Sunday, November 25, 2012

Thanksgiving

I don't know about you but we had a really nice Thanksgiving.  We went to the big city and spent the day at my Aunt and Uncles home (my Dad's brother and sister-in-law).  The food was good but spending time with the family was even better.  Thursday night we stayed at my sister's house and did some shopping Friday.  It was nice to spend time with my sisters.  This is the three of us with my GMom W.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Relaxing Monday

My middle sister and her family were at her in laws house this weekend for their Thanksgiving celebration.  Yesterday they went to the farm to do some fishing and invited us to go.  Well the only "us" that got to go was my Dad and myself because my hubs and my little sis had to work.  We fished and each one of us caught at least one fish.  It was very relaxing as I fished (which I don't usually like to do) and then took a few pictures.







Before we headed out to the farm, Dad had to take his trumpet in for a small repair.  My Dad played trumpet in the Fighting Texas Aggie band in the 60's.  Recently he got a new trumpet and has begun playing again.  My niece Mad Cow has started playing the coronet in her first year of band (this is also the instrument that my Mom played when she was in band) so they play on playing together some!  Anyway, we spotted the MetLife blimp cruising around over town so I got a few pictures of it.  It was pretty cool to see.  The Goodyear blimp used to live about an hour away from us but I don't remember ever seeing it fly but we did see it a lot in it's hanger.




Catching Up on Thankfulness

This morning I realized that I had gotten behind on my list of things I am thankful for here on the blog so here it the catch up.

Day 7. . . . . .today I am thankful for the two wonderful people who call me aunt. I love you both more than you will ever know. I am thankful for the gentle hearts you both have. You make me so proud in everything you do because you do your best and you do it with good attitudes. TJ and MJ. . . .ILYMTYLM

Day 8. . . . .today I am thankful fo my inlaws because without them there would be no hubster!!

Day 9. . . . . .today I am thankful for my aunts, uncles and cousins. . . . .no one has a family quite like my family (and I mean both sides of my family!)!!!! ♥ you all.

Day 10. . . . .today I am thankful for my grandparents who raised my parents to be such wonderful people.

Day 11. . . . .today I am thankful for the men and woman who have fought and died and to those who are currently fighting to keep this great country safe. Thank you also to the families of these people for all of the sacrifices that have been made.

Day 12. . . . . . .today I am thankful for doctors and nurses; especially the ones who took care of me this summer but including the ones who have taken care of my Dad and took care of my Mom.

Day 13. . . . .today I am thankful for my friends. Sometimes I feel really alone but when something happens and I really need them. . . .they are there. Thank you.

Day 14. . . . . . .today I am thankful for the job my husband has.

Day 15. . . . . .today I am thankful the teachers I had while in school.

Day 16. . . . . . .today I am thankful that it is Friday and I can go climb in bed and sleep late in the morning.

Day 17. . . . . .today I am thankful for days where I can sleep until I wake up (that means not having to get up with the alarm clock!)

Day 18. . . . . . . .today I am thankful that I have so many things to be thankful for.

Day 19. . . . .today I am thankful that I was finally able to make contact with the ONE person who could tell me where my substitute application is and when I should hear something about orientation. :)

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Show Us Your Life - Main Dishes

This week over at Kelly's Korner it is all about main dishes.  We eat mainly casseroles mainly because my husband has a long list of things he doesn' like and casseroles are just easier.  I have several to share with you this week.  I get stuck in a rut so it is good for me to have to search for main dish recipes.

This casserole is what is most requested by my husband.  I like it but he loves it.

Swiss and Chicken Casserole
What You Need

4 cups chopped cooked chicken (I use canned chicken sauteed with onions and mushrooms)
2 cups Croutons
1-1/2 cups KRAFT Shredded Swiss Cheese
2/3 cup MIRACLE WHIP Dressing
1/2 cup Milk
4 stalks Celery, sliced (I omit because neither Mr. Giggles or I can stand it!)
1/4 cup chopped onions

Make It
HEAT oven to 350°F.
COMBINE ingredients - I save some of the cheese and put it on top
SPOON into 2-qt. casserole.
BAKE 40 min. or until heated through.

Very easy to make and tasty.

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This is a recipe I got from my sister who makes it for her family and they really like it (and several members of her family are very picky).  I have made it before but used chicken instead of ham (hubby doesn't like ham).


Hurry-up Ham-N-Noodles

Ingredients
*5 to 6 cups uncooked wide egg noodles (I used 6 cups and it was too much noodle and I think any kind of noodle would work good (I do not like the taste of egg noodles so I will try something different next time I make it) I think penne would work well.)
*1/4 cup butter, cubed
*1 cup heavy whipping cream
*1-1/2 cups julienned fully cooked ham (I used can chicken that I sauteed with mushrooms and seasoned with seasoning salt, black pepper, chili powder and garlic)
*1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
*1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
*1/4 teaspoon salt (I never add salt to anything because I use seasoning salt)
*1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions:  Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Gradually whisk in cream. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir for 2 minutes longer or until thickened.Add the ham, cheese, onions, salt and pepper; cook, uncovered, until heated through. Drain noodles; add to ham mixture. Toss to coat; heat through. Yield: 4 servings.

