A Proverbs 31 Kind of Day

What is "Piquant Sauce?" I don't know! All I know is this:  growing up, whenever we had meatloaf, my mom made "piquant sauce" to put on top of it! I never hear other people talk about their mom's "piquant sauce." Think about it! Do you ever hear, "OH!  I only eat my mom's piquant sauce!" "OH!  They have the BEST piquant sauce ever!" "Excuse me, do you have any piquant sauce?" "You could put some piquant sauce on that -- it'd be great!" Yeah, me either! Do you eat piquant sauce? Have you ever had piquant sauce? Do you even know what piquant sauce is? I looked it up! As in, just today! As in, just a few minutes ago! Here are some of the things I found out about "piquant sauce." Piquant sauce   is a style of cooking used for rabbit, duck, alligator, chicken and seafood A piquant sauce is a spicy sauce sharp in taste; exciting or interesting You may be t...

This is NOT my picture!  Our cake didn't last long enough to grab the camera ! That's what we call this new cake! "Sin"amon Cake! The cherubs say it's "sin in a bowl!" My girl cherub says "Jesus can come back now!" My boy cherubs says "Pure Sin!" I don't know HOW they come up with these things? The Mr. says, "This cake is so light, you could eat the whole thing!"  (Please notice, he didn't say anything spiritual!) The other day, in the office, the Mr. saw this recipe and picture and said, "Oh!  Send that to Karen; she'd want that recipe!" Translated:  "I think Karen needs to whip that dessert up  .  . . and in a hurry!" So the Mr. talked about how good this recipe sounded and how good the picture looked . . .  . . .for days! He got on "pinterest" to show me . . .  . . .and he talked about it . . .  . . . and he secretely drooled! Then! Surprise! ...

 A very long time ago, I was watching "Regis and KathyLee." That tells you just how long ago "a very long time ago" was . . . Kathy Lee gave a recipe for a chicken dish.  It's so very easy!  You can cook it in the oven or the crock-pot.  You can use bone-in or boneless and skinless chicken. You can use full-fat dressing or reduced-fat dressing, without compromising the taste. Best of all, it's great left-over! While you're grabbing the ingredients for this recipe, grab double; cook one now and put the other (all mixed up) in the freezer for another meal!  Make it easy on yourself! Cranberry Chicken 8oz bottle of Catalina dressing (or Russian) 1 pkg. dry onion soup mix 1 can whole-berry cranberry sauce 4 chicken breasts (I like to use bone-in with skin) Place the chicken in a baking dish or crock-pot.  Mix the dressing, soup, and cranberry sauce together and pour over the chicken. Oven method:  bake uncovered at 350 ...

This is the last of the peach posts. This is for peach salsa. It's easy and fresh tasting. It's a bit of a jolt to your taste buds because you're not sure what to expect. I've always got a keeper when the cherubs like the recipe . . .  . . . and the cherubs like this! It's probably because I served Stacy's Cinnamon and Sugar Pita Chips along side this salsa! Either way, it's good as a dip or atop grilled chicken! Peach Salsa 4 small peaches, diced 2 limes, juiced 2 tsp. honey 2-3 TBSP finely diced red bell pepper 2 TBSP finely chopped purple OR sweet onion 1 TBSP cilantro 1 TBSP finely minced jalapeno pepper, if desired. Combine all ingredients and refrigerate until ready to serve.  Flavors of salsa are melded together if allowed to sit at least 4 hours or overnight.  Serve with grilled meat (anything except beef) or with chips or cinnamon chips.

Because of all of the peaches we've had, I've needed wanted to find some new ways to use fresh peaches! This recipe is for peach bread. I've never had peach bread, but I must say, that while mild in taste, it's pretty yummy! Remember the peach concoction from yesterday that goes in the peach cobbler? That's what I started with (see picture above) Then, I pureed the mixture, leaving little bits of tasty peach.   I was going to call it peach "syrup." But, now that I think about it . . . I'm going to call it "peach baby food! It's that kind of the texture. Again, don't really tell anyone . . . it's just better left unsaid! But here's a picture of it! Regardless of how it looks -- it's really tasty peachy! Now, for the peach bread! Peach Bread 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup butter, room temperature 2 eggs 2 1/4 cups pureed peaches  ( see September 21 post...

