Showing posts with label photos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photos. Show all posts
Monday, March 29, 2010
No Shame in Storebought Cake
Cake seems to be my theme today. Only, I never shared the photos from the baby's ACTUAL birthday. It was on a Wednesday, smack dab in the middle of our school week... so I wasn't about to do the whole birthday party thing and ruin our homeschool momentum. I purchased a pre-made cake at the local grocery store and had her pop a little shamrock and leprechaun on it.
My baby was born on St. Patty's Day, so we tried to go for green, but they didn't have anything that color with buttercream icing. Buttercream is a must. So we opted for the primary colors instead. I'm sure he didn't mind. He probably thought that it tasted like heaven since he doesn't get a lot of sweets. I couldn't resist sharing this little collage of him digging in the cake like a steam shovel, and then we bathed him in the sink.
Isn't that how all first birthdays that are in the middle of the week play out?
This weekend we gave him a party so the family could join us and he could open presents and see his baby buddies. I posted all of the photos for that (including the owl cupcakes I made and pictures of the decorations) over at my 'real' blog today. Hop over and check them out!
- Heather
Friday, December 11, 2009
The Glorious Taco

I'm not sure I would be alive without tacos. I love breakfast tacos, meat tacos, and even my latest healthy lentil tacos. I might shrivel up and die if there were no such thing as tacos. So when you get a chance today, hug a Mexican. Tell them THANK YOU for their ingenious contribution to your menu.
I have found that everyone does Taco Night a little different. Being that I used to be a young kid who barely knew how to boil water when I got married, I figured I would share what I know about tacos - just in case someone out there needs to know... even though it seems really too easy to take up recipe-blog space. Who knows, maybe it might give someone out there who already knows how to cook some new ideas, too.
We make tacos about once a week or once every other week. I usually alternate them with Cheese Enchiladas or some other Mexican dish so that we can at least have Mexican (or Tex-Mex) one night a week.
FOR THE MEAT EATERS:
Everyone should know how to make tacos.
lean ground beef cooked with chopped onion
McCormick Taco Seasoning
pan-fried flour or corn tortillas (with butter or oil)
chopped lettuce
chopped tomato
shredded Mexican style cheese
sour cream
Serve with:
refried beans
Spanish rice

FOR THE BREAKFAST FANATIC:
Breakfast tacos are probably what Jesus eats now that he's in heaven.
eggs
butter
crisp thick bacon (fat chopped off)
pico de gallo (mixture of chopped onion, tomato, cilantro and jalapeno)
shredded cheese
warm, pan-fried flour tortillas (fried with a touch of butter)
Optional:
Salsa

FOR THE VEGETARIAN OR HEALTH-NUT:
A cow doesn't have to die for you to enjoy the yummy taste of a taco for dinner.
Lentil-Rice Casserole (with the right seasoning blend it subs as the meat)
Seasoning: Cumin, Coriander, Garlic, Salt, Pepper, Chili Powder, Jalapeno Tabasco, Onion, Cayenne...
pan-fried flour or corn tortillas (with butter or oil)
chopped lettuce
chopped tomato
shredded Mexican style cheese
sour cream
Serve with:
Dessert (because you saved some calories, right?)
Note: All tacos taste good with sweet tea. Not too sweet. Even breakfast tacos. Trust me. I know these things first hand.
Next up... what to do with Taco Leftovers...
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Technorati Tags: Food, Texas, Mexican, Meals, Spanish Rice, wonderful, Southwest, Recipe, Delicious, Side-Dish, Eat, Rice, Cook, Cooking, Tex-Mex
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Kristen's Wedding Cake

What is it about wedding cakes that make them all have 'issues'? Mine nearly fell over at my reception. Seems Kristen (although her day seemed nearly perfect) had the same trouble with hers.
Looks pretty, right? Well I don't know if it was the heat or what... but it started to lean and slide.

Her wedding party had to do 'cake surgery'. They cut the top off and set it up beside the bottom on another tray. The cake in the background is a TIRE cake. That was the groom's cake. Both were good, but the chocolate and butter-cream and cream-cheese frosted wedding cake was the most moist I have ever eaten.
I had two slices. Don't tell Kristen.

