I LOVE TO COLLECT SNOWMEN, SNOWFLAKES, AND S'MORES MUGS

This is my beautiful Snowman cookie jar that I bought at the Dollar General .

These are my favorite mugs.
I look for them at every Goodwill and 2nd hand store I go to. I bouught the 1st 2 in a package at WAlmart years ago for $10, then I found the next 2 at the Goodwill for $.99 each. While on vacation in N.C., I bought the next 2 for $.59 each , and finally, at the thrift store in Tuscaloosa, I bought the last two for $.39 each. They are all different. Some are standing on a milk chocolate base, some on dark chocolate, and some are drinking hot cocoa.

Do you have any ideas for meals....

that include protein and a complex carbohydrate and other vegetables?
Please share them with me.
I made a triple batch of a meal that I saw on the TV news at noon, called
"Hoppin' John", by Mr. Food . Some of you may not have heard of him. It was
when I lived in Florida.
The recipe is so simple and fast, but it tastes so good. It actually tastes
like it's a cajun dish.....
Below is a close-up view of a bowl of Hoppin' John....

HOPPIN' JOHN



it's also on the back of the can of Bush's Field Peas with Snaps
DO NOT drain the can of tomatoes and the can field peas

2/3-1 ground meat, seasoned, browned, drained
1 medium onion, minced, sauted with the ground meat
1 can of seasoned or mild stewed tomatoes (I like the hot one by Rotel)
1 can Bush's Field Peas wi/ Snaps( not the lil red ones; it's the
Pink-eyed Purple Hull Field Peas

Brown the beef and onion, add the others. Simmer for 20-30 minutes and you are
done. This dish is typically served over rice, but I have been eating it as a Soup
instead. It cuts back on the carbs.
PS This dish freezes very well.
I hope you like it as much as I do.

SOME PEOPLE CAN'T SEE THE POTENTIAL IN WHAT THEY THROW AWAY...

I found these rocking chairs on the curb, laying on their side,in
a very nice neighborhood.
I plan to paint them; one will be Robins' Egg Blue and the
other will be a Medium Yellow .
They are solid oak rocking chairs and are very sturdy.
I will takes pictures of the finished product and post it later.


When the weather is cool, Ashley and I like to sit on the porch in our rocking chairs and talk and just watch the cars go by.

I picked up an end table on the side of the road in the country.
It needed some small shanks for the screws to be able to catch onto .
I'll add pics later. 

I Love Marinated Steaks cooked on the grill...

Steaks are my all time, no.1 Favorite food .
I really enjoy a great tasting Ribeye Steak ,but my absolute favorite is Filet Mignon. I put the bacon strip on after I am finished marinating the steaks, before grilling them.

New York Strip Steaks are wonderful and flavorful, tho not quite as tender , in my opinion.But, I still love them.

Sirloin Steaks are tender and delicious also.

My Steak Marinade :
I poke holes in the steaks using a fork, then I season with
Tony Chacheries' seasoning
Granulated Garlic
Garlic Powder
Liquid Smoke (a few squirts)
Lower Sodium Soy Sauce (about 3 squirts per side on each of the steaks)
Worcestershire Sauce (about 2 squirts per side on each of the steaks)
Olive Oil (a good dousing on both sides of each steak)
***I got this marinade from my Sister and Borther-in-Law; they are the King
and Queen of Steak Grilling.***





TIPS: You can grill a couple of extra steaks to slice and make Fajitas with or place upon your salad .

Tuscaloosa's Thrift Store off of McFarland is Amazing....

and it benefits the local shelters. That makes it doubly wonderful.

We stopped in, to look for a toy to put in a baby turtles basin(later we will
get a small aquarium), so that this little turtle, which will be a year old on
October 15, can climb on to get out of the water. He is a red-eared slider . I had found him on the middle of the road in Ville Platte,La. and he still had his "egg-tooth" attached. This is used to crack open the shell so they can get out , and then it falls off.
This past June, I found a female red-eared slider near Ville Platte and we gave it to my daughters' best friend, who had asked us to look for one for her.
Anyway, I found two toys for the turtles; Noah's ark(s)....one for him (Jack Boudreaux) and one for the female (Juni)or Juniper.
Then, I just had to look around....I found a beautiful tea pot for $10,

and two really great laptop cases for 49 cents and one for $2.85.
Oh, and I found 2 "S'MORES Snowman Mugs" to add to my collection for 49 cents each.

I love thrift stores.
We will be stopping there to shop for bargains everytime we pass through on our way to La. and also at the "Old Timey General Store" in Mississippi that I had mentioned in an earlier blog. . I guarantee.

ORANGE ALMOND CAKE with CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

                                                        
My dear Momma was a caterer. She and her best friend were fabulous cooks. They used to make Orange Almond Punch for celebrations such as Wedding Receptions, Graduation parties,Baby Showers, Retirement parties, etc. It was so delicious that I developed a cake to taste like it . I will share the recipes for both; the cake today and the punch another day.
                                     In Loving Memory of My Mom, Dorothy LeBleu Landreneau.... 
                        
                                                      ORANGE ALMOND CAKE 
1 box Betty Crocker "Butter Recipe Cake Mix,(dry mix)but follow these instructions:
add:
1 bar real butter,room tempurature
2 teaspoons Pure Almond Extract
1/4 cup orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 Tablespoon orange zest, or more if desired
1 Box Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix(just dump-in the dry mix)
3 large eggs

Mix all, in the order given. Add eggs last and only beat on medium
speed, just until they are incorporated. Don't overbeat.
Bake in a greased and floured Bundt cake pan, approximately 38 mins.
on 350 degrees.
Let cool in the pan for about 5-10 minutes,then,cover with a cake plate
and flip gently. Let cool completely.
Frost with cream cheese frosting. Recipe follows.
***I will share the recipe for the Orange Almond Punch later .
Enjoy.


CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

1 bar real butter, room temperature
1 bar cream cheese, room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon Pure Almond Extract
Mix all and refrigerate til firm enough to frost with.

ORANGE ALMOND PUNCH

MOM’S ORANGE ALMOND PUNCH 
In Loving Memory of my Mom, Dorothy LeBleu Landreneau ,
               
 I promised this recipe and here it is.  
You will love this punch. I guarantee! 
 
recipe makes enough for 2 punch bowls

3 CUPS SUGAR
2 CUPS WATER
COOK UNTIL SUGAR DISSOLVES AND
THICKENS SLIGHTLY.

ADD :
2 REGULAR BOXES LEMON JELLO
STIR UNTIL MIXED WELL. LET COOL.

ADD :
(1)12 oz. CAN FROZEN ORANGE JUICE
CONCENTRATE
(1)12 oz. CAN FROZEN LEMONADE
CONCENTRATE
(1) LARGE 46oz. CAN PINEAPPLE JUICE
MIX WELL. CHILL OVERNIGHT.
ALSO CHILL :
(3)2-LITER BOTTLES OF GINGER ALE
PURE ALMOND EXTRACT

WHEN READY TO SERVE , MIX ½ THE MIXTURE
AND 1 ½ BOTTLES GINGER ALE AND 1 ½ -2
TABLESPOONS PURE ALMOND EXTRACT PER
PUNCH BOWL.

I like to freeze some extra pineapple juice
in 2 Bundt Cake Pans to use as ice rings for each bowlful of punch.
You can place pineapple rings, lemon slices or orange slices in the
pineapple juice after you position the bundt pan in the freezer.

I hope you enjoy this recipe.
It is so refreshing.
Tamar