Another Bread?...

Yep, this time banana bread.  Everybody at some point and time in their life has made banana bread.  The following recipe I can honestly say is the only recipe I have ever used. So that means its old, ouch.  I just love the texture of it and I have made it with both walnuts and pecans.  I've even thrown in some chocolate chips!  I love it with the chocolate chips, but try to not to do it often because I will eat the whole loaf all my by myself.

Having that first cup of coffee in the morning with a piece of warm banana bread in my rocking chair...oh, man, God is good.  I hope you like this one...

Banana Bread

2 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup of chopped nuts
1 egg
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 TBSP vinegar
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 cup mashed ripe banana
1/4 melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Sift the flour, baking powder, soda and salt.  Stir in the nuts.  Beat egg in small bowl.  Add the sugar and beat until creamy.  Stir the vinegar into the milk.  Add the milk, banana and butter to the egg mixture and mix well.  Pour batter into buttered loaf pan or bundt pan.  Bake for about 1 hour or until knife when inserted comes out clean.

*When using a bundt pan bake time will be less.  Check after 35 to 40 minutes.

I Love White...

Dishes that is!  I have collected for them for a quite a few years now.  I don't just buy a dish because it is white, though, it has to jump out at me or something.  Their shape and the color also determines if it goes home with me or not.  There's quite a few different shades of white and I don't normal buy the bright white ones. I also, do not like spending a lot of money on them either, after all it is just a dish.  I figure when I pass away I will hand them down to my kids.  They won't be worth a lot of money or anything but they sure will be packed with memories of the many, many meals we shared and ate out of them!  I  just hope they will treasure them as much as I do.

My favorite day of the year is Thanksgiving.  I just enjoy cooking that meal so much!  Having family and friends over sharing that huge meal is something I look forward to every year.  I just hope and pray my health remains good so I am able to continue this family tradition for many more years.  I love the table scape each year.  Usually my daughter, Toni, does it.  It has turkeys, Pilgrims, autumn leaves and is very festive.  I wonder what she will do this year?  Whatever it is I am sure it will be beautiful and when you put all the white dishes on there it is really, really nice.

I just wanted to share my love of white dishes with you.  I think it's funny how we each have our things we like and dislike.  Is there something in your home that you collect?  I'd love to hear your story...

Got A Sweet Tooth?...

Howdy, everyone!  The recipe today will be a treat treasured by your family for years to come.  Even after making these for the past 20 years or so I still get excited just thinking about making them!  They pack well as long as you let the frosting dry, but I am so gosh darn picky I just refuse to stack them.  It must my OCD, but the thought of messing up that pretty frosting...nope just can't do it.  I have delivered them to homes all laid out so pretty in rows so they don't touch on foil lined cookie sheets! The strong ginger flavor and the molasses in these cookies meld together so well with that smooth sugary frosting...just trust me on this one, it is heaven after the first bite.  There's no way you will be able to eat just one!

They are a great fall cookie because of the spices, I guess, but I make them all year long.  They would be great cut-out cookies, too!  I actually bought some really cute Easter cookie cutters the other day at Ross so I just might have to try them out on my little neighbors.  Speaking of neighbors, not only did we get a bonus on our house, we acquired the cutest little neighbors, too.  A boy, 7, and his precious sisters who are 5 and 2!!  I am so excited because sometimes when you live in the country kids don't always have friends to play with.  When my grandchildren move back hopefully at the end of the year they will have little friends to play with.  And they happen to be 7 and 2.  Plus, Tyler and Gabe will go to the same school!!  I see many pool parties at gigi's house next year!

Frosted Ginger Cookies

1/2 cup butter (not margarine)
1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)

1/2 cup Brer Rabbit molasses (or your brand)
1 large egg
2 1/2 cups flour
1 TBSP ground ginger
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp salt

Frosting:
3 cups confectionery sugar
3/4 tsp vanilla
water

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a large bowl beat the butter for a minute and then add the sugar.  Beat until light and fluffy then add the molasses and the egg.  Beat until blended.  Stir together the flour and all of the spices.  Add to the creamed mixture and mix well.  Cover the bowl and place in refrigerator 4 hours.  On a lightly floured surface roll dough to 1/8 inch thickness.  Cut with biscuit cutter (2 or 3 inch) or cookie cutters.  Place on parchment lined baking sheets. Place in oven for 5 to 6 minutes or until middle is set.  Cool slightly and remove from baking sheet to cooling rack.  Continue with remaining cookies.  For the frosting, add powdered sugar to a bowl along with the vanilla and adding water a small amount at a time to make it of a glazing consistency.  Frost while cookie are still slightly warm.

