From Our Home To Yours.....

Merry Christmas

My Mom's Chocolate Pecan Pie

I loved growing up in the south. Running barefoot on a cool spring day. Lazy summer days spent under big trees with friends talking about boys and drinking ice cold cokes. And the anticipation of all the yummy treats my Mom and Aunts would be making during the holiday season.

I am sure we all have our childhood favorites that only "Our Mom" could make. One of mine was my mom's chocolate pecan pie. And that the fact that my mom was a rich girl who married a poor boy and she couldn't boil water when they married makes it that much better. My dad was patient with her and I am sure ate a lot of things in the beginning that should have probably been thrown away...LOL.
She ended up (with a lot of practice) being a really wonderful cook. Our home was always the one where my friends wanted to eat. They all loved my mom and her cooking.
I lost my mom when I was 16, and our home and our neighborhood were never the same.

Love you Mom!!

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Ingredients:


1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

3 eggs

2/3 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup margarine, melted

1 cup light corn syrup

1 cup pecan halves

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

2.Beat eggs, sugar, salt, margarine, and syrup with hand beater. Stir in pecans and chocolate chips. Pour mixture into pie shell.

3.Bake until set, 40 to 50 minutes. Cool.

Christmas Stockings

I love Christmas Stockings. Just the thought of them hanging from their hooks over a fireplace makes me get warm fuzzies...LOL

My BFF Tammy of Pink Owl Designs  has some of the CUTEST this year. She is so stinking crafty and talented. And of course she has excellent taste in Friends wink, wink! And guess what, she is taking orders. Yep...that's right. You too can have some the cutest stockings in the world hanging in your house. Just click "HERE" to check them out.

Taco Soup

As soon as the temperature dips my mind turns to bubbling pots of soups, stews and of course homemade chili!...yum! But my favorite  has always  been Taco Soup! There are a lot of different versions, but this one is my favorite. It is easy, you usually have all the ingredients in your pantry and fridge and it goes a long way.

Taco Soup

1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained of any fat.
1 15 oz. can whole kernel corn
1 15 oz. can kidney beans
1 15 oz. can black beans
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes (I use the spicy ones)
1 package taco seasoning mix
I also use a little chili powder too, because I like mine spicy. But you can omit this if you like yours a little milder.

Once you have browned and drained the ground beef, transfer it to a stock pot or your favorite soup pot. Add all other ingredients. Do Not drain the liquid from the corn or beans. Cook for about 30 minutes to one hour.

Garnish with your favorites. We like sour cream, chopped green onions, shredded cheese and of course you must throw in a few tortilla chips or Fritos.

* I usually double all the ingredients to make a double batch. We really like this soup and tend to eat it till it's gone. Yes we have portion control issues at my house...LOL

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL

Becky Mangan's Apple Bread (Revisited)

With just a hint of Autumn in the air and all the wonderful fall fruits in the stores and at the outdoor stands my mind is thinking of warm yummy Apple Bread. My friend Becky made this for me years ago and I was hooked. It is by far one the best apple bread recipes there is.....and after that maybe Pear Muffins, or Pumpkin Bread, yum....the list is endless!!
Apple Bread

Sift Together:****( Set aside)
3 C. flour
3/8 t. baking soda
1t. salt
1t.cinnamon

Cream Together:
2 C. sugar
1-1/4 C. oil
2 t. vanilla

Add: 3 eggs-one at a time,mix after each egg
Add: dry ingredients to creamed mixture alternating
with 3 Cups peeled sliced apples.
Mix thoroughly.

Grease 2 loaf pans. Bake @ 300 for 1-1/2 hours.
For mini loaf pans bake 1 hour.*

We Have A Winner!!!!

Dear Friends....... (especially you Tatum) I am so, so, so, sorry I was not able yo give this contest the attention and promotion I thought I would be able to give it. The fact is I am very sick and may be in the hospital this weekend if the medicine I got today doesn't work. You all deserved more from me then what you got, but I swear to you I have been in bed for 2 weeks only getting up to...well...you know. But we do have a winner!!!!

Elisha Atkinson you are our winner. You are just going to love your prize! Have a few friends over for dinner and get a box of plastic spoons so everyone can have a clean one each time and have a taste testing dessert....or......just save them all for yourself and your sweetie...LOL

Please get in touch with Tatum to arrange to pick up your prize. Her number is on her Bumble Cakes blog and probably on her facebook page too!!

