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!



Recipes, recipes, recipes....

The weekend was wonderful!  Our couple got to spend a lot of time together.  The banquet was absolutely incredible..well, that's what I heard as we whispered about it after the lights were turned off.  I am so thankful for the time spent with Eugene.

So the courtship continues....

On a side note.  Awhile back I took a look at Pinterest....funny, but I seemed to find so many excuses to get on the computer and "happened" to check out Pinterest...again and again.  I quickly filled my house with more ideas than is humanly possible...and more recipes than I could imagine.  I am relieved to report that I am actually trying the recipes!  I thought I would share a few of them with you...

coca cola cake

http://www.mayflaum.com/

home made crunchwrap supreme

http://www.fullbelliesmakehappykids.wordpress.com/

crab rangoon dip

http://www.recklessabandoncook.com/

lasagna soup

http://www.thedeenbros.com/

mini snickers caramel cheesecakes

http://www.sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com/

It really has been fun trying these recipes (all have been hits with the family).  Several more new recipes have found their way to next month's menu.  Speaking of next month's menu...the menu is only half way done and I don't have much time before shopping day....shopping for the whole month is not always easy, but it works for us.  Guess that means I need to get busy!

Thank you so much for stopping by to visit.  I hope you have a great week.

Don't forget to give your family a hug!

While in the Castle

See the tall towers of the castle?  That is where my husband has put our daughters...far away from the chance of any knight in shining armor finding them.  Just kidding.  They are in the castle, though, preparing for that day when they will join their knights.  Jerry Ross has an excellent book called Stay in the Castle  (http://www.stayinthecastle.com/). Highly suggested... My husband and I were talking about what to do while staying in the castle.  So...my daughter is writing again (yay).  I am really looking forward to reading what she has to say about keeping busy while in the castle.

So, whether you are courting or not you can be preparing for your future.  Cooking, cleaning, sewing, and organization are very important things to know.  If you already can do all of that...wonderful!  Preparations go deeper than that. 

In my reading I have found that one of the dangers in a relationship is that danger of..."It's in the bag...I am in a relationship...no more work...no more worries..."

WRONG!  It is time to work even harder!

Are you walking with Christ?

Are you a blessing? 

Are you the kind of helpmeet your knight needs?

Are you a better person because of your knight?

Are you actively working on improving yourself?

Are you working on your relationships with your family?

Eric and Leslie Ludy, When God Writes Your Love Story, says this about family..."If you discard those oddballs in your life called family, you will have thrown away your own private training ground for a divine romance.  If you don't learn now to be like Christ in the way you treat "them" in your life, it will be that much more difficult to treat your "them of the future" with the dignity and love they desperately need."

Challenge for today...take those preparations to a higher level.  Maybe do a word study in the Bible....See what God says about being faithful, trustworthy... the list goes on!

Now....

I know....I shifted gears on you....welcome to my husband's world.  I am ALWAYS doing this to him.  In less than two weeks we are taking Sara Rose to see Eugene.  They will be going to the college's Valentine Banquet and we will be able to spend some time with him.  Very exciting days around here!  My menu is planned...We try to save money by making some of our own food while on trips. 

I found this recipe on Pinterest ( http://www.chef-in-training.com/). I think we will give it a try!

Cafe Rio Chicken

2 lbs. chicken

1/2 bottle zesty Italian chicken
1/2 tbl garlic
1 pkg dry ranch seasoning mixed with 1/2 c water
1/2 tbl chili powder
1/2 tbl.cumin

Put in crock pot for 5-6 hours (high) or about 8 (low).  When done shred chicken...put on tortilla shells...I will probably add some taco toppings!

My next post I will have a little bit more about the trip, the food...and of course, the big event!

Thanks for stopping by!

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~

We counted our blessings...

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.  We watched our parades, ate too much, watched football, listened to some Christmas music...but my favorite time of the day was when we read about our blessings.  Our "Thankful Jar" was overflowing!  We passed it around during dinner and had a lot of smiles and laughter.  How rewarding!  I am truly blessed.

I actually did some Black Friday shopping...that was an experience...

I found myself "switching gears" early this morning...menu, shopping, more decorating....SLOW DOWN!!  The Lord and I had a talk about that this morning.  Well, He did the talking and I did the listening....So today will be my down day.  I am so thankful that I am able to do this!  With my slow day I think I will take the time to plan out my month and monthly menu..it always looks so good on paper.  I will also leave you some SLOW cooker recipes.

Might try this one this month....

Carolina BBQ
6 pounds pork shoulder
1 bay leaf

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

4 cups water

1 cup vinegar

1/3 cup white sugar

3 tablespoons ketchup

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1 clove garlic, pressed

Directions

Place pork shoulder, bay leaf, red pepper and water in large pot with lid. Bring to boil. Simmer covered 4 to 5 hours until meat is tender. Let meat cool in broth. Remove excess fat from broth and shred meat. Take 3 cups of liquid and bring to boil. Combine liquid with vinegar, sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and garlic. Add shredded pork and salt. Heat through uncovered.               

OR....maybe this one!

Shredded beef...with veggies...wrapped in a tortilla....yum!

Beef Barbacoa

3 pounds boneless beef chuck roast

1 onion, chopped

3 bay leaves

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste

2 tablespoons garlic powder

1/4 cup distilled white vinegar

1 (14 ounce) can tomato sauce

1/4 cup chili powder

salt to taste

Directions

1. Place the roast, onion, bay leaves, black pepper, garlic powder, and vinegar in slow cooker; cover ingredients completely with water. Cover and cook on High setting until meat is very tender and falling apart, about 4 hours.
2. Remove meat from slow cooker and discard liquids. Return meat to slow cooker; shred with fork and knife. Stir tomato sauce, chili powder, and salt into the shredded meat. Cover the cooker, and cook meat and sauce on High for an additional 2 hours.               

I might try this one....

Sweet and Sour Kielbasa
2 pounds kielbasa sausage, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 (12 ounce) bottle tomato-based chili sauce (such as Heinz®)

1 (12 ounce) jar red currant jelly

1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 cup water

Directions

               Stir the sausage slices, chili sauce, red currant jelly, red pepper flakes, and water together in a slow cooker, cover, and set the cooker to Low. Cook at least 4 hours, stirring once every hour.

All theses recipes were found over at www.allrecipes.com.  LOVE that site!
I hope you all have a wonderful day~Thanks for stopping by!

               

Cheesy Bacon Fries in a Flash...

Ever found yourself feeling like you are going in circles?  Lately I feel like I am in one of those revolving doors....and I am not sure of how to get out of it...Things here are HECTIC!  Not complaining though (well, maybe a little).  I am thankful for my busy-ness....

The other day my husband suggested that we have our Cheesy Bacon Fries for...???  I can't even remember what he wanted them for...but they sure sound good.  Guess I need to find out what he was thinking!  These are very easy and don't take long to do.  Maybe after a long day of Black Friday shopping...pop in the fries and watch a Christmas movie!?  Here you go...

Easy Cheesy Bacon Fries

32 oz. bag of french fries

1 cup shredded cheese

1/4 cup cooked crumbled bacon

(or you could cheat with good bacon bits)

1/2 cup chopped green onions, optional

ranch salad dressing

Cook your fries according to the package directions.  Place fries on a safe broiler dish or platter.  Sprinkle with cheese, onion, and bacon.  Broil until cheese is melted.  The ranch makes an awesome dip for the cheesy fries.

Stuck in that revolving door with me?  I also know that the Lord is in the door with us...except he is not frazzled like I tend to get lately.  He shows me how to slow down the door...or get out for a while.  Enjoy some quiet time with Him.  For me...frazzled means that I need some quiet time with the Lord.  Holidays are coming up!  Pace yourself and watch your priorities. What is really important? 

