Baked Potato Soup

Cats enjoy climbing on everything they possibly can...but I can't stand the thought of kitty paws, fur, germs on my counters or table!! Ew!

Mr. Sir is no different, he loves to just climb up.
We have one little end table in the living room that we allow him to be on. It's the only table in the house...and he follows the rule.

Last night, hubby and I were sitting on the couch and Mr. Sir was up on "his" table. He then started playing with something up there...pushing it towards the edge.
It was his brush.
I went over, grabbed it...and he promptly FLOPPED on the floor waiting to be groomed.

Purrrrrrrrr purrrrrrrr purrrrrrrr

He is a vain boy, he enjoys looking his finest.
Apparently he is not shy about asking for it either!

Photo from Joanne Casey

Ingredients:

5 Lbs Yukon gold potato

1 Box chicken broth

Salt and Pepper

Toppings:

Cheddar Cheese

Green Onion

Bacon

Sour Cream

Directions:

1. Bake potato and let them cool

2. Scoop out the inside of the potato

3. Blend potato with chicken broth in small batches until you get the desired creamy soup consistency

4. Season to taste

5. Top as you would a baked potato

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I saved all my carefully scooped skins and froze them to make 'tater skins later!

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Happiness is Homemade Link Party #79

Welcome to this week’s Happiness is Homemade Link Party! We love seeing all of your links. Please remember to visit a few other links and share some love and meet some new friends!! We love new and old friends so let us hear from you!

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

BLT Salad

When hubby isn't around and I am cleaning up or whatever, I turn the T.V. to those "Music Choice" stations.
Well, in the interest of full disclosure, it's just one station...the 80's station.
I am hooked. I love it. I miss the 80's with a passion!

He walked in the other day and Janet Jackson's "Nasty Boys" was on.
He then proceeded to tell me how much he didn't like that song.

I even tried to justify it by adding that even Disney had used it for some special...couldn't think of the name though. (funny how I think that if I had remembered the name it would have helped my argument. Like he would have been all "ohhhh...Totally Minnie,...why didn't you just say so?")

Is there a check box on divorce paperwork for not liking this song? There should be!

"No, my name ain't Baby, it's Janet, Ms. Jackson if you nasty"

I love that he loves me even when I am way dorky.
What better way to show him how much I appreciate him than BACON

Ingredients:

½ Head chopped iceberg lettuce

½ Pint cherry tomatoes

3-4 Slices of bacon

Onion (chopped)

2 Tbsp mayonnaise

Salt/Pepper to taste

2 Tbsp milk

Directions:

1. Cook and drain bacon

2. Toss lettuce, tomato, and onion (optional) in a bowl

3. Mix mayo, salt/pepper, and milk

4. Crumble bacon over salad

5. Pour dressing

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Onions on the side, because, well, because.

And how about my old school Tupperware shaker! 

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Chicken Gyro

When I lived in NC, there was this little Greek restaurant we frequented as much as possible. Just one of those "hole in the wall" sort of places; the city seemed to grow up and around the building.
No frills, good food for a dang good price!

Many moons ago, they went to NC to film the movie Mr. Destiny

They used our little Greek place to film the restaurant scene! If memory serves, it was an Italian restaurant in the movie. I couldn't find a picture of it all done up for the movie, but found one of the restaurant (as it is now) from the outside. That'll do Pig.

I make sure to visit whenever I go "home"....but since we have nothing that compares to the yumminess here, I do the best I can. This recipe certainly filled the void!

Ingredients:

2-2.5 Lbs boneless chicken breast

¼ Cup olive oil

2 Cloves garlic (minced)

1 ½ Tsp Greek seasoning

1 ½ Tsp dried oregano

1 ½ Tsp ground black pepper

½ Tsp salt

½ Cucumber (diced)

6 oz Plain Greek yogurt

Pita bread

Directions:

1. Cut chicken into bite sized pieces

2. Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, Greek seasoning, oregano, pepper, and salt together.

3. Pour sauce over meat at let marinade for several hours

4. Cook chicken in a skillet until cooked through

5. Mix cucumber and yogurt

6. Serve chicken in pita with a dallop of cucumber sauce

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Toll House Chocolate Chunk Cookies

I had one of those nights last night.

You know the kind. My mind was much more awake than my body was.

I tried my back, stomach, right side, left side.

I bargained with my brain.

Nothing.

I saw 2am come. How long I stayed awake after, I cannot be sure..but my freaking alarm goes off at 4:30am.

Kill me.

I spent my day in a bit of a fog.

Anyone who emailed me got this analogy:

:::sigh:::

Know what makes a day like that better?

Or any day that ends in "y" better?

Chocolate Chunk Cookies!

Ingredients:

2 ¼ Cup all purpose flour

1 Tsp baking soda

1 Tsp salt

1 Cup butter (softened)

¾ Cup sugar

¾ Cup brown sugar

1 Tsp vanilla extract

2 Large eggs

11.5 oz package chocolate chunks

1 Cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375

2. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl

3. Beat butter, sugars, and vanilla until creamy

4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition

5. Gradually beat in flour mixture

6. