Tuesday at Hilton Head Island

The weather today was overcast and chilly. Stan decided we would head to the outlet malls and eat lunch out.

 We ate at Jim & Nick's and split this huge rack of ribs.

 Don't they look wonderful? They were. 

I had a side of potato salad and Stan had Mac and Cheese.

All that was left was bones.

Stan set his bike up on his trainer with his training video on our balcony.

I worked on a little bit of hand embroidery.

After such a big lunch we only wanted a light dinner. Pimento cheese on garlic and parsley cracker, carrots and fresh strawberries. Just enough.

A Week Away - Beach Love

We're at the beach! Yay! I can't begin to tell you how I am such a lover of a beach, any beach. However, I am partial to our own beautiful beaches in SC. On Friday evening we arrived in Charleston, SC. Here are a few photos taken Saturday afternoon at Isle of Palms.

Stan enjoying some sunshine.

Our friends, Brenda and Ken, met us in Isle of Palms for the the weekend.

Dinner at Red's on Shem Creek.

Jelly fish. 

 On Sunday afternoon, Stan and I headed to Hilton Head Island, SC for a week of bliss and relaxation. Here is the beginning of our week in photos.

 View from our balcony.

 For the important things, the hunt for Starbucks! We found one just a few minutes away. One Skinny Caramel Macchiato for me.

 

One Strawberry and Creme for Stan. I know... not coffee!

Back to the condo to take a walk on the beach.

 Breezy but beautiful day!

 Pam loves Stan.

Resting after our walk with a good book on his Kindle.

We're off to dinner.

Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies

Happy Valentine's Day! 


Yesterday and today I have been baking for my family. Red Velvet Cookies are oh so delicious. It is almost like eating a mini cake.  Wonderful! My daughter lives in a different state. I baked, packaged and mailed off two tins of cookies to her. My son lives next door. Very convenient. I will hand his to him this evening. 
I pinned the Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookie recipe on Pinterest. It was originally posted on Peace of Cake blog. They just looked so yummy and I am a fan of Red Velvet Cake. 
The cookies were easy to make and made the house smell divine. The only change I would make on the original recipe is to NOT preheat oven when it suggests. The dough has to chill for a minimum of two hours. 


Gather your ingredients. 


You will need:


8oz. (1 brick) Cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 c. Butter, softened (1 stick)
1 egg
1 t. Vanilla
1 (18-ounce) box red velvet cake mix
Powdered sugar, for rolling/dusting

Directions

1. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
2. Beat in egg, then the vanilla.
3. Beat in the cake mix.
4. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up.

This is the dough after chilled. It is very thick.

Preheat oven to 350*.

1. Roll batter into tablespoon-sized balls and then roll them in powdered        sugar.
2. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. I used parchment paper to help with clean up. Bake 12 minutes. The cookies will remain soft and "gooey." Cool completely and sprinkle with more powdered sugar, if desired. 

Just seconds out of the oven!

Original post found here.

http://peaceocake.blogspot.com/2010/02/red-velvet-gooey-butter-cookies.html


Linking to:
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/, http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/, http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/2012/02/uncommonly-yours-link-party-15.html, http://www.504main.com/2012/02/tickled-pink-no-86.html
http://asimplyklassichome.blogspot.com/2012/02/simply-klassic-sunday-5-and-features.html
http://jennifercooks.com/2012/02/fusion-friday-jennifer-cooks-link-party-2/

Mardi Gras Dinner Party with Red Beans and Rice Recipe

We have a group of friends that we have dinner with once a month. There are usually 8 couples but each month is a different mix because of life responsibilities, traveling, etc. Our hosts, Adonia and Michael, did a wonderful job Saturday. Our theme was Mardi Gras. Adonia and Michael are from south Alabama and have attended a Mardi Gras ball, parades, etc. before moving to SC.  They did a wonderful job with decorations, don't you agree?

Kitchen table.

Living room.

Living room. Isn't this mask the incredible?

Dining room.

Host and hostess.

Hubby, Stan, and myself.

 All the girls.

 King Michael, because he found the baby in the King Cake.

The girls again.

The guys. Stan didn't get the memo that it was Men in Black night!

I made Authentic Louisiana Red Beans and Rice with Andouille Sausage.  

Simmering on the stove!

