2 Great recipes for the holidays!

I know I'm from the south and I should eat "dressing" but this is what I ate growing up. My mom calls this Yankee stuffing. This is one of my grandmother's recipes. She got it from a 1950's cookbook. This was the one thing I got to help my mom with for Thanksgiving dinner when I was little. I would sit at the table and tear up the bread pieces watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. I usually double this recipe for a large crowd.

Fluffy Stuffing

1 c	onion. chopped
1 c	butter or margarine ( i like to use margarine because it doesn't burn as easily as butter)
6 c	soft bread, cubed or just torn
6 c	rice krispies
1 1/2 tsp	poultry seasoning
1/2 c	chicken broth ( you can use canned broth or homemade broth from the turkey giblets)
	salt and pepper to taste

1) tear up or cube the bread. You can use white, whole wheat or a mix. Pour the 6 cups into a large bowl add the 6 cups of Rice Krispies. Toss together. 2) cook onion in butter or margarine until golden and onions are clear. Add poultry seasoning to this a stir. 3) Pour over rice Krispies and bread cubes. . Mix well. 4) Place the mixture in a baking dish. Drizzle the broth over the mixture. 5) Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes ( cover if desired soft and uncover for crunchy) TIP: GIBLET BROTH: Boil the neck, liver, and other things stuffed in the turkey when bought. Simmer for about 1 hour. Use 1/2 cup of broth for the stuffing. Discard the rest.  This is my mom's recipe. I have been eating this awesome pie for years. It is easy to make and best served cold. I like to make it the night before and put it in the fridge to chill. I once had a boyfriend that loved this pie so much that he called it Buttermilk dream pie! LOL This recipe makes 2 pies but of course you can half it and make 1. Enjoy! Mama's Buttermilk Pie

1 Cup butter, melted 6 eggs, beaten 2 Tbsp Cornstarch 2 Cups sugar 1 tsp. Salt 1 Cup Buttermilk 1 tsp Vanilla 2 (9in) deep dish unbaked pie shells Preheat the oven to 350 degrees 1)Add butter to eggs 2)Add combined dry ingredients, buttermilk and vanilla. 3)Pour into pie shells evenly. 4)bake for 50mintues to 1 hour. TIP: If you have a pie shield place it on top of crust about 35min into cooking. If you don't you can cover the crust with foil to keep it from burning.

You're Not Alone

I remember listening to this song when I was young. I loved it so much. It has helped me get through a lot of difficult times. I went looking for it today because I just needed to listen to it.

Heavenly Hot Chocolate Mix!

I love me some hot chocolate on a cold winter's day. I got this recipe from a friend a while back. It is divine! It makes a big batch of dry hot chocolate but it is so worth it. You can store it for yourself or give it out as gifts in a cute Christmas container. I love it because you can change up what flavoring of coffee mate you want to use. French Vanilla and hazel nut are my favorite. I like to also crush up peppermint sticks and mix it in the dry mix. The longer it is in there the stronger the flavor is. Every time I give this to someone they call me for the recipe. Enjoy!

Ingedients:


25.6 oz Box of dry powdered milk
2lb box of  regular nestle hot chocolate mix or Swissmiss is fine too if they don't have nestle
8 oz jar of any flavor of coffee mate powder
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar


Directions:


Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Keep in a sealed conatiner.
To make hot chocolate: use 1/3 cup of mix to 1 cup of hot water.

Grandma's Cranberry Salad

I grew up with my grandmother and mom making this every year for the holidays. This is not your standard cranberry out of the can mush.You make it the night before and let it chill overnight. This is one less dish you have to make the next day. I have carried on the tradition and serve this for my family and friends. It is super yummy!

INGREDIENTS:

1 sm	package of cherry jello
1 c	hot water
1 c	sugar
1 Tbsp	lemon juice
1 c	drained crushed pineapple (juice reserved)
1 c	pineapple juice (use the reserved juice and add water to make 1 cup)
1 c	ground cranberries
1	orange (ground)
1/2 c	pecans, chopped

DIRECTIONS:

1)boil the cup of water. Dissolve the jello in the hot water in an 8in square pan mix well. Add the sugar, lemon juice and pineapple juice. Stir to dissolve well.

