"Can We Talk"

Well when did it become Wednesday, where did the rest of my week go?

I am going to post the new soup recipe but it will have to wait a few days. "City Slicker" is moving his office to our non functional formal living. Which is a pain except that it will give me my office back. Yeah for me, but right now I can't find anything much less the camera with the photos!

So alas, I will be posting photos from before and after and he PROMISES he will keep it tidy since it is right at the front entry. We will see how that goes, it will give him more space so maybe there is hope for less clutter.

Well back to me since this is what this blog is all about, I will be getting my own space back! WOOHOO! I have missed my own space, much like the work office change I like having my own space (not to be disturbed) so I have been somewhat of a nomad the past 2 years after being booted.

Hope everyone else is having a less stressful week!

"Cooking Made Easy"

This is one of those super easy recipes that you can keep the ingredients on hand. It does take time but the prep work is not long or hard. This is in every Southern girls arsenal. I also change this up and use Great Northern Beans. You just cut the cooking time in half because they are a softer bean.

I will not be posting anything before Monday or Tuesday because I have to get ready for this Bridal shower. I will take photos and talk to you about some quick and easy party planning. These types of events should not be hard or worrisome. Hope each of you have a great weekend.

Hey y'all need to send me some recipes that I can share with our other friends!

You will need 1 lb of pinto beans (soak in pot of water overnight), sausage of your choice, 1 can chopped green chili's, fresh ground pepper, salt and crushed red pepper.
Place soaked beans in large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to med/low. Cook for two hours covered (I do this early in the day). You will need to cook about 2 hours longer, I usually turn my pot back on around 4:00 in the afternoon. After bringing back to a boil, I reduce to medium and let cook 1 hour uncovered (watching to make sure water does not cook out).
With 1 hour remaining I continue with the following.

Add sausage, green chili's and 1/4 t of crushed red pepper

Stir and let simmer 1 hour then serve with the bread of your choice

I served this with my Jalapeno Corn Cakes which can be found in the Cooking Made Easy drop down tab. These are a family favorite and are great on a cold winter day!
Enjoy!

"Cooking Made Easy"

Well I have just realized my photos for the "Spicy Pinto Beans" are on my computer at home. So I will post these tomorrow morning.

I did fix a wonderful Chicken Tortellini Soup last night that I will be posting on Monday.

Now most of you know that "City Slicker" does NOT like soup, but he loves this and I served it with a garlic cheese Texas toast. Just makes your mouth water!

I may have a chance to post the beans later on this afternoon so check back!

"Cooking Made Easy"

Thanks to each of you for your patience. I know that y'all are going to love this recipe, it is very quick and a great dessert to use when you have 3 or 4 friends over. The first time I made this both "City Slicker" and "Mister Teacher" enjoyed it and have been begging for it since.

It is great plain or with whipped cream or even with ice cream. I served it with ice cream, "Mr. Teacher" likes his plain (he enjoys the crispy crust)

I have decided to wait until Friday for the Spicy Pintos which were also very good last night. I just need to get the photos uploaded and all that other stuff. I will of course be converting the Apple Tart recipe into a pdf and adding it to the Cooking Made Easy drop down. I do this so that it is easy for each of you to print.

Hope you enjoy and have a great Wednesday!

You will need 3 Granny Smith Apples, Sugar, Cinnamon and 1 container of Deli Creations Crescent Dough.

Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of sugar onto stoneware surface. I just blended this with my fingers, set aside.

Sorry this photo is not very clear. You are going to place your crescent dough onto the cinnamon/sugared stoneware surface. Let warm slightly and then very gently spread the dough into an oblong shape.

Peel and core your apples and then chop into very thin pieces. Place in mixing bowl.

Add 3/4 cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon to chopped apples and blend well then add to crust. Evenly distribute apples all over crust.

Make sure you up tuck the dough around the apples, keeps all the liquid from oozing out. You really want it to stay in the middle with all the apples. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown on the crust and nice tender apples in the middle.

Nice and Crispy on the bottom and sides yet gooey and soft in the middle. Makes my mouth water just looking at it.

Serve with a dollop of ice cream or whipped topping and enjoy!

"Can We Talk"

Alright, coming Wednesday a wonderful recipe for Spicy Pinto beans and yes I am going to say it one more time shhhhhhhhhhh "Apple Tart".

I know I have been a real recipe slacker, but I have been busy ask anyone who knows me. I am like a rubber band I just keep getting stretched until I finally snap. I am getting close to it! You should be scared!

