Fifty-Nifty Recipes....Save room for dessert...

New Mexico...a state full of flavor!  A little trivia...State trivia...vegetable? Chile and pinto beans.  Bird?  Roadrunner.  Insect?  Tarantula hawk wasp....

Burritos

A burrito is a staple of this state.  A flour tortilla wrapped or folded around a filling. Try a breakfast burrito sometime.  Scramble eggs, add cooked sausage, bacon, cheese, hashbrowns.  Just add your favorite breakfast items.

Burrito Recipe:

1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried leaf oregano, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
1 can (10 ounces) enchilada sauce, divided
6 (8-inch) flour tortillas
shredded lettuce
garnishes...for your taste
Directions:
1. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef, onion, and garlic until meat is browned, stirring often to break up meat.
2. Drain well.
3. Add chili powder, oregano, salt, and pepper; simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Add refried beans and 1/2 cup of enchilada sauce. Heat thoroughly.
5. Warm tortillas in microwave.
 6. Spoon about 1/2 cup of the ground beef mixture onto each tortilla; roll tightly and place seam-side down on serving platter lined with shredded lettuce.
7. Spoon remaining enchilada sauce over tortillas and garnish.
8. Can be served with any of the following: shredded cheese, sliced ripe olives, black olives, chopped tomatoes, chopped onion, sour cream or guacamole, and more shredded lettuce.
Yield: 6 burritos.

Sopaipillas

Sopaipillas are an incredibly light, puffy bread. To eat, tear them open and spread with honey. They must be eaten immediately while steaming hot!  Alittle time consuming, but worth it.  I first had these at a Mexican restaurant....always a favorite of mine!

Sopaipillas Recipe:

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons lard* or vegetable shortening
1/2 cup lukewarm water
shortening or oil for frying
Directions:
1. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. Work the lard and water in to make a soft dough. Cover and leave in refrigerator until chilled.
3. Roll out to 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface, then cut into 3-inch squares or similar-sized triangles (about a 4 1/2-inch square, cut diagonally).
4. Deep fry a few at a time at 400F degrees until light golden brown, turning once.
5. Drain on paper towels.
6. Sprinkle with powder sugar or open and spread with honey.
*Using lard in the recipe, and frying with shortening rather than oil will make the sopaipillas lighter and is traditional.

Thanks for visiting with us!  See you next time in another state....

Fifty-Nifty Recipes...Washington

Let's make a stop in Washington....God has blessed us with a beautiful country.  I caught myself saying (again)...what scenery!
Crab cakes are on the menu of Washington's Space Needle.

I will be honest ....I really have no desire to go UP....something about that....well, I would probably take pictures...but, no, my feet will stay firmly on the ground....These crab cakes sound yummy!

<>

Crab Cakes

Ingredients:	1 pound of crab meat- drained 1/4 cup fine diced white onion 1/4 cup fine diced bell pepper 1/4 cup fine diced celery 1/4 cup mayonnaise 2 beaten eggs 1 Tbsp. fresh chopped parsley 1 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. of dry mustard 3 cups of bread crumbs 1 Tbsp. butter
Directions:	1- Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours. 2- Form medium-size patties, 3-1/2 across and 1/2" thick 3- Melt butter over medium heat in a frying pan, add patties and cook until lightly brown. 4- Top with sour cream or tarter sauce. Can place tarter sauce or sour cream on table so that guest can help themselves. Serve hot. So, if the Space Needle is not for me...I found a place that I could spend for a very long time...Pike Place Market.  Looks like they have a lot of fun things in this market. With the holiday season approaching...My mind starts turning with new ideas...By the way, Pinterest is so much fun!  Be careful because you can spend a lot more time on there than you intend.  I am coming up with some cool holiday ideas. (Sorry, that was a rabbit trail...)  Anyway, after Thanksgiving dinner and the football games are still on...make an already special day an extra special day!  Make an outside tree for your birds and squirrels.  ~Spread peanut butter on a pine cone and then roll them in birdseed.  Attach a pipe cleaner as a hanger. ~String cranberries and popcorn. ~Tie stale doughnuts to a tree with pipe cleaners. Put all of this on a bush or tree. Have fun watching God's creatures enjoy your gift to them. Enjoy your family! Thanks for stopping by!

Fifty Nifty Recipes...Louisiana

Home sweet home....this is where I was born...and grew up here.  Home of the LSU Tigers, pork rinds that are made fresh and bought from a roadside stand....tall, beautiful trees, and paper mills....I grew up learning how to drive behind  logging trucks.  They always looked like they were hauling way too much...scary thought when following them.  Never forget the day my dad told me to, "Pass the truck..." 

