Homemade Beef Stew (crockpot style)

Its the Season of FALL!!! Halloween is behind us and so is the candy that we consumed! Thanksgiving is coming upon us and its my 2nd favorite Holiday (Christmas is my 1st)! We have a couple of parties coming up (2 of them happen to be my childrens birthdays!!). I love looking out my over-sized window in the living room and seeing all the trees changing their colors! Absolutely breathtaking! During this season, people make Chili over and over and over and over and did I mention over and over again! They get burned out on it! So, instead of throwing some chili in the crockpot this morning, I decided to make homemade Beef Stew! This is one of my hubby's favorite dishes! It is super easy to make and I just throw it in the crockpot and forget about it for a couple of hours! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my hubby does!


Homemade Beef Stew (crockpot style)

1 to 1.5 lbs stewing beef
1 t pepper
1 t onion powder
1 t garlic powder
1 cup baby carrots (or is you don't have baby carrots you can just cut up some regular carrots)
4 medium Russet potatoes (washed)
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 medium onion
1 T EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
1 packet Brown Gravy powder mix

Drizzle 1T EVOO in bottom of crockpot. Place stewing beef in bottom of crockpot and sprinkle with 1/4 of the seasoning mix. Stir beef to make sure they are coated with seasonings.



Cube up potatoes into bite size, or the same size as the beef. Sprinkle another 1/4 of the seasonings on top. Pour 1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes over potatoes, including juice.


Add carrots and dice your onion up as well. I dice mine into smaller chunks because I have a husband who will eat onions if they are not too big...its a mind thing! Sprinkle remaining seasonings over onions and carrots!

Cook on High for 2 hours. If you are putting this on before you go to work you can start it on low and cook for however many hours you will be gone. I am a stay at home mom so I cook mine on high for 2 hours then turn on low for the remaining 4-5 hours.

You are probably wondering where that Brown Gravy packet is going to go....right?

When you get home from work, sprinkle the Brown Gravy packet over the stew and stir until completely blended. Add about a cup of water if needed! Sometimes, depending on the potatoes you use, it can get thick quick. Let this cook while you are getting the rest of dinner done or changing your clothes or just relaxing for a 10-15 minutes! The Brown Gravy will thicken the stew and give it the beef stew flavors!

Now, we are a family that does not use alot of salt, I didn't add it to my recipe before cooking because I wanted to taste it with the Brown Gravy packet mixed it. They usually contain alot of salt. If you need to add salt, please, by all means do so!! I like to serve this with a crescent roll or homemade biscuits!!


The pictures were taken with my phone, so if they are not clear, I am dearly sorry!!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Spinach Stuffed Pork Chops

This is a little late but better late than never!!

I came up with this recipe and I absolutely love it!!! No need for a veggie side dish when you have your protein stuffed with spinach!!!


4-6 Thin Pork Chops (thick will work but you will need to make in incision in the side and stuff that way, these are actually rolled!)
12 oz Frozen Spinach, do not thaw
2 T EVOO (olive oil)
3 minced Garlic cloves
4-6 T Chicken stock or water
1/2 t each Garlic powder and Black Pepper, and Salt
1 t Onion Powder
1 T minced Sun Dried Tomatoes
4 oz Cream cheese


Saute Garlic in EVOO for a few minutes, Do not let it get brown, it will taste bitter! Add Frozen Spinach and Stock/water. As your spinach thaws, most of the water will evaporate. You want to Spinach to remain moist and not dry nor soaking wet. Add seasonings, sun dried tomatoes, and Cream Cheese and heat till cheese is melted. Take Pork Chops and pound out to make a little thinner but not too thin to wear the filling is going to "break" through. Season pork chops to your liking! Add a heaping spoon full of stuffing mix to chops and fold over. You might need to secure with soaked toothpicks. Stuffing will be oozing out but its oh so good!!! Place chops in baking dish and cover with any remaining spinach mixture! Cover with foil and bake on 400 for 20 minutes. Remove foil, and at this point I added about 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, cook an additional 15 minutes or until chops are done. I then squeezed a whole lemon over the chops, This is optional but we loved it! It added a freshness to the dish! I served the chops with homemade Italian Pasta Salad!! I hope you enjoy!!!!
~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Krogering!

