Saturday, January 30, 2010

Snow Cream

I've made it different ways over the years, but


this is some of the best


Snow Cream I've ever made.


Kinda tastes like Homemade Ice Cream, which I love.





Snow Cream

1 can evaporated or Pet Milk

1 can condensed Milk

1 Tbsp vanilla flavoring

3/4 cups sugar

Stir all this together real well and then start adding snow until the mixture gets thicker.  My daughter went out twice for snow until we got it the way we wanted it.  I just told her to make sure it was CLEAN snow.  (lol) It was.

Friday, January 29, 2010

It's Snowing!!!!!

Boy, oh boy, is it ever!  We have about 5" and are expecting more tonight.


Work even closed early, which is very unusual.  The banks closed at noon.  But that didn't stop people from getting out.


We went sledding at 7:00 pm!  Then came home to a big crock pot of Homemade Chili to warm our cold and weary bodies.


If it's snowing where you are, have fun, stay warm and be careful!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Racko! Sorry! and Easy Oatmeal Cookies

 Board games are making a big comeback!


(Don't forget to check out the printable recipe link at the end of the post)

.



.

Giving the computer a break for a while, the girls and I decided to drag out


some board games. 


Did we ever have fun playing Racko and then Sorry!


We had so much fun, we decided to make at least one night a week


a Game Night.


..


Of course, Game Night calls for having some snacks. 


I knew I had some baking ingredients


so I went on a search for the


easiest oatmeal cookie recipe I could find. 


This one fits the bill!


 



Easy Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2  cup butter, softened

1 Cup self rising flour

1 egg

2 Cups Quick Cooking oatmeal

Combine ingredients in large bowl or your Kitchenaid mixer.  Mix well. Make small balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet

Dip the bottom of a drinking glass or a cookie press in sugar and use to flatten cookies.  Bake at 350º 10 - 12 minutes.  They won't darken up a lot, but they'll be delicious!

...


Printable Recipe


 

Monday, January 25, 2010

Link of the Week: Beach Brights (a giveaway)

Check out my Link of the Week,


Beach Brights


She's having a neat giveaway!  Be sure and stop by her place this week.


Saturday, January 23, 2010

National Pie Day - January 23rd

In honor of National Pie Day...check out these easy,


yet delicious pie recipes.


...


 



Chocolate Fudge Pie



 Printable Recipe


.

Aunt Mary's Chess Pie



Printable Recipe


.


 



Southern Pecan Pie



Printable Recipe

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Simple and Easy Sweet Pea Salad

My brother is a big fan of Sweet Pea Salad and


introduced me to this recipe.


.


I am not a fan of English Peas at all, but if I were, I would


choose to eat them


this way.


.


When I heard that a sick elderly woman that I go


to church with was wanting Chicken and Dumplings, I whipped up a HUGE


 pot.  Enough for my family and then several servings for her. 


 


I wanted to take her a full meal and in my cabinet was a can


of Sweet Peas.  I hated to just take plain peas...I wanted to dress them


up a little.  So I made this Simple and Easy Sweet Pea Salad.  She loved it!


Along with the Chicken and Dumplings and


Sweet Pea Salad,


I made her a snack size 


Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting.


.


You know it just feels good to do something for somebody


that's unable to do for themselves. 


What a treat!  for us both.


.


 
 

 

 SWEET PEA SALAD

 

1 can baby sweet (English) peas
1 boiled egg, chopped

2 Tablespoons onion, diced fine

1 heaping Tablespoon of sweet pickle relish

1/3 cup real mayonnaise

salt and pepper to season


Drain the peas, add all ingredients. Mix and chill.  Serve chilled.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Food & Crafts: Things I've made recently

First of all...


I had my baby great nephew over the weekend.  He's always a blast to have around and keeps us hopping!




[caption id="attachment_1125" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Jaxon eating on a lemon."][/caption]

 .

[caption id="attachment_1126" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Too cute for words! Look at those blue eyes!"][/caption]

 

.


and finally...his Sunday afternoon nap.



 




 



 

...oOo...


 

Now on to the things I've made lately...


 



A  candy tray for my boss



 

 

 

 

 

 



Another candy tray - for family


A  candy tray for my family


 



[caption id="attachment_1131" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="My morning cup of coffee - digital watercolor"][/caption]

My morning cup of coffee - digital watercolor.


 

[caption id="attachment_1133" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Our New Year's Eve dinner - A Southern Tradition"][/caption]

Our New Year's Eve dinner - A Southern Tradition



 



 Fingerless gloves made from a felted sweater




 


...oOo...


 


What have you made lately?  Feel free to post a link to your blog or site.


Have a great Monday!


Friday, January 15, 2010

Link of the Week - Lilly Anna Kids

Introducing Misty, amazing homeschooling


mother of three! 


.

Photographer, entrepeneur, blogger, mom, wife to her highschool


sweetheart - how does she do it all?


.


 


Check out Misty's creative blog, Lilly Anna Kids.   There's great photography


 and fabulous, funky clothes for kids.   Fun, fun, fun!


It will bring a smile to your day.



Her website, Lilly Anna Kids dot com, allows you to purchase these magical


creations for your own little prince or princess. 


Be sure and pay Misty a visit.


 


...oO)(Oo...



.


On another note...


.


I made Pioneer Woman's Onion Strings last night...yum, yum!




Photograph courtesy of The Pioneer Woman

.

They were very tasty alongside My Handyman's


Grilled Wild Turkey Breast.  Be sure and try them soon!


.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Pecan Pie Bars

My mother-in-love's country yard is filled


with flowers and trees.


 


Once upon a time, these flowers


gave her much pleasure, but gone are the


days of working in the flower beds 'til dark.  At 74 and not in


the best of health,


she doesn't have as much energy


to work like she once did. 


