Cathy's Cookin'

Mary Kay Online Party

2010-04-18T11:45:00.005-04:00

Hey, Everyone!

It's me!

The Hostess with the Mostest!

I am hosting a Mary Kay Online Party for my daughter-in-love with all proceeds going to the Baby Knight Fund.You can also go to this LINK for more details.

Please check out all the specials below and then go to Lianna's Mary Kay site to place your order!
This event will run from April 18th until HIGH NOON on May 2nd, just in time for Mother's Day!

Jilly Beans

2010-03-10T20:19:00.003-05:00

For all you lovers of your furry friends and their true sense of fashion, this is a must!http://bethouaknight.blogspot.com/2010/03/unique-boutique-for-dog-lovers.html

My BFF Jill, aka Lianna's Mom, is your connection. Check out her website, http://www.jillybeansshihtzushoppe.com/ for additions to your family and then go shopping! What more could you ask for?

Here's to G-Ma!

2010-03-06T15:38:00.006-05:00

It's really hard to believe it's been this long but four years ago today my mom, Millie Hagen, passed away after an 8-month bout with lung cancer at the age of 84. I won't go into all the details but I just wanted to propose a toast to her...she loved her some Jim Beam every day at 5:00!

It's been a long cold winter this year so the azaleas haven't bloomed yet but I'm hoping she can see these pictures of the gorgeous azaleas that will bloom soon in her back yard.

Please raise your glass and join me in this toast!

Cheers G-Ma!

Renewed...

2009-11-23T21:11:00.002-05:00

Obviously, it's been forever and a day since I've posted. I think I've finally come to grips as to the reason for that. I am sad...and I am tired of being sad...and I want it to stop!

With the holidays approaching, I am bound and determined to have happy times! I want to go back to the days when we had fun. When we were happy just to be together and having fun.

There is definitely a TON of sadness in the world... and I definitely don't want anyone to think that I'm going to forget that or stop caring, sharing, thinking, praying, supporting or loving any of you. I just want to be able to smile...I want everyone around me to embrace this holiday season and feel happiness.

Please join me and make this the best holiday season ever!

Somer Renee Thompson...

2009-10-21T21:11:00.002-04:00

I am devastated over the outcome of Somer Reneee Thompson's disappearance. Please pray for her family...this is very close to home...I work with a girl who's 6 year old child plays ball at Grove Park Elementary. I am having a very hard time dealing with this...I am not sure why this is harder because this thing happens way too often but this is killing me...Please lift your hearts up for the family of Somer. You can read this...http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33410779/ns/today-today_people

Christmas Giveaway...

2009-10-16T19:35:00.003-04:00

Christmas, believe it or not, is right around the corner...start early with a small donation to a VERY worthy cause so dear to my heart! Great prizes and lots of ways to enter! Head on over to The Best Christmas Giveaway Ever and see what's cookin'!

Prayer Request....

2009-10-09T13:53:00.003-04:00

Please keep my dear friend, Amy B and all her family in your prayers. They are heartbroken over the sudden and tragic loss of her 4 month old nephew, Jackson. Needless to say, this is beyond difficult for them.

Mihali Shrimp

2009-09-27T17:53:00.004-04:00

I recently visited my sister and her husband in SC over the Labor Day weekend (actually it was about a week). Anyway, the first night that I arrived, we went to a little Greek Italian restaurant called Athens. My sister recommended a dish on the menu called Mihali Shrimp. Ordinarily, I would choose to order something I was sure of, but I went with the flow and ordered it. Well, it was awesome...

So since I've been home, I've wanted to try to re-create that dish. I googled the recipe and came up with several but this is what I finally put together last night. Between the shrimp and feta cheese, it stunk to high heaven, smelled atrocious but if I do say so myself, I cloned it and it was delicious!!!

Mihali Shrimp

1/2 cup olive oil

5 or so scallions, finely chopped, including the green tops

1 bell pepper, finely chopped

Crushed red pepper to taste (you know I like a LOT!)

2 tbsp. parsley

black pepper to taste

oregano to taste

1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 can diced tomatoes

8 oz. feta cheese, crumbled

3 tbsp. milk

In a large heavy skillet, heat the olive oil and saute scallions and green peppers until translucent. Add the parsley, black pepper, oregano and crushed red pepper and continue sauteing another 5 to 6 minutes.

Reduce heat, add shrimp, cook uncovered until shrimp is pink. Add tomatoes and simmer another 5 minutes. Add the feta cheese and milk and simmer uncovered over lowheat for another 20-25 minutes until the feta cheese is melted. Serve hot over brown rice.

I think chopped spinach would make a great side for this dish too!

The vacation was sweet, the food was wonderful and can you tell from the picture how relaxing it was??? More pics to come when I figure out my iPhone and where they are saved! lol (I am seriously challenged)

I'm Back...

2009-09-20T20:01:00.002-04:00

I have been MIA for about 6 weeks now from the blogging world. Do I have a reason? I wish I could say that I do, but I don't. I just haven't been feeling it...depressed, maybe? Maybe, I don't know. Why? Lots of reasons, no reason in particular. Just one of those things, I guess.

Anyway, I'm not really posting a catch up post tonight...way too much to catch up on. Just wanted to check in and let you all know I'm still around and I will get back to posting some great recipes and hopefully some happy news from the heartless world of infertility very soon.

And I also just wanted to ask you to say a little (or big) prayer for our dear friend, Amy B and her son Philip. He's going through some very difficult times right now and Amy is too. They have a long road ahead and need your prayers and support.

Thanks and I promise I'll be back very soon with some pictures from over the summer, new recipes and better things to come!

Super Giveaway...

2009-08-11T19:16:00.002-04:00

Anyone that has visited my blog before has probably read my About Me profile and knows that my son and daughter-in-love are in a battle with infertility. They just had an appointment last week with their specialist and so much optimism has come from that. The problem is the $$$ it takes to move forward. They have raised quite a bit since their last attempt last April, 2008, but they still have a little way to go.

Lianna has put up this Giveaway which is awesome and a little insider info...there is another awesome giveaway to follow. So please check this one out and stay tuned for the next one!

And also please visit Lily J Designs to see all the pieces she has to offer!

As always, I love you all and any help you can give is so appreciated by all of us!

Unfaithful Blogger...

2009-08-03T21:30:00.007-04:00

My blogging has been almost non-existent of late and that's almost like any oxymoron. Blogging is supposed to be an outlet...a place to share, to vent, to think, to feel, to care, to love...you name it! Every emotion we own can be expressed in a blog.

And yet sometimes, I feel like maybe I should keep things to myself and not put them out there. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, step on anyone's toes, have anyone worry about things that might just be something I need to work through on my own.

But I see so much help from everywhere. If you've read anything about me, you know I haven't always been in an easy place. But I have always pulled myself up and I'm still here kickin' and screamin'!

Right now I have a couple of things though that I'm struggling with and I would love some advice. I am fully aware that advice, given or taken, is very subjective. But I love thinking outside the box and maybe I just need to see a bigger box!

The first thing is...I am very unhappy where I live. I inherited my mother's house and it is paid in full. I cannot express how thankful I am for that! But I'm in a not so good neighborhood...for example, this is my next door neighbor's yard.

That's just a small example of what goes on (or doesn't as the case may be) in my neighborhood. So I have decided that it's time to move. I have been so on the fence about this because I don't have a mortgage payment but... There is so much more that I've always had and I want to be in that place again... I don't want to spend the rest of my days HATING where I live. So that's where I need some unemotional advice. Is that a wrong decision? Is that a stupid decision? Or should I just do what I can to be happy? STRUGGLE!

Also, yesterday, now get this! Are you sitting down? My ex-husband's current wife called me and started spilling her guts. I''ve been divorced since 1988 and they have been married for almost 12 years. Well, times are not good for her and guess what! The story is not much different from mine from over 20 years ago for me! But she asked me if I would make a statement referencing some things I really would rather not go into here, but it made me uncomfortable. Although, there are tons of things I could say, I left all of that behind me a long time ago. But I hate that someone else is experiencing some of the very same things that I did. Should I help her? I don't know. What do I do? Again, STRUGGLE!

I am doing some really cool things in the house though to get it ready for sale. There is painting going on and replacing switches, sockets, vents...unbelievable how much better things are looking! I'll post some before and after pics in a day or two along with my 2 more recipes from the MckLinky Recipe blog.

Please, if you can find it in your heart, I would really appreciate any advice you have to offer.

And on a super happy note, Abby is home, Stellan is home and Amy B and Philip B are maintaining! I love you ALL!

Summer Soup...aka Gazpacho...

2009-07-30T20:36:00.004-04:00

Okay, I have put this off because of all the medical emergencies going on but here it is...

Gazpacho

2 1/2 cups tomato or vegetable juice cocktail
1 cup peeled, seeded, finely chopped fresh tomatoes
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup finely chopped cucumber
1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped green onion
3 tbsp. white wine vinegar
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large clove garlic, minced
2 tsp, finely choppped parsley
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large glass or stainless steel bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Serve cold.

