tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35768663658150961982012-01-27T15:54:56.942-06:00Sharing my experiences in hopes to inspire others that you can find inspiration in food.Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.comBlogger5181100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-187254000853318312012-01-27T06:00:00.000-06:002012-01-27T06:00:15.429-06:00

Being a Southern girl I love all the food in our region. Shrimp and grits is something I’ve never made believe it or not. This was a little fancier version, which I liked except for the sauce. I forgot to chop the spinach in small pieces so it was a stringy mess, but otherwise it could have used a little seasoning in my opinion. I would make this again just completely change it up for my own

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-91487304268926154122012-01-25T06:00:00.000-06:002012-01-25T06:00:14.654-06:00

Here’s another side dish that I made for our big Christmas dinner. It was an interesting combination of sweet and savory which was a huge hit with my hubby. This is an easy dish to make in advance and just pop in the oven when you’re ready. Basil and Pecan Sweet Potato Bake (Adapted from Allens Inc.) Printer Friendly Version 3 15 oz. cans Princella or Sugary Sam Cut Sweet Potatoes,

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-60026174001809852832012-01-23T06:00:00.000-06:002012-01-23T06:00:06.735-06:00

For Christmas my mother in law suggested we do a cookie exchange. I’ve always wanted to do this, but never had enough people or the amount of time to participate. I recently saw some online ones to join so I might try to do that next year. This isn’t a cookie you can just toss together. While it’s pretty tasty it does require patience and can’t be rushed. I really like how it’s not an overly

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-43869465111080010612012-01-20T06:00:00.000-06:002012-01-20T06:00:13.157-06:00

I think every family has a recipe like this. It’s one of the most comforting side dishes we have at every holiday meal. My grandmother added in some sautéed onion and celery, but I think it’s fine without. The photos are not some of my best, but I was in a hurry so we could sit down and eat at Christmas. Green Rice Printer Friendly Version 1 cup cooked rice 1 package frozen broccoli,

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-37628441656031004822012-01-18T06:00:00.000-06:002012-01-18T06:00:18.148-06:00

I haven’t posted any pictures lately so to kick off this year’s season of rodeo I thought I would start with the Hide Party from last Friday night. Most of you probably have no clue what I’m talking about so I’ll give you a little information. Each year my husband’s side of the family goes in together and buys a Steer at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The following year they host a Hide

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-68906235621758340632012-01-16T06:00:00.000-06:002012-01-16T06:00:05.948-06:00

I’m all about anything with Michael Symon, I would love to meet him one day! This was just an ok dish for us. While I thought it was good, I had to add more goat cheese to taste it and it needed a sprinkle of seasoning to kick it up and enhance the flavors. I would make it again, except make the changes above. We also used leftover smoked chicken instead of roasted chicken, which dominated the

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-7219212274355560472012-01-13T06:00:00.000-06:002012-01-13T06:00:03.935-06:00

I had served these noodles with the Bang Bang Shrimp from Wednesday’s post. Although I didn’t follow the directions to a T, they where just ok. I probably won’t make them again, although if I had something better to pair it with then I might. I also didn’t care for them cold as they instructed, it was better warm. Spicy Thai Noodles (Adapted from A Small Snippet) Printer Friendly Version

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-79344985458284795272012-01-11T06:00:00.000-06:002012-01-11T06:00:06.916-06:00

I can’t get enough of these little shrimp! The sauce is fantastic, but I recommend just dipping the fried shrimp in the sauce rather than coated them all at the same time because they aren’t as crispy. I’m not a huge fan of seasoning a breading that is going to be fried, but I follow the directions the first time before I do my own thing the next time. I would sprinkle the herbs and seasoning

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-15046770998273321272012-01-09T06:00:00.000-06:002012-01-09T06:00:00.697-06:00

  If you have a bunch of candy cane’s leftover from Christmas here’s the perfect thing to use them with. These babies are strong so be sure you don’t cut them in too big of squares. I doubled the recipe so my pictures below will be more then what the original recipe calls for. Candy Cane Martini Jelly Shots (Adapted from JellyShotTestKitchen via tablespoon.com) Printer Friendly Version

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-71504551959007289632012-01-06T06:00:00.000-06:002012-01-06T06:00:15.129-06:00

I really liked how simple and fresh this soup is. The only problem is you have to strain the soup at the end and don’t be lazy like me. It leaves a funky texture and tasted much better the next day when I strained it. This is a perfect starter to any meal. Fresh Corn Soup with Crab (Adapted from Food & Wine) Printer Friendly Version 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 medium onion,

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-14614341489635677332012-01-04T06:00:00.000-06:002012-01-04T06:00:04.396-06:00

I originally made these back in December for game night, but with all the gift basket goodies I wanted to post I ran out of time to add this one in. This is super easy to mix up and who doesn’t like to eat cookie dough? I kind of like the raw look from the cookie scoop so I didn’t roll mine in a tight ball.   Cookie Dough Bites (Adapted from Disney Family) Printer Friendly Version 1

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-28853700552411489742012-01-02T06:00:00.000-06:002012-01-02T06:00:14.077-06:00

Hope everyone recovered from the holiday’s just fine and is ready to get back in the swing of things. We had a nice Christmas vacation as well as New Years. I got a few new kitchen toys, but overall we had a low key Christmas. I didn’t decorate much this year, instead trying to enjoy the season a little more since I usually hate this time of year. It’s all overdone and so stressful that you

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-84371821966023929362011-12-30T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-30T06:00:13.073-06:00

