A Proverbs 31 Kind of Day

Image used from the Internet . . . but it looks pretty close to what my salad looks like! I met Melba about 15  years ago. We ended up teaching 3rd grade Sunday School together, with another friend of ours, Judy. We three taught together nearly 10 years! There is nobody like Melba! She's a mover and a shaker and if you need something done -- just ask Melba! She'll grab the bull by the horns and do her job . . .and maybe your job too! Melba is also a good cook! One day she told me about this pasta salad. You're not going to believe it when you read the ingredients. But I'm telling you -- any time that I serve it, I'm always asked for the recipe. I don't know what it is about this salad, but it's a hit! It's called Rainbow Pasta Salad. But really, I ought to call it "Melba's Pasta Salad!" Rainbow Pasta Salad 1 bag Rainbow Pasta, cooked according to directions 2 carrots, cleaned and shredded or chopped 1 re...

If ever there should be a marriage, this is it. Candy Corn and Peanuts. It was meant to be. Promise! It's the best of two worlds: Nasty Holiday Candy and Dry Roasted Peanuts! In no other recipe would you mix the two. But here, it works! And if that's not enough. It's a science of two great elements! And you have to find the right concoction that fits best with your taste. For me:  2 to 1. 2 candy corns to 1 peanut. I line them up on the counter in their little family groups. And if it turns out with an uneven mix, I'll fix it. 2 candy corns to 1 peanut. Always! I only allow one bag of candy corn and one container of dry roasted peanuts into the house during the Fall. When it's gone . . . I cry! 

This week a friend of mine celebrates her birthday. She doesn't like chocolate. Other than that, she's a perfectly normal lady! She listed off all the flavors she DOES like . . .and I think I remember lime and lemon, among others. I searched for a recipe and found this one on the Duncan Hines website. It just sounded good. You know, sometimes you can read a recipe and think "this is a winner!" While I haven't tasted the cake, I did taste a bite of the batter and I liked it. I'm sending this to the office with the Mr. tomorrow, with no taste-testing!   Will the Mr. bring home an empty plate from the office or will there be cake left on the plate? We all know what the tell-tell sign of a good cake really is! Creamy Limeade Cake 1 package plain white cake mix 1 cup sour cream 1 container (12 oz.) frozen limeade concentrate, thawed; divided* 3 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature 3 eggs Glaze: confectioners sugar 1/...

The other day, I was showing a friend of ours Pinterest. While on there, I was looking at my boards. Not " my boards ," because I'm not on Pinterest. My mom is on Pinterest. I ghost pin for her. That way, she looks cool and has followers. I started doing that for her when she showed me Pinterest and I noticed she had followers who were following nothing because she didn't have any boards. How boring is that. So I'm helping her. I'm a good daughter that way! On her/my board of Breakfast or Breads or something like that is this idea. So I looked it over and made some modifications. Here's the finished product. See  if you like it! *I've since made and tried these muffins.  I think they're a bit dry, not overly sweet, and needs a little bit more flavor.  You'll find my suggestions at the bottom of this post.  One of my friends who tried the muffin said she "really liked it."  Apple Harvest Muffins 2...

This isn't my photo; it's from the internet. But it does look like my cornbread! My oldest cherub's birthday was last week. At our house, when it's your birthday, you get to have your favorite meal. Whatever you want is what momma fixes. Usually. Unless it's really, really weird! This year, my cherub wanted Cornbread and Chicken. Why? Because of Alan Jackson's song, "Where I Come From." Do you know it? Here's a link to listen:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMfI0qd3fyA Along with the cornbread and chicken, he wanted creamed corn, sweet potato casserole, rolls (which, by the way, I did NOT allow!), and cinnamon rolls for dessert. So, as a good momma . . . I gave that boy what he wanted! Here's one of the recipes from that meal. Cornbread 1/2 cup cornmeal 1 1/2 cups flour 2/3 cups sugar 1 TBSP baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1/3 cup oil 3 TBSP butter, melted 2 eggs, beaten 1 1/4 cups milk In a large bowl ...

 We had lunch with some friends of our the other day. I love going to their house because. . .  my friend is a great cook she has pretty serving pieces from Southern Living Home she's got 3 darling boys that make me laugh she shares her recipes with me . . .even if they aren't her recipes OH!  I forgot another reason! She ALWAYS has an appetizer. As in always, never-fails, can count on her, without a doubt she'll have an appetizer. On the corner of her kitchen island, where we always gather and eat and talk and watch her finish up last minute cooking . . . while we eat the appetizer! This was the last appetizer we ate at her house. It's good! I made it the other day and my cherubs said, "This doesn't taste like Lady J's!" "Oh?"  I said.  "It's her recipe!" And they ate it! But it didn't really taste like hers!  And here's why! I didn't measure the mayo . . .I didn't wa...

