Hello friends - I am a day late on keeping my promise of posting at least once a week but when I got home after two hours in the horrific heat, I was beat!! The two hours were so much fun for the kids. They had a ball - kids from toddlers sitting in puddles of water and splashing to teens seeing how long they could stand in a pool of ice! Crazy kids - but they make all the work worthwhile. No I don't have a child or grandchild to watch - but I have a wonderful 9 year old niece that I love as much as I could ever love anyone there - and just seeing her joy and the joy of the others was worth two hours of misery!
Last week was a great week - besides being Travis and my Sundance Square and had dinner at Reata's. We had a really great time - except we when went to Ranger game on Wednesday night(Travis reequest for his birthday night) - yes - that is the night they lost 2-13. Great seats and the temperature dropping to 84 didn't ease the pain of watching the horrible game. So bad in fact, we left at the bottom of the seventh! Our trip did include lots of good food - all either Mexican or with a Southwest flavor!! As always Reata's was great! Then we came home and got ready forMaura's 9th birthday swim party on Saturday. The girls had a great time and we "call it" a success!
Now here is somegood "non-cook" tips! I was tired and although we were having Pizza, I could not bring myself to labor and make some great appetisers, so I was at Brookshire's and checked out their deli packaged dips. I had enjoyed the Cajun spicy Salmon dip and it was great. I chose and bought the Artichote/Spinach Cajun Spicy dip. I also made bruchetta bread and had a Bruchetta that was a Harry and David product and wheat thin crackers. The hit was the Artichote/Spinach dip - I was enjoying the ooo's and ah's until someone said they "had to have the recipe." Since a "lie" is the same sin (in God's eyes) as murder, I confessed and told them where they could buy it! They were elated!! So sometimes deciding to not work yourself ragged and buying a quality product is worth it!!
I think I posted this a long time ago - but yesterday I also had signed up to bring either cookies or brownies - and at 3:00 after cooking for church luncheon, and rushing to celebrate Maura's "family" party - I had to rush home and make brownies. This is the recipe I used - and they truly are delicious brownies. Of course I had almost the entire recipe to bring home because kids want a cookie they can grab and run! I took them to work to reinforce my confidence and it is restored - they were eaten by lunchtime! So here is the recipe I used.
Ann's Brownies
2 sticks butter, softened
1/3 cup cocoa
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 cups flour
1-1/2 cups chopped pecans
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix the butter, sugar, eggs, cocoa and vanilla flavorin. Add dry ingredients. Lightly grease a jellyroll pan (15 x 11 inch) for thin or 11X13 pan (I used a 12 x 12) pan and spread in pan of your choice and bake at 350 degrees. (20 minutes for cookie sheet and about 25 for other pans!)
Enjoy!!!
Here is another I posted at the very first! 2009 is when this began - even I can't believe that!!
APPLE TORTILLAS
8 flour tortillas
1 can apple pie filling
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup water.
Several drops of red cake coloring (totally optional)
Cinnamon
Combine sugar, butter, water and heat to a boil. Add red coloring. Place one or two tablespoons of pie mix into each tortilla and roll. Place into Pyrex dish (approximately 8 X 8). (You may add a dash of cinnamon to filling before putting into tortilla.) Pour hot sugar mixture over tortillas. Sprinkle cinnamon on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serve hot with ice cream or Cool Whip.
The next time I get to blog I will tell you about Sunday's sermon and Keri Fidone's awesome painting that Travis mounted and put black lights on to demonstrate Mark's sermon! The next one she painted that will be used this Sunday will blow you away!
Think!!! WHAT can you do that could do for someone that would enrich their life and make them believe more fully in the power of prayer! Do it - and God will reward you with a feeling better than even the recipient has! TRY IT! You will be blessed!!!! Good night!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
THOUGHTS, BISCUITS AND PIE!
Good evening! I had no idea that I had been so lazy for so long. This hot weather has zapped my energy and enthusiam for almost everything. But it is good to sit here and think about my readers and what I promised! The cooks at church take off June, July and August and it has been a nice resite! I picked September 21 and I haven't yet decided what to have. I am trying to think of something really good that everyone will love!