  Another year has flown by! I better get working on my New Year’s resolutions  there isn’t much time left. It’s been a rough year for me so 2012 better be good to me. One of my goals for this past year was to do a video entry for a contest and I did do 1, that’s better then none right? I guess I‘ll think of something before the clock strikes midnight. Meanwhile I’ll be sipping on one of these

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-74521895508544416642011-12-26T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-26T06:00:05.980-06:00

One last thing I didn’t get to squeeze in before Christmas that I had in my gift baskets. This pumpkin butter is really really good and so easy to make. I’m proud to say I also canned for the first time, it’s a lot less scary then I thought it would be. I made this recipe times 6 so that’s why it might look like a lot in the pan, but for sure give it a try. Pumpkin Butter (Adapted from

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-41000988997332163602011-12-23T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-23T06:00:21.532-06:00

First off Merry Christmas to everyone! I have one last quick and easy gift for a hostess gift or party favor that every one will be sure to love. Here’s 4 flavors, but be inspired and use other citrus ingredients or flavor combos. Peppermint Scrub: 1 cup sugar olive oil, enough till it’s wet like sand 1 teaspoon peppermint oil or peppermint extract few drops red food coloring if

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-38136138615989468232011-12-21T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-21T06:00:13.339-06:00

If you’re looking for one more quick and easy cookie to make this is it! My mom used to make these every year. The cinnamon sugar coating just adds enough sweetness to this cookie. Snickerdoodles Printer Friendly Version 1 cup crisco 1 ½ cups sugar 2 eggs 2 ¾ cups flour 2 teaspoons cream of tartar 1 teaspoon baking soda ⅛ teaspoon salt Sugar Coating: 2 tablespoons

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-37373772978189097782011-12-19T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-19T06:00:03.370-06:00

If your holidays are crazy like mine are you might want to make one of these for yourself! I like the idea of doing cakes and pies in a jar. They’re so much less messy and look really cute. Remember these are not kid friendly so make sure you tell whomever you are giving it to! Whiskey in a Jar (Flourless) Chocolate Cake (Adapted from Angie McGowan) Printer Friendly Verison 1 stick butter

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-49064087522253128862011-12-16T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-16T06:00:18.252-06:00

If you are looking for a simple gift basket stuffer or a party favor, give these hot chocolate spoons a try. There’s really no recipe for them you just use your imagination and create any flavor combo you want. I started by laying out my spoons. You want to use a cookie sheet with an edge to prop up the handles so the filling is even and won’t slide off. Melt the butterscotch or chocolate

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-11921023202853128952011-12-15T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-15T06:00:05.481-06:00

This is such a cute idea for teachers gifts, gift baskets or as party favors. There’s no real recipe for this, but I’ll try to give you as much detail as I can. I used some cute bags and added in some hot chocolate, mini candy canes and chocolate candy. Before you seal the bag you need to add the poem to go inside. When the weather outside is frightful, Snowman Soup can be delightful! May

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-19327185451597053132011-12-14T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-14T06:00:17.217-06:00

By no means am I a candy maker by a long shot! I make marshmallows really good, but other than that and fudge I don’t really mess with candy. I don’t know why, maybe because it’s so easy to mess up if it goes one degree over a certain temperature or depends on the weather. Whatever the reason I try to stay clear of it. This year I was determined to make this peanut brittle. Every year a friend

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-21153433581147310192011-12-13T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-13T06:00:04.992-06:00

Now this popcorn turned out way better than yesterday’s recipe! It’s not overly sweet, super easy to make and is addicting! To package the popcorn I used some cleaned out Pringles cans (tried to be a little more green this year), wrapped them with wrapping paper and tied a bow on them. You can do this for any holiday since there’s so many different wrapping paper styles out there or even use

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-59017069181788863722011-12-12T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-12T06:00:04.061-06:00

Kicking off a full 2 weeks of post with this Cinnamon Caramel Corn. It was really good, but when you put it in the airtight container it got really chewy. Not 100% sure I’ll make it again, but it’s worth a try the flavor is really good. I ended up leaving this one out of my Christmas gift baskets. Lots of better post to come I promise! Cinnamon Caramel Corn with Pecans & White Chocolate (

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-17974579658706441372011-12-09T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-09T06:00:08.592-06:00

Last weekend we had our first round of Christmas at the farm with my husband’s dad’s house. We had such a great time. My sister in law loves to bring fun games to get everyone involved, so we played tiddlywinks and pickup sticks. Both where a lot of fun. Since my in-laws did all the cooking I wanted to bring something so I chose this quick dip to munch on while we visited before eating. It’s

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-14099939791213000642011-12-08T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-08T06:00:10.072-06:00

I made these quick and easy seasoning packets to put in my gift baskets. I made up a batch of the dip to try It out and we really enjoyed it. Works as a dip for chips, vegetables and we even used it on our Panini sandwiches that night too. I did cut back on the cumin in the recipe, but otherwise it’s really good. Southwestern Dip Mix (Adapted from Taste of Home Homemade Food Gifts 2011)

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-12391919993994301242011-12-07T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-07T06:00:08.481-06:00

Forget the cookie exchange, host a Chex Party Mix-Change! Don’t get me wrong I love cookies, but how about trying something new this year? This is a great idea for a cocktail party, because we all love snacking while enjoying a cocktail. The cool part is there’s so many different ways you can go with this idea from sweet to savory. Usually my mom makes my hubby a batch of the original mix

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-7085237273666671612011-12-05T05:00:00.000-06:002011-12-05T05:00:12.895-06:00

Last year my neighbor had made these and I was jealous because I’ve been wanting to make them for a long time, but never got around to doing it. They are on my list to make this year for sure. I love the sweet and salty combo and trust me these are addicting! Mint Thins (Adapted from Food & Family) Printer Friendly Version 1 pkg. (8 squares) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted,

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-27991125668657628192011-12-02T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-02T06:00:03.945-06:00

Welcome December! Now that the weather is finally getting cooler out it’s time to start making some soups! A friend of mine had made this one before me and said it was really good. She added the lettuce in there and said it was really good even though it sounds funky. I used a different dried chili so I ended up with a redder soup then the picture in the book, but I don’t care it’s really good.