I have also made just the "sauce" for this recipe and made alfredo pizza (the sauce tastes like alfredo).  It tastes like the chicken alfredo pizza from Olive Garden.

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This is a recipe that I came up with after eating a dish our brother-in-law makes.  It is really good but I can't afford nor do I like all of the ingredients that the original recipe calls for so this is "our" version.  It is still very good.

Giggles Shrimp


1- package cooked shrimp (40-60 pieces) take off tails
1- 5 oz package of Italian seasoned croutons
1- jar spaghetti sauce1 jar mushrooms
1 package of Italian mix cheese
Old Bay seasoning to taste
Garlic powder to taste

Put shrimp, mushrooms and seasoning in a pan and warm through, add spaghetti sauce. Once warm, add bag of croutons and ¾ bag of cheese and mix well. Put in casserole dish and top with remaining cheese. Cook at 350 degrees until warmed through and cheese is melted.

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I haven't actually made this recipe but I have eaten it and it was very good.

Jessica Simpson's Chicken and Dumplings

6 servings

3 tubes croissant rolls
1 small rotisserie chicken, skin discarded and meat removed from bones
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup chicken broth
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400ยบ. Roll out the cans of croissant sheets and separate into diamond shaped sections. Place a small handful of rotisserie chicken on each diamond, fold dough over and press ends together to create dumplings. Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with one layer of dumplings. Combine soups and chicken broth; pour over dumplings. Season with salt and pepper and bake until the dumplings are tender and cooked through and the top is brown and bubbly - about 30 minutes. (I laid foil across my pan about halfway though, because the dumplings were browning too quickly.)   I hope at least one of these recipes can help you get out of your cooking rut!

Sunday, November 11, 2012

What's For Dinner and Weekend Wrap up

What's for dinner this week. . . . . . .
Monday:  tomato soup (for the Mr.) and chicken noodle soup (for me) with grilled cheese sandwiches
Tuesday:  broccoli swiss (recipe to follow soon), hamburger steaks
Wednesday:  fend for yourself
Thursday:  fishsticks with mac and cheese
Friday:  out to dinner with my Dad
Saturday:  fend for yourself
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Thursday of last week I went to the big city with my Dad to watch my nephew's last football game as a freshman.  They won 48 to 6.  I felt sorry for the other team because most of the team played the entire game and they had to be exhausted.  They only had three guys on the sidelines.  My nephew played well and it was nice to spend time with my sister, brother-in-law, niece, my sister's inlaws and my Dad.  It was a long day and I was very glad to get home that night!

Friday I decided that I really wanted to get my middle bedroom clean.  At the end of school in May, I had to totally clean out my classroom because I wasn't going to be teaching at that school.  Well, now ALL of my teaching stuff is stored at my house in said bedroom (well, there is some on the back porch also but I hope to get it all together in one room soon and up until two weeks ago the room also held a spare mattress and box springs.  We got rid of the bed and I had some extra space so I knew I needed to take the time to rearrange the room some.  Now more than one person can go into the room at once and now you don't have to stand in the doorway to use the ironing board.  I had to turn off the tv and log off of the computer to keep from getting distracted (something that happens a lot to me!!).

Saturday the Mr. and I cut down a tree in our backyard that had died.  Of course once you cut down the tree then you have to move all of the cut wood.  Not my favorite thing but we got it done.  Then we cut on big limb out of another dead tree in our yard just to keep it from getting blown out of the tree when it got windy later in the weekend.  Then I had to watch at least some of the Texas A&M vs Alabama game and what a game it was.  Alabama was ranked #1 in the SEC and A&M won the game.  I was afraid they weren't but in the end they pulled it out.  Very exciting because I really didn't think A&M would do as well as they have done in their first season in the SEC.  Yes, I was one of the doubters.  Also my alma mater. . . .Sam Houston State won their game!!  Eat'em up KATS!  Next week A&M will play Sam Houston. . . . . . .not excited about this game at all.  I won't both teams to win but unfortunately there has to be a loser and a winner.  We shall see what happens.

Today was a lazy Sunday.  We went to church, then out to lunch to eat some yummy mexican food and then home to be well, lazy!  I read for a while and then dozed for a while and then it was time for church.  When church was over at 6:00 pm it was around 80 and by the time we got to my Dad's house at around 6:30 or so it was 57.  FINALLY some more fall weather.  We will actually have two nights where the temps will be in the upper 30's.  So excited about the cooler weather. 

