The South

     I saw this posted on facebook today, and thought I'd share it.  It really does describe our lifestyle here in the south!  I hope it makes you smile too.....




Have a wonderful day!

Easy Chocolate Covered Raisins

   Today I was hungry for something chocolate, but not anything that you can get out of a box.  I decided to make this easy chocolate candy recipe.  It has many variations, and I usually add whatever I am craving at the time!  You can adapt this recipe to include your favorites too.


Easy Chocolate Covered Raisins

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup raisins
2 T. chia seeds - optional

Melt the chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave for about 30 seconds.  Stir, and if not melted, try 15 seconds more.  When completely melted, add raisins and chia seeds.  The chia seeds add protein, but you could add your favorite nuts.  Stir well and drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper.   Refrigerate until firm.  Store in the refrigerator. 

This is a great recipe for the kids to do  too.  I'm sure they'll enjoy making their own special candy!

I have tried using chopped peanuts, pecans, and almonds.  They are all delicious.  You could leave out the raisins and just do a nut version of this also.  There are no rules- just try whatever you like!

Enjoy!

Happy Mardi Gras!

    

     It's that time of year again in Louisiana.  Time to go to parades and best of all, eat king cake!
There are so many variations and fillings in our king cakes, but today I decided to make a plain one.  The recipe is pretty easy, it just takes time to let the dough rise for a few hours.  The end result is Delicious!

King Cake Ingredients:

·         1 envelope active dry yeast

·         1/4 cup warm water, about 105 to 115 degrees

·         2 tablespoons milk, scalded and cooled

·         4 to 5 cups flour

·         8 ounces butter , softened

·         3/4 cup sugar

·         1/4 teaspoon salt

·         4 eggs

·         4 teaspoons melted butter

             cinnamon sugar mixture- 1/2   cup sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon

·         icing, colored with food coloring pastes: green, purple, and yellow

              Make with approx. 4 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 cup milk, 1 tsp. vanilla

 

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk and about 1/2 cup of flour. In a large bowl, blend butter, sugar, salt and eggs. Add yeast mixture and mix thoroughly. Gradually, add 4 cups flour to make a medium dough. Place in a greased bowl and toss dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth and allow to rise until double in volume, about 3 hours.

 

Use 1 cup or more flour to knead dough and roll into a narrow, long rectangle. Spread 4 teaspoons melted butter on dough.  Sprinkle cinnamon/sugar mixture on top.  Roll dough like jellyroll.   

 

 

 

Form into an oval on a 14 x 17" greased baking sheet.

 

 

 

Cover dough ring with a damp cloth and let rise until double in volume, about 1 hour. Bake at 350° for about  30-45 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool.   Drizzle colored icing over top of cake.

I add the baby after it is cooled.  Hide it when no one is looking!  The tradition is that whoever finds the baby has to buy the next king cake for all to share. 

My family and I also went to a Mardi Gras Parade in Lafayette this past weekend.  We like the Lafayette parades because they have such a family atmosphere to them.  The best thing is, we usually come home with quite a few beads too! 

Carrot French Fries

     If you are like me, many of you made a New Year's Resolution to lose weight, get healthy, or exercise.  With that in mind, I haven't been cooking all of our delicious Cajun dishes because they aren't always the healthiest! 

So, if you are missing french fries like I am, here is a carrot french fry recipe that fills the craving.  It's so easy and with the salt and pepper on them, they make a GREAT substitute for potatoes!


Carrot French Fries

4 medium carrots, cut into 1/2 inch thick sticks
3 Tablespoons olive oil
Salt
Ground pepper

Cut carrots into 1/2 inch sticks.  In bowl, mix olive oil, salt and pepper.  Toss in carrots and mix well until coated.  Place on baking sheet sprayed with cooking oil.  Bake at 450 degrees for about 20-30 minutes until soft.  Toss about half way through the cooking time.  Serves 4.

I was really amazed at how good these were!  Enjoy....

I'd love to hear about any of your healthy recipes, so please share!!!

Let's Talk Laminate

     Laminate flooring

As many of you have probably thought while considering flooring, laminate flooring is perfect! Or so we thought.... On the decorating shows, they make laminate flooring looks like the greatest thing since sliced bread. NOT SO! Granted, it looks great, but if you put it in a high-traffic area, there will be much despair!

When we built our house a few years ago, I thought laminate would look great so we put it everywhere except the kitchen, dining, baths and laundry room.  It's fine in the  bedrooms (didn't want carpet).  The problem is the living area.  I got a medium brown color but it still shows so much dust and dog hair on a DAILY basis!  I have to pass a dust mop or Swiffer nearly everyday!

Funny how I NEVER heard about the upkeep of this flooring!  If I had, I would have put something different in the living area.  Of course, having a dog that sheds 365 days a year doesn't help!  Also, when it rains, and our dog goes in and out, we are left with little dog paw prints on the floor (see photo) cute isn't it???? I don't think so....

So before anyone else makes the same mistake I did- I just wanted to tell you what apparently no one else will!

I would appreciate any suggestions or comments about this.  Have a wonderful day!