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-58199138592451977232011-11-30T06:00:00.000-06:002011-11-30T06:00:07.397-06:00

Oreos are my favorite store bought cookies and when I saw you can combine them with cupcakes I had to try it. These turned out really good, but I was shocked that the cupcakes seemed to come out heavy and dense they didn’t rise much. I would probably use a different frosting too, sometimes cream cheese frosting doesn’t go with everything. Cookies and Cream Cupcakes (Adapted from Annie’s

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-23784747005154710722011-11-28T06:00:00.000-06:002011-12-02T12:12:30.470-06:00

I love finding new apps especially cooking ones. I’m usually nervous about paying for apps because it’s such a gamble if they are going to be any good or not. I have to say this app you’ll love as much as I do. There’s recipes, videos and extra tips such as freezing a candle before your party and it’ll burn longer and slower. Who knew? If you’re a fan of Top Chef then you’ve seen the promos that

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-72243229312892275052011-11-25T06:00:00.001-06:002011-11-25T06:00:09.901-06:00

I hope everyone had a lovely time with their friends, family and loveones. And if you haven’t had Thanksgiving yet, best of luck. I’m taking today off from blogging to enjoy the things in my life that I’m thankful for. Of course I’m thankful for you guys following along and I hope you enjoy all the recipes and experiences I share with you! I’m grateful for everything in my past from the people

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-7184562081855097512011-11-23T06:00:00.000-06:002011-11-23T06:00:05.125-06:00

This has to be one of my new favorite appetizers. They are easy to make ahead of time and pop in the oven when guest arrive. I baked them to make them a little more “healthy”, but I think frying them would be better to crisp them up more. Either way, you’ll love these if you like buffalo wing dip. You could even try these with leftover turkey if you are in need of ideas. Buffalo Wing

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-23732647655423385872011-11-21T06:00:00.000-06:002011-11-21T06:00:07.708-06:00

I know I’ve bragged about Pinterest before and here’s a super cute idea I found on there and had to re-write the recipe some to make it easier to understand. Basically instead of making an extra pie for Thanksgiving that no one touches try these little mini pies. I also like to think of them as being green with one less dish to wash haha. I used 10 small apples and 1 Pillsbury pie crust just to

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-87995085616613968182011-11-18T06:00:00.000-06:002011-11-18T06:00:01.953-06:00

Since the last pancakes I made from Bobby Flay where such a hit I thought we would try another one. Well, these while good need a little improvement. The where really heavy, but by making them waffles they came out more fluffy. I used shredded shoe string carrots, but you need to chop those, because they are still too big in the pancakes. Overall, I would make them again just cut up the carrots

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-83597406484121117782011-11-14T05:00:00.000-06:002011-11-14T05:00:08.202-06:00

Since it’s Fall and you can find a generous supply of canned pumpkin in the store I thought I would try out these pumpkin buns. I doubled the recipe so the pictures may seem like a lot more then if you made the version below. We were not a huge fan of them, they look amazing, but I think I added too much flour so they had a floury taste and you couldn’t really taste the pumpkin. Not 100% sure

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-4408023233573497362011-11-11T06:00:00.000-06:002011-11-11T06:00:01.936-06:00

One of my favorite stores to shop at is Kroger, they often have good deals and lots of money saving bundles. I am a little sad that the Kroger’s in Texas have stopped double and triple coupons, but times change and it was a good deal while it lasted. Really makes me look forward to traveling haha. You’ll want to run to your local Kroger when you hear about this deal! I love General Mills

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com163tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-57806869744604700522011-11-09T05:00:00.000-06:002011-11-09T05:00:10.039-06:00

I love the idea of merging 2 desserts that I love into one! It’s also great that the recipe didn’t make a ton so for 2 of us we where able to finish it up within a few day rather than farm out leftovers. Overall I really liked this. I don’t have mini spring form pans, but I had these little tart pans which worked fine. I did half with the caramel and half without and I preferred the one without

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-6767043975656686832011-11-07T05:00:00.000-06:002011-11-07T05:00:03.682-06:00

I swear every time I turn on the tv Guy Fiere and Bobby Flay have a new cooking show on. I don’t know if you get that new channel called Cooking Channel, but Bobby Flay has a new show called Brunch with Bobby. I kind of like it, because I think breakfast items are the hardest to come up with new ideas. I admire him for using new ingredients, but at the same time it bugs me, because I have to

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-1569176106116773872011-11-04T07:35:00.000-05:002011-11-04T07:37:27.202-05:00

Last chance to get your entries in for the Yoplait prize pack. Click HERE for details, contest ends 11-6-11. The weather is finally getting colder here so it’s time to whip up some soups! Have you watched the new show called The Chew? I love it, of course I also have a chef crush on Michael Symon, but shhh don’t tell my hubby haha. Adam Richman was on there one day and made this interesting