As I mentioned in my last blog, things will be changing on here! I have recently gotten into couponing! More on that later, but I wanted to share with you my deals that I got today while making a quick trip to the store!

I purchased What would have been over $35 worth of groceries for only $19.15. I wanted to stay under $20 this trip since I needed very little to get us through to the next big shopping trip next week! I took advantage of Kroger's 10 for $10 deals this week. (no you don't have to buy 10 items to get the sale) The following items I purchased:

2 jars Kroger brand pickle spears ( I must has pickles in the house, I am addicted) ($1.99 ea.)
1 jar Kroger brand pickles slices (these pickles I paid full price for :( $1.99)
4 bottles Dawn Dish Detergent ($1.00 ea)
1 Kroger brand cream cheese ($1.00)
1 bag Kroger brand Tortilla chips ($1.00) I actually prefer these over name brand!
1 tub Kroger brand Ranch dip ($1.00)
1 box Duncan Hines Milk Chocolate Brownie Mix ($1.00)
3 boxes Crest toothpaste ($1.00 ea)
1 bag Kroger brand shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 block Kroger brand Cheddar Cheese (both of these for 3 for $5 but I just got 2, had a coupon for .50 off 2)
1 pkg ea. White Gravy Seasoning Mix ($1.00), Kroger brand Brown Chili seasoning mix ($.52), and Kroger brand Brown Gravy Mix ($.69)
1 tub Kroger Brand Reduced Fat Sour Cream ($1.00)

My coupons were as follows:
3 $.50 off one Crest Toothpaste (which Kroger doubles to $1.00 making the toothpaste free plus $.5 tax each!)
3 $.25 off one Dawn Dish Soap (which Kroger doubles to $.50 making each bottle $.50 each plus tax)
1 $.50 off one Dawn Hand Renewal Dish Soap (which Kroger doubles to $1.00 making this bottle free plus tax)
1 $.50 off Kroger Coupon for and 2 Kroger Brand Cheese item (Kroger does not double its own store coupons or e-coupons)

MFG Coupon Saving :$2.25
Bonus Coupon Saving: $2.25 )This is where Kroger doubles the MFG coupon)
Kroger Plus Saving: $12.78
Total Savings: $16.78

Even though I only spent $19.15, I had 22 fuel points added to my card!

Now, I am sharing all this with you for one reason...To show you that you can do just like I have! If you are needed to trim your grocery bill (which besides a mortgage payment, this is the highest bill in the average home) you can do this way!!

Go to Kroger.com and enter your Kroger Plus Saving card # and you can download e-coupons! These are paperless coupons that automatically come off your bill once you scan your card! Make sure you print your coupon list so you can remember what you downloaded! You can use e-coupons plus store coupons (ones they send you in the mail), plus MFG coupons all for one item!! That means you get a ridiculously good deal on groceries!!! I will be posting more as the days go on so make sure you check back! I know I have people reading the blog but I would like for y'all to follow it as well!! I hope this helps someone today!!!

Be sure to check back this evening for our dinner menu recipe : Stuffed Pork Chops with Lemon butter sauce!!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

The Times..They are a changing....and so am I!

As fall is in full force, I can't help but notice while I am driving down our country back roads, the trees are changing the leaves colors and they soon fall to the ground with the slightest wind! I started to think about how a trees' leaves change colors then fall off, and the tree looks bare till spring, when it starts to show signs of life again! I thought about how I could apply this to our lives. There are seasons that God brings us through. Some may seem dark to us but those are the times that God wants us to reach out to him for light. Am I wanting this to be a sermon...No, but I do want to share my thoughts with you! Could it be that God wants us to shed our leaves and allow him to bring forth new life to us? The leaf itself starts out small and green, then it grows to full size and stays that way till cooler weather comes. It then starts to turn beautiful shades of orange, red and yellow! All while it is dying inside. It becomes dry and brittle. And soon, falls to the ground. The tree has to shed its leaves in order to make room for the next leaves to come in spring. Applied to our lives, we start out small and "green". Then, as time goes on in one season, we grow and become full size...in that season of our lives. But, as God works on us to grow, sometimes we refuse...or we start dying inside. We get to comfortable in our daily lives, pushing Him further and further away, little by little. We start "drying out". And soon, our leaves start falling to the ground. We try and cover it up by turning beautiful colors. We say we are fine but on the inside we are longing for something more, greater, fuller, something Alive. We go through our dry season (winter). Where we once were walking around dead on the inside, we are starting to look dead on the outside, we let our selves go. But, God has not forgotten you! We may go through a season of winter, where we feel that nothing is going right, whether your falling behind on bills, or your family is falling apart at the seams, people are becoming disconnected and you want to hide under a rock. All you have to do is turn turn God again. Allow him to bring forth new life if your lives. Just as spring rolls around and new leaves start to form on the trees, in brilliant shades of green, God will start a new leaf on your tree of life! He will turn your sorrow into Joy, your pain into healing, your crying into laughter! This Season too shall pass!

