Jezzebelle's A Mom

     We recently had 6 new additions to the family!  Our jack russell terrier Jezzebelle had a litter of 6 puppies.  One female and five males!  It has been an adventure watching them grow and seeing their personalities develop!  They are precious....

Jezzebelle has been a really good mama for her first litter.  They are so healthy!  It will be hard to place them in new homes, but keeping all of them is impossible!  I know they will bring their new owners much joy and many smiles....

Deployment

     The one word no parent wants to hear from their children in the military....deployment!

     I have heard it three times from my Navy son in a 7 year period.   He has been on two ship deployments and one to Afghanistan.
   
    My Army son said it recently for the first time.  He has been on a short, sudden deployment. As he returns home to the states, I can breathe a little easier...
 
    Deployment is a very trying time for all military families.  You waver between being worried sick and being very proud.  Your cell phone NEVER leaves your side, just in case they call you. You stop watching the news, because it's too upsetting.  You send packages so they have little reminders of home.  A song on the radio will make you cry- happened to me in a store of all places.  You pray... a lot!
   
     I never really knew what military families went through.  We didn't have anyone in our family in the military before our sons joined.  It has been an eye-opening experience to say the least!  It makes you appreciate family.  You learn not to take things for granted.  You get a quick lesson on what's really important in life.  It's not how much money you make, how big your house is, your job, or the kind of car you drive...

     We are stronger than we think we are.  I am not talking just about military families.  Everyone has their own battles to fight.  You have to believe that you can handle anything that comes your way, even though you may be knocked down for awhile.  The hard times won't last forever.  The sun will rise and you will smile and be happy again!

 
      I found this poem on a military mom's website before my Navy sons second deployment.  This sums it up.  Yes, it made me cry...

TODAY IS DEPLOYMENT DAY

People say they understand, but really they have no clue,
Of the turmoil and pain, that you must begin to walk through.
That baby boy that you carried cradled right up under your heart,
Has now become a man preparing to depart,
To a land far away, full of uncertainty for each day.

A Mother’s heart has been dealt a blow, a piece of it has been ripped apart,
As she sinks to a place so low, that no one should have to go.
Many have walked this path, many have carried this pain,
A heart beating so fast, tears falling like a cold, cruel rain.

And some where from within, she rises from her wounded heart,
To continue to pray and support her son as he departs.
The road will not be easy, the pain will be severe,
There is a choice to be made . . . a choice to always persevere.

As she now has become a Blue Star mother,
Because of the decision he has made,
Her little boy, her American Patriot,
Now joins the ranks of the brave.

Though her heart is ripped with pain,
Her heart must go on and on,
Beating with everlasting love and pride,
Waiting for her Patriot to come home.


Please pray for all of our military....thank you!

Brisket

     My mom used to make brisket every New Year's Day - it was something we looked forward to!  When you have an oven and time, cooking is pretty easy...

Brisket

1/2 of a large brisket
Tony Chachere's Seasoning Mix
Garlic Powder
Salt
4 cups water or beef broth

Put brisket in large roasting pan.  Cover with seasoning (you can use whatever seasoning you like).  Add 4 cups of water to bottom of pan.  Do not throw away the juice at the bottom!  You can use that as a gravy. Cover and cook at 350 degrees for about 3 hours, basting every 30 minutes or so.  I cook it until it falls apart when you stick it with a fork.

I only cook 1/2 the brisket at a time because I am not feeding that many people usually.  If you are having a large gathering, or have a big family, cook the whole thing.  Cook it at least 4 hours though!

If you have any leftovers, add bar-be-q sauce to the meat and bake it at 350 degrees for about 30-45 minutes. Put the meat into a hamburger bun or french bread.  Eat it as a pulled brisket sandwich!

Delicious!

Best Brownines I Ever Made

   I have tried all kinds of brownies, but this is my favorite!  It's not hard either...I always have trouble with the edge of the brownies being too crunchy.  I have tried lowering the oven temperature, and decreasing the baking time.  Adding icing to it and letting it sit awhile took care of that problem.  They were even better the day after I made them!  Very moist and divine....

Brownies

1 box brownie mix - bake according to directions on box.  I like a moist, not cake type brownie.  Let cool before pouring icing on top.

For Icing:

1/2 cup cocoa
1/4 cup milk
2 cups powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1/2 cup melted butter

Mix all ingredients in a small pot and heat until everything is melted.
Pour over cooked brownie while it's still in baking pan.

Sprinkle with 1/2 cup chopped pecans.

Let me know what you think!

Pumpkin Souffle

     After 34 years of cooking pretty much EVERYDAY, I get pretty bored with cooking the same dishes day in and day out... So this recipe kind of changes it up a bit!  It's a remake of the Piccadilly Restaurant's Carrot Souffle recipe. I looked in the pantry and found a can of pumpkin (ran out of carrots) and decided to make a souffle. We don't like it too sweet, so I cut the sugar quite a bit from the original recipe.  This one is so good!  It's almost like dessert instead of just a side dish...

Pumpkin Souffle

1 can pumpkin

1/4 cup sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1  teaspoon vanilla

2 Tablespoons flour

3 eggs

2 Tablespoons melted butter

Powdered sugar to sprinkle on top

In mixing bowl, add pumpkin, sugar, baking powder and vanilla.  Whip until smooth.  Add flour and mix well.  Whip eggs in separate bowl, then add them and the butter to the mix.  Blend well.  Spray baking dish with cooking spray.  Pour mix into dish - should be about half full- the souffle will rise.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.  

Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar and serve!

     If you want to change the recipe and use carrots, that is delicious too!  I tried using 1-3/4 cups whole, peeled carrots.  You need to boil them first, then mash them up.  I decided that was too much work, so the next time I tried it, I used a can of carrots.  Made it go much quicker!!!  You decide how you want to do it, depending on how much time you have.

Enjoy!

Tabasco Sauce

     This is an interesting article and video on CBS News -60 Minutes Overtime, about Tabasco Sauce made at Avery Island,  Louisiana!

Tabasco goes in many dishes here... You can buy it almost everywhere, so give it a try to add some spice to your food!  (See links at bottom of page.)

 Link for the article:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-journey-to-the-island-where-tabasco-is-made/?fb_action_ids=10202935010077371&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B275133162654831%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.likes%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D


   Where is Avery Island?  If ever you are in the area, it is a MUST see- Just beautiful!  Here's the link to Avery Island:  http://www.tabasco.com/avery-island/



Links if you'd like to order some:

http://www.tabasco.com/avery-island/

http://www.amazon.com/Tabasco-Original-Sauce-Pepper-Ounce/dp/B0004LZSYS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395161083&sr=8-1&keywords=tabasco

Try some today!

No Mess Bacon

    I don't know about you, but I love bacon!  Although, I don't like the mess that COOKING it makes... My son told me how he cooks his. (We are never too old to learn from our children!)

After trying this, I will never cook bacon the old way again!

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with Pam Cooking Spray.  I used a 12 oz. package of thick sliced bacon.  Lay out the strips of bacon on the sheet.  Bake 10 minutes, then flip the strips over. Bake another 7-8 minutes.

That's it! There was no grease flying everywhere, and no stove top to clean! It doesn't get any easier than that!!!

Enjoy!