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-26834973808720824642011-11-02T06:00:00.001-05:002011-11-02T06:00:08.078-05:00

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween! We had fantastic weather and lots of fun with all our neighbors. I dressed up as a vampire and hubby was a skeleton groom. Mocha was a super cute bat. We went a little more all out since the kids on the street are getting older. Over the weekend we had some friends over to carve pumpkins. Every year I think we have the best pumpkins and then

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-35543384784877089802011-10-28T06:00:00.000-05:002011-10-28T06:00:00.916-05:00

The last 2 things I made for Dinner club where items I did in years past for another party. Intestines are a sure way to gross out your guest, but I promise these will taste really good. I used more black food coloring and a red gel one to make it a little darker then last years. The recipe can be found HERE. I have to admit they did look kind of nasty before I put it in the oven to bake.

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-60720475478247573482011-10-27T06:00:00.000-05:002011-10-27T06:00:06.396-05:00

I really love to make festive cakes, but they NEVER get eaten at parties. I can go the extra mile and make these super cute cake pops and poof they ate a whole cake and didn’t know it. Anytime you can make something bite size people are more prone to eat it. I started running out of time and didn’t want to make them all eyeballs so I decided to make them have ghost faces too. Bakerella uses

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-73390247703588853812011-10-26T06:00:00.000-05:002011-10-26T06:00:15.823-05:00

You’ll love how super easy this is! I just used crackers and sliced some cream cheese squares then topped them with raspberry chipotle sauce. Here’s where you let your inspiration come in to see how you can change them up. You could do graham crackers with marshmallow and jam topping as a dessert. Creating combos of flavors to change up this dish is a lot of fun!

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-80969001247187540432011-10-25T06:00:00.000-05:002011-10-25T06:00:07.576-05:00

I like to do finger food at parties incase someone wants to nibble and not make a huge plate, plus it cuts down on the amount of waste. This dish worked out really well and was a huge hit. Sometimes you don’t need dishes to look like things, just a simple change of words in the title makes all the difference. We also served our Jack Daniels Sauced Chicken Wings and Drumsticks, except we

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-72403900162322759792011-10-24T06:00:00.000-05:002011-10-24T06:00:09.974-05:00

I’ve got 2 giveaways going on right now so be sure you click the tab above and check them out! Most of you know that Halloween is my favorite holiday. I love getting creative and dressing up and the whole excitement around the holiday. Friday night we had dinner club and it was my turn to host. I decided to do all of the food since I had my theme in mind. It was so much fun and you even get to

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-85704963988080328102011-10-23T10:44:00.001-05:002011-10-23T10:44:44.417-05:00

Today’s prize pack has been provided by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark which includes a VIP coupon for Yoplait Chocolate Banana Smoothie, Neck Pillow, Smoothie Tumbler and Lavender Eye Mask! I’m IN LOVE with the lavender eye mask!! It makes me feel like I’m in a spa setting until I hear my dog snoring in the background. Our store didn’t have the chocolate banana smoothie, they only carried

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-26111300635607293792011-10-19T06:00:00.000-05:002011-10-19T06:00:13.025-05:00

One of my favorite stops on our West Coast Drive was in Moss Landing at Phil’s Fish Market and Eatery. It’s a little off the beaten path, but boy is it the place to eat at!! OMG I wish I could have tried everything on the menu. The best thing to do is grab a menu and find a seat to study it. They have a huge variety of dishes and any kind of seafood you could imagine. We started out with

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-54721216838990135492011-10-14T06:00:00.000-05:002011-10-23T11:10:59.045-05:00

Holy smokes! You guys where really wanting that $25 Sam's Gift Card! Looks like I’ll need to purchase some and give them away around the holiday season. First let me announce our winner…….Elena Congrats!!! I hope you support breast cancer month and purchase some of the General Mills marked products. I love sharing different food related crafts with you and this is something quick and easy

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-176415542058049652011-10-12T06:00:00.000-05:002011-10-12T06:00:15.217-05:00

For our side dish with our steak I wanted to try a new potato dish and settled on this one. I used the little golden potatoes since the fingerlings didn’t look so good at the store. I also forgot to buy a poblano so I left that out. Overall I really liked the dish and the flavor was really nice from the herbs. Herb-Roasted Fingerling Potatoes (Adapted from Fine Texas Cuisine by Jon

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-31212644273324609172011-10-10T06:00:00.001-05:002011-10-10T06:00:00.998-05:00

Hope everyone has a great day today! If you stuck at work I’m sorry to hear that. Hubby is off of work so we’re on vacation this weekend in fantastic California. I’ll be back on Wednesday with a fun recipe. Don’t forget to get those entries in for all the giveaways going on right now!!

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-43105933999279403152011-10-07T06:00:00.000-05:002011-10-07T06:00:11.523-05:00

If you have been following me for a long time you’ll know I love the Practical Gourmet Small Plates For Sharing book. I’ve fallen in love with many of the recipes I’ve tried….well until now. I finally found a bad recipe. I was so grossed out and upset with the results I forgot to take pictures of the finished dish! You know I’m all for trying new things, but this combo was just no good at all.