This is Morgan serving groom's cake.
I love the way those tires looked, but fondant icing is gross.
I'm happy for Kristen that the women who were hanging around waiting for some of that delicious cake caught it before it became a puddle on the dance floor!
Too bad you have to wait for a wedding to eat wedding cake!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
The Kitchen Challenge Refrigerator Chart... and My Frugal Failures
You probably are wondering what happened to the kitchen challenge. You know, the one that I was supposed to put up last Monday. Just like I'm wondering what happened to the linky that disappeared from the original post. Hmmmm. I can't speak for Mr. Linky, but I can tell you what my part in this dismal plot was: falling off the thrifty bandwagon.
It wasn't a little skid, folks. It was a leap. All that talk about saving money and not eating fast food? I plugged my ears and sang nanny-nanny-boo-boo. I had Jack in the Box, Red Robin, and Chick-Fil-A. I even had Mediterranean food, pizza and burgers from a place near my house that my mom brought over. I spent 150$ at Costco on the finest fruit you've ever tasted (granted that a large sum went to pay for the Reverse Osmosis water filter for the kitchen that now graces our sink). But, oh, those greasy burgers and cokes! Oh, that Mango! It was heavenly - nearly 8$ gone in less than 24 hours.
Then, last night, I actually refused to cook and pulled a frozen casserole out of the freezer. Used it right up! How thrifty was that? Wasting my stockpiles that I've been so carefully trying to store up. Well... at least I didn't go out to eat again. Heaven knows we can't afford it.
The only things I can really give myself credit for on the Kitchen Challenge last week:
1. Eating stale Christmas popcorn instead of chips with our sandwiches
2. Cereal for dinner one night the week before last
3. Making a chart for the refrigerator to track our meals at home/money spent on groceries
The first two aren't something I would recommend. Unless you really like cereal, of course. However, the third item on the list - the Kitchen Challenge Refrigerator Chart - has been a real eye-opener. Even if it socked me in the eye this week because of all the money we lost not being thrifty. It's great for all of us (even the kids) to SEE where our food-money is going and watch ourselves stretch the budget when we place each star on the chart for a meal eaten at home.

It's simple, really. All you need is a blank calendar and a pen. We mark a star for every meal we eat at home and we put a dollar sign and amount for every food-related purchase we spend. The object is to have three stars a day. Snacks don't count. We put an 'S' on the days that we do school, too - just for fun. I'm still thinking of what kind of rewards I'll give to us if we actually get a week with almost all stars - all the way across.
Like maybe a cruise to the Bahamas. Or a flat screen TV. Or not. Maybe something more in line with the budget would be: Ice Cream after church... or dinner at a favorite restaurant.
I don't think my failure to be thrifty this week deserves a linky, but if you have some encouragement or tips from your week as a frugal homemaker, please do drop them in to my comment box to cheer me up.

On another relevant note, frugality also requires you to do a lot more dishes. Another area that I seem to be needing help this week!
So how is your Thrifty Kitchen Challenge coming along?
It wasn't a little skid, folks. It was a leap. All that talk about saving money and not eating fast food? I plugged my ears and sang nanny-nanny-boo-boo. I had Jack in the Box, Red Robin, and Chick-Fil-A. I even had Mediterranean food, pizza and burgers from a place near my house that my mom brought over. I spent 150$ at Costco on the finest fruit you've ever tasted (granted that a large sum went to pay for the Reverse Osmosis water filter for the kitchen that now graces our sink). But, oh, those greasy burgers and cokes! Oh, that Mango! It was heavenly - nearly 8$ gone in less than 24 hours.
Then, last night, I actually refused to cook and pulled a frozen casserole out of the freezer. Used it right up! How thrifty was that? Wasting my stockpiles that I've been so carefully trying to store up. Well... at least I didn't go out to eat again. Heaven knows we can't afford it.
The only things I can really give myself credit for on the Kitchen Challenge last week:
1. Eating stale Christmas popcorn instead of chips with our sandwiches
2. Cereal for dinner one night the week before last
3. Making a chart for the refrigerator to track our meals at home/money spent on groceries
The first two aren't something I would recommend. Unless you really like cereal, of course. However, the third item on the list - the Kitchen Challenge Refrigerator Chart - has been a real eye-opener. Even if it socked me in the eye this week because of all the money we lost not being thrifty. It's great for all of us (even the kids) to SEE where our food-money is going and watch ourselves stretch the budget when we place each star on the chart for a meal eaten at home.

It's simple, really. All you need is a blank calendar and a pen. We mark a star for every meal we eat at home and we put a dollar sign and amount for every food-related purchase we spend. The object is to have three stars a day. Snacks don't count. We put an 'S' on the days that we do school, too - just for fun. I'm still thinking of what kind of rewards I'll give to us if we actually get a week with almost all stars - all the way across.
Like maybe a cruise to the Bahamas. Or a flat screen TV. Or not. Maybe something more in line with the budget would be: Ice Cream after church... or dinner at a favorite restaurant.
I don't think my failure to be thrifty this week deserves a linky, but if you have some encouragement or tips from your week as a frugal homemaker, please do drop them in to my comment box to cheer me up.

