I AM BACK - BELIEVE IT OR NOT

Hello - I hope someone  is reading this!  I've been off so long I am not sure if anyone is still checking me out or not.  Why have I been gone so long???  Well - my dear husband says I have been just playing "those games" and forgotten my mission!   I have played games - but it is usually early in the morning, Sunday after church, after I am ready for bed and at lunch. Whatever -- I guess the real reason is I didn't know what to say - I want this blog to be awesome and I think right now this blog is ordinary.  How do I make it awesome?  I've seen some that are!!!  Any ideas?  I've really been thinking about it.  What can I do?  How can it make it a popular site - one that entertains, one that informs, one that draws comments!  So - here I am -- what do I say.  I can vent - I can give you some awesome recipes - guaranteed to be delicious -- but entertain- I doubt it. 

So much has happened since I last posted on like April 24 - almost a month ago.  One thing that remains in my mind is the funeral of a little angel - 15 days old.  I was so sick with bronchitis - but I had to get there and be there. God gave me the strength and determination to do it.  Lots happened - our preacher, Mark - said just the right things - but what got me was watching the mother as balloons were released by chosen family members. SHe focused on one balloon and watched it until it was completely out of site.  I personally think  that in her mind she was watching her precioous little daughter go straight to Heaven -- which we know she did. 
Then last week I attended the funeral of a dear husband  that went to Heaven way before his time. Only 42 - leaving 5 children - and a wife that loved him very much.  So, so sad.  The wife and small children have been in our prayers and will continue to be.

My husband is working way too hard - especially for his age -- trying to meet a deadline to have three awesome buildings dubbed "cabins" - but the outside looks like beautiful lodges with huge cedar posts and awesome cedar doors and huge deck - all in cedar.  He had nothing to do with the inside - which really disappointed me.  Reminds me of the only Motel 6 I stayed in years ago. He works most every Saturday - late every day trying to meet the time frame he has.  IT is definitely not his fault that he is not already finished - other people keep changing their mind and he has to stop progress and make changes.  Of course - I am disburbed about all of this -- one of our rooms leaks tons of water when it rains due to our starting a new outdoor kitchen that sits for almost a year unfinished - but that is how loyal he is to his job.

I am really very proud of him and the work he has done - but even more proud that he was introduced as a new Deacon at our church..  I am so thankful they recognize his dedication, his love of Christ, and his abilities.  He can build anything and has such an insight! 

Oh - yes - this blog is suppose to be about recipes and cooking.  Just one more rant and then I have a couple of great recipes for you.  Have you ever attended a Dance Recital?  Well - I think I just attended my last one last Saturday evening.  I took my sister and niece to Caldwell and we arrived a little before 5:30.  My job was to go in and find us a place to sit.  To my surprise and aggrevation, rows and rows of seats were taped off.   My sister said the instructor had announced at rehersal to not tape off seats - that to get a good seat - people should arrive early.  Not the case - it was cut- thoat and rude.  I finally found us a seat - not good and I was there an hour before show started.  I saw people came in and had a perfect seat!! Besides that -- I could not believe the parents (Mom's) that were painting their little girls with more make up than call girls probably wear.  Like I said - I won't go back!!!
Okay - if you are still with me -- let's cook.  Today I watched a tad of Rachel Ray - yes I was eating that late -- and she gave a couple of great hints - some I've never known.  One was if you want little dainty ribbons of basil to sprinkle on a soup or salad or whatever -- take a small bunch ( probably 10 stalks), roll them up in tight little roll, then with sharp knife - tucking fingers under, start at one end and slice to the other end -- keeping point of knife on cutting board.  Really awesome!!!  You could do anything like cilantro or basil for soups, salsa, etc.  The other tip was how to chop an onion.  In school we probably learned to cut slices and then cut and then the other way and chop.  She said the onion is already in layers and she said just cut the onion in half  - top and bottom - turn one half over and sit down on cutting board so it will lay flat.  Then slice through and then cut again and you have chopped onion.  Cuts out a step.  Wish I had a picture to show you!  Maybe I can get someone to film me doing it!!!  

Here is a neat dessert!  It was one of my Mom's friend's favorite recipe to take to functions or when she had ladies over for a work day.

MAMIE'S PINEAPPLE ANGEL FOOD CAKE\

1 Angel Food Cake Mix
1 Can Crushed Pineapple

Mix cake mix with pineapple per boxed instuctions - ommitting water- as instructed on box.  Bake as directed.  DELICIOUS!!!

Here is one of my Mom's recipes that I didn't even know she had.  SHe started talking about it and it sounds great.

LAYERED HOMINY CASSEROLE

1 large onion, chopped (remember how I told you to chop!)
1 stick -- her recipe said Margarine - I don't use that - so use butter (healthier!)
3  (16 oz.) cans Hominy
2 cans Cream of Mushroom soup
1 -12 oz. can Cheese Whiz with jalapenos - don't think you can find this - I suggest Tostato's Cheese Queso (by the Fritos)
5 Cups Fritos, chopped
Dash of Garlic - can't believe my Mom used Garlic - she says she hates it
Dash of pepper - probably about 1/2 tsp.
Dash of cayenne pepper (probably about 1/8th tsp.)

Saute onion in butter.  Chadd Cheese Whiz, set aside.  Mix soup, garlic, pepper, and cayenne pepper.  Layer hominy, soup, cheese Whiz mixture, Fritos. Make two layers. Top with Fritos.  Heat 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Enjoy!

Have a blessed evening. Philipians 2:3 and 4 - says:  "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  (4) Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others."

Ok - we have our marching instructions - go help some someone - go find someone that needs encouragement - find someone who is hurting -- with our help - no telling what we might accomplish, how we might encourage them.  We don't really know how just encouraging words might lift them up.  So - please find someone that you know your heart aches for - AND LET THEM KNOW.  
Thank you so much for not forgetting me and checking in!!