Congratulations Elisha and thanks so much for playing.

Again I am so sorry ...this was not how I wanted this contest to go at all.

Cricket

An Amazing Friend and Yummy Contest!!

This is my good friend Tatum! You have seen her before on my blog. Well she is at it again. Being her super creative self and wanting to share some yumminess (is that even a word) with you!!

Tatum is one of the most amazing women you will ever meet! Besides being  very beautiful on the inside she is equally as beautiful on the inside with a heart as big as Texas. She is a hard working single mom with a never ending supply of energy, love and talent. I swear there is nothing she can't do Besides being one the best moms in the world to her two sweet boys, her talents include running her own business called Bumble Cakes, Cutting hair, sewing the most fabulous tote bags and custom bedding for baby nurseries, has a successful Etsy Shop...oh and still has time to train for triathlons...where does she get her energy!!

Like the rest of us Tatum has been through some really rough times but chose to dig deep and pull out all the talent she has been given and make a really wonderful life for herself and her boys. When life threw her lemons she made cake with them!!

I am a faithful customer of her Bake shop "Bumble Cakes" and will probably never eat a cupcake, sugar cookie or cake from anywhere else EVER AGAIN!! They are sooo moist and the flavor combinations are to die for. My family has been lucky enough to be her taste testers for many of her different flavors and we have never been disappointed

Here are just a few pictures of some of the yummy treats she bakes up at Bumble Cakes.

This lady bug cakes was for my granddaughters first birthday, along with matching ladybug cupcakes

This school bus cake was for my grandson's first birthday.

Don't you just love the Bumble Bee Sugar cookies for a baby shower I hosted

And my husband was so thrilled with his karate cake. His is a black belt and she really made his birthday with this cake.

and look at the detail on this baby shower cake and wedding cake

OK...so you have probably guessed I have a very big folder on my computer labeled "Pictures of Tatum's Yummy Creations"......well....Once again she has come up with something that is so tasty and unique. It is called  Jar O Cake and OMGosh are they FANTABULOUS!

The cake is melt in your mouth moist, and the flavor combinations are amazing. And she is always experimenting with new ones.

Signature flavors
Vanilla Vanilla

Chocolate Chocolate

Raspberry Chocolate

Red Velvet

Strawberry Creme

Black and White

Birthday Cake

Chocolate Vanilla

Raspberry Swirl

Lemon Lemon

Custom cake flavors:

Vanilla Gnache

Strawbanna

Strawberry Vanilla

Carrot Cake

Peanut Butter Chocolate

Chocolate Chunk

Orange Chocolate Dream

Banana Nut

Lemon Berry

Chocolate Caramel Gnache

Raspberry Lemon

Pulp Addiction

Grasshopper

Neapolitan

Cheesecake

Key Lime

German Chocolate

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip

Spice

Plus she will custom make any flavors you can come up with!

Want to make your own cupcakes...she will custome make the tops for you. You can order them in her Etsy Shop


Okay...here is the contest part!!

Here is what you need to do:
1. Become a follower of her blog: Bumble Cakes
2. Like her on Facebook
3. Leave a message on my blog and her blog telling us what your favorite flavor combination would be. Pick one of hers or make up one of your own. Who knows she may pick yours to be her next flavor!

One lucky winner with get a six pack of of signature size Jar O cakes and the rest of you will get 15 % off anything in your next order.


Contest will run through Monday May 31st and we will announce the winners on Tuesday May 31st. This is one contest you don't want to miss. The prize is just too yummy to pass up!!


















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Stay Tuned

Wow...it seems like it has been forever since I posted anything. My son has been sick for weeks  with the flu. Lot's of trips to the doctors, pharmacy and lots of laundry to do...yuck!!


But I will be back this week sometime with and awesome contest. And the sweetest prize.

So....STAY TUNED!!!!

Happy Birthday Tara

Today I am going to go a little off course. This is not about a yummy recipe that I discovered. It's about a wonderful lady who came into my life many years ago....actually her whole family  came into my life but today we are just going to talk about her......Tara

Tara is a really good friend and her family is like my family....oh and she is my boss!
Today is Tara's birthday and I thought everyone should get a peek at this amazing woman. She has so many sides to her. Business Woman, Daughter, Sister, Friend, Aunt, Mentor, Girlfriend, Book Author, Singer, Dancer, Makeup Artist To The Stars, Best Cookie Maker In The World.....and the list goes on!!

