June 30, 2014

RASPBERRY PROSECCO

 
Delicious Summer
 
I grew up Southern...no special occasion required to celebrate the moments of your life

 


1 part chilled Trop50 Raspberry Acai juice
1 part chilled Prosecco
Fresh blueberries

 

June 29, 2014

ESTELLE'S ANTIPASTI SALAD


CELEBRATE THE FLAVOR OF LIFE!

 
A delicious idea for an easy summer luncheon!
 

 

ESTELLE'S ANTIPASTI SALAD
1 package of refrigerated cheese filled tortellini - prepared
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 bag of Italian style bag salad mix
1 lb. prosciutto and peppered salami slices, cut in bite-sized pieces
1 lb. marinated mozzarella balls in the deli
1 jar 14 oz. Artichoke hearts cut into 1/4" pieces
1 bag of Texas Toast seasoned croutons
Balsamic Vinaigrette

 
Mix all ingredients together when ready to serve. Drizzle with the balsamic vinaigrette and toss lightly. Serve immediately! This goes beautifully with fresh summer fruits!


 
Miss M said it was the perfect welcome home luncheon!

June 27, 2014

LEMON TRIFLE.....A REAL SHOWSTOPPER!

 
While she was doing this..............
 

 
 I was doing this...................
 
 
 
I wanted to present a showstopper dessert for all the family!
This was a lemon lovers dream!


LEMON TRIFLE
 SHORTBREAD CRUST
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup butter, melted

 

LEMON LAYER
1-1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1-3/4 cups cold water
3 egg yolks, beaten
2/3 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons butter
4 teaspoons grated lemon peel

 

CREAM CHEESE LAYER
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 cups confectioners' sugar
1  carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed

 

In a small bowl, combine flour and pecans; stir in butter. Press into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

 In a small heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and flour.Stir in water until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer.

 Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Gently stir in the lemon juice, butter and lemon peel.

 
Transfer to a large bowl. Cool to room temperature without stirring.
Cover surface with waxed paper; refrigerate until chilled.

 
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Crumble the baked pecan mixture; set aside 1/2 cup for topping.

 
Just before serving, in a 3-qt. trifle bowl, layer 1 cup each pecan mixture, lemon mixture and cream cheese mixture. Repeat layers twice. Sprinkle with reserved pecan mixture. Refrigerate leftovers.



Luke the Duke couldn't wait for dessert!

Today is Foodie Friday! Fabulous recipes are shared!
http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

June 26, 2014

SOUTHERN PEACH COBBLER WITH SUGAR COOKIE CRUST


 
 
Please don't let summer pass you by without making THE best peach cobbler ever!
Being a southern girl, I have made my share of peach cobblers. Trust me!
This one is at the top of our favorites list!
 

4 to 6 Cups fresh or frozen peaches
1/2 to 1 cup sugar
1 cup evaporated milk or half and half
17.5 oz. bag Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 t. cinnamon
 


Preheat oven 350 degrees F.  Lightly spray a 9" x 13" baking dish.



Arrange peaches in the bottom of prepared dish. Sprinkle sugar over the peaches.
 
 

Pour evaporated milk over the peaches and sugar.

Sprinkle sugar cookie mix over cream peach mixture.

Pour melted butter evenly over the sugar cookie mix layer. Sprinkle with cinnamon
.
 

Bake for 30-45 minutes or until the sugar cookie mix is golden brown!
 
Y’all Enjoy!



 

June 25, 2014

OLD BAY SHRIMP CASSEROLE...A SUMMER IN MAINE

 
It's so fun to take a look back at our summer's in Maine!
 









 

There is nothing better during the summer months, than to serve a delicious shrimp rice casserole. Growing up in Mississippi, we often spent our summers out on the lake boating and water skiing! Mother never failed to serve this delicious casserole after a full day of fun in the sun!