Justin Wilson would be proud...

Some are probably saying who in the world is that!!  He had a cooking show on years ago and is as cajun as you can get.  Man, I can still hear his voice.  I liked him so much!!  He was quite humorous, too!  Man, I miss those old cooking shows like his, Graham Kerr and Julia Child.  They were each so different and yet I at a very early age was captivated by all of them.  I can still see Graham Kerr licking his lips and when he took a bite, trust me he took a BITE it usually oozed out the sides of his mouth!!  And we all loved Julia with that precious accent of hers.  Julie and Julia is one of my favorite all time movies!  How clever she was!  My daughter gave it to me for my birthday a couple of years ago.

Okay, where was I?  Oh, yeah, Cajun Chicken, doesn't take long for me to lose my train of thought!  Well, there's nothing fat free about this recipe because of the heavy cream, but it's not like you will eat this weekly or anything like that, so please indulge yourself!!  I have had Cajun Chicken in restaurants, but homemade is always so darn much better.  Plus, this is such a simple and quick meal to make.  Probably 40 minutes tops!  I like it served over pasta (my preference penne or farfalle (bowtie), but I am sure it would be great over rice as well.  Be brave and venture outside the box on this one.  Serve it over something that you normally would never cook.  Believe it or not some people never cook farfalle!!  Not sure why they are intimidated...it's just pasta!!  I think they are afraid they will serve it undercooked.  Just test it before you remove it from its water.  If it's not done enough continue cooking for a couple of more minutes.  Pasta is tricky if you overcook it, it is nasty and gets gummy.  I would rather have no pasta at all than have it gummy.

Anxious to see if you like this one.  Let me know who tries it, okay...

Cajun Chicken and Farfalle

1 boneless/skinless chicken breast (pounded thin)
1/2 cup diced green pepper
7 scallions (tops removed) sliced thin
2 TBSP butter
2 TBSP olive oil
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp lemon pepper
fresh cracked pepper (to taste)
1 1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Luzianne Cajun Seasoning

Cut chicken into chunks or bite-size pieces and sprinkle with cajun seasoning. I would say right about a tablespoon.  Mix with the chicken chunks until coated.  Set aside.  In frying pan melt the butter with the oil and when hot drop chicken pieces in.  They will cook quickly so be sure to flip them often until juices run clear.  You don't want them to brown, just cook through.  Remove the meat from the skillet and toss in the scallions and the green pepper in the oil.  Stir for a couple of minutes and then add chicken pieces. Pour in the heavy cream and then add the basil, lemon pepper, pepper and the parmesan cheese.  At this time you can taste and adjust the Luzianne to the degree of hotness that you like.  Be sure to scrape all the tidbits that are stuck on the bottom of the skillet.  They will be easily removed at this point.  Allow this to cook for about 8 to 10 minutes over low heat uncovered  this will reduce it and the sauce thicken a bit.  Turn the fire off and cover with a lid and allow to rest.

Meanwhile, bring to boil the water for the pasta and cook to a la dente.  Strain in a colander and place pasta in serving bowls and spoon the chicken mixture over the dish.  Garnish with sliced green onion tops, fresh tomatoes and fresh grated parmesan cheese.  I serve it with a slice or two of garlic bread.

Pucker up...

Woke up this morning thinking about lemons!  Had to make some lemon bread today!  This recipe is not too sweet and has the texture of bread.  I like anything lemon!!  Pudding, meringue pie, filling for donuts, curd, lemon drops, if it's lemon I like it.  It's funny because I don't like tart things at all.  I have actually had a meringue pie one time I couldn't finish it because it was just way too tart for me.  I don't think she tasted it while it was cooking because she would have realized it was not sweet enough.

This bread has a glaze that is made with lemon zest and the fresh squeezed juice.  It you ever make it and it is too tart just add a bit more sugar.  Some lemons are more sour than others.  I like to glaze it when it is still slightly warm, also.  You can drizzle it on or just spread it on with a spoon.  That way some of it soaks right down into the bread.  If you are looking for a cake-like dessert this one is not the one.  Like I said it has a bread texture to it and would go best with morning or afternoon coffee and tea.  My husband likes it warmed up a bit in the morning with his coffee.  It has a very subtle taste of lemon. Hope you like it...

Frosted Lemon Bread

1 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 TBSP fresh lemon zest
2 TBSP fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp. lemon extract
1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
2/3 cup milk

Glaze:
1 cup confectionery sugar
1 TBSP. fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. fresh lemon zest
1 TBSP milk

Preheat to 350 degrees.  Prepare a loaf pan and set aside.  In a small bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt and lemon zest.

