St. Patrick's Day is Almost Here!

Last Sunday we had our St. Patrick's Day dinner.  My Irish husband will be out of town on St. Patrick's Day this year so we celebrated early this year with a new Irish recipe.  It was delicious!  We will definitely do this again...

         

          1 (3 pound) corned beef brisket with spice packet

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 medium head cabbage, cored and sliced thin
• spicy brown mustard
• 12 slices sourdough bread, lightly toasted

Directions

1. Place corned beef in large pot or Dutch oven and cover with water. Add the spice packet that came with the corned beef. Cover pot and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer approximately 50 minutes per pound until tender. Remove meat and let rest 15 minutes. Slice meat across the grain.
2. Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper in small bowl. Place the shredded cabbage in a large bowl and pour the dressing over it; toss to coat the cabbage with the dressing.
3. Spread a layer of mustard on 6 slices of toasted bread. Place some shredded cabbage and corned beef on each slice and top with remaining slices of bread.       

I found this on www.allrecipes.com .  This is one of my favorite websites! 

  My daughter and I did this one last night.  Pizza Bites! We ate them right out of the oven... served with a pizza sauce.  These will definitely be put on next month's menu.  Go on over to www.annies-eats.com for her Pizza Bites recipe.  They were so easy to make...small piece of cheese and pepperoni wrapped in pizza dough...yum!  There are many good recipes on this site also.

Remember Dippin' Dots...."The Ice Cream of the Future"?  All you need is yogurt (1/2 cup will make a lot), spoon or small icing tip and bag.  Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper and drop the yogurt from a small spoon or the icing bag.  Put the dots in the freezer...When set....enjoy!  You will have to watch them, though.  They melt quickly!  I am not a big fan of yogurt, but I really enjoyed this home made treat.

http://familyfun.go.com/st-patricks-day/st-patricks-day-crafts/to-catch-a-leprechaun-710897/

         Why did I not think of this when my kids were younger??  The idea of catching a leprechaun is so much fun!  Family Fun has some cute ideas to celebrate the day with your children.  Build those memories and traditions!

Thanks for stopping by and visiting with me today.  The weather today is beautiful!  I think this calls for a cup of coffee and my swing on the front porch.  I'll take some time to start planning my flower beds.  Enjoy your day!



Researching with my cup of coffee....

I try to spend some time each week looking for new recipes.  So here I sit with my coffee searching for new recipes.  I have collected recipe books for years....I still love them, but more and more I find myself using my computer.  More and more I also find myself telling my girls,"You can find the recipe for that on my computer."  I found this yummy sounding recipe that will probably make its way to next month's menu!  Stuffed pizza rolls!  She also has a good recipe for ham sliders.

Stuffed Pizza Rolls | The Girl Who Ate Everything

Let's continue a little more on the virtues that we can pray for our children....I am working ahead because I am planning on an overnight trip with my girls this weekend.  Looking forward to a lot of giggling and and some one on one time with them.  My girls are awesome!

#17  Joy  1 Thes. 1:6  My prayer is that my children will be filled with the joy that the Lord gives...not of the world.

#18  Perseverance  Heb. 12:1  Run the race...  Have you ever read the definition of this?  Wow!  Such an important virtue for our children to grasp!

#19  Humility  Titus 3:2

#20  Compassion  Col. 3:12

#21  Responsibility  Gal. 6:5

Keep praying for your children...even when it seems your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling and walls.  Remember that God makes all things beautiful in  HIS time!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend~

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...Alaska

Most of the salmon, crab, halibut, and herring that we get to enjoy comes from Alaska.  Did you know that during the Klondike Gold Rush the staple most traded for gold was not fish?  It was potatoes!  And, no, the Eskimo Pie did not originate in Alaska....It originated in Iowa.

Caribou Stew

• 1 1/2 pounds caribou, cut into cubes (or any game meat)
• water to cover
• 2 cups cubed potatoes
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
• 3 large cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 carrots, scrubbed and chopped
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice

            Place the caribou in a 12-quart stockpot with enough water to cover by 2 inches; add the potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, carrots, onion, bay leaf, and crushed red pepper. Season with salt and pepper, and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the rice and reduce heat to medium-low. Continue cooking until the rice is tender, about 40 minutes. Remove bay leaf to serve.    

Crab Rangoon           

• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 (6 ounce) can crabmeat, drained and flaked
• 2 green onions with tops, thinly sliced
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon light soy sauce
• 48 wonton wrappers

      Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F.   Lightly spray baking sheet with non-stick spray.  Combine garlic, cream cheese, crab, green onions, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce in a bowl. To prevent wonton skins from drying, prepare only 1 or 2 rangoon at a time.  Place 1 teaspoon of filling onto the center of each wonton skin. Moisten the edges with water and fold the wonton skin diagonally to  baking sheet and lightly spray with cooking spray.   Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.  These can also be deep fried.               

I know! I know!  Crab Rangoon is not an Alaskan favorite, but I did use crab...couldn't resist that one!

