A Weekend of Cooking

I spent some time this past weekend dodging tornadoes and cooking. Oh and planning for the wedding…which is now 4 days away.

Here is what I made for my family over the weekend.

1. Sausage-Rice Casserole on page 53

This was a huge hit! It is definitely a repeat!

2. Gooey Butter Cakes found of page 125

This picture was taken while dinner was still cooking…note to self:do not make dessert first. Of course we loved loved loved this. I had to remind myself more than once that I had a wedding dress to fit into soon.

3. Basic Meatloaf found of page 50

This was not a hit and I think I just realized why. In the recipe that I linked it says 8 oz can diced tomatoes without juice, but in my book I promise it says with juice. Anyway, Shelby didn’t care for the tomatoes being so visible so she wound up eating mashed potatoes for dinner.

4. Mashed Potatoes found on page 85

Of course these were well received.

Only 237 more recipes to go!

Welcome Back!

I say that because I have not cooked posted a recipe in some time. I had kind of given up on it until I completed The List.

If you are here it means that you have followed over from StrawberryTart! in regards to Bucket List Number 86 – Cook Every Dish from One Cookbook.

If you know me then it would easy for you to guess what cookbook I chose – yeap The Lady & Son’s Savannah Country Cookbook – Well of course why would I start anywhere else?

You see – Paula is the one who started all of this – well restarted – you can read my first cooking post here.

Things will change just a bit from where I started with the blog. First, in honor of Paula’s talent I will not, at anytime, post full recipes on this blog. I will link where possible, but if she doesn’t have it published on the web, then I apologize – you will have to just go buy the cookbook – it’s worth it.

I will do my best to post pictures, but there will be times – like today – when I decide it may be best not to show the mess I made out of a recipe.

So here we go 244 recipes ahead of me to mark of #86 on my bucket list. I hope you enjoy!

To get us started here are my first three.

1. Barbecue-Style Pork Chops– found on Page 51
2. The Lady’s Cheesy Mac  - found on Page 78



Carrots made by me.



The family (JAG & Shelby) actually loved these. I of course loved the Mac & Cheese because this was not my first time to make this dish, but the pork chops were a little tough. This is not Paula’s fault. I attribute it more to the person who selected my pork chops – I still don’t think they were center cut  - sorry honey.

3. Praline Pumpkin Pie – found on Page 138 & 139

I have to admit that I did not read this recipe all the way through before I made started. I didn’t realize it had a merginue top, that wasn’t a deal killer, but I just wasn’t in the mood to deal with it, so JAG got a Praline Pumpkin Pie minus the Merguin – I don’t think I heard him complain.

241 recipes to go!

A Divan Day

Oh the joys of living in Texas…Bad Weather Days!!! I love that the metroplex closes schools when there is a little ice that melts by 10 am. This gave me a day off, well a day working from home. Today it was freezing (still is) and freezing mixed with rain equaled ice. It was a good day. Shelby got to stay at home, I got something’s done wile working from home and I got to prepare a good dinner for us. It was a Divan Day, therefore dinner had to be Chicken Divan.

Chicken Divan

1 (10 ounce) packages of frozen broccoli florets

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cooked and slices

2 (10 ounce) cans cream of chicken soup

1 cup mayo

1 teaspoon lemon juice

½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 ½ cups shredded cheese

½ cup breadcrumbs

1 teaspoon butter melted

Preheat over to 350 degrees

Cook broccoli according to package instructions until tender and drain. Arrange broccoli in a sprayed 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Place chicken slices on top.

Combine soup, mayo, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and ¾ cup cheese in bowl and pour over chicken.

In another bowl, combine breadcrumbs and butter and layer over chicken. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

So there you have it, the perfect end to a great Thursday. Woohoo! This is week is almost over!

Have You Heard?

Did you know? Have you heard? Oh My Goodness Gracious!

I picked Shelby up from tutoring today at school (yes unfortunately she didn’t get my ability to do math). As soon as she hopped in the car she said “Today is Dog the Bounty Hunter Day!” Oh wow, how did I miss that? Yes, my daughter has an addiction. She is truly addicted to Dog. So much so we are searching for a cupcake to make in the show’s honor. ***mother rolling her eyes***

So on in honor of Dog the Bounty Hunter Day I made Pepper Steak. Now this recipe takes some time, so it may not be a weeknight meal for most people, but oh it is soooooo good.

Pepper Steak

¼ cup flour

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

1 ½ pounds round steak cut ½ inch strips

¼ cup vegetable oil

1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained

1 cup of water

½ cup chopped onion

1 small clove garlic, minced (I sliced with an awesome pampered chef gadget)

1 beef bouillon cube

1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

2 large bell peppers, seeded, julienned

Combine flour, salt and pepper in a bowl and coat steak.

Brown meat on both sides with hot oil in a large skillet. Add tomatoes, water, onion, garlic and bouillon cube. Cover and let simmer for 1 hour 15 minutes or until meat is tender.

Add Worcestershire sauce and bell peppers. Cover and simmer until bell peppers are tender. I made the gravy thick with a little flower and serve it over white rice.

Oh, with all the excitement of Dog the Bounty Hunter Day I almost forgot…today was also New Cookbook Day! I love New Cookbook Day just as much as Shelby loves Dog.

How do you read a cookbook? Do you just flip through it? I read every word with a stack of post-it notes in hand marking every recipe that I plan to make. Today was a good one! I was so excited when I saw the title – The Cracker Kitchen by Janis Owens. It is absolutely wonderful. There is even a section called Funeral Fare. Now if my mother and my aunt Becky have taught me anything they have taught me you can get some of the best recipes at funeral lunches. You know when all the little old ladies of the church get together to feed the grieving family. So get ready to see recipes like hoecakes and brown sugar cakes. I can tell you right now there is a section about hunting season that I won’t touch with a ten foot pole. I don’t eat or kill opossum, deer or even squirrel. She also has a recipe for Fried Cooter. Now come on get your head out of the gutter it is a fresh water turtle. Haha! Don’t worry I thought the same thing.

I hope you are having a great week! Have fun cooking something new this week!