April 19 Weekend

Renea's husbad passed away on Friday evening. I spent Saturday until 3PM cooking to try and help the family. Renea said they had so many visitors people had to wait outside. Following is what I made. It is a good idea to bring paper towels, napkins, paper plates, cups, trash bags and plasticware too. Put everything in foil pans and things people do not have to return to help out.

MENU FOR SOUTHERN FUNERAL FOOD
Smoked Ribs with Apple Glaze
Pork Tenderloin with Stuffing (Aunt Hilda style as I described in earlier blogging)
Mac and Cheese with Lots of Extra Creamy Cheese
Pinto Beans with Country Ham and Bacon
Basmati Rice
Cornbread Cake
Gallon of Sweet Tea
Soft drinks

The cornbread cake is a recipe Joe reinvented from Renea's Mom. It is a simple cake that everyone loves...and it does not require bringing out the mixer which is what I like about it the most. It doe not have cornmeal in it, but the name is based on the way it looks. Just let me know if you want the recipe.

After meeting Renea with the food, McKenna and I went to the Johnston County Horse Show. It was a wonderful show with nice, laid back people and horses. All I could think about was when could McKenna and I get there to show our own horses!

Joe bought a 91" mowing deck for our new Tipton 44 Hybrid Coastal Burmuda. He also purchased the post, auger and cement to start the fence.

SUNDAY
We did our usual Sunday morning routine with coffee and George Stephanopolis. After we went to the farm. It was a beautiful spring day. Aunt Hilda and Maurice helped us out by entertaining McKenna, while Joe and I mowed and picked up rocks. We did not get a chance to start the fence, but boy was that pasture pretty when we got through!!!

Security Changes To This Blog

I changed this blog from public view to just people that I invite. Unless you have received an invitation, you cannot view this blog. After watching Oprah today on internet preditors, I got scared. My blog name is my real name and city, with lots of photos of our precious daughter. I did not want someone to find us in the phone book and come to kidnap McKenna. I thought about taking the blog down completely, but I think the invitations solve the problem. I enjoy using the blog as a journal and to document the year for McKenna. I print the pages off for scrapbooking. I feel much better now that I have made this change.

Dad's Quilt

This is Kaffe Fassett's Handerkercheif Corners quilt I am making for Dad. With the help of Connie from the Whistlestop Quilt Shop and quilting friends, I was able to modify the pattern in the book to avoid dreded Y-seams. The square with the solid edges are bi-products of every block I am making for the quilt. I guess I will use them as a border or make another quilt with them. It is worth it not to have to do a Y-seam! This quilt is time consuming and requires extreme attention to detail because of the stripped fabric. The fabric feels thin like madras adding to the complexity. What can I say? I love Dad and this is the quilt he selected. It is non-tradtional, just like him!

Carolina Pork Chops

This is what I made for dinner last night based on Aunt Hilda's chicken. I loved it, but Joe still think's Aunt Hilda's is in another league.

Rhonda's Carolina Pork Chops
This recipe is very flexible and forgiving, so substitute for what you have in your pantry.

1 package of pork chops
1 Stick of Butter melted
Stove Top Stuffing - 1 box
College Inn White Wine Broth
1/2 cup flour
1/4 Oil
red pepper flakes
puoltry seasoning
Optional:
Granny Smith Apple
Mushrooms
Celery - diced
Golden raisins soaked in rum

Make the dressing as directed by the package and set aside. If you have time, add the optional ingredients to the stuffing. Salt and pepper chops. Flash brown in a skillet. Do not cook through. Add chops to a casserole dish that has been oiled or sprayed with Pam, and you have covered the bottom evenly with the flour. Pour in butter, vinegar and broth to cover up to midway up the side of the chop. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes and poultry seasoning. Add a scoop of stuffing to the top of each chop. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for at least one hour but mo more than 2. The longer it bakes, the more the meat falls off the bone.

I made milk gravy with the pan drippings and served with white rice.

April 15, 2009

The price for the house came back too high. I feel like I am starting over and reconsidering everything. I went back to the barn plan with the room on top. We've always loved that plan. We could live there while we are selling our current home and feel like we are not being so stretched. As for the house, I have no idea what plan we are going to use at this point.

I am planning to go look at Hollywood, the leopard appaloosa, this weekend. That makes me happy...