In another bowl beat the butter until creamy and gradually add the sugar.  Beat until fluffy.  Add the eggs, vanilla and the milk.  Combine until well blended.  Pour into prepared pan.  Bake for about 45 to 50 minutes or until knife when inserted comes out clean.

For the glaze measure out your sugar into bowl.  Add the juice, zest and milk.  Stir until well blended and no lumps of sugar remain.  When cake has cooled a bit drizzle or spoon over the top of the bread.  Slice and enjoy with your favorite drink...

Beans, Beans Musical Fruit...

I cannot begin to tell you how much I love Pork-n-Beans.  Seriously, there's nothing sweeter than just opening up a can and eating them cold.  I do have my preferences, though.  Mine have to be Van Camps!! They are just so sweet and creamy, oh, yum!  This Bean Salad recipe is one of my favorites.

Now listen, when you see the pictures please don't turn your nose up without tasting them first.  If you try them and don't like then that's okay, but I can hear all the moans already before I even list the ingredients.  They are great with BBQ, pork chops or basically anything you throw on the grill. It's the creaminess, the texture of the pickles and the beans just melt in your mouth!  I made these a little bit ago and devoured a bowl before supper...me bad!  You will see my empty bowl below, ha!

I hope you at least give em' a try I don't think you'll be disappointed.  However, if your are a baked bean fan I wouldn't recommend making this using them.  The texture wouldn't be right and the sauce that they are in I feel would be way too sweet.  But if you feel you must by all means go for it!!  Enjoy...

Brenda's Bean Salad

1 (15 oz.) can of Van Camps Pork-n-Beans (do not drain)
2 boiled eggs (chopped)
1/3 cup Sweet Midgets (sliced into small pieces)
 1/2 cup Hellman's mayonnaise

Open beans and pour into small bowl.  Add the eggs that have been cut into small bite size pieces, the sliced sweet pickles and the mayonnaise.  Stir very gently being careful not to crush the beans until blended.  Serve cold with whatever you wish to serve them them with!

Let's Dip...

I have a thing for dips and I will post some really good ones for you over the next few days.  I have had dip for breakfast, lunch and yes, I am sure, I have had it for supper, too.  Cold dips, hot dips I like 'em all.  This Mexican Dip is very good all by his little ol' self!  I like to use the scoops when I serve it.  I usually make a double batch when I make it because it goes really quick.  Most of the items are things you will already have in your pantry so there's no need to out and buy a bunch of stuff.  I haven't tried it, but I bet you could make a quesadilla out of it.  Oooh, I think I might try that myself.  Add some monterey jack and colby cheese in some tortillas and grill until that cheese starts oozing out all over the place, goodness.  Can't locate the picture of this, but I will keep looking and post it later for you...

                                                              Mexican Dip

2 diced tomatoes

2 small cans of diced green chiles

1 small can sliced black olives (drained)

1 small red onion chopped

1 small avocado diced

1 tsp. garlic salt

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1 cup black beans (drained)

¼ cup whole kernel corn (drained)

¼ cup chopped cilantro

juice of 2 fresh limes

Mix all together and allow to rest for about 2 hours before serving.  Serve with tortilla chips (the scoop kind).

It's The Small Things...

Saturday morning and all is good despite the way it started out.  Got a call this morning from my old neighbor this morning and she said that something was terribly wrong at our old house.  Had my other neighbor go over and check it out and sure enough someone had kicked in the front and stole the copper from the furnace, air conditioning unit and the hot water heater!! It truly amazes me what people will do these days.  Homeowners will pay, but it destroyed the carpet and a bar that will now have to be torn down and it is up for sale with a realtor.  It's all good though, it is just stuff and no one was hurt.  Again, God must be looking out for us because we just moved from there about 4 months ago and there had been several break ins prior to us leaving.  I just feel bad for my kids because they live overseas and it is so hard dealing with all of this being so far away.  David and I will do all we can to help them, though.

As David was cleaning the yard up in the back he called me to come outside and look what he found.  Of course, I grabbed my camera!!  It was the tiniest lil' bunny, a cottontail. I have ever seen one that small without his momma around.  He just made all my troubles seem so small!!  I actually forgot about what had happened for awhile and just got lost in that little creature.  Regardless, of what happens in our lives, God is in control and I can't worry about that stuff.  The bunny was just what I needed at that very moment!! When I think about God being in control...my mind thinks clearer and things I was worrying about just become really, really small...

I purchased a small God Box at The Affair of The Heart last month.  I love it.  I have it on my coffee table in my Woman Cave as a reminder for me everyday to hand my troubles over to Him. Each and every time I walk by and glance over and see it I immediately smile!  My problem is throughout the day I forget that I already have it in the box!!  I am human you know.