Have a great night, and God bless you!

       

Nutritional Information

Crab Rangoon

Servings Per Recipe: 8
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 261

• Total Fat: 10.8g
• Cholesterol: 54mg
• Sodium: 461mg
• Total Carbs: 29.2g
• Dietary Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 11.2g

VIEW DETAILED NUTRITION
About: Nutrition Info

 

 

Pizza Dip

I came across this recipe tonight when looking through some things. Sounds like a fun treat or a light supper idea! I also want come up with something new to serve for the fourth of July.

The first recipe is for Pizza Dippers.

8 oz. ricotta cheese

1 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup Parmesan

1 tsp.Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp.garlic powder

1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Your favorite chopped pizza toppings, such as tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, pepperoni...

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl, then stir in one cup of the mozzarella cheese. Mix well. Spoon the mixture into 6 small oven-proof bowls, then sprinkle each one with the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese. Place the bowls on a cookie sheet and bake until the dips are heated through and the tops are lightly browned, about 20-25 minutes. Garnish each with with the chopped pizza toppings. Serve warm with bread sticks, crackers, or pita chips.

Royal Wedding "Snack"

Did you get up to watch the royal wedding? I was up at 4 a.m. and watched it from beginning to end! I started my day with hot tea and toast. I also had a pot of coffee going! I have been trying to think of an English recipe that I make that I could share with you....besides toast or scones. Do finger sandwiches count? Here a couple of recipes using cream cheese....

Cucumber Sandwiches

Block of cream cheese, softened

Dab of milk

Garlic, to taste

Cucumber, thinly sliced

Mix all ingredients. Spread on bread-I have used the "little" bread found in the deli section or regular bread cut with cookie cutters to desired size and shape. Top with a cucumber slice.

Pineapple Sandwiches

1 lb. cream cheese

1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained

Mix and spread as the above recipe. This makes about 50 sandwiches.

Enjoy!

Sausage Balls

This appetizer has been a favorite around here for years. As we have eaten these the past several times we would wonder.... How would a sausage or country gravy taste with these?....Just a thought. I never seem to have gravy on hand to try! Let me know if you like gravy with them.

Sausage Balls

1 pound bulk sausage

2 cups Bisquick

8 oz. shredded cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl (it is easiest to use your hands). Shape into small balls and bake for 20 minutes.

On a side note today, I would like to remind you to pray for those in Alabama who have lost so much. My mom was blessed enough to be just fine through all of this. So many I am hearing of who have lost homes and possessions.

It is sunny here...I plan on enjoying this sunshine!

Phillip's Salsa

Recently I came across a salsa recipe, and my son decided to help me. He ended up changing the recipe...."We need more of this" and "What about...?" It was SO good! One problem- I did not write down how we did it. We made it again this afternoon and this time I wrote down what we did. This recipe does make a lot of salsa...Don't forget your chips!

Phillip's Salsa

1 can corn, drained

2 large cans Ro-tel tomatoes, not drained

4 regular size cans petite diced tomatoes, not drained

1 can black olives, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 green pepper,chopped

cilantro, to taste

garlic, to taste

1 bottle zesty Italian dressing

juice from 2 limes

Mix all ingredients and refrigerate several hours/ overnight.

Enjoy your salsa!

Sausage Cups

My daughters attended a Sunday School class that had the girls bring a treat each Sunday. It was fun rotating the names and looking forward to seeing and tasting what their friends would bring.

Our girls enjoyed making sausage cups. The Won Ton wrappers were a different twist to traditional breakfast ideas.

Sausage Cups

1 lb. bulk sausage

1 pkg. Won Ton Wrappers

1 cup Monterey jack cheese, shredded

1 cup cheddar cheese

1/2 cup Ranch dressing

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook sausage over medium heat until lightly browned. Drain. Spray mini muffin tins and insert Won Ton wrappers to form a small cup. Bake 5 minutes in a preheated oven. Allow wrappers to cool. Mix sausage, cheeses, and Ranch dressing together. Fill Won Ton wrappers. Bake 10 minutes until bubbly.

St.Patrick's Day Craft and Recipe

The kids and I made this jar for my mother-in-law several years ago. Very cute! You will need:

Glass jar

Green glass pebbles

Glass glue

green glass paint

paintbrush (You can get glass paint in marker form)

Step 1:

Glue green pebbles in clusters of 3 to create shamrocks. Leave about 1 inch diagonally between each cluster. Let dry 30 minutes. I did one side at a time. After the first side dried I did the other side.

Step 2:

Use the glass paint to add the stems to the shamrocks. Let dry overnight.

Potato Skins

I am not sure why I do not make this more often. The family always loves it when I do. Once again, this is a simple one!

4 baked potatoes, quartered

1/4 cup sour cream

1 packet (1 oz) ranch dressing & seasoning packet

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

sliced green onion and/or bacon pieces

Scoop potato out of skins; combine potatoes with sour cream and seasoning. Fill skins with mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Garnish with green onions and/or bacon, if desired.