7 Layer Taco Dip and Party food!

My youngest turned 12 on Valentine's Day. 

We had already passed out party invitations for Saturday, when I found out my mom would be having emergency surgery on her broken hip on Saturday morning.

.

Mom came through the surgery just fine!  We are so thankful.

.

I spent my morning at the hospital with her and around lunch quickly ran home and started getting the party food together.

.

I had already planned the menu along with Brooklyn and we had everything ready to go.  My hubby made the Tuna Sandwiches while I was at the hospital and Brooklyn made the Ham Rolls the night before.

.

Everything turned out to be delicious!

.

Our Menu:

Cocktail Weiners

7 Layer Mexican Dip and chips

Tuna Sandwiches

Ham Rolls (will share recipe soon)

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries (these were yummy!)

Skillet Cake with pourable Chocolate Icing

...oOo...

So on to the 7 Layer Mexican Dip recipe!

This is my first time making it and believe me, I will make it again!

Combine the refried beans and taco seasoning.  Spread on a large plate or tray.

.

Spread the combined sour cream and cream cheese over the bean layer.

.

 

Spread the combined salsa or picante sauce ove the cream cheese/sour cream layer.

.

Spread shredded lettuce over the salsa layer.

.

Finally, top with shredded cheese and chopped green onions.  Grab some chips and dig in!

.

7 Layer Mexican Dip 

1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix

 1 (16 ounce) can refried beans

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 (16 ounce) container sour cream

1 (16 ounce) jar salsa or picante sauce

1 bunch chopped green onions

1 small head iceberg lettuce, shredded

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained (optional)

.

In a medium bowl, blend the taco seasoning mix and refried beans. Spread the mixture onto a large serving platter.

Mix the sour cream and cream cheese in a medium bowl. Spread over the refried beans.

Top the layers with salsa or picante sauce.  Place a layer of lettuce over sauce and top with Cheddar cheese and chopped onions.  Optional: Garnish with black olives.

Fried Cornbread and Hush Puppies

Nothing goes with white beans like Fried Cornbread. 

At a restaurant not too far away this is called the "Po' Boy Special".  It comes with a slice of Vidalia onion and a tall glass of iced sweet tea.

.

Last week we had some white beans flavored with baked ham and some fried cornbread.  I like Aunt Mary's Red Tomato Relish on my white beans.  Just a taste brings back sweet memories.

.

A couple nights later, my Handyman fried some fish and we made Hush Puppies.  Those were yummy, too.  My friend, Karen, has the best Hush Puppy recipe!

.

I'm sharing both these recipes today.

.

 

 



Fried Cornbread Fritters

1 cup of self rising white cornmeal
1 cup of buttermilk
3/4 cup of self-rising flour
1 egg, beaten

Mix the ingredients together and fry like pancakes on an oiled hot griddle or skillet.  Like pancakes, when you see the bubbles on top, it's time to flip them.  Another minute or so on that side and they should be done.  Remove to a serving plate and try not to pinch off the crispy edge while the others cook.  Good luck. :)

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

.

There are many opinions as to where the name "Hush Puppies" came from, but the general concensus is that the name has something to do with keeping dogs quiet.

.

"Hush puppies--golden-brown puffs invented to shush up the barking puppies at an outdoor feast; made by putting corn-bread batter into deep fat."

---American Heritage Cookbook, American Heritage [American Heritage:New York] 1964 (p. 128)



Karen's Hush Puppies

2 cups self-rising cornmeal mix

3 tablespoons self-rising flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1/4 cup diced onion

1/4 cup green bell pepper (omitted this time)

1 cup milk

1 egg, beaten

vegetable oil for deep-frying

.

In a deep fryer or heavy, deep skillet, heat 2 - 3 inches of oil over medium heat to 375°. 

In a mixing bowl, combine cornmeal mix, flour, sugar, onion, and pepper. Add milk and egg; mix well. Let stand for 5 minutes. Drop batter by tablespoons into hot oil. Fry until golden brown, turning several times. Drain on paper towels. Makes about 12 large  hush puppies.

Warm Cauliflower Bacon Salad with Ranch Dressing (low carb)

This is comfort food!  Try it soon.

