Blackberry Cobbler!

I have been out of pocket lately.  

I started back to work again and have been trying to get used to working while still doing what I love.  Cooking and Baking and of course taking care of my wonderful Hubby!!!!  

Tonight I made Hubby dessert.  My way of saying Thank you for have my dinner on the table when I arrived home.  

This is the easiest cobbler you will ever make and the best.

Blackberry Cobbler

2 cups Pie Filling (I used 1 can (21 oz.) Blackberry Pie Filling and 1 container of fresh Blackberries)

1 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1 egg (beaten)

1 stick butter (melted)

Grease a glass dish.  Combine flour, sugar and beaten egg with a fork until crumbly.  Pour pie filling in greased dish and spread fresh berries on top.  Spread the flour mixture on top.  Pour melted butter on top.  Bake in 350 oven for 30 - 35 minutes.

This will go quickly so you had better get your dish first!!!!

Spring is Here!

It has been a beautiful weekend.  

Sunny, Warm and just magnificent!!!!!!   

Reminded me when I was a very young girl and selling lemonade on the side of the road, of course the only people that bought any lemonade was my friends and the Mailman, which at that time was a walking mailman... 

I decided to make something Springy.....  

so I made Lemonade Pie.  

 It took all of 15 minutes.  

Hubby also requested some Chicken Salad, so I gave in and did that too.  

Lemonade Icebox Pie

1 package (8 ounce) cream cheese, softened

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

3/4 cup thawed lemonade concentrate

1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed

1 graham cracker crust, I used vanilla wafer crust

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and milk until smooth.  Beat in lemonade concentrate.  Fold in whipped topping.  Pour into crust.  Cover and refrigerate until set....

You can add a few drops of food coloring, yellow or pink.  

This is a great pie for your Easter table..

Chicken Salad  is coming soon!!!!!

Peach Fried Pies!

Hubby has been trying to get me to make these for 35 years.  Well today I broke down and made him some.  

Took some time and made a mess but well worth it.

These are so good!!!!  

Words cannot describe them....... 

So if you like Peaches and have a little time you really need to try these.

Peach Fried Pies

1 (8 ounce) package dried peaches, chopped
3 cups water
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup golden raisins
2 teaspoons butter
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Combine peaches and water in a saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 40 minutes, adding water if necessary.  Drain well.  Stir in sugar, raisins, butter and nutmeg, mixing well.

Pastry

2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons cold water
1 teaspoons vinegar

Combine flour, soda, salt and nutmeg.  Cut in shortening with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal.  Sprinkle water and vinegar evenly over surface.  Stir with a fork until a ball.

Divide pastry evenly into 8 pieces; roll each portion into a 6 inch circle.  Place about 3 tablespoons peach mixture on half of each circle.  Moisten edges of circles with water.  Fold circle in half; press edges together with a fork dipped in flour.

Heat 3/4 inch oil to 375 degrees in a cast iron skillet.  cook pies until golden, turning once.  Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with sugar.

I promise you these are worth the time and mess.  

Remember to always smile when baking and wearing one of my "Mimi's Magic Aprons"

Parmesean Chicken / Fried Corn and Lemon Loaf

I have been in the kitchen all day cooking up a storm.

  I get in moods where I cook just enough to get by and then there are time I never leave the kitchen.  

Well can you guess what mood I am in lately?

So, for Dinner this evening we had:

Parmesan Chicken Tenders

Fried Corn - recipe is below - So delish

Mashed Potatoes

Butter Beans 
my secret for the best Butter Beans - 
I use a spice named "Green Tea Peppercorns" by
Tastefully Simple
and I purchase it from
Beverly Pedigo at:
http://www.tastefullysimple.com/web/bpedigo

They have the best spices I have ever used and check out there other products (I am not being paid to post this)

Fried Corn

4 tablespoons butter

1 can corn, drained

1 tablespoon sugar

1/4 cup heavy cream

Salt

Black Pepper

In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt the butter, when the butter is foamy add the corn stirring to coat.  Cook stirring constantly for 1 minute.  Add the sugar and cook for an additional 2 minutes.  Increase heat and add heavy cream - continue to stir so corn won't stick.  Add salt and pepper.  Cook until most of the cream has absorbed, about 3 - 5 minutes.  Serve hot!!!!!!

And..............

For Dessert.................

Lemon Loaf

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 eggs, room temp.

3 tablespoons butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoon lemon extract

1/3 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup oil

zest of one lemon

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons milk

1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease and flour a loaf pan.

In a large bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine butter, eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, lemon extract and lemon juice with an electric mixer.

Pour wet ingredients into dry ingre. and blend until smooth.  Add oil and lemon zest and mix well.

Pour into a prepared loaf pan and bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. 

Pour glaze over and cool on wire rack..

Monogrammed Napkins

I love the blog "Feeding Big".  

She has some of the most delicious recipes.  

Her party "In and Out of the Kitchen" is so fun and has some of the most exciting posts.

Feeding Big

A couple of weeks ago she had a give away. 

"Monogrammed Napkins". 

 Low and behold I was the winner. 

The first thing I have ever won!!!!

 I received them last week and they are beautiful.  

I have a set of white china with a silver ring that these will be fabulous with.  Can't wait to use them.

Here is a picture of them...

Don't you just love them!!!!!

Carolina Chili Dogs / Oatmeal Raisin Cookies!

Hubby has been bugging me to make him some homemade Hot dog Chili!!!!  Well, I broke down and did it. The Chili was really so good and so very easy to prepare.  Make a big batch and freeze for future use...

