn’t until a few years ago, while reading old books on Project Gutenberg, that I stumbled upon two books that appeared strangely familiar. They detailed the training I had received from my grandmother,  home routines, and cleaning schedules. While not identical, the structure was remarkably similar. 

My grandmother’s daily routine didn’t adhere to the conventional 1950s housewife schedule, but it did have a distinct rhythm. 

I’ll gradually share her routines with you, and I’ll also share the recipes she taught me. 

You might be thinking that routines from the 1920s, 1950s, or even the 1980s don’t align with the fast-paced life we lead today. A few simple routines and planning ahead can actually slow things down and alleviate some of the franticness. 

Come back and see how my old home economics training can help you relax, reduce stress, and make life run more smoothly.