Off to town for a bit to pick up David's truck once again.  Hopefully, it is fixed for good this time.  Have a blessed day everyone and remember...don't sweat the small stuff.

For The Seafood Lover In You...

For all my seafood lovers out there please I beg you...give this one a try!  Not sure where I got it from, but it is the best.  Been making it for about 10 years or so and never tire of it.  When you dip that crusty bread into that juice or broth, I should say, my goodness it is so tasty! 

Darn Good Shrimp

2 lbs. gulf shrimp (unpeeled, but, heads removed)

4 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/3 c. water

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 ½ tsp. oregano (if using fresh add I TBSP)

1 tbsp. fresh thyme

1 ½ tsp. Texas Pete hot sauce or more if you like hotter

2 heaping TBSP fresh garlic

Fresh cracked pepper

Sprinkle with level tsp. of kosher salt

1 stick of butter (cut into 8ths)

Pour unpeeled shrimp into large skillet or dutch oven and spread out evenly.

Add ingredients in order given without stirring (except

the butter you will add it at the end).  Once all ingredients have been added stir

to coat evenly.  Cover with lid and cook over medium high

heat.  As shrimp begins to turn pink flip them with a fork to the other side

until all are pink in color.  This will take about 5 to 6 minutes.  

Drop in cubes of butter.  Stir until butter has melted and is

incorporated with the juices.  Allow to cook for about 2 more

minutes.  Turn heat off and allow to rest covered about 10 minutes before you serve it.  

Pour shrimp into serving dish, peel and eat.  Here's the best part of this dish serve it with a crusty

bread for dipping up the juices. Oh, my goodness, I am over here drooling all over myself!!  Enjoy!!

Cake, Anyone?...

Well, it's Friday morning and I am heading to OKC.  Friday is our date night.  I always look so forward to it, too.  We are staying home tonight, but I am going to make my husband a chocolate cake for dessert when I get home.  As a child we always had Mayonnaise cake actually didn't really know there was any other kind!  Our vanilla cakes were from a box, but the chocolate was always made from scratch.  I have tried a couple of different kinds, but the following is the one I have made for years.  I am sure your family probably has their favorite, too.

I love cake and cupcakes! Tomorrow I will post my favorite my favorite cupcake recipe.  Even though I use a box mix for it I am sure this mayonnaise cake recipe would work just as well.  I have so many frostings that I like, but my favorite is peanut butter.  It is fluffy and it is my preference for this cake.  A good ol' never fail chocolate buttercream is delicious, too.  I love the one that is on the side of the Hershey's cocoa container!  In the photo I posted that is the buttercream with some chocolate dipped strawberries and some broken chocolate.  Regardless, it's chocolate how can you go wrong?  So here's the recipe, oh, and if your wondering about the coffee to me it just intensifies the chocolate flavor.  No extra buzz or anything like that...

Mayonnaise Cake

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
6 TBSP cocoa (I prefer Hersheys)
2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup mayonnaise (I only use Hellmans)
1 cup cold brewed coffee
2 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare your pans (13 x 9 or two round cake pans) I like to parchment at the bottom even if I use flour or Pam.  In bowl mix whisk the flour, sugar cocoa, salt and soda.  Set aside.  In a mixing bowl combine the mayonnaise with the coffee and vanilla.  Blend well.  Add the dry ingredients gradually and scrape down sides as you go.  Pour into prepared pan or pans.  Bake for 25 to 30 minutes keeping an eye on it.  If you over bake it, it will be dry and that will mean you just have to drink more milk with it!!

When cool top with your favorite frosting.  I know what I'll be using how about you?...

Disappointed...

I get so mad at myself when I wait all day to cook something to open up my cabinet and don't have what I need, grrr!  I have been craving cabbage noodles all week and finally made them tonight.  They are my husband's favorite side dish.  The disappointing part was I like to throw some poppy seeds for color at the end and I was out.  I know, why be so upset over poppy seeds your thinking.  It's just the principle I guess. To me it's like making a cake and then find out you have nothing to make frosting.