This is a picture of McKenna on her way to school this morning in the dress The Grandparents Maheux got her for her birthday. I love it... Check out the silver shoes.

Here is what I look like while blogging. Pretty darn terrible. Note the desk...nuf said. With the whole rethinking of the house, I am going to try and clear it some today.

April 13, 2009

This is McKenna and her newest pet, Buddy, the caterpillar. We played our favorite game with Buddy last night, Go - Stop. I am just really happy I did not stomp on Buddy as we were running up and down the hall.

Aunt Hilda's Baked Chicken

As we were leaving the farm on Saunday, Aunt Hilda took pity on us and made us a WONDERFUL dinner to take home. Joe and I agreed it was the best chicken we have had. McKenna had 2 pieces for lunch. Not only was it great, I had not been to the grocery in about 100 years, so it was a true blessing. The surprising thing about this recipe is that the butter turns a nutty flavor and that little bit of flour turns to a nice white gravy. Here is how she told me she made it:

AUNT HILDA'S BAKED CHICKEN RECIPE
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1 package chicken pieces
all purpose flour (about 1/3 cup)
Pam
red pepper flakes
salt
pepper
apple cider vinegar
1 stick butter melted

Spray a casserole dish with Pam. Coat the bottom of the dish with flour. Add chicken pieces that have been salted and peppered. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes to your liking. Pour in the butter (close to the side so you don't get the seasoning off the chicken). Pour in the vinegar just to the top of the chicken. If you are not a huge vinegar fan you can use some broth or water. Cover and bake for about 1 hour. I believe this would work well in a crock pot too.

I made it for dinner tonight. Yes, the same day after I had it (because I just cannot get enough). The recipe is extremely forgiving. You just cannot mess it up. Here is how I changed it based on what I had around the house:
- added 50% College Brand White Wine Broth to the Vinegar
- Added a sprinkle of rosemary-based chicken rub
- Through in a few wedges of lemon
- Used boneless organic chicken ('cause that's what was in the freezer!)
Try it. You'll love it!

Easter Weekend 2009

Joe, McKenna and I took a 4 day weekend. For the first half of the weekend we visited Baby House. On Thursday, we had a wonderful family day. We had a great lunch on the ocean at Surf City, then walked on the beach and played and chased each other; got wet and sandy since that is what you are suppose to do at the beach.

Joe had to use the van on Friday so McKenna and I were pretty much stranded. Joe called late that afternoon and I told him I had just had one of the best days of my life. McKenna and I dyed Easter eggs, had a big time egg hunt (with My Little Pony prize eggs), and we took a very long walk. We went to Mr. Russel's and took turns pushing each other on his swing that looks out over the intercoastal. We walked on his dock and I saw a big black snake. It was just a beautiful day with the BEST company.

We love it there, but we think it may be time to sell and focus on the farm. We will need to be home on theweekends to feed the critters. I have found a leopard app mare that sounds perfect (but it not hard to find a horse I like!).

Saturday we 3 had a fun time. Joe brought is old truck, THE BEAST, home froma boat hauling duty. We went to pick up mower and a hiller from AgriSupply. On the way we got NC hot dogs at Flowers and I proceded to so much chili all over my clothes that I had to wear Joe's coat into the store. We had McKenna's car seat in the front, with me in the middle. We had just come back from the beach and just looked like crazy folks in that old truck, all us of dirty...it was as fun as it was funny.

Sunday, we planted 5 rows of vegetable that were about 75 feet long. Mostly onions and potatoes went into the ground along with peppers of all kinds, garlic, scallions, marigolds, watermelon and cataloupe. Joe showed me my second black snake of the weekend making his way slowly through the woods. I made a vow to TRY and not freak out nor harm any black snakes until we are somewhat over run with them.

THAT's what I call a GREAT WEEKEND! : )

(less the snakes...)

I'm Back at the Blog Desk!

After about a year away from Blogging, I am back again. It is a long story about why I stopped. I was part of a quilt web ring and the rign master decided I was not blogging enough to be part of the ring. Secondly, I had planned to send a wonderful woman I met through the blog some scraps and i had not done it as I had promised. I felt so guilty that I decided not to blog til I kept my promise to her. She got the scraps and is now Scrap Happy!