Carolina Chili Dogs

1 1/4 lbs extra lean ground beef
1 cup chopped onions
1 (6oz) tomato paste
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Place the beef and 2 cups water in a dutch oven over high heat.  Bring the water to a boil.

Add the chopped onion to the beef.  When the water boils again, reduce the heat to medium.  Stir to begin breaking up the meat.

Add the tomato paste, ketchup, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, salt and pepper.  Stir well until the tomato pasted has dissolved and the meat is mostly broken up.

Continue to cook the chili at a slow boil, stirring about every 5 minutes or so for about 15 minutes.  As the mixture thickens, you may need to reduce the heat to low to prevent sticking.

Enjoy!!!!

And for Dessert - 

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Lemon Bars

I made these Luscious Lemon Bars last night for one of the many desserts for Super Bowl Sunday!!!!

Easy and oh so tasty!!!!

Mimi's Luscious Lemon Bars

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour, divided

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 cup cold butter, cut into pieces

4 large eggs

2 cups granulated sugar

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice - (I used 1/2 cup)

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Powdered Sugar

Preheat oven to 350.  Line bottom and sides of a 13 x 9 inch pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil.

Stir together 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup powdered sugar.  Cut in butter using a pastry blender until crumbly.  Press mixture onto bottom of prepared pan.

Bake at 350 for 20 - 25 minutes or until lightly browned.

Meanwhile, whisk eggs in a large bowl until smooth; whisk in granulated sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice.  Stir together baking powder and remaining 1/4 cup flour, whisk into egg mixture.  Pour mixture over hot baked crust.

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until filling is set.  Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes.  Lift from pan, using foil sides as handles.  Cool completely on a wire rack.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

The crust was crispy and the filling was warm and lemony....  

Oh so GOOD!!!!!

That was dessert.

This was dinner!!!!

Potato Soup and Cornbread

French Toast Casserole

I made this for my parents over the holidays. 

 It was a big hit. 

 I made it on Christmas Eve and served it for Christmas Breakfast.  

Fast, easy and delicious...

French Toast Casserole

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 loaf French bread, cut into 18 to 20, 1 inch thick slices

6 large eggs

1 cup eggnog

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Pinch of kosher salt

Topping:

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temp.

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans

2 tablespoon light corn syrup

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Grease a 13 x 9 inch baking dish (metal, not glass),  Arrange the bread slices in the dish in 2 overlapping rows.

Whisk together eggs, eggnog, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.  Pour the egg mixture over the bread slices, making sure the bread is covered well.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 350.

Remove dish from frig.

Combine all topping ingred.  Sprinkle over top of the french toast casserole.

Bake 30 - 40 minutes until lightly browned.  Remove from oven.  Serve with maple syrup and powdered sugar.

Dark Chocolate Cake!

Dark Chocolate Cake! 

 This is so easy and oh so good!!!!!  

2 cups sugar

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup very hot strong coffee

Heat over to 350.  Grease and flour two 9 inch pans.

Stir together sugar, flour cocoa,baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla.  Beat on medium speed of electric mixer 2 minutes.  Stir in hot coffee (batter will be thin).  Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake for 30 - 35 minutes

I doubled the frosting

1/2 cup soft butter

3 cups powdered sugar

2/3 cup Hershey's Special Cocoa

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat soften butter until fluffy.  Add sugar, and cocoa alternately with milk.  Beat well.  Add vanilla extract.

I hope you enjoy this cake.  It is sure to fix your chocolate cravings.  

2013

It has been over a month since I posted....and I have no excuses.... busy holiday with family and friends.   

2013 is here and I am ready for a new adventure.

Tonight for dinner we had:

Pork Tenderloin

Black I's

Butter Beans (for me because I do not like black i's)

Mashed Potatoes

Cornbread

Carrot Cake! Yum

The Pork Tenderloin is marinated for about 4 - 6 hours and cooked in my Pampered Chef crock for about 1 - 1/2 hours.  Its was so moist and tender.

I always cook my Black i's with country ham and onions, 

my hubby loves them.....

I cook cornbread so much I really don't use a recipe, but I love, love, love my Martha White Cornmeal.  I do not use a mix.

Now the Carrot Cake, oh my!!!! 

It was my mother's recipe and she made this for me on my birthday every year.  I love that cake and it has vegetable's in it so it has to be healthy.....LOL

Pork Tenderloin

1/2 cup olive oil

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

Juice of 1 lemon

2 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce

2 tablespoons parsley flakes

2 tsp. dry mustard

Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

1 2 - 3 lb. Pork Tenderloin

Combine all marinade ingred. Place pork and marinade in a Ziploc bag and marinate for 4 - 6 hours.

Bake in a 350 oven for 1 - 1/2 hours or until meat reaches 160 degrees.

Rest meat for 15 minutes.

Save pan drippings and combine with

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 tsp. butter

Boil over medium heat and pour over shredded pork.

Carrot Cake

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups wesson oil
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
3 cups grated carrots
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
4 eggs
1 cup nuts

Sift dry ingred. together.  Blend oil and sugar - add eggs - add carrots and nuts - add dry ingredients and mix well.

Bake at 325 for approx. 25 minutes.  3 - 8 inch greased and floured pans.

I double the icing

Icing
1 8 oz. cream cheese (room temp)
1 stick butter (room temp)
1 pound 10-X sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup nuts

Cream butter and cream cheese.  Add vanilla, Sift sugar into this and mix well.  Add nuts.