I Love This Time Of Year

Yes, I LOVE college football!

Go Cowboys! 

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I'm doing a guest post tomorrow afternoon for my blog friend, Kathe. 

Here's the link to her blog ---> Kathe With an E.

Hope you'll stop by & visit!  

Happy Weekend

I'm too busy today to make a "real" post, but I did want to wish you a wonderful weekend.

source

I'll be back tomorrow!

I promise!

A Little Kitchen Experiment

The other day I had 3 very ripe bananas that needed to be used in a baking project.  They were just moments away from the garage disposal.  

I found this recipe on Pinterest & thought I would give it a try.

Chocolate Banana Bread 

Source 

Now, if you've been reading my blog lately, you know I'm on a mission to clean out my pantry & freezer.

This recipe calls for chocolate chips.  I did not have any, but I did have 1/2 a bag of mini heath bars in the freezer.  A broke them into pieces, put them in a ziplock page & used a rolling pin to smash them into little bits. I also added 1/2 a cup of oatmeal & 1/4 cup of flax.  (I'm always trying to add fiber to our diet.)  

Here is my version of Chocolate Banana Bread.

Verdict, it would have been better with chocolate chips.

Don't get me wrong, it is good.

This is the way I like to enjoy a slice.

Four little delightful pieces.  So good with coffee!

Sweet Treats

We always make homemade ice cream for our summer celebrations.

I've been making this recipe for years.

The recipe is found in this old cook book.

If you have this one from the 1970s 

the recipe is on page 161.

Vanilla Ice Cream

4 eggs (I use egg substitute)

2 1/2 cups sugar

7 cups milk

3 cups whipping cream

2 1/2 tablespoons vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

Beat eggs till light.  Add sugar gradually, beating till thick.

  Add remaining ingredients; mix well.

Freeze in ice cream freezer.

(We use our electric White Mountain freezer.

I highly recommend it!)

Makes 1 gallon.

To go along with the ice cream we're having 

The Pioneer Woman's 

Chocolate Sheet Cake.

When I read the recipe for PW Chocolate Sheet Cake

it reminded me of the cake my friend, Margie,

made. She was a pastor's wife who could cook

up a storm.

These  pictures are from my original post of May 4, 2010

Combine 2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

Set aside.

In another bowl, mix with a fork

1/2 buttermilk

(I didn't have buttermilk so I added 1 tablespoon vinegar to whole milk.)

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

Set aside.

In a medium sauce pan,

melt 2 sticks of butter

add 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa powder.

Whisk together to combine.

Meanwhile bring 1 cup water to a boil.

When the butter is melted pour the boiling

water in the pan. Allow to bubble for a moment,

then turn off the heat.

Pour the chocolate mixture

into the flour mixture.

Stir together for a moment to

cool the chocolate.

Next, pour in the egg mixture.

Stir together until smooth,

then pour into an ungreased

jelly roll pan or

rimmed baking sheet.

Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

While the cake is baking make the icing.

Melt 1 3/4 sticks butter in a sauce pan.

Add 4 tablespoons cocoa powder.

Stir until smooth.

Add 6 tablespoons milk,

1 teaspoon vanilla,

and 1 pound powdered sugar.

Stir together until combined.

I opted not to add pecans.

Immediately after removing the cake

from the oven, pour the warm icing over the top.

What  sweet treats do you plan on having for your Labor Day weekend celebration?

Summer's Last Hurrah

Labor Day weekend is sometimes referred to as, 

"Summer's Last Hurrah".

Our family celebration will be Sunday afternoon.

Getting together on Sunday will leave Monday for resting & relaxation.

The menu is going to be 'All American'.

Hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans & fries.

I found these cute fry containers at Target several weeks ago.

Anyone like sweet potato fries?  I do, so we'll have those in addition to regular potato fries.

Here's the Pinterest recipe for sweet potato fries I want to try.

Click on picture for link to recipe.

Come back tomorrow to see something sweet for our celebration menu.

I'm linking with . . .

Watermelon Fun

Hubby brought home some big, beautiful watermelons, Friday after work.

Ethan & Emma had a lot of fun rolling this watermelon around before Papaw cut it up.

By the way, the melon is delicious!  

Words That Inspire

source

Do not be anxious about anything, 

but in every situation,

 by prayer and petition, 

with thanksgiving,

 present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6 

 (NIV)

Wishing you a day filled with hope . . . 

Saturday Snapshots

Summer is hanging on.  We're back to hot & humid days. 

 Our flowers have enjoyed our cooler than normal summer.  

The deck flowers are so pretty.

Saturday Lunch

Anyone want to guess where we ate?

So glad you visited today!

Hope you each & everyone are doing well.

School House Tablescape & A Review

I'm happy to report that the crock pot chicken & dressing was a big hit.  I'll be adding this recipe to my repeat list.  There were enough leftovers for one more meal.  Love leftovers.

The kitchen table is all ready for a teacher luncheon.

School days

School days

Dear old Golden Rule days

 'Reading and 'riting and 'rithmetic

Taught to the tune of the hick'ry stick

You were my queen in calico

I was your bashful, barefoot beau

And you wrote on my slate, "I Love You So"

When we were a couple o' kids.

The lyrics are from a song that was written in 1907 by Will Cobb and Gus Edwards.

Mrs. Rose Jefferson taught it to our class when I was in 4th grade.

Thank you Mrs. Jefferson for teaching this fun song so long ago.  A memory I carry in my heart.

I'm linking with . . . 

Strut Your Stuff Saturday

Update On My Freezer/Pantry Mission

Sunday's beef roast is the gift that keeps on giving.

Seriously.

Here's the list of creations that I've made from that big, lovely roast.

1.  Sunday dinner with steamed veggies

2.  Monday dinner with green salad

3.  Tuesday dinner beef/veggie soup

4.  Wednesday lunch, last bowl of soup for me

I just love these little tomatoes!

5.  Wednesday dinner beef enchiladas

I combined shredded beef, sour cream & salsa for the filling.  I used the small tortillas.

The red sauce was tomato sauce with taco, chili powder & garlic seasonings.

Topped off with cheese & green onions.

Baked at 350 for 25 minutes.

Hubby said it was delicious, better than El Chico.

6.  There were 2 left over for my lunch today.

7.  I had enough filling to make 4 more to put in the freezer,

This little pan came from $ Tree.  I think there were 4 in the package.  They also came with these cool little covers.

They have a great selection of throwaway pans.

8.  The last little bit of beef is going in the freezer with a little BBQ sauce for quick sandwiches.

It has been a lot of fun creating 8 meals with this beef roast.

Tonight is family dinner night.  

Come back tomorrow & see the review of this

  crock pot chicken & dressing recipe.

I'm linking with . . .

Strut Your Stuff Saturday