On another relevant note, frugality also requires you to do a lot more dishes. Another area that I seem to be needing help this week!
So how is your Thrifty Kitchen Challenge coming along?
Friday, January 23, 2009
C is for Carrot Cake

This cake needs no introduction. You may require an armed guard to prevent others from eating it before you can get a slice, though. My daughter made it on her birthday. She was not quite yet 10. The recipe is so fool proof that even an elementary school kid can make it and it comes out delicious.
As a tip, I would suggest baking, cooling, icing, and then refrigerating so that the flavors can meld and the icing can solidify a bit. The icing is so creamy and dreamy. It isn't your typical buttercream (believe me, I don't have anything against buttercream). It isn't whipped topping from the grocery store, either. It is REAL cream - beat by hand. You just have to try it.
It's like cake on crack. Not to mention there are lots of veggies in there. So have an extra slice - it's kind of healthy.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
From Aunt Mary:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake time approximately 30 minutes (do the toothpick test). Spray two round baking pans with butter flavored Pam. Line the bottoms with rounds of wax paper.
CAKE:
2 cups of Sugar
2 Cups of Flour
4 Eggs
2 Tsps of Cinnamon
1 ½ Cups Canola Oil
2 Tsps of Vanilla
2 Cups of Carrots
2 Tsps of Baking Soda
1 Small pkg of Walnut pcs.
1 Tsp of Salt
Sift dry ingredients and set aside. Cream eggs & sugar. Add Oil and cream thoroughly. Add dry ingredients & mix well. Add carrots. Mix. Add Walnuts. Bake approximately 30 minutes, or until the toothpick comes out of the center damp but not with batter on it.
ICING:
1 8 oz. pkg of Cream Cheese at room temperature
½ pkg of Powdered Sugar
1 small pkg of walnut pieces
1 small pkg of Heavy Whipping Cream
1 Tsp Vanilla
Whip cream until stiff peaks can be made. Set aside. Smooth cream cheese in the mixer. Add powdered sugar and mix until creamy. Add Vanilla and mix. Fold in the whipped cream. Stir in walnuts.
Once the cake has cooled on a cooling rack, remove one cake onto a cake plate. Ice the top with about ¾ inch layer of icing. Add the other layer. Using a flat spatula, ice the top of the cake and smooth the icing down onto the sides until completely covered.
It is best to keep the cake refrigerated once it is iced, due to the whipping cream ingredient.
There you have it folks. Even a 10 year old can make it. And it will make you not want to share any more. So be sure you make an extra cake if you are the greedy type.
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Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our kitchen to yours. We hope that your plates are full of delightful foods, your tables are set with lovely Christmas cheer, and the people you dine with are beloved friends and family.
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Technorati Tags: cookies, holidays, candy, children, baking, food, life, kitchen, Christmas, memories, friends
Friday, December 12, 2008
Fried Green Tomatoes (Mmmm Good)

Aren't they pretty? Just like my new blog design. Yes, go ahead and say it. You love it, don't you?
If you don't live in Texas, chances are you may not have any green tomatoes handy. I'm not known for my timely recipes around here. In fact, I'm not known for even posting monthly. But all that is about to change, folks. So here's a delicious recipe for you (by Carrie) and a promise that I'll be ever more present with the recipe production over here. After all - I'm being forced to get more domestic by this dratted economy. So I'm sure to be spending more time in the kitchen and finding more recipes that need to be added to my 'collection'.
The following recipe is one I snatched up from The Gremlin Wrangler in a pinch. I had over 40 green tomatoes and didn't want to waste them. Her photos and tips were the bomb. Even mom (who helped fry them) was impressed.
Be sure to let Carrie (who's getting all 'I'm not going to blog any more cuz I'm in a funk' on us today) know that you love her when you try her recipe. The sooner the better. We need to prevent her from taking herself and her comfort food recipes away from the blogosphere.
And CARRIE: If you are listening. I'll come and find you if you take your blog down and erase this recipe. You better leave this one up. There are a lot of people down here in the South that take fried green tomatoes pretty seriously. I'm just sayin'.
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Technorati Tags: recipes, tomatoes, southern, dinner, cooking, food, life, green, delicious, vegetables, fried+foods
Monday, August 25, 2008
Back to School Breakfast...

Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Not Such a Gardening Success

Something was just not right about the watermelon we grew. It was growing fine, but suddenly it started getting soft in one spot. I figured we might as well bring it in since it looked as if it might wither on the vine if we didn't. I was so hoping to find juicy pink flesh when we cut the little guy open. Nothing but a pale fleshy color and some under ripe seeds was inside.