Increase or decrease ingredients to suit your needs!

Now, I need you to pray for...and I mean hard! :

Stellan
Abby Riggs
Amy B
Philip B

Thanking God for all of you!

Stellan, Abby and Philip...

2009-07-26T17:55:00.008-04:00

Stellan

Abby

Philip

Please pray for these children. Stellan is in the PICU and not doing well at all, Abby and Philip have both had trips to the ER this weekend...and throw in some extra prayers for their parents too...they need them too!

Recipes from Blog Hop

2009-07-23T18:51:00.006-04:00

As promised, I'm back with a few recipes that I posted on the Recipe Blog Hop the other day.

The first 2 are appetizers and/or snacks and can be found on this post. One is Buffalo Chicken Dip and the other is Spinach Artichoke Dip.

Today, I'm going to post the recipe for BLT Salad. It's a macaroni salad and goes super great with any summer meal, whether it be a cookout, barbecue or just your regular day to day menu.

BLT Salad

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni

5 green onions - finely chopped

1 very large or many small tomatoes - diced (I like to use plum tomatoes)

1 1/4 cups diced celery

1 1/4 cups mayonnaise

5 teaspoons white vinegar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 pound bacon - cooked and crumbled

Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and rinse in cold water. In a large bowl, combine the macaroni, green onions, tomatoes and celery. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, vinegar, salt and pepper. Pour over macaroni mixture and toss to coat. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours. Just before serving, add bacon.

Stay tuned for a recipe for Refreshing Summer Soup a.k.a Gazpacho!

The Recipe Blog Hop

2009-07-21T17:11:00.011-04:00

Today I checked out the The Blog Hop for Favorite Recipes over at "...where laughter lives", the family blog of Brent of Michelle Riggs, and of course, their 7 children! I haven't tried the MckLinky thing before so I hope I did it right. It was super friendly!

I started out with one recipe and before I knew it, I was on a roll! I ended up sending 5 recipes, which I think I'll post one at a time over the next week or so. Two were appetizers which I've already shared but they can always be resurrected and the others were a soup, salad, and main dish. Brent is going to publish a downloadable cookbook with all the recipes submitted and there's already 450+ entries! <:) <:) <:) Me...getting excited...I can't wait for that...always looking for new ideas! So HOP on over and join the fun. I also wanted to let everyone know what a generous giveaway Jenna is hosting on her blog. The cause is very near and dear to my heart...yes, she is trying to help my son and daughter-in-love raise funds for their next IVF attempt. So PLEASE click on over to Jenna's post, check out the giveaway and of course, as a bonus, you'll be thoroughly entertained with new stories about her little miracle baby, Brayden! Thank you so much, Jenna!

Start here with your content. Replace this paragraph, and everything down to AND INCLUDING the word: STOP. DO NOT REMOVE OR CHANGE THE CODE BEYOND THE WORD STOP BELOW! This has been the most requested theme, so I hope we have a record turnout. Please put up a post with your favorite recipe, or if you don't have the recipe, a photo of your favorite dish and a description. Here's a sample post I did for you: http://www.mcklinkyblog.com/2009/07/mcklinky-blog-hop-for-july-21-2009.html Also, be sure to submit your recipe here too: http://www.mcklinky.com/recipes.asp! I WILL CREATE A MckLinky RECIPE BOOK, AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO ALL BLOG HOPPERS FOR FREE! ...STOP

Happy Birthday...

2009-07-16T18:20:00.004-04:00

Meet the Birthday Queen***...one would think she is off on a luxurious cruise to places only the rich and famous go...but alas, she is off to get her camp on!

***(just a short aside...sorry, but I had to steal this picture from Twitter to get this post done)

Happy Birthday, Lianna, and I hope you have a wonderful, safe and relaxing vacation...I only wish I could be there too! Take lots of pictures and tweet often!

Just Another Sunless Day...

2009-07-14T20:14:00.005-04:00

Are you kidding me? I did something today that I almost NEVER do, and that is take a day off in the almost middle of the week just to go relax, get some sun, have some fun, eat some good food, drink some good drink and chill at the beach... Not to be a Debbie Downer, but...yes, today, I will be Debbie Downer at your service!

This morning started out to be a glorious day. The sun was shining, I watched 3 hours of Big Brother After Dark on my DVR, packed up my car and was off to a faraway beach with my daughter-in-love. We stopped to pick up some ice and giant subs and off we went to Crescent Beach....oops....Rain on I95. Okay, not to worry, just a shower, no big deal.

We arrived at the visitor parking at a condo complex...what a great place to stay...another time! Okay I digress...back to our day. We unloaded chairs, coolers, bags with towels, even my little teeny tiny pink umbrella to protect our belongings and made the trek down to the beach. Of course, by now it was starting to rain but we just knew it would pass over....so we poured an adult beverage and proceeded to get soaked!!!!

Finally we carried a few things back to the car and decided to wait it out for about 15 minutes. Lianna even checked out the weather channel on her phone and we were determined to be 'faith personified'. Guess what! It didn't work. We finally went back down to the beach and gathered our belongings and decided to head back to her house to hang out at the pool. And guess what again?

It was raining there too! So after unloading a ton a soaked stuff out of the car, we ate our subs in her kitchen and then ventured out to the pool (which, by the way, was so warm!). The rain let up but the sun was incognito....

Thus my Debbie Downer post...here are a few parting pictures from my day off at the beach!

So tell me how you really feel!

A Little Excitement...

2009-06-29T17:49:00.012-04:00

Well, it's been a while since I posted...not sure I even remember how! You all have the heard the expression, "all dressed up with no place to go", haven't you? Well, that's kind of how I've felt ever since my new blog design came to life. To be absolutely honest, there just hasn't been much to post about. The summer seems to have gotten off to a slow start for me and there just hasn't been anything going on...no cooking, no exciting trips, no nothing. . .

Until last Friday. And not to be repetitive, but to be once again to be completely honest, I totally missed it. I'm not sure if I'm living under a rock, I'm just in my own little world or what, but check this out!

From the parking lot of my office!

I happened to leave work a little early Friday afternoon and missed all the excitement. This was taken by my co-worker, Tiffany, on her cell phone from the parking lot of our office. From what I understand, this water spout or funnel cloud made its way all along the St. John's River, so it could pretty much be seen from just about any location in Jacksonville...IF, and only IF, you were looking. . . which, of course, I wasn't.

Having lived in both Oklahoma and Texas, it looks kind of skinny to me, but I'm sure seeing in the 'flesh' probably caused one to feel quite a rush! Sorry I missed it!

My New Blog Design...

2009-06-19T19:17:00.007-04:00

Check out my new blog design. Many, many thanks to a Design by Faith. Awesome job and now I officially feel like summer has officially begun!

Loving life!

Happy Birthday Brenna....

2009-06-15T21:21:00.005-04:00

Happy Birthday Brenna! My irrefutable, indisputable, absoluteable, totally beautiful, favorite neicester ever!

Love you!

Remember When I Said?....

2009-06-14T19:48:00.004-04:00

Remember, Bunco, Friday the 13th, February 2009? Oh, of course you do...remember this post? I said I couldn't wait to share the recipe for the Broccoli Cheddar Soup! Well, I received this email the other day and after I picked myself up off the floor and got my thoughts together, I am ready to share that recipe with all of you.

BROCCOLI-CHEDDAR SOUP

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

2 TABLESPOONS CABOT SALTED BUTTER
2 CUPS PEELED AND DICED BOILING POTATOES
(ABOUT 2 MEDIUM)
1/2 CUP CHOPPED ONION
2 TABLESPOONS ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
1(14 1/2-OUNCE) CAN CHICKEN BROTH(ABOUT 2 CUPS
2 CUPS MILK
3 CUPS BROCCOLI (CHOPPED FLORETS AND THINLY
SLICED STEMS)
2 CUPS GRATED CABOT SHARP OR EXTRA SHARP
CHEDDAR (ABOUT 8 OUNCES)
1 TEASPOON FRESH LEMON JUICE
SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE

1. IN LARGE SAUCEPAN, MELT BUTTER OVER MEDIUM HEAT. ADD POTATOES AND ONION AND COOK, STIRRING, UNTIL ONION IS TENDER ABOUT 5 MINUTES.

2.ADD FLOUR AND COOK, STIRRING, FOR 2 MINUTES LONGER

.3.GRADUALLY STIR IN CHICKEN BROTH AND MILK. BRING TO SIMMER AND COOK UNTIL POTATOES ARE NEARLY TENDER ABOUT 5 MINUTES. ADD BROCCOLI AND COOK UNTIL BROCCOLI IS TENDER,ABOUT 5 MINUTES LONGER.

4. REMOVE FROM HEAT AND STIR IN CHEESE. ADD LEMON JUICE AND SEASON WITH
SALT AND PEPPER.

And now you're going to be treated to another recipe...just because.

