My older sister gave me this recipe years ago and evrybody loves them.



Southern Biscuit Muffins

2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1 cup cold milk
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup cold margarine

Combine flour, sugar and baking powder. Cut in margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in milk until flour mixture is moist. Spoon into greased muffin pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Makes 12.

Green Bean Casserole

2 cans green beans drained (I use the french style ones)
2 cups cooked rice (I use 1 cup)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can onion rings
1 cup milk
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Mix together all ingredients in casserole dish. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

This is the Chicken and Dumpling recipe that I use. The dumpling recipe came from my DD's boyfriends mom and I have been using it since '07. I always double or triple the recipe.

Dumplings
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons shortening
8-10 tablespoons chicken broth (from cooking the chicken)
Mix as for pie crust, roll out and cut into pieces. (I use my pizza cutter)
Drop into boiling chicken broth and cook approximately 15 minutes or longer (taste till not doughy). Add deboned chicken.
At times I have had to use a couple cans of chicken broth for more liquid to cook the dumplings in.

To cook the chicken I use salt, pepper, celery and some of the leaves, diced onion, Old Bay herb & garlic seasoning and a dash of cajun seasoning.

Taco-Stuffed Pepper Cups

2 medium green peppers
1/2 pound lean ground turkey (I have always used hamburger)
2 tablespoons chopped onion
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained (I use the Mexican chili beans at Aldi's)
3 tablespoons taco seasoning (that is approx. 1 envelope)

Sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese and chopped tomato or salsa for toppings.

Cut tops off peppers, slice lengthwise and remove seeds. In a large kettle, cook peppers in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water set aside.

In a large skillet, cook turkey and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, drain. Stir in beans, tomato sauce and taco easoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer uncovered for 5-6 minutes or until heated through.

Spoon into peppers. Place in an ungreased 8" square baking dish. (I spray mine) Bake uncovered at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until peppers are tender. I put the shredded cheese on immediately to melt in.

Top with toppings if desired.

Yield: 4 servings

My last postings will be of my craft room. Had a few friends ask me to post some. The table is alittle messy at the time but stuff I am digging out and thinking about for Christmas projects. Had wanted to sponge the top blue but couldn't find floor tile to match the 2 blue paints that I got to sponge with so went to green. Found the flooring first.

The next 3 pictures will show you what it looked like in front of the fence about 7 years ago (more like 9 or 10 yrs ago) and now. The tulips bloomed for about 6 weeks and we had people from all over driving out and pulling in the driveway. One year around Labor Day we spent between $325-$375 (they were 75% off) on bulbs and planted them along the fence. Pretty long area. Anyway the first year was over 2000 flowers and the 2nd year under 200, and then after 3 or 4 yrs. nothing. The moles and gophers ate the bulbs. We would love to try it again but would have to put the bulbs in wire or something. To expensive to keep buying. The picture of the blooms is a picture of a picture. My DH and DS worked so hard planting them.

First picture is of our dogwood tree just budding with bluebells underneath. Really pretty when in bloom at the same time.
Second picture a few tulips.

I LOVE the smell of lilacs! There isn't very many blooms yet but, wonder if with this weather won't get many.

My favorite bird is the Eastern Bluebird. We have 2 nest with eggs so far this year.
They lay eggs about 3 times a summer. The bluebirds stay year round.

For supper I am trying homemade pizza crust. It is from a web friend of mine and can be found on her blog:

My Little Corner of The World---- On my blog list.

and is under her January postings. (2009)
Her stuffed pepper casserole is VERY good.

Here is a recipe I got off of a new Food Network program this a.m.. Hoping to try them yet tonight or tom.. I thought it sounded VERY good.

Millionaire Shortbread

Shortbread:
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup sugar
2 sticks cold butter cubed
If using a food processor she pulsed it till it looked crumbly like small peas. Pat the mixture into 2 8" pans that have been buttered and floured. Bake 350 till golden brown.


Caramel Layer:
Heat in a saucepan
2 tablespoons butter
2 cans sweetened condensed milk
Takes about 15 - 20 minutes until it is amber in color and thickened.
Spoon onto the cooled shortbread and let it cool again.

Chocolate Topping:
Using 3/4 pound milk chocolate that has been melted--Spread over the top.
She suggested melting it over simmering water.
Store in airtight containers or keep in fridge.

My son found over 40 last night. His first time out this year. He has mowed today so he has now left for mushroom hunting again. Suppose to get down to the 20's again a couple of days this week with possible snow so it might hurt the mushrooms. We still have some that we dried last year that we fry up every once in awhile yet.

This was my Christmas present from my husband, son, daughter and her boyfriend. I LOVE IT!!!!!!! I also love the color. Daughters boyfriend found the color on-line somewhere. They were tried of me burning up a mixer every couple yrs. or so.

My husband and son LOVE chocolate chip cookies. My daughter does not like nuts in things--normally. In early winter I found this recipe listed on Vicki Franks site "Uncommon Artistic Endeavors". This is a batch that I made up today. I usually get over 8 dozen from the recipe. The guys really like these.

Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 1/3 cups butter, softened
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
12 oz semisweet chocolate morsels
1 cup chopped pecans

Heat oven to 375. Beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and beat on low until blended.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add to butter mixture and beat until blended. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans.
Drop by tablespoons of dough about 2" apart onto a greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 for 9-10 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Yield: about 5 dozen