Taste Like A Cabbage Roll- Casserole

    The garden has been producing such beautiful cabbages that I'm having to get creative to find a way to use them all!  This recipe taste like cabbage rolls, but without the work involved.  It could be a main course or a side dish for New Year's Day, since it's a tradition to eat cabbage that day....

Cabbage Casserole

1 medium head of chopped cabbage
1 lb. of ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1 can rotel tomatoes (which is basically chopped tomatoes in a can)
1 can tomato sauce
1 cup cooked rice
Seasoning to taste

In skillet, brown beef, onions, bell pepper and seasoning.  Put all ingredients into large casserole pan and mix together. I didn't have rotel tomatoes, so I used tomatoes I put up in the freezer.  Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour in covered pan.

 

 

 

      Add bread and you've got a healthy meal!    Enjoy!!!!

Merry Christmas!

    I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! Today I am thankful for being able to spend time with my Navy son and skype with my Army son and my grandchildren....My brother and his family should be here shortly, they flew in from North Dakota.  It's a GREAT day!!!!!

 

 

 

Blessings to you all!!!!!

Turtle Candy

     My project today has been making turtle candy- these are the best and most requested candy from my kids!  They are so good, that I will definitely have to hide these or they won't make it to Christmas.....

    
Turtle Candy

1 bag caramels - unwrapped
1 package almond bark - chocolate
bag of pecan halves

 Preheat oven to 200 degrees.   Melt the chocolate on low-medium in a double boiler.

 

 

Arrange pecan halves as shown and place unwrapped caramel in center.

Place tray in oven for about 10  minutes to soften caramel.  Remove tray from oven and press down on caramel with a fork.  If your fork gets sticky, dip it in cold water and continue. 

 

When chocolate is completely melted, spoon a dollop of chocolate on top of the turtle and spread to cover the turtle.

Let them cool and you are DONE!

                           

 

 

Now, I had some chocolate left, so I grabbed a couple handfuls of pecans and marshmallows and put them in the double boiler with the chocolate.  Mix well and spoon onto waxed paper. 

Rocky road candy!

I hope you can try these, they are so easy and don't take many ingredients.  I promise they will be a BIG hit!      Enjoy!!!!

Finger Cookies

     I know the name of these cookies sounds strange, but they are a family favorite!  My mom made these every year when I was growing up, so I have continued the tradition at Christmas time with my family....

      The inside of these aren't too sweet- the sweetness comes from being covered in powdered sugar!  How can they NOT be good???

Finger Cookies

1 cup butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup powdered sugar, plus extra to cover cookies after baking
2 teaspoons water
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans

Cream butter, sugar, water and vanilla.  Add flour and pecans. Mix well.  Batter will be pretty thick.  Chill 3-4 hours.  Shape into fingers using about 1 teaspoon cookie dough.  Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 325 degrees for about 20 minutes.  Cool slightly on wire rack.  The powdered sugar sticks to the cookies better if they are somewhat warm.  In separate bowl with cover, put extra powdered sugar.  Add cookies a few at a time and shake gently (or roll) until covered.  Makes about 48 cookies.

     If you are planning to give these way like I do, you may need to make few batches!  I use holiday tins or holiday plastic bags to give them away.  More holiday recipes to come....Enjoy!

Potato Salad

     Yesterday,  I made chicken and sausage gumbo for tonight (it's always better the second day!) and when you eat gumbo, you MUST have potato salad and french bread with it....it's just a Cajun rule!  So here's the recipe I use - it's very simple and doesn't take a lot of ingredients.  My granddaughter usually likes to tells me when to add more spice as she calls it, but since she's moved far away I am on my own...I'll do my best!


Potato Salad

3 large russet potatoes
3 eggs
1/2 cup mayonnaise - any kind
1/4 - 1/2 cup juice from boiling the potatoes
1 teaspoon Tony's or Zatarains
1 teaspoon salt

Peel and chop potatoes and put in large pot of water. Add eggs and boil 15-20 minutes until potatoes are soft. Drain potatoes, and peel eggs. Put them in a large bowl and mash potatoes and chop up eggs. We like the potatoes more mashed than chunks. Add mayonnaise and seasoning to taste. Stir together and add as much juice as you need to make it creamy. 

And the french bread!!!

Potato salad is one of those side dishes that goes with everything.... We've eaten it with fried chicken, fish, and shrimp.  It's also delicious with baked chicken! 

The gumbo recipe is on my blog it you'd like to try making that too!  Enjoy.....

Magical Reindeer Food

     Just in case you need help getting Santa and his reindeer to your house..... this is a great craft idea for kids!

All you need is:
1 cup plain oatmeal
red and green glitter

Mix 1-2 teaspoons glitter into oatmeal. Put into snack sized sandwich bag and give it a good shake! Print the labels and put one in the bag. 

The Label says:

Before you head to bed on Christmas Eve, sprinkle this Magic Reindeer Food across your lawn.  After you fall asleep the magic will begin!  The Christmas sugar will sparkle when the moonlight hits it and Santa's reindeer will smell the oats.  This will lead Rudolph and Santa to your house!