The past two Sundays have been really special. All of the women are meeting in 1/2 of the fellowship room and the turn out has been amazing. We are there to hear Dianne and Barbara teach us about God! The first lesson was "God is God." (Period) Not "God is God but ....." We were challenged to let that thought preoccupy our minds that week and see what God can do that we can't! I soon had an opportunity to experience it off hand. We are getting a new person and they wanted him to have a corner office on our end of the building. Three of the four corners are taken. My office is one of them. We were all upset about the possibility of losing our office and having been there longer than anyone - I felt really disgruntled about it - and then I remembered notmy office already had a connection for the monitor that stocks can be tracked with so when he showed up looking the offices over, I told him mine was the logical one and it was fine with me. He was really grateful and thanked me in front of our office meeting. So thank you ladies for reminding me of that great truth! This week it was about the little word "IF" and how looking back at mistakes doesn't get us anywhere - and God doesn't even remember it! They also talked about how things from the past - no matter how small it might seem to someone else - can affect us all our life. I definitely could relate to the story by Diane about how she and two other girls were friends but she always felt she was on the outside looking in. I had the very same thing in my life. My two best friends were best of friends with one another - and I knew they did lots of things together without me! Barbara talked about how something someone said to her so long ago affected her throughout her life. Oh how I can relate. At church one Sunday, my "best" friend and her sister told me to not sing because I could not carry a tune and they could hear me. To this day, I am self conscious about singing and if I am sitting behind people, I try to not sing or not very loud at all. Sometimes I just mouth the words and pray God will hear me! We should be so conscious of what we say and how we might hurt someone for the rest of their life!
I've got to be honest - I've not done much cooking lately -- Travis doesn't want the oven or burners on any more that we have to - trying to conserve energy! I do have a couple of recipes that you might enjoy trying. One is a biscuit recipe and the other is a new Lemon Pie recipe!
HATCH GREEN CHILE BISCUITS WITH JALAPENO CHEESE
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup shortning or unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
2 cups flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tbsp granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
2/3 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup Hatch chiles, chopped
Parchment paper
1 lb. Pimento cheese
3 jalapenos, seeded and minced
INSTRUCTIONS
For the biscuits, place the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt, and cayenne pepper in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the shortning and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the buttermilk in a stream, processing constantly. Add the chiles and process until the mixture forms a ball. Knead 4 or 5 times on a floured surface and roll1/2 inch thick. Cut into 1-1/2 inch circles. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
For the Jalapeno Cheese, combine the pimento cheese and jalapeno chiles in a bowl and mix well. Chill, covered for 30 minutes or for up to a day.
Arrange biscuits on a place and serve with jalapeno cheese!
LEMON PIE
(Super easy and very tasty!)
1 Graham Cracker crust
2 eggs, separated
1 Can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup lemon juice
Beat egg yolks well. Add Eagle Brand milk and vanilla. Add 1/4 cup lemon juice. Beat until well blended. Pour into crust. Take egg whites and make small amount of meringue and cover top of pie with meringue and bake 15 minutes at 350 degree. You could also add a couple of egg whites and make a nicer meringue!! Or you could top with whipped cream after pie cools!!!
Have a blessed evening and another and again - look for something to do for someone besides yourself. God will bless you for blessing someone else.
The past two Sundays have been really special. All of the women are meeting in 1/2 of the fellowship room and the turn out has been amazing. We are there to hear Dianne and Barbara teach us about God! The first lesson was "God is God." (Period) Not "God is God but ....." We were challenged to let that thought preoccupy our minds that week and see what God can do that we can't! I soon had an opportunity to experience it off hand. We are getting a new person and they wanted him to have a corner office on our end of the building. Three of the four corners are taken. My office is one of them. We were all upset about the possibility of losing our office and having been there longer than anyone - I felt really disgruntled about it - and then I remembered notmy office already had a connection for the monitor that stocks can be tracked with so when he showed up looking the offices over, I told him mine was the logical one and it was fine with me. He was really grateful and thanked me in front of our office meeting. So thank you ladies for reminding me of that great truth! This week it was about the little word "IF" and how looking back at mistakes doesn't get us anywhere - and God doesn't even remember it! They also talked about how things from the past - no matter how small it might seem to someone else - can affect us all our life. I definitely could relate to the story by Diane about how she and two other girls were friends but she always felt she was on the outside looking in. I had the very same thing in my life. My two best friends were best of friends with one another - and I knew they did lots of things together without me! Barbara talked about how something someone said to her so long ago affected her throughout her life. Oh how I can relate. At church one Sunday, my "best" friend and her sister told me to not sing because I could not carry a tune and they could hear me. To this day, I am self conscious about singing and if I am sitting behind people, I try to not sing or not very loud at all. Sometimes I just mouth the words and pray God will hear me! We should be so conscious of what we say and how we might hurt someone for the rest of their life!