Tara you have soooooo many people that love you. You have touched so many lives with your love, friendship, and compassionate nature. Your acts of service are endless, your hearts always has room for one more. You could never see another human being in need and not do your very best to reach out and help them. Today we celebrate you and the day your were born. That day the world became a much better place!! In celebration of your birthday I have put together some pictures to show just some of the many sides of Tara....Lord knows I could fit them all in. You are like Sybil without the mean parts...LOL.

A rare picture of us together because I hate having my picture taken!

Tara belongs to and heads up several groups and organizations along with many other wonderful talented people.

There are several events each year at Anastasia's Attic (Tara is the owner) in which we dress up in costume for the events. This is Tara with her boyfriend Jeff. They clean up pretty nice don't ya think?

Tara is a BIG TIME animal lover. She is mom to a  miniature goat named Godfrey and a sweet tortoise named Goliath. She has taught Godfrey to shake, give a kiss and a few other tricks. He loves his mommy very much.

What would a beautiful witch do without an owl!

Tara loves her family and making memories with them. Here she is at the festival of colors with her brother, sister and nephews. Though she is a girly girl and loves her make-up and bling. She can get dirty with the best of them!

Sexy Masquerade Witch at Halloween

Beautiful Fairy ....an event at our store. The little girls love to come in each year and see what kind of fairy she will be.

A Pirate Wench on Pirate night!

Our Little Black Dress Event.

Her niece and nephews call her "Butterfly Tara"...doesn't she look like one here?

This was at my 50th birthday party. With a fifties theme I asked her to dress like Olivia Newton John in Grease....Wow...she really looks hot!!!

Tara always has time for her family and friends.

The back of the book she co-authored with Lisa Nichols.

Tara even meditates in still...LOL

Now I need to give credit where it is due....Tara has the most amazing Mother in the world. She is incredibly loving, giving, compassionate, selfless, and funny. I guess the apple didn't fall far from the tree. But then again all of her children are like that!

Tara's Mom....Sharon Starling.

There are so many more pictures I would love to include. But will stop now so her head doesn't get too big...LOL. Tara...I hope you know just how much you are loved, appreciated and admired by soooo many. Thank you for being one of my best friends and the greatest boss in the world.

Happy Birthday Beautiful!!

Lisa's Mexican Caviar

I celebration of Cinco De Mayo...I am reposting this amazing dip. Perfect anytime, but with the holiday coming up next week, I thought this was perfect to share!!

A sister story....first I met Regina (on the end in the white shirt) and we became the best of friends. She and her sweet husband Jim introduced me to my husband Scott and even sang at our wedding. She can always make me laugh and has a heart as big as Texas. We have shared many laughs and tears over the years. We will always be friends!!
 She then  introduced me to her sister Theresa (in the middle)...ohhh how she makes me laugh. She is such a nut and so very creative. She now sells her beautiful jewelry at the store I manage.

Then I met Lisa, (left end in the green) what a kind hearted and funny lady she is. We share a love of cooking and blogging!! Did you notice a theme with these sisters. They are so kind and loving and are a riot to be around!

Regina also introduced me to this recipe, but told me she got it from Lisa. So today we will be spotlighting Lisa.

and her wonderful Mexican Caviar!

Now don't let the picture scare you. I am a much better cook than I am a photographer. This dip is AMAZING!!! It is good anytime but with the holidays coming up and all the parties and family get togethers you will be involved in believe me you will want to make this. And buy at least 2 bags of the "Frito Scoops" or Tortilla chips because you will become as addicted as I did and won't be able to stop...LOL


"Mama Lisa's Mexican Caviar"



10 roma tomatoes chopped small

1 can whole kernel corn drained

1 can black eye peas drained

1 can black beans drained

1 green bell pepper chopped

1 small red onion chopped

1 bunch cilantro chopped (leaves only)

2 limes (juice only)

2 ripe haas avocados

1/3 bottle of light Wishbone Italian salad dressing

1 large bag of Frito's scoops (for dipping)



Put it all in a large bowl, scoop with Frito's and enjoy!

Thanks Lisa for providing this wonderful recipe.