I didn't mean to go on and on but I needed to share my thoughts! My blog will start to change little by little! There will still be recipes posted but I am also adding my thoughts for that day or what is on my mind! I have recently stumbled upon couponing and I must say, I am addictive! I will share my secrets that I have learned and the deals that I have gotten! I look forward to hearing your feedback's and if you are not a follower now, don't be afraid, I don't bite!!
~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

ITS FALL!!

Its is finally fall!! I am ready for cooler weather and watching football! Its time to bring out those crock-pots and put them to work! Today I have in mine, Italian Pork Tenderloin! This is a recipe I came up with when I looked into my pantry and seen a few cans of tomato's left. This past summer we had a garden and planted 27 tomato plants, and boy, did they every grow! We harvested over 500 tomatoes this season! Needless to say, my canning skills developed greatly! I have cabinets and a freezer full of salsa, spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian tomatoes and tomato juice! I have stopped purchasing canned tomatoes at the store a couple of months ago! When I seen the 2 cans left I decided to put them to use! One can diced tomatoes and one can Italian diced tomatoes bring this recipe together! I hope you enjoy!

Italian Pork Tenderloin

1 Pork Tenderloin, any size will do
1 can Italian diced tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes
1 onion, sliced in half moons
salt/pepper
2 t onion powder, divided
2 t garlic powder, divided
2 t Italian seasoning, divided
1 t Thyme, divided
4 to 5 dashes Worcestershire sauce
2 T EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
Crock-pot

In crock-pot pour EVOO. Add sliced onion. Take half of all seasonings and sprinkle on both sides of pork tenderloin. Place tenderloin in crock-pot and add both cans of tomatoes and Worcestershire sauce. Sprinkle rest of seasonings on top of tomatoes. Cook on high 4-6 hours or on low 8 hours or until tenderloin is done. This will make a very flavorful sauce. Serve Pork Tenderloin and tomato sauce over a bed a rice! Sauteed Green Beans make a great side dish as well (recipe is in previous posts)! I hope you enjoy!!




~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

BBQ Pork Shoulder

Today is Labor day and we normally have a get together with family, but this year family is out of town...So, I decided to put a Pork Shoulder in the oven for me and my family and have BBQ tonight and turn the leftovers into something good the rest of the week! Here is my recipe for my Pork Shoulder! I usually smoke it in our smoker which you could do for around 8 hours! This time I am roasting it in my oven!

1 Pork Shoulder, any size will do.
1 1/2 to 2 cups of special rub (recipe to follow)
2 onions
1 cup Worcestershire sauce (spelling I dont think is correct)
Roasting pan with lid
3 Tbs olive oil


Preheat oven to 225. Drizzle Olive oil in roasting pan, cut onions into thin slices and place in pan. Place pork shoulder in pan and rub the special rub into the pork shoulder. Take W. Sauce and slowly pour over shoulder, being careful of rub. Sprinkle a few onions from the bottom on top. Place lid and place into oven. Cook for 6 hours and then take lid off and turn heat up to 400 and cook for another 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit about 10-15 minutes. You should be able to remove the shoulder bone very easily. Shred and pour your favorite bbq sauce over and enjoy. Use leftovers for BBQ Pizza or BBQ hoagies! If you make this, please leave a comment and let me know how you liked it!


Special Rub:
I generally just pour into a large bowl and mix, I dont measure but this should give you an idea of how much you want to use!