The other day, we were given a huge box of fresh California peaches. As in, a HUGE box! As in, "cut up and freeze" size box or "make jelly" size box or "share with your friends" size box or "search the internet for new recipes" size box! We've done a great job eating the peaches and trying new recipes.  So over the next few posts, I'm going to share with you some new peach recipes that we've enjoyed. The first recipe I made was a peach cobbler.  The cherubs just love peach cobbler!  This recipe is an older Southern Living recipe.  While the cobbler crust is similar to one I have posted earlier, the peach conncoction is what makes this dessert a splurge.  I'm going to say the fresh peaches are "stewed."  But don't tell people that, because then they conjure up some wierd tasting sensation and think they won't like it!  But truth is, you can make the peach conncoct...

Yesterday, we had a "Dinner on the Grounds" at church. That's a fancier way of saying, "Potluck!" Those things stress me out, for a variety of reasons, none of which I'll share here! But I will say, I grew up going to potlucks and when the Mr. and I were in full-time Senior Adult ministry, we attended a potluck a week for several years!  I still remember Mrs. Baird bringing her one can of white hominy every week, in the same 1 1/2 cup cast iron pot! Matter of fact, our oldest cherub thought church was a buffet!  He literally cut his teeth on potluck meals! You don't have to be going to a potluck to make this salad -- but you will need a crowd to serve it too!  However, you could be "creative" and cut the ingredients in half and serve a normal family . . . as in "normal" in size, not mental standing! Corn Salad 2 cans corn, drained (can be Mexican, shoepeg, white, or regular . . .just not creamed)** 1/2-1 onion, c...

Image of scones taken from a picture off of Food Network . . . but I'm pretty sure mine looked just like these! I really do like scones. But sometimes I don't like them . . . because sometimes they're dry; I don't really like dry desserts. Call me crazy! So when I decided to make scones my goal was for them to be moist and delicious. I made "mini scones" -- kind of like what's being served at Starbucks.  Have you seen the mini vanilla bean scones? Very cute. Mine where not very cute. But mine where moist . . . at least on the day I baked them! I didn't try them the next day . . .but my friend who ate 5 of them said they were great! This recipe is from the King Arthur website. Dried Fruit Scones 2 3/4 cups flour 1/3 cup sugar 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 cup cold butter 1 cup to 2 cups chopped dried fruit (I used cherries; you can use chocolate chips, nuts, etc.) 2 large eggs 2 teaspoon...

On the first day of school my girl cherub delivered cookies to her teacher. The classroom theme is "Franjac Ranch."  So what better to fit the theme than cowboy sugar cookies. You'll have to excuse the poor pictures.  I already had them wrapped and we were headed out the door when I remembered I hadn't taken any pictures of the cookies! So I did a quick snap and gathered them back up and ran to meet the teacher! My cherub picked the colors to use on the cookies:  black, white, and 2 shades of pink (that lean to the red side!).  We made hats, boots, and bandana squares.  This time we used the royal icing to decorate the cookies.

No matter how old you are turning -- at our house, birthday's are a B.I.G. deal! One way we do that is by celebrating with your "birthday dinner." Whatever you want -- you get! It doesn't matter if it goes together or not -- It doesn't matter if it makes sense or not -- It doesn't matter if anybody else likes it or not-- It's your birthday, you decide! For my girl cherub; this usually scares us! But for my boy cherub; we know we'll be eating well! His birthday dinner did not disappoint him or us! brisket cheesy potatoes cowboy beans homemade bread homemade cinnamon rolls My cherub said, "This is righteous, mom!" This bread recipe is so easy!  It requires no kneading.  All you have to do is mix it up in a large bowl and store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it!  One taste of the delicious hot rolls and you may decide that you can make bread all the time! Cowboy Biscuits 4 1/2 cups brea...