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-31486415713411913932011-10-05T06:00:00.000-05:002011-10-05T06:00:05.303-05:00

I love our Sunday steak night’s. Hubby isn’t a huge fan of sauce with steak, but he is a Jack Daniel’s fan so I thought I would try this sauce and boy was it a hit. We almost licked the plate it was that good! I didn’t use the Mesquite-Aged Whiskey I just used Jack Daniel’s and I didn’t add the liquid smoke since we grilled our steak. If you cook the steak indoors in a pan I would add the

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-16225612632788541772011-10-03T08:25:00.000-05:002011-10-03T08:31:56.553-05:00

Another busy weekend full of cooking. The state rice festival was Saturday and I toned down the amount of dishes I made this year. One change was that we could see the score sheets and I learned a lot from them. One thing they don’t mention in the rules is they score you on the amount of rice used. While I score high on presentation and flavor, I shot myself in the foot by not making the dish

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-73159957005618225072011-09-30T06:00:00.000-05:002011-09-30T06:00:12.904-05:00

If you didn’t win the last giveaway don’t worry I have another one!! Did you know you could give back by purchasing your favorite cereal or snack? This October, by making simple everyday purchases at Sam’s Club, you can help support breast cancer education and research. Beginning September 19th, Sam’s Club stores will feature exclusive pink packaging on some of your favorite participating

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com121tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-11251306711246634372011-09-28T06:00:00.000-05:002011-09-28T06:00:06.929-05:00

Wow what a weekend! So Saturday was the Katy Rice Festival and I’m proud to say we did really well woohoo!! Out of my 4 dishes 3 placed and I couldn’t be any more excited. Here’s a quick recap and if you want the recipes click the title of the dish and it’ll take you to a printer friendly version. My dad's entries: Rice'n Eggplant Veggie Patty (Heart Healthy) 3rd place $50 prize Tofu

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-43685763251866598002011-09-26T07:30:00.000-05:002011-09-26T07:32:46.691-05:00

First I want to congratulate our winner of the autographed copy of The Casserole Queens Cookbook……Teslaca!!! Loved hearing all of your favorite casseroles, you’ve given me some new ideas to try. Don’t worry if you didn’t win here’s one of the recipes from the book and I might share a few more later on down the road. I also have another giveaway starting Friday so swing back by to check it out!

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-22946324386646774442011-09-21T06:00:00.000-05:002011-09-21T06:00:07.200-05:00

Somehow these pictures got tucked away, but I made these cupcakes for a young lady in our office who just graduated high school a couple years ago! She's a huge Nutella fan so I knew I had to come up with something good to impress her.   I found a recipe on the web for the buttercream and wishing now I would have researched it a little better. It tasted ok, but didn't form the way I

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-68391015348452315232011-09-19T06:00:00.000-05:002011-09-19T06:00:18.661-05:00

Hope you all had a great weekend! If you haven’t entered be sure you get your entry in to win an autographed copy of The Casserole Queens new cookbook. Even commenting on this post puts you in the running!! Click HERE for details. Back in July I entered a photo contest for Australian Lamb in hopes to win some good meat and a grill. I don’t need another grill, but lamb isn’t cheap around here

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-89357506182123677022011-09-16T07:25:00.000-05:002011-09-16T07:26:39.328-05:00

First of all happy Friday! I’ve had one of those crazy weeks and time is flying by too fast! I have a couple a fun things to share with you guys, but first have you entered my giveaway going on right now? If not click HERE for details and get your entry in by September 23rd! I made the top 10 for Oak Farms milkshake contest. The disappointing thing was I was never notified and there for

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-34450004551654417262011-09-14T06:00:00.000-05:002011-09-14T06:00:08.268-05:00

(Photo from Kraft Foods) Strawberries where recently on sale and I had this simple ice cream recipe I’ve been wanting to try so I thought I would give it a shot. I wish I hadn’t mixed up the berries and graham crackers in the food processor because it didn’t give me the chunks as the picture above shows. I liked that it doesn’t make a whole lot so you’re not stuck eating it forever too.

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-83044899685165469012011-09-12T06:00:00.000-05:002011-09-12T06:00:04.296-05:00

I love hearing feedback, request and suggestions from everyone! I got a lovely email from Carol last week who made a couple of recipes from Finding Inspiration In Food that turned out too cute I wanted to share them with you. I’ve also added the pictures to the original post. As a reminder if you try any of the recipes from my blog, snap a picture and email it to me, I would love post them!

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-45684111153248426242011-09-09T06:00:00.000-05:002011-09-09T06:00:08.498-05:00

Saturday the Casserole Queens where in town so I headed up to HEB and got my signed copy of their new book, had them sign my lucky apron and also added signatures to my Bobby Flay Throwdown book. I can’t tell you how sweet these ladies are! They had 3 samples out from their book and I totally got caught up talking to them and didn’t get to eat any. If you’re ever in Austin, Texas be sure to

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-13740761307288928242011-09-07T06:00:00.000-05:002011-09-07T06:00:17.063-05:00

One of my favorite treats is lobster. We don’t get a huge supply here in Texas, but usually in the Spring time they go on sale and we will stock up and freeze them so we can have them all summer long. We enjoy them grilled best. They can quickly be over cooked, just like shrimp so even though I put a guideline below keep an eye on them. Grilled Lobster (Created by Finding Inspiration in

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-10182012351352552242011-09-05T06:00:00.000-05:002011-09-05T06:00:00.699-05:00

Over 4th of July one of my neighbors brought over this fantastic dip! I kept eating it and couldn’t stop. It’s a fantastic summer dip that has good stuff in it and isn’t loaded with fattening items. The avocado makes it creamy and the roasted corn adds all the seasoning you need. Trust me try this and you’ll be in heaven! Avocado Corn Salsa (Adapted from Angeles Gomez) Printer Friendly