"City Slicker" got the ceiling painted in the family room downstairs, we had a water leak the Saturday before our Superbowl party and had to let it dry before he painted. It is done and ready for the Bridal shower I am hosting on Saturday. I know what you people are thinking, I must be losing my mind. It is all good, remember a busy life makes for a "CRAZY" person. No just kidding, I could do these kinds of events in my sleep. I like to say once you have hosted any kind of shower you learn everything you need to not do the next time.

Oh, I have something funny to share about "Mr. Teacher". Guess what he taught on Friday, you will never guess. He made me and I never did.
Are you ready........Home Economics! Yes, he taught Home Ec. he said it wasn't bad. It was the cooking section, I know what you are thinking how did he luck out that it wasn't sewing. He just did, all he had to do was show a video. He was a little disappointed because he does know how to cook. I mean after all look who his mother is!

We might have a snow day again tomorrow (but I doubt it). One can dream! Hope each of you are having a great start to your week!

"Can We Talk"

Well how is everyone enjoying that "Apple Tart"?

I am going to give you some insight into my recent Thursday. Thursday is typically a slower day for me because Wednesday is so busy. Took a later lunch than normal, while I was on my way back got a phone call.
Yeah you know one of those phone calls.

Could I please make my way to the Courthouse for a quick q/a with the DA concerning a case (not for me).
I said sure and left to go home and change my clothes.

Got there at 3:15 for my quick q/a, walked in set off the metal detector TWICE! Called to say I was there and was fetched from the foyer.

I was taken to a back hallway and was briefly shown a Courtroom and explained procedures! YES, this quick q/a was to testify in COURT. Well those of you who know me, know that getting up in front of people is my worst nightmare.

I was not prepared but that is what their job is all about. I was ready by the time I had to go in and had spent quite a bit of time praying that what I was about to do would be clear and concise and a help to the victim.

I survived and maybe by next week this will be resolved for the person involved.

By the time I was finished and got home in traffic, I just didn't want to stop and get all the stuff for the TART!

So I know that all of you are understanding and know that as I now call it the
"Dreaded Apple Tart" will be forthcoming!

Hope each of have a great weekend!

"Can We Talk"

Good Morning Texas!

That is a good start for me considering I am not a morning person, never have been, never will be. I will be posting that new apple tart recipe I have been bragging about
(I use the term Tart loosely).

Also, I wanted to let you know I am going to be reworking my blog a bit, so be watching for some new stuff.

Also today I want to share with you another great coupon site www.couponsurfer.com

One of the new things that will be updated on my blog will be the coupon sites, they will be moved to a drop down bar for your convenience.

Have a great day!

"Can We Talk"

Alright, I took a few days off to enjoy our snow days here in Texas. So few of these that I got to enjoy the office closing early on Thursday and closing also on Friday. What a treat for me, "Mr. Teacher" also got to enjoy his snow days. He said this was the best since he was a grown up and knew what sleeping late was all about.
"City Slicker" did not get a snow day, he works from home so NO time off for him.

Hope to have some new recipes this week. I haven't been slacking off, just had 3 baby showers, 3 Saturdays in a row and now am getting ready for a Bridal shower in 2 weeks.
I think I may have to retire just to get some rest, JUST KIDDING. I love my job and wouldn't have things be any different.

Hope each of you have a great Monday! President's Day, for those of you who get to take this as a Holiday! BLEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Sorry about the spit!

"Can We Talk"

I hope everyone has sufficiently recovered from the Super Bowl! I have, it took a day but alas I am ready to move on to new things.

I wanted to share with each of you a great new website. Now y'all know how this southern girl loves to save money. I do, I admit it! But not only that, I love to share my bargains with other people. No need to be a hog about it, I want everyone to save MONEY!

One of our conversations on Sunday night was all about coupons and getting the most bang for your buck. In this same conversation be talked about stockpiling. I know that sounds very depression like. But this is really how you save more money. When your favorite items are on sale and you have lots of coupons, go to that store a bunch of times, take the family (make it an outing).
"City Slicker" is over here laughing because I drag him and "Mr. Teacher" with me all the time. Every family needs to be bonded over saving money.

OK, I hear you! Here is the new website www.couponalbum.com.

I discovered this little gem yesterday, take some time and browse around.
Let me hear from you.
HELLO, is this thing on!

Have a great day!