What do you do on a cloudy Saturday? Well, I obviously waste a lot of time but then start hunting around the fridge, freezer, pantry, and wherever to come up with something yummy for me!

So here's the deal...I'm going to call it Baked Chicken Spaghetti. Call it what you will, but I actually think it turned out pretty good. Only problem...it's just me here and I probably made enough to feed at least my side of Jacksonville...

At least I will have lunch, dinner and maybe even breakfast, handled for the next week!

So here goes...

Baked Chicken Spaghetti

Olive oil
Garlic Pepper
Italian Seasoning
1 medium onion chopped
1 green pepper chopped
1 red pepper chopped
1 can mushrooms drained
1 1/2 lb boneless chicken, cut into bite sized pieces
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 6 oz can tomato paste
1 16 container ricotta cheese
1 16 oz box of spaghetti
2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
Parmesan cheese

Saute onions, green peppers, red peppers and mushrooms in olive oil. Add chicken and season with garlic pepper and Italian seasoning. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste and ricotta cheese.

Cook spaghetti according to directions and drain, rinse with cold water. Return spaghetti to pot and mix with sauce. Reserve enough sauce to top.

Transfer to baking pan (PAM sprayed), top with remaining sauce, mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese. Bake in oven at 325 degrees for 30 minutes...

Not exactly a summer meal...but you have to admit when it's cloudy or rainy, no matter what time of year, the house gets cold and it feels like comfort food time!

Stay tuned for a surprise...I have a blog makeover coming!

Last Weekend...

2009-06-11T19:38:00.013-04:00

Okay, let's just divert from the past few days' revelations and get back to what we do best.

Friday...June 5th...Grammy's 85th birthday... WoW!

Of course the great grandson's (Mikey) only concern was cake...

Then Saturday we had a graduation party for my nephew Nik... Let me preface by saying that this child is one of the only ones I know that has graduated from high school with a plan...I am so proud of him....He's ROTC and knows what he wants.

Horrible things have come to light lately, but let's just rejoice in the good!

S0 then I had the good fortune of having Mikey Sunday morning for a couple of hours. OOOH...that was great...had him distracted when his Ma-Moo (she hates that_ left). Then he discovered the door was not completely shut...opened the door..stepped outside...I, of course, heard and came to his RESCUE? Not according to him...at that moment, he realized that his Mama was gone, he was not at home and OMG...how was he going to cope?

Well, he screamed and cried for almost an hour non-stop. I tried everything I could think of to help but to no avail...Guess what I did...And by the way, I don't think I would have ever done this for my kids...but I put him in the car (kicking and screaming) and drove around for about 10 minutes...8 minutes in he was asleep.

Ok now home..wakes up ...I'm not gonna lie.. he started screaming again but I think that tiny catnap was enough to distract him and he became HAPPY!
What a sweetie...yes, I could just eat him up!

April Rose

2009-06-09T20:00:00.004-04:00

My heart is so saddened today. Apparently April Rose is just a figment of someone's imagination or her story is, at best. I really don't know how many readers I have or where you've come from, but it seems that everyone I read has been following the story of April Rose as I have. It seems that the whole thing was a hoax and it hurts to have invested so much of my heart into them and now have it turn out this way. I prayed for them, I participated in His Will Wednesday every week...hard to believe that even HWW might have just been a ploy.

There is a joint post by Raechel (B's friend, or so she thought), Angie (from Bring the Rain) and Jennifer ( aka MckMama) . Together after much soul searching and praying, they now believe that it WAS all a lie. No one understands the whys...no one really knows what parts may or may not be true.

But whatever prayers we have lifted up for "B" (Beccah), "D" (Dan) and April Rose over the past few months, we need to continue. Just pointed in a different direction as it is quite evident that they are in desperate need for divine intervention.

Later on...

2009-06-02T18:08:00.015-04:00

In my last post, I said that I would explain my take on celebrating my birthday, the 'milestone', the hating life, etc. later on... Well, it's later on and I think it's high time I do that.

First of all, I need to start by saying to my friends and especially my family, that I hope I in no way sounded ungrateful for the birthday wishes and the party. I am truly grateful for everything because without all of you, I would have nothing, I would be nothing.

So let's back up and get a sense of where this is all coming from. All my life, I was always proud of my age and never worried about birthdays, no matter which one came along. I had always looked young for my age so that made it a lot easier. Not to mention the fact that I had a lot more going on, on a daily basis and didn't take time to think much about those kinds of things. I was widowed at 24 with two small boys, remarried at 28, had another boy at 29 and divorced by 38. And let's just say that the single parenting part started long before the divorce was final. So yes, I was too busy for thoughts about age.

I actually still felt that way up until probably sometime during the last year or two. There are so many reasons for my way of thinking to change.

One day you look in the mirror and say, "OMG, when did that happen?" "Where was I?" " Where have I been?" Not having time, or taking time, as the case may be, to notice day to day changes, all of a sudden, you're don't look like the same person that you thought you were, but you still are!

That physical change is a given and will eventually happen to everyone. But it's all the other stuff that goes along with it that has been the hardest for me to deal with.

I still have a hard time convincing myself that I am still not 18 years old, that I still don't look like I'm 18 and sometimes even that I can't act like I'm 18. And therein lies the problem...

The number...

The number that changes everything that you are (whether it did or not).

You're 18, you can vote.

You're 21, you can drink.

You're in your 30's, you're thirtysomething.

You're 40, you're over the hill.

You're 50, you're ??? I don't know what...old?

Now you're 60...now you're REALLY old... Like that one day or one year made that much difference....The invites seem to be fewer...maybe you just don't belong or fit in anymore.

I've watched people I know turn into different people when they turn a certain age and it just seems to me that it's ONLY because they feel it's expected. Well, I'm just not into that!

Hating life? Only because of the perception of me that I feel is out there... People, I am still the same 18, 21, 30something, 40ish, 50ish and plain 60 year old person I always was...Don't take that away from me.

I still want the same things, I still want to do the same things, I still want to feel a part of your lives as much as I want you to be a part of mine. Don't take that away from me.

I became part of the blog world probably about 10 months ago...first as a stalker and then a real life blogger. The stories I've read, the 'friends' I've made, the knowledge I have come to know have definitely made me a better person. I am truly grateful for that...because in that I know that I will never be alone...

It has also made me more aware or my mortality....

But that being said...

I am hoping that I can truly live up to the following:

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio.. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old. I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things. Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and Compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their Hair could turn silver.
you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong. So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, But while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day(if I feel like it). MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!
MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER! FRIENDS FOREVER!

Scary...yes...but....

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest!

Comments are truly welcomed!

Today is my birthday and I'll cry if I want to...

2009-05-26T22:52:00.010-04:00

Okay, today is my birthday...I won't lie...I was not looking forward to this one and I am hating life. But I'm hoping I can make that better.. So I am going to show you how my family celebrated this 'milestone' in photos but I will try to explain my take on it later on...later on...

My kids had a pool party for me on Sunday and for the first time in over a week, it actually didn't rain. I thank you Mike, Susan, David and Lianna for this. And I have to thank all those who came. Random photos...

And I want to say thanks for all the tweets I got from my twitterer friends, facebook birthday wishes, ecards, and look at these flowers I got from my sister! Aren't they gorgeous? Thank you Dottie and Larry!

Catching Up...

2009-05-17T17:07:00.014-04:00

A week or so ago, I was in the mood for some spicy food and this is what jumped out of my pantry and refrigerator!

I started with seasoning the chicken strips with chili powder and browning them in a little olive oil. Then I added lots and lots of jalapenos!

Then I mixed in a can of spicy hot FAT-FREE refried beans and a can of Ro-Tel HOT tomatoes and chiles. I dished it out with the Uncle Ben's Spanish Rice (Ready Rice in a microwavable bag - how awesome is that?!) on the side.

It was so good and just what I was craving that I've already made it again since then! This time I mixed the rice right in with rest...so good! I don't have a name for it but if you come up with one, let me know!

Moving on...

Last Sunday on Mother's Day, I spent the afternoon over at Mike and Susan's house along with David, Susan's mom and of course, little (not so little anymore) Mikey.

Susan started a new job probably a month or so ago and her chef asked her if she wanted to borrow his kid's bouncy house for the weekend. Well, there was no twisting of arms going on there...of course she said of course!

How fun is this?

This bouncing thing is fun!

Let me check out this slide!

Oops...gotta remember to hold those feet up...almost did a header!

Do it again...do it again!

(This kid has the strongest toes in the nation!)

Getting set...

And down I go...

Time for bubbles!

In your face Uncle David! ha!

And finally...

I couldn't let this opportunity go by without sending you over to Be Thou a Knight for another Vera Bradley giveaway! Check out this backsack...I can think of so many things I would use this for! And the pattern is gorgeous!

The deadline to enter is Friday, May 22nd, so don't be left out. Click on over and get your entries in!