I've got to be honest - I've not done much cooking lately -- Travis doesn't want the oven or burners on any more that we have to - trying to conserve energy! I do have a couple of recipes that you might enjoy trying. One is a biscuit recipe and the other is a new Lemon Pie recipe!
HATCH GREEN CHILE BISCUITS WITH JALAPENO CHEESE
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup shortning or unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
2 cups flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tbsp granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
2/3 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup Hatch chiles, chopped
Parchment paper
1 lb. Pimento cheese
3 jalapenos, seeded and minced
INSTRUCTIONS
For the biscuits, place the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt, and cayenne pepper in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the shortning and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the buttermilk in a stream, processing constantly. Add the chiles and process until the mixture forms a ball. Knead 4 or 5 times on a floured surface and roll1/2 inch thick. Cut into 1-1/2 inch circles. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
For the Jalapeno Cheese, combine the pimento cheese and jalapeno chiles in a bowl and mix well. Chill, covered for 30 minutes or for up to a day.
Arrange biscuits on a place and serve with jalapeno cheese!
LEMON PIE
(Super easy and very tasty!)
1 Graham Cracker crust
2 eggs, separated
1 Can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup lemon juice
Beat egg yolks well. Add Eagle Brand milk and vanilla. Add 1/4 cup lemon juice. Beat until well blended. Pour into crust. Take egg whites and make small amount of meringue and cover top of pie with meringue and bake 15 minutes at 350 degree. You could also add a couple of egg whites and make a nicer meringue!! Or you could top with whipped cream after pie cools!!!
Have a blessed evening and another and again - look for something to do for someone besides yourself. God will bless you for blessing someone else.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
SUNDAY AGAIN - ANOTHER HOT WEEK COMING
Hello again! It's that stranger coming to you once again! I have really been busy and it has been so hot that by the time I get home I don't want to do anything. I started and stopped a new hobby with only one try! I will never become :Queen of the Smoker!" Smoker as in smoking meat and getting up at midnight to check it! Travis decided he wanted to try smoking brisket,and according to one "expert" - it is the hardest of all meats to smoke, but he nailed it the first time! Second time, he got a roaring fire going and went to bed and yes - he had chopped beef! So I decided to try the "easiest" meats according to the expert -- I made my own rub - well following a recipe in the cookbook by the owner of the famous Reata restaurant. WELL - I decided it was a little bland so I added cayenne pepper and it was definitely better! It cooked perfectly and the three little chickens were even better! But I am just not cut out for watching something that long -- making sure the fire stays perfect! Guess I will just stick to putting it in the oven and letting the electricity control the temperature!!!
Ok - I took a new dip to our Spa night and it was a hit! I had looked for a large dip that was different - but easy and had the ingredients that I already had! Had lots of people wanting the recipe and it really is so easy and very good. Here it is:
MARTHA'S HOT ALMOND SPREAD
"Sliced almonds garnish this hot cheese mixture before it goes in the over - the result is a pleasant crunch that accompanies every bite!"
INGREDIENTS:
1 - 8 oz. package cream cheese
1/3 cup mayonnaise
3 green onions, chopped
1 pinch ground pepper
1 pinch ground nutmeg
8 oz. shredded Swiss cheese
1/4 cups sliced almonds
1 Tsp. minced garlic
1/4 Tsp. cayenne pepper
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, onions, pepper and nutmeg. Stir in the Swiss cheese. Transfer to a small overproof glass bowl. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the almonds on top.
3. Bake for 7 minutes. Stir, and bake for an additional 8 minutes. Sprinkle remaining almonds on top, and serve. (I used already toasted almonds!)TIP: Toast a lot of almonds and put them in the freezer and they are ready when needed! NOTE: I doubled the recipe except for the Swiss cheese - just used the one 8 oz. bag of cheese!!! ENJOY!!!
