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| With Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoa License Plate roofs. |
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Garden Walk June 2014
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| I bought these Shamrock in Little Rock, AR |
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| Lillies in the pond. |
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| On the deck. |
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| Day lilies did good! |
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| Japanese Wisteria |
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How to Roast a Whole turkey with Vegetables and BEST Sweet Potato Pie
Perfect Roast Turkey
1 fresh turkey (12 pounds)
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large bunch of fresh thyme
1 lemon, halved
3 Spanish onions
1 head garlic, halved crosswise
4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick), melted
1/2 cup good olive oil
8 carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
10 red new potatoes, halved
3 heads fennel, fronds removed, cut into wedges through the core
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Take the giblets out of the turkey and wash the turkey inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pinfeathers and pat the outside dry. Place the turkey in a large roasting pan. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity. Stuff the cavity with the thyme, lemon, one of the onions (quartered), and the garlic. Brush the outside of the turkey with the butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the turkey. Peel and slice the remaining onions, toss them with 1/4 cup olive oil, and scatter them around the turkey.
Roast the turkey for 1 hour. Toss the carrots, potatoes, and fennel with 1/4 cup olive oil and add to the roasting pan. Continue to roast for about 1 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh. Remove the turkey to a cutting board and cover with aluminum foil; let rest for 20 minutes.
Stir the vegetables and return the pan to the oven. Continue to cook the vegetables while the turkey rests. Slice the turkey and serve on a platter with the roasted vegetables.
Reprint
1 fresh turkey (12 pounds)
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large bunch of fresh thyme
1 lemon, halved
3 Spanish onions
1 head garlic, halved crosswise
4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick), melted
1/2 cup good olive oil
8 carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
10 red new potatoes, halved
3 heads fennel, fronds removed, cut into wedges through the core
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Take the giblets out of the turkey and wash the turkey inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pinfeathers and pat the outside dry. Place the turkey in a large roasting pan. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity. Stuff the cavity with the thyme, lemon, one of the onions (quartered), and the garlic. Brush the outside of the turkey with the butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the turkey. Peel and slice the remaining onions, toss them with 1/4 cup olive oil, and scatter them around the turkey.
Roast the turkey for 1 hour. Toss the carrots, potatoes, and fennel with 1/4 cup olive oil and add to the roasting pan. Continue to roast for about 1 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh. Remove the turkey to a cutting board and cover with aluminum foil; let rest for 20 minutes.
Stir the vegetables and return the pan to the oven. Continue to cook the vegetables while the turkey rests. Slice the turkey and serve on a platter with the roasted vegetables.
Reprint
BEST Sweet Potato Pie- submitted by Helen Farish (My Mom)
Best of Cajun Cooking by Nell Millang
Ingredients
2 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes...
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup coconut
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/4 pound butter, softened
3 eggs beaten
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup pecans
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust
Stir all ingredients except pie crust in large bowl.
Pour into unbaked pie crust.
Bake in preheated 450 degree oven for 10 minutes.
Reduce heat to 350-degrees.
Bake about 35 minuets or until knife inserted in center
comes out clean. Cool; cover with meringue.
Meringue
Beat 3 egg whites until frothy. Gradually add 1/3 cup white sugar.
Beat until stiff. Beat in 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract.
Pile on pie. Brown in 325 degree oven about 15 minutes.
Chill before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.
Best of Cajun Cooking by Nell Millang
Ingredients
2 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes...
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup coconut
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/4 pound butter, softened
3 eggs beaten
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup pecans
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust
Stir all ingredients except pie crust in large bowl.
Pour into unbaked pie crust.
Bake in preheated 450 degree oven for 10 minutes.
Reduce heat to 350-degrees.
Bake about 35 minuets or until knife inserted in center
comes out clean. Cool; cover with meringue.
Meringue
Beat 3 egg whites until frothy. Gradually add 1/3 cup white sugar.
Beat until stiff. Beat in 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract.
Pile on pie. Brown in 325 degree oven about 15 minutes.
Chill before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.
© Enia
Fall has just begun
As summer ends
The color of the leaves gleaming in the sun
Jumping in leaves with friends
As the tumble down
Forming a quilt on the ground
Hearing the crinkle as you jump in
Twisting and turning in the air
Feeling of the brisk air blow in your face
The warm and delightful smell of grandma's pumpkin pie
This is fall. Source
As summer ends
The color of the leaves gleaming in the sun
Jumping in leaves with friends
As the tumble down
Forming a quilt on the ground
Hearing the crinkle as you jump in
Twisting and turning in the air
Feeling of the brisk air blow in your face
The warm and delightful smell of grandma's pumpkin pie
This is fall. Source
Tablescape
My Thanksgiving Thanks
Sweet Potato Pie Best of Cajun Cooking by Nell Millang
-submitted by Helen Farish
Ingredients
2 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup coconut
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/4 pound butter, softened
3 eggs beaten
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup pecans
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust
Stir all ingredients except pie crust in large bowl.