A Bloggy Breakfast...

2009-05-16T13:01:00.004-04:00

This morning I had the good fortune of meeting a fellow blogger and her husband. I must confess I was so nervous...like I was meeting Hollywood celebrities! Isn't that crazy? But truth be told, it couldn't have been more comfortable and so much fun!

Oh, who did I meet, you ask? None other than Amy and her husband, DW, from Chapters! My son and daughter-in-love, David and Lianna, aka Be Thou a Knight, Dusty and Amy and I met at a little place in San Marco called The Metro Diner. I've driven by there many times but never even noticed it before today. We were not disappointed!

I think whenever you meet people in person for the first time, you are all a little nervous as I think all of us were. But it was just like we were all old friends! DW and the DH (or as he is now known, DB - a little inside humor there) talked like they were old college buds and Amy, Lianna and I talked and talked and laughed and laughed.

What a wonderful way to start an otherwise normally do nothing Saturday!

Happy Mother's Day...

2009-05-09T21:47:00.007-04:00

Wishing a beautiful day to all mothers, mothers to be and mothers of the future!

Fun in the Sun...and Water Too...

2009-05-07T18:39:00.006-04:00

What a difference a year makes! Last year right about this time, Mikey was about 8 months old, just on the verge of walking but certainly not mobile enough to maneuver a pool. And look at him now!

kind of questioning what I'm doing with my phone!

doing his body builder stomach muscle flexing

swimming pool + sunshine + 2 grandmothers at one time = all smiles!

Susan's mom 'blew' into town once again the other day for a very short visit (more on that later) and while Susan was at work and Mike went to bowling, Grandma Barb and me, D-Ma, got to babysit. Thank goodness, I had my cell phone with me to take pictures because I left my camera at home! Still asking myself, 'Self? How do you forget your camera when you go to visit Mikey? That definitely does not compute!'

A Friend in Need....

2009-05-04T18:20:00.005-04:00

Please lift your hearts for one of my best friends, Patty. She lost her job a few months ago after being with the same company for 18 years! Doesn't anyone in the world show any loyalty anymore? Okay, that is definitely another topic!

Anyway, she has been unsuccessful in her attempts of finding a new job and not for the lack of trying. This is itself is very depressing to her among the usual trials and tribulations of daily life.

She currently lives in North Carolina but both her children live out of state. She has no support system where she is and has come to a decision to move to Colorado where her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter live. She has no prospects out there other than the fact that she will have the support of family.

To add salt to the wounds, the health insurance that she currently is able to carry from her former employer under COBRA, is not offered in the state of Colorado. So she is trying to secure medical coverage from whoever will give it to her. I phrase it that way because she had open heart surgery to replace a heart valve several years ago and insurance companies don't take kindly to those kind of pre-existing conditions.

She is at the end of her rope and I personally feel like she has made the right decision even though this move is going to be extremely trying, not to mention, exhausting.

Again, spread the word and give a shout out to Man upstairs for my good friend!

Thanking the blog world so much from both Patty and me!

Getting to know you...

2009-04-30T22:02:00.006-04:00

Dancing Barefoot on Weathered Ground requested "getting to know you" and yes, I want to participate....

Check it out and pay it forward...I did

An Un-Kitchen Recipe...

2009-04-27T18:58:00.004-04:00

Apparently there is more than one way to cook up something good and you never even have to step foot in the kitchen...even though it would work there too!

The recipe of prayer...

First, check out this video that Niecey posted on MckMama's blog...and definitely grab your kleenex first. I don't know where this song came from, but I can't believe that it wasn't written specifically for Stellan...amazing!

Now the fantastic news of the day! Stellan was discharged today from the Children's Hospital in Boston. After 5 1/2 weeks of cross-country hospitalization, this sweet child is going home. Was his surgery successful? Moderately speaking, yes. Was his stay in Boston worth it? Definitely. Were the doctors in Boston solely responsible for stablizing this child? No. I believe that God intervened and that the power of prayer from literally all over the world holds the majority of the responsibility for this miracle.

Need I say more?

8 Things...

2009-04-26T20:53:00.006-04:00

My daughter-in-love, Lianna, over at Growing Our Own Garden, tagged me...okay, I admit it...it was last Thursday and I'm just now getting it together to do a post of my "8 Things".

8 Things...

8 Things I'm Looking Forward To:

1. A week off of work later next month.
2. Memorial Day party.
3. Jill and Jim's (Lianna's parents) and all the furbabies' visit.
4. Hanging out by the pool this summer.
5. Playing with Mikey.
6. Delivery of my new refrigerator next Saturday.
7. Renovating and upgrading my house.
8. My next grandchild.

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

Since I can't really remember what all I did last Wednesday, these are things I did yesterday.

1. Got my nails done...a new full set.
2. Got a pedicure.
3. Went to the grocery store (and overdid it as usual).
4. Enjoyed my leftovers from Longhorn's from the night before.
5. Blog and Twitter stalked.
6. Took a 3-hour nap.
7. Watched my DVR'd shows.
8. Played computer games.

(yes, pretty much wasted the whole day away...felt so good!)

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:

1. Buy a new house with a pool.
2. Get out of this neighborhood.
3. Eat more of what I want but lose weight.
4. Exercise better and lose weight.
5. Stop aging!
6. Retire sooner.
7. Make better use of my time.
8. Sleep better.

8 Shows I Watch:

1. Celebrity Apprentice
2. Dancing with the Stars
3. Biggest Loser
4. American Idol
5. Grey's Anatomy
6. Private Practice
7. Hell's Kitchen
8. Young & the Restless and Bold & the Beautiful

(okay, I know that's 9, but it is what it is!)

I tag Heather, Annell, Faith and Ashley Nicole.

2009-04-20T19:01:00.020-04:00

Ok, it's been over a week and still no Easter recipes posted. I was hoping to get them all and do them all in one post but it's apparent to me now that that's not going to happen. So I'll put a couple on here for now and hopefully my 'good cookin' family will get the others to me before next Easter! Ha!

So let's just start with a few pics of Mikey, the Hawaiian Easter Bunny!

Where am I?

Tell me why!

Let me examine this bunny toy...

Mikey & Aunt Brenna - Easter by the river...

Doink!

Now some food (or what's left of it). Mind you, the food pictures were taken AFTER everyone dug in but that should only tell you how good everything was.

The proverbial honey baked ham ... ala Tim!

Spinach Bars...ala Brenna

Sauteed Green Beans...ala Brenna

Glazed Carrots...ala Kim

Spinach Casserole...ala Me...recipe to follow

Broccoli Rice Casserole...ala Mike

Potato Salad Texas Style...ala Lianna...recipe to follow

Easter Bunny Cake missing one ear...ala Mike!

And now for a couple of recipes...let's start with the Potato Salad Texas Style. Lianna made this with the sage advice of Mr Jim, her Dad who is one of the best in the kitchen!

Potato Salad Texas Style

This is a recipe I use for 8 to 10 people. I like the red potatoes, but Irish or white potatoes are just as good.

Cut in cubes 1 inch by 1 inch, 8 large potatoes.........the size that is as big as your hand. Boil until soft but not mushy. Once soft, drain and let them cool.

Cut up 5 celery stalks into 1/4 inch pieces. Cut up one medium onion, 1/2 the size of the celery. Chop one small bottle of green olives stuffed with pimentos....same size as the onion. Cut up two medium sized dill pickles........could be kosher or plain dill.

Mix all of the ingredients into a large bowl. Add three tablespoons of "real mayonnaise".....not the mayo called salad dressing.

To spice it up, add two teaspoons of "spicy mustard"............. Plain mustard will work too. Add salt and pepper to taste............ a teaspoon of oregano, and a teaspoon of parsley is good for taste and some added color.

If you want to get real fancy with it, fry 6 strips of bacon very crisp or add real bacon bits on top of the mixture...... it's a presentation thing if you want to add some thinly sliced boiled eggs on top and a sprinkle of paprika.......... more color.

Oh, the possibilites are endless...

Now on to my deviled eggs. You'll notice there aren't any pictures of them...all gone! This is a staple as far as my kids, David especially, are concerned and although I always try to make enough to maybe even save a couple, they are always all gone, so I was too late for pictures but here goes...

Deviled Eggs

18 boiled eggs

Mayonnaise (either real or low fat will do)
Real Mustard
Salt
Pepper
Paprika

So simple and yet so good! Scoop out the yokes, mash with a fork, mix with mayo, mustard, salt and pepper until you get the desired consistency. Spoon mixture into eggs and sprinkle with paprika for color. Then hide them! Especially if David is anywhere in the vicinity!

The next one I got from Weight Watchers' so I'll give them the credit but it went over great! I varied the 'put together' a little but you'll get the gist!