     My granddaughter came home with one like this last year, and she had a wonderful time spreading this reindeer food in the yard -  Looks like this will be a new tradition in our family!


    

Holiday Pecan Pie

     With the holidays approaching, I'll be in the kitchen so much that you'd think that Martha Stewart has moved in!  I love this time of year because I get to share all of the treats that we don't indulge in except for holidays.  One of our favorites is this pecan pie....


Pecan Pie

9" unbaked deep dish pie crust
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup brown sugar
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1/3 cup melted butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 heaping cup pecan halves

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  In large bowl, mix syrup, sugar, eggs, butter, salt and vanilla.  Mix well.  Pour filling into unbaked pie crust, sprinkle with pecan halves.  Bake 50-60 minutes or until center is set.  Cool on wire rack.

Before baking:

After baking:

  

Yummy, full of gooey goodness!


 I'll be sharing more holiday recipes as time goes on, so I hope you'll continue to drop in and visit.  I'd love to hear from you if you'd like to share some of your favorite recipes too!

Jezzebelle the Jack Russell

 Today I thought I'd introduce you to our pet Jezzebelle- she's a Jack Russell Terrier and not quite a year old....

 

 

 

    

    Our normal mornings involve sitting on the patio, me drinking coffee and her chasing anything that moves.   Evidently her favorite thing to do is to chase and play with the squirrels in the pecan and oak trees in the backyard.  If they attempt to come down out of the tree to eat pecans, she chases them back up!  She will watch them from the back door throughout the day and let me know when one is not where it belongs.....

     Of course, squirrels aren't the only thing she chases- she has caught toads, lizards, mice, gecko's, and salamanders.  She tries to catch the fish in the pond, but hasn't been successful in that endeavor, thank goodness.  Jezzebelle certainly has kept the wildlife here in check!

     I have to be honest though, I didn't really want another pet.  My son's thought my husband and I  should have one because they were both leaving home (one on deployment and the other to basic training) and they would be taking my grandchildren with them.  Not an even exchange if you ask me! On the plus side, she has brought some joy and laughter to this house since the children and grandchildren have gone.  Jezzebelle has made me laugh until I cried - she is sooo funny!

     I hope you have a pet that brings you joy......

Mama's Pancakes

     One of my fondest memories growing up is the pancakes my mom used to make for my brother and I.  It's your basic recipe, but it was all in the WAY she cooked them and served them!  I only make these a few times a year because they aren't the healthiest, but sometimes you just have to stroll down memory lane.....


Mama's Pancakes

1 batch any pancake mix
Oil for coating pan
Peanut butter
Blackburns Syrup- or use your favorite

Mix your pancake batter as usual, add 2-3 Tablespoons oil to skillet and heat.  When really hot, slowly pour batter in and form into about a 4inch pancake.  It should be frying it a little while you pour the batter.  Cook 2-3 minutes on each side.

    These pancakes are cripsy on the edges, which is my favorite part!  That's why I like the smaller pancakes- you could make larger ones if you like.  We don't top these pancakes with butter, we top them with peanut butter and our favorite Blackburns Syrup.....

     Yummy!!!  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.....

Christmas and the Military

 

     This post has special meaning to me because both of my sons are active military- younger one is Navy, older one is Army.  Over the years, my Navy son has been on three deployments (all three during the holiday season) and he has told me of troops that don't get anything from home during the holidays.  It's heartbreaking to hear this. I always sent packages to my son and he shared with those who didn't get any, so I always tried to send extra.  I don't know if their families didn't know they could send packages or that they couldn't afford it.

     I did not grow up in a military family. I had no concept of the sacrifices these military families make!  The worry, the loneliness, the empty chair at the table, sending packages, waiting for that phone call just to hear that they are okay.....

     There are so may ways to make a difference to these men and women.  To let them know that they aren't forgotten at this time:

1. Thank a veteran when you meet one.

2. If there is a military family in your neighborhood, bring them a care package or mail them a card.

3. Say a prayer for them all.

4. If you have a relative in your family deployed, get their address and send them a package or card- mail before December 10, 2012.  They should get it in time for the holidays.   (I have a nephew in Afghanistan now- he'll be getting a package too)

5. I found this website that has many more ways to show your support.    http://www.dcmilitaryfamlife.com/profiles/blog/show?id=6500790%3ABlogPost%3A6142

    
     My son looked forward to getting those packages.  Being on a ship or in a desert for months at a time is hard and they look forward to anything from home!  Can you imagine the joy that a simple card could bring to any of them? 

Chocolate Praline Cake

     OK, I'll admit it, this recipe came about because of a botched praline recipe!  I found a recipe in my mother's box and thought I'd give it a try.  It didn't turn out like I'd hoped, so I was trying to figure out what to do with it.  I couldn't in good consciousness throw it all out.  They tasted great, they just wouldn't harden! Since chocolate is a family favorite, this is the result.....