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-49311597538824007992011-09-02T06:00:00.000-05:002011-09-02T06:00:02.387-05:00

Trying to sneak in some healthy options for breakfast I found this recipe online using oatmeal. You have to blend the heck out of it if you have picky texture people like my hubby, but we both really enjoyed this. It makes the perfect amount for 2 people. I really liked that it wasn’t overly sweet. The natural sweetness from the banana and the addition of the honey is all you need. Banana

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-5951364163183167142011-08-31T06:00:00.000-05:002011-08-31T06:00:14.344-05:00

My mom was recently in town and brought me some jam she made. I LOVED how simple this is to make! You can puree the blueberries if you want a smoother consistency or leave it more chucky like we did. Either way it’s fresh and couldn’t be easier to make. Blueberry Jam (Adapted from Real Simple) Printer Friendly Version 5 cups blueberries 1/2 cup sugar 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-13846060969706397182011-08-29T06:00:00.000-05:002011-08-29T06:00:10.965-05:00

Houston has some great restaurants and one of my favorites for Tex-Mex is Chuy’s. They have this amazing jalapeno ranch dip that they bring out with their salsa. I admit I hold myself back from drinking this stuff, but boy is it good! I’ve seen several recipes online for copycat ones, but this one comes from my neighbor who made it taste the closest to Chuy’s. It should be a little thinner and I

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-5418402665842297262011-08-26T06:00:00.000-05:002011-08-26T06:00:12.888-05:00

With the holiday’s fast approaching, I thought I would share one of my favorite ways to present appetizers. These tostada cups are really sturdy and look a lot better than those store brand chips. They’re really easy to make ahead of time too and then fill them the day of your party. I used them during the rice festival for my black bean and corn rice filling and I was shocked at how big of a

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-60400125121997588692011-08-24T06:00:00.000-05:002011-08-24T06:58:35.637-05:00

I really like Eva Longoria’s book, but I have to say this recipe didn’t grab me 100% it tasted like a stroganoff and really bland. As long as you add a bunch of Mrs. Dash, Cajun seasoning or something to it then it’s edible just not my favorite. Probably doesn’t help that we aren’t big stroganoff fans in our house. Hungarian Paprika Chicken (Adapted from Eva’s Kitchen by Eva Longoria)

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-23022213175884638762011-08-22T06:00:00.000-05:002011-08-30T08:28:51.380-05:00

Starting the week off with a cocktail sounds good to me haha. My picture didn’t want to rotate either so I’m not drunk yet I promise! Hope ya’ll had a great weekend! My schedule seems to be slowing down a little which is good, I need to get in rice mode and start coming up with some recipes. Rice festivals start at the end of September so looks like we’ll be eating lots of rice the next couple

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-80202809929126002092011-08-19T06:00:00.000-05:002011-08-19T06:00:08.063-05:00

On a recent hunt to lower my hubby’s borderline cholesterol I’ve been doing a lot of research to control it more with the foods we eat rather then starting medication. Oatmeal is a great simple ingredient to try and eat daily if you can. It can be added to a number of things such as cookies, pancakes, shakes, etc. My neighbor’s husband is having the same struggle, except the problem she has is

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-67302778794069772132011-08-17T06:00:00.000-05:002011-08-17T12:58:19.237-05:00

This is one of those dishes that are really light and take advantage of the fresh veggies you can find at the market. We really loved this dish. The basil pasta added a hint of basil, but didn’t overwhelm the other flavors of the dish. Fettuccine with Yellow Squash and Parmesan-Lemon Cream Sauce (Adapted from Kelsey Nixon) Printer Friendly Version 1 recipe fresh pasta dough with

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-86644134364603182982011-08-15T06:00:00.000-05:002011-08-15T06:00:14.537-05:00

I love homemade pasta. Basil is used in a lot of the pasta sauces I make so I figured why not add the herb to the pasta to add more flavor? Our friends have a basil bush over 4 feet high so I love getting my herbs from them. It’s amazing what you can dream up when you’re handed a gallon baggie of basil! I have the dish I used this pasta in which I’ll share on my next post. mmmm so yummy!

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-21002805804417441942011-08-12T06:00:00.000-05:002011-08-12T06:00:17.195-05:00

I always like to share recipes or products with you that I find useful. This time I have a special guest who has some knowledge on the food labels. James Kim, a writer for foodonthetable.com offered to submit a guest post on “Food Labels: Which Can You Trust?” for my blog and I am more than happy to have him share what he knows! Welcome James, and I hope all of you find his post helpful and

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-4487483582661375502011-08-10T06:00:00.000-05:002011-08-10T06:00:15.108-05:00

Saturday was my little monkey’s birthday and despite the heat she had a good day overall. We’ve recently had lots of houseguest staying with us so she’s been plenty spoiled, but come on how could you not love this face…. Her favorite summer activity is swimming so of course we did lots of that. She took a break and laid out in style of course!  I made her a super simple cake and she

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-63644715836594663412011-08-08T06:00:00.000-05:002011-08-08T06:00:24.446-05:00

One of our easy go to meals is shake and bake chicken. This time I decided to change it up a little and stuff the drumsticks with cheese and it turned out really good. I liked how it kept the chicken moist and added an additional texture and flavor you weren't expecting. Get inspired to change up those old go to recipes and surprise your family. Stuffed Chicken Drumsticks (Created by

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-49318001752010660602011-08-05T06:00:00.000-05:002011-08-05T06:00:04.042-05:00