Spinach Casserole (Alias Tuscan Casserole)

1 can Cannellini Beans (rinsed and drained)
1 10 oz. package frozen spinach (thawed and drained)
3/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/4 cup regular egg substitute
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. olive oil
1 medium onion chopped
2 cloves garlic
8 oz. mushrooms (sliced)
3 slices Pepperidge Farm thin sliced bread (torn into small pieces)
2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese

Combine the beans, spinach, ricotta cheese, egg substitute, salt and pepper. Saute the onions, garlic and mushrooms. Fold into the spinach mixture and put into a 9 x 9 pan. Top with bread pieces and Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes until bread is toasted and let stand for 10 minutes.

And now for a couple of updates.

Check out the PERFECT PACKAGE GIVEAWAY over at Be Thou a Knight! You won't be sorry!

My friend Tammy's nephew got wonderful results. He had surgery and the supposed tumor turned out to be an old hematoma and he is expected to make a full recovery!

The big one...hit your knees...Stellan will have surgery tomorrow morning at 8:30 am EST. He has been such a trooper and this surgery just has to be his ticket home to his family...please pray like you've never prayed before!

And last but not least...Happy Birthday to my son Brian...Happy 30th! That is so scary for me!!!!!

Until next time...

Last Chance...

2009-04-17T08:09:00.008-04:00

Wow! I am such a slacker! Today is the last day to enter the PRE-GIVEAWAY over at Be Thou A Knight. This is a must have, so hop on over and get your entries in quick!

Happy Easter....

2009-04-11T20:24:00.002-04:00

Wishing a blessed Easter to everyone!

A Few Updates...

2009-04-10T19:01:00.003-04:00

Not much cooking going on lately...but I wanted to share a few updates.

1. Unfortunately, the good news I shared in my last post about Stellan changed somewhat almost as I hit publish. Although he is doing well at the moment, they probably will be flying him to Boston next week for surgery. Please pray for him!

2. I posted a tweet to pray for my good friend Tammy's nephew who had surgery last Monday for a tumor in his leg. Well, there is good news there! The doctor felt like it was more like a bruising but they have sent testing off to the lab. So please still pray that the results will be good.

3. And last but not least, guess who won Prize Package A on the GIGANTIC GIVEAWAY? Yay for me!!!!

4. Oh and very last but not least...I don't even know if I shared that my daughter-in-love, Susan, was laid off several weeks ago. Well, after much pounding the pavement, she got a job yesterday! I am so HAPPY for her!

And I plan on sharing some Easter recipes within the next few days...so please stay tuned!

Things Are Looking Up...

2009-04-03T19:01:00.004-04:00

Is there anything sweeter than a peacefully-sleeping baby? Stellan has been out of SVT for 48 hours straight and is starting act like the happy baby he was before all this mess started 13 days ago.

For more updates, please go to MckMama's blog and while you're there, check out Stellan's Name Gallery. . . you'll be glad you did as you witness the visible power of prayer at work!

One More Day - The Gigantic Giveaway...

2009-03-29T12:22:00.004-04:00

Just wanted to send out a reminder that there is only one more day to enter the Gigantic Giveaway going on over at Be Thou a Knight...DEADLINE TO ENTER IS MARCH 30th!

And please keep praying for baby Stellan. There has been little change all week, many up and downs but he is still in constant SVT. There are updates on Twitter during the day and usually an update at night of the day's activities from MckMama. Or click the button on my sidebar to the right to go straight to her blog.

Please Pray for Stellan!

2009-03-23T17:49:00.004-04:00

I confess...I am probably not considered a very religious person by the people who know me, but I do have faith and feel very deeply...although I suffer many doubts too. I'm leaning toward the 'having faith' side right now and asking that everyone please pray for baby Stellanas I am and have been since I came to 'know' him last fall. This precious baby boy was diagnosed with Supra Ventricular Tachycardia before he was born and not expected to live. But God listened to prayers from all over the world, and he was born healthy...not a sign of a heart problem and even survived RSV last December. Last night he was taken to the ER and later transferred by ambulance the a Children's Hospital with breathing problems and diagnosed with SVT...what a shock! The ultrasound is showing an enlarged heart and they have spent most of the night and today trying to get his heartbeat to come down (it's been 300 beats per minute!)

There has been no news since this morning so that is of great concern but please check MckMama's My Charming Kids blog for updates and PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!

Chicken & Bacon Wraps...

2009-03-21T08:48:00.006-04:00

Back in January, my daughter-in-love, Lianna, sent me a couple of pictures and a recipe for Chicken & Bacon Wraps. Finally, I tried it out last night and am now wondering why I waited so long! It was SOOOOOOOO good!

Chicken & Bacon Wraps

1 1/2 lbs. chicken breast cutlets (thinly sliced)
Any kind of Cajun type seasoning
Sliced Jalapenos
Bacon

Cut the chicken into strips. Season generously. I didn't have any Cajun seasoning on hand so I used garlic pepper, crushed red pepper and minced onions. Put a couple of slices of jalapenos on chicken and roll up with bacon. Secure with toothpicks. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until chicken is done. I placed it under the broiler for a few more minutes to crisp up the bacon. I served it with Uncle Ben's Mushroom Recipe rice and green beans. A perfect meal!

I also wanted to take this opportunity to remind you about the GIGANTIC Giveaway going on over at Be Thou A Knight.

This is huge and for a truly worthy cause. There will be 4 lucky winners...yes, that's right...4! The deadline to enter is March 30th...so mark your calendars and don't be left out!

A Day at the Park

2009-03-16T19:32:00.005-04:00

A day at the park? Maybe more like closer to an hour... Yesterday, Susan invited me to go with Mikey and her to the park. We have several around here and the one she chose just happened to be Mike and David's old stomping grounds. This park has been converted from University Country Club, that included an 18-hole golf course, swimming pool and tennis courts. Now don't get me wrong...this was not one of those hoity-toity country clubs. It was very family-friendly and the fact that G-Ma lived right across the street from it and was an avid golfer made it super easy for them to take full advantage.

But anyway, back to the park. When the club was sold (by some very dear friends, I might add), it was renamed to Blue Cypress and converted to a 9-hole golf course, a playground, a hiking trail and I think there's even a boat ramp to the St. John's River.

So off we went. We were probably there for less than an hour but it was plenty of time for Mikey to get his face dirty, learn how much fun a slide is, play with a basketball, pick up pieces a trash in the mulch - you name it - he did it. So here are a few pictures...I think they speak for themselves. (And by the way, while I was trying to take pictures, he wore his Mom slap out!!!!
In D-Ma's car...where am I going?

And this is my favorite...here he is, 2 days past 18 months old and he's found a friend. This sweet little girl - she seemed like she was there by herself - went down the slide a couple of times next to him and then put out her hand to him...is that sweet or what????

Another Friday the 13th Bunco...

2009-03-15T18:01:00.008-04:00

What are the odds...two Friday the 13th's back to back...and they just happened to fall on the second Friday of the month, our Bunco night!

This past Friday we actually played Bunco for the first time in months. I didn't realize how much I missed it...we had so much fun!

The pictures are definitely lacking in the quality department but I think you'll get the idea. (hint, hint...if anyone wants to buy me a present, a new camera would be sweet!)
Tammy and her brown bag! ha!
Babs with green clover shades on!
Break time - Melody on the phone!
Brenna & Litsa-mother/daughter night out!
Prima ballerinas...
Yay for me...bunco!
Brenna - the Biggest Loser!
Katie - a lucky winner!
Sue - won her money back!
Jill - another lucky winner!
Cindy - not the Biggest Loser...

Unfortunately, this picture had the worst quality of all but Rhonda was our hostess and I didn't want to leave her out!
Rhonda and her daughter Olivia...

In honor of St. Patrick's Day coming up, Rhonda made a Mexican Chicken Rice Casserole...ha! As you can see, though, there was very little leftover!

Tex-Mex Chicken 'n' Rice Casserole

1 cup chopped onion
2 tbsp. margarine, butter or olive oil
1 6.6-oz. package regular chicken-flavored rice-vermicelli mix (Rice-a-Roni)
1 cup long grain rice
2 14-oz. cans chicken broth
2 1/2 cups water
4 cups cooked chicken or turkey
4 medium tomatoes (I probably used canned)
1 4-oz. can diced green chili peppers, drained
2 tbsp. snipped fresh basil or 2 tsp. dried basil, crushed
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin seed, crushed or 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/8 to 1/4 tsp. pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (4 oz.)

In a 3-quart saucepan cook onion in hot margarine, butter or oil until tender. Stir in rice-vermicelli mix, including seasoning package, and uncooked rice. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Stir in broth and water. Bring to boiling, reduce heat. Cover and simmer 20 minutes (liquid will be be full absorbed).

Transfer the mixture in a very large mixing bowl. Stir in chicken or turkey, tomato, chili peppers, basil, chili powder, cumin and pepper. Transfer to a 3-quart casserole.

Bake, covered, in a 425 degree F oven for 20 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 5 minutes more. Makes 12 servings.

Tip: you can make this ahead and bake for 30 minutes instead of 20.

Pray for Abby Now!

