Wednesday, November 30, 2011

South Beach Diet

Turkey Bacon Cheese Breakfast CupsSteak au Poivre - Cabbage Reuben Wrap
This has been Kevin's diet the last two days...between meals snacking on pumpkin seeds and almonds.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Sunday afternoon


Allyson went over to Jack and Cathy's house.  She had the best time!  This is Cathy's dollhouse.  Allyson said when she grows up she wanted her house to look just like Ms Cathy's house.  :)

Thursday, November 24, 2011

California Thanksgiving

Thanks to Fran and Lori (Ken's sister) we had a great meal. Ken's mom and sister came up from L.A. and we had quite a spread. Kevin made homemade pumpkin ice cream for dessert with Fran's pumpkin pie. Wilma, Lori, Fran and I played pitch (card game) afterwards. Silas was sleeping during the meal so he had leftovers when we got home with Daddy and Mera. We had a great day. Now, I am off to work. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Thanksgiving in Virginia



I fixed Candace's pork chops and they were a big hit!! also scalloped potatoes and steamed french beans. For dessert I made an angel food cake with homemade coffee ice cream. Then we went to see Mormor. Caleb took two pork chops home w/scalloped potatoes to eat for supper tonight. Delicious recipe Candace that I will make again soon. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and thought about all of the rest of our precious family.



Thanksgiving at the Claxtons

We had a wonderful day. Spent the whole day with Eric's grandmother and parents.

Tennessee Thanksgiving

View from kitchen window this morning
Doing the morning chores
Thanksgiving meal!
Marinated hickory-smoked steaks, Sweet Potato Casserole, Mama's Famous Scalloped Potatoes, and Oven Roasted Asparagus
Homemade Pecan Pie and Coconut Cream Pie for desert
Allyson went outside this morning, gathered some things, and made the table centerpiece.  I think it's beautiful!
 Relaxing
 Playing checkers
 The kids showed us their grapevine swing
Picked out a tree on our own Christmas tree farm.  :)

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Thank you, Granddaddy!

I love you, Granddaddy. Thank you for the picture that you sent me of the summmereene. I showed it to Tim and Grampie and Grammie. No one else has come over to show it too. Mama finally put it in this box so I could put it right above my head when I sleep. I love you Granddaddy. Are you standing on the top of the boat? I want you to send me another picture when I send you a picture again. Love you, Granddaddy. I got this dress from cousin Allyson. I love you Granddaddy.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Guess who?

Cathy gave me this picture tonight at church.  Now who do you think this little goofball is?  Write who you first think she is before you read comments that might be posted already.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Gouda and Spinach Stuffed Pork Chops

Ingredients
  • 4 (6 ounce) thick cut pork chops
  • 8 slices smoked Gouda cheese (I used Boursin garlic and herb cheese)
  • 1/2 pound fresh spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces (fresh, not frozen)
  • 3 tablespoons horseradish mustard
  • 1 cup panko crumbs or breadcrumbs
  • Creole-style seasoning to taste (use any seasoning you like)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Coat a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray; or olive oil, right Kristin.  :) 
Lay each chop flat on cutting board, and with a sharp knife held parallel to the board, cut a pocket into the pork, leaving three sides intact. Stuff each chop with spinach, and then with cheese.
Place panko crumbs in a shallow dish. Coat each chop with a thin layer of horseradish, and then roll in crumbs. Arrange chops in prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with your choice of seasoning to taste.
Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until brown and crispy.
We had this meal for lunch today and devoured it before I remembered to get a picture.  Very good!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Mama's milking

Daddy took these pictures. We have a good time doing this together. We got about 3 quarts today. Daddy did most of the milking because he is fast and can do 2 hands.



Wednesday, November 9, 2011

View from kitchen window

This morning I asked Kevin and Allyson what came to their mind when they saw these two colors.               They both said the same answer!  Do you know what is was?

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Friday, November 4, 2011

Flowers and Food

Plant Troubles:    I bought this plant about four months ago (I forget now what the name of the plant is).  It's sprouting outwards on the side - long healthy branches w/pretty little flowers, but the center is beginning to die...starting at the top and slowly working downward...as you can see in the picture on the right.  Should I cut the dead stuff off?  Will that stop it from eventually continuing through the entire plant?  Welcome any suggestions!  :)
French Egg and Bacon Sandwich                                        Ingredients
2 eggs, beaten
4 slices bread
4 slices bacon
2 eggs
1/2 cup maple syrup
Directions
Dip bread slices in beaten eggs. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Cook until browned on both sides. Set aside but keep warm.  Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain and set aside. Reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon grease in pan and fry remaining two eggs. Place one piece of French toast on each of two plates. Place the fried eggs on top of the bread, top the eggs with strips of bacon. Cover with the remaining pieces of French toast. Following that by pouring on the syrup.
Feta Cheese Foldovers

Ingredients
3 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
8 ounces feta cheese
1 egg
1 (17.5 ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 egg yolk
Directions
In a small bowl, beat egg yolk with 1 teaspoon water. Crumble cheese, and blend with green onions and egg. Cut pastry into twelve 3 inch squares. Place a mounded tablespoon of filling in the center of each square. Moisten edges with water, and fold pastry over filling to form a triangle. Press edges together firmly with a fork to seal. Brush tops lightly with egg mixture. Cover, and chill until ready to bake. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees) for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm, or at room temperature.

Homemade Pizza Crust...and whatever topping you like! :)
Sandy Lane (from church) gave me this yeast packet for pizza crust. We tried it the other day...very good, cheaper than buying from store or restaurant, and SO easy!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Pictures and Videos


Pictures taken: garden work, view from the aerial tramway up to Ober Gatlinburg and then riding the chairlift up to the very top of the mountain (notice my face on the lift compared to everyone elses'), loading Honey Dew to take him over to James', plucking chickens, eating at Pancake Pantry (yes, where Bestefar always took us), Blue Ridge Parkway (Kaleb at Looking Glass Rock & Ally in the snow), hotel in Asheville, North Carolina.

                                 (click on the four arrows on the video above to view in full screen)