Exciting News!

I have been seriously neglecting my wifely duties lately.  I can't say that anything blog worthy has come out of my little kitchen in the past several months.  I'm hoping that will begin to change soon!  I have just been feeling very tired and sick all the time.....because we are HAVING A BABY!!!  Yes, I can't even believe it.  We are expecting our first little one in October.  A sweet baby BOY!  

I have been feeling a little better these past two weeks.  Now that I'm on into my second trimester (23 weeks to be exact) most of my sickness has faded, and I am beginning to get a little energy back.  I have tried a few new recipes this week....and if I can figure out how to upload photos from my new camera I will post them soon.  :)

HOT SAUCE!!

Ok!  Let me introduce you guys to my new best friend, Cholula!  It is my new favorite hot sauce.  Thats right...move over Tabasco.  I discovered this little gem while enjoying breakfast with my hubby at IHOP.  I'm not a huge fan of eggs, so I have to add a little something to make myself eat them.   

It is just the perfect amount of spice.  Not too overpowering...but not too bland.  Plus I kinda like the cute little wooden top on the bottle.  lol  Not many restaurants in my area use this condiment.  So I have been gently suggesting that they carry it.  Now when we go out for breakfast I have been known to hide my own little mini-bottle in my purse!  I know, I know...it's kinda embarrassing.  But if certain eating establishments near my home (lookin at you Cracker Barrel) would just start carrying it I would not have to resort to such drastic measures.  ;-)

Wassail

*My favorite wassail spice blend!

*A snowy evening outside the Biltmore Home in Asheville, NC!

Fall is here!! I'm so excited that the weather has finally gotten a little cooler...and the leaves are starting to change colors. It just makes me want to surround myself with pumpkins and the smell of cinnamon and cloves. Since I have been a little under the weather this week I decided to break out the slow cooker and steep some wassail. It is so warm and comforting to a sore throat...and the cinnamon is a great antioxidant!
On our vacation to the Biltmore Home in Asheville, NC we picked up a bunch of their wassail mix. It is a really great blend of mulling spices with a little extra orange zest flavor. I usually mix several tbsp fulls with apple juice or apple cider (my fav is the Simply Apple Juice) and let it steep for a few hours on low in the slow cooker. You can also just pick up a package of mulling spices at your local grocery store to blend with the apple juice/cider. I still place a few extra cinnamon sticks in...just for a little added cinnamon~ey taste :)

Baking For The Ladies At Church!

*Four dozen (minus one or two) Double Chocolate Chip Cookies*

*Four dozen Fall Oatmeal Cookies*

**8 dozen cookies all packed up and ready to go to the church**

This past week I had the honor of bringing some yummy baked treats for our monthly woman's ministry meeting at church. I really love these ladies...and most of them are wonderful cooks...so I was really feeling the pressure! I decided to make one "fall" cookie (since the weather is finally cooling off) and one chocolate cookie (I mean...what woman does not like chocolate). I finally decided on my friend Monica's Double Chocolate Chip Cookies...and a new recipe for Oatmeal Cranberry and White Chocolate Chip Cookies. Both the cookies were a big hit...and I have even received an invitation to bake for next months meeting :)

The recipe for the Double Chocolate Chip Cookies was in an earlier post...but you can find it HERE!

Fall Oatmeal Cookies

3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats (not instant)
3/4 cup dried cranberries
6 oz white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl using electric mixer combine sugar, brown sugar, and butter and cream together.
Add in eggs and vanilla. Mix until combined.
Add cinnamon, baking soda, salt and flour and mix well.
Fold in the oatmeal, cranberries and white chocolate chips. Make sure all ingredients are well distributed.
Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place 2-3 inches apart onto a greased cookie sheet.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.

**I added slightly more cinnamon and a good sprinkle of nutmeg to the batter for a more "spicy" flavor!

Each batch will yield approx 24 cookies!

recipe adapted from Julesong on Food.com!

Crockpot Cajun Boiled Peanuts!

This is another recipe from my fall cooking that I forgot to post! Sorry again!!

I am from the South. And being from the South I LOVE me some cajun boiled peanuts! They are such a great snack. But they can really be a labor of love. I found this recipe while searching around on Recipezaar.com. I added a good bit of cajun seasoning and hot sauce to spice things up a bit! I have a large crock pot with a lid that locks in place for transporting. It really came in handy with this recipe. As the peanuts cook and water fills the shells...it will begin to lift the lid!
**Original recipe from PugsandHugs on Recipezaar.com**

1 1/2 quart green uncooked peanuts (I used 1 lb peanuts in shell)
1/2 cup salt
2 1/2 quarts water (I just added enough water to cover the peanuts)
*4 tablespoons cajun seasoning
*hot sauce to taste (I like things spicy so I added just over 1/2 cup of Franks Red Hot)

Wash peanuts until water runs clear. Place peanuts in crock pot. Add salt, seasoning, hot sauce, and water. Cook on high for 6 hours. Then cook on low an additional 4-5 hours.
Add additional water during cooking to keep peanuts covered.