Summer is almost over, and I know parents can’t wait for the kids to go back to school. Hang in there! Here’s a fun little craft I did with some of the neighbors kids as well as 3 kids we watched last weekend. It was a total hit! One child told me I was cooler than the scientist that came to school to demo this same craft, all because he was able to make it himself. Ah yes the feeling of super

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-15736274686363097042011-08-03T06:00:00.000-05:002011-08-03T06:00:19.352-05:00

We have some short ribs in the freezer from the steer we bought, except they where boneless so I finally got to try this recipe. They where only 1 1/2 pounds of meat instead of the 5 pounds needed, but it worked out fine, I also cut the amount of celery down to 1 (7 ounce) container. It seemed that I ended up using the full can of beef broth because the liquid cooked out so quickly. I think

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-64481364169864182852011-08-01T06:00:00.000-05:002011-08-01T06:00:00.742-05:00

Here’s another recipe from Eva’s Kitchen, except this time it’s a winner and going in my favorite side dishes recipe book. I would cut the tortillas in smaller pieces otherwise the dish is full of flavor and I loved the different textures. I can’t wait to make this one for dinner club! Veracruz Corn (Adapted from Eva’s Kitchen by Eva Longoria) Printer Friendly Version 4 ears of corn,

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-38917166030344669682011-07-29T06:00:00.000-05:002011-07-29T06:00:11.235-05:00

I love making dishes from scratch, and besides who doesn’t love a good brownie? Well, Eva promises “a fudgy brownie with more chocolate taste than you’ll ever get from a mix” in her book Eva’s Kitchen. I was excited and had to give it a try. Sadly, they tasted like flour, took twice as long to bake then the directions mentioned and didn’t come out pretty. It looked ok until I went to cut them

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-83085555342126219872011-07-27T06:00:00.000-05:002011-07-27T06:00:07.995-05:00

My newest addiction is grilled romaine lettuce!! Holy moly this was good. I was interested in the bread crumb coated chicken being grilled so I knew I had to see what this was all about. The bread crumbs really sucked up the marinade and you couldn’t taste it so I was disappointed with that, other then that it was a really good dish. I’m trying to figure out how I can work grilled lettuce into

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-10241597838939575852011-07-25T06:00:00.000-05:002011-07-25T06:00:07.578-05:00

Most people are scared to make soufflés and I understand why. They are delicate desserts that are all about care, love and timing. I promise this is one you’ll want to try. It’s really easy to make and the taste is soo good. You have to like lime, because it’s one of the main flavors, but lime and chocolate go really well together. I loved how the whipped cream melts on top of the hot soufflés.

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-51060867323226134742011-07-20T06:00:00.000-05:002011-07-20T06:00:05.073-05:00

Fall is my favorite time of the year and I love sweet potatoes. So while I’m dealing with the upper 90 degree weather and day dreaming of the Fall time, I couldn’t wait to make this dish any longer. My schedule has been crazy busy lately so I love finding quick meals I can toss together. I have to say I absolutely LOVED this dish. If you like spice then you’ll love this dish, if you don’t then

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-90901514415807138502011-07-18T06:00:00.000-05:002011-07-18T06:00:02.255-05:00

Today’s post is a quick and easy dinner. I used home made pasta, but you could use store bought. The sauce comes together easily and doesn’t require a lot of ingredients. I added some fake lobster meat to make it a little more hardy, but you could use any protein you like or eat the pasta by itself. Garlic and Olive Oil Sauce (Adapted from The Ultimate Pasta Machine Cookbook) Printer

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-26568062722307043362011-07-15T06:00:00.000-05:002011-08-30T08:28:51.381-05:00

I don’t know about where you’re from, but we have heat like no other heat. My pool is 94 degrees which feels like a warmed hot tub when you get in. To cool yourself off it’s better to get in the pool then get out so the little breeze we have cools you more then being in the pool. I found this nice refreshing cocktail in a recent issue of Food Network Magazine and I have to say I really like it.

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-29066705099689754592011-07-13T06:00:00.000-05:002011-07-13T06:00:16.819-05:00

So while this isn’t the most healthy choice for breakfast it’s fantastic for a special occasion, and hey it’s summer after all so let loose. These pancakes are delicious!! You don’t need any additional syrup. I thought they where going to be too sweet, but after one bite I couldn’t stop there. I think the buttermilk really tones cuts the sweetness in them. Honestly I won’t be making these all the

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-32845354631166054862011-07-12T07:52:00.000-05:002011-07-12T07:52:53.465-05:00

I’m behind on posting I’m sorry, I was out of town and had a lot of stuff to do yesterday so I’m a day late. My husband and I went on our first jugging night fishing trip. My brother has done this before. He uses old bottles then attaches a line with several hooks that you attach bait to and a weight at the end of the line. You drop it in the water in different areas and go back to check them

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-3637343854867837282011-07-08T06:00:00.000-05:002011-08-30T08:28:51.382-05:00

This was one of the cocktails I served over the weekend and it was a huge hit! I hate to buy watermelons because they are huge and it’s too much for the 2 of us so this was a nice solution to use up some of the watermelon we had leftover. Personally I think it might taste a little better with rum instead of tequila, but that’s just me I not a huge tequila person. One thing I really loved is I

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-36824312328734943612011-07-06T09:25:00.000-05:002011-07-06T09:25:00.484-05:00