Pour into unbaked pie crust. Bake in preheated 450
degree oven for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350-degrees.
Bake about 35 minuest or until knife inserted in center
comes out clean. Cool; cover with meringue.
Meringue
Beat 3 egg whites until frothy. Gradually add 1/3 cup white
sugar. Beat until stiff. Beat in 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract.
Pile on pie. Brown in 325 degree oven about 15 minutes.
Chill before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.
7 Ways to Go Broke This Season (Christmas)
7 Ways to Go Broke This Season: source
If you’re trying to get out of debt, this time of year can easily become crazy and stressful.
You want to go all out and have fun, but you know that “going all out” is what got you in trouble in the first place.
So what’s an early Baby Stepper to do?
What you need is a good plan—and, sometimes, a good plan is as much knowing what not to do as knowing what to do. Well, heed these warnings, regardless of what Baby Step you’re on! If you want to have a merry different Christmas, you might not want to do the following things:
Try to keep up with the Joneses.
That’s just not a good idea. The Joneses are broke. They have a lot of bills, ridiculous car payments and tricked-up mortgages. But at least they look good! Have you seen Mrs. Jones’ hair? Wow! That’s fancy! But despite the good hair, stop trying to keep up with the Joneses. You don’t need her hair, and you don’t want their debt following you into 2013.
Mistake Batman for food.
Come again? You need food. You need shelter. You need clothing. Your son doesn’t need the $100 remote-control Batmobile. Would that be awesome? Of course! But you don’t need it. Keep your priorities in focus during Christmas. Do what you can, and don’t spend more than you have—even if it’s an awesome Batmobile.
Most of us simply can’t afford to give a $20 gift card to every brother, sister, aunt, uncle and cousin in the family tree. But we do it anyway. A lot of times, it’s out of some vague sense of guilt or obligation. Instead of giving something to everyone, you can have a family drawing where people draw names out of hat. Then, you’re only responsible for the person whose name you have drawn.
Plus, if it’s been a trend over the past few years to just exchange gift cards that everyone picks up at the last minute at the end-of-aisle kiosks, is it really meaningful and worth the effort?
Let the stores determine your plan.
The mall will suck you in and spit you out like a bad piece of fruitcake. Going to the mall without some type of plan of attack is like going to a donut factory without expecting to gain weight. If you don’t go in with a purpose, all the shiny, bright plastic stuff will draw you in like a moth to a flame. Make a plan and stick to it.
Cover every inch of your house and yard in lights.
There’s nothing wrong with a little festivity. Who doesn’t love seeing a house wrapped in lights on a cold December evening? But if your power bill triples during the Christmas season, and if you can’t seem to avoid buying 12 new inflatables for your yard every Christmas, then you might want to tone it down a bit.
Treat yourself to something nice … or two or three nice things.
You’d be surprised at how many people, while out gift shopping for others over the holidays, decide to buy something for themselves! Say what? This is why the previous point is so important—don’t go shopping without a plan! The mall will mock you if you attempt to enter its gates without a determined gaze and the willpower of a vegetarian in a steakhouse.
Travel long distances.
Nothing will make you go broke faster than trying to buy plane tickets for a family of five. And that’s just the cost of getting to where you want to go. On top of that, you’ve got lodging, food, a rental car—and, oh, don’t forget the presents! Again, it’s okay to travel. But don’t prioritize going to see the grandparents over providing for your family at Christmas—especially if you have kids. The grandparents are retired. Let them come see you.
You don’t have to buy into the commercial hype that says you must go shopping and come home with a dozen shopping bags and $1,000 in debt. That’s not smart. Or merry. Or festive. Or jolly. It’s just an all-around bad idea.
So don’t make this a Christmas filled with bad ideas and regrets!
1 – 8oz pkg shredded cheddar cheese (for the topping)
1 – 14 oz can wolf brand chili (no beans)
Directions:
If you’re trying to get out of debt, this time of year can easily become crazy and stressful.
You want to go all out and have fun, but you know that “going all out” is what got you in trouble in the first place.
So what’s an early Baby Stepper to do?
What you need is a good plan—and, sometimes, a good plan is as much knowing what not to do as knowing what to do. Well, heed these warnings, regardless of what Baby Step you’re on! If you want to have a merry different Christmas, you might not want to do the following things:
Try to keep up with the Joneses.
That’s just not a good idea. The Joneses are broke. They have a lot of bills, ridiculous car payments and tricked-up mortgages. But at least they look good! Have you seen Mrs. Jones’ hair? Wow! That’s fancy! But despite the good hair, stop trying to keep up with the Joneses. You don’t need her hair, and you don’t want their debt following you into 2013.
