Cornbread, Old Faithful (s), and a Gas Station

I've never been a bread maker, although I love love love bread.  (as is evident by my thighs)  I cooked a pot of pinto beans yesterday for my husband and my daddy.  My daddy had made the comment sometime back that he didn't like my cornbread (which was a Jiffy mix) because it crumbles.  My husband has made cornbread in the past, and Daddy suggested I let him make the cornbread.  ha!

By golly, I would not be outdone by my husband!  I went straight to Pinterest and searched for Southern Cornbread.  This picture popped up and it was said to be 'grandma's recipe'.  So I went to the link here and realized I had all the ingredients, except the buttermilk.  I made it using regular milk and let me tell you, this is delicious cornbread!!!  It was crispy on the edges and creamy in the middle..... so so good!

The men loved it and Daddy went back for seconds and thirds! So yes, this is my new 'go to ' cornbread recipe.  Let hubby make it.... pffft!

For dessert, I looked in my pantry and decided to make an old school dessert:  Cherry Dump Cake.

Pinterest photo

Sometimes the 'old faithful' recipes are the best!  I didn't have any pineapple, so I dumped two single serving containers of applesauce in the bottom with the cherry pie filling.  I had pecans from my daddy's freezer, some that my mama had picked out by hand, shortly before she died.  I think we all thought the recipe was just a little bit sweeter because Mama's hands had been on the pecans.   (I only use half the cake mix; we like it better this way)

Pinterest photo

Speaking of 'old faithful' recipes, do any of you still make sausage balls?  I started making them again last year and sent several batches out as Christmas gifts to my dad's friends.  I took some to the church Christmas party and someone exclaimed "I haven't seen these in  years!"  They were eaten up in no time.  Why do we forget those yummy recipes sometimes?  What are some of your tried and true recipes?

I've mentioned my daughter and her husband's Little Blue Gas Station on my blog before.  Finally, after much persuasion, she has decided to blog a little about it here.   I hope you will enjoy seeing what she and her husband are transforming into a cute little home!  Please leave a comment if you visit her!

A New Day

After yesterday's post and all the sweet comments, I figured I would do another just to say that I really am ok.

I have so much to be thankful for and I know this.   I've been very emotional;  I even tear up and sometimes cry when I see pictures of animals who need homes on facebook.  (I really wish people wouldn' t put the sad animal posts on fb.  Truthfully, a lot of of my sadness probably comes from fb.... that's another deep thought)

I'm at 'that' age when women's emotions sometimes go crazy.  And I know this.  I keep reminding myself that 'this too shall pass.'  God is very good!

Peas and pastry (or dumplings)

I made peas and pastry yesterday.  I had never even heard of this until I was visiting a home health patient one day and this is what she was cooking.  I use a box of chicken broth, a bag of frozen peas, and add store bought pastry strips.  Add salt and pepper and it really is yum.  It's a comfort food for me and it brings back a fond memory of my sweet little patient.  We had this with bratwurst sausage for supper last night... easy and good.

$1.39 panel

Those who know me, know that I love Goodwill.  I found this long window scarf recently for $1.39.  It works  perfectly in my guest bedroom and we were able to get it hung before the kids visited last week.  The curtain rod costs more than the curtain.... love that!

close up

Here's a close up to better see the color.  I love checks and I love blue.... perfect for me! Thanks to whoever donated it.

As far as  I know, I don't need to leave home today.  I plan to clean the floors then spend the rest of my day in the sewing room.  It's supposed to rain later, so it sounds like a perfect day.

Everybody have a great weekend!

Sewing and Cooking

We are still waiting for Brinley Kate to arrive.  Mommy's due date is technically two weeks away, but you know how we impatient people are... we want everything early.  ;)  All is going well and we are praying for a safe delivery.... soon!

I've been doing a little sewing:

sent from iphone; small pic; sorry!

I'm working on a row quilt, as it turns out, because I have no pattern.  I'm just adding a row at a time, building this quilt as I go. 

Last night I put in a row of pinwheel blocks.... oops... not a pinwheel.  I just love my seam ripper.  ;)

I hope to put in another row today, trying a disappearing four patch block.

My messy sewing room.  Avery (4 year old grandson) opened the door to my room during his last visit.  I heard a loud gasp and then he yells "Grandma, the dogs have torn up paper all over your floor!"  I had to admit to him that this is my mess.   I dream of having a pretty sewing room one day.  The first thing I want to do is to get rid of that CARPET.... everything sticks to it and it is so dirty.  I spent a lot of time looking at sewing rooms on Pinterest last night.  Oh my!  some of you have sewing palaces!! I don't need the palace...  I just want my room to have a functional layout; a floor that I can sweep; a rolling chair with room to roll; and a storage system that I can follow.  Think, think, think... maybe I will come up with a plan soon.  But first, I need to clean the room .... ouch.

Hubby and I have jumped on the low carb band wagon for a few weeks.  We tried it years ago when the Atkins diet was so popular.  It wasn't nearly as much fun back then, because we didn't have Pinterest.  There are so many tips and ideas out there, and I am truly convinced that cutting out sugar and possibly gluten, has helped my chronic pain issues, tremendously.

I love taking pictures of my food...  I figure it will serve as a file, or sorts, for when we need ideas of what to eat.  Do you see biscuits in the photo?  Yes, these are low carb biscuits, made with almond flour.... one carb each!! Hubby loves them. 

We really like this low carb quiche that I made back during Atkins days, too.  Easy to make and yummy.   Hubby, of course, is losing weight faster than me.  I have lost approx. 10 lbs in almost a month.  I'm not complaining, but I seem to be on a plateau already.  Any low carbers out there?  I'm open for advice!

I leave you with a picture of the creek that runs beside our house.  Thankfully, our house sits on a hill, but this is what happens when we get a lot of rain in a short amount of time.  It has happened numerous times in our ten years of living here, but it is always fascinating each and every time.  I always think of the old saying "if the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise..."  It gives the phrase a whole new meaning to me when it floods.  :)

I'll be back soon with pictures of Brinley Kate,  I hope!

YUM! Mock tuna salad (chick peas)

Thanks to Pinterest, (my latest addiction), I found this yummy recipe and tried it:  Mock tuna salad made with chick peas!!  I'm not a tuna salad fan, as tuna is just a little too fishy tasting for me; however this recipe is delicious and doesn't taste at all like fish to me.  It reminds me more of chicken salad or egg salad or potato salad.  If you love any of those, I think you will love this!  And it's sooo easy:

This recipe comes from The Apron Archives:

 

 

And check out the ingredients in the next picture:

 



Now, can it be any easier??

hint:  My husband does not like celery, so I chopped mine very tiny, very very tiny...and he loved this spread as much as I did!  I also chopped my purple onion much much finer than the ones shown in this photo. 

We ate some of this using honey wheat bread and some of it using Triscuit crackers.  OMG... I hope you will try it... you may never need to make chicken salad again!

Link for recipe here:   The Apron Archives