 I grew up in the northern part of the state.  It is very different from the southern part of the state...the people often speak and eat differently there, swamps and alligators sun bathe on your sidewalks...well, they have been known to do that!

I lived in the country with horses, dogs, cats....if it sleeted...everything had to shut down.  We would put chains on our tires when it was that slippery (a rare occassion).  Small community with one intersection and railroad tracks....Both my grandmothers lived a couple hours away.  Every summer my sister and I would spend a week at each house!  Quiet life?  Yes...it was wonderful.  Do I want to move back?  No.. I would not be able to handle the humidity.  It is a beautiful state and holds a lot of memories for me.

The first recipe is my Cheater Chicken and Dumplin's.  I now use the recipe that my grandmother used.  I still have her recipe that she cut out of the newspaper!

1 chicken

2 pkg flour tortillas

salt and pepper

Yep, that's all you need.  Boil your chicken, salt and pepper the water.  Remove chicken when done.  Debone and cut into bite sized pieces.  Add enough water to the broth to make nine cups.  Salt and pepper to taste (I like ours on the peppery side).  Bring your broth to a boil.  Cut tortillas into 1/2 x 1 inch pieces.  Drop them into the boiling broth, stirring only enough to separate pieces.  Reduce heat to lowand cook about 15 minutes.Remove from fire.  Fold in the chicken.  Cover and let set about 10 minutes before serving.

There are so many recipes that I would love to share with you from my home state.  Whether you are from the northern or southern part of the state...so many flavors to enjoy!  It was a great place to grow up....

Fifty-Nifty Recipes... Rest Area....yes, again!

I think you are right...seemed like we just had a rest stop.  Well, today was just too pretty to research a state inside....the colors are really looking pretty here.  It will get even more colorful.  Today I grabbed the camera...time for some fresh air and sunshine.  Today we will just sit on my front porch and listened to the crickets and birds...and the sound of college football through the open window.

Several deer have come right up to the back of our house.  The deer seem to like to watch us...watch them!

Across from our house...our Internet is being extremely stubborn right now...I have more pictures to share, but I guess they will have to wait.  It would have to be the picture showing off some beautiful colors!

Here is a favorite site of mine...so many good recipes!
"http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=109224"  Gooseberry has a lot of cobblers, crumbles, etc. for you to browse through when you have time.  Enjoy your day, your family, and your football! 

A few years ago  I came across a list of things to pray for your children...I have used it since that time.  Pray for your children...about everything.  Does it take time?  Yeah, but they are worth it, right?  Example...when they are five, do they need a husband then?  No, but I pray for their spouses.  Still do...it is so important.  You don't need a name....you can fill in the blanks later....There are things they need now though.  Take the time for prayer!

1. Pray for their salvation.  John 3:16
2.  Pray for their "growth in grace".  2 Peter 3:18
3.  Love.  I want them to live a life of love..  Ephesians 5:2  Lots of verses....makes a good Bible study!
4.  Honesty and integrity.  Psalm 25:21

I will do more next time!

Thanks for stopping by!

Fifty-Nifty Recipes....Oklahoma!

More than 400 miles of Route 66 are in Oklahoma.  Loaded with things to do for the family.  Museums, water parks, farms, shopping...If my family were traveling on Route 66 we would probably stop by a Route 66 museum...for the history, stop by some local gift shops...I would like to get some pictures of a couple of ranches.  One website told there are some ostrich ranches...and some dude ranches.  We would have to take a break at some point to eat at a diner on Route 66.  Found several in my researching, but could not find a pic for you.

Oklahoma actually has a state menu:  fried okra, squash, cornbread, bbq pork, biscuits, sausage and gravy, corn, chicken fried steak, pecan pie, black eyed peas...and last, but not least...strawberries and watermelon!

Here are a couple of recipes I found:

Chicken Enchilada Dip

3 cooked, boneless chicken breast halves, shredded

2 (8 ounce) packages light cream cheese, softened

4 green onions, chopped

1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilie peppers

1 tsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. chopped cilantro

1 T. chili powder

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. paprika

In a bowl, mix the shredded chicken, light cream cheese, green onions, diced tomatoes with green chilie peppers, garlic and cilantro. Season with chili powder, cumin, oregano and paprika. Cover and chill at least 2 hours.