2009-03-13T23:02:00.005-04:00

"
It's more important now than ever...Abby had her last round of 'this round' of chemo a few days ago and she is not doing well at all. She has absolutely NO immune system and has a massive infection around her G-tube. This poor child has been through so much and can still manage to flash a smile, even when she's at her worst. But this infection is bad and she is in a very scary place right now. This is the most recent post from her father earlier this evening. Please pray for her with everything you have!

If you want to learn more about Abby's story please read the Riggs Family Blog...Where Laughter Lives. Even though there is so much heartache with Abby right now, there is also hope and so much to be thankful for and I know you'll come away truly inspired. Abby's story gives a whole new meaning to "don't sweat the small stuff"!

Pray for this sweet, sweet girl!

When An Uncreative Mind Creates...You Get...

2009-03-12T21:09:00.017-04:00

You probably know by now that I love hot stuff...the hotter, the better. Well, tonight I came up with the following concoction and I, for one, was not disappointed. I hope you'll try it and not be disappointed either!

Cheesy Chicken and Spinach

1 1/2 lbs. chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
1 16 oz. package frozen spinach
1 cup 2% shredded cheddar cheese (mild or sharp)
1-2 tbsp. black olives, sliced
Frank's Red Hot Sauce
Garlic Pepper
Pam Olive Oil spray
Fresh lemon
Heat skillet sprayed with PAM. Brown chicken breasts seasoned with garlic pepper and lemon juice. While chicken is browning, cook spinach in microwave on high for 4 minutes.
Now pour Frank's Red Hot Sauce on chicken breasts and arrange on top of spinach...
Top with cheddar cheese and sliced olives.
Bake covered in a 325 degree oven for 20 minutes...remove cover and bake for 10 more minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

And there's more...

Check out my sidebar...Greeting Cards for Our Garden is now an official website! Just click on the button and you're there...

Or if you'd rather, just go to Lianna's Etsy Store and choose from the collection there.

And last but not least, you can't pass up the GIGANTIC Giveaway...deadline to enter is March 30th and there are 4, yes 4 packages to be had! Don't be left out of this one!

The Gigantic Giveaway...

2009-03-09T17:44:00.004-04:00

Do you want to be part of something big? Do you want to be part of something special? Do you want to share just a little of what you have with a couple who long to have children? Who wouldn't want to? Please join in and be a part of the Gigantic Giveaway! There are 4 packages...yes, you heard right...I said 4 packages! The list of prizes is endless and all for such a worthy cause!

Click on over to Be Thou a Knight and check it out. Read some of the story there and if that sparks your interest, there's a more in depth insight into their journey on Growing Our Own Garden. The deadline is midnight DST, March 30th so there's plenty of time to get your entries in...but don't wait too long...you know the old saying, "Out of sight, out of mind". You can't pass this one up!

And a special thank you to all those who been so supportive of Lianna and the DH through their journey. In case you didn't already know, it means the world to them!

Long Overdue...

2009-03-07T19:10:00.013-05:00

UPDATE: Grandma Barb is back and here until Tuesday! Hold onto your horses...I feel more pictures coming!

Last weekend, my other daughter-in-love Susan's mom swept into town for a couple of days from a frozen tundra somewhere in Michigan to have some fun in the sun and spend some quality time with Mikey. Barb drove by herself no less! But she made some visits along the way, including her son and his wife and then had plans to meet some old friends down south when she left here.

So we got together Saturday night for dinner and a nice visit. By the way, we had Cajun Chicken Pasta for dinner and it was delicious! I'll have to get the recipe from Mike and post it later on.

Well, I took a ton of pictures...Mike was kind of irritated with me, ha! These are long overdue...it's been a week! But I'm going to try and share some of the best ones with you...don't want you to get bored...

We started out in the backyard on the swingset. And man, does he ever crack up when Mike throws the ball for Mully to fetch...he thinks that is hilarious!
Mikey does love that swing!

Grandma Barb was out playing golf when I got there so she missed the backyard play but had plenty of time to love up on him when she got back...
Grandma Barb points out the nutritional value of pasta (or a box), ha!

Back inside, we got his PlayHut out. It's one of those things that just spring into being and can be flattened in a nano-second!
Peek-a-boo, I see you!
Mikey likes to concentrate in private!

Two of Mikey's favorite positions are hanging upside down or flying...

Do I see stunt pilot in his future?

And what night wouldn't be complete without him showing us his fashionista side?
Work that catwalk, baby!

A night time bath must be fit into every child's busy schedule and oh, is it the 'funnest' part of the day or what!

Do you like my hair?Toga Boy!

Look what the stork brought in!

A Toast to G-Ma...

2009-03-06T19:29:00.008-05:00

Three years ago today my mom, Millie Hagen, passed away after an 8-month bout with lung cancer at the age of 84. I won't go into all the details but I just wanted to propose a toast to her...she loved her some Jim Beam every day at 5:00!

And I also thought that maybe...just maybe, she would be able to see these pictures of the gorgeous azaleas in bloom in her back yard.

Please raise your glass of whatever...

Cheers G-Ma!

Meat Loaf...Microwave Style

2009-03-04T17:16:00.007-05:00

My South Carolina sister, Dottie, (actually, she's my only sister) sent this recipe to me the other day. She got it from her sister-in-law probably 10 years ago and never looked back. While I haven't tried this version yet, it sounds delicious so I wanted to share it with you.

Microwave Meat Loaf

Sauce:

8 oz. tomato sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. prepared mustard

Meat Loaf:

2 lbs. ground beef
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 cup cracker or bread crumbs
1 pkg Lipton dry onion soup
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Mix the sauce together and set aside.

Combine all the other ingredients and add half of the sauce – stir thoroughly - feel free to use your hands! It's much easier and does a much better job!
Place in a microwaveable round casserole or bundt pan. Pour the remaining sauce on top. Cook on full power for 14-16 minutes or until temperature of 160 degrees is reached.

And there you have it! Looks delicious, doesn't it? And...now I'm hungry... And...now I'm off to see what I can have for dinner!

Oh, but before I go, I want to remind you to be sure and save enough for the ever-popular meat loaf sandwiches the next day...

Now I'm REALLLLLLLLLLLY hungry!

Brad Wims

2009-03-03T21:56:00.001-05:00

Please say a prayer for the Wims family. Brad passed away yesterday after a long bout with cancer and left behind a beautiful wife and 2 young children...

11 Days and Counting...

2009-02-28T14:42:00.003-05:00

You just have to check out the incredible giveaway going on over at In His Hands called Baby O's BIG Prize Package Drawing!!!

In an effort to raise enough money, roughly $30,000, to adopt a child from South Korea, Rachel and Josh have teamed up with some very special people to host this amazing giveaway.

There are several ways to enter and even some tricks to increase your chances...and, if you feel so inclined, by donating even a little bit, you will be a part of bringing their dream that much closer and maybe have your Christmas shopping done to boot! And it's not even Easter yet! To learn how to enter, click on their button below or on my sidebar to the right.

And remember, all donations will go toward their adoption fees to Eastern Social Welfare Society, the agency in South Korea that is caring for and arranging the adoption of our child.

Pot Roast, Wine and Lots of Family...

2009-02-24T19:39:00.013-05:00

I probably should have broken this up into at least a couple of posts but it was a fun-filled weekend with good food, good 'beverages' and most of all, good company! So let's start by flashbacking to Friday...

It started with the last post - Sauteed Shrimp and Guam Rice...check out the comment from the 'diner'! Apparently, that went over very well! And then onto Saturday...

Bananas, tangerines, English Muffins, coffee, etc., in the morning...then we did BLT's and chips for lunch...how can anyone find something to complain about that! Mike and Mikey spent a good part of the morning and afternoon with us and I'm still wondering why I didn't take pictures! But that little boy is just such a joy to sit and watch!

So on to the Pot Roast...

Start by browning a chuck roast or any cut of your choice in olive oil and Worcestershire Sauce. Garlic pepper sprinkled heavily on the roast is definitely a plus!

Dutch Oven or Crockpot...either way...add a little water and let the roast cook for several hours.

Then add the potatoes and carrots...or anything other veggies you desire! Roast until done.

There were only 3 of us and not that much left over...must mean I did a great job! Pat on the back for me!

Onto Sunday...

A little brunwich bar...fix your own sandwich, add a few pickles and chips to prepare for the next adventure.

And then off to the San Sebastian Winery in St. Augustine...

I can't tell you how relaxing it is to just sit and listen to the music with good company...

Vinny Jacobs was our entertainment for the afternoon...he does a little bit of Billy Joel, Jimmy Buffet...just kind of laid back music...so enjoyable and relaxing.

I was able to get the recipes for the best part of the day. So first, (my personal favorite)

White Sangria...

1 Bottle Vintners White
1 Bottle Dry Sparkling Wine
4 oz. Triple Sec
Sliced Fresh Fruit (oranges, apples, kiwis, limes)
Add ice, chill for a few hours and serve

And...