Today, our oldest cherub turns 13! It's so exciting! It's so amazing! I can't believe it!  Today, I share just a few of my favorite pictures of my cherub. These are his man-sized shoes. This is always his idea of "be normal!" This is who loves him most . . . right behind the Mr. and me!  This is what he loves to do most of all! This is my favorite boy cherub! He's the cutest thing ever! We are so thankful the Lord has blessed our life and home with him!  These past 13 years have passed like 13 minutes -- and the next 13 bring more than my mind can even imagine!  But here's what I know -- we could not have a better son than this cherub!

Photo taken by my oldest Cherub A grilled chicken sandwich sounded so good! I see them on restaurant menus but I never make them at home. I'm not sure why -- maybe I'm intimidated by the task. In an effort to satisfy my craving, I ventured out of my comfort zone and made this: Photo taken by my youngest Cherub A delicious grilled chicken teriyaki sandwich! Here's what I did: Grilled Chicken Teriyaki Sandwich 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded out to similar thickness 1 bottle of your favorite teriyaki sauce (I used La Choy Teriyaki Marinade and Sauce) 1-2 onions, sliced thick 4 Hawaiian Hamburger buns Mayonnaise 1 small can crushed pineapple, well drained lettuce or spinach leaves In a shallow dish, pour desired amount of teriyaki sauce over chicken and allow to marinate 2-3 hours our longer (I always go longer!).  In another shallow dish, place a thin layer of sauce in the dish and place the thick ...

My friend, Miss Gladys, sent this recipe to me at the request of the Mr. Actually, the Mr. said, "Oh, send that to Karen, she'd want that recipe!" Translated, "Oh, send that recipe to Karen, I want her to make it for me!" I must admit, while the Mr. and two cherubs just love applie pie, I'm not an apple pie lover.  But this recipe sounded delish. So I grabbed my cast iron skillet and the ingredients and had it whipped up in no time. And guess what! It is fabulous!  It should be . . . it's a Southern Living recipe! We ate our skillet apple pie with cinnamon ice cream! Easy Skillet Apple Pie 2 pounds Granny Smith apples -- cored* 2 pounds Braeburn apples -- cored* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt -- optional 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla -- optional 1/2 cup butter -- melt in skillet 1 cup ligh...

It is true . . .I can bake for you. I'm asked a lot -- do you bake for people? The answer is " YES !" The only requirement:  You have to live close enough that your items can be picked up -- I don't offer any sort of "drop shipment." Whatever you want, I can usually make for you: pies cakes cookies scones cupcakes biscotti brownies bars By Texas law, I must inform you that I am not inspected by the Texas State Health Department.  So with that information, I want to let you know two important facts: There are no animals that live in my house I keep a clean and sanitary kitchen And finally -- when you order, I want you to know that you are receiving "home baked goods."  I do not claim to have bakery quality looks or abilities.  I simply make for my family what we enjoy and my hope is that you'll do the same! So!  If your in wants of something to take to the office, or deliver to a friend, or carry to a pot-luck, and yo...

The other day we bought this lamp for a great price -- but it was kind of plain. So my cherub and I created a bow and hot-glued it to the shade with a cute lime button in the middle of it! My sweet cherub loves it! For less than $10.00 she has a new lamp that was easily decorated to fit perfectly in her room!

No picture of the final project! This was a, "Let's see!  We need dinner." As in, tonight! My cherubs prefer it when I feed them on a regular schedule. It keeps them happy and me happy too! Here's what I had in the refrigerator: chopped onions asparagus cherub   tomatoes grilled chicken that I had cubed up Here's what I had in the pantry: pasta Here's what I ended up with: Grilled Chicken Pasta with Asparagus and Lemon Cream Sauce 1 tablespoon butter 1 garlic clove, minced 1 cup chicken broth 1 teaspoon cornstarch 3 oz cream cheese, cubed 2-4 tablespoons  lemon juice (2 is light, 4 is bright!)  1/3 cup heavy cream (or evaporated milk) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Pasta olive oil grilled chicken asparagus chopped onion (notice, I didn't use tomatoes!  I just kept them in the refrig!) Boil pasta according to package directions. In...