Kickin' Cornbread

2 pouches (6.5 ounces each) Betty Crocker cornbread and muffin mix

1/4 cup butter or margarine

2 eggs

1 can (14.75 ounces) cream style corn

1 can (4.5 ounces) chopped green chilies, undrained

Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Spray 9" square pan with cooking spray.   Mix ingredients until moistened...the batter will be lumpy.  Spread batter in pan.  Bake about 30 minutes or until golden brown.  Let stand 5 minutes before slicing.

See you soon! 

Fifty-Nifty Recipes...The table is set for a special occassion!

My daughter wanted to pick the state today.  Washington D.C....hmmmm, but what about?  Presidents...and their favorite foods.

Ronald Reagan loved jelly beans; licorice being his favorite.  Three and a half tons of jelly beans were shipped to the White House for the 1981 Inaugural celebration.  The blueberry jelly bean was invented so that there would be red, white, and blue jelly beans at the festivities.

Ulysses S. Grant enjoyed cucumbers soaked in vinegar.  Um, for breakfast.  Franklin Roosevelt liked grilled cheese.  James A. Garfield liked a hot bowl of squirrel soup....confession, I have actually had squirrel dumplin's, so I guess I better not judge him too quickly.  Here is one...Woodrow Wilson would have 2 raw eggs in grape juice for breakfast!  There are a lot of "normal" favorites out there also (besides the grilled cheese).  James Madison enjoyed a meal of ham, rolls, apple pie, and cider.  A common breakfast among the presidents were pancakes, toast, and/or eggs...and lots of coffee!

FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT'S BIRTHDAY CAKE
1 cup Butter Or margarine
1-1/2 cup Sugar
3 Eggs, well beaten
1 cup Cold black coffee
2 cups Flour
1/2 cup Cocoa
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
1 teaspoon Baking soda
1 tablespoon Vinegar
Cream butter and add sugar, a little at a time. Cream well; add eggs. Sift flour, salt, soda and cocoa together 3 times. Add coffee with flour mixture to batter, alternating. Then add vinegar and vanilla. Bake in 9-inch layer pan 20 to 35 minutes in 350 degrees oven or in loaf pan about 30 to 40 minutes in 350 degrees oven.

Our table is set...Here is a family idea...On President's Day (in February) celebrate by having "presidential favorites."  Breakfast, lunch, and dinner...whatever works for your family schedule...but make it a special day.  Remember the things that these men have done for our country...and pray for those in leadership now.  Thanks for stopping by today.  One more recipe to consider....Have a great day!

Laura Bush's Potato Soup 6 cups left over mashed potatoes 2 tbsp. butter or margarine 1 medium onion, diced 1/2 lb. of bacon, diced, cooked and drained well 1 large red pepper, diced 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated 1/2 cup chives, minced 4 tbsp. sour cream approximately 2-3 cups of whipping cream, half and half or milk Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

In a large soup pot, saute onions and red pepper  over medium heat in 2 tablespoons butter until onions are clear. Add bacon, potatoes and whipping cream to desired consistency. Skim milk or chicken stock may be used to reduce calories. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with a garnish of a dollop of sour cream,  grated cheese and chives.

Fifty-Nifty Recipes...Freedom and Unity

"Freedom and Unity" is the motto for the Green Mountain State...or Vermont.  About three-fourths of Vermont is forest!  Must be beautiful this time of year.  Did you know that Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream gives their ice cream waste to the local farmers to feed their hogs?  Did you know that the hogs seem to like all the flavors except mint oreo...?  Just one of those fun facts!

Since Vermont has the largest production of maple syrup in the country, I searched for a few maple recipes.  The baked squash and maple syrup recipe is delicious.  I had it at a church potluck....I remember a mom trying to convince her small son to try a bite...He decided it looked like pumpkin mashed potatoes...He ended up having a second helping of "Pumpkin Potatoes" because he liked them so much...

<><>

<>Vermont Maple Float

• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1 scoop vanilla ice cream

Directions

1. Pour milk into tall glass, stir in maple syrup. Mix well, and top with a scoop of ice cream.                 

Ingredients 3 1/2 pounds butternut squash 1/4 cup butter 1/2 cup diced onion 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 cup chicken stock 1/3 cup real maple syrup Directions Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place squash halves, cut side up, on large baking sheet. bake until very tender, about 50 minutes. Remove from oven and cool slightly. Using large spoon, scoop out squash flesh and transfer to large bowl. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add chopped onion and ground nutmeg and saute until onion is tender and light brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer to bowl with squash. Add chicken broth and maple syrup. Puree mixture in batches in processor until smooth. Season squash puree with salt and pepper. Return puree to same saucepan. Stir puree over medium heat until heated through. Transfer to bowl and serve.  **I found theses recipes at www.allrecipes.com

<><><> <><><> <><><>

Fifty-Nifty Recipes... Home of...Don't miss this one!

