Paula Deen

Yesterday while at the gym during lunch time, this lady decided she wanted to torture me and changed the TV channel to the FOOD NETWORK!!!! I couldn't believe it! Who watches the food network while working out? Anyway, as mad as I was...I'd have to admit I'm a little thankful now. I saw Paula Deen do some yummy looking recipe's.

The first was a drink - I can't find the recipe but you basically take a frozen bag of mixed berries. You thaw it. Then you pour it in a blender and mix. You can strain it if you want. Then you pour it over ice and add sparkling apple cider, apple juice, sparkling water, etc. On the show she used alcohol but she did mention you can use any of those other drinks. It looked yummy.

The second one was Chocolate Raspberry Cookies. She was making all these things for a baby shower. Anyway, they look delicious and I can't wait to try them!

Cook Time:14 minLevel: EasyYield: 4 dozen

Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup Dutch process cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 (6-ounce) package raspberry creme filled dark chocolatebaking pieces (recommended: Hershey's Premier Dark Chocolate Baking Pieces Filled With Raspberry Creme)
Raspberry Icing, recipe follows
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease baking sheets.

With an electric mixer, beat butter and sugars together at medium speed until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, beating well.

In a small bowl, combine flour, cocoa, and baking powder; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Stir in baking pieces. Drop cookies by tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Bake 12 to 14 minutes.

Remove to wire racks to cool. Once cool, drizzle with Raspberry Icing.

Raspberry Icing:
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon seedless raspberry preserves
In a small bowl, combine all ingredients, stirring until smooth.

Peanut Butter and Dill Pickle Sandwich

I was reading Green Eggs and Ham with Landon the other day, and I was reminded of a classic family recipe I received from my Granny O.

Now before you reject this one out of hand, just hear (read?) me out.

When I was about 10 years old, I was at Granny O.'s house, and she was making a sandwich.
She said, "Here. Eat this."
I asked, "What is it?"
"A peanut butter and dill pickle sandwich."
Of course, in my head I was like, "Ew, gross!" But it was my grandma, after all, so I took a bite. And then another. And another! Turns out it was actually really good!
However, it appears that I am the only one in my family to ever take the plunge. Hallie won't try it, and Riley wouldn't when I offered him one when he lived with us. Just to prove that my granny and I are not the only ones to appreciate this unique culinary delight, I looked for the combination online. Here are a few links from others who have tried and enjoyed a PBDP:


PB and Pickle Sandwiches are Divine: About this tasty sandwich tallman8866 explained, "Much like salty and sweet together is quite tastey (such as kettle corn, honey glazed ham, or really good melons with salt) so PB&P stimulates the salty and sour sensations simultaneously."

peanut butter and pickle sandwich

Nat's Peanut Butter and Dill Pickle Sandwich

Facebook Group: Dill Pickles and Peanut Butter Are A Surprisingly Delicious Combination

Here's how you make a really good PB & dill pickle sandwich, courtesy of Patrick Clare:

Peanut Butter Dill Pickle Sandwich

Ingredients:
1 Kaiser Roll
2 Tbsp. Peanut Butter (Crunchy or Smooth according to taste)
2 Dill Pickles sliced lengthwise

Preparation:
Apply Peanut Butter to Kaiser Roll and apply Pickle slices to Peanut Butter and apply the whole Shebang to your mouth. Peanut Butter will anchor Pickle Slices to Kaiser Roll.

Getting back to that great Dr. Suess tale, this is Sam-I-am talking to all you tall yellow frowny-faced folks in the stovepipe hats out there: "You do not like them [PB & DP]. So you say. Try them! Try them! And you may. Try them and you may, I say." You may find yourself liking PB and dill pickle sandwiches, too!

I Won Best Pie With This

Midwest Living Magazine

Peppermint Brownie Pie

Cool: 20 minutes
Bake: 55 minutes
Prep: 20 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter or margarine
3 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
Pastry for 9-inch single crust pie
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup mint-flavored semisweet chocolate pieces
Whipped cream
Directions

1. For filling: In a heavy small saucepan, melt butter and chocolate over low heat, stirring frequently. Cool 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, prepare and roll out pastry. Line a 9-inch pie plate with pastry; trim and crimp edge.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine eggs, sugar, flour and vanilla. Stir in the chocolate mixture and chocolate pieces. Pour into pastry-lined pie plate.
4. Bake pie in a 350 degree F oven about 55 minutes or until filling is evenly puffed and edges of filling are slightly cracked. Cool on wire rack (center will sink slightly as pie cools). Serve with whipped cream. Makes 10 servings.

Revised Christmas List

Giver Receiver

Hallie Bryce

Mike Breanne

Landon Emerson

Bryce Riley

Elise Carly

Lily Landon

Emerson Cru

Riley Hallie

Breanne Shad

Carly Mike

Shad Elise
Cru Lily

Who Do You Have This Year?

So I thought I would post this here so then everyone could find it. If you don't like how it was done this year you are more than welcome to take up the task next year. We will see how it goes once and move on from here if it does not work. We will thank dad for doing the drawing. Unbiased! The usual limit of no more than $30. Have fun and put a little Spirit into it. This should be fun and not hard. Remember it is the thought that counts.

Love you all - Hallie

Giver Receiver

Hallie Bryce

Mike Breanne

Landon Elise

Bryce Cru

Elise Carly

Lily Hallie

Emerson Riley

Riley Landon

Breanne Shad

Carly Mike

Shad Emerson

Cru Lily

ham a la king

okay so i love this recipe. i think mom got it from Grandma Maygren. It's perfect in the winter but I make it all the time because it's my favorite.
disclaimer - this is a mom recipe. you know what that means! things could be left out or "guessed"

white sauce: 1/3 cup butter, 1/3 cup flour. melt and whisk together over low heat. add milk. make kind of thick.

chop up: 2-3 carrots, 2-3 celery and 1/2 onion. microwave until cooked through. add chopped up ham to mixture.

add vegetables and ham to white sauce. add a little bit of liquid smoke flavoring.

that's it! super easy. really yummy.


ps, if you use VEGAN butter and soy milk it still works, just smells a little funky. but tastes good still. and if you have kids they might have nasty poops after. but i'm blaming it on the crazy butter and milk i use now!

Chicken Caesar Wraps

These are AmAZinG!!
3 T Olive oil
1 tsp lemon pepper seasoning salt
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
flour tortillas
Romaine lettuce, chopped
Tomato, chopped
Dressing
1 (8oz) sour cream
2 T milk
3 T Parmesan cheese, grated
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp minced garlic

In a large plastic bag, combine olive oil, lemon pepper, 1 tsp garlic and 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning.
Add chicken to bag, seal tightly, and mix around to distribute marinade. Refrigerate 15 min, while preheating the grill to med heat. Remove chicken and arrange on rack. Grill about 10-14 min, remove when done and cut into strips.
In a small bowl, combine sour cream, milk, Parmesan cheese, 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning, pepper and 1/2 tsp garlic. Place romaine and sliced chicken in warmed tortillas. Top with dressing, I also add chopped tomato. Fold and eat!