Chocolate Praline Cake
1 box chocolate cake mix- any kind
1 container of chocolate icing

Bake cake as usual, let cool.  Top with chocolate icing.  While the cake is baking, make praline topping.


Praline Topping:
1 pound box brown sugar
1 pint whipping cream
2 cups pecans - chopped
2 tablespoons margarine

Mix brown sugar and cream well in 4 quart pyrex dish, microwave at full power for 15 minutes.  Remove from microwave and immediately stir in pecan and margarine.  Let cool until cake is iced.  Pour over cake.  Be careful, it will be really hot!!!

I left the cake in the baking pan to make it easier!

 You could also use this praline recipe as an ice cream topping if you let it cool to room temperature


Rich and delicious....Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Dinner

     I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday!  I was able to spend it with one of my military sons, he has lived on the west coast for six years and recently got stationed closer to home.  My other military son and his family are stationed on the east coast, but we were able to Skype in the morning.  I don't know how we ever did without Skype!

     I thought I'd share some of the recipes of our Thanksgiving dinner with you and some secrets and shortcuts...  On the menu was turkey, rice dressing, green bean casserole, yams, french bread and pumpkin pie.  We all ate so much we practically couldn't breathe!  Oh, well back to eating healthy today...

First, the turkey

I had a 12 pound turkey- The day before Thanksgiving, we just seasoned the outside with Zatarains seasoning (or Tony Chachere), and we used Cajun Injector to insert into the breast meat, legs and thighs.  Let that marinate overnight.  Bake the turkey at 350 degrees for 4 hours in a large covered pan.  Periodically, I'd baste it with the drippings in the pot from the turkey.  It was moist and seasoned well!

 

 

 

Green Bean Casserole

2 cans drained green beans
1/2 chopped onion
1/2 chopped bell pepper
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup milk
1" thick slice of block velveeta cheese, cut into cubes
1-2 teaspoons Zatarains (or Tony Chachere)
1 cup dried onion rings

Brown onion and bell pepper in oil and butter for 5-10 minutes.  Add milk, cheese and seasoning until blended well.  Put green beans in casserole dish.  Add cheese mixture to beans and stir.  Top with onion rings.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Delicious! Even my niece went back for seconds!!

Yams
1 large can drained yams - approximately 40 ounces
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup mini marshmallows

Put yams in casserole dish.  In small bowl, mix sugar, butter, and cinnamon.  Pour over yams.  Top with chopped pecans and then marshmallows.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  This is one of our favorites!

    

Rice Dressing
This is one of the shortcuts for yesterday's lunch! 

2 pound container of Savoie's Dressing Mix
2cups cooked white rice

Heat up the dressing mix in a pot and add rice! Doesn't get any easier than this!!!

Blessings to you all and on a personal note, please keep all of our military in your prayers.....Enjoy!

Weekend at the Camp

 

  This past weekend was spent at our campsite near the Atchafalaya Basin.  I'm sure you've heard of it because of the television show... Swamp People!  It's a great place to get away from it all and step back in time somewhat.  There you can sit and watch the wildlife, roast marshmallows on the fire, and just hear yourself think!


Here's the view across from our camp:

 

Here's a photo from the highway on the way to the camp!

 

 

 

      If ever you get a chance to come to Louisiana, I'd recommend that you cross the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge on I-10 between Baton Rouge and Lafayette. The scenery is just beautiful! 

 

      If you'd like to see more photos of our area, click on the link to experience it!                   www.atchafalaya.org/page.php?name=Atchafalaya-Basin

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 







Concrete Staining

     After spending so much time on the patio since we built the house a couple of years ago, we kept looking at the plain concrete...surely there's something we can do to liven it up a little!  We came up with an easy solution.   First, we dug through all of the leftover paint and supplies we had and I found two gallons of concrete stain (different colors).  We used a couple of handheld lawn and garden sprayers.  We had enough stain to do the porch also. 

So here's what we did:

 Put one gallon of one color stain in one sprayer. (We used a dark brown)

 Put the other gallon of colored stain in the other.  (This one was reddish in color)

 You will also need a large piece of cardboard to put against the wall of the house, not to get stain on it.

  I held the cardboard against the bricks of the house while my husband sprayed a random pattern  of stain on the entire patio.  It doesn't have to be perfect!

 Wait 5-10 minutes then get the other sprayer and repeat the above process.  Walk carefully not to leave footprints. 

 Wait 24 hrs. to walk on it, and that's it!

Now, I would recommend that you do this BEFORE putting the bricks and posts on the house, if you happen to be building a new one! 

This project has made the patio so much easier to clean too!


Before:

 

 

 

 

After:



 

 



 

 

The picture above is the front porch.  I had extra stain, so I just touched up around the post with a brush the next day to blend it in with the rest of the stain.  

 

One thing we always try to do is use what we already have, so look around your house and think about what you can use all of those leftover items for!