This state is the home of cotton candy, Mountain Dew, the MoonPie, the first tow truck...miniature golf...the first self-serve grocery store, The Piggly-Wiggly.  Davy Crockett was born here...home of the Titans...Presidents?  No.  No presidents were born in this state, but several claim it as their state.   Cracker Barrel started here....this is where I like to enjoy chicken and dumplins' and turnip greens!  Whether the kids (ages 19,18, 16) are with my husband or not...the old-fashioned candy sticks are a must.  They still request their favorite flavors!

Fort Donelson is also here....  www.nps.gov/fdnc/      Years ago we visited this fort.  Well worth your time if you are in....TENNESSEE!!

I found a recipe for Hillbilly Caviar...

2 (15oz) cans black beans, rinsed

1 (17oz) can whole kernel corn, drained

2 large tomatoes,chopped

1 large avocado, diced

1/2 red onion, chopped

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Dressing:

1 Tablespoon vinegar

3-4 Tablespoons lime juice

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Combine all ingredients. Cover and chill. Serve with tortilla chips. Serves 24.

A few years ago I found a copy cat recipe for Cracker Barrel's Hashbrown casserole....it has become a family favorite.

Cracker Barrel's Hash Browns Casserole - Copycat Recipe - Food.com - 15242

I hope you enjoyed our visit in Tennessee. 

See you next time...in another state!

Check out my new FB page...still under construction, but would love to have you visit me there!

Fifty-Nifty Recipes....Idaho

Idaho's state fruit is the huckleberry.  According to my reading, this fruit is hard to find.  I did find several recipes using huckleberries.  Pancakes, muffins, and cobblers-all of which stated that blueberries could be substituted.  Sounds like the growing process is tricky...

  

Huckleberry Muffins

Read Reviews

By: Laura

“Huckleberries are a hard-to-find, delicious treat and finding recipes that use them can be even harder. I came up with this recipe as a variation of my favorite blueberry muffin recipe and they truly are delicious! If you can't find huckleberries, blueberries work well.”

Idaho is also known for potatoes.  There are so many ways to cook them...how can I possibly pick one recipe?

Potato Stamp Craft
http://www.pauladeen.com/article_view/potato_stamp_craft/

www.whyweloveidaho.com   has a lot of info on what to do if you are in Idaho.  The fall picture is gorgeous...of course, I might be partial to it because fall is my favorite season.

Hope you all have a wonderful day...I am in search for pumpkins and maybe some mums for my porch...Starting to see them, but looking for just the right price!

See you soon...

Fifty-Nifty Recipes....Giant Fiberglass Pineapple

We will continue our tour...making a stop in Maryland.  Maryland looks absolutely beautiful!  The above picture is of Baltimore's Inner Harbor.  I read that there is plenty of shopping, eating, and a very cool aquarium.  If the city is not for you then you could visit Susquehanna State Park (pictured below).  Hike, camp, or you could take a picnic lunch and enjoy the scenery!

Lots of  Maryland recipes involved lobster, clams, crab...I decided on a crab dip.  This would also be a good recipe for those football parties!

Crab Dip

Ingredients

• 11 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 5 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 (6 ounce) cans crab meat, drained and flaked
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 (1 pound) loaf round, crusty Italian bread

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, onion, mayonnaise, crab meat, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Spread mixture into a 1 quart baking dish.
3. Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven. While the dip is baking, cut a circle in the top of the bread, and scoop out the inside to create a bread bowl. Tear the removed bread into pieces for dipping.
4. Remove baked crab dip from the oven, and stir well. Spoon the mixture into the hollowed out loaf. Place bread bowl and chunks of bread on a medium baking sheet, and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Serve hot.      

         

Curious about what kind of house Edgar Allen Poe lived in or his graves?  Yes, that was graves...plural.  What about seeing a giant fiberglass pineapple or a tiny church...10x12 feet?  Then there is always the story of the three lead coffins....Maryland has it all and more!

 A few years ago my family took a vacation west.  Knowing we were going to have an extremely long drive, I searched for unique stops along the way... Google Roadside America...it provided several memories.  Most of the time they were small stops so we could take some pictures and stretch our legs....but it was fun.  Check out the site to see what might be in your area.

Thanks for stopping by!

