Lotta Bang for the Buck Dessert—Peanut Butter Parfait

Yesterday I shared a special dinner menu and recipes. I promised dessert today and here it is…compliments of two bloggers. Inside BruCrew Life is new to me. When I ran across this recipe on Jocelyn’s site recently I bookmarked it for later perusal.

Peanut Butter Parfaits! The peanut butter pie filling portion is a recipe from Pioneer Woman (here) who seems to be all over the place. Did you see her on the Today Show last week? Jocelyn at Inside BruCrew Life created the parfait and you can find the recipe here. These were easy to do and, best of all, can be done ahead of time. They were perfect for Beloved who is Reese’s Peanut Butter fiend :) In fact, we loved them so much…..

I made ten of them and took them to a dinner party tonight. They traveled beautifully in a wine box with dividers! :) Since this is one of our new Favorite Things I am linking to Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie for her Favorite Things party. Thanks Laurie—you’d love them too :) PS-I'm going to forgive you for that picture :)...soon, maybe... :) I am also linking to Sweets for a Saturday at Sweet as Sugar Cookies. If you love dessert, you will be in heaven!

Thanks for dropping by. Have a great weekend!~~Susan

A Special Dinner for Your Honey!

I ‘m pretty sure the Lord knew what he was doing when he made me a southern girl who lives for most of the year in a comfortable and temperate climate. Because when the weather turns to this

(And yes, Kathleen of Cuisine Kathleen—we call this snow—even THIS is snow to us :) Check out her lively and beautiful posts here. But back to my original thought—when the weather turns to this, my thoughts turn to this

My mind turns to warmer places, cookbooks, new recipes, food, eating, and pants with elastic waistbands—”buffet pants” as we call them :) A couple of weekends ago, I called Beloved and told him to stop and pick up some crabmeat at Sam’s or Costco on his way home. Both places carry incredibly good and affordable lump crabmeat and I had a plan .

I have been told that for a land-locked girl, I make a mean crab cake :) I have been making this recipe and the accompanying sauce for years. The recipe comes from Come On In a Jackson, MS Junior League cookbook. I almost always “tweak” a recipe, but this one is perfect just as it is printed!

I love that the the crab cake is almost pure—not a lot of filler—just enough to keep it on the fork long enough to get it into your mouth.

Yvonne, over at Stonegable, reminded me that I had also been craving artichokes. She has a great tutorial on how to cook and eat them here. I never have any trouble with the "eating" part :)

The beginnings of Shrimp Portofino—a dish of shrimp, pasta, and spinach in a heavenly sauce. You can find that recipe here.

Wouldn’t this make a perfect Valentine’s Day dinner for YOUR beloved?

Crab Cakes Dijon

1/2 cup vegetable oil, divided

1 tablespoon chopped green pepper

4 tablespoons chopped green onion

1 pound fresh lump crabmeat, picked

1 large egg, beaten

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

6 tablespoons dry bread crumbs

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

Saute pepper and onion in 2 tablspoons oil until wilted. Drain and mix with remaining ingredients. Chill mixture 20 minutes. Form into flat cakes—about 6 medium or 8 small. Chill about 15 minutes. Saute’ in remaining oil until golden brown, 5-8 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels. Serve with Dijon Sauce.

DON’T SKIP THE SAUCE!!! This is absolutely one of the best and is also good on boiled shrimp.

Dijon Sauce

1/2 plain yogurt

3 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon chopped onion

2 tablespoons dill relish

2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

Whisk together and server at room temperature. Refrigerate leftovers.

Thanks for stopping by! Please take time to say hello! I so very much love hearing from you. Come back tomorrow for dessert---you knew I’d have one :) I am linking to our friend Michael Lee West for Foodie Friday. Click on her button on the sidebar to join the party on Friday! Thanks~~Susan

The Most Depressing Day-Embrace It!

Gray skies got you down? Are you having a blue Monday? Well if you are, it turns out you are right on schedule! It turns out Somebody somewhere determined that January 24, 2011 is the most depressing day of this year. Christmas bills in the mail, broken resolutions, blah, blah, blah. Somebody has forgotten the resilience of the human spirit. Someone doesn’t know us!

It looks like a good day to retreat to me. So much attention is given to the Man Cave. All I need is this one little corner to nest in….a Nester’s Nook :). This is a corner in my formal living room—seldom used, but always tidy and inviting, and just perfect for me.

Here is picture of that corner of the room that my husband calls a huge waste of space. He may be right, but on days like this it doesn’t feel that way.

Whenever I’m feeling just a little down, it helps me to remember the many things for which I am grateful. My sweet daughter always makes sure I have cute journal to record them in. It also helps me to take the focus off myself—a good time to use pretty stationary to write someone a note just to say “I’m thinking of you”.

Who says hot cocoa has to be served in a chunky mug? I much prefer my “pinky-out” cup and saucer :) One painted in beautiful spring flowers is even better.

These belonged to my MIL. I have a set of eight with four different set of flowers. There is not a mark on the bottom of either the cup or saucer. I would love to know their history. Do any of you have ideas?