Oh! I have to send out some Roses to a grocery store that is living up to its name!
Over the weekend I was looking for a Pork Shoulder or some call it Pork butt so I first went to Sam's where there was no such thing! Then I went to Brookshires on Rice Road - where I not only didn't find what I was looking for - but got no help from the Butcher. I also needed small chickens to smoke -- about three lbs. are best. Brookshires' chickens were closer to five pounds each and frozen. Feeling a little defeated and wondering what I could serve for my sister's birthday meal the following day (Sunday), I decided to try Fresh! I immediately found wonderful little chickens that weighed about three pounds each. Check out the pork and didn't find anything but boneless pork loins. A nice lady was putting out more and asked if she could help me. I explained what I needed and she looked and said "I can have the butcher cut you one!" How great - in about 5 minutes I had the exact size I got the exact size I needed! WOW - WHAT SERVICE -- AND IT WAS FRESH TOO!! My entire shopping at Fresh yesterday was Refreshing and great!!!!
I don't really have any words of wisdom to give tonight - just my prayer that we each continue to look for opportunities to help others!
Ok - I took a new dip to our Spa night and it was a hit! I had looked for a large dip that was different - but easy and had the ingredients that I already had! Had lots of people wanting the recipe and it really is so easy and very good. Here it is:
MARTHA'S HOT ALMOND SPREAD
"Sliced almonds garnish this hot cheese mixture before it goes in the over - the result is a pleasant crunch that accompanies every bite!"
INGREDIENTS:
1 - 8 oz. package cream cheese
1/3 cup mayonnaise
3 green onions, chopped
1 pinch ground pepper
1 pinch ground nutmeg
8 oz. shredded Swiss cheese
1/4 cups sliced almonds
1 Tsp. minced garlic
1/4 Tsp. cayenne pepper
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, onions, pepper and nutmeg. Stir in the Swiss cheese. Transfer to a small overproof glass bowl. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the almonds on top.
3. Bake for 7 minutes. Stir, and bake for an additional 8 minutes. Sprinkle remaining almonds on top, and serve. (I used already toasted almonds!)TIP: Toast a lot of almonds and put them in the freezer and they are ready when needed! NOTE: I doubled the recipe except for the Swiss cheese - just used the one 8 oz. bag of cheese!!! ENJOY!!!
Oh! I have to send out some Roses to a grocery store that is living up to its name!
Over the weekend I was looking for a Pork Shoulder or some call it Pork butt so I first went to Sam's where there was no such thing! Then I went to Brookshires on Rice Road - where I not only didn't find what I was looking for - but got no help from the Butcher. I also needed small chickens to smoke -- about three lbs. are best. Brookshires' chickens were closer to five pounds each and frozen. Feeling a little defeated and wondering what I could serve for my sister's birthday meal the following day (Sunday), I decided to try Fresh! I immediately found wonderful little chickens that weighed about three pounds each. Check out the pork and didn't find anything but boneless pork loins. A nice lady was putting out more and asked if she could help me. I explained what I needed and she looked and said "I can have the butcher cut you one!" How great - in about 5 minutes I had the exact size I got the exact size I needed! WOW - WHAT SERVICE -- AND IT WAS FRESH TOO!! My entire shopping at Fresh yesterday was Refreshing and great!!!!
I don't really have any words of wisdom to give tonight - just my prayer that we each continue to look for opportunities to help others!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
IT IS PAST TIME - SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED
Good evening! Time to reacquaint myself. How are you! I am taking the time to visit a while. So many wonderful things have happened and so many sad things have taken place - but that is life as we travel this road - waiting on our Heavenly home!
I guess one of the greatest things that has happened that I was involved in was "Ladies Spa Night" at Shiloh last Friday night. Barbara Warner and I got together and threw together a plan. Have you ever had a plan develop even better than you can imagine? Well that is when a Godly woman and God help you! Our spa night was awesome and I give Barbara and God all the praise and Glory! WE had about 65 women there - young mothers with children to great grandmothers. A beautiful sight! Style Salon and Day Spa could not have helped more. Leigh Ann - hair stylist, Cassidy make up expert and Haleigh and her chair massage therapy were the hit of the night! Many door prises were handed out and we had food left over! Yes -= it was sandwiches - but homemade ones!