Thanks for stopping by!



Sunday Dinner & Counting My Blessings!

I want to share what we had for Sunday dinner together....I love experimenting on my family!

 Today's dinner...

Chicken Fajitas

2 boxes mexican rice (Go ahead and make these according to the directions)

4 large chicken breasts....Cut in bite size pieces and cook.  Season with garlic and chili powder.

Add sliced green peppers and onion (We used purple onion).

While this is cooking heat oil in frying pan and brown flour tortillas.

To serve, put mexican rice down the center of tortilla.  Top with sour cream and salsa (The salsa was my hubby's idea).

Have you thought to count your blessings lately?...especially those blessings that are "routine"?

I left the table and headed to my recliner for my nap (blessing!)  My children all chip in and clean up the kitchen, then head their different ways for some quiet time of their own.  We have a good church be a part of.  All of this is routine...every Sunday....I am so thankful for all of this.  I am also very thankful for my husband.  He works so hard for us each week!  At brunch yesterday he could feel my excitement about the holidays...we talked of plans, traditions, shopping...he could feel that excitement building, and building, and BUILDING!  He offered to take us in to town to look at Christmas things...trees, ornaments, decorations...potential Christmas gifts.  Off we went!  It was wonderful to spend time together.  My husband is a blessing.  So thankful for a husband who enjoys being with his family.  Family time is a blessing!

Count your many blessings name them one by one...

See you next time....

\

Super Hero Powers....Slow cooking?

Ever feel like you are pulled in so many different.directions?  Maybe you feel that you need super hero powers to make it through your day?  We all live in a busy world...too busy at times!  Next month my husband and son start coaching a homeschool basketball team.  It steps up our pace a good bit more...often challenging meal times.  I need good meal ideas for my family on practice and game nights...eating out gets expensive.  Some of us like to eat before we leave, yet my guys need to eat afterwards!  So, I turn to my crockpot.  Which reminds me, you should check out the Crockpot Girls on Facebook.  They have so many ideas. 

I am working on November's menu and have decided to do some Chicken Fajitas on a practice night...sounds like a "hit the spot" idea!

Crockpot Chicken Fajitas 

2 lbs chicken

2 cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained

2 cans ro-tel tomatoes

green bell pepper, sliced

onion, cut in strips

3 tsp. cumin

4 tsp. chili powder

garlic. to your taste

flour tortillas

"Extras"  Mexican rice, lettuce, tomatoes....whatever you enjoy..that goes for the seasonings, also...sample and cater to your families likes!

In crockpot, combine the chicken, beans, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and seasonings.  Cover and cook on low about 5-6 hours.  Remove chicken; cool slightly.  Shred and return to crockpot.  Warm or fry tortillas.  Place the chicken mixture and extras in tortilla and enjoy!  Just imagine the smell of these when you walk in the door after a long day.

Okay, as far as needing to be Super Mom...it took me a while to realize something...we can run our kids to every event/ activity possible, stay busy...busy...BUSY...saying we are doing it all for the kids...they need to be happy after all...and I agree...I want my children to be happy.  My children are happy when I am being the (super) mom that God designed me to be.  Make sure you make time for that quiet time with the Lord.  It will help you focus on your day...to know what is really important.  Another hard lesson that I had to learn was that I need to learn when to say, "Ummm, no."  This is something that is hard for me to do.  Just remember, ladies, the Lord has great plans for you and your family....keep Him first!

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!

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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....

Sunday Dinner

Sunday dinner was wonderful!  We tried a new recipe...Coca-Cola Chicken!  Definitely one that we will do again.  Here is the recipe, then we will continue our tour tomorrow.