Anyways, I hope you give these a try they are quite scrumptious.  To start with you will need: a head of cabbage, 1/2 stick of butter (not margarine, never, ever, ever), 1 medium onion chopped, about 3 TBSP olive oil, salt & fresh cracked pepper and noodles. (Poppy seeds, optional)

Add the butter and the oil to a large skillet and cook the onions until they are slightly brown.  I slice my cabbage, but you can do chunks, diced, whatever you want.  When the onions are ready I toss in the cabbage, the salt and pepper to taste and give it a quick stir.  Cover the pan and this will help the cabbage cook a little faster. Be sure to stir often and get all those little brown bits off the bottom of the pan.  Man, it is really hard not to lick the spoon every time you give them a stir!  But, hey, if no one's looking I say go for it!! After they have cooked for about 8 minutes start the water for the noodles.  Be sure the water is good and salted.  Cook the noodles al a dente and drain.  These should be ready about the same time as the cabbage.  Once drained, add the noodles to the cooked cabbage (here's where I like to sprinkle in the poppy seeds) and stir gently until all mixed up.  Set aside for about 5 minutes before serving.  This goes with anything!  Great with fried chicken, pork chops, sausage, really anything you would want I guess.  I had it for supper tonight with a ham steak and raisin sauce.  I have taken it to church pot lucks and it reheats great the next day for leftovers.

I am so late tonight because I let my dog in and the smell of smoke outside takes your breath away.  I called my neighbor across the street and she said the same thing.  After these past 10 days with 2 huge fires it makes you leery when you smell smoke!  It definitely wasn't a BBQ kinda smell it was something burning.  I will stay up a bit longer to just make sure.  I hope you enjoy this recipe and give it a try also, it can be made into a big dish or just a small dish.  If you wanted to use only a quarter of the cabbage for a couple of people then just adjust your noodles.  Practice makes perfect.  I prefer mine 50/50, so for a half a bag of noodles I use 1/2 of a head of cabbage. The amount of butter and oil is what I made my 50/50 with.

Happy cooking my friends...and as you can tell I am not very good with the pictures, but hang in there I'm working on it!!

What A Day...

Goodness, I thought today was never going to end!  Started out early this morning with my husband leaving his cell phone at home.  Calls come in and have to explain why he left his phone home?  Hmmm, not sure he did that on purpose.  Headed to town about 10:30 this morning and planned on being gone only a couple of hours.  Never happened!  David called about 1 and said to stay in town because his truck was going to be ready about 3:30.  I agreed and piddled around in this cooking store for awhile and then went to Border's for a Black Cherry Italian Cream soda that I had been craving now for a couple of days and they were sold out.  Well, what else can go wrong?  Drove to OKC about 3 to wait for David and well, to make a really long story short we got home at 6:20!!  I am not a fan of garages.  The good news is we now have both vehicles back and they are running great:)  All is good...

I am cutting this really short because Idol is on and I have to go catch up on what I have missed this evening don't you love DVR's?  Jammies are on and I'm calling it a night...see ya tomorrow.  I'll be posting a recipe of something!

Here Piggy, Piggy...

Good morning everyone!  I hope y'all have a fantastic day out there and I don't think anybody even reads this, but do I care...no:)  Someday I will have a couple of followers.  I love it when I can make dinner the day before.  It gives me so much free time the next day to do whatever.  Not that I have anything to do today because my van is in the shop:(  Hopefully, I will be getting it back in the next couple of days.

Anyhoo, back to that todays supper that I cooked yesterday.  It is fail proof I tell ya'!!  A two year old could make it and impress everyone with their cooking skills.  I named it Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork or DPPP, just kidding I just made that part up.  All I did was went straight to my freezer and pulled out about a 1 1/2 lb. pork roast, it's enough for the two of us, and put it in my crockpot.  Okay, here's the really hard part...drum roll, please...I opened up a can of Dr. Pepper and poured it over the top of the meat.  It bubbled and fizzed and I was giggling with excitement because I knew what the finished product would taste like!  I placed the lid on and set it to cook for 10 hours ( I have one of those fancy schmanncy crockpots that my son, Randy, bought me a few years back) and then went and watched Dancing With The Stars with the hubs!  A couple of times during the night I did wake up to the smell of that sweet Dr. Pepper melding with the juice from the pork roast.

This morning as I was making my coffee I lifted the lid and oh, nothing but pure goodness floated through my kitchen.  It smelled like heaven in here.  I removed it from the crockpot and very carefully because it will fall apart on you (you can use a spatula if you like) and placed it into a bowl.  I used two forks to tear the meat apart into bite size pieces or chunks or just whatever you want.  Since I LOVE KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce that's what I used!!  You can use whatever your little old heart desires. Once the meat is shredded I then pour 1 1/2 cups of the sauce into the meat, mix it all up and allow it to cool completely on the counter before placing it into the refrigerator.  You know that bacteria stuff.