Ingredients

• 1 pound dry kidney beans
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 6 cups water
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
• 1 pound andouille sausage, sliced
• 4 cups water
• 2 cups long grain white rice
• 
  

Directions

1. Rinse beans, and then soak in a large pot of water overnight.
2. In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Cook onion, bell pepper, garlic, and celery in olive oil for 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Rinse beans, and transfer to a large pot with 6 cups water. Stir cooked vegetables into beans. Season with bay leaves, cayenne pepper, thyme, sage, parsley, and Cajun seasoning. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 2 1/2 hours.
4. Stir sausage into beans, and continue to simmer for 30 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, prepare the rice. In a saucepan, bring water and rice to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve beans over steamed white rice.

Yields 8 servings.

Soak beans in water overnight. Drain, rinse and add fresh water.

Gather all the spices and add to the beans.

Chop the pepper, celery, onion and garlic. Cook in olive oil.

I know this is a weird photo. It is one pound of Chicken Andouille Sausage. I cut in to bite size pieces and added to the beans after simmering for 2 1/2 hours.

Simmering and was so delicious!

Original recipe came from Allrecipes.com at this link.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/authentic-louisiana-red-beans-and-rice/detail.aspx

I have linked up to Craft-O'Maniac Monday Link Party - http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/
& at Keeping It Simple Link Party   http://craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/2012/02/motivate-me-monday-109.html
 & at Skip To My Lou link Party http://www.skiptomylou.org/2012/02/13/made-by-you-monday-86/

Grandmother

Photo of my mom, Linda, and my grandmother during the Christmas holidays.

My plan was to bake Red Velvet Cookies for my daughter today and get them in the mail for Valentine's day. Instead, I spent last night and part of the day at the hospital, part at home sleeping and now I am back at the hospital. I received a call at 11:00 last night that my 90 year old grandmother was being taken by ambulance to the hospital. She has been admitted and is doing better. Well, as better as one who is frail and delicate can be. 

I grew up loving all the things my grandmother loved, quilting, sewing, crafts, cooking and family. She truly gave me a desire to create at a young age. She taught me to single crochet as an adolescent and to cross-stitch when I was 13. Gifting handmade gifts, such as quilts or stuffed animals, and cooking large meals for her family gave her more enjoyment than anything else. When she was 85, she taught me her techniques for all hand-piecing and quilting. 

During the last four years Maw Maw has lived in a care facility following two debilitating strokes. She no longer recognizes my mom or her sisters or me. It is sad. There are times of seeing the old her slip through as she mimes threading a needle and hand stitching the air. 

My grandmother taught and left me a legacy of love, of creating and love for family. A lesson well-taught and well-learned.  I love you, Maw Maw.

Peanut Butter Smores Wrap

For a quick and easy snack/dessert, my family loves anything in a crescent roll. 

Gather your ingredients, tiny marshmallows, peanut butter (I have a love for Simply Jiff), chocolate chips (Ghirardelli is so good) and of course, a can of Pillsbury crescent rolls. (I decided to photograph after the can had been opened.)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with non-stick spray or rub a bit of butter on it. 

Spread peanut butter on to the crescent roll dough.

Add chocolate chips.

Add marshmallows.

Roll crescent rolls up, starting with the large end. Place on cookie sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until they are nice and golden brown.

Enjoy! They are especially good with a cup of coffee or hot tea. My son has to have milk with his. 

Do you use crescent rolls in a favorite recipe?
Whatever Goes Wednesday Link Party. http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/ 
Uncommonly Yours Link Party  http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/
Rae Gun Ramblings Link Party http://raegunwear.blogspot.com/search/label/WWWMW

Mexican Chicken in the Crock Pot

Pinterest is a never ending supply of inspiration in crafts, sewing and the kitchen. I ran across this recipe from The Larson Lingo blog on Pinterest and pinned it to my Foodie board. This weekend I was asked to bring a Mexican dish for 6 to a dinner party. This proved to be a great one to take along. I followed the recipe and made rice to serve with it. The rice I cooked in chicken broth instead of water and added a cup of salsa to give a bit more flavor. Once the chicken dish was done, just stir and serve over a side of rice. Delicious! 

Click here for original post and recipe!

http://thelarsonlingo.blogspot.com/2011/05/easiest-dinner-ever.html

Delicious goodness!