Spiced Sangria...

Okay, first I need to be honest...this picture is not Spiced but Red...looks the same but they don't serve the Spiced...

1 Bottle Vintners Red
1 San Sebastian Mulling Spice Bag
1 Orange, sliced
1 Lemon, sliced
1 Kiwi, sliced
1 can 7-UP

Combine first 5 ingredients in large pitcher and refrigerate. Remove spice bag after one hour (can be reused if placed in plastic bag and freeze). Add 7-UP immediately before serving over ice.

And now onto the dinner at Darumas...

Well, first we had to have the meet and greet at David and Lianna's house...

Are you lookin' at me???

"Appetizers with Kodi"

And now really onto the dinner at Darumas...

Anyone who has ever been to a Japanese Steak House is salivating right now...we didn't take pictures of the food but we all know how phenomenal it is...

Happy!

And done! He couldn't have said it better!

Sauteed Shrimp and Guam Rice...

2009-02-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

I think probably everyone has had sauteed shrimp at some point in their lives...but this is my take on it.

Sauteed Shrimp

1 lb large shrimp peeled
1 half stick of butter
1 tablespoon minced garlic
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons parsley (just guessing...I don't ever measure stuff like that!)
Salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in frying pan. Add all other ingredients and cook over medium heat until shrimp are pink.

Guam Rice is another story and the ultimate for a rice dish. My Mom clipped this recipe out of the Florida Times Union many, many years ago. I tried to look the author up (someone who lived in Atlantic Beach, FL at the time) to give her credit but no such luck. So now I guess it's mine! It is jam packed with all kinds of goodies and goes especially well with seafood. My sister and her husband are visiting this weekend from West Union, SC., and I decided that this blast from our past should start the weekend off right. Main dish will be sauteed shrimp and our other side will be fresh steamed broccoli...

Guam Rice

1 cup rice
1 cup tomatoes
1 cup sharp cheese (I used shredded)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup olive oil
1 can mushrooms (stems and pieces)
1 can sliced ripe olives
1 1/2 cups boiling water (very hot from the tap is fine!)
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all the ingredients and bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.

Going in the oven...

Finished product and oh, so good! I am sparing you pictures of us...not a pretty sight! ha!

Try 'em out and let me know what you think!

Giveaways...

2009-02-19T21:20:00.008-05:00

There are some great giveaways going on right now...actually they are going on everyday but I want to share some of them close to my heart with you.

Please check them out before the deadlines...

Lianna at Be Thou A Knight...Deadline is February 22nd

And Lianna #2 (she has 2 giveaways going on at the same time!) at Growing Our Own Garden...and again, deadline is February 22nd

Heather and her precious Zoe at Mammas Little Sugar Booger...you just HAVE to check out Zoe's dimples!

And MckMama...I don't know how much time is left on this one but there are already over 1700 comments so hurry...get in before it closes!

These 3 awesome women all support motherhood and yet all are here for different reasons...please support all of them!

Baby Update

2009-02-17T19:28:00.007-05:00

First we have dear sweet Abby. She went into the hospital yesterday for the 19th time and will be starting a very intensive chemotherapy. She just had a few great days...please pray for her!

Next we have very newborn Jordyn. She is still in the hospital and as a preemie, she is still having a few issues but I think for the most part she is doing well...please pray that she will progress quickly and that Kendra and James will be able to take her home soon.

And just to show how the power of prayer works - - -

Stellan is thriving...after a 'death sentence' before birth and a life-threatening illness at 10 weeks, he is absolutely thriving. He has even gone on a Bahama cruise! Check out the MckMiracle and all the other MSC! What a trip!

Baby Harper, born on January 16th, spent 3 weeks in the NICU and went home on February 5th! What a blessing and she is absolutely beautiful!

Baby Brayden, born on January 14th spent 33 days in the NICU and finally came home on February 16th! Welcome home, Brayden...you are just precious.

And last but not least, thank you to all who have visited Cora's Playground. She was only with us for a few short months but what an impact she has made on our lives...what better tribute could be given to such a special child than a playground. Please contribute if you can...it means so much.

So we have some prayers yet still to pray and we have thanks to give to God!

Friday the 13th...

2009-02-16T19:46:00.014-05:00

Okay...I admit it...I was so consumed with my Valentine's Day gift and my new look that I totally neglected sharing our Friday the 13th "Bunco" night. I highlight "Bunco" because it's literally been months since we have actually played "Bunco". We have been playing a game called "LCR". Silly no brainer game...requiring no more skill than Bunco. But so much fun...

The good part about this game is that we all sit at the same table. With Friday being the start of the Valentine's Day weekend, hearts and the colors pink and red dominated the decorations. Aren't those the cutest placemats. I tried to figure out a way to smuggle them out, but I guess I'll just have to spring for them myself next year...

Anyway, the hostess always provides the meal and this month we were treated with some delicious chili and awesome broccoli cheese soup. I can't wait to get those recipes to share with you.

And so here are this month's winners!

Babs - the hostess with the...um...most/first money? Ha!

Melissa - the hostess' daughter-in-love...how convenient! Ha!

Brenna - my absolute favorite "niecester"...very long story - if you need the definition of a "niecester", please email me...way TMI to share here!

And our 'final' winner - Melody - the hostess' first-born and my BFF - someone everyone should know (and you probably already do...she doesn't know a stranger)...Ha!
We did play one more game but for some reason the cameras didn't come out...Melanie, our newest member of the group was the big winner. Sorry, Melanie...we'll catch ya next time!

And in case you didn't notice, it is a requirement that if you win, you stuff the dollar bills down your shirt! We had such a good time as you can see...'cept I didn't win...boohoo!

My New Look

2009-02-15T21:22:00.005-05:00

Check out my new look! For Valentine's Day, my daughter-in-love gave me this awesome apron! Are you kidding me? Is that not the sweetest thing ever??? How could I not change my bloggy design to match the colors, etc? And guess who did most of it for me! You guessed it...my sweet daughter-in-love, Lianna!

Ok the lighting in the picture lacks a lot (my camera sucks) but it is SO cute! I just wanted to share!

Hot Slaw

2009-02-09T20:07:00.012-05:00

My sister, who by the way, is an excellent cook, gave me this recipe a few years ago...of course, we've all heard of dirty rice...well, this is more like dirty slaw and serves up HOT, HOT, HOT! In the first place, who would have thought you could mix all these ingredients and end up with not only a healthy side dish as a result but something oh so good? And anyone who knows me, knows I love, love, love spicy food! Can you say the best of both worlds?

Hot Slaw

6 slices of bacon (or cheat and use a bag of real bacon pieces, Oscar Mayer preferred)
1 large chopped onion
1 medium chopped green pepper
1 large head shredded green cabbage (or cheat and use a bag of shredded cole slaw mix)
4 tablespoons chili powder
Salt to taste
1 10 oz. can diced tomatoes and green chiles (recommend Ro-Tel)

In large skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain. Crumble bacon and set aside.

In reserved bacon fat, cook onions and bell peppers until limp, about 5 minutes.

Add shredded cabbage and cook until limp, but not soft, about 3-5 minutes. Add chili powder and salt to taste. Add tomatoes and simmer just until warmed through. Slaw should be slightly crisp. Seasonings can be adjusted to taste but like I said, the hotter the better! Add crumbled bacon just before serving.

This side dish goes especially well with pork (whether it be a roast, tenderloin, chops, etc.) or seafood.

Enjoy! Feedback is so appreciated!

2009-02-08T20:46:00.015-05:00

UPDATE #1: Welcome to Jordyn Elizabeth Ponder, born 02/08/09 weighing 4 lbs. 7 oz.!

UPDATE #2: I had some computer problems last night and wasn't able to get this posted. It's Monday morning but the same still holds true...

I fully intended to post a new recipe tonight but lacked a key ingredient...how can that be me...I am so not prepared...

I spent my weekend, blog-, twitter-, and facebook- stalking. I'm not quite understanding why all the things that I probably have heard about forever are now in the forefront of my life. It is killing me because I think there must be a reason and that there is something I am supposed to be doing. So right now, all I can think of is that maybe I need to share some of the stories I've read.

Praying for Abby

Sweet Baby Cora

Baby Harper...Welcome home!

Please pray for these precious little girls and their families!

Super Bowl Sunday...

2009-02-01T14:13:00.011-05:00

You just can't let a Super Bowl Sunday go by without some good snackin' recipes. My daughter-in-law, Susan, made the Buffalo Chicken Dip for Mikey's birthday party back in September and it was just too good NOT to chow down on today... She also gave me the recipe for Spinach Artichoke Dip. Though I'm not making it today, it is definitely a crowd pleaser...

Buffalo Chicken Dip

1 lb. softened cream cheese
1 cup ranch dressing
1 cup Frank's Red-Hot Sauce
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
2 chicken breasts cut into small pieces

Mix all the ingredients and heat in a 400 degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Serve hot with veggies, chips, crackers, wings...the list is endless!