Salt
Pepper
Brown Sugar (1 to 1 ratio)
Hungarian Paprika
Thyme (little amount)
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Chili (slight amount)
Cumin (slight amount)






~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Sauted Green Beans

We love this recipe!

2 big handfuls Fresh Green Beans or 1 small bag Frozen
Salt/Pepper/Garlic Powder/Onion Powder to taste
2-3 whole Garlic Cloves, peeled and smashed
1/2 Onion, diced
1 cup sliced mushroom (optional)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, whole (optional)
1/2 - 3/4 cup Chicken stock
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
2 turns of pan EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
1 T butter

Place a big saute pan or skillet on med heat and add EVOO and butter. When butter is melted, add onion, mushrooms and tomatoes. Saute 3-4 minutes and add garlic. Saute a few more minutes, (do not allow garlic to burn, it will become bitter and ruin the dish) then add Green Beans and turn to coat Green Beans in oil, add seasonings. Saute 5 minutes and then add Chicken stock and cover. Simmer on Med/Low heat for 10 minutes or until the Green Beans are tender enough for you. Remove lid and let simmer until liquid has reduced by half. Turn off heat and sprinkle Parmesan cheese over beans. Let sit for 2-3 minutes, then serve! These are awesome and we have them several nights a week! I hope you enjoy this recipe!!
~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Salmon Spinach Pasta with Lemon Sauce

Ok, this is one that I came up with after I looked in my pantry and saw the can of Salmon, but I didnt want to make Salmon patties. I hope you enjoy.

1 8 oz can Boneless, Skinless Salmon, I use organic but get whatever you like.
1.5 lemons (using the juice) Please use fresh, it taste so much better!
1 t Garlic, minced
1 t onion powder
1/2 cup minced onion
EVO
Pepper to taste
3 cups Fresh Spinach
2 T unsalted butter, divided
Parmesan Cheese
Angel Hair pasta

Saute onion, garlic and Salmon in Evoo until just heated through. Take out of pan and set aside and sprinkle with lemon juice.

Add more EVOO to pan and saute Spinach with spices until wilted. Add 1 T butter and melt, add Salmon mixture to spinach and Squeeze on whole lemon on and cook on very low heat.

Cook pasta till Al Dente. Drain and melt in 1 T butter and mix with Salmon and Spinach mixture and add last remaining lemon juice. Serve in bowls and top with as much Parmesan Cheese as you would like!

I love this recipe! It is delish!!!

Homemade Veggie Soup

2 small bags your favorite mixed veggies : I use a mixture of corn, carrots, green beans and peas.
1/2 small diced green bell pepper
1 small yellow onion, diced
1 cup diced celery
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1/2 tablespoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 cup diced carrots
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes, with sauce
1 14 oz can whole tomatoes, with sauce
4 cups chicken broth, you favorite, I use low sodium, organic

If you like potatoes in your veggie soup, peel and dice t medium potatoes and add when you add the broth.

Saute all ingredients except tomatoes and broth in EVOO until tender, 10 minutes or so. Add tomatoes and cook 5 minutes more. Add in broth and bring to a boil for 15 minutes. Turn heat down to a simmer and simmer for 3 to 4 hours or until veggies are tender enough for you. I usually out this on around lunch time and cook it till dinner time. I serve with crusty bread or crackers. You can also make this in the crock pot and have it cooking on low all day while you are at work. Enjoy!

Lemon Pepper Salmon Cakes

2 small cans boneless & skinless salmon
10 crackers crumbled
1 cup Panko bread crumbs
1 Teaspoon pepper
2 Teaspoons garlic powder
1 Teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning ( I use Mrs. Dash)
1 beaten egg
EVOO for frying

Drain the cans of salmon well. Mix all ingredients together. Heat EVOO in non-stick skillet (enough to cover pan but not cakes). Form patties in your hand and firmly press together. Size is up to you. Crisp on each side about 3-4 minutes or until brown. Drain on paper towels and enjoy.

I like to take lemon wedges and squeeze over them right before I take them out of the skillet!!!

