Senseo Giveaway!

Check out my new blogger friend "Truthful Mommy". She is giving away a Senseo in honor of her upcoming birthday! Stop by her blog for a chance to win...and if you do...you owe me a cup of joe :)

Click For Link!

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.

Super Easy Pumpkin Bread

I would like to start by saying...I know I am super behind on this one! My apologies in advance!

I started (finally) clearing the memory card on my camera the other day. I found the pics of these muffins and realized I never posted this recipe! So I am taking a few steps back to October of 2009. These were so super easy to make. Instead of making a loaf...I made mini muffins. The recipe made about 24. I made two batches so I could share with my neighbors...and friends at work :)
**This recipe came from Mrs. English on Recipezaar.com**

1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup pumpkin puree (I used canned pumpkin)
1/2 cup olive oil (I used canola)
2 eggs beaten
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup walnuts (I omitted)
**I doubled all the spices in this recipe. Since I like a very strong nutmeg/cinnamon/allspice flavor**

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together flour, salt, sugar, and baking soda. In a separate bowl combine pumpkin, oil, eggs, water, and spices. Then combine with dry ingredients. Do not mix too thoroughly. Add walnuts. Pour into well buttered 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. Bake 50-60 minutes until a thin skewer poked into the middle comes out clean. Turn out of the pan and let cool on rack.
Makes one loaf.

If desired you can make them in a muffin tin as well. They come out just as moist! Just bake for 12-15 minutes! (mine came out perfect at 12 mins)

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