2)Add the remaining ingredients and mix. Chill overnight. 

*Grandma's Tips:Chop up the pecans first before getting blender wet. Or you could just buy pre chopped pecans and save a step. Use the blender to chop up cranberries, then orange, seeded partially peeled. The chopped peel gives it that special zing!

Veteran's Day Tribute.

I have grown up with many Veteran's in my life:both my grandfathers, grandfather-in-law, uncles, father-in-law and friends. My father John Stevens is a retired Lt. Colonel in the US Air Force. I have always been proud of that fact. He joined during Vietnam. He wanted to go out there and make a difference in the world. While so many were drafted, and dodged being drafted, he voluntarily joined. He knew the sacrifice he was making but he did it anyway. He believes in freedom and democracy and wanted others to have the same. Unfortunately for him he was never sent over there. He wanted to go so bad. He thought that he was going to get another chance during the first Gulf war but again he was not sent over. He retired from the Air Force in 2001 days before the Sept. 11th attacks on the US. When the US was attacked that horrible day he called up the Air Force and told them that he wanted back in if they needed him. They told him that if they did they would let him know. It reminds me of a great player on a football team wanting to go in the game but the coach  never giving him that chance. Even though my dad never went off to war he is still a veteran. He served  his country during war time, knowing that any day could be the day he said goodbye to his family. I am very thankful for the men and women that sacrifice so much for the things that many of us take for granted everyday. I  think that some people truly don't understand that. I get so angry when people want this country to go in a socialist direction. Socialism is just a watered down version of communism. Since the birth of this GREAT country that is what we have fought against and I feel like all those deaths have been in vain if we don't do something about it. Our founding fathers didn't want that for this country. They wanted this country to be GREAT and show the rest of the world what they  can  be also. If you look around the world at all the countries that are socialist or communist you will see that it isn't quite working out for them. They are in war with themselves or the whole country is bankrupt and dying and the citizens have no freedoms. I just wish people would study history and look at the past and see that it's just not going to work. Sorry I got all political on you. I guess I just needed to let that out. Ok I feel better now. I love you dad and I'm very honored to be your daughter. I am thankful for all the brave men and women that serve this country. No one has made them do it. They sign their life over when they sign on that dotted line, knowing that any day could be their last. I can not think of anyone but Christ himself that has done such a selfless act.  Here is a little poem that is for all veterans. THANK YOU!




The Noble and the Brave:
A Veteran's Day Tribute When America had an urgent need,
These brave ones raised a hand;
No hesitation held them back;
They were proud to take a stand. They left their friends and family;
They gave up normal life;
To serve their country and their God,
They plowed into the strife. They fought for freedom and for peace
On strange and foreign shores;
Some lost new friends; some lost their lives
In long and brutal wars. Other veterans answered a call
To support the ones who fought;
Their country had requirements for
The essential skills they brought. We salute every one of them,
The noble and the brave,
The ones still with us here today,
And those who rest in a grave. So here’s to our country’s heroes;
They’re a cut above the rest;
Let’s give the honor that is due
To our country’s very best. By Joanna Fuchs

5 Minute Cake in a Cup!

I was inspired by the snow yesterday to post the super easy and delish recipe. It reminds me of cooking in an easy bake oven. It's the perfect dessert for a single serving!

INGREDIENTS:

4 Tbsp Flour
4 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp Cocoa
1 Egg
3 Tbsp Milk
3 Tbsp Oil
3 Tbsp Chocolate Chips
1 Tbsp Caramel Bits ( you can substitute these with toffee bits, Andes mints etc...)
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
1 coffee mug (microwave safe)  sprayed with cooking spray

DIRECTIONS:
  Spray the mug with cooking spray. In a separate bowl mix together the dry ingredients. Add egg and mix. Pour in milk and oil and mix. Add Chocolate chips, caramel bits, and Vanilla and mix. Pour mixed ingredients into the mug. Microwave 3 minutes at 1000 watts. (Ok if it rises over the top.) Let cool. Tip out onto plate or eat it straight from the mug. Dig in!