I’m listening to a little James Taylor and Carol King—Live at the Troubadour. Depressing? Chocolate, books, music, a snug corner. Sounds like a good Monday to me :)

I am linking to Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday. Click here to join the party. Thanks for visiting!~~Susan

Recipe for the Perfect Storm

Sometimes the stars align just right, conditions all come together, and the stage is set for the perfect storm. No, not the kind that produces torrential rain or snow….but, that’s part of it. On Monday morning, I awoke to this

A beautiful winter wonderland in a place more accustomed to power-threatening sleet than pretty white soft stuff.

Our house which lately has resembled the “Do Drop Inn” looked like this… not just empty….peacefully, joyfully quiet :)

Beloved closed up early and came home with plans to rest up for the big game. And while we are not Auburn fans, I always root for the SEC.

After a quick kitchen inventory, I knew I had the ingredients to complete both the recipe for a perfect evening and a perfect-for- the-occasion soup.

Dinner for two in front of the fire….and the flat screen tv :)

The fire’s reflection caught in mom’s old Community silverplate—White Orchid.

Is there anything better than a warm fire, warm soup, and a warm hand to hold?

Beef and Cabbage Soup

1 1/2 pound ground chuck

1 small head cabbage, cut into large pieces

1 large onion, chopped

28 ounces water (use the tomato can)

2 cans red kidney beans (dark or light)

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

3 stalks celery, chopped

3 tablespoons beef soup base

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon black pepper

28 ounces stewed or crushed tomatoes (we prefer the larger stewed)

Brown beef with onions and celery. Add all other ingredients and extra water if needed. Simmer covered for at least one hour.

Serve with the best-ever cornbread recipe here.

Simple, huh?

I am joining my friends Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday and Michael Lee West for Foodie Friday. You can find them by clicking on their buttons on the sidebar!

I know I have been sporadic in my posting and even more so in my visiting. Both sets of wedding plans are well under way. I am working on a whole new room and a surpise I hope to share with you soon :) Thanks for hanging in there with me!~~Susan

Adorable, Personalized, and Cheap!

Last year our daughter gave us an adorable personalized ornament for Christmas.   And ,I, the self-professed non-crafter thought, “I can do that”…”maybe”.  Today is DELIVERY Day!

I have a small group of friends I call the “ lunch bunch”.  We’re meeting today and I wanted to give them all a “happy”.  We’re all trying to conserve and besides, I wanted these to be personal.

I’ve been working for a few mornings and evenings after dinner.  Once I did the first couple and perfected “my craft” :), the process went quickly!

I used some large and some small non-breakable ornaments, paint pens, and acrylic paint.

Each family member’s name and the date were put on with a thin tip paint pen and a ribbon was attached to the top.

Each one was wrapped in a clear snack or gift bag with “grass” to protect it and tied up with left over ribbon.  Cute and best yet…almost no expense at all!  It might be a little late for this year, but remember this one!

Merry Christmas….Don’t forget to take time to enjoy the miracle!~~Susan

Christmas…Another Perspective

The last week before Christmas is upon those of us await the celebration of our Saviour’s birth.  So much to do; so little time to do it.  I read something last week that really made me stop and think….made me want to put it all into perspective.  I thought you might enjoy it too.

 

Inspired by Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, Dr. Charles Webster wrote:

If I decorate my house perfectly with bows and strands of light, but do not show love, I am just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table, but do not show love, I am just another cook.

If I volunteer at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing homes and give away a lot to charity, but do not show love, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with golden angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend holiday parties and sing in the church choir concert, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss one’s partner.  Love stops the cooking to hug the child.  Love is kind, though harried and tired.  Love does not envy another’s home with coordinated Christmas china and table linens.  Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.  Love does not give to only those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who cannot.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.   Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust….but the gift of love will endure.    

I think Dr. Webster has been peeking in my windows :)  Give yourself a break…take time to enjoy the miracle!~~Susan

Comfort to Celebrate Joy

It’s not that I don’t love you any more. I do. Really. I do. It’s just that life has bumped up a notch around here. Several notches really….but all very happy notches :)

You may remember I told you back at the end of October that our youngest son proposed to his high school sweetie. Well, This past Sunday called for another celebration! I broke my own “no-Sunday-cooking-except-on- the- grill” rule, set the table, arranged flowers, and COOKED for the entire clan.

It gave me a chance to use the cute salad plates I bought from Walmart….the ones that go in the dishwasher :) I even used jingle bell ornaments from Walmart as napkin rings.

No time for a fussy arrangement….one Kroger bouquet split between three Dollar Tree candle holders. I love doing several low arrangements instead of one big one. Odd numbers work well.

A little holly from the yard makes it an instant “Christmas arrangement”.

The meal was simple southern food—favorites requested by the guests of honor.

Waldorf Salad

Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

Crowder Peas

Hot Cornbread

Hot Fudge Pie with Peppermint Ice Cream

And what was the occasion for this celebration? Another wedding!!!!

Firstborn has proposed and we could not be happier!!! God has truly answered my prayers with these two young women who will soon join our family! So—big news for two of the three children and even more for the third one (more on that soon :). Let’s just say 2011 is going to be a BIG YEAR for this family!

Happy news and good food---truly Comfort and Joy!

Thanks for stopping by and mostly for not forgetting about me! I’ve left links for the cornbread and Waldorf salad recipes:) Stay calm and remember the reason for the season!~~Susan

Join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday by clicking on her button on the sidebar!