Of course - with a crowd that large - there is bound to be a couple of incidents - suspected heart attack, and perhaps a concussion when another fell. But as we've said over and over and over - God is good and he hears the prayer of a righteous man (woman!). One didn't have a heart attack and the other didn't have a concussion. Scary though - but God is so good!
On June 27 I posted a recipe "Texas Strawberry Shortcake" and at the time I had not tried it. Well - now I have and it is wonderful!!! I have made it about three time and about Thursday I will make three recipes of it for Travis !Try it -- it is so easy and everyone things it is tops!!!
Tonight I want to give you a Lemon Pie recipe that is supposedly foolproof - if you carefully read and follow the recipe and COMMON SENSE!
LEMON PIE
2 EGG YOlKS, BEATEN WELL
1 Can Eagle Brand Milk or whatever Sweetened Condensed Milk you choose
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring.(You know I don't think there is another one except Mexican flavoring!)
2 to 4 egg while, beaten until frothy
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1 small Graham Cracker crust
Beat egg yolks well; add Eagle brand milk, combining well. Add lemon juice and vanilla flavoring. Beat well. Pour into a small (either cake pan or 8 inch cake pan). Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
While it is cooking, combine the egg whites and 1 Tablespoon baking powder and beat until it begins to hold mounds. Then slowly add sugar and beat until puffy. Pour over pie and return to oven until Meringe is set and lightly browned!
This will be wonderful if you do as I say - not what I've done!!**
Allow to cool down and then refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Slice and enjoy!! ** WHAT I DID was drop lemon juice into the egg whites by mistake and have to add powdered sugar to reach a good consistency!
Well time is playing out on me! I am so tired!! I am going to sign off and I won't make any promises but hopefully I will be able to write again soon.! Hope you enjoy and are practicing "helping others.
I guess one of the greatest things that has happened that I was involved in was "Ladies Spa Night" at Shiloh last Friday night. Barbara Warner and I got together and threw together a plan. Have you ever had a plan develop even better than you can imagine? Well that is when a Godly woman and God help you! Our spa night was awesome and I give Barbara and God all the praise and Glory! WE had about 65 women there - young mothers with children to great grandmothers. A beautiful sight! Style Salon and Day Spa could not have helped more. Leigh Ann - hair stylist, Cassidy make up expert and Haleigh and her chair massage therapy were the hit of the night! Many door prises were handed out and we had food left over! Yes -= it was sandwiches - but homemade ones!
Of course - with a crowd that large - there is bound to be a couple of incidents - suspected heart attack, and perhaps a concussion when another fell. But as we've said over and over and over - God is good and he hears the prayer of a righteous man (woman!). One didn't have a heart attack and the other didn't have a concussion. Scary though - but God is so good!
On June 27 I posted a recipe "Texas Strawberry Shortcake" and at the time I had not tried it. Well - now I have and it is wonderful!!! I have made it about three time and about Thursday I will make three recipes of it for Travis !Try it -- it is so easy and everyone things it is tops!!!
Tonight I want to give you a Lemon Pie recipe that is supposedly foolproof - if you carefully read and follow the recipe and COMMON SENSE!
LEMON PIE
2 EGG YOlKS, BEATEN WELL
1 Can Eagle Brand Milk or whatever Sweetened Condensed Milk you choose
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring.(You know I don't think there is another one except Mexican flavoring!)
2 to 4 egg while, beaten until frothy
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1 small Graham Cracker crust
Beat egg yolks well; add Eagle brand milk, combining well. Add lemon juice and vanilla flavoring. Beat well. Pour into a small (either cake pan or 8 inch cake pan). Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
While it is cooking, combine the egg whites and 1 Tablespoon baking powder and beat until it begins to hold mounds. Then slowly add sugar and beat until puffy. Pour over pie and return to oven until Meringe is set and lightly browned!
This will be wonderful if you do as I say - not what I've done!!**
Allow to cool down and then refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Slice and enjoy!! ** WHAT I DID was drop lemon juice into the egg whites by mistake and have to add powdered sugar to reach a good consistency!
Well time is playing out on me! I am so tired!! I am going to sign off and I won't make any promises but hopefully I will be able to write again soon.! Hope you enjoy and are practicing "helping others.
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