So hard to regularly post when I have such a beautiful distraction.

I will get back to normal posts, but I am doing a lot of cuddling baby, so that's all I have thought much about.  Isn't she a doll baby???
I am ready for some of that REAL fall teaser weather we had some weeks back.  I was wanting to make chili....but it seems too hot and humid!  How do you make chili?  Mine is super easy, and involves lots of cans.  I start out with my ground beef, whatever I happen to have.  I don't use 'Made for Chili" large ground beef...just whatever I have.  I brown it with onions, then drain.  I then add a can of tomato paste, a can of water, a can of tomato sauce, a can of ranch beans, a can of roasted tomaotes, diced and a good bit of chili powder, some salt, pepper and some brown sugar.  I know it's not helpful to not have amounts, but that's the way I cook so often.  You develop the right groove for what your family likes, and mostly do it the same way each time...anyway, here's to cooler, chili days!!!! Have a good day, and I'll see you back at the ranch, when I'm not busy cuddling!! :D

We have a winner and a Tasty Tuesday recipe!

I went about the task of drawing a winner for the Southern Lady SUMMER Celebration magazine this morning, and I'm pleased to announce the winner is domestic diva
Rhonda over at Scooterblu's whimsy!!!! Congrats, Rhonda, if you will email me with your mailing address, I'll get you started on planning a fun, fun summer celebration by sending you an autographed (ok, just kidding, why would you want my autograph on it????LOL.) a copy of the latest Celebration magazine published by Hoffman Publications over there in AL........




And to join up in Jen's Tasty Tuesday celebration, I thought I'd share an old family favorite recipe that is simple and tasty.......a favorite every time I make them. I give you the recipe for my famous Applesauce Muffins......

Applesauce Muffins

1/2 c. oil
1 c. sugar
3/4 t. salt
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking powder
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. applesauce
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. cinnamon
1 t. allspice
1 egg

Put all dry ingredients in mixing bowl and stir well. Mix egg and oil together, then add applesauce. Stir together until all ingredients are moistened. Bake in muffin tins at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Enjoy!

A few quick and easy recipes.....

Since you may or may not be having a Super Bowl party (we are actually having a chili cook-off at church so that's where we will be!) I thought I'd share a few recipes that go together VERY quickly for those of you who have waited until now to be looking for recipes to make for tomorrow! That would totally be me, so don't feel badly. I'm a procrastinator at heart and am so glad that I have recipes like this that come together with basic pantry/kitchen items that I usually have around. They go together quickly, taste good, and others like them. Isn't that the mark of a successful recipe? I will share a cookie recipe and an appetizer kind of recipe......For the cookies, this is a bar cookie called Mr. Goodbars. I have changed it up from time to time, so feel free to change the type of chips you use, use other nuts or no nuts at all. It's all good.

Mr. Goodbars

2 c. flour

1 c. brown sugar

1 c. white sugar

1 c. oatmeal

1 c. choc. chips

1 c. chopped nuts

1 t. salt

1 t. baking powder

1 t. baking soda

3 eggs

1 c. oil

Mix together first nine ingredients, then add eggs and oil in a well of the dry ingredients. Mix together and spread in a jelly roll pan. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool and enjoy.

and for a great appetizer!!!

Pepper Jelly Dip

1 c. sharp cheddar, grated finely

1 c. chopped pecans

1/2 c. chopped green onions, green tops included

Stir in enough mayonaisse to hold together ingredients and make a mound. Spread hot pepper jelly over the mound. Serve with Club crackers or wheat thins. Enjoy!

Crunch time for cookies??!!!

I have a sugar cookie recipe that always comes thru for me in a crunch......need decorated cookies in a flash? Well this recipe is great because you don't have to chill the dough! And the icing recipe will dry shiny and hard so that the cookies are stackable even though they are decorated! I don't have a picture to show you because I haven't made any yet, but I am sure I will be making some.....remember Google images is my best friend!! ;)

Here's my favorite sugar cookie recipe:

Easy Roll Out cookies

3/4 cup butter

3/4 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 t. vanilla

2 t. baking powder

2 3/4 cup flour

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with electric mixer. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. (may add butter extract here if using margarine) Add baking powder and flour (mixed together first) one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. The dough will be very stiff; blend in the last flour by hand. Do not chill. Dough may be tinted with paste icing color for colored cookies. For chocolate cookies, stir in 3 oz. melted unsweetened cocoa. If dough is too stiff, add water a teaspoon at a time.