Now for supper tonight hubby will think I have slaved all day cooking him this wonderful meal...boy, do I ever have him fooled.  Of course when he says, "Man, you've been cooking all day, huh"  I'll slightly yawn and soak up all those compliments he's gonna give me and respond, " oh, anything for you honey!!" Pahaha...our little secret.  I sure hope you give this dish a try!  I don't think for a minute your family will be disappointed.  I will serve this on hamburger buns that have been buttered and browned on a preheated hot cast iron skillet. You want to hear a sizzle when the bread hits the pan this is what will give you a golden crunchy crust.  And of course BBQ is not complete (down south anyways) without some sliced dill pickles and a few onion slices served on the side and ya' better have a pitcher of sweet tea!!  Enjoy all of my cooking friends...until the next recipe...

State Fair?...

Well, no not yet, BUT it sure smells like the state fair in here right now!  Don't you just love the smell of the fair with all of the food cooking!  Hot dogs, sausage, burgers, fried dough, cotton candy, BBQ, turkey legs and of course that roasted corn on the cob! Let's see the state fair is when this year, ha! So I decided to make brats for supper with peppers and onions and man, it smells heavenly in here.  Served them on some super soft sub rolls and some chips on the side...ooooh baby!  I am not a fan at all of Italian sausage don't like the smell of them or the taste, but I will eat brats.  I'm not sure why the Italian sausage I think maybe there's fennel in Italian sausage or so I was told and I think that is what it is.  Not a licorice fan.

There's not a recipe for brats I simply just throw them in a frying pan that has been drizzled with olive oil and fry them covered until they are done.  After about 10 minutes I poke them with a fork to allow the juice to run out. Cover them again with the lid and cook for about another 15 minutes on medium high heat.  While they're cooking I slice the onions and green peppers. Then I add them about the last 5 minutes of cooking time.  At this point and time you can cook them to your liking. We prefer the vegetables a little more on the crisp side.  So 5 minutes works great for us! When they are done slap them between a sub roll and you're good to go!!  I will post a couple of pics for you...

Family, Food and Frenzy...

Wow, what a week!  Had company all week, a fire and two broken down vehicles!  Isn't that exciting?  So much excitement I can't stand it!! My cousin Georgia Mae and her husband, Ken, arrived on Monday and my cousin Tim and his family got here on Wednesday.  It was great to see everyone!  We had BBQ and then just spent time visiting and playing with the kids.

On Thursday a fire broke out on our street and the chaos began.  Good news was they set up the command post out front of our house as well as the Red Cross.  They were handing out some snack foods and furnished water for the firemen all day.  The fire broke out about 1pm and when we to bed they were still driving by.  The smoke was horrendous at times and I saw that the neighbors across the street were carrying stuff from the inside of their home.  We asked the fireman if we should do the same and he said it really wouldn't be a bad idea.  So we took a box of important papers as well as our computers and put them in the car.  I really felt pretty safe with all of them out front.  If it was gonna get closer they would have told us ahead of time.  At one point and time the fire did jump the street down the road from us and it was controlled immediately.  So much excitement!!  I actually made them some chocolate chip cookies and delivered it out front to them.  They were truly our heros for the day!!  They are our heros everyday!

My van is going to the shop AGAIN, ugh!!  Had a transmission put in it about 2 months ago and it really never has run right.  Hopefully, they will get it right this time, problem is guarantee company says it's not their fault and now we are arguing with the two companies and they are blaming each other for the problem.  We will see who the honest one is in the end.  I really don't think I would pay for an extended warranty again!  My air conditioner went out and it needs some hoses and yep, you guessed it not covered under warranty!!  A couple hundred dollars to repair it and if I want it fixed it will be out of my pocket.  When you purchase these things they make it sound like you will never pay anything out of pocket.  Well, that's a blatant lie.  Crooks I tell ya' crooks!!  $2500.00 for a guarantee and it won't even cover a hose!!!  They got me once, but never again!!

Today is the first day of spring and it is going to be a hot one...80 today!  I sure hope we have wet spring in the next couple of weeks my pond needs it really bad.  So excited it is finally here anxious to get our pool up and running, a wedding in June and then no telling what else!  Can't wait to see the family in NH again.  It is always such a great time when we go there!  I do love my in-law family so very much!!  I really hope Toni and Randy get to go to the wedding, too.  They would love to see them, too.

Well, I better get off and get some bills paid.  Tah, tah for now...

Company's comin'...

Well, Ken and Georgia Mae are on their way, suppers in the oven and hubby's already home, woo-hoo!!  I am making meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, green beans with stewed tomatoes and biscuits!  No dessert tonight, though I just plain ran out of time.  I will have his raisin pie made before he even gets out of bed in the morning!! I love waking up knowing I have company in the next room.

It smells so good in here right now!  They just called and are about 30 minutes from Shawnee.  Dinner will be ready when they get here!  I haven't seen them in about 6 months which way too long.  We went up to introduce them to Greg and Candi when they were here, but they were both sick and never got to go out and eat with the all the rest of us.

