SPRING REFRESH

 

Now is the time to plan for the gardens..
This year I decided to purchase a journal to document my thoughts
and design...what a very pleasant thing to do!
New ribbon was bought and boy, do I love it...
going to use it for the Easter table and lanterns!
I have the most darling bunny for the centerpiece for the dining table...
and by the way, faux florals have really gone up in price!!!

We have had some outside updates going on and it
is the time to plan the spring and summer garden....
I love this time of year as we spring forward...

A new design for the farmhouse table is currently underway,,
perhaps enjoy an afternoon, taking time to search your collections
for the well loved pieces you would like to put on display for a bit...
You loved them once, so why not love them all over again....

Are you lighting your candles?
It's time to refresh and renew with lighter scents...
I am currently loving this Homeworx scent of Golden Bamboo...

I have a new look in the kitchen window....
bunnies are coming out for their seasonal appearance...

It's been warmer nights which are perfect for grilling burgers...

I love having fresh citrus on the table for our daily Vitamin C snack

And a little change I always love to do, is
replace the garden flags for a new look.....
I feel lighter and more joyful already....
how about you?

BANANA NUT MUFFINS

 GOOD MORNING LOVES.....
Who is in the mood for a good bakery style muffin?
It's a lovely way to start your day as you sip
on that lovely first cup of coffee in the morning
and you smell that lovely aroma of banana bread baking....

I am featuring the Dolly brand of muffin mix today
as I have been impressed with Dolly Parton's brand of
baking mixes of which I have tried quite a few.....

So if you are in the mood for banana bread but find yourself
without the bananas...I highly recommend this,,,,

And, just know, this uses a whole stick of butter...
yes mama....therefore, you know they're gonna be good

Now, while our days are becoming warmer...

who is planning their Spring and Easter look?

I have always decorated for Easter and learned so much

from Mother....my color scheme will look much like the photo

and I do look forward to this....

Y'all take good care until next time....

A SOUTHERN FAVORITE...PINEAPPLE STRAWBERRY FLUFF SALAD FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

I felt like going vintage in honor of Valentine's Day..
serving the well loved fluff salad which the south
is famous for....from grandmother's to grandbabies...
we LOVE any kind of fluff salad....
my goodness, this salad, or sometimes dessert,
has been served at every holiday, church potluck
and funeral gatherings since I was a child....
and this flavor is the most lovely shade of pink,
it's perfect for your valentine's dinner...

Find your prettiest glass bowl for this salad....
Pour in one large can of undrained crushed pineapple...

Dissolve a small box of strawberry jello with the pineapple

Gently mix until the jello has dissolved...

Blend in one container of cottage cheese

Then fold in one container of Cool Whip..

lastly 1/2 bag  of mini marshmallows..

She is not only delicious and refreshing....she is so pretty

Valentine's for almost 60 years....

DINETTE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM

February is a sweet month...
it's all about love and valentine's, chocolates
and treating yourself on certain days...
this brought to mind all the delicious
snack cakes that my grandmother and mother
often made!
Often, I would come home from school
and see that mother had made one of her
fabulous snack cakes for me....
She was so wonderful about that....always...

 A snack cake is a simple, single-layer cake, often baked in a  square pan, designed for casual, everyday eating as a small treat, rather than a formal dessert for special occasions. They are typically easy to make, sometimes from one bowl, with minimal fuss, and can be served plain or with a light glaze or dusting of powdered sugar, meant to be grabbed with your hands and enjoyed with coffee, tea, or milk. 

 Simplicity: Often made with pantry staples and one-bowl methods, requiring little prep.

Single Layer: Baked in a single layer, like a sheet cake, making it easy to cut and share

Casual & Anytime: Meant for everyday moments, afternoon breaks, or packing in lunches, not just birthdays.

I found this little gem the other day
and it is perfect for a smaller cake, uses basic ingredients
which are most likely in your pantry and it received rave reviews!

DINETTE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM

LINK TO ORIGINAL RECIPE



We are celebrating our granddaughter's birthday this month..
y'all have a happy and delightful VALENTINE'S DAY!