My poor little girl. She was devastated. After watching it grow since June, she had to just go ahead and eat it anyway. I guess it is time to cave in and pay the 4$ at Wal-Mart to get her a sweet, ripe one.
We still have one more melon outside that hasn't been pulled. Maybe if we give it a while longer it will ripen. In fact, I haven't checked on it for a week or longer. It is hiding in tall grass. I should go out and see about it tomorrow. I'll let you know if we get a sweet one next time!
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We still have one more melon outside that hasn't been pulled. Maybe if we give it a while longer it will ripen. In fact, I haven't checked on it for a week or longer. It is hiding in tall grass. I should go out and see about it tomorrow. I'll let you know if we get a sweet one next time!
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Thursday, July 24, 2008
Corn Salad

Corn salad is such a nondiscript name. It just doesn't do this addictive dish justice. I could sit down with a bowl of this stuff and not come up for air until it was gone. Every kernel, baby. Gone.
There are friends of mine (and family members) that have been begging me for this recipe. And it all started with Nana, so I have to give her credit where it is due. She brought it over to our house one day and it has all been history since then. I make it for potlucks, family dinners, as a side-salad for taco night, and just to snack on. It truly is a wonderful and healthy (mostly) dish!
INGREDIENTS
(you can half the ingredients if you use a smaller bag of corn)
1 large bag of frozen corn - thawed
1 bag of chili frito corn chips
Mayo or Miracle Whip to taste (about 2-4 tablespoons)
1/2 red and 1/2 green bell pepper (or one of either that you prefer) - chopped
1/2 large red onion (some call them purple) - chopped
1/2 of a 1 lb. bag of sharp cheddar grated cheese
season with salt and pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
Mix all ingredients (except corn chips) together and chill. Start with a large tablespoon of mayo and taste as you go. I probably use two large heaping spoonfuls - depending on the amount of corn and veggies. The aim is to coat, not drown it!
Add corn chips to individual servings, crunched up and mixed in. The chili cheese flavor of the chips adds the zap and crunch the dish needs to be addictive... but they will WILT and get soggy if you put them in prior to eating. Keep the bag handy so you can add chips to your leftovers, too. If there are any, that is!
It doesn't sound magic, does it? But it is. You won't be able to put the spoon down after tasting it the first time. Go ahead. Make it - I dare you to resist.
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Technorati Tags: Corn, Snack, Salad, Potluck, Cooking, Food, Eat, American, bell pepper, party food, side dish
There are friends of mine (and family members) that have been begging me for this recipe. And it all started with Nana, so I have to give her credit where it is due. She brought it over to our house one day and it has all been history since then. I make it for potlucks, family dinners, as a side-salad for taco night, and just to snack on. It truly is a wonderful and healthy (mostly) dish!
INGREDIENTS
(you can half the ingredients if you use a smaller bag of corn)
1 large bag of frozen corn - thawed
1 bag of chili frito corn chips
Mayo or Miracle Whip to taste (about 2-4 tablespoons)
1/2 red and 1/2 green bell pepper (or one of either that you prefer) - chopped
1/2 large red onion (some call them purple) - chopped
1/2 of a 1 lb. bag of sharp cheddar grated cheese
season with salt and pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
Mix all ingredients (except corn chips) together and chill. Start with a large tablespoon of mayo and taste as you go. I probably use two large heaping spoonfuls - depending on the amount of corn and veggies. The aim is to coat, not drown it!
Add corn chips to individual servings, crunched up and mixed in. The chili cheese flavor of the chips adds the zap and crunch the dish needs to be addictive... but they will WILT and get soggy if you put them in prior to eating. Keep the bag handy so you can add chips to your leftovers, too. If there are any, that is!
It doesn't sound magic, does it? But it is. You won't be able to put the spoon down after tasting it the first time. Go ahead. Make it - I dare you to resist.
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Technorati Tags: Corn, Snack, Salad, Potluck, Cooking, Food, Eat, American, bell pepper, party food, side dish
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Southwest Migas Breakfast