Homemade Fried Avocados! Last Spring, after a baseball game, we stopped to have dinner at a new taco shop in town. My girl cherub ordered a fried avocado taco. She couldn't stop talking about it! She's asked me several times to make fried avocados. "It can't be hard, mom!"  She'd say! But, you know how things go . . . . it seemed like I never got around to it; until last night! I tried my first recipe of fried avocados and we all liked it! I think these would be great for tacos, to top grilled chicken, or on top of a salad. I need to work on the final product; my girl cherub thought they were to "batter-y."  The Mr. and my boy cherub thought they were great. I'm not sure how to improve that -- except to not pat the bread crumbs on, simply dredge through the bread crumbs! You give it a try and see what you think! Fried Avocado Avocados (I sliced each avocado into sixths) flour cornmeal salt 1 egg, beaten pank...

Today, this sweet cherub of mine turned 14. Do I wish I could still cradle him in my arms, hold him close and dress him in smocked outfits? Yes! But am I so thankful that he's becoming a fantastic young man who would rather wear athletic shorts? Absolutely! I love that my cherub is: funny smart still a kid at heart a hard worker thoughtful content comfortable with himself a Christ follower reliable passionate about baseball loyal honest OK with being an indian rather than a chief taller than me worthy to be looked up to by his sister This sweet cherub of mine makes our family complete. I think my cherub is the cutest thing ever!  And not just because I'm his mom . . . just look at that smile! 

My girl cherub loves to dance. Specifically, she loves ballet. She's been dancing for a few years now. And one of her dreams has come true! Pointe Shoes! Last Friday was her fitting for her first pair of pointe shoes. The studio where she dances had a "pointe party" for all of the girls who are getting their first pair of shoes. These four girls are friends and dance together! This little "diddy" is an important part of pointe shoes. It makes your pointe shoes more comfy. Sort of! Her first slip of the pointe shoe onto her foot! I wish you could see her smile! It was impressive! Being fitted for shoes requires some expert knowledge! Getting it right is a must! Look close!  This is her first time "Up on pointe!" She was very nervous! And excited! A little more fitting to make sure the shoe is right! She tried on more than 10 pairs of pointe shoes to find...

Remember the Oreo Poke Cake from several weeks ago? http://karen-proverbs31.blogspot.com/2012/07/oreo-poke-cake.html That cake was so easy that it got me thinking! "What else could I combine for a great tasting cake?" Now, let me  say, that in no way am I suggesting that I'm creating something that someone else hasn't already dreamed up before me. I'm way smarter than to think that! To assume that I can think of something that nobody else did?!?! Hardly! But! Sometimes I can get fairly creative! This week, we invited friends over for Friday night, after half time of our first home game. Since there were several of us hanging out together, I decided that I would make two desserts. One chocolate something. One not chocolate something. I had subbed all week and going to the grocery store was not an option for me.  I was going to make desserts with whatever I had at home. After all, it was after 9:00 when I started this project!...

Our Auntie 'Ronda is a really good cook. She's from the South. Alabama to be specific! She has good recipes. Sometimes she shares her recipes with me! Here's one she gave me a very long time ago. We're having them tonight with our roasted pork loin and mashed potatoes. I think that all sounds really good tonight for dinner. It's been a long day. And honestly, I want something that tastes good. Actually, I want someone else to cook that something. And to clean up that something. And for me to just enjoy that something. But that won't be happening today. Or ever, for that matter! That's the life I live. But these BBQ green beans;  I think you'll like them.  They're a zippy little approach to something that could be ho-hum! For a disclaimer:  I don't think these taste like BBQ.  I don't think they're supposed to; I think that's just the name of them. Let me know what you think! BBQ Green Beans...

Now that Summer is almost over, I'm getting ready to make this "perfect summer" salad! I think you'd call that, "being behind the curve ball!" Regardless, this salad is amazing! There's nothing too complex about it. I like the different colors of veggies in the salad when tossed with the okra. Ok -- really, I like the fried okra! Truth of the matter, since I recommend using frozen okra, you can have this salad whenever you feel like . . . even if it's at the end of Summer! Fried Okra Salad 1 large bag of breaded frozen okra, cooked according to package (fried!), and cooled 8-9 pieces of bacon, cooked and crumbled 1-2 tomatoes, chopped (you can use a container of small cherub/cherry tomatoes) 1 bunch of green onion (or a sweet summer onion), chopped 1-2 green bell peppers, chopped 1/3 cup sugar 1/4 cup oil 1/4 cup vinegar In a large bowl, place the cooked and cooled fried okra, crumbled bacon, chopped tomatoes, onion, an...