Well, I'm headed back to kitchen so nothing burns...

Happy Monday...

Well, that weekend sure went by fast!  Goodness, before I knew it it was Sunday afternoon.  Went to the house to paint some more and I tell you it is never ending!! I know there's a light at the end of the tunnel, but I can't see it yet.  Hopefully, a couple of more trips and we will be outta there.  Our intentions were from the heart, but it was definitely alot of work for two people.  I sure hope hope they appreciate all the hard work we have put into that home to get it ready to sell.

Excited that my cousin, Georgia Mae and her husband might come for a few days!  She's in alot of pain with her back and hip and I told her she needs to come and rest and let me take care of her!  We both love it when they come and visit.  Plus, a bonus is that Ken loves raisin pie and that gives me a great reason to cook one.  I love them, too, but David would rather have coconut.  So it's a treat to make one for him.  Can't understand why more people don't eat raisin pie!  Goodness, it is so very tasty!

I have been working on my cookie party that will held in December.  It takes a lot to pull it off.  I didn't have one last year because I actually outgrew my house.  I am up to about 20 girls now and there was just not enough room.  And now I have all this space and of course all these new friends out here I am sure it will grow!  I may actually have to have it on two different weekends.  Having two is definitely something I would enjoy!!  That will be something to consider.  Another thing I am working on is starting a Bunco group out here.  It is really popular and I have alot of friends that are in groups.  So far I have about 9 girls that have committed and I need 12 and a couple of stand by girls.  I will try to work on that this morning as well.  Goodness, I guess I had better get off of here and get to moving...

Earthquakes and Fires...

Woke up this morning to devastating news about the 8.9 quake that rocked Japan.  What a tragedy and as the morning unfolded we saw all of the terror in the streets.  Those poor people must be so frightened!  They can't leave because there's no airports that are operating and they keep having aftershocks of 6.1 and even higher.  I can't imagine what it must be like to be over there.  I just pray that God will protect them and that they reach out to Him for their needs.

We had a small quake here in out little town this morning, too.  It was 3.1 I think.  It made a loud boom and I thought to myself man, "what was that sound?" and said to myself, "was that an earthquake?"  Sure enough it was on the news later that a small quake had hit Harrah!!  I wonder if it had anything to do with the one that hit Japan?

I drank my coffee and continued to watch the news and then headed off to work cleaning for Ethel.  At about 12:30 my friend Trina called my cell.  I saw it, but thought I'll just call her when I'm done.  About 5 minutes later she called again and I thought I better answer it.  Good thing I listened to my instincts!  She said was a wildfire behind my house!  I wasn't sure what to do.  She put Lucky on the phone who is my neighbor and he said he would take a drive down to the back of the property and see if it was spreading.  He called back and said for the moment it looked like it was gonna go east and that we should be okay.  I called David and he said the radio had said that there were several fires in our area and they were spreading really quick and he was heading home just in case.

As we watched the news they said there were 24 large wildfires all at the same time in Oklahoma!  That has to be a record.  There were homes all around us that were engulfed in flames. I'm so grateful that our home wasn't damaged.  A friend of mine her grandfather's house burned down and saw on Facebook where others family members homes were lost:(  Sad day for Oklahomans.

My heart is filled with prayers and hope for the people of Japan. I am off to bed it truly has been a very stressful day...

My How Quickly Things Change...

Started off a great morning.  The usual, news and my coffee, walk the dog, you know same old stuff.  Yesterday I went and picked out my outfit for the upcoming wedding.  Thought about it all day and even had them hold it for me.  I even told a couple of friends how excited I was about it and can't wait to wear it.   Met Irma at The Cheesecake Factory for lunch and it was scrumptious as always.  I had Mexican soup and a chicken salad sandwich.  It also came with a salad, but the leaves were too big or something it just didn't appeal to me at all.  I took one bite and left the rest.  Irma laughed at me.  Then we were off to the mall to get my outfit!!

We walked upstairs and I found it hanging right where I left it on hold yesterday!!  I was so excited.  It had a cute jacket/blouse, very tailored and classy looking.  The chiffon skirt was lovely!  Very flowey and comfortable, oh, my goodness!! It was black and the jacket was a real pretty lime green.  I hurried to the register to pay for it as if someone was going to take it from me!  She checked me out and I was a happy camper...or so I thought!