Quick and easy, Migas are a super way to use up last night's taco leftovers. Fry them up with 2 eggs 'omelet style' and leave a dollop of sour cream, salsa, and guacamole on the side for dipping each delicious bite! Your mouth will thank you.
Here below are the ingredients for my own original Southwest Migas in the above photograph (but you can change it up to suit your own taste). Migas (a Texas favorite) are meant to use up leftover tortillas and are as unique as you are - never the same twice!
INGREDIENTS
Leftover corn, roasted pablano, and red onion salsa from last night's chicken tacos
Leftover cut cilantro from last night's chicken tacos
2 Leftover corn tortillas from last night's tacos (cut into small strips)
2 scrambled eggs
2 tblsp butter
salt
Hungarian hot paprika to taste
Leftover salsa from breakfast tacos out at our favorite restaurant
Leftover sour cream from last night's tacos
Leftover guacamole from dinner last night
See what I mean? The only thing new to the meal was the eggs and spices!
INSTRUCTIONS
Scramble the eggs in a small bowl, heat the skillet to medium high, melt the butter and pour the eggs on - flat across the pan. While still wet, toss in your leftover veggies and tortilla strips. Season the Migas with salt and hot paprika (and pepper if you want). You can use more seasoning if your veggies are fresh (mine already had seasoning from last night's taco meal). Flip when browned on the bottom. Curve over in half-circle when done and place on plate with dipping sauces. Serve with refried beans (if you have them leftover, too), fruit and tea. MMMMMmmmm! A Tex-Mex breakfast. The best way to start your day.
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Technorati Tags: Migas, Breakfast, Eggs, Texas, Cooking, Food, Life, Mexican, Cilantro, Leftovers, Frugal
Here below are the ingredients for my own original Southwest Migas in the above photograph (but you can change it up to suit your own taste). Migas (a Texas favorite) are meant to use up leftover tortillas and are as unique as you are - never the same twice!
INGREDIENTS
Leftover corn, roasted pablano, and red onion salsa from last night's chicken tacos
Leftover cut cilantro from last night's chicken tacos
2 Leftover corn tortillas from last night's tacos (cut into small strips)
2 scrambled eggs
2 tblsp butter
salt
Hungarian hot paprika to taste
Leftover salsa from breakfast tacos out at our favorite restaurant
Leftover sour cream from last night's tacos
Leftover guacamole from dinner last night
See what I mean? The only thing new to the meal was the eggs and spices!
INSTRUCTIONS
Scramble the eggs in a small bowl, heat the skillet to medium high, melt the butter and pour the eggs on - flat across the pan. While still wet, toss in your leftover veggies and tortilla strips. Season the Migas with salt and hot paprika (and pepper if you want). You can use more seasoning if your veggies are fresh (mine already had seasoning from last night's taco meal). Flip when browned on the bottom. Curve over in half-circle when done and place on plate with dipping sauces. Serve with refried beans (if you have them leftover, too), fruit and tea. MMMMMmmmm! A Tex-Mex breakfast. The best way to start your day.
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Technorati Tags: Migas, Breakfast, Eggs, Texas, Cooking, Food, Life, Mexican, Cilantro, Leftovers, Frugal
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Morgan's First Cake

She's nine years old and has helped in the kitchen for a long time now... but this time she wanted to do it HERSELF. She baked a yellow cake with chocolate icing and broke out the entire army of sprinkles and icing tubes for a topping. After all, a cake isn't a cake without sprinkles if you are a kid, right? The only thing I did was help her take the pans OUT of the oven and show her how to ice the cake briefly before she took over the spatula. She really did it HERSELF.

I think she did a fine job for her first time baking alone. We have yet to dig in to the cake (so I don't know what it tastes like), but unless it is horrible and I have to come back in to edit this post, I'll let you believe it tastes as good as it looks.

