picking on the dog

Hey, I didn't make you wear the fluffy bunny tail!

Let’s Go Fly a Kite…

It doesn’t take many words to explain this nice Spring Break Day with the Little Grands.  Even the horses were curious and entertained by the kite flying.

Linking up here

The obvious answer.

Last night a person (unidentified to protect her humility) text me with this photo and question.  Why did my “made from scratch” biscuits turn out flat instead of fluffy? She explained she used cold butter, cut it in till it was crumbly, didn’t over work it, so what went wrong?    I suggested she test the baking powder for freshness.  All you have to do is put 1/4 teaspoon of the baking powder in 1 Tablespoon of water.  It should bubble and fizz.  Without waiting for her answer I quickly posted on a FB group the question.  “Bakers:  What will make homemade biscuits flat, not fluffy?   Then I got these photo text’s. 

These are the photos and notations.

The set up and experiment.

Then several minutes later she text this…

it barely fizzed at all.

And then this came.

Ready for it?

*

*

*

You can turn the can over! Whoops on that one.

1st step…check expiration.

We both got a laugh out of it and I posted it on FB, then on this blog.

She still likes me.  She said so.

PS If you want to test Baking soda freshness:  put 1/4 teaspoon off soda in a Tablespoon of white vinegar.  It should bubble and fizz.

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Hubs can cook too

Men usually cook completely differently than the girls do.  My man is no different.  I love when he cooks cause it’s not always something I would cook, or cook the way he does.  Today he made Venison Patty Melts.  Venison is a very lean meat and this sandwich was pretty darn good.  When the boys hunt, they processes their own meat which I appreciate because you have a good idea of what you are getting.
Ingredients:

Venison Patty Melt

• 1 lb. Ground venison
• 1/2 Package of onion soup mix
• 1/4 Cup Sour Cream
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• Salt & Pepper
• Cheese (we prefer cheddar or pepper jack, but use your favorite)
• Wheat bread
• Butter (to spread on one side of the sliced bread and for grilling the sandwiches)

Spray a grill pan or skillet with olive oil.
Mix a pound of finely ground venison with the next four ingredients.
Shape into patties to fit the bread.  Grill over medium high heat about 8-10 minutes on each side.
In a clean skillet over medium high heat (we prefer cast iron) sprayed with vegetable or butter flavored oil, place a slice of generously buttered wheat bread (butter side down), then layer a slice of thick cut cheddar cheese, cooked venison patty, another slice of cheese and another slice of bread (butter side out).   It takes about 5 minutes to get a buttery toasted piece of bread.  Take a peak by lifting it up with the spatula.  When it looks the way you like it use a spatula to flip the sandwich over. Give it time to toast.  That’s all there is to it.
Hubs peeled and sliced up some potatoes to fry along side of the sandwiches.  A little salt, pepper and ketchup and lunch was ready.  Don’t you love how he used a disposable plate so NO ONE had to do dishes?  Love it when the man cooks.

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White Chocolate covered Maraschino Cherry Cupcakes

I made this recipe in cake form at Christmas and fell in love with it.  The original recipe for the cake comes from Bird On A Cake site.  That girl can cook!  I’ve made several recipes from her site and all have been winners.  For these cupcakes I needed a white icing to tie into the decoration theme at my nieces baby shower.  I needed to provide an icing without chocolate because of food allergies some of the guests have so I chose a ganache using Wilton white candy melts.  Some of the cupcakes have dark chocolate covered cherries as garnish and some have cherries with no covering.  I like the way they look in the final set up, don’t you?  The icing was really tasty.  Check out the pink and green baby shower where we served them.

Maraschino Cherry Cupcakes

Preheat oven 350 F.  Place cupcake liners in cupcake pan. (makes 2 dozen).  If you plan to use the ganache for icing, I would make the icing first so it can start cooling while you make the cakes.