Coca-Cola Chicken

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 tbl vegetable oil

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 (12 oz) can of coca-cola

1 cup ketchup

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1/8 tsp salt

1/8 pepper

4 1/2 tsp.cornstarch

3 tbl cold water

In a skillet, saute onion in oil until tender.  Add chicken; brown on all sides.  Carefully add cola, ketchup, garlic, salt and pepper.  Cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until chicken juices run clear.  Remove the chicken and keep warm.

Combine the cornstarch and cold water until smooth; add to the skillet.  Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Return the chicken to the pan and heat through. 

 Mashed potatoes and green beans with the chicken....then a nap!  It was a good afternoon.

Let's continue on with praying for our children...hang in there with me.  There are about 30 virtues!  Prayer is so important, but please don't forget how important it is to teach about these virtues throughout your day with your family...and by your example.

#5.  Self-control...1 Thess. 5:6  I pray my children stay alert and have self-control in everything they do....not just "follow the crowd."

#6.  Love for God's Word...Psalm 19:10  God's Word should be more precious than gold to them.

#7.  Justice...Psalm 11:7  I want them to love justice as God does...and act justly.

#8.  Mercy...Luke 6:36  That they will be merciful....

#9.   Respect (for others, authority ,self...)...1 Peter 2:17  Probably no explanation for that one...

Wow!  How convicting this is for me when I pray for my children...It is never too late or too soon to pray for your children...My husband tells the story of how I when was pregnant with my oldest I would set a cassette player (Yes, before Cd's and MP3's were out...) on my belly...and let her listen to good music ...and Mommy and Daddy talked and prayed with her a lot. 

Don't pray when you feel like it.  Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it.  A man is powerful on his knees.

Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?

~Corrie Ten Boom

Ham and Cheese Linguine...and fall fun!

Taking another break from our U.S. Recipe tour.  Time for some linguine!

This is one of those recipes that my family says," Oohh, you know what sounds really good?"

Ham and Cheese Linguine

8 ounces uncooked linguine

2 cups cubed fully cooked ham

1 can cream of mushroom soup

2 1/2 cups shredded swiss cheese, divided

1 cup sour cream

1 medium onion chopped

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

2 tbl. melted butter

Cook linguine; drain.

  Meanwhile in large bowl combine the ham, soup, 2 cups cheese, sour cream, onion, green pepper, and butter.  Add the pasta.  Toss to coat.  Transfer to a greased 13x9 pan.  Cover and bake at350 degrees for 35 minutes.  Uncover and sprinkle with remaining cheeses.  Bake 15-29 minutes longer until the cheese is melted.  Garlic french bread is wonderful with this...

Enjoy!!

Make it an extraordinary day....

I wonder how much clear contact paper I went through...covering colorful fall leaves.  We put them on the dining room table...in the windows...so much fun.  Go on a scavenger hunt with your kids!  Nothing fancy....Spread a blanket out on the ground and share a snack. 

I'm ready for a cup of cappuccino...enjoy your family!

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..."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...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!



Fifty-Nifty Recipes...California

Did you know that more turkeys are raised in California than in any other state in the U.S.?  This was cool...In Chico, CA bowling on the city sidewalks and driving your cattle down the street are both illegal.

The following sandwich is an Ina Garten (from Food Network)  recipe...

California BLT's

6 thick-cut slices smoked bacon

4 slices good white bread

4 tablespoons mayonnaise

4 to 8 lettuce leaves

1 ripe avocado

1/2 lemon, juiced

1 sliced tomato

 Salt and pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Cook bacon.  Drain on paper towels and set aside.

Place the bread slices on a sheet pan and toast them for 5 minutes. Turn the slices and toast for 1 more minute, until all the bread is evenly browned. Place 2 slices on a cutting board. Spread each slice with about 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise. Cover the slices with a layer of lettuce. Peel the avocado and slice it 1/2-inch thick. Toss the avocado slices gently with the lemon juice, and arrange on top of the lettuce.   Place 3 slices of bacon on top of each sandwich and then add a layer of tomato slices on top of the bacon. Sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.  Top with bread.