Just a Pinch Lunch

I returned late last night from Nashville where the Justapinch.com lunch was held. It was so awesome to go to.  Jaime and I arrived early so that she could interview Janet and the rest of the kitchen crew. It was so cool to finally meet Janet in person. Janet is the head cook of the site that test all the recipes. Her daughter in law helps test them also. I was able to ask questions that I had been curious about, judging, how they pick blue ribbon recipes and such. I felt very special because they were serving my Blue ribbon winning Cumin Pork Chops there for the entree. They even gave me a JAP chef's hat!  They had front row seats reserved for Jaime and I to sit in.  It was like a family reunion. I was finally able to meet some other friends that I had made on the site. I knew my friend Debbie was coming but I had no clue that my friend Dan was coming. It was funny because he walked up to me and said aren't you Leah? I said yes. He said it's me Dan. It was hard at first to recognize him at first because in his profile pic on the site he had sun glasses on. I said is this "hambone" Dan? He said yes! (hambone is is nic name on there). I was able to chat with Debbie and Dan when it was done and take a pic. It was fun to chat about other members on the site that we are friends with especially about this old lady that it always hitting on Dan. Her name is Jewel and she is from Coleman AL. She is so cute and funny and always brags about being Miss Sr. Alabama. We were talking about how fun it would be to have a big lunch with all our friends that we have made on the site.

    I was sad to leave my new friends and my old friend Jaime but happy to come home and see my cute little one's faces this morning. I know that they had a blast hanging out with their Aunt Susannah. I am very grateful that she came up to help me so I could attend the lunch. I hope that there will be more JAP lunches that I can attend in the future!

Me with Janet, Marie (the salad contest winner) and Jan the MC and the cake contest winner.

Marie preparing her salad and Jan talking about how great JAP is.

My new friends Dan, Debbie and I.

No Fear Chinese Chicken

Some people are scared to cook Chinese food at home because they are afraid that it will be hard. No fear people, this is an easy Chinese chicken recipe! It taste great too! Serve it over some Calrose or Jasmin rice and you will feel like you are eating take out!

4	boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1/2 Tbsp	cornstarch
1 Tbsp	soy sauce
3 Tbsp	peanut oil
1	green bell pepper, sliced
4	mushrooms, sliced
1/2 lb	snow peas, cut in half
1/2 c	cashews
1/4 tsp	ground ginger
1/4 tsp	cayenne pepper
SAUCE INGREDIENTS
6 Tbsp	soy sauce
3 Tbsp	white wine
1/2 Tbsp	cider vinegar
3 Tbsp	brown sugar
1 Tbsp	cornstarch
1 Tbsp	oil

Directions

In a large bowl combine chicken with cornstarch and soy sauce, stir well and let sit at least 5 minutes.

Clean, cut and prepare all ingredients ahead of time, including sauce mixture.

In a large frying pan or wok over medium-high heat, heat oil, add chicken and quickly stir-fry until done, 2-3 minutes.

Remove chicken from pan and set aside on a plate.

Add sliced green pepper and mushrooms to pan and stir-fry 2 minutes.

Add pea pods and nuts, stir fry 2 more minutes and add ginger and cayenne.

Return chicken to pan with vegetables, add sauce and stir.

Cover skillet and cook 5 minutes over medium heat. Serve over rice!

 

Munchichi turns ONE!

Today is my sweet baby boy's (aka munchichi) first birthday! I can not believe how big he has gotten. He is truly a blessing. His smile lights up a room and melts my heart. We celebrated yesterday because Josh was having to leave to go back to Montgomery. He had a blast eating his birthday cake and opening his presents. He will probably hate me in the future because I made him such a lame cake for his first birthday but I just did not have time this year with everything that was going on this weekend. I promise he will get a great cake next year! Anyway here are some pics from his day yesterday. I also threw in a Halloween pic of the whole Scooby Doo gang!

Singing happy birthday!

Blowing out the candles

The lame cake

It might have been lame looking but it sure did taste good!

This picture doesn't even do it justice. He had cake everywhere! Even in his diaper!

gettin' some loot

Happy Halloween from the whole gang!