• 2 jars Maraschino cherries (one jar needs stems)

Drain and chop 1 10 oz jar of cherries without stems (reserve liquid to go in batter).  Shake them in a Tablespoon or 2 of flour so they won’t lump together in the batter.
Drain and rinse the remaining stemmed cherries.  Put the cherries on paper towels to dry.  I also patted them with a paper towel a bit and turned them over once.   I went to several stores before finding cherries with stems.  Finally found them at Kroger. 
Beat until creamy:

• 1/2 Cup butter, soft
• 1 1/2 Cups sugar
• Beat in 3 egg whites

Whisk together and add alternately with liquids:

• 2 Cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder

Liquids:

• 1 Cup Sour Cream
• Reserved Cherry juice from 1 jar
• 1 teaspoon Cherry extract (if you don’t have any, I found you can substitute a teaspoon unsweetened Kool-ade)
• Stir in 1 jar of chopped Maraschino cherries

Fill cupcake liners 1/2 full. Bake cupcakes 20-25 minutes till they spring back in the centers when you touch them.  Cool.

Chocolate Covered Cherries

While the cakes cool, melt about a cup of chocolate chips in the microwave for 30 seconds.  Stir till smooth.  If they don’t all melt, microwave a little more in 15 second intervals.  Dip dry Stemmed Maraschino Cherries in the melted chocolate and stand on wax paper.  They will garnish the top of the cupcakes.  If you have guests with Chocolate allergies, like we did, leave some of the cherries plain.

White Chocolate Ganache

Microwave

• 1/2 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream 2-3 minutes (don’t let it boil over)

Remove from microwave . Add and Stir until melted and smooth:

• 12 oz Wilton White Candy Melts
• 6 Tablespoons butter
• 2 Tablespoons powder sugar

Allow to cool  completely (about 30 minutes-an hour).  Beat with mixer until peaks form.  Use icing bag or zip lock bag with a small hole cut out of one corner to pipe the icing onto the cooled cupcakes.  Place a stemmed cherry on top of each for garnish.  There were a lot of extra stemmed cherries left, so I coated those in chocolate and served separately.  If you don’t have allergies to chocolate, substitute semi sweet chocolate pieces for the candy melts.  It really gives the cake the taste of a a chocolate covered cherry!

Linking up:
One Tough Mother

My Liebster.

Liebster Awards are a way for blogs with less than 200 followers to connect with other bloggers, share a little more about yourself, and a way to help promote other small blogs. I love this concept because small blogs need a little lovin' too!

The Rules:

{1} Each blogger should answer the questions the tagger has set for you.

{2} Choose 11 new bloggers to pass the award on to and link them in your post.

{3} Create 11 new questions for the chosen bloggers.

{4} Go back to their page and tell them about the award.

{5} Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.

{6} No tag-backs!!

My questions came from Justina

1. Middle name and do I like it? My middle name is Laree.  But my birth certificate was completed by my Dad who couldn't decide how to spell it.  It is written 3 ways and each is marked out leaving the last version...which is not the spelling I grew up using!  I like it though, it makes an interesting story.
2. Who inspires me? I am inspired by people who think for themselves and try to make the world a better place.
3. Favorite Jean brand? Jean brands are not something I worry about when it comes to brands.  If my big butt fits in and I can sit comfortably, that's the jean I wear.
4. Why did I start blogging?  Before I retired I made a bucket list of things to do/accomplish during the rest of my life.  There's fulfillment in sharing what I learn and do with others. 
5. TV or read? Why read blogs of course!  Dozens of them daily.  There are some great comedians, artist, cooks and generally inspiring true life stories out there.  If hubs didn't turn on the TV I could go days without even watching it.
6. Favorite holiday?  With a large family that celebrates together for everything, choosing one is not easy.  Easter is the first big gathering of the year, July 4 picnic on the farm, Labor Day opening hunting season and big rodeo in town, our Halloween trail in the woods is to die for, Thanksgiving feasting, and of course Christmas celebrated together on the Eve.  No, can't choose, they are all special cause my family is close and makes every effort to get together on our farm.
7. Ideal vacation?  An ideal vacation is relaxing and refreshing whether at home or driving a jeep across the Colorado Rockies.
8. Favorite throw back movie?  I'm not one that watches the same movie over and over.  I have a memory that keeps everything and analyses it.  Once I've seen it, I like to move on and experience something new.
9. Celebrity I'd like to meet? I might choose Oprah.  She's pretty inspiring.
10. Facebook or Pinterest?  Even though I visit both most days, if I have to choose just one it would be Facebook.  I keep up with family and friends and lots of "Pinterest" kind of posts show up there too.  But I would REALLY miss Pinterest.
11. What do I splurg on?  My kids and grands.  Explanation in my Grandma Handbook.