My favorite part of this experience was:
1. I didn't have to bake the cake myself. As my cousin said to me today, she can't wait until she can tell her daughter, "Cook for me, my minion!" Today the cake, tomorrow DINNER! I'm seeing many a night off from dinner duty in the future and it looks extra real good, baby.
2. I'm thrilled that the kids are wanting to cook (even if Kaden's only contribution to this particular project was sprinkles) - maybe they won't be as useless as I was when I got married and only knew how to boil water, pour cereal, make cheese-toast and cook hamburger helper. Already I think both of them have far surpassed my skills at 20. In fact, on occasion they will take turns making me breakfast - cheese toast and chocolate milk. That's multi-tasking, folks. When you are under 11 you should get allowance for stuff like that.
3. She decorated the cake for ME and her dad. Always a brown-nosing plus... especially when done on any form of chocolate.
4. She made me a card to go with it. And everyone knows I'm a greeting card junkie. Home made is even better. Maybe she needs an Etsy shoppe?
I'm sure she'll post about her cake on her blog, too. But not today. Because I'm all blogged out. Four blog posts in one day is enough to make anyone NEED cake. In case you wanted to check out those other blog posts, you can do so at these sites:
1. I didn't have to bake the cake myself. As my cousin said to me today, she can't wait until she can tell her daughter, "Cook for me, my minion!" Today the cake, tomorrow DINNER! I'm seeing many a night off from dinner duty in the future and it looks extra real good, baby.
2. I'm thrilled that the kids are wanting to cook (even if Kaden's only contribution to this particular project was sprinkles) - maybe they won't be as useless as I was when I got married and only knew how to boil water, pour cereal, make cheese-toast and cook hamburger helper. Already I think both of them have far surpassed my skills at 20. In fact, on occasion they will take turns making me breakfast - cheese toast and chocolate milk. That's multi-tasking, folks. When you are under 11 you should get allowance for stuff like that.
3. She decorated the cake for ME and her dad. Always a brown-nosing plus... especially when done on any form of chocolate.
4. She made me a card to go with it. And everyone knows I'm a greeting card junkie. Home made is even better. Maybe she needs an Etsy shoppe?
I'm sure she'll post about her cake on her blog, too. But not today. Because I'm all blogged out. Four blog posts in one day is enough to make anyone NEED cake. In case you wanted to check out those other blog posts, you can do so at these sites:
Sprittibee
Heart of the Matter (today's article won't be up until the 8th)
and
Homeschool Blog Awards
Oh, and I'll be hosting the Homesteading Carnival soon... next Monday, I think. I'm anxious to get my garden update added to that. The watermelon is going crazy! However, this Texas heat is really hard on the plants without rainy days in the mix. We had one day of rain recently, but 95% of the state is in a drought. Pray for us Texans to get rain if you think of it.
See ya, round.
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Technorati Tags: Cake, Dessert, Baking, Kids, Cooking, Food, Life, Chocolate, Family, Parenting, Motherhood
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Kentucky Hot Brown and Carrot Cake
Both of those look great, don't they? I posted about them on my other blog. Sorry for neglecting you in here. I just haven't had the time to update it lately. I will come back in with some recipes soon. I promise.
Do any of you have a good recipe to share for a Kentucky Hot Brown? I'd love one.
Do any of you have a good recipe to share for a Kentucky Hot Brown? I'd love one.
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Technorati Tags: Cake, Baking, Cooking, Kentucky, Eat, Food, American, Recipes, Sauce
Monday, December 17, 2007
8 Things from the Kitchen
All Things Hold Together tagged me a long, long, time ago... and I'm just now getting around to posting. Sorry, Charity! I'll try to be more prompt next time. If you want to go read her post about this... just follow the link on her blog's name.
8 Things From My Kitchen
1. Meat scissors. We eat a lot of chicken around here... well, when I'm cooking, that is. I absolutely love my meat scissors that I got at IKEA. I can easily cube, cut fat off of, or thinly slice chicken breasts for all sorts of yummy recipes in seconds without a slow, dull, dangerous knife. Speaking of knives... I really do need some new ones.
2. My pink Bialetti Dama. I've already talked about how we do coffee here at the Bee house. I threw out my coffee maker and we ONLY brew our Italian coffee on the stovetop. I love my little pink Dama (a gift from my husband... who uses it more than me, as a matter of fact). Mmmmm! I can just smell the lovely aroma of a fresh-brewed tiny pot of espresso! To make a great 888, you will also need a PRODUKT Milk Frother from IKEA - which you can pick up for less than 2$. Trust me. You need it. Say goodbye to Starbucks prices forever. Truth be known, my husband is the one who usually makes the coffee. He's such a sweetie.
3. Cookbooks galore. I love cookbooks. I have a bunch of them. Right now they are all on my kitchen counter taking up space... but I'm hoping my mother-in-law will give me an old buffet for the holidays that she has in her garage (she already said she would). Once I get it, I'm going to move my cookbooks to the drawers in the buffet. I always save recipes from the favorite things in all my cookbooks right here in this blog... so when I want to make something again, I don't have to search for hours in all the books (there are at least 50 of them). I can just look up the recipe online from where-ever I am. I also have a binder with a printed copy of my favorite recipes sectioned with tabs. That one will stay on the counter!
4. Home-Ec Classes. Each week the kids get to learn how to cook. I really had to learn everything I knew on my own - somehow I missed the in-home training that a lot of kids get before they get married! I don't want my kids to serve their spouses "hamburger helper" the first year they are married, so we try and always have one kid in the kitchen as we cook. They get to see what is happening, help gather up
ingredients, and learn to cook for themselves. Sometimes they even cook without mom - fancy that!
5. Spices. I am known in my family as the spice lady. I have a ton of spices. I use them every time I cook. I love to use fresh herbs, but I probably have a bunch of things that are old and need to be thrown out. We like to cook international dishes a lot, so I require a lot of spices that aren't very usual to most kitchens: palm sugar, cardamom pods, sumac, Hungarian hot paprika, ginger and garlic paste, saffron... are just a few. I have a HUGE container of chili powder. We use a lot of that since I make home-made enchiladas at least twice a month.
6. Stacking Bee-Hive Measuring Cups. I found them in Fredericksburg at a womens' retreat one year while we were shopping. They are so cute... and so handy on the counter when you are in a hurry. I think I'll cry if they ever get broken.
7. Scripture Verses on the fridge. My kids do their Bible Memory verses every week or every other week on index cards and we keep them on the refrigerator so that they have them handy to memorize. When they come down, they put them in a little index card storage box. It is fun to browse back through them and see how many we can remember later in the school year. I like to let them draw a little on each card, too. I love to have their artwork on display.