OLD BAY SHRIMP CASSEROLE
1 1/2 cups uncooked long-grain rice
1 1/2 pounds medium-size raw shrimp
1/2 cup butter
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
3 celery ribs, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 green onions, chopped
2 (10 3/4-oz.) cans cream of shrimp/celery/mushroom soup, undiluted
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Cheddar-colby cheese blend
1/4 cup fine, dry breadcrumbs

 
Prepare rice according to package directions Peel shrimp, and devein.
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add bell pepper and next 4 ingredients,
and sauté 10 to 12 minutes or until tender. Stir in soup, shrimp, salt, and pepper;
cook 3 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink.
Combine shrimp mixture and rice. Pour mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
Sprinkle evenly with 1 cup shredded cheese and 1/4 cup breadcrumbs.
Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until cheese is melted.

 

 

June 24, 2014

CHOCOLATE CINNAMON FRIENDSHIP BREAD


 
This recipe had me at hello! I was almost tempted to divide the recipe in half thinking that two loaves may be too much! BUT, I am SO glad I made the full recipe. Both loaves were gone in two days. The family is STILL talking about that delicious chocolate bread!




Miss M took one bite and said, "mmmmm...I love that touch of cinnamon!"
You will really enjoy this recipe!
It's perfect for taking to a friends house, welcoming a new neighbor,
or just making both for your family!
It was the perfect choice to welcome two of may favorite kiddos home!


 
 
CHOCOLATE CINNAMON FRIENDSHIP BREAD
1 ¾ cup sugar, divided
3 t. cinnamon, divided
1 cup vegetable oil
1 t. vanilla
3 large eggs, slightly beaten
½ t. salt
2 ½ cups flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1 ½ t. baking powder
1 large (5.9 ounces) package of chocolate instant pudding
1 ½ cups milk
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

 Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease two 9” x 5” loaf pans. Mix ¼ sugar and 1 t. cinnamon together in a small bowl and set aside. Sprinkle 1 T. of this mixture in the bottom of each loaf pan.

 In a large bowl, combine the remaining 1 ½ cups sugar with the remaining 2 t. cinnamon, oil, vanilla, eggs, salt, flour, baking soda and baking powder. Add the instant pudding mix and milk. Stir together until well combined. Add the pecans and chocolate chips. Divide the batter between the two loaf pans. Sprinkle the top of each with the remaining sugar-cinnamon mixture. Bake for 1 hour. Cool for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool before slicing!

 

June 23, 2014

IT RAINED......NO BASEBALL...BUT A DARN GOOD BREAKFAST AT THE OLD WEST CAFE!

 
Sunday morning in Texas....rain showers!
Who did that rain dance?
 

Miss Elizabeth shared her photos of the horses getting their rain bath....
probably felt wonderful!
They come up from the pasture to be fed and get a cool drink of water....
looks like they wanted to linger a bit until the rain slowed down!


We got up very early to drive down to Grapevine to see Noah play baseball.
Now is this a grandparent's devotion or what?
There was no getting up mid-morning or lingering in jammies over a cup of coffee...
we even arrived ahead of Nick, but he had a much further drive than we did.
This does not appear to be a baseball playing day to me!
Yet, as usual, we had to wait until the coaches decided to cancel the games!
 
 
 

Soooooo........we decided to find a place for eating breakfast! Nick chose the place! Hmmmmm...we passed a Cracker Barrel,  which is probably the best place ever for breakfast, next to I-Hop! We wondered where in the world we were headed?? OMG....do our boys know where to go locally or what! This is THE BEST PLACE EVER!!!!!! Would you enjoy seeing the local fare?

I almost don't want to share this......it's THAT good! A full parking lot and what they thought would be a 35 minute wait....we waited no more than 10 minutes! WE LOVED THIS PLACE? Why? Well, great atmosphere.....fabulous and friendly service and DELICIOUS FOOD! A GREAT CUP OF COFFEE TOO!


I love Texas!
 
Our Team!
 
"We know that the only reason we have been successful is because of the wonderful people that help us make it happen everyday! We believe in working together and helping each other to take care of ya'll the best we can! "
 


Here is a little history of THE OLD WEST CAFE!