11 Random Facts:

• I don't smoke.
• The first thing I do when I get up is brush away morning mouth.  Can't stand it.
• Hearing a child laugh gives me more pleasure than a chocolate milk shake.
• Being around my large family is exhilarating.
• West Texas Sunsets amaze me so I take lots of photos of them.
• I married my high school sweetheart, and we're still together.
• I have a great grandson.  Really, he's great!
• I don't particularly care for cherry flavored things, but love cherries.
• My love of creating things is inherited. 
• I dream about walking through abandoned houses full of personal treasures.
• The Internet scares me, but I blog anyway.

Now, my questions for you...intepret as you will...

1. Butter or margerine?
2. Fact or fiction?
3. Musical or Action film?
4. Realist or a dreamer?
5. Do you read between the lines?
6. Are you as tall as you want to be?
7. Pet peeve?
8. Introvert or Extrovert?
9. Favorite quote/movie or song?
10. How many projects do you have going right now?
11. What is your "One Thing?" (City Slickers)

My Liebster nominees:

Nacole @ This New Journey
Charlie @ http://learninglessonsinmummyography.blogspot.com/
Lorrie @ http://findingsecrettreasure.blogspot.com/
Amanda @ http://newlywedhousewifeconfessions.blogspot.com/
She @ http://thesongthatsummersings.blogspot.com/
Cheri @ http://cherisidlechatter.blogspot.com/
Debbe @ http://piecestolove.blogspot.com/
Dannie @ http://silohillfarm.blogspot.com/
Natalie @ http://northshoredays.blogspot.co.nz/
Nisha @ http://nichuspace.blogspot.com/
Rox @ http://fourelevenrox.blogspot.com/

Copper Breaks State Park, Texas.

The little grands spent a few days with me for Spring Break.  One of the days we drove to Copper Breaks State Park in Hardeman County, Texas.  The drought has reduced the lake size a great deal, but the park was still full of visitors and campers.  There is a rugged beauty in the landscape that will bring to life one of the Louis L’Amour books my dad used to read.  The terrain is deceptively rough with hills, rocks and cedars.  Just beyond the horizon and lake is the Pease River and site where Cynthia Ann Parker was taken as a child by the Comanche's.  Her story is amazing, as is her son Chief Quanah Parker. 

     

The day turned out to be quite sunny and warm as we hiked up one of the developed trails to a resting spot with quite a view of the park.  The grands had to spend a little time at a playground before heading home.  I should have snapped a picture of the two exhausted little grands that fell fast asleep in the back of the car before we were barely out of the park!  It was a great day together.

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Pink and Green Party

       
 

My niece is having her first baby and it’s going to be a girl.  We rented a really cute cabin in a park to host her hot pink and apple green polka dot themed shower. The new mom to be and grandmothers to be wore silk and rhinestone Gerber daisy corsages.  You can see how to put them together here.  They have hair clips so she can wear them on one of those cute stretchy baby headbands purchased at Hobby Lobby Craft Store.  My sister in law put together the main center piece – a diaper cake.  The table is covered with hot pink table covers and apple green runners, pink Easter grass, sparkly flower beads and  monogram M for Masey.  Isn’t that a cute name? A cute little frog sat at a miniature table waiting his personal tea and cookies, which baby grand shared with him. 
   
Little flower appetizers on Ritz crackers not only looked good, but were tasty too.   I just love the small Cherry Limeade Cookies.  That recipe can be found here.  The White Chocolate Covered Cherry Cupcakes are adapted from a recipe I made at Christmas.  For the dark chocolate covered cherry cake recipe look here.  This recipe is worth printing, it’s delicious.  Bird on a Cake:  Chocolate covered Cherry Cake recipe link here. The Icing I used needed to be white so I substituted white chocolate and topped with a chocolate covered cherry.  Since it was a brunch, we also served a penne pasta salad, Sausage Balls, Greek Salad in tortilla Scoops that my sister made (she’s a terrific cook!),  Celery with Jalapeño or Strawberry Cream cheese appetizers, and Chicken Salad Wraps.  Here is the recipe for the wraps.

