Recipe Monday late

My friend, Tamara, has a wonderful recipe for Cheddar Olive Balls. They are quite delicious and are an easy-to-take dinner party appetizer. I have even thought, if you are not an olive fan, you could substitute a pecan half in place of the olive.

Cheddar Olive Balls

2 cups sharp shredded cheddar
1 stick butter, room temperature
1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. paprika
dash cayenne pepper
40 green olives (pimento stuffed)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large mixing bowl, mix cheddar and butter until creamy. Add flour, salt, paprika and cayenne. Blend well. Using heaping teaspoons of dough, surround each olive with a ball of dough. Bake 13-15 minutes or until golden brown. It helps if the olives are dry.

Tutorial Tuesday

It's Pumpkin Carving Time

Sunset has this and other great fall decorating ideas. I love the idea of your house number being carved. If you like this or would like to see other autumn decorations go to http://tinyurl.com/yztfwz7.

Recipe Monday

Sausage Dip

1 package ground sausage (may use regular or spicy)
1 can Ro-Tel
1 8 ounce cream cheese

Brown sausage and break in to small pieces. Drain. Add Ro-Tel and cream cheese. Heat over medium heat, stirring often until cheese is melted. Keep warm on low heat or use Crock pot.
Serve with tortilla or corn chips.

This is my son's all-time favorite dip. Enjoy!

Stan, my hubby, Cody, my son, and I went to visit our daughter, Hanna, in Charleston, SC last weekend. It was a beautiful day. We went to dinner and then over to the Battery waterfront and park. We love this area. It is so beautiful. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the weekend.

Hanna, Stan, Cody

Can you tell Stan and Cody have the same profile?

Just 23 years older on Stan and less hair! :)

The love of my life.

Even at 22 and 20 years old they can't resist climbing on the rocks!

Sunset on the waterfront. Isn't this just beautiful?

Dinner at Taco Boys! Yummy.

Hanna at home studying, which she does all the time!

I guess that is how she is on the Dean's list! Yeah, proud momma!

Tuesday Tutorials

I cut this fabric all the same width but random lengths and will sew it using a 1/4" seam. The finished size will be 50" length x 9" wide. I got the size from an existing scarf I own. I will line it with lightweight cotton backing. I will post pictures when I get it completed.

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/ is having a month of scrap buster projects. There are so many wonderful tutorials including wallets, pin cushions, doll diapers, and my favorite a scarf. Bump over and check out this month's great projects.

Recipe Monday

This is a quick and easy soup recipe that screams cool weather. I served it last night with Mexican Cornbread. Yummy.

Easy Peasy Low-Fat Potato Soup

1 bag Ore-Ida hash brown potatoes (the small cubed ones)
4 cans fat-free, low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

Simmer potatoes and broth for 20 minutes.

Add:

1 package Pioneer fat-free country white gravy
1/2 cup water

In a bowl, blend gravy mix and water together. Add gravy mixture to potatoes. Let simmer 20 minutes.

Variations: Loaded Potato Soup: add green onions, shredded fat-free cheese, bacon or fat-free sour cream.

Menu Planning

I have decided I want to start monthly menu planning and recipe gathering. Do you have a favorite blog that does this already? Or do you do this yourself? If so, please post about it here so that we can all enjoy the information. I am off to look through my many cookbooks! :)

Recipe Tuesday

Chicken Rice Salad

2 cups cubed cooked chicken breast
1 cup cooked rice (brown or white)
2 large stalks celery, diced
8 oz. drained pineapple tidbits
1/2 cup halved red seedless grapes
1/2 cups mayonnaise
1 tsp. curry powder (optional)

Combine all ingredients. Stir well. Chill. Serve on a lettuce leaf with your favorite cracker or flat bread. I love it with a seeded, flavored crisp flat bread. Serves 4. Sliced tomatoes are delicious on the side.

Scrappy Scarf

Jody over at Java Jem has a terrific tutorial for patchwork scarves. They are so stylish and are a great project to use up some of those small pieces of fabric scraps. I am going to be in the sewing room this week making my daughter one. The only thing I will change is the base fabric to cotton. My daughter lives in Charleston, SC and it rarely would be cool enough for a fleece scarf. Hanna bought a new fall jacket while I was visiting last week and a new colorful scarf is just the accesory she needs. What do you think? Plan on making any?

http://javajem.blogspot.com/2007/12/scrap-scarf-tutorial.html

Recipe Hunt

Can you believe it is October 1st? Our weather here in beautiful South Carolina is in the mid-70's and no clouds, only bright blue skies! This early morning and late evening chilly weather makes me want to drag out the soup pot. What I want from you are your favorite soup, chili, chowder, stew recipes! Have them in a link? Post the link or post your recipe and let's share some great fall food! I look forward to getting all your yummy, delicious recipes. :) Share on!