Fifty-Nifty...The Carolinas

Dear Sweet Tea and a Rocking Chair,

I would like to share a little local place for SC. It is actually just a little more than a roadside stand on steroids. It is called Windy Hill Orchard (www.windyhillorchard.com). It is the only cider press in the area, and is full of charm. Family run, they specialize in tours for preschool & up led by Johnny Appleseed (with a Christian emphasis). It is great!! Also one of the greatest things about living in the Carolinas is that a trip to the ocean or to the mountains is only a day trip!!

Have a great day,

Valerie

I asked my college friend Valerie to help out with the Carolinas.  She has lived in both states...so she is just the right person to give us a taste of her part of America.  These recipes sound delicious.

SOUTH CAROLINA--BANANA PUDDING

Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. corn starch
3 eggs, separated
1 can evaporated milk + enough regular milk to make 2 cups
1 tsp. vanilla
3 ripe bananas (more or less depending on size)
Vanilla wafers
6 Tbsp. sugar
1/8 tsp. Cream of Tartar

Directions:
Cover the bottom and sides of a 2 quart casserole dish with vanilla wafers; cover the wafers with a layer of banana slices (be sure you have enough banana left to cover the top of the filling).

In a heavy sauce pan, mix together the sugar and corn starch. Add egg yolks and milk. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low and continue to stir for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the vanilla. Pour into prepared casserole dish, cover with a layer of bananas, and set aside.

In medium mixing bowl, add the 3 reserved egg whites, 6 Tbsp. sugar and Cream of Tartar. Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form. Cover the pudding with the prepared meringue and place in the oven (350 degrees) until top is golden brown. Allow to fully cool before serving. Refrigerate any leftovers.

NORTH CAROLINA--SWEET POTATO BISCUITS

(As far as the biscuit recipe goes, I don't have one. It took me 20 years to finally make a decent buttermilk biscuit. A friend shared her secret with me, and I swear by it. It has never failed me. I use Southern Biscuit Formula L Restaurant Style Biscuit Mix. I don't even follow the recipe on the bag. I just pour some of the mix into a bowl and add buttermilk. Roll out, cut, place, and bake at 425 for 20 min.)

Southerners love their sweet potato casseroles! Some love the marshmallow topping, and some love the brown sugar/pecan crunchy topping. For this recipe, the leftovers of either kind will do, just remove the topping. You will need at least a cup of the filling, depending on how many biscuits you want to make.

To make sweet potato biscuits (an Eastern North Carolina classic), combine your dry ingredients in a bowl, then add your sweet potato filling and mix-your dough should be a pale orange. Add your liquids, being careful to not add too much--you won't need as much due to the potato filling.

Prepare and bake your biscuits as you normally would. Serve hot out of the oven. My husband likes his with lots of real butter, but honey butter or cinnamon butter are both fantastic as well! Any leftovers can be tightly wrapped and frozen for another time.

 Thought I would put a personal interest on these states.  My love of lighthouses!  I have a collection of them...Valerie, I have a replica of the one that is pictured first. It really makes my family smile when I speak of visiting lighthouses...then I tell them I just want to see them, not go UP in them.  I am terrified of heights!

www.lighthousefriends.com  is a website that I found that has a list of all the states that have lighthouses.  Lots of pictures and some history (hmmm....highlighted to catch my husband's attention...CIVIL WAR HISTORY ON THE SECOND LIGHTHOUSE PICTURED!!!)

Bodie Island, North Carolina

Morris Island, South Carolina

Have a great day and thank you for visiting!

Fifty-Nifty Recipes...Pit Stop...Rest Area?

I don't know about you...but I am physically tired today.  So, we are taking a pit stop...or if you want we can stop at a rest area.  It is whatever you need today.  Difference?  When I think about a pit stop I think of a fast boost...people helping you to get back "on the road" quickly.  Rest area is slower...quieter.... Both are needed in our lives....I am going to go for the rest area today.  Let's pause from our recipe tour...

Here is our house.  I think of it as my retreat.  Always wanted to live in a log cabin...never thought I would!  The Lord surprised me with this one...

 So thankful for my front porch...helps provide the quiet times that I sometimes need.  It's fun with my family, too....oh, and I must not forget my friends that come to visit...let's see, raccoon, opposum, chipmunks, wild turkey (yes, really)....we have also had a goat visit us.

 Here is my sunset....God is so good!

  One of my favorite Bible verses...