A COTTAGE CORE COOKBOOK CORNER

I have developed a passion for Spring....
The season can be felt as a love latter to beautiful florals
and creating a simple lifestyle.
I have memories of beautiful lawns with
soft sunlight coming through the windows
and try to recreate the feeling of my childhood home
that was well lived in.....

I am currently in love with a COTTAGECORE style in my kitchen!
The color story for this vignette is mocha and ivory...
I shopped my cupboards and selected a few pieces of transferware
to create my cozy cookbook corner winter/PRE-SPRING look.
These are soft neutral colors, grounded by warm woods....

This vintage coffee cup was from the
Sesquicentennial celebration of my grandparent's hometown... 
this was Main Street where they lived.
I would often visit the building on the corner
to purchase penny candy and buy a loaf of bread
with my cousins....

I love changing the seasonal look of my workstation...
and currently am embracing the soft mocha colors...

I love a rustic vibe and softness in the theme....

It's a bit of a vintage look I think.....

The cookbook featured in this vignette is a real gem

Authored by a mother and son, the recipes span
two decades of culinary foods which will
inspire you to soak in all the history and expertise from
a delightful home chef!

I felt inspired to make a cupa, cupa, cupa peach cobbler....
just perfect and good for the soul......

CHICKEN TACO SOUP...CROCKPOT STYLE

Good Morning Loves...
y'all grab a pen and paper because you will want to
jot down this recipe....you are going to LOVE this easy, delicious recipe!
I just adore crockpot recipes where you can just add
all the ingredients at once, turn your slow cooker on Low....
and dinner is ready when you are!

This recipe was just so yummy and filling for a Saturday night dinner....
The recipe was actually entitled White Chicken Chili, but I call
it Chicken Taco Soup which is more descriptive of the recipe.

The SALSA VERDE was the perfect ingredient too!

15 ounce can pinto beans drained

15.5 ounce can great northern beans drained

11 ounce can shoepeg corn drained

10 ounce can Rotel (diced tomatoes and green chilies)

2 cups chicken broth

16 ounce jar salsa verde

1 ½-2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs

1 cup diced yellow onion about 1 medium onion

2 tablespoons taco seasoning

Garnish Options:
 tortilla chips, lime wedges, jalapeno slices,
sour cream, cilantro, avocado slices

Drain the pinto beans, great northern beans, and corn.

To a crockpot, add the drained beans and corn,
 Rotel, broth, salsa verde, chicken, onion, and taco seasoning.

Stir the mixture until combined well.
Cook on low 6-8 hours or high 4-5 hours.

Break the chicken into smaller pieces either inside the crockpot
 or by transferring to a bowl, shredding,
and returning to the crockpot.

Ladle and serve with garnishes as desired.

It's Texas thing....y'all are gonna love this one!

 

OUR TEXAS WINTER STORM DAYS

We are cold, cold Texans y'all....It is currently 15 degrees
with a wind chill of 6 degrees.
I send you warm wishes and hope you are snuggled up
under the covers, staying warm and well in your corner of the world.
Schools are closed and will be for a few days.
Roads are icy and dangerous....
I am so grateful for a warm home and power to cook
delicious meals for the boys.... 
They were so helpful in storing away the last
of our Christmas decor....
let's take a look at our winter weekend....

Out at the ranch, Miss Elizabeth snapped a few moments of
the sleet and snow outside of her window....

The horses wear their winter blankets and gather in the barn on these days....

She lives way out in the countryside.....

Such a beautiful piece of property that holds so many memories
of marvelous celebrations....

Here at home, Otis loved snuggling under a soft throw....
he does not like winter weather one bit...

Sunday morning was made even more cozy with hot blueberry biscuits....

The sleet was beginning to fall....

Just a bit of snow falling, but extremely cold and icy...

This leaves me yearning for spring and sunshine

Even the birds and squirrels were staying in their nests....

I made a sheet pan dinner of roasted chicken, corn and carrots....

Sunday morning, we had a tiny peek of sun...
then a beautiful snowfall began....

Lucy was on patrol....

The greenbelt is beautiful in winter...

There is no place like home....
remember, spring is sure to follow