I am linking to:
Little Brick Ranch
I Heart Naptime
Picket Fence
Debbiedoos

My Meat and Potato Men

Would the men in your family be totally satisfied with meat and potatoes...mine would....or at least my husband would. My 17 year old son decided  a little over a month ago that he was no longer going to eat meat. Ladies...this was a BIG shock!! Up until then my son could wolf down a steak before I could even get it on his plate.He always called himself a mean, meat eating machine. This did make my life easy because as long as I had some kind of meat in the house and a bag of potatoes they were happy.

Now I am always looking for recipes I think my 6'4 280 pound,size 13 shoe wearing son will eat. He is actually becoming a pretty good cook himself now that he can't pop a frozen meat lovers pizza in the oven!

Here is one of our favorite potato side dishes. It is quick, easy and seems we always have all the ingredients in the house. We really like it with eggs on a lazy Saturday morning, or with chicken, fish, grilled pork chops, and of course my husbands favorite meat loaf. We always make them when we are camping. I bet your men will like it too!!

6 large potatoes or 3 baking potatoes ( I just usually cook one potato per person and if there are leftovers that's great too).
1 Large onion
4 tablespoons butter (yes I know....and you may need a bit more depending on the amount of potatos you use. But the flavor is amazing)
Salt and Pepper or Season salt...I like that better myself.

Wash and poke a few holes in your potato's.
Put them in the microwave and cook until fork tender.
While potatoes are cooking, cut your onions into rings and then cut in half.

Once potato's are done, cut them into bite size pieces.

In a large skillet put your butter, potato's and onions in. Salt and pepper or pepper and season salt to taste. Cover (or not...sometimes my potatoes are not soft enough when I take them out of the microwave) and let cook until onions and potatoes are tender.

I am linking to:
Not So Homemade
Little Brick Ranch-Foodie Friday
At The Picket Fence
I Heart Naptime
Debbiedoo's

5 minute Pineapple Pie

This is an old post but thought it was worth reposting for Easter. This pie is light and ooooh so yummy. It's easy to make and would be a great dessert for your Easter dinner. Sorry no photo...but here is one of Lis instead. She is my step children's mom. She is the one that gave me the recipe. The only think I do differently is I add a  little cool whip to the top for a little garnish or I add a bit to the top of each slice as I serve it.


5 minute Pineapple Pie

2 graham cracker crusts
1 large cool whip
1 15oz crushed pineapple
1 8oz tidbits pineapple
1 can sweet condensed milk
14-16 squirts of lemon juice

Drain all the juice out of both cans of pineapple really good

Mix cool whip and milk together add pineapple lightly toss together
add the lemon juice squirts as you are stirring it will get stiffer pour into the two crusts can be eaten right away but better if put into the fridge for at an hour.

Spring-Easter Cake

I am sure most of you have seen the Kit Kat cake. The one with Kit Kat candy bars all around it and the top filled with some other kind of yummy candy like M & M's or chocolate eggs right??? Well I have wanted to make one for awhile now and decided today was the day. There is a family in the neighborhood with the most adorable kids...well all the kids in my neighborhood are adorable but the Klingler kids as I call them just happen to love my chocolate cake. Today was their lucky day. When it was done I took it to them. Hope they enjoy it.

I love to use the colors Lime Green and Hot Pink for my Easter table so I thought I would use it for my cake as well. All I did was make my favorite chocolate cake, frost it, trim the Kit Kat's to size and tie a ribbon around it. It was soooooo easy!!

I decided to change the top decoration a few times to see which one I liked the best....here are the results!

Spring Flowers

Peep Love Birds

Seeeee I told you they were love birds...
Look at the cute eggs they left behind!

I am sure there are so many ways to decorate a cake like this but my skills in this area are limited to well.....me and my talents...LOL. This worked for me.

I am linking to:

Little Brick Ranch
At The Picket Fence
Jam Hands
Dittle Dattle
All Thingz Related
Debbie Doos
Blessed With Grace
Savvy Southern Style

Getting To Know You

Sunday, March 27, 2011Getting to know YOU!


Keely over at Mannland 5 is hosting Getting to know You Sunday's again and so I am going to participate for the first time. How about you.....

So today's questions are:

1. What inspires you? I am a blog stalker...I love to look at other blog and get ideas. There are so many talented ladies out there with so much to share.