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Isaiah40:31

I will leave you with a simple rest area...or pit stop lunch idea.  When we go on trips we will make wraps (using tortillas) instead of sandwiches.  I do not have to worry about my bread getting crammed between luggage or getting sat on.  Some like just a cream cheese spread with chopped veggies and meat.  Another kind of wrap spread is a mayo salsa mixture and your choice of veggies and meat.  We have even tried a peanut butter and jelly wrap (not a favorite).  Chicken strips are good in them also.  Have some fresh fruit on hand..and some cookies.  You are set to go.  Just remember to keep it simple.  It will give you more time with your family...giving you the time you need also!

Have a wonderful day....thanks for taking a break with me!

Fifty- Nifty Recipes....Wisconsin

The next state on our America recipe tour is Wisconsin.  This is where Maranatha Baptist Bible College is located.  Janet's husband teaches and coaches the Crusaders.  I'm sure that Janet and her husband stay busy....and love what they do!   The history of this college is pretty amazing (www.mbbc.edu/college). 
Janet's family enjoys Wisconsin Cheese Soup  (www.allrecipes.com).  With the weather turning cooler... and a busy schedule this soup sounds wonderful.

Wisconsin Cheese Soup

Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons margarine
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 5 button mushrooms, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped ham
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 4 cups milk
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
• 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• salt to taste
• ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a large heavy kettle, melt butter or margarine. Add carrots, celery, onion, green pepper, mushrooms, and ham; cook over medium heat until vegetables are crisp tender, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not brown.
2. Stir in flour and cornstarch; cook, stirring constantly, about 3 minutes. Add broth and cook, stirring, until slightly thickened. Add milk, paprika, cayenne, and mustard.
3. Stir in cheese gradually, stirring until cheese is melted. To avoid curdling, do not allow soup to boil after cheese is added. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve piping hot.

For dessert we should treat our hosts to a trip to Upper Krust....want a Fudge Pecan Pie, or a Peachy Caramel Crumb Pie....Dutch Apple?  Old Fashioned Custard?  Janet says their pies are very good....too many decisions...but it would be fun trying to decide!

Thanks, Janet, for sharing part of your Wisconsin with us.  I am going to leave a jar of caramel apple jam as a thank you.  Enjoy!
Go to www.tipjunkie.com/jar-homemade-gifts/ to see 48 gift jar ideas...The caramel apple jam recipe is on this site.  Ever thought of baking a pie or cake in a jar...then gifting it?  Learn how here...lots of other fun ideas at this site also!

See you soon!

Fifty-Nifty States... Fall in New Hampshire

 Introducing the Belknap Mill.  Built in 1823 and is the oldest unaltered brick textile mill.  It was also one of the first mills to convert from weaving to knitting during the Civil War.  It is now called the "Official Meetinghouse of New Hampshire."

 New Hampshire also hosts a pumpkin festival each year.  I was pleasantly surprised when I ran across two recipes that I had forgotten about.  At church Harvest party these two recipes were shared...delicious and easy to make.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread

• 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Beat all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours. Makes 1-1/2 cups

This was served with a platter of mini bagels and a variety of breads.

Pumpkin Honey Butter

• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1/2 cup honey 3 tablespoons canned pure pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1. Place the butter in a mixing bowl, and whip on high speed with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 1 minute.
2. In another bowl, stir together the honey, pumpkin, and pumpkin pie spice until well mixed. Add the honey mixture to the butter, and whip on high with the electric mixer until the mixture is fluffy and smooth, about 1 more minute. Chill the pumpkin butter for several hours or overnight to blend the flavors.

This can be served on pancakes, toast, biscuits...

How to Carve a Pumpkin to Make a Pumpkin Soup Bowl

I thought this idea was cute...not a big fan of pumpkin soup, but I did like the sound of a stew or salad served from it.


One more picture for today...this is Blow Me Down Bridge in Cornish, NH.



Happy Fall, Y'all!

Fifty-Nifty Recipes....LOTS of Water!

I will never forget the first time that I saw part of the Great Lakes..in person.  Not in magazines or books.  Absolutely beautiful!  I had heard them described as "breath-taking"...um, yeah. right.  Seriously, they are breath-taking.  The below picture is of Lake Superior in Minnesota.

My friend Amie, from Minnesota, said her family enjoys the Mississippi River Headwaters.  Before leaving for the park we should help her get dinner in the crockpot (recipe below).  Dinner should be done when we get back...let's put on our hiking boots...or walking shoes and head to Itasca State Park (www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/itasca/i ).  Looks like there are a lot of trails, camping sites...cabins for the less adventuresome-meaning me.  There are more than 100 lakes...and you will be able to say that you walked across the Mississippi River!