Divide dough into two balls. On a floured surface, roll each ball in a circle about 12" in diameter and 1/8 inch thick. Dip cookie cutters in flour before each use. Bake cookies on ungreased sheet on top rack of oven for 6-7 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. If you like cookies that are more like tea cakes, make the cookies a little thicker.

Cookie Icing Recipe (dries to a glossy, hard finish and tastes good, too!

1 c. sifted confectioner's sugar

2 t. milk

2 t. light corn syrup

Place sugar and milk in a small bowl. Stir until mixed. Add corn syrup and mix well. For filling in areas, use thinned icing (add small amount of corn syrup until desired consistency). Tint with paste icing color or very small amount of food coloring.

This is a Wilton recipe and I've used it for years.

Edited to add --my kids are having friends over tonight and decorating cookies is on the FUN agenda....so perhaps I'll show you some of theirs tomorrow! Big kids still love decorating cookies, too!
We've got the chili going on the fire, and I'll make rice and cornbread to accompany. Wanna come?



Also a fun treat to make for kids is Snowman Soup. Psstt, it's really hot chocolate mix.


Mix up some hot chocolate mix or open envelopes of pre-made mix and add to a ziploc bag. Add in a few miniature marshmallows, a few hershey kisses of your choice (remember those bad, bad peppermint ones??? mmmm.....) and add a peppermint stick or candy cane for stirring. Attach this poem, and decorate package as you wish. Ok, I didn't have time to take pics or make a tutorial, so you're on your own here. We call this YoYo at my house, especially when it comes to fixing your own dinner night. YoYo= your on your own, get it???? ;)



So here's the cute little poem for Snowman soup. You can package it with cute snowman stickers, stamps, cute ribbon, etc. Even when it's yoyo night, mom has ideas for possibilities!



Snowman Soup


I was told that you’d been good this year
Always glad to hear it.
With freezing weather drawing near
You’ll need to warm the spirit
So here’s a little Snowman Soup
Complete with stirring stick
Add hot water, stir it slowly
It’s sure to do the trick!

Ingredients: Hot chocolate mix,
Snowballs, Snowman kisses and
Stirring stick




Ok, I'm a lazy crafter and time-crunched, so I googled Snowman Soup and there are all manner of graphics to use for this recipe. Does that me an expert if I can refer you to all the right references??? hmmm.....i doubt it.


Some examples:

These and many more are all available by searching Google Image.....my best friend. Merry Christmas Ya'll!!!

All this talk of pumpkins.....

reminded me of a great recipe to share!



Creamy Pumpkin Dip

2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1 (16 oz.) pkg. powdered sugar, sifted
1 (16 oz.) can pureed pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
2 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground nutmeg

Mix until creamy. Serve with gingersnaps or shortbread cookies. Makes a large amount so plan to share! Enjoy and be inspired!

Inspired by a GREAT recipe.....

This recipe was found in the Homestyle Cookbook, which is a Southern Living Publication (um, yes I do happen to sell it! :)
I served it yesterday at a Girls Shopping Day Event and everyone that tasted it asked for the recipe....um, hum, THAT good. So I thought I'd send out a little bloggy love by sharing it with ya'll too....

Corn Walnut Dip

Makes about 4 1/3 cups-- Prep time 20 minutes, other 1 hour (to chill)

Green chilies and cumin add a Southwest flavor to this cream-cheese based dip. Cumin is the traditional southwestern spice that adds a pungent, earthy taste.

2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. fresh lemon juice (strongly recommended that you use fresh lemon juice in this highly rated dip. You'll need about 2 medium lemons).
1 T. ground cumin
1 t. salt
1 t. ground red pepper
1 t. black pepper
1 (8oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 c. chopped walnuts
1 (4.5 oz.) can chopped green chilies, undrained
3 green onions, chopped
Garnish: green onion curls

Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth; gradually add lemon juice, beating well.
Add cumin and next 3 ingredients, beating well. Stir in corn and remaining ingredients. Cover and chill at least one hour. Serve with tortilla chips or corn chips. Garnish, if desired. Enjoy and be inspired!