Mistake Batman for food.
Come again? You need food. You need shelter. You need clothing. Your son doesn’t need the $100 remote-control Batmobile. Would that be awesome? Of course! But you don’t need it. Keep your priorities in focus during Christmas. Do what you can, and don’t spend more than you have—even if it’s an awesome Batmobile.
Give presents to everyone in your family.
Plus, if it’s been a trend over the past few years to just exchange gift cards that everyone picks up at the last minute at the end-of-aisle kiosks, is it really meaningful and worth the effort?
Let the stores determine your plan.
The mall will suck you in and spit you out like a bad piece of fruitcake. Going to the mall without some type of plan of attack is like going to a donut factory without expecting to gain weight. If you don’t go in with a purpose, all the shiny, bright plastic stuff will draw you in like a moth to a flame. Make a plan and stick to it.
Cover every inch of your house and yard in lights.
There’s nothing wrong with a little festivity. Who doesn’t love seeing a house wrapped in lights on a cold December evening? But if your power bill triples during the Christmas season, and if you can’t seem to avoid buying 12 new inflatables for your yard every Christmas, then you might want to tone it down a bit.
Treat yourself to something nice … or two or three nice things.
You’d be surprised at how many people, while out gift shopping for others over the holidays, decide to buy something for themselves! Say what? This is why the previous point is so important—don’t go shopping without a plan! The mall will mock you if you attempt to enter its gates without a determined gaze and the willpower of a vegetarian in a steakhouse.
Travel long distances.
Nothing will make you go broke faster than trying to buy plane tickets for a family of five. And that’s just the cost of getting to where you want to go. On top of that, you’ve got lodging, food, a rental car—and, oh, don’t forget the presents! Again, it’s okay to travel. But don’t prioritize going to see the grandparents over providing for your family at Christmas—especially if you have kids. The grandparents are retired. Let them come see you.
You don’t have to buy into the commercial hype that says you must go shopping and come home with a dozen shopping bags and $1,000 in debt. That’s not smart. Or merry. Or festive. Or jolly. It’s just an all-around bad idea.
So don’t make this a Christmas filled with bad ideas and regrets!
Our Favorite Enchiladas - recipe from my mom
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
8-10
- corn tortillas
1
- lb ground beef1 – 8oz pkg shredded cheddar cheese (for the topping)
1 – 14 oz can wolf brand chili (no beans)
Directions:
Using
a medium size skillet brown the ground beef. Add the chili and heat.
Heat
about 1/4 cup oil in a skillet to soften the tortillas before filling. Lightly
fry each side to soften the tortilla for rolling. Drain on paper towels.
At
this point, fill each tortillas with the
meat/chili mixture, placing the rolled
up enchiladas seam side down. Continue to fill the enchiladas and place in the
baking dish. I can get about 9 enchiladas in a 9x13 inch size pan.
Top
with shredded cheddar cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes - 40
minutes or until enchiladas are bubbly.
Let
cool about 10-15 minutes and then serve immediately.
Salvation
may be described as
the blind
receiving sight,
the deaf
receiving hearing,
the dead
receiving life;
but we
have not only received these blessings, we have received CHRIST JESUS himself.
It is
true that he gave us
life from
the dead.
He gave
us pardon of sin;
he gave us imputed righteousness.
These are
all precious things, but we are not content
with them; we have received Christ himself. The Son of God has been poured into
us, and we have received him, and appropriated him. What a heartful Jesus must
be, for heaven itself cannot contain him! copied
Perfect Freezer Biscuits - Care for Your Cast Iron Skillett
Perfect Freezer Biscuits (can be halved)
- 4 cups flour
- 2 Tbsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp soda
- 1/2 cup cold butter, cut into small pieces
- 2 cups butter milk
- 4 Tbsp melted butter (need when baking the
entire batch of biscuits)
1. In a mixer, add all of the dry ingredients and pulse a few times
to get the ingredients mixed together.
2. Add butter and pulse until butter is cut into pea sized pieces.
This will take a few minutes.
3. Next, add the buttermilk and pulse until a soft dough is formed.
Dough should be slightly 'sticky'. Remove
some dough the size you want your biscuit to be and roll in hands to form a ball
(add flour to your hands to keep the dough from sticking to your hands). Flatten the 'ball' and place in cast iron skillett.
4. To bake biscuits whether fresh or frozen: brush with melted
butter. Bake at 400 for 15-17 minutes or until top is golden. Halfway through
the baking process, brush the tops of the biscuits again with melted butter.
Makes 16-20 biscuits.
5. To bake biscuits whether fresh or frozen: Brush with melted butter. Bake at 400 for 15-17 minutes or
until top is golden. Halfway through the baking process, brush the tops of the
biscuits again with melted butter. Makes 16-20 biscuits.