Thanks, Amie, for sharing a bit of Minnesota with us!

Here is her recipe...

Minnesota Wild Rice Soup
Yield: 4-6 servings

3/4 cup wild rice, uncooked
7-10 slices crumbled cooked bacon and/or chopped cooked chicken
1 can mushrooms, drained
4 chicken flavored bouillon cubes
2 tablespoons butter
1 can cream of mushroom soup
4 cups water

Add 1 cup half and half the last hour of cooking; okay to add at the beginning too. Optional: 1 cup corn, 2 sliced carrots, onion powder

Dump all in crock pot and cook on HIGH for 4 hours. Serve with bread and salad for a complete meal.  Amie says this has become a family favorite.

 

Before we leave Minnesota we should get our picture taken with Paul Bunyan in Bemidji, MN.  A website told me that they actually dress Paul in sweaters and hats during the winter... Must be a challenge considering the Minnesota winters and that he is 18 feet tall and weighs 2.5 tons. 

Thanks for visiting!

Fifty-Nifty Recipes..."And they're off!"

We continue our tour with a stop in...Kentucky!

My daughter has always loved horses.  She loved to play house, but she also spent many hours playing house with her toy horses...she had collections, she had a horse birthday, complete with a horse cake...read any book having to do with a horse..getting the picture?  Last year we watched Secretariat...she wore a hat in honor of the Derby.  My boys do not understand how we can watch all the "pre-Derby" stuff....then the race is over in a blink of an eye.

I think this year we will have a Kentucky Derby party...Everyone will wear a hat and bring a dish to pass!  A friend of my husband's passed this recipe  to my husband when she learned of my daughter's love of horses and the Derby.

 Kentucky Hot Browns...

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

3 cups milk

6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

1 egg, beaten

2 tablespoons heavy cream

salt and pepper to taste

2 pounds sliced roasted turkey

1 tomato, thinly sliced

8 slices white bread, toasted

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

8 slices crispy bacon

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour with a whisk or fork, and continue to cook and stir until it begins to brown slightly. Gradually whisk in the milk so that no lumps form, then bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Mix in 6 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and then stir in the beaten egg to thicken. Do not allow the sauce to boil once the egg has been mixed in. Remove from the heat and stir in the cream.
2. Preheat the oven's broiler. For each hot brown, place two slices of toast into the bottom of an individual sized casserole dish. Cover with a liberal amount of roasted turkey and tomato slices. Spoon sauce over the top of each one and sprinkle with some of the remaining Parmesan cheese.
3. Place the dishes under the broiler and cook until the top is speckled brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from the broiler and arrange two slices of bacon in a cross shape on top of each sandwich. Serve immediately.   

 The Lord has given us a beautiful log cabin to live in...what a blessing!  An added benefit?  Our friends here have horses that we get to enjoy!  God is so good to us.

             See you again soon!

Fifty-Nifty Recipes...Aloha!

Welcome to Hawaii!  Land of sunshine, tropical breezes, palm trees, ocean sounds, the Brady Bunch...really?  the Brady Bunch?  I don't know why, but when I think of Hawaii, I am reminded of the time the Brady Bunch went to Hawaii...several episodes long....must have really made an impression on me...

Island Style Fish Tacos
Serves 8

1 lb Fresh Fish in 2 oz strips
Olive Oil
Fresh herbs, garlic, salt & pepper (marinate fish in this for 1 hour before grilling)
Flour tortillas

Salsa:
Combine or blend the following 1 hour before serving:
1 Large Ripe Tomato, Finely Diced
¼ Round Onion, Diced
1 T Cilantro, Minced
1 Large Clove Of Garlic, Crushed
½ Green Bell Pepper, Minced
Lemon Juice
Salt & Pepper

Creamy Garlic Dressing:
Combine until creamy:
1 Pt Buttermilk
1 Pt Mayonnaise
10 Cloves Peeled Garlic
¼ C Parsley, Minced
1 Medium Onion, Diced
1 T Mustard
Salt & Pepper

To assemble:
Grill strips of fresh fish until medium done, reserve.
Warm tortillas. Place a bed of lettuce or cabbage on tortilla. Top with grilled fish, creamy garlic dressing and salsa.

Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Sorry.  Could not resist...remember "pork chops and applesauce"?  I found the recipe for you!