Well, that is it for tonight.  I hope you all have a great week.  I think I just saw a mouse run across my living room.  Oh joy.


Saturday, November 10, 2012

Show Us Your Life - Side Dishes

This week at Kellys Korner is all about side dishes.  I have been thinking about what I will be making for Thanksgiving at my aunts house.  There is a salad I would like to make but I don't have the recipe for it so I am hoping (hint hint) that maybe my sister Rae will make it.  I am pretty sure that I will be making Sweet Potato Casserole (this is what my hubby wants. . . .he never liked sweet potatoes until he tasted this casserole!) so here is the recipe for it.

Sweet Potato Casserole

3 cups mashed sweet potatoes (drained)
3/4 stick of oleo
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon & nutmeg (I use pumpkin pie spice)
1 tablespoon vanilla

Mix and bake at 450 degrees for 45 minutes.

Spread with a topping of:
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 stick oleo
1/2 cup pecans
1 cup crushed post toasties

Return to oven for a few minutes.
Enjoy!!

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This is a dish my Mom always made for the holidays.  It is so good.  I haven't ever made it because I don't have a jello mold.  One of these days I will be looking for a tupperware mold just like Mom's! 

Lime Jello Mold


one tall cane pineapple
two small packages lime jello or one large  (Mom would also make it with raspberry)

two small packages cream cheese or one large
1/2 cup chopped pecans
whipping cream or cool whip

Drain juice from pineapple. Head and add jello. Stir well and sit in refrigerator to cool.
Mash cream cheese and add pineapple and nuts. Add to cooled jello mixture. Fold in 1/2 pint of whippin cream beaten stiff or 1 small container of cool whip. Pour into a tupperware jello mold and refrigerate.  You might also be able to use a bundt pan to make this.  It is delicious!!

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This is another one of my Mom's recipes and it is so easy.


Green Rice Casserole
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup celery
brown in 1 tablespoon butter

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 jar cheese whiz (small)
1 pkg. frozen chopped broccoli
salt, pepper, paprika
2 cups (before cooking) rice

Mix ingredients and bake in casserole for 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

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My hubby loves, loves, loves corn but instead of the usual corn casserole I make I am going to try a new one. . . . . .one with bacon!!!  You just can't go wrong with bacon!!

Recipe: Creamy Parmesan Corn


3 cans of corn, drained
1 (8oz.) package of cream cheese, soft
1/2 stick of butter, soft
1 cup of parmesan cheese, finely grated
1/2 pound of bacon, cooked crispy
Salt and Pepper to taste

In a slow cooker add the above ingredients.
Cook on high for 3 hours, stirring occasionally or on low for 6 hours.
Serve immediately.

This is a Simply Delicious recipe.

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And last but not least I am thinking about these rolls.  I saw this on The Pioneer Woman this morning and my friend Mrs. H has made them for church luncheons before and they are really good and look pretty easy to boot!!!

Buttered Rosemary Rolls

Ingredients

15 frozen, unbaked, un-risen dinner rolls
Melted butter
Coarsely chopped fresh rosemary
Coarse sea salt

Directions
Place the dinner rolls in a large lightly buttered skillet, allowing some space between the rolls. Cover with a dish towel or cloth napkin and set aside in a warm place to rise for at least 2 to 3 hours.
When risen, the rolls should be poufy and soft. Brush melted butter onto the rolls. Then sprinkle the rolls with chopped rosemary. Finally, sprinkle with sea salt.
Bake (as instructions on the packet - usually 400 degrees F) for 15 to 20 minutes. Don't be alarmed if you pull them out of the oven and they've risen way over the surface of the pan. Within a minute or two, they'll calm right down.


So there you go. . . . . .some simple and yummy recipes and what I think I am going to make for Thanksgiving.  I hope you enjoy!!
For more recipes, be sure to visit my other blog Giggles Cooks.  You will find the link on the sidebar.



Friday, November 9, 2012

Frustrated

I have spent the last 2 hours trying to change up the look of my blog.  I have a background on here from a long time ago (it is snowflakes) and I can not for the life of me figure out how to get it off.  I wish I could revert back to the old blogger so I could make my blog look cute again instead of boring.  If you know what to do got the the snowflakes off my blog. . . .please let me know.  I am giving up for tonight.  I am so very tired of looking at this stupid thing.  I promise to have a good post tomorrow instead of a temper tantrum post!!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Thankfulness Day 6

Day 6: today I am thankful for my brother-in-law; for the love he has for his wife and children and the love he has for the rest of us. He is a great dad, a great son in law, a great brother in law and a great guy! I continue to pray that one day God will grant us another brother in law who has the same greatness!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Thankfulness Day 5

Day 5. . . . .today I am thankful for my sisters RWJ and RAW. They amaze me everyday with the things they do and when I look at them I see my Mom. I just wish we could spend more time together. Love you both very much.


