October 7, 2010

Mornin' Yall !

Well, this is my second day on my blog and so far so good, I haven't blown it up yet! Yesterday when I posted on my Facebook page that I had started my blog, I got so many enouraging messages, it really made me feel good to know that people were actually interested in what I had to say as well as looking forward to new recipes for them.  I have so many awesome friends and family, I thank God everyday for them. So, when I started getting so many positive comments I thought that maybe this might just work.  I'm sure along the way, there will be some days that I won't get to post much, because of different circumstances, but I'll do my very best to keep up with this blog as much as I can.  There also will be times that I just won't be able to get to my computer, such as if I'm out of town etc.  I will tell you all this now ahead of time so you will know why I won't be posting as much as I hope to, my stepdaughter, Angie is getting married on Oct. 23 rd in Ames, Iowa.  We will be leaving on Oct. 21 st. to head that way for the wedding.  We will be driving, which is about an 18-20 hr. trip, a very long road trip to say the least.  The live in northern Iowa so it will take us quite awhile to get there.  Then after we arrive in Ames, it will be non-stop with all of the wedding festivities, beginning with the rehersal and the rehersal dinner on Friday night.  After driving all night, I'm sure Fred and I both will be like zombies, so I'm sure we will be like robots...LOL.  But, I'm sure it wont' take us long to recharge and be ready for this beautiful wedding !  So, I proabably won't be online much to post on my blog.  As I said, we are leaving on Oct. 21st., and we will be staying the week after the wedding with Angie's wedding while she and Ryan are on their honeymoon.  Then on Oct. 31 st. we will put the kiddos on a flight to Hawaii to join Angie and Ryan, for their second week in Hawaii.  After we get them off, then we will head back home to good old East Texas !  So, during this time of Oct. 21st to Oct. 31st., I'm sure I won't be posting as much.  So if you don't hear from me on my blog, just please know, I'm still around  and hopefully you won't forget about me.  We are looking forward to the wedding and also looking forward to spending this time with the grandbabies.  Because we live so far away from each other, we don't get to spend near enough time with them.  So, we are taking full advantage of that precious time with the grandbabies.  Just don't forget me while I'm gone...LOL.

The Homemade Chicken Tenders we had for supper last night were delicious!  I am one of those people that almost like the batter or crust on something more than the actual item. Just like when I make a cobbler...give me more crust than fruit! I made a Buttermilk Batter for the chicken and it was a light golden crispy crust.  My grandson, Peyton spent the night last night but went to church first and of course I had to save him some too !  I thought he was going to eat the plate.  That boy loves chicken more than anyone I know of. I do believe he would eat chocolate covered chicken if they made it...LOL.  Of course as usual, I made too much so it's a good thing we (especially my husband) like leftovers.  In fact Fred was munching on the left over chicken tenders for a snack before bedtime.  I'm sure glad I have a husband that likes leftovers, because if he didn't, we would be throwing away a whole lot of food because I always cook too dadgum much !  And I'm not having that, as I'm sure if you know me at all, you'll know I hate to waste things, especially food !  

Today for supper I am cooking Smoked Sausage, Rice and Cuban Beans.  The Cuban Beans are something that my sweet little Aunt Shirley used to make while I was growing up as a little girl !  I have NO idea why she called them Cuban Beans, but she did.  All I did know for sure was, no matter what she called them, I loved them !  This is basically what goes into them, and as usual I don't measure a whole lot, and neither did Aunt Shirley, so by watching her and eating them all of my life, I learned to adjust the recipe according to my taste.  Cuban Beans are pinto beans cooked with some sort of meat such as bacon, ham or in my case this time, I had some leftover smoked brisket in my freezer that I had saved just for something like this...for seasoning! I try my best to save things like the brisket, roast, chicken etc., that there isn't enough for another meal, but certainly enough to use for seasoning food.  I then saute' onion, bell pepper and celery and garlic cloves until tender and transparent.  Add those veggies to the beans along with canned Diced Tomatoes,  Cumin Powder, Garlic Powder, Salt, Pepper, Brown Sugar and Molasses.  Yep....Molasses !!  I know this combination sounds a bit odd, but it is delicious !  You can serve these beans as just a side dish or over cooked white Rice.  Either way, they are sooooooo good !  So knowing my husband like I do, I'm sure he will pile the Cuban Beans on top of his Rice and eat the Smoked Sausage on the side! Rice, Sausage and Beans are some of my hubby's very favortie things to eat!   And again.....I know for a fact I will have leftovers, so what we don't eat, the rest will go in the freezer for another day. 

One thing I do need to tell all of yall is, as I said I'm still learning the ropes with this blog and all of it's features.  I have received a few comments and so far I haven't figured out how to respond to them using this blog.  From what I'm seeing, there is no reply option or comment box, but as soon as I figure out how to do this, I'll do my best to reply to your comments.  But in the mean time, just know I'm reading your sweet comments and truly do appreciate each and everyone of them.  Since I've never done a blog or even use different sites for blogs, I'm still learning how to do it and what are the pros and cons for different websites.  So, please just bear with me as I toodle along with this. 

I am also getting comments and posts that say they are looking forward to keeping up with my blog and also looking forward to what I'm calling "Recipie of the Day" ! Also, a lot of people are very interested into sharing and swapping recipes from each other.  Well.....so am I !!  I can't wait to see some of the recipes that yall are willing to share with the rest of us.  From what I'm seeing on my end of the blog, probably the best place to post a recipe or a picture is in your "posts" or "comments".  I'm not sure if what you are seeing is what I'm seeing, but when I make a daily post, it pretty much looks just like a regular email, like we all have on our computers.  And if that is the case with yall too, in this box, there is an option to "add images" (pictures) too.  So, if you prepare a dish and would like to share not only the recipe for it, but also take a picture of it, I know we all would love to see it !

Well as usual, this post is lengthy but that is always the case with me !  I talk too dadgum much ! LOL.  So, I'll close this one by saying...Thank You...Thank You...Thank You !  Not only thank you for visiting my blog to read it but for being so supportive of my new adventure.  I am so looking forward to chat with you as well as seeing all the new recipes that come our way too.  I do hope you have a great day and "Happy Eating" !

Muahhhhhhhhh ♥

This is one of my Coconut Pies.  All my cream pies, such as this one, have a double filling and mile high meringue.  I just hate to cut into a pie and find out that there is a very thin layer of filling.  I want to taste and enjoy that yummy filling, not just look at it...LOL.  Of all the different desserts that I make and people order them, my Coconut and Chocolate Meringue pies are still everyone's very favorite !!