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.....