*************************************************************************************

Spinach Artichoke Dip

1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
1 small onion diced
2 minced garlic cloves
4 tablespoons flour
salt & pepper to taste
2 cups milk
2 cups sour cream
1 1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons Frank's Red-Hot Sauce
2 cups Parmesan cheese
1 box frozen spinach, thawed, drained and squeezed out
1 can chopped artichokes

Saute onion and garlic in the oil and butter until translucent. Add the flour and whisk together. Cook about 5 minutes, then add milk, salt, pepper, hot sauce and lemon juice. Cook while whisking to remove lumps until just before a boil. Add the Monterey Jack cheese and whisk. Turn heat down to low. Keep whisking until cheese is melted. Add Parmesan cheese and sour cream. Mix until incorporated. Add spinach and artichokes. Mix together. Serve warm in a crock pot with chips and celery or other veggies.

So there you have a couple of yummy snackin' dips for the big day. But if you're just not into the Super Sunday thing, how about a Super Giveaway? Hop on over to Lianna's blog and check out this very "Springy" Vera Bradley Limited Edition Sateen purse and wallet set. Don't the colors just scream Spring???

Chicken Broccoli Bake...

2009-01-24T23:24:00.013-05:00

This recipe has been a long time favorite in my house and by special request, I am sharing it with all of you. I found this recipe in a cookbook called "Recipes on Parade" published back in 1964. It contains 2,000 world wide favorites of Military Officers' Wives. Of course, over the years, I've changed a few things but the end result is pretty much the same...yummy!

1 bag frozen broccoli florets
3 or 4 large boneless chicken breasts cooked
2 cans mushroom soup
1/2 cup water
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 tsp. curry powder (that's what it calls for...I use a LOT more)

Cook the broccoli according to package directions and place in casserole dish. Top with chicken.

Combine the soup, water, mayonnaise and curry powder and pour sauce over the chicken and broccoli.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes...

Serve over rice and enjoy!

REMINDER! Tomorrow is the deadline to enter Lianna's giveaway. If you haven't entered already, hop on over and check it out! While you're there, do a little browsing in her Etsy store...

Mikey the Wild Child

2009-01-20T21:06:00.009-05:00

Seems like I took more than Sunday off...well, maybe just a Monday too...no new recipe tonight but more to come.

Dinner was delicious the other night at Mike and Sue's house and I just wanted share a couple of pictures of the Wild Child, Mikey. You'll understand what I mean by Wild Child when you see the blurry photos...he is perpetual motion personified!

Caught with a huge smile!

Not sure why but Mikey likes to get in the Mully's dog kennel and pretend he's in jail!

And poor Mully...Mikey thinks she's a horse!

UPDATE...all the prayers offered for Baby Brayden and Baby Harper are working. Both babies are making progress, slowly but surely. Keep up the good work!

Taking Sunday Off...

2009-01-18T14:28:00.003-05:00

No recipe today...I'm taking the day off! My son, Mike, invited me to watch the football game and have dinner! GO STEELERS! And GO POT ROAST!

Not only that, but I've been having serious Mikey withdrawal here lately! I don't think I've seen that precious baby since New Year's!!! So I'll get to catch up with him between dinner and bedtime. So looking forward to that...

I also want to remind y'all that there's only one week left to enter Lianna's Chip/In Giveaway. The deadline for entry is January 25th to win one of Miss Anne's 12 X 12 custom canvasses. They are so unique and definitely worth an entry on two! Please check it out, leave a comment, become a follower, whatever you can do to support Lianna and the DH in raising enough funding for their 3rd IVF attempt. Thanking you in advance for your support!

Also, please continue praying for Baby Brayden and Baby Harper and their families. Both babies are still in critical condition and need your thoughts and prayers.

Vegetable Soup

2009-01-17T17:17:00.015-05:00

Before I get started, I want to put out a request to please please hold some people in your thoughts and prayers today. I don't personally know these people but I have followed their stories and definitely feel a connection.

Jenna gave birth to Brayden a few days ago and although he was full term, he experienced breathing problems and currently is in the NICU in Little Rock.

Kelly gave birth to Harper yesterday and again though full term experienced heart and lung problems. She was flown to Tulsa and currently is in the NICU there.

Please check out my sidebar for updates and more on their stories and others too and please please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Now for the soup. Here in the Sunshine State of Florida, the temperature went down to freezing last night and will be in the 30's again tonight. Now I know to so many of you, that probably seems like balmy winter weather, but to me...I'm freezing! So the remedy for freezing is good ol' homemade vegetable soup! This recipe comes from my son, Mike, who's quite a cooker...if I do say so myself!

3 cups V-8 Juice
1 can diced tomatoes (juice in the can too)
1 package frozen corn
1 potato diced
layer chopped/sliced celery
layer sliced carrots
1 package frozen green beans
1 package frozen lima beans (optional)
1/8 teaspoon savory
1/8 teaspoon rosemary
1/2 teaspoon marjoram
1 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons parsley
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (personally I like a lot more!)
2-3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves

Combine all the ingredients in a dutch oven or a crockpot. First the juice, tomatoes and corn.

Then the potatoes...

Now the celery...

And on to the onion...

Add the carrots...

And finally the beans...

Add the spices (these are just guidelines) and simmer on the stove or in the crockpot until the potatoes and carrots are done.

Have a good one and stay warm!

Crab Cakes

2009-01-11T20:04:00.010-05:00

This turned out to be a conglomeration of ideas from several different recipes. But it turned out pretty good so I wanted to share it with you.

Crab Cakes

1 lb. fresh or frozen jumbo lump crab meat
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped red pepper
1/2 to 1 cup mayonnaise (I used Olive Oil Mayo)
1 egg beaten
1 cup bread crumbs
1 tsp. Worchestershire sauce
Tabasco sauce (to taste)
Lemon juice
Pepper (to taste)

Finely chop the onions, green and red bell peppers and celery. Set aside.

Beat the egg and add and mix the rest of the ingredients together.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Separate the mixture into 8-10 portions, shape into balls, roll in bread crumbs and place on PAM sprayed cookie sheet (I use foil for easy cleanup). Flatten to make round patties. Spray the tops with PAM.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, turn and bake for 5-6 more minutes.

Serve with Tartar sauce.

Simple Tartar Sauce

Mayonnaise
Chopped onion
Sweet Relish
Worchestershire Sauce
Tabasco Sauce

Mix and chill.

Enjoy!

National Championship Chili

2009-01-08T20:31:00.011-05:00

GO GATORS!

To me there aren't a whole lot of things better in life than some cool weather, a Florida Gator National Championship game and a big pot of chili! GO GATORS!!!

Last night in preparation for tonight's game, I made a pot of chili. I know some people like a lot of meat, others a lot of beans and still others who like a lot of both. I happen to be in the 'others' category. Although, I seem to vary a little each time I make it, my basic recipe goes like this:

1-2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 small to medium onion, chopped
4-6 cans beans (I prefer light & dark kidney beans but have used red & pinto too)
1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
1 10 oz. can Rotel tomatoes
2 cans tomato soup
Chili Powder to taste (I use a lot!)
Salt & Pepper to taste
Cayenne and/or crushed red pepper (optional)

Brown the ground beef with the onion. Add the other ingredients and simmer on the stove or in a crock pot for several hours. Everyone knows it's better the next day
anyway!

And voila - the finished product!

I also have a couple of side notes I want to share. Lianna Knight, my beautiful daughter-in-love, and my son, the DH, are trying to raise enough money for their 3rd IVF attempt. She has a great giveaway in progress on her blog, compliments of one of her followers. Please visit Lianna at www.bethouaknight.blogspot.com to leave a comment and become a follower to enter. It doesn't cost anything to enter but any and all contributions get them that much closer to their precious dream. And I would be forever grateful for that!

Also, when you hit your knees tonight, please say a prayer for Lianna's Mom and my BFF, Jill. She's under the weather and going through a rough time right now.

So goodnight for now...hope you enjoy the chili and remember...GO GATORS!!!!

STARTING A NEW YEAR WITH SOME COMFORT FOOD

2009-01-01T20:19:00.002-05:00

[Photo]
Also known plainly as Hot Dog Casserole or now fondly called The HDC, this recipe was an all time favorite when my kids were young and I might add, it still goes over with a bang!

CHEEZY HOT DOG CASSEROLE

2 packages (10 oz. each) frozen chopped broccoli
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) condensed cream of celery soup
2 cups cubes sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
6 drops Tabasco pepper sauce (I go a little crazy with this!)
3 cups cooked rice
1 package (12 to 16 oz.) hot dogs, cut into 1" pieces

Cook broccoli according to package directions. Drain well and set aside. Heat soup, 1 cup cheese, milk, onion powder, mustard and pepper sauce. Stir in rice, hot dogs and broccoli. Turn into a greased shallow 2-quart casserole. Top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Makes 6 servings.