Sweet Potato Hash

3 small sweet potatoes (washed and peeled)
4 small potatoes (washed, not peeled)
3 t butter divided (i use no salt added)
1/3 cup canola oil (enough to coat the bottom of pan but not to cover potatoes)
3 T ketchup
2 t yellow mustard
3 T worcestershire sauce

salt/pepper/garlic pepper
Optional
1/2 cup diced onions
1/2 cup diced green or red bell peppers

In a nonstick skillet, heat 1 t butter and canola oil till butter bubbles. At this point, if you are using peppers and onion, saute them now.
Dice potatoes into bite size pieces and place in oil
Cover with a lid and let cook for about 15 minutes, stirring once at halftime.
If your potatoes are breaking apart, that means you are doing it correctly. They sweet potatoes will break first. You want this to happen, it makes it have a creamy kind of texture. If you potatoes are not starting to break up, cook about 5 or 6 minutes more.
Take lid off and let potatoes start to crisp up. 10 minutes or so...
Add 2 t of butter (optional)
Add ketchup, mustard and worcestershire sauce. Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes to heat ingredients through! This is my version of sweet potato hash! I hope you enjoy!!

Chicken Taco

This is the easiest Taco recipe that I think I would have come up with. It has so many variations.

4 soft taco shells
1 jar of you favorite salsa
4 oz cream cheese
sour cream
shredded cheese
4 shredded chicken breast

Pour your jar of salsa in a sauce pan and chunk up cream cheese and add to pan. Melt together. When cream cheese is just about melted, add shredded chicken. Mix until heated through. Place sour cream on 1 shell and scoop some chicken onto shell. Add shredded cheese, roll up and enjoy. You could also go a step further and place rolled shells in to a casserole dish and add your favorite enchilada sauce, sprinkle with cheese and bake till heated through and cheese is melted! I hope you enjoy this one. I served it with homemade baked beans and tortilla chips!!

Orange Glazed Chicken

Here is one that I found on TV but I changed it to make it my own!

4 Bone-in Skin-on chicken breast (you can use boneless, skinless if you would like, I have not tried it that way. Let me know if you do)
1/2 cup orange marmalade
4 T honey
salt/pepper/garlic powder
EVOO

Preheat oven to 375
2 turns of EVOO around a nonstick skillet, turn heat to med/hi.
Pat chicken dry with paper towels (helps reduce popping in skillet and helps skin get crisper).
Sprinkle Chicken with salt/pepper/garlic powder and place skin side down in hot skillet.
Cook for about 8-10 min.
Meanwhile,in a sauce pan, combine the marmalade and honey and pepper. bring to a simmer until marmalade is dissolved.
Baste chicken once with 1/3 marmalade, then flip chicken and baste other half and let cook for about 5 min.
Make sure you are using an oven safe skillet or transfer chicken to baking dish that has been pre-heated in oven.
Place chicken in oven and cook for 15 minutes, pull out and baste with rest of marmalade.
Cook an additional 10-15 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink.
Let chicken cool slightly and bone should be easy to pull out or cut off. Slice chicken on a diagonal and serve with your favorite side. Enjoy!

Roasted Tomatoes

Here is a recipe I came up with just so I could get my husband to eat tomatoes....

3 big Red or Green tomatoes
salt
pepper
garlic powder
evoo (olive oil)
Parmesan cheese
Mozzarella cheese

Wash and slice tomatoes to about 1/4 in. thick. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray and place tomatoes in rows on pan. Drizzle tomatoes with extra virgin olive oil. Sprinkle with salt/pepper and garlic powder. Place in a preheated 425 degree oven for 15 min, 20 minutes for green tomatoes. Take out and sprinkle with Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Place under broiler for about 4 to 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly! If you cut the slices thinner, you can place a pepperoni or any pizza topping on it. It is awesome!! I hope you enjoy and let me know if you try this recipe!

Baked Spaghetti

You can use either store bought spaghetti sauce or make your own. This recipe calls for homemade but substitute what you like.


1 box Penne noodles (or your noodle of chose, I prefer shorter noodles due to the fact that I have small children and its easier for them to eat)

cook noodles as directed on box

sauce

2 14oz cans diced tomatoes with juice
2 8 oz cans tomato sauce
1/2 t Italian seasonings
1/2 t dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 c chopped onions
1 t minced or chopped garlic
1 T Extra virgin olive oil ( i love using this, its adds another depth of flavor)
4 oz Cream cheese
1 cup cheddar cheese
1/2 c sour cream

saute onions in EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) for about 5 minutes or until they become translucent.

add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil for 15 minutes.
place heat on simmer and take a potato smasher and smash some of the tomatoes, all if you dont like it as chunky.

