Smells From My Kitchen!!!

I got a new recipe from Ma when we were in Missouri this past week. Well tonight my scrapbook ladies and I are having a party! What better excuse than to try a new recipe right? Well I can't dig into them before the party but I had to post this one because it SMELLS SO GOOD! I'm sure they are great!

Glazed Apple Bars

1/2 c. butter

1 1/3 c. light brown sugar

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. nutmeg

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. ground cloves

1 egg

2 c. flour

1 t. baking soda

1 med. chopped red apple

1 c. raisins

1 c. chopped pecans

1/4 c. milk

Preheat oven to 400. Grease a 15x10 jelly roll pan. Cream butter and sugar together. Add salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and the egg. Combine 1 c. flour & baking soda and add to butter mixture. Stir in the apples, raisins, milk, pecans, and remaining flour. ( I didn't pre read my recipe so I just mixed it all up together...seems to work out fine! ). Spread into the pan. I actually had to mash to get it all evenly in the pan. I was worried at first! Bake 10 minutes. Cool 10 minutes then brush with glaze.

Glaze:

1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

2 1/2 T. warm milk

1 T. butter, melted

1/4 t. vanilla

1/8 t. salt

Mix altogether and spread over bars.

Fall Colors in the Northern Part of the State

Fall Color...beautiful!

Me & Luke at the Cliff side Inn overlook

Trees at Rotary Ann

Me & Mom....this makes my neck look weird...oh well

Mom

Poor, Sad, Dad

Luke at the Ozark Cafe...I never did get me a sweatshirt from there...bummer!

Roark Bluff

She loved the water!

SadieRose playing in the water

Roark Bluff Water Falls

Roark Bluff...this is a Horse Camping Ground... it was neat to see those magnificent animals!

Dad and the busted lense....so sad!

George wanted to go too! He didn't think it was too cool though when I tried to close the lid on him! HAHA!

Crazy George

Yesterday Mom, Dad, SadieRose, Luke, and I all went to the northern part of the state. We took pictures at Lost Valley & Roark Bluff. These are some of my favorite pictures from yesterday. The color wasn't as spectacular as we had seen it before, but it was still wonderful to get out in the cool weather and take pictures. Dad and Luke hiked the trail at Lost Valley while Mom and I sat and discussed the Thanksgiving menu. I didn't even attempt to hike in my small boot...there's no way! I was able to get started knitting another blanket for Lily while they were gone.

When Dad and them came back from the hike, Dad didn't look to happy. We found out it was mainly because he busted his camera and lens before he even got to take a picture!!!! It fell of his tripod and into a gully. The lens is totally wrecked but at least the camera still works. That was the joke for the day....hey ya have to laugh! SadieRose was a good little dog. She really enjoyed playing in the water and looking at the horses. Luke and I didn't attempt to bring one of ours. Madison doesn't like to travel, and the others....well we've learned over time it's not good to upset the applecart outside...someone always has issues! Oh well!

Luke and I took Hwy 7 back home. We stopped at Rotary Ann and the lookout spot by the Cliff side Inn Restaurant. It was a long day but fun day!

My Crazy Toe!

I went to the Ortho man again on Monday. He squeezed and mashed and I really wanted to kick him, but figured that wouldn't be real nice. He told me I had 2 boots to choose from and that the tennis shoe was not an option at this time. So, another 3 weeks in this small boot and I go back for an X-ray. I've only been dealing with this since August 1st. It's getting frustrating. Especially when we are going to Silver Dollar City the middle of November....we'll see! I just have to wait it out I suppose!

Aunt JJ's Ceremony

Mom and I made a short trip up to Neosho to surprise Aunt JJ by attending her awards ceremony. Aunt JJ recieved the Book of Golden Deeds Award from the Neosho Exchange Club. She won this award for her countless hours of community service through Neosho Newcomers Club and Habitat for Humanity. I think she really deserved this award. It was so neat to sit there and hear the awesome things others had to say about my Aunt JJ. We always new she was special but to hear others say that at a dinner in her honor was really awesome!

Aunt Faye was able to come down for this event too! She lives in Kansas and is such a hoot. She lived next door to Ma while Dad and his sisters were growing up. The things they did to each other in that neighborhood is hilarious. Things like putting speakers under each others beds and blaring the star spangled banner, carrying dinner to each other on their birthdays (even on their hands and knees if they forgot someone's birthday), and...my fave...calling someone in their neighborhood and telling them to put their phone in a paper bag because they were going to be cleaning the phone lines and they didn't want the house to get dirty!

I think Ma, Mom, Aunt Viv, and Faye all changed clothes twice because they didn't like what they had on. Mom and I even left our dress clothes at Ma's....which Aunt JJ is going to have to mail to us! The look on her face was priceless. Aunt JJ was scanning the room-saw Mom and me- and did a double take. It was really fun! I'm so proud of my Aunt JJ!!!!