Heat some olive oil and butter, OR bacon grease (yeah!) in a skillet

over medium heat. 

Add chopped cauliflower, diced onion, and some julienned radishes

(just happened to throw these in on a whim).

.

Heat until the vegetables are tender. 

Remove from heat and spoon into a warmed dish. 

Top with real bacon pieces, shredded cheese,

and homemade ranch dressing.

.

Warm Cauliflower Bacon Salad with Ranch Dressing

goes well with

steak, tenderloin,  pork chops, or meatloaf!

Warm Cauliflower Bacon Salad with Ranch Dressing

.

1 pkg cauliflower (frozen, then thawed)

3 radishes

1/4 cup diced onion

bacon grease, olive oil, or butter for sauteeing

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

bacon pieces

homemade ranch dressing

.

Heat some olive oil and butter, OR bacon grease in a skillet over medium heat.  Add chopped cauliflower, diced onion, and some julienned radishes.

Heat until the vegetables are tender.  Remove from heat and spoon into a warmed dish. 

Top with real bacon pieces, shredded cheese, and homemade ranch dressing.

 

My Mom and Happy Valentine's Day!

Sorry for the posting inactivity.  My mom fell and broke her hip.  She has been in the hospital for several days now and had surgery yesterday.

Since the surgery, she is doing better.  PT had her up and getting around today...even made her skip on one foot while holding on to her walker.

We are hoping and praying that she will be back home in the next few days.

...

Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Happy 12th  Birthday to my Valentine, Brooklyn!

I have some great recipes coming up on this site and some super saving ideas on my frugal site, so check back in soon.

It's Snowing...again.

Wow!  I can't remember the last time we had 2 snows

just within days of each other.

My hubby and girls are out walking in it right now.

It's just too cold for me.

I read where it's supposed to be windy and

cold tomorrow.

Yuck.  I dread it, but I'm trying to enjoy

the snow while it's here.

Then bring on the SPRING!

...

Pictures from our last snow

My daughter pulling my baby nephew on the sled.

.

Sledding down the hill is so much fun!

.

.

.

But, I'm ready for this

WARM weather, SUN, and WATER!

Who Dat? Dat's dem Saints!

Congratulations,

Drew Brees and Co.!

Super Bowl Party Time!

If you're planning a Super Bowl Party, here's some great recipes to get you started.

Whether it's burgers, wings, chips and dip, cake, brownies...lots of great recipes can be found online.

...

Below are some of my favorites places:

The Pioneer Woman Cooking

Tasty Kitchen

About's Super Bowl recipes and Party Tips

Deep South Dish

Taste of Home Super Bowl Recipes

...

No matter what you make, enjoy the game, family and friends and may the best team win!!!

 

Glazed Applesauce Pecan Snack Cake (no eggs)

Being blessed with several containers of applesauce,

I went in search of an easy applesauce cake or bread recipe.

I'm all about easy and quick recipes.

I like to know there's something yummy

baking in the oven

while I'm surfing the web or working

on my ever-growing

 pile of laundry,

but I don't want to spend a lot of time

on a recipe with tons of ingredients

that I probably

don't have anyway.

...

Yesterday the girls and my hubby went sledding (again!)

and so I decided to use

up some of

the applesauce I'd been blessed with.

I thought it'd be nice to

come home to a warm house

smelling like sugar and cinnamon. 

I found an easy  recipe here

and  tweaked it

according to my preferences.

The result was wonderful!

(That's right - no eggs!)

...

Quick. Simple. Easy.

Here's my tweaked version.  Make it soon!

Glazed Applesauce Pecan Snack Cake

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

pecan pieces, optional

.

Preheat oven to 350º.   Grease and flour a 9 inch square baking dish.  In a medium bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, and salt.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Dissolve baking soda into applesauce and mix into creamed butter.  Add flour mixture. Mix until smooth.

Pour batter into prepared dish.  Sprinkle pecan pieces over cake batter.  Bake at 350º for 30 -40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean.

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 T milk

2 T melted butter

.

Mix together and drizzle over slightly cooled cake.

.

CLICK  FOR PRINTABLE RECIPE