Well, did not get selected for jury duty so life is good. It was fun to watch people go up and give so many different and sometimes lame excuses why they could not serve. Am home and getting ready to make pralines to take to some friends tomorrow night who we eat Mexican food with almost every Wednesday night. Was thumbing through one of my cookbooks last night and came across a wonderful favorite recipe for chocoate fudge pie……will put it under “desserts”. Check it out, it is just delicious. If anyone wants the praline recipe, will be glad to put it on here also, it is just so easy and makes a bunch! Talk to you tomorrow….
Monday Night Madness
Well, it was a great day, went to Fashion Market with two friends, Dianne and Cora and got great deals on two jackets and jewelry. So since I have been gone all day, I was wondering what I could whip up for dinner tonight. Since we had chicken sour cream enchiladas for dinner, I had left over chicken and sauce so thought I would make that into a chicken green chile soup. So that is what I am doing! It is such a great soup and so easy…check it out,
2 cups chopped, cooked chicken meat, 1/2 chopped onion, 2 cans of chicken broth, 1 small can of diced green chiles, 1 large carrot sliced thin, 1 cup of chopped celery, 1 boiling bag of rice, cooked.
Cook your rice and set aside. Combine all ingredients and cook over medium heat until onions, carrots and celery are done. Add the rice and cook for about an hour over low heat. Right before serving, add about 1/2 cup sour cream. Salt and pepper to taste.
Serve with corn bread or crackers…Had dinner ready in 30 min and purchases out to show hubby! He will be so proud of the money I saved and dinner on the table, is he spoiled or what?
Sunday, August 16,2009
Well, a lot has happened since beginning this project. We have a brand new grand baby boy, named Caleb, we have begun a new Bible Study series in Hebrews at our house on Sunday nights, and I am more inspired than ever, since watching the movie, Julia/Julie last night. So am determined to not allow distractions or lack of time to keep me from building this Site. In fact, we were so excited after watching the movie last night that we came home from church today and cooked together . That just always makes the food taste better when you are cooking with someone you love.
We cooked bruschetta, with a little spin. We added bacon and it was delicious. Randy “fried” the bread in butter and garlic and it was the best garlic bread we have had. In fact, this will be a new recipe which I will post to this site. So much more fun than going to Luby’s, which is our usual Sunday stopover. We are both so inspired to put a new “kick” into our “cooking together” program. First time today went very smooth! Tonight we have 18 people coming over for Mexican food. Love these Sunday night Studies, great food and great Bible Study!
Using box cake mixes
To enhance the flavor of boxed cake mixes, add 1/3 cup sugar to the mix.
I also substitue milk for the water that it calls for. Makes the cake a little more flavorable. When the recipe calls for white cake mix, I always use the French vanilla flavor. It tastes so different.
Monthly luncheons
each month I am hosting a luncheon for a group of ladies. I will be putting the recipes on this web blog. They are easy to make and are great to make when you are trying to feed a crowd.
Cream Cheese Frosting
When making cream cheese frosting, try a little something extra. Grind up to a fine powder, 1 cup of walnuts or pecans and add to the frosting before putting on cake. It adds so much flavor
baked jalapeno’s
Rinse and deseed a dozen whole jalapeno’s. (It is best to use plastic gloves for this, as the juice can burn your hand.) Using softened cream cheese, stuff each half of the jalapeno and then wrap a half piece of bacon around each half. Place on foil which has been sprayed with Pam and bake at 400 degrees until bacon is done.
Pasta Salad
1 lb sack or box of small shell pasta
3 green onions, chopped
2 6 oz. cans of marinatede artichoke hearts chopped and drained
1 5 3/4 sliced salad green olives, drained
1 small ( 6 to 8 oz) feta cheese)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 small bottle of greek vinaigrrette salad dressing
Cook pasta according to directions. Drain and cool. Add rest of ingredients, except the salad dressing. Stir until blended. Add about 1/2 to 2/3 cup of the salad dressing to moisten the pasta. Chill at least 4 hours before serving. Before serving, add rest of dressing. If you like a real moist pasta salad, you might add part of another bottle.
Welcome
Welcome to Chocolate Castles. I am so excited to be sharing some of the recipes which have been so requested from so many friends. This year, I am working on a cookbook in answer to requests. It will be filled with stories and menus and recipes from family and friends. If there are questions regarding cooking or recipes or decorating, please feel free to ask…..am hoping to hear from all of you……Trudy
Chocolate Castles 