Food & Family

I just got my spring Food & Family mag in the mail today! WooHoo :)

I love**love**love the Kraft Food & Family magazine! It is just filled with all kinds of fun and easy recipes...and neat little cooking tips. I have been enjoying this little magazine for close to five years. So it shocked me to find out that most of my friends had never seen it....**gasp** So...for my friends and work peeps...here is the info!

The magazine is sent out quarterly. It is seasonal...so most of the recipes focus around that specific time of year! It is very cost~friendly. A two year subscription is only $13.98! You can go to www.KraftFoods.com to subscribe!

Ok girls! No more excuses...go sign up :)

A Trip To Marietta!

Since I have had a rough week with recovering from oral surgery. My hubby decided to surprise me and take me on a quick trip to GA...to eat at the famous Marietta Diner! I have wanted to visit for a while...and it just so happens that an episode of Diners Drive-In's and Dives that featured the restaurant had just aired the night before.

As soon as you walk in you are mesmerized by glass cases filled with amazing looking desserts of all colors...shapes...and sizes! The place actually has a very warm and friendly atmosphere. Since there was a pretty long wait...the owner opened a huge bottle of wine and started passing out glasses to guests that had been waiting for a table! Everyone goes above and beyond to make you feel like a member of the family!

For dinner I tried the baked pastichio...a Greek specialty. It kinda reminded me of a Greek version of lasagna. All baked in cheesy goodness :) All dinners are served with warm house made bread...a Greek salad or soup...and a huge slice of spinach pie! For dessert....there is anything and everything you could ever want..lol! We tried the carrot cake cheesecake....and it was so good....it will make you slap yo' momma :P

The joint is open 24 hours a day. So no matter what time you find yourself in the ATL area....you can always enjoy a great meal :)

Neely's BBQ

Anyone who knows me...knows I love me some Food Network! I could just sit on my couch for hours on end and watch their shows....and just be as happy as a pig in the sunshine..lol!

The hubs and I decided to take a quick weekend trip to Memphis. It's not that far and it would allow me to finally eat some good 'ol Memphis BBQ.....at the original Neely's! I love some good Southern BBQ...and I also enjoy watching Down Home With The Neely's. It was a win-win situation for everyone :P

It was a bit of a difficult time trying to find the place. We decided to take the trolly....then took the wrong trolly....got lost....got off at the wrong stop.....had to walk forevah in the rain!!! We finally made it...and let me tell you....it was worth all the hassle!

The BBQ starts off with a dry rub to give the meat tons of great flavor while it cooks. The BBQ and BBQ chicken were both so amazing. Tons of flavor! Their baked beans had pork cooked in with the beans for added bits of yumminess. Mark had their chicken fingers...and there was enough to feed a small army! The food was great and the service was even better! If you find yourself in the Memphis area.....check them out :)

**Just a note! The plate in my pic was the SMALL plate! Holy Smokes!!**

If you need a link to their site......http://www.neelysbbq.com/

My New Favorite Snack!!

Now that I am working night shift again I have not had much time to blog. I also have not really cooked or tried anything new that was "blog worthy"....that was...until Sunday night! It was one of the longest night shifts of my life...seriously. As the night drug on I developed the raving munchies. I noticed one of my work peeps eating these pretzel looking things. She offered to share.....big mistake on her part ;) I fell in love with the Andersons Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels! I stopped by two different stores on my way home that morning in search of these little gems. I bought two containers and hid one of them from my hubby (just in case he liked them even more than me!)!! They are seriously good snacking....and taste even better after midnight :P

Oh The Cuteness :)

On my trip to the beach~ shopping adventure I ran across the cutest thing ever!! I needed a new pair of oven mitts....but oven gloves trimmed in leopard fur....sign me up! My husband just laughs at me...and makes some obnoxious "redneck" jokes...but I love them. I think it adds some spice to my everyday cooking..lol! I contemplated buying the matching apron for a hot minute...but decided to pass on the fear that it might look a little ridiculous (or make my butt look even bigger)!

Greatest Grater!

My hubby and I took a trip to Myrtle Beach this week. It rained most of the day Friday...so since we could not hang out on the beach...we decided to take in some shopping! I came across the cutest little kitchen store (I'm a sucker) and I found my new favorite gadget...the microplane zester/grater! It has a funkey little handle that comes in several colors...and has a neat little plastic case! I am in love with this little contraption. I now find myself wanting to add zest to everything just as a good excuse to us it! Oh...and I had to pick up a few extra as Christmas gifts...since they were only 12 bucks! Score :)

A trip to Paula's :)

My hubby and I made a recent trip to Tunica...to eat at the new Paula Deen's buffet! It reminded me of the reasons that I love watching her...and reading her cookbooks. It is the kind of food that my grandmother used to make...the kind of food that warms your heart and fills your tummy. It reminds me of sitting in the kitchen and watching my sweet little grandmother cook all of her masterpieces...and trying to take notes along the way. It stirred up all the memories of all of those sweet smells I miss so much! It also reminded me of what is so special about the south....our hospitality...and most of all our food :)

Christmas!!

I love this time of year. The air is getting a chill...everything smells like cinnamon...and lets not forget the lights! I was able to wait until the day after Thanksgiving to put up our Christmas tree. Tons of garland...pretty ornaments....apple cider and cookies....whats not to love :) Happy Holidays!!