Brady Bunch Pork Chops Recipe - Food.com - 73062

An extraordinary day...For the brave at heart...  Give each child a jar to decorate the home for his new resident.  Have him decorate it inside and out.  The resident...well, go on a bug search!  When everyone has a bug resident make the proper introductions..Now for the "Ugly Bug" contest...see who wins...award a crown....And the winner is....

Speaking of winners.  Don't forget our prize give away!  It is simple- look on the right side of the blog for the followers section..."follow this site"...  Set up a google account (just your email and create a password),  and you are set!

Have a wonderful day!

Fifty-Nifty Recipes...Mississippi

Did you all ever "eat" mud cakes/pies from your children?  My youngest daughter loved making them for my husband and I.  She especially enjoyed Daddy's look of pure happiness as he gobbled up her treats.  I'll admit it..he was definitely a lot more fun in that area than I was!  I think I will have that look of "pure happiness" as I gobble up the following treat....

My friend, Leah, shares a Mississippi Mud Cake with us.  Sounds delicious!

Mississippi Mud Cake

www.foodnetwork.com

Food Network invites you to try this Mississippi Mud Cake recipe from Paula Deen.

I asked Leah for some trivia or points of interest in Mississippi.  Elvis was born there...never knew that.  Well, Leah and I are not a big Elvis followers, but I did look up his childhood home.  What a humble beginning!  Then Graceland....

Leah said it best,"...what a far cry it is from the wealth he found and the misery it brought him later."

Another fun and educational thing to do in Mississippi is the Vicksburg National Military Park...a battlefield and a museum.

www.nps.gov/vick/index.htm

Make it an extraordinary day....

Looking for something fun to do with your kids....?  Something that will cost only one penny?  I have done this with my students when I taught in a Christian school. 

Flip a penny.  Heads means turn right, and tails turns left. Start at the door.  Choose someone to flip the coin.  BUT  before the first coin toss...decide the rules.  Such as how far between coin tosses, or will everyone get three tosses,etc....decide the rules before starting the trip.  When you get home share a snack, draw a picture about the trip, just enjoy being together.  Such a simple idea...but a lot of fun!

Don't forget the prize give away mentioned in the previous post on the blog.  It is entitled "First time for..."

Thanks for stopping by...

Fifty-Nifty Recipes...An ice cold glass of Coke...

 My husband collects Coca-Cola  things..He has signs, replicas, antiques.  Our master bathroom is even decorated with Coca-Cola.  He has several antique bottles with the Coke still in it.  One is very interesting.  Ladies, remember the foam type rollers?  This bottle has the roller rod still floating in the Coke.  Pretty cool!  If we are ever in the Atlanta, Georgia area we plan on visiting the museum (www.worldofcoca-cola.com).  

To go along with the theme and the state of Georgia, let's have some of Cracker Barrel's Coca-Cola Cake.  This gets a five-star rating!  It is a chocolate lover's "dream come true."  Hop on over to a cool site I frequent often...full of copy cat recipes in order to find this wonderful chocolate cake!  www.copycat-recipes.net

Thanks for visiting...

A thought to leave with you today.

"Be somebody you would be proud to know."

Fifty-Nifty Recipes...Ohio?

 The reason for the question mark in the title?  I am no longer going in order for our state tour...at least for now...We are skipping on over to OHIO!  Last year my husband surprised me with a trip to this Bed and Breakfast in West Salem, Ohio.  I was feeling a little down having just dropped my oldest daughter off at college....a get away was a good idea!

 We had this whole house to ourselves...in this quiet little town...um...no internet, no cable....

 The house was huge!  We got the key...and we were on our own...  It was truly a relaxing time.

The trip had to include dinner at Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen (www.mrsyoderskitchen.com).

Such wonderful home-cooked food!

A recipe that I am including in this post is Amish Wedding Cake.  My husband enjoys this at the restaurant.  It is time consuming...so plan ahead!

Amish Wedding Steak

Ingredients:
2 lbs. ground beef
2 c. soda cracker crumbs
2 c. milk
1 sm. onion, chopped
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 soup can of water
1 can mushrooms (may also use fresh)

Directions:
Mix meat, crumbs, ,milk, onion and spices together. Pat down firmly in cake pan in square cake pan let set overnight. Cut into serving size squares, roll in flour, and brown on both sides (in margarine or butter) Set in baking dish and cover with mixture of soup, water and mushrooms. Bake at 350 for 90 minutes.

I found this recipe...does not look difficult or expensive, but you will need to plan ahead.

I love visiting this area of Ohio.  It has always been so peaceful, and the Amish people are so friendly.

Thanks for visiting Ohio with us!