6. If freezing, place biscuits on a cookie sheet for about 1-2
hours, until solid. After they are frozen, place in a freezer bag to store. Use
as needed.
Coat your new cast iron cookware with vegetable shortening (inside and out). Place in a 300 degree oven for one hour. Remove, and wipe off any liquefied shortening. Your pan is now seasoned! To avoid a mess in the oven, place a piece of foil under the pan. A true no-stick surface takes time to form.
Washing and Care of Cast Iron Cookware:
Wash your cast iron in hot water immediately after each use. Due to concerns over bacteria, I recommend washing with soapy water (using mild dish soap) there are many cast iron users who feel it’s best to stick to water only. Whichever route you choose, be sure not to scrub too vigorously, and take care not to submerge the pan in water. This could cause damage to the seasoning on the pan. I have had my cast iron skillets for 10 + years and have never run into a problems by washing them in mild soapy water.
Cast iron will rust if not dried immediately after washing. Start by towel drying your cookware. Then, place it on the stove burner over low heat for a minute or two to pull out any remaining moisture. Turn off the heat and lightly coat the inside of the pan with oil, and heat for a minute or two longer. This will help to restore any seasoning that might have been lost during washing. Let your pan cool completely and store.
I store my cast iron skillets in the oven, on the off setting of course. Always remember to never store foods in cast iron, as this can break down the seasoning. Never submerge cast iron in water and never put cold water in a hot pan; this can cause the pan to crack or warp. And lastly never wash your cast iron in the dishwasher. If you follow these simple steps your cast iron cookware will last a lifetime.
Occupy till I come
BIBLE MEDITATION:
"Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight;" Leviticus 26:8
When it comes to the political scene and government, there are some people who have dropped out all together. They have the idea that if you get involved in government, somehow that's the "social gospel."
They see the political scene as being dirty and worldly. And some have been intimidated by the great debate between church and state. And so people have just hunkered down, trying to hold on till Jesus comes.
We can't drop out. Edward Everett Hale, author of the story "The Man without a Country," once wrote:
"I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
ACTION POINT:
I am only one in a small voice. But a lot of small voices together can do something. Believe that and act upon it. Jesus said, "Occupy till I come." source
"Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight;" Leviticus 26:8
When it comes to the political scene and government, there are some people who have dropped out all together. They have the idea that if you get involved in government, somehow that's the "social gospel."
They see the political scene as being dirty and worldly. And some have been intimidated by the great debate between church and state. And so people have just hunkered down, trying to hold on till Jesus comes.
We can't drop out. Edward Everett Hale, author of the story "The Man without a Country," once wrote:
"I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
ACTION POINT:
I am only one in a small voice. But a lot of small voices together can do something. Believe that and act upon it. Jesus said, "Occupy till I come." source
Fall - 2013
Welcome Fall
© Enia
Fall has just begun
As summer ends
The color of the leaves gleaming in the sun
Jumping in leaves with friends
As the tumble down
Forming a quilt on the ground
Hearing the crinkle as you jump in
Twisting and turning in the air
Feeling of the brisk air blow in your face
The warm and delightful smell of grandma's pumpkin pie
This is fall. Source
As summer ends
The color of the leaves gleaming in the sun
Jumping in leaves with friends
As the tumble down
Forming a quilt on the ground
Hearing the crinkle as you jump in
Twisting and turning in the air
Feeling of the brisk air blow in your face
The warm and delightful smell of grandma's pumpkin pie
This is fall. Source
Another Beautiiful Gift From My DH
Thank you my sweetheart for this beautiful arrangement on my birthday.
Better Off Than We Were 4 Years Ago?
Is Anyone Better Off Than They Were Four Years Ago?
I had a weird experience
last evening just getting my hair done...listening to a guy telling the stylist
why this is the election of our lifetime and she needs to register to vote.
Then he said "not only for the President but for the congress and local
reps as well! He needs our support because the GOP is trying to deny our right
to vote by pushing for voter id and have pushed it through the legislature...."
Well, 20 years ago I would have kept my lips zipped and just thought he was an
idiot. I couldn't help but say something, though I did control the urge to tell
him what I really thought of him. I asked him where he got his! He couldn't or
wouldn't answer that, but proceeded to come out with more outrageous accusations
that I countered with more questions. When he was through with his haircut he
stopped by my chair and said "I only wanted to encourage her to
register." I said "uh huh". Afterward the two stylists and I had
a very good talk and I am still amazed at how little they knew about anything.
The one girl actually thought the threat of terror was ended when they got Bin
Laden! I ended our discussion with the question "are you any better off
than you were 4 years ago?" They both answered no!! So that is the magic
question. The thought that the misinformed, the uninformed, and the
uninterested will go "eeny meeny" at the polls on election day is
what really scares me.
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