Next, add cream cheese in chunks to sauce until stir until melted! I tend to leave a few pieces of cream cheese whole, adds a little texture to the dish.

Once the cream cheese has melted, turn off heat and add your sour cream, drain your noodles and add to sauce. Mix together well and place in a pre-sprayed baking dish (casserole) and sprinkle with cheddar cheese.

If you prefer you sauce with veggies in it, feel free to add peppers, mushrooms, or carrots to mixture. Saute them when you saute your onions.

I hope you try this dish, I got it from my mother-in-law and changed it a little... Let me know if you try this one! Its a family favorite in my house!

Enjoy!

Tortilla Pizza, Homemade pizza sauce

Today the kids wanted pizza. So, instead of ordering them one, which by the way, we in live so far out that we don't get delivery, or buying a frozen one that is packed with sodium and hidden additives and preservatives, I decided to make one homemade! I forgot to take a picture, I am still so new at this.... Here we go:

Tortilla Pizza

1 10 in soft tortilla
1/3 cup homemade pizza sauce (see below)
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 T grated Parmesan cheese

place to soft tortilla shell on a pizza pan and place in a 425 degree oven for 5 minutes

take out pan and flip tortilla. If you are using a pan that has small holes in the pan, your crust will be crispier on the bottom.

top this pizza with all the ingredients. You can also add or take ones away that you like. I made myself on and used less cheese and added fresh diced baby portebello mushrooms and fresh from the garden diced yellow tomato. Both pizzas were devoured. I hope you will use this one! Let me know if you do!


Sauce
1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes with juice
1 small can tomato sauce
1 t garlic powder or 1/2 t minced garlic
1 t Italian seasonings
1/2 t pepper

Add all ingredients to a sauce pan and cook about 20 minutes. Then take a potato smasher and smash the tomatoes until they are broken down but not completely smashed. If you want you pizza sauce thicker, use 1/2 small can of tomato paste instead of the tomato sauce.

Starting a new chapter....

Today, out of a whim, I decided to start a blog. This blog will be of all the recipes that I make for my family and get togethers. I have no professional experience in cooking, I just come from a family who loves to cook, and eat!! My mamaw has been my biggest inspiration to this chapter in my life. She not only loves to cook, but she is really good at it. She had her own restaurant. She cooks for the day care at her church and also for all the get togethers at the church. Some day I would love to run a diner. But, it will take baby steps. I also dedicate this blog to my granny who passed 4 years ago. I miss her dearly. She would be so proud, I know.

To tell you a little about myself, I am 26 years old, married over 6 years to a wonderful man, Eric. We have 2 children, Emma 4 and Dillon 2. There is not much to tell about me...I come from a very loving family, 2 sisters, Leslie and Missy, Parents Bob and Carol. I am the youngest and though they say I am spoiled, I don't believe it! My parents raised us in a Godly home. We went to church just about every time the doors were open. My mom, who i am very proud of, is now the Associate Pastor of her church. My father, stands proudly, not behind her, but beside her. They work hand in hand and she would not be at the place that she is a not, if he was not there holding her up and supporting her. My father, who has been with IBM more that 30 years, is a strong man, he is a very important person in my life. I love my parents dearly. My sisters have done well for themselves. One does hair and nails, and the other works for an attorney. Both are bettering themselves by going back to college. I wish them the best luck ever! The are the mothers to my niece and nephew, Kinsley and Jacob. Both, I love dearly, more than I express to them, they will never know.

The whole point of the blog page is for me to get out there the passion that I have for food. Not just eating it, But I love to cook it. Hate the clean up but who doesn't. I love watching Paula Deen, Rachel Ray, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, Sandra Lee's Money saving meals, and Ina Gartin. If my TV could stay on food network 24/7, it would be, but as I mentioned before, I have 2 small children. So thankful for DVR, I can record my shows and watch them later!

Thank you God for giving me this passion! Help me along my journey. Guide my footsteps. Teach me in ways I can understand. Thank you for blessing me and my family. Touch the readers that I may have. In your name, AMEN!!!


Hope everyone enjoys and if you have any suggestions, please let me know!