Chicken Salad Wrap

20 small tortillas (if spinach or tomato tortillas are not available, go with the flour or whole wheat)
1 Deli Roasted Chicken, remove bones & skin, dice fine
2 Stalks Celery, cleaned & finely diced
1 Red apple, cored and finely diced
8-10 Dried Plums, finely diced
1/4 cup pecans, finely chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons powdered sugar (or warmed honey if you prefer)
Dice and chop all the ingredients and stir together.  Place a couple of Tablespoons of the salad on one side of the tortilla (leave an inch on each side).  Fold the sides up on the chicken.  Roll the tortilla tightly from the open side.  Place seam side down on platter.  Chill until serving time.  Cut the wrap in half at an angle. 

Pin Win Bacon Wrapped Chicken

This recipe off pinterest from Artsy Fartsy Moma is a winner.  But what isn't delicious with bacon wrapped around it?  The chicken breast hubs brought home were huge so after smashing the chicken flat, I cut them in 1/2 to make the portion reasonable for us.  Go to her site for more details to make this recipe, you'll be glad you did.

Basically you beat your agressions out on the chicken breast, soften with layers of cheese then wrap the bacon around it.

Bake it at 350 F 45 minutes, salivating the entire time you smell it cooking.
And serve it to your man, cause you know how bacon pleases a man.

Now, go visit Artsy Fartsy Mama.
I dare ya.

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Celebrate with the Irish

for the fun of it.

We'll be having a special cobbler today.  Recipe here.

A moment

I see

I smell

I comprehend

Blushing Leprechauns–Kool-Aid cookies

If you are looking for a special treat for St. Patrick's Day try these blushing leprechaun cookies.  Bright green lime flavored icing on a cherry flavored cookie are perfect for a fun holiday or baby shower dessert.  More modern than a traditional scone, they are lightly sweet and the kool-aide provides a puch of cherry lime.

The pink and green cookies came about for my niece’s baby shower.  I wanted more than a colored cookie,

Rosemary Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken pot pie is my all time favorite comfort food.  I have wonderful memories of my dad making his recipe on cool winter days.  My recipe has evolved a tiny bit in that I like meals I can put together easily and quickly with a couple kitchen hacks like pre-cooked chicken and a biscuit mix crust topper.  It hasn't failed yet to put smiles on the faces of everyone in the family.



I bought chicken breast on sale in the grocery last week.  To make it recipe ready I boiled it about 20 minutes till it was done.  I could tell when it was done by using a fork to gently tear a piece apart.  I removed the chicken from the water and allowed it to dry before slipping the pieces in a freezer zip bag and freezing them.  That step makes it easy to pull out the amount of chicken I need for casseroles later.  

Using one of the extra large boneless/skinless chicken breast I pre-cooked and froze last week to make Chicken Pot Pie made this a nice easy mid week meal.  I've also made this recipe with a deli roasted rotisserie chicken for a great flavor change. The Rosemary from my garden gave the whole house a really yummy aroma. 

• 

  Yep, cooking in my retro wedding dishes.

Rosemary Chicken Pot Pie

by Jeannie

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Keywords: chicken Rosemary Mixed vegies biscuit crust

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Ingredients (4-6)

• 1 extra large boneless/skinless chicken breast (or 2 smaller ones) pre-cooked
• 1-2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup (or cream of chicken)
• 1/2 can milk
• 1 1/2 cups biscuit mix
• 1/2-3/4 cup milk
• 5 pats of butter
• 1 teaspoon dried Rosemary
• salt & pepper

Instructions

Start by pre-heating your oven to 350 F and spray oil on an 8” x 8” baking dish

Cut the pre-cooked chicken into bite size pieces and cover the bottom of the baking dish with it.

Spread frozen mixed vegetables on top of the chicken

Salt & pepper over the vegetables.

Mix cream of mushroom soup with 1/2 can milk and pour over the vegetables.

Mix biscuit mix with milk to a thin pourable consistency.

Pour the batter over the creamy soup.

Put the butter pats randomly over the dough

Sprinkle Rosemary over the top, add a little more salt & pepper

Bake at 350 F 50 minutes until the crust is golden brown.

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Joy in this moment

This moment

catching snow flakes

feeling the cold on your tongue

the reward

for waiting 

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