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.

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

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

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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.

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Everything turned out to be delicious!

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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.

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

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

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Spread shredded lettuce over the salsa layer.

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

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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)

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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.

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.

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Sledding down the hill is so much fun!

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But, I'm ready for this

WARM weather, SUN, and WATER!

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.

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!

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)

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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.

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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!

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Printable Recipe

 

National Pie Day - January 23rd

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

yet delicious pie recipes.

...

 

Chocolate Fudge Pie

 Printable Recipe

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Aunt Mary's Chess Pie

Printable Recipe

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Southern Pecan Pie

Printable Recipe

Simple and Easy Sweet Pea Salad

My brother is a big fan of Sweet Pea Salad and

introduced me to this recipe.

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

choose to eat them

this way.

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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.

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You know it just feels good to do something for somebody

that's unable to do for themselves. 

What a treat!  for us both.

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 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.

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]

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

 

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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!

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]

Forkland Fall Festival yummies

As I promised...

[caption id="attachment_848" align="alignnone" width="499" caption="Forkland Festival"][/caption]

here's the Forkland Festival food pics.  Yum, yum!

 

[caption id="attachment_841" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Country Ham and Biscuit"][/caption]

I was so busy taking pics of other people's food in between bites of yummy CH&B, that I only got a pic of my last little bit.  I passed over the Ribeye Sandwich for this delicious Country Ham and Biscuit.

 

[caption id="attachment_840" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Chili Cheese Fries"][/caption]

My youngest daughter went for the Chili Cheese Fries, her favorite.

 

[caption id="attachment_845" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Ribeye Sandwich"][/caption]

My hubby's Ribeye Sandwich.  They cook onions and peppers to top the ribeyes right on site.  The smell is wonderful and draws a big crowd.

 

[caption id="attachment_839" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Yummy Butterfly Fries"][/caption]

Butterfly Fries are a festival favorite and big time seller.

 

[caption id="attachment_846" align="alignnone" width="445" caption="Hot Roasted Corn with butter"][/caption]

My older daughter picked up some roasted corn.  I think we all had a bite of this hot, buttery treat.

 

[caption id="attachment_842" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Funnel Cake"][/caption]

And last but not least, my hubby's all time favorite, Funnel Cake.

 

While at the festival, we also purchased a homemade fried Apple Pie and a jar of Honey to take with us.  

 

The Forkland Festival is a must on our fall vacation event list.  If you're ever in that area in October, be sure and stop by.

For more information on this wonderful fall festival, go here.

Fall Festival time in Kentucky

We love spending time with our family in Kentucky. 

We always try to make it to the Forkland Festival in October.  Since I wasn't cooking I got to take some picture of festival food which I'll be posting soon.

My husband and daughters went fishing and returned with enough for a good size meal. 

Below is today's dinner.



Fried Crappie and Bass

Homemade Hush Puppies

Home canned Green Beans

Homemade Mac & Cheese

Fried Potatoes (it's been so long!)

Garlic Texas Toast (by special order from my youngest)

 

My hips will never forgive me!

Beating Cancer

Note:  Please forgive this discombobulated post.  I felt to write about this today, but I'm very busy and have had many interruptions today, so my writing may be a little hard to follow.

My friend's mom has cancer. 

So many people are affected in some way with this horrible disease.

 My friend's mom...let's call her Bev...has a very positive outlook on life, even though the doctors have done almost all they can for her.  Bev is a very active woman and is always encouraging others.

 The other day, Bev received a phone call from a lady telling her about her cancer story.  How she had been given up to die 6 years ago and decided to live to the best of her ablility.  She said she is now cancer free.

 This lady shared with Bev what she now eats.



Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.  No canned or frozen.



 

No white potatoes, only red.

No sugar or Splenda, only Stevia.

No margerine, only real butter.

Only a very small amount of pasta.

 



Green tea.

 



Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

 



Fresh herbs.

 

And lots of garlic.



Lots of garlic...up to 6 "pods" per day.

 

Bev is excited, uplifted, and encouraged.  Hopefully I'll be back in a few months telling you that Bev has beaten cancer!

 

My mom also has cancer,  since 2003.  A rare sinus cancer.  She has had chemotherapy and all the radiation that she can have.  Her only hope is a very drastic surgery involving removing most of the left side of her face, then rebuilding with bone and skin taken from her leg and arm.  She decided against the surgery.  I hope to be able to encourage her to follow the diet that Bev is following.  Maybe some of Bev's excitement will encourage my mom to hope again.



 

If you pray, please say a prayer for my mom, Genelle, and for my friend's mom, Bev.  These are two very special ladies and we need them around a while longer.

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More information on foods to boost health can be found at WebMD.

*Images courtesy of Microsoft

Skillet Fried Cabbage with Bacon

I'm sick of things I can eat with my fingers! 

I needed something to eat with a fork.  I was wanting something green and yummy and fried cabbage with bacon came to mind.  This is one of my favorite vegetable dishes, with lots more flavor than just boiled cabbage which is more common here in the South.

Grab some sliced bacon, dice it and throw it in a skillet over medium heat.  As it cooks, cut a head of cabbage in half and chop it into nice size pieces.



After the bacon is crispy, remove it from the skillet and let it drain on a paper towel.  Reserve all but about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease.  Add the chopped cabbage and some diced onion into the skillet.  Cook for about 10-15 minutes or until the cabbage is done but still has a little crunch left.

Put into pretty dish and top with the crispy bacon pieces.  Eat all by itself or with the meat of your choice.  I chose a nice medium sized pork chop.  See my lowcarb page for the plated meal.  Enjoy!

Sun Tea

My Handyman hates when I throw big jars away, or medium size jars, or even small jars.   He sees the jar as a potential iced tea glass. 

So, what else to do with his large empty pickle jar?  After thoroughly cleaning and airing out the jar to get rid of the pickle taste, I filled the jar with water, added a couple of tea bags and set it outside in the hot sun.  A few hours later I had Sun Tea.  

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SUN TEA

1 gal. cold water
2 family size tea bags

Place cold water in large glass jar.  Add tea bags.  Close lid and loosen a little. Put in sun until water is dark, 3 - 5 hours.  Remove tea bags, sweeten with sugar to taste.  Stir well. Pour over a tall glass of ice.  Optional, garnish with a slice of lemon or lime.

~

Simple Suppers

Sometimes some of the best suppers come from the hands of friends and family.

Fried Pork Tenderloin, fresh from the H Farms in Kentucky and courtesy of my dear sister-in-law, Dorothy.  We never leave Dorothy's without a cooler packed with meat and jars of home-canned greenbeans and vegetable soup. 



Longing for simplicity and lacking in time, I decided to fry the fresh pork tenderloin for supper.  It's supper in the South, you know.  Dinner is at noon.  :D

The tomatoes are from my father's garden.  He delivered those to me at work, along with a large bag of sweet bell peppers.  I will slice and freeze most of those for future use. 

To complete the simple meal, I threw together some drop biscuits using a pre-made baking mix.  My girls seem to think that drop biscuits are a gourmet treat.   Gone are the days of actually rolling the dough.  Those are just plain biscuits!  Whatever they want to think.  Drop biscuits are so easy, I don't think I'll explain the difference to them just yet.