8. Grossamole. This is the gross Dean's Guacamole Dip my mom just bought. She gets the nastiest processed, fakie groceries sometimes. She stays with us a few days each week and while she is here there are usually strange items (that we would not eat) taking up residence in my fridge. Aside from the "Grossamole", we have leftover nasty ribs, runny mayo-potato salad from a grocery store, a small bag of fried chicken from some greasy spoon chicken place, and a bottle each of Fanta Strawberry, Diet Dr. Pepper, and Caffeine Free Diet Coke. Yuck. Yuck and more Yuck!
So there's my kitcheny 8. How about you?
According to Charity, this meme has no rules. So let us know what's living inside your fridge and behind your cabinet doors. Got "slime in the ice machine"? Any magic kitchen tools you want to showcase? Elves in your cupboard? We want to know.
Now, to tag some people (feel free to play along if you aren't tagged here... and feel free to not play along if you are tagged here):
Shoot me an email if you DO play along. I'd like to rummage through your kitchen with you.
Subscribe to Gathering Manna by Email
Technorati Tags: Links, Meme, Cooking, Home, Eat, Food, Personal, Homemaking, Domestic, Household, Food and Drink, Kitchen
8 Things From My Kitchen
1. Meat scissors. We eat a lot of chicken around here... well, when I'm cooking, that is. I absolutely love my meat scissors that I got at IKEA. I can easily cube, cut fat off of, or thinly slice chicken breasts for all sorts of yummy recipes in seconds without a slow, dull, dangerous knife. Speaking of knives... I really do need some new ones.

3. Cookbooks galore. I love cookbooks. I have a bunch of them. Right now they are all on my kitchen counter taking up space... but I'm hoping my mother-in-law will give me an old buffet for the holidays that she has in her garage (she already said she would). Once I get it, I'm going to move my cookbooks to the drawers in the buffet. I always save recipes from the favorite things in all my cookbooks right here in this blog... so when I want to make something again, I don't have to search for hours in all the books (there are at least 50 of them). I can just look up the recipe online from where-ever I am. I also have a binder with a printed copy of my favorite recipes sectioned with tabs. That one will stay on the counter!
4. Home-Ec Classes. Each week the kids get to learn how to cook. I really had to learn everything I knew on my own - somehow I missed the in-home training that a lot of kids get before they get married! I don't want my kids to serve their spouses "hamburger helper" the first year they are married, so we try and always have one kid in the kitchen as we cook. They get to see what is happening, help gather up

5. Spices. I am known in my family as the spice lady. I have a ton of spices. I use them every time I cook. I love to use fresh herbs, but I probably have a bunch of things that are old and need to be thrown out. We like to cook international dishes a lot, so I require a lot of spices that aren't very usual to most kitchens: palm sugar, cardamom pods, sumac, Hungarian hot paprika, ginger and garlic paste, saffron... are just a few. I have a HUGE container of chili powder. We use a lot of that since I make home-made enchiladas at least twice a month.
6. Stacking Bee-Hive Measuring Cups. I found them in Fredericksburg at a womens' retreat one year while we were shopping. They are so cute... and so handy on the counter when you are in a hurry. I think I'll cry if they ever get broken.
7. Scripture Verses on the fridge. My kids do their Bible Memory verses every week or every other week on index cards and we keep them on the refrigerator so that they have them handy to memorize. When they come down, they put them in a little index card storage box. It is fun to browse back through them and see how many we can remember later in the school year. I like to let them draw a little on each card, too. I love to have their artwork on display.

