Today is the 26th of August and I realize that I have not posted for sometime.  So today is the best time to start with a great little dip that I love with crackers or pretzels:

I can of deviled ham
1 package cream cheese

Mix the two  together and enjoy!  So simple but delicious!!

Today is June 19, 2014.  I am very happy to be in a warm climate as I am having some arthritis problems.
Comes with the wonderful world of getting older.  Today was a great day for me as I accomplish what I wanted to get done.  Now it is on to dinner and then making some cookies for my neighbor.  I am making Palmiers.  Here is my recipe:

I package of puff pastry
Cinnamon
Sugar
Orange zest

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Mix the sugar, cinnamon and orange zest in a bowl.  Put some of the mixture down where you will be rolling out the puff pastry.  Lay the puff pastry out and the add some of the mixture on top of pastry.  You now have mixture on both sides...roll the pastry a few times to work the mixture into the pastry.  then you must fold the puff pastry. With the seam of the pastry in the middle, roll each side half way to middle, then fold to the middle.  Then take the one side an put on top of the other side.  Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
When cooled cut the pastry in about 1/4 inch pieces and lay on parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
Cook for about 6 minutes then take out of the oven and turn each one over with a spatula.  Cook for another 6 minutes or until golden brown....

Enjoy!

I believe this to be the best sandwich ever!  I highly recommend  that you give it a try.  I found the recipe and wanted to share with you.

Believe me I will be making this over the weekend for sure!

Have a great day and may God bless each and every one!

Blue Bayou Monte Cristo Sandwich

Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 egg
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons water
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
8 slices egg bread (challah works well), sliced 1/2-inch thick
8 thin slices ham
8 thin slices turkey
8 thin slices Swiss cheese (make it meatless by removing turkey and ham and including a couple more cheese choices!)
3 cups canola oil
Confectioners sugar
Blackberry preserves

Directions:
Line a cookie sheet with paper towels; set aside.

Whisk the egg and water together in a mixing bowl. Add flour, salt, and baking powder and whisk thoroughly for 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth, scraping sides of bowl.

On one slice of bread, arrange 2 slices of ham, turkey, and cheese, covering the bread evenly. Place another slice of bread on top and slice each sandwich in half diagonally.

Heat oil to between 365 degrees F and 375 degrees F in a 10-inch pan. Do not let the oil reach a higher temperature than this; if the oil starts to smoke, turn the heat down. Dip half of the sandwich into the batter, allowing excess to drain, and very carefully place into the oil.

Repeat with the other sandwich half. Cook 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Place the cooked sandwich on the prepared cookie sheet in a warm oven until ready to serve. Repeat with the other three sandwiches.

Cook one at a time, and allow the oil to reach the desired temperature between each.

Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar and serve with blackberry preserves on the side.

I had a wonderful lunch yesterday with my friends.  We enjoyed eating and chatting for hours.  What a joy to have just good friends in my life.
We had this great salad that I thought I would share with you:


1 package of cream cheese (softened)
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons of vanilla
2 pounds seedless red grapes
2 pounds seedless green grapes
Glazed walnuts ( enough to cover top of bowl)

In bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar,and vanilla
Add grapes and toss.
Transfer to serving bowl and refrigerate until serving.
Sprinkle with walnuts and serve.

Enjoy!

Today is the 18th of February and a really beautiful day here in Nevada.  Sunny and warm with temps around 75 or 80.  Just great for a winter day!  I just got finished with my chores today and was looking through some of my recipes.  I remembered the recipe I use for making homemade hot fudge sauce... It is so good.  Here is my recipe:

2 cups sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1 5oz can evaporated milk
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine sugar and cocoa in small saucepan.  Stir in the milk, add butter.  Bring to a boil stirring constantly.
Reduce heat and cook and stir for about 1 minute or until slightly thickened.
Remove from heat, stir in vanilla.  Serve warm.  Refrigerate the remaining sauce.
Just delightful over vanilla ice cream!!

Enjoy!

My heart and prayers go out to my family and friends in the middle of this massive winter storm....Here I am in sunshine and warm temps and feeling very blessed.  Today is a good day to cook.  So I will be having some fried cabbage.  Here is my recipe:

1 head of cabbage (sliced about 1/2 to 1 inch wide)
2 or 4 slices of bacon (chopped)
2 tbsp. butter
Salt and Pepper

Cook bacon until crisp.  Remove from skillet and add the butter and cabbage..
Cook until cabbage is tender.

So easy but oh so good!

Enjoy!

Well time is flying by so far in 2014 and before we know it Easter will be here. My absolute favorite holiday as the meaning gives us hope!  So much to be thankful for and much to thank for all our blessing.  Keeps us grounded in this out of control world we live in.

I will cook my normal Easter dinner which will definitely include pickled eggs... Here is my recipe:

1 dozen of eggs (hard boiled and peeled)

2 cans of pickled beets

1 cinnamon stick

4 cloves

1/4 cup water

1/2 vinegar

1/2 sugar

Mix together the last 6 ingredients. Taste for the perfect balance of sweet and sour, and then add the eggs... cover and refrigerator.  Always better as they sit for a day or two.

Enjoy!

What a beautiful day outside!  We are so blessed to be in the West right now as much of the country is cold and snowy.  Hope all stays safe and warm.  Today is a good day to pamper myself with some beauty tricks and skin softeners.  I have been so lax in that area lately.  Yesterday was my day for baking some cookies and I made my absolute favorite.  Pecan Sandies and here is the recipe:
 

             1 cup butter (softened)     

             1 cup sugar

              1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

            1/2 teaspoon baking soda

            1/4 teaspoon baking powder

            1/4 teaspoon salt

            1/2 cup pecans (chopped)

Directions

In a bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add extract; mix well.

Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Fold in pecans

Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 300° for 22-24 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool for 1-2 minutes before removing to wire rack.

So delicious!
Enjoy!!!

It is already the 14th of January....time is flying faster and faster as I get older.  I am ready to hit the kitchen for some good food this year and will post as I go.  I wish I had my family closer so I could make them all of their favorite dishes.  I do that for them when they come to visit me!
On Sunday I made a pork tenderloin and it was delicious.  Here is my recipe:

I pork tenderloin
salt and pepper
dijon mustard

  Just rub the tenderloin with the mustard and then salt and pepper completely.
I bake mine in a 400 degree oven for about 30 minutes.


Enjoy!

Well I am back in Nevada with the warm temps and plenty of sunshine. I spent Christmas and New Years in Naperville, IL with my daughter and her family.. Had a great time but lots of snow and very cold temps.
I was thankful for their beautiful fireplace and we used it as often as we could.
Now that I am home I started to clean out the freezer and found some beef cubes.  I decide to make beef cubes in sauce to go over noodles.  Here is my recipe:

About 10 to 20 cubes of beef (depends on the size you make them)
or 1 package of beef stew from store.
1 onion soup mix
1 can of mushroom soup
1/2 cup of red wine
Salt and Pepper

Put all ingredients in crockpot and cook on low for approximately 6 to 8 hours.
Serve over buttered noodles.

Enjoy!