California Pizza

     1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

2 teaspoons canola oil

2 (6 inch) flour tortillas

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1 medium tomato, sliced

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. In a small skillet, saute onion and green pepper in oil until tender. Place tortillas on an ungreased baking sheet. Top with onion mixture, oregano, garlic powder, tomato and cheese. Bake at 400 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Cut each pizza into four wedges.   **This only makes a couple of pizzas!

Fifty Nifty Recipes... The Valentine State

This was such a fun state to explore!  Arizona!  One of its nicknames is the Valentine State because it was admitted into the Union on February 14.  Here was the Gunfight at OK Corral.  One website told me that "It is unlawful to refuse a person a glass of water."  I also read about the food available at the Arizona State Fair.  A few "interesting" things offered....Deep Fried PB&J sandwich, scorpions and crickets dipped in chocolate, salami suckers (salami dipped in batter and deep fried on a stick), and doughnut sandwiches.  I would not advice eating like that on a regular basis, but it sounds fun!  Other normal things were on the menu for the less adventuresome (like me)....

This chicken recipe is from a friend of mine who was from Arizona.  It was a family favorite... and not too expensive!

Chicken Adobo



• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 (3 pound) chicken, cut into pieces
• 1 large onion, quartered and sliced
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1/3 cup white vinegar
• 2/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 bay leaf

Directions

1. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken pieces until golden brown on both sides, then remove. Stir in the onion and garlic; cook until they soften and brown, about 6 minutes.
2. Pour in vinegar and soy sauce, and season with garlic powder, black pepper, and bay leaf. Add the browned chicken, increase the heat to high, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the chicken is tender and cooked through, 35 to 40 minutes.  Can be served over rice.             

When reading about the Arizona State Fair I remembered Paula Deen making doughnut sandwiches.  I looked it up...and here it is!

Donut Sandwich

• 1 pound hamburger
• 1/4 cup onion, finely diced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic
• 4 slices of your choice cheese
• 4 Krispy Kreme Glazed Donuts, sliced in half
• 4 fried eggs
• 8 slices cooked bacon  (break in half)

• In a medium size bowl, mix hamburger, onion, salt, pepper, and garlic together, and form into 4 equal sized patties. Grill or cook them according to your preference. Place a slice of cheese on top of the hot burger to melt slightly.
• Place half the Krispy Kreme Donut on a plate, cut side up.
• Add cheese topped hamburger to the donut, stack the hot fried egg on top, bacon slices, followed by the remaining donut half.   

I think I will go get a tall glass of lemon water now!  I hope you are enjoying our tour of the country.  Thanks for visiting with us.... 



Childhood Favorites!

A couple of childhood favorite recipes for you today...well, that's the way I remember it. 
I grew up enjoying taco salad, now I love making it for my family...One day I was excited about a friend making taco salad for a church potluck.  She used Italian dressing!  I had never heard of that.  I grew up with a different kind of "dressing."   Here we go...

Taco Salad
1/2 pound ground beef
Brown and drain.
ADD:
1/2 cup chopped onion
garlic seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. chili powder
Saute together.
In a double boiler:
Melt 8 oz. Velveeta cheese. Add one can Ro-tel tomatoes.

Cut up a head of lettuce and one large tomato in a large bowl.  Add meat and mix lightly.  Add crushed tortilla chips (one bag) and toss.  Stir in hot cheese mixture.  Serve immediately.

For dessert you could try...
Lemon Jello Cake
Dissolve 1 pkg. lemon jello in 3/4 cup hot water.  Add 3/4 cup vegetable oil.  Add 1 box yellow cake mix.  Add 4 eggs, one at a time-beat well.  Add 1 teaspoon lemon extract.

Grease and flour a cake pan. I use a pan like the one pictured above.   Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.  When cake is cool, top with the
 lemon glaze.
1 cup sifted confectioner's sugar
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 tbl. milk

I hope you enjoy these. 
Thank you for visiting with us.