"The year was 2001, and I was workin' 80 hours a week in the corporate world! (I am sure many of you can relate!) I rarely spent time with my children and husband, and time was just passin' on by.... My husband always knew I wanted to own my own little cafe, so one day, out of the blue, he came home with my very own key to my very own cafe! WOW! That's how Oldwest Cafe was born! So even as we grow a bit, I never forget where we started, what a hard road it was gettin' here, and how hard we all need to work to make sure we try not to lose that happy feelin' ya'll get when ya' walk through our doors! We want to treat people just the same way we want to be treated back... kindly and with the utmost respect. So all you mighty fine Cowgirls and Cowboys, saddle up that horse and hit the trail for Oldwest Cafe...pretty darn sure ya' might like it! And if ya don't, well, that's okay, too, cause even I know that ya' just can please em' all!  So, HAPPY TRAILS and get down to the Oldwest and take a load off! See ya'll soon! You'll enjoy the ride!"


What's important to us...

"is You and your Family! Your not just another customer to us. You're hard working' COWBOYS and COWGIRLS with families and feelins', just like us! We believe you should get what you want...really good food (oh, did I mention alot of it?), and at a price you could live with!

But we don't stop there! We make sure it gets to ya' with a great big friendly smile in a comfortable place that feels like home! Cause we know, if you ain't happy, ain't nobody happy, at least not at the OldWest! We're gonna do our best to help get you a great start to the rest of your day!  Oh, one more thing...ain't no smokin' or alcohol here! Just a whole bunch of happy faces and full bellies at the OldWest!"


The Menu!
Love it!

"Our breakfast menu has a lot of great dishes, from Eggs Benedict, to our special banana-nut pancakes served with our very own peanut-butter syrup, to almond-crisp french toast, quesadillas n' skillet bowls, amazin' omelets, the best chicken fried steak,  huevos rancheros, and much, much, MUCH MORE! Shall I go on?"




"OH my, I didn't mention our awesome lunch dishes yet… tender pot roast, our very own recipe meatloaf, and our garden fresh salads are the best, hand-peeled mash potatoes, tex- mex dishes, great burgers and sandwiches, and more, more, MORE!!  So giddy on up and hit the trail for the OLDWEST CAFE! Its a great meeting' place for friends and  family!"





The darling ordered this.......
The CHEYENNE
A cinnamon roll dipped in our special recipe batter and grilled....lawd, lawd....to die for!


I ordered the CowHand.....best eggs ever.....they must have been farm fresh.
.I have never had eggs that tasted so darn good!!!!
 
 
Nick ordered the French Toast which he ate before I snapped a photo!
I did get a taste of his and I can honestly say, we agreed it was the best ever..no kidding!
There may not have been any baseball, but what could be better than breakfast with these two good lookin' cowpokes?
 
She did it right....she is a great success...BRAVO Old West Cafe!
 
"We also owe our success to the Great One above!
Yeah, you heard it, the one and only, our Lord and Savior!
Without direction and help from him, nothing would be possible!"

 

June 22, 2014

THEY'RE HAVING A BALL IN ATLANTA!

Grandson Luke celebrated his 6th birthday this weekend!
I just love how Miss M can throw a party these days!
Let's take a sneak peak inside for all the colorful festivities! 


Rather than have a huge birthday party at one of those big event places, Miss M chose to have a birthday party at home with a few of Luke's closest friends and their parents. The group was smaller and the adults were able to relax on the deck while the children played with their new birthday favors!



Luke chose "Skylanders" as his birthday party theme this year!
"What's a Skylander", I asked?
 Apparently they are some sort of alien creatures......
I guess this is perfect for a little boy turning six!


A perfect picture before the guest arrive and bedlam ensues!


Big, huge colorful balls! What could be a more perfect party favor!


One.....Two.....Three
 

Action!!! (Little Izzy looks a bit bewildered)


"Did you take a picture of the birthday cake?"


She replied, "No, I forgot to! It was so good......another great cake creation from Publix!
"Well......send me a picture of what's left....that's even better!"


All the Texas family were able to celebrate with Luke during his summer visit last week.
 I think this little six year old had a fantastic birthday!



While the children were playing downstairs, dinner was being prepared.
They enjoyed a fantastic menu of:
Baked Brie with Jezebel Peaches
White barbecued grilled chicken
Grilled Hot Dogs
Creamy Mac N' Cheese
Grilled Veggies
Fresh Watermelon



Having a Ball!!!!