A Night Among Friends

Mark & Amber

Me & Luke

Taco Soup

The fixin's for the soup

Grandma's Mexican Cornbread

The Kingdom Cake/Aunt Lottie's Cake

Friday night Luke and I invited Mark and Amber over for dinner. I made a Taco Soup with all the fixin's, Mexican Cornbread, and The Kingdom Cake...or Aunt Lottie's Cake. It was SO good! Mark and Amber are a blast to hang out with. Amber convinced me to paint pottery which we are going to do soon...I hope! Of course I had to take a few pictures. Enjoy!

Taco Soup
2 pounds ground beef
2 cups diced onions
2 (15 1/2-ounce) cans pinto beans
1 (15 1/2-ounce) can pink kidney beans
1 (15 1/4-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can tomatoes with chiles
2 (4 1/2-ounce) cans diced green chiles
1 (4.6-ounce) can black olives, drained and sliced, optional
1/2 cup green olives, sliced, optional
1 (1 1/4-ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (1-ounce) package ranch salad dressing mix
Corn chips, for serving
Sour cream, for garnish
Grated cheese, for garnish
Chopped green onions, for garnish
Pickled jalapenos, for garnish
Directions
Brown the ground beef and onions in a large skillet; drain the excess fat, then transfer the browned beef and onions to a large slow cooker or a stockpot. Add the beans, corn, tomatoes, green chiles, black olives, green olives, taco seasoning, and ranch dressing mix, and cook in a slow cooker on low for 6 to 8 hours or simmer over low heat for about 1 hour in a pot on the stove. To serve, place a few corn chips in each bowl and ladle soup over them. Top with sour cream, cheese, green onions and jalapenos.

Grandma's Mexican Cornbread
3 c. cornmeal mix
1/2 c. crisco oil
2 T. sugar
2 1/2 c. milk
2 eggs
1 c. cream style corn
2 1/2 c. grated cheese
1/2 small can green chiles
Mix all together. Pour into 9x13 and bake at 400 degrees til brown


Aunt Lottie's Cake/Kingdom Cake
In a saucepan bring to a boil:
1 stick butter
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. water
4 T. cocoa

Pour over:
2 c. flour
2 c. sugar
Stir til smooth. Then add 2 eggs, 1/2 c. buttermilk, 1 t. soda, 1 t. cinnamon and 1 t. vanilla. Stir until smooth and pour into a 11x15 pan (9x13 makes it too rich). Bake 350 for 20-30 minutes. Make the icing while the cake is baking:
1 stick butter
4 T. cocoa
5 T. milk
Heat butter and cocoa and milk til melted. Add 1 box powdered sugar. Beat well and spread on the cake when it comes out of the oven.

What Endodontist?

I can honestly say I have NEVER been to an Endodontist and never seen him before! No, he wasn't invisible...he was there....in fact his nurse and him talked about ME outside the room door I was in. He never introduced himself and never even saw me! I can't even tell you what he looked like let alone his name! The nurse told me that it was probably just my gums sensitive from the other crown and not to worry about it. I do have to say my regular dentist was really surprised at this visit! I guess the Lord does answer in mysterious ways! I'm still in shock though and it still hurts....so maybe I just have to wait! We'll see!

The Arkansas State Fair

Arkansas State Fair

Joe, Luke, Me

Luke and his massive corn dog

I try to eat gracefully!

Our jugs of sweet tea

Love the knitted afghans

See they do like the Arts and Crafts

Joe with powdered sugar on his mouth from his fried zinger!

Joe and Luke

We didn't try the fried oreos....they looked good though!

Me & Luke

Sweet old girl was getting a drink

These things are mean!!!!

Last night Luke, Nick, Joe, and I all went to the Fair. It was Dollar Day so we were able to park and get in all for a buck each! It wasn't a bad deal at all. When we were younger (meaning a couple of fairs ago) we all decided to see how much bad fried food one could actually eat. Let's just say that little deal didn't go so well for me, and we don't pig out as much as we used too. We do however still eat fried fair foods and have a blast doing it- it's just smaller quantities! We always have to go to the Hall of Industry for Joe and Nick. The Arts and Crafts Building is my favorite. Then we make our rounds seeing the animals. Joe loves the smell of cows (not really) and you can usually hear Nick saying "Look Out." when we are in the cow barns. We had a blast last night. I can honestly say that my foot didn't like me at all when we got back to the car. I did however make it through the whole fair in a small boot...so we'll see if I can do Silver Dollar City in November....sure do hope so! Enjoy my newly edited pics thanks to Picasa.....love it!