 Followed Irma back by the dressing room and hanging right before my eyes was the most gorgeous dress I had ever seen.  Wow, it had "me" written all over it!  I even asked the cashier, "was this hanging here yesterday when I was here?"  She replied, "yes, it was."  I said to her, "how did I miss this? It is beautiful!"  Thought about it for a second and Irma said you should try it on.  Well, that took about one second for me to decide yeah, that's a great idea!!  Well, it fit like a glove!  Goodness gracious, I fell in love with it!  It doesn't even need to be altered!!  It is very form fitting and has ruffles...I so love ruffles.  It is not anything that I thought I would ever wear, but oooh, baby I love it.  It is a very shimmery tan with a ever so lightly blue hue to it when the light hits it.  The jacket is a bolero style and has 3/4 sleeves.

It amazes me how quickly we can change our minds, but my thought is, it was just meant to be!! I went from a flowey dress to a form fitting dress in a matter of 5 minutes!!  So I returned the other dress and purchased my new favorite dress.  The cashier said that was the fastest return she has ever done!  We actually all got tickled about it.  And the best part was I saved $50 smackeroos, too!!  That's my shoes and my jewelry!  So all in all it was a terrific fun filled day...

Oh, no not the dentist!...

Had my last dentist appointment for another 6 months.  Got such a great report, too.  Way too many compliments from the doctor who saw me today.  She was so very kind.  I love my little hygienist Kelsey!  She has one more year and then she graduates and she will be great.  Boy, the money that can be saved at a dental school is unreal!  The problem is getting accepted.  You can't be too difficult and you can't be too easy either.  Alot of my friends have been rejected due to the fact that they only needed just one filling or just a cleaning.  Anyways, I am so glad I was accepted into the school!  I have saved thousands I am sure of that.

Today is Wednesday and David has his last night of teaching!!  The next semester school start in a couple of weeks.  So until then I will find it very enjoyable having him home on Monday and Wednesday.  They are very long days for me!!  We will be able to go to church a couple of times on Wednesday while he's off that will be fun.

Went to the mall today to see if I could find a dress for the big wedding in June!!  My stepson is getting married.  We are both so looking forward to this event.  We have waited a long time for this day.  I can't believe I met him when he was 5 1/2 years old and now he's getting married!  Unbelievable that the time goes so quickly. I think I found my dress.  Well, actually, it is a two piece outfit! It's a lime green jacket with 3/4 sleeves and a small black ribbon sash.  The skirt is black chiffon.  It is a very classy looking outfit. I just was so pleased with the whole fit!!  I will feel very comfortable in it.  It was $200, but I will be able to wear it again I am sure!!  The jacket has a pretty big flower on it and a ruffled collar.  David is wearing a gray suit and hopefully we will blend together.  It's the brides choice that the guys wear matching suits. Her father is wearing a gray suit as well.  He will be very handsome no doubt!!

Well, that's enough for today!  Almost time for American Idol and time to put my feet up!!  Happy Wednesday...

Now I'm Full...

Well, supper was delicious!  I had beans and cornbread! A big ham hock, some garlic and a little bacon grease and that's it! Seriously, we could eat it everyday.  I love the smell of the house while their cooking and they last for days in the fridge.  Even my Terminix guy came into and said, "wow, something smells really good!  What are you cooking?"  That's what I like about cooking it can seriously change your mood!  Call me weird, but I can be down or just not feeling well and lo and behold whip something up and wah-lah you instantly feel better!!

David loves cornbread especially when the bottom is real crisp. The secret to a crisp bottom is in the cast iron skillet!  You have to have it really hot with butter melted in it when you pour batter in it.  The browned butter will bubble over the top of it and when it is done will be so crunchy on the bottom.  After it comes out of the oven I drizzle honey over the top of it.  Man, it just makes it taste so good.  Also, the next day, if you're lucky enough to have left overs, pop your pizza stone in the oven at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes and then place the leftover cornbread on it for about 3 to 4 minutes. It will come out hot and crispy just like the day before!  If you like molasses, oh, goodness, give it a try!

Well, this day has come to an end so have a blessed evening everyone...

I'm a cookin'

Just put a pot of beans on and man does it ever smell good in here!  Got a call from the fam in Germany and that always brightens my day!!  I sure hope they get back here real quick!  They plan on buying a house right around the corner from here and I hope the military see things our way, ha!

Anyways, I am now off to do some laundry that has slowly crept up to being the size of a small mountain.  I just don't understand how this can happen to two people!! What the heck did I do when I had a house full of kids?

Let's Try This One More Time!!

Well, I had a blog, but neglected it for a few months and couldn't for the life of me retrieve my password!  After racking my brain for a couple of days I just decided to start from scratch!  So hopefully, this one will be added to or should I say updated daily!!  Hope to share some of my daily life's experiences and some good 'ol southern recipes with you...