A Proverbs 31 Kind of Day

I'm just being honest . . . I really don't care for store bought salad dressings.  Oh, there is one brand from the store that I enjoy, but over-all, my preference is homemade.  Making salad dressings are one of the easiest and quickest things to make -- and extremely forgiving!  This is a new recipe I tried tonight for dinner. Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette 1/2 cup olive oil 4 TBSP red wine vinegar 2 TBSP dijon mustard 2 TBSP honey 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper Whisk all ingredients together and chill.  Yields 1 cup. The darling bottle is done by a friend of mine, Cora.  She sells all kinds of painted glass ware!  Her contact information is:  ron.cora@verizon.net   -- you, too, can enjoy some Glitzy Glass by Cora !

My mom made this salad for some shindig that we did at her house some time ago and recently I shared this recipe with a friend of mine who was needing a salad to take to a luncheon.  This is an easy, taste good salad that everyone raves about!  If you make and take . . .you better have the recipe with you too! Grape Salad 8 oz sour cream 8 oz cream cheese 1/3 cup sugar 2 tsp. vanilla Mix the above ingredients together until well blended. 4 lbs. seedless grapes (red and green) 1/2 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup chopped pecans Place a layer of grapes in your bowl.  Dollop some of the cream cheese mixture around (don't worry about spreading it out), sprinkle a bit of the brown sugar on top and some of the pecans.  Repeat layers, ending with the cream cheese mixture with the brown sugar and nuts on top. Refrigerate well (over night works great!)

I'm sure by now you've had the delicious sweet treat called "Cake Balls."  In Oklahoma they've been referred to as "Angel Bites" or "Cake Bites."  Whatever you call them, they're just good! As always, this is a recipe that you can alter to your taste.  If you have time, play around and get the concoction that tastes best to you!  Cake Balls 1 cake mix, baked according to directions 1 container ready-made frosting 1 package almond bark (white or chocolate) After baking the cake, crumble the warm cake into a large bowl.  Add the container of frosting and stir thorougly.  This will make a "goup" of sort!  Use a small cookie scoop and start making the cake balls.  Allow to cool completely in the refrigerator then freeze for 2 or more hours.  Melt bark according to package directions. Dip frozen cake balls into melted coating.  Roll in nuts, sprinkles, candies or decorate with additional melted almond bark in cont...

Love, love, L.O.V.E flour tortillas!  The warm flour pillow -- melts the butter or holds the salsa or cradles the cheese -- it's amazing!  I can absolutely eat my weight in yummy flour tortillas.  Needless to say, the store-bought ones just really don't have that "fiesta!" when I think tortilla!  Many years ago, when Jackson was a little guy, he and I went to a cooking class in Santa Fe and learned to make flour tortillas.  They are SO yummy and SO easy.  It's crazy!  BUT!  Who has time to whip out homemade flour tortillas every time?  Me either!  So, I've discovered the next best thing! This is a refrigerated raw flour tortilla.  I found this particular brand at Wal-Mart.  You simply cook what you need when you are in need of your Mexican fix!  Let the tortilla come to room temperature and cook in a hot pan or griddle for about a minute.  In no time, you'll be saying "Ole!" As a side note; i...

Now that school is back in full swing, having a nutritious  . . .and did I say "quick!" breakfast is necessary!  I always start off so good but it doesn't take long for the new to wear off!  But, at last, I think I've found something that was a hit with everybody, including dad!  I made this the night before, cooled it and then sliced it and put it in a container so that all we have to do is warm it up.  The microwave is OK, but I prefer to warm it in the toaster.  Throw a container of yogurt with it and you've got it made!  Barbara calls this cheese bread, but my new name is: yummy! Sausage and Cheese Bread 1 lb. sausage, cooked and drained 8 eggs 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded 1 can Grand biscuits Beat the eggs and mix the cooked sausage and cheese together.  Cut biscuits into eights.  Mix into the sausage mixture.  Pour into greased bundt pan and bake for 35 minutes* at 350. *Mine wasn't done at 35 minutes, b...

The other night, I was headed out to dinner with the girls and a little Liz Curtis Higgs but I didn't want to leave my family hi-n-dry for dinner!  This pasta dish is a winner with my kids and throws together faster than you can put on a prom dress . . .and when is the last time we've done that?  This recipe is from my mom.  It easily doubles, lightens, and re-heats perfect in the microwave! Creamy Pesto Chicken with Bow Ties 3 cups uncooked bow tie pasta (I recently found the "baby" ones and I really do like the size!) 2 TBSP butter 1 lb boneless chicken breasts, cubed* 1 can cream of chicken soup 1/2 cup pesto sauce (Classic Creations brand, or other pre-made sauce) 1/2 cup milk Cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain.  Meanwhile, heat butter in a skillet.  Add chicken and cook until browned, stirring often.  Add the soup, pesto sauce and milk.  Bring to a low boil and reduce heat to low for 5 minutes.  Stir ...

It's our last day of Summer break and today we're working on making sure we have everything together, then celebrating with a "Back to School" dinner!  The kids picked Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions.  This is a quick, throw together meal, that's colorful and tasty! Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions 1 package fresh Italian Sausage 1 Green Pepper 1 Red Pepper 1 Yellow Pepper 1 Onion Cut each sausage link into 6 bite sized pieces.  Clean each of the veggies and chunk them into pieces.  I call this "rustic" chop.  You definately don't want them too small -- you don't want to sautee them, you'll cook them until their tender-crisp. Heat a bit of olive oil (maybe 2 TBSP) in a large pan over medium-high heat.  Put the Italian Sausage in and stir until coated and cook for 7-8 minutes.  Add the veggies, stirring to coat with the olive oil and cook thoroughly until  meat is done, stirring of...