It amazes me how you can make lots of different foods for a party and the one thing that’s the biggest hit with everyone is Jell-O! I make layered Jell-O at Christmas time (Click HERE for details) which always gets rave reviews, but you can do this for any holiday. The recipe below uses the 3 ounce packages, but I doubled it which made 13 dessert cups. Be sure you cool each mixture before you

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-26888471927599052492011-07-05T09:00:00.000-05:002011-07-05T09:04:57.561-05:00

How was your 4th of July? Because of the drought Texas is having they banned fireworks this year which was kind of strange and didn’t feel like 4th of July. We still had a great weekend with friends and neighbors. One of the dips I made this weekend was an onion dip. I’ve held on to this for a while now and finally got around to making it. You have to love onions for this one! I was amazed at

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-54030697144224930442011-07-01T06:00:00.000-05:002011-07-01T06:00:12.562-05:00

I love making a good salad and it’s even better when you make the dressing yourself, instead of using store bought. I recently checked out the Panera Bread cookbook from the library and wanted to give a couple of their recipes a try since I love their restaurant. Most Greek salads have olives, red onion slices and tomatoes, but I kept mine simple with just the feta cheese. I loved how simple

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-88083173715125415172011-06-29T06:00:00.000-05:002011-06-29T06:00:11.400-05:00

I’ve had a craving for scallops, so this is a simple easy make ahead dish you just pop in the oven right before you sit down for dinner. I was a little disappointed mine didn’t look like Ina’s (see pictures below), but the taste was nice. I had to add a little of our 5 spice while we where eating just because I thought it could use a little kick. Hubby said it would make a nice appetizer, so I

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-46826089046214925502011-06-27T08:30:00.001-05:002011-06-27T08:30:04.572-05:00

So we all love to snack there’s no secret about that, but when you are trying to diet most of the products out there taste like cardboard. I hate to diet and try to exercise when I can, but I eat in moderation I find that’s easier then completely cutting out foods all together. My biggest problem is giving up sweets, so I was excited when I received a package of Fiber One 90 Calorie Brownies in

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-74297321225035068132011-06-24T06:00:00.001-05:002011-06-24T06:00:08.897-05:00

I originally created this dish for the rice festivals cooking contest. It’s easy to make and as you’ll see below it’s easy to change it up and cook the shrimp via stove top instead of on the grill. You can serve the dish in a large serving platter or do individual bowls, either way I love the way this dish looks and taste. Spinach Bowls Filled with Flavored Rice Topped with Grilled Shrimp

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-50438902295696950832011-06-22T06:00:00.000-05:002011-06-22T06:00:00.902-05:00

I’ve never had luck making fudge, until now. I know the rules of candy making and the weather, but for some reason my fudge is always too soft and never taste right. I can safely tell you this recipe is awesome. It’s easy and quick, you just have to put a little arm muscle into it and it’ll come out perfect! Can’t wait to make this in my Christmas baskets. The only change I made was I used

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-67522256380193528372011-06-20T06:00:00.000-05:002011-06-20T06:00:08.486-05:00

I really love a good simple cake that really shows off fresh flavors and I think I found a perfect and easy recipe! These little cakes are not only cute, but they are not overly sweet. I want to bake another batch, but I am restraining myself from over doing it. These would be perfect for my Christmas baskets this year! Lemon Poppy Seed Cakes (Adapted from Southern Living Magazine

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-41563400245891594382011-06-17T06:00:00.000-05:002011-06-17T06:00:08.152-05:00

Ok, before you say what in the heck where you thinking, I ‘m putting it out there I was trying to think outside the box. Johnsonville had a recipe contest using their sausage and I thought it would be a cool idea to cook the Italian Sausage and add it to pasta dough. Well, it was a good idea until it came to executing it! I forgot that the chunks of meat in the pasta would make it difficult to

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-69389751593512070622011-06-15T06:00:00.000-05:002011-06-15T06:00:06.923-05:00

What kids don’t love donuts and chocolate ones at that? Last weekend I made wanted to try out a new donut recipe since I found some donut pans I had been wanting. The recipe made a bunch of donuts so I made a special deliver to all the neighbors that morning with donuts in hand. I think my neighbors love when a recipe makes too much because that means they get a taste. I love sharing! I really

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-57244114794143043302011-06-13T06:00:00.000-05:002011-06-13T06:00:07.761-05:00

I always love the smell of fresh pretzels in the mall, even when you’re not hungry my tummy still growls at the smell of them. I thought it would be fun while my nephew Josh was over that we could make pretzels. Like most kids he never knew how easy it was to make. You can make these in any shape you want. We did the traditional salted ones and boy are they yummy. The only change I would make

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-53788525379844571332011-06-10T06:00:00.000-05:002011-06-10T06:00:08.588-05:00

It’s been a busy week I’m so glad it’s Friday! The Top Chef Tour was in town this Wednesday and I was very excited about attending. I went with my neighbor, my mother in law and my nephew. They limit it to 65 seats which was a nice size group. I just felt bad for them having to cook outside with it so hot. The tent area was nice with a monitor on each side so you could see what they

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3576866365815096198.post-54154808523304592502011-06-08T06:58:00.000-05:002011-06-08T07:00:49.198-05:00

I recently received a package in the mail provided by P&G through MyBlogSpark, which is a product I really love! I‘m usually really good at rinsing off my dishes before loading the dishwasher, but when I have a party sometimes they get left in the sink half rinsed and then food gets stuck so bad I almost want to throw the dishes away. (If only they weren’t so expensive!) Well, P&G has an

Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11269346538470620296noreply@blogger.com2