A Proverbs 31 Kind of Day

So I'm getting my hair cut last night and we're talking about Thanksgiving . . .  . . .and all of the crazy things that happen when family is around! We talked about what we had . . .  . . .and didn't have. In the midst of that conversation, the guy who cuts my hair said that after they went home on Thanksgiving, he made a pie. A really GOOD pie. He made a lemon pie! When I think "lemon," I don't usually think "Fall!" But he said it was soooooo yummy! Well, he didn't say "yummy!" He said, "good!" When they finished the last bit of it the other night, his wife said, "you're going to have to make another one of these!" Naturally, when I hear someone talk about a new recipe, I ask for it! Scripture says, "Ask and you shall receive!" I asked. I received! When Darren was telling me about the pie and how good it was, he said, and I quote, "What can be bad with Eagle B

Image from the Internet Thanksgiving has come and gone. And while Thanksgiving was leaving, our company was just coming! It was a busy and fun weekend with The Nutcracker performances, friends and family, and getting back into the routine! Because our schedule included many hours spent at the theater for our girl cherub dancing in The Nutcracker, I wanted to serve something easy to our friends who were staying at our house. I found this recipe for soup and it sounded perfect.  What caught my attention is that it wasn't a "brothy" chicken enchilada soup.  I liked the thought of that! What I wish I had known was that it wouldn't really be soup weather! Oh well!  We just turned on the air and pretended! I'm going to give you the recipe as I made it.  However, we decided while we were eating that it could have used a bit more "stuff" in it!  I'll make that notation for you!  Then!  You decide how you want to make it! Southwest Chick

We are thankful for the abundant blessings the Lord has given to our family. Whether we are in times of trial or walk in pleasant pastures, God's faithfulness is true.  During this time of  "Thanksgiving" -- we know that it's not just a day to set aside, but it's a way to live. Happy Thanksgiving Living; from our family to yours!

Image from the internet It's not often that the Mr. cooks at our house. The Mr.'s job in the kitchen is "helper." As in: help clean the dishes as we go help get out the things I need help put things in the oven help take things out of the oven  . . .you get the idea! It's not that the Mr. can't cook . . . it's just that most of what he cooks isn't the tastiest! In all fairness, there are four things the Mr. does very well in the kitchen breakfast coffee grilling helping When we were in college, he was proud of pasta noodles with "flaked" tuna. As in, he'd cook plain 'ol spaghetti, drain it. Open a can of tuna and drain it (see the common thread here?) Put the noodles in a bowl and "flake" the tuna onto the noodles. Toss and serve. Seriously. That's what I ate at his apartment one night. I'm not sure that he ever cooked for me again! But at the holiday time, the Mr. would

Now you know my true confessions of my unsuccessful attempts at making Ina's caramel sauce. I'm sorely disappointed in myself! But I didn't stop trying . . . I just stopped trying her recipe! I went for something a little more simple. Not so simple as to use condensed milk . . . but sort of a cheaters way of making caramel sauce! I searched the web and found different recipes . . . read the mixed reviews and finally decided to try a combination of 3 recipes! And I was successful! It tasted delicious on my favorite apple! It also tasted delicious directly off of the spoon. It took three spoonfuls to know I liked it. Sometimes I'm a slow learner! Caramel Sauce 4 TBSP butter 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream 1 TBSP vanilla In a sauce pan, over medium heat, melt the butter and brown sugar together, until the sugar is dissolved. Add in the heavy whipping cream.  It will sizzle and bubble -- but don't worry.  Keep stir

Ina Garten's Caramel Sauce, from the Food Network I idolize Ina Garten.  When I was young, and didn't know to appreciate things. She bored me. Seriously bored me. I didn't get her. Now I'm grown up and mature  and I have seen the errors of my ways and I'm just here to say that Ina Garten R.O.C.K.S ! I think I'd rather meet her over Paula Deen. Serious! The other day, I caught the very end of her making a "basic caramel sauce." I didn't know there was a "basic caramel sauce." This stuff looked like a pot of gold just waiting to be devoured! Get the biggest, prettiest serving spoon a girl can handle and scoop out a glop of that stuff and eat it up!  I'm just saying, this stuff is probably not safe in my refrigerator if I'm at home by myself! This sauce will make a perfect gift anytime of the year! So I made the sauce. The recipe is listed below. I made it twice. Failed both times

My friend, Kim, is a great cook. Matter of fact, when we have dinner together, my boy cherub wants her to make biscuits. It doesn't matter what we're having, he wants to know if she can do the biscuits. I've tried to make her biscuits -- and honestly, they don't taste the same. But close. But not the same. I keep trying! This pasta dish is one of Kim's "go to" dinners at her house. She has a house of boys and this is a crowd pleaser! What I like about this is it's easy and tasty! Two very important things! It also reheats beautifully! So for lunch the next day, people will be drooling over your impressive left-over dinner.  . . .and you can keep it a secret that it's easy! Kim's Spicy Chicken Pasta Noodles (I prefer linguine because it holds sauce well) chicken (left-over grilled chicken, rotisserie chicken, roasted or baked chicken) onions, chopped bell peppers, if you want them, chopped mushrooms, if that

Peanut Butter muffin filled with Nutella! This was time change weekend. By the time we left for church on Sunday morning, I had: tried a new coffee done three loads of laundry dealt with e-mail found a new muffin recipe and made it before the cherubs woke up put the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher before we left Do you know what the Mr. said when I told him all I had done? "We need time change every weekend!" That's not funny. Because my cherubs love peanut butter, I decided to make peanut butter muffins. My idea was to make peanut butter and jelly muffins. I thought that sound fun. So I baked some with jelly in the center and some were just plain. But on my way to church I thought "filled muffins would be good." So after lunch today, I hollowed out the center of the plain and filled some with strawberry jelly and some with nutella spread. Actually, I thought that I would mix the peanut butter and jelly together and fill the

As soon as the weather changes, I start getting inspired to try new things. This week, on the menu, are Indian Tacos. I'm not sure that I've ever made these for the Mr. and the cherubs. But as a kid, I remember going to the Oklahoma State Fair and getting an Indian Taco. We could only buy our tacos from one certain Indian Taco stand. Oh, there were others at the fair. But they were impostures, I tell you! But I am not at the fair this week, so I had to make my own. There are several recipes on-line, so I just picked one.  I'm listing it here. After we make it, if we aren't particularly fond of it, I'll try another recipe; but until then, here's what we've got! We topped the fry bread with taco meat, cumin-seasoned pinto beans, shredded lettuce, chopped onions, diced tomatoes, grated cheese, and some salsa.  It was good! Indian Fry Bread (slightly adapted from the original recipe) 1 cup flour 1/4 tsp.

I'm not sure about where you live, but where I live you'd have no idea that it's Fall if you're using the weather as your guide. Not that I do that. Oh heck, what am I saying! Of course I do! Thanksgiving is in the Fall.  It's time to wear sweatshirts. Christmas is in the Winter.  It's time to wear sweaters. Fourth of July is in the Summer.  It's time to wear as little as possible! But here it is, November 1st, and where I live it's in the mid 80's. As in -- that's great weather for Summer. But it's terrible weather for Fall. Thanksgiving is coming, but who'd know? Except for this little Turkey. Click on the turkey and get in the holiday mood!