 


Among the Crepe Myrtles and Peonies stands a big Pecan tree.


Its branches spread across the grassy lawn and provide


wonderful shade on a hot summer day. 


My girls have many fond memories of playing


on the swing set there in the shade of the


big pecan tree on a sunny day and picking up pecans


with Grandma on a


chilly, windy late Fall day.



 


Every year many pounds of pecans are picked up, carried inside and the


process of shelling and cleaning begins.


At 82, Papa's eyesight is failing him and he sits in his easy chair


and shells the  pecans by feeling them, then


passes them to Grandma or one


of the grandkids to do the cleaning. 


Once they're throughly cleaned, most likely


with a toothbrush, they're put  in bags and into the freezer. 


Sometimes she'll grab out a few and stick them in the oven to roast.


Once placed on the table, the bowl is emptied


in record time.


 


~{o}~


 


This year, she sent home a large bag of shelled, chopped pecans


for my daughter to use in Pecan Pies


for Thanksgiving.


I used what was left in making these tasty bars which I


shared with friends and coworkers.


If you like Pecan Pie, you'll love this yummy bar version.


I've been making it for many years and


it's definitely a "tried and true" recipe.  


Hope you enjoy!


 


 Pecan Pie Bars


Crust:

1 (18.25-ounce) package butter-flavor cake mix
1/3 cup margarine or butter, softened
1 egg

Filling:

1 cup  sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 eggs
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13-by-9-inch pan.

Combine the cake mix, softened butter and 1 egg.  Press mixture into bottom of prepared pan and a little up the sides to hold the filling.  Bake for 20 minutes, then remove from oven.

In the meantime, using a large bowl or your Kitchenaid mixer, combine  sugar, corn syrup, vanilla and 3 eggs at low speed until well mixed.   Beat 1 minute at medium speed or until well-blended.

Stir in pecan pieces.

Pour filling mixture over warm base. Bake an additional 30 to 35 minutes or until filling is set.  Cool completely. Cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

--->>>---oOo---<<<---


 



 

 

 




[caption id="attachment_1098" align="aligncenter" width="257" caption="Papa & Grandma Golden"][/caption]

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Buttermilk Biscuits

Oh, how I love the smell of bread baking in the oven!


It speaks to my soul and tells me good things are to come.

.

Years ago (seems like a lot of my posts start with this), I clipped a Basic Buttermilk Biscuit recipe from my Mom-in-love's Southern Living magazine.

...



.

This is my go-to, tried and true, never-fail biscuit recipe that I use when I'm not low carbing or I just wanna make biscuits for the family on Saturday morning.

.

 

I use my medium size biscuit cutter so my biscuits are smaller than usual.  I tend to like'm small, tall, and fluffy...almost bite-size, well at least a few bites worth.   I do love things in miniature.

 ...

 

 .



 Begin by cutting the butter into the flour with a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse meal.

.

.



Add buttermilk and stir just until all dry ingredients are incorporated.

;

.



Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and gently knead or fold over itself 4-5 times.    Folding creates multiple layers of dough and fat, giving rise to a tender, fluffy biscuit.  Pat or roll to ¾” thick; cut with a round biscuit cutter.

.

.



Place into a greased pan with side touching.  This helps with the rise.  I used my round Wilton silicone cake pan and it worked great!  There was even a slight crust on the bottom of some of the biscuits.

.

.



Remove from the oven and brush with melted butter. 

.

.

Serve with honey, jam, sorghum, meat, or how about some Chocolate Gravy?   The freedom of  choice is yours!

.

;

 



.

Basic Buttermilk Biscuits

1/3 cup butter, cut up

2 cups self rising flour (White Lily is good)

3/4 cup buttermilk

2 tablespoons melted butter

 

Preheat oven to 425ºF.  Cut butter in flour w/ pastry cutter.  Add buttermilk and stir just until all dry ingredients are incorporated.   Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and gently knead or fold over itself 4-5 times.    Folding creates multiple layers of dough and fat, giving rise to a tender, fluffy biscuit. 

Pat or roll to ¾” thick; cut with a round biscuit cutter.  Pat or roll to ¾” thick; cut with a round biscuit cutter.   Bake for 12-14 minutes. Brush with melted butter fresh from the oven.  Serve warm.

Yield:  12-14 (1½”) biscuits or 7 (2½”) biscuits

.

Recipe courtesy of Southern Living Magazine

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Link of the Week

Sugar, Spice, and a Little Bit of Life


...

Run over and check out Jana's very entertaining blog.  There's recipes, crafts, awesome cakes, and great photography for you to enjoy.

...



...

 

Tomorrow, stop back in for a great homemade biscuit recipe!

...

Monday, January 4, 2010

Top Recipes of 2009

This past year I've tried to become more faithful to blogging. 


I just want to say Thanks to all who've posted a comment, sent an email, or just stopped by to look at my little spot on the web.   I hope you've enjoyed your time spent here.


Happy New Year!


...oOOo......oOOo......oOOo......oOOo......oOOo......oOOo...


.



Now I'd like to share the top recipes of 2009.


...

Coming in at #1 is...

.

Low Carb Deep Fried Cauliflower



...

Everyone's wanting to know how to cook venison...OR mention the word bacon in a post and get all kinds of results!

 

Grilled Bacon Wrapped Deer Tenderloin



...

Not far behind is

Beefy Rotel Cheese Dip



.

then...

Low Carb Peanut Butter Cookies



...

 

and finally some Southern Low Carb deliciousness...

Skillet Fried Cabbage with Bacon


 


Looks like Southern Style and Low Carb wins this past year!


...


Stay tuned for more great recipes coming up this week.  I'll be sharing a killer Pecan Pie Bar Recipe and how to make great  Buttermilk Biscuits!