Sunday, November 4, 2012

What's For Supper!!

Monday:  spaghetti with ricotta cheese, corn and garlic bread
Tuesday:  hamburgers and tatortots
Wednesday:  fend for yourself!
Thursday:  fishsticks and mac and cheese
Friday:  out to dinner with Dad and RAW
Saturday:  fend for yourself

Nothing exciting but pretty easy!  Hope you have a great week.

Thankfulness Day 4

Day 4. . . .today I am thankful for my Mom (just thinking about writing this makes me cry). There is so much to say about what she has done for me and for so many other people. She was always the person I could go to for anything and no m...atter what it was she wouldn't judge. . . .just give you the best advice she could give. She was loving, patient, considerate, loved God, loved her family, loved her friends (and there were many. . . .she know most of the ladies that worked at Hobby Lobby, Walmart and the gas station). She was always willing to share her love of God, family and friends, her considerable talents, her beautiful voice and whatever else she had. She loved my Dad with her whole being and would do whatever she could to help him out. And she did whatever she could to help us girls. I am thankful that she had all these qualities and that it was how the three of us learned to be like that. I wish that I could tell her how thankful I am for all that she has done for me. I love you Mom and miss you so much everyday.




Saturday, November 3, 2012

Catching Up and Thankfulness

Well, November the first has come and gone before I even had a chance to think about it.  The older I get the faster time flies as I am sure everyone already knows.  I thought that I would catch you up on the exciting things going on around here but I can't really think of anything.  I have been subbing at several different schools in the area in any grades from pre-k to 8th grade.  I have subbed in p.e., 2nd grade, 7th grade, 8th grade and several others I can't remember.  Oh, we did have a fun weekend, we went to the big city to watch TatorTot play football and MadCow play softball.  We had a great time watching them and then just spending time with them. . . .something it seems that we never get to do since we live in different places.  My Dad and RAW went too so we had the whole family there.  The only downside to the weekend was that the hubster and I got sick (not unusual for me because there is something up there that does not like me!!) so on Monday which was a holiday for the hubs was spent at the doctor's office trying to get better.  Hubs is completely over his and I have this cough that will not go away. 

Halloween this year was pretty boring for us.  We did nothing, well we went to church and gave candy to our two favorite munchkins (thanks to their Mom who came prepared).  We did watch a lot of "scary" movies on AMC for the two weeks before which made the hubs happy.  And that was pretty much the month of October.

Now onto November:  if you are on facebook I am sure that your friends are doing the same thing. . . . .focusing on being thankful for the people/things we have.  I have decided to put mine on my blog so that when I am not feeling very thankful I can look back and be reminded.  Here is what I have for the first three days.
Day 3. . . . .I am thankful for my Dad.  He has always been there encouraging us, loving us and guiding us. He was a great example for us to know what to look for in a husband. He is a God fearing man, a man who loves his wife with his whole heart, loves his children and grandchildren and his dog. He is always there when needed and for that I am so appreciative. I love you Dad.


Day 2: I am thankful for my husband. . . . .who else could put up with me? He has been by my side through good, bad and very bad and has always held my hand and held me together. We may be total opposites in most things (but not the things that matter) but we fit together perfectly. I am looking forward to many more years being thankful for him being the one God chose for me.

Day 1. . . .I am thankful that my God is a forgiving God because I am far from perfect.

I don't know about you but I am already thinking about what I am wanting to make for our Thanksgiving meal.  We will be going to my Dad's brother's house for the day.  We always enjoy our time spent with them except for the fact that we eat way too much food!  And then we are hoping to head on over to the big city and spend the night with those four crazy people we never get to spend enough time with!!   Well, we are going to be falling back tonight for which I am glad but I don't want to stay up late like I usually do and waste the extra hour!!!  So with that, have a great Sunday and I will try to be back a little sooner and maybe with some pictures.

Show Us Your Life - Desserts

This week over at Kelly' Korner everyone is sharing their favorite desserts. . . .what an awesome subject!!  I know that probably everyone has this recipe but for that one person out there who doesn't have it. . . .today is your lucky day!!!!

SOPAPILLA CHEESECAKE (can you say yummo?)

Ingredients:

-2 cans pillsbury butter crescent rolls
-2 (8oz) packages cream cheese (softened)
-1 cup sugar
-1 teaspoon vanilla
-1/4 cup butter (melted)
-Cinnamon & sugar

Instructions:

Unroll and spread 1 can crescent rolls on bottom of un-greased pan. Combine softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Spread mixture over crescent rolls. Unroll and spread remaining crescent rolls over mixture. Spread melted butter over the top and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

And if you are looking for new recipes in general, I have a few over here you might want to check out.   ENJOY!!

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