2. What was the last thing you bought yourself?  A bracelet





3. Would you rather watch a movie in a theater or from the comfort of your own home? At home if I am feeling like hanging out in my sweats, at the movies if I am in the mood for going out and of course the popcorn is better there!





4. Household chore you don't mind doing? Cooking...I love to cook!





5. Coffee or tea? I love coffee, and was raised on it. But I did give it up for religious reasons. I have never liked tea, but do drink hot green tea when I have a sore throat.





6. What could you eat every day and not get sick of? Chocolate of course!





7. What's the last book you read? Living Proof





8. Do you think you "look" your age? Some days I look younger and some days I look much older. I think it depends on what is going on that day and the stress level...LOL I am 51!

Orange Brownies

I am a born and bred southern girl living in Utah...LOL!!

I love all things southern! Grits, cornbread, fried chicken, hoe cake, magnolias, dressing ....we don't call it stuffing and the recipe is much different, and PAULA DEEN!! Yes, I love Paula Deen. I love the way she talks, the way she cooks, the way she has a hug and a kiss for everyone she meets....she is the epitome of a Southern Gal!

These days I don't make much fried chicken or corn bread because the older I get the more those things stick to my ribs hips! But my sweet tooth teeth will always be a part of my Southern heritage. And what is better than a pan of brownies...maybe 2 pans...LOL

Are you looking for something fresh and different for Easter dessert this year? Well, you just found it. You make them with an orange cream cheese frosting like the ones shown above, or just a lite glaze like the ones shown below. Either way you are going to love them!!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

4 eggs

2 teaspoons pure orange extract

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

Glaze:

1 cup confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons orange juice

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease a 13 by 9 by 2-inch pan and set aside. In a mixing bowl, stir together flour, sugar, and salt. Add butter, eggs, orange extract, and orange zest and beat with a handheld electric mixer until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until light golden brown and set. Remove from oven and pierce top of entire cake with a fork.

Glaze

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, stirring until smooth. Pour glaze over cake. Cool cake and cut into squares.

If you would prefer the cream cheese frosting the recipe is below.

Cream Cheese Frosting:


1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

4 tablespoons softened butter

1 (1-pound) box confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons orange zest

2 tablespoons orange juice

In a large mixing bowl, whip the butter and cream cheese together with a hand-held electric mixer. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until it is all combined and smooth. Beat in the orange zest and juice. Spread over brownies.

Family and friends will want you to bring these to every party and family get together!!

I will be linking up with:
 Dittle Dattle 
 AtThe Picket Fence
 Christina's Adventures 
Little Brick Ranch
Jam Hands
All Thingz Related
Debbie Doos
Blessed With Grace

My Amazing Daughters.

Just feeling so lucky today to be a mom. Want to see my amazing daughters....go HERE
 Guess now that I blogged about them I will have to give my son's and son-in-laws equal time....next month!

Big Changes Are Coming.....

I love my bedroom....and I hate my bedroom! It's nice and big, has a pretty bay window and has a fantastic view of the mountains. But it is boring!! I am so tired of the way it looks. Granted it looks 100 plus better than when I moved in...yucky ivy wallpaper and the previous owner had painted ivy vines all over the master bath coming out into the bedroom...OMGosh......it was HORRIBLE!

 But now it is just boring and I need a change!!

See...waaay too much brown and boring! The honey pine furniture MUST GO!!!

I loved this in 1995 when I had it customed made. Lots of drawers and it hides my TV. But now....not so much. Good thing is my daughter wants it to go with the matching four poster bed I already gave her. Hey she is young, single and poor...LOL

No...I am not allergic to color and yes I was on drugs when I decorated this room....LOL. Not really but can I use that as my excuse? My sweet husband really wanted to be in on it and didn't want it to frilly so we settled on a whole lot of brown!

No....you are not seeing things....all I put to fill up all that space was one little bench! Ok stop laughing...we all have decorating disasters in our past...and I am sure there will probably be a few in the future! But as I said....there are big changes coming!!!

Yes, there will be some color, and  new bedding, the cute bench as been moved to the guest room, and my sweet husband said he will stay out of it this time, it won't be so formal, more relaxed and comfy. I'm too old to be formal and stuffy...relaxed and laid back, and comfortable is more my style these days.

A hint you say...you want a hint...ok...here's a few hints! Let's see what you think!