8. Grossamole. This is the gross Dean's Guacamole Dip my mom just bought. She gets the nastiest processed, fakie groceries sometimes. She stays with us a few days each week and while she is here there are usually strange items (that we would not eat) taking up residence in my fridge. Aside from the "Grossamole", we have leftover nasty ribs, runny mayo-potato salad from a grocery store, a small bag of fried chicken from some greasy spoon chicken place, and a bottle each of Fanta Strawberry, Diet Dr. Pepper, and Caffeine Free Diet Coke. Yuck. Yuck and more Yuck!
So there's my kitcheny 8. How about you?
According to Charity, this meme has no rules. So let us know what's living inside your fridge and behind your cabinet doors. Got "slime in the ice machine"? Any magic kitchen tools you want to showcase? Elves in your cupboard? We want to know.
Now, to tag some people (feel free to play along if you aren't tagged here... and feel free to not play along if you are tagged here):
Sheri of Shades of Pink (because I know she loves to cook)
Mrs. Happy Housewife (because her site is cooler than mine)
Elise at Simply Recipes (because "I love her, man!")
Toni at Wifely Steps (cuz she's really sweet)
Farmgirl Fare (because it would give me an excuse to go see her awesome photos)
Shoot me an email if you DO play along. I'd like to rummage through your kitchen with you.
Subscribe to Gathering Manna by Email
Technorati Tags: Links, Meme, Cooking, Home, Eat, Food, Personal, Homemaking, Domestic, Household, Food and Drink, Kitchen
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Red

Cherry Limeade. Not exactly your 'health'-drink... but when you are on vacation or on the go, they sure are a treat. I captured this one (after my daughter stole a few of the cherries) on our trip this past week. I thought I would share it for Thursday Challenge. Enjoy! I know I did.
In case you want one for yourself, you can get them at Sonic or Dairy Queen. This one was a DQ Cherry Limeade (and it had about 8 cherries in it!). Mmmmmm.
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Technorati Tags: Fast Food, Pictures, Photos, Drinks, Delicious, Photography, Thursday Challenge, Beverages, Good, Parenting, Foto, Softdrinks
In case you want one for yourself, you can get them at Sonic or Dairy Queen. This one was a DQ Cherry Limeade (and it had about 8 cherries in it!). Mmmmmm.
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Technorati Tags: Fast Food, Pictures, Photos, Drinks, Delicious, Photography, Thursday Challenge, Beverages, Good, Parenting, Foto, Softdrinks
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
My Breakfast

So what did you eat for breakfast? I had scrambled eggs with salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper... turkey bacon (baked on 320° F for 20 minutes in the oven)... home made white and wheat biscuits with grape jelly and real butter... orange juice... and Italian coffee with hazelnut syrup and cream. Yumm!
Technorati Tags: delicious, eggs, bacon, meal, breakfast, food, favorite meals, OJ, morning, southern, recipes, coffee, food and drink, every day, cooking, life, quick meals
Technorati Tags: delicious, eggs, bacon, meal, breakfast, food, favorite meals, OJ, morning, southern, recipes, coffee, food and drink, every day, cooking, life, quick meals
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Fridge-Shots

I've been inspired to join the fun - a refrigerator photo "meme" brought about by the ever interesting Wifely Steps Blog. I'm not going to tag anyone, but if you would like to participate, please leave me a comment and let Toni know that you're joining up so she can link you on her blog.
My current sad little refrigerator (owned by my apartment complex) has very little on it at the moment. I have to use the top for extra storage because the kitchen is so tiny. Normally, we would have everything put away in cabinets or our pantry. Our refrigerator broke down on us at our last house, so we bought a brand new one that we could take with us when we moved. Trouble is, we never bought a house here... so it is sitting in my father-in-law's garage collecting dust. I long for those double-doors and ice-maker. How nice it will be once we finally move back to Texas and have all of our belongings in one place again!
Technorati Tags: Refrigerator, Food Blogs, Fun, Photo, Blogging, Personal, Magnets, Family, Pictures, Home, Kids, Meme, Kitchen
My current sad little refrigerator (owned by my apartment complex) has very little on it at the moment. I have to use the top for extra storage because the kitchen is so tiny. Normally, we would have everything put away in cabinets or our pantry. Our refrigerator broke down on us at our last house, so we bought a brand new one that we could take with us when we moved. Trouble is, we never bought a house here... so it is sitting in my father-in-law's garage collecting dust. I long for those double-doors and ice-maker. How nice it will be once we finally move back to Texas and have all of our belongings in one place again!
Technorati Tags: Refrigerator, Food Blogs, Fun, Photo, Blogging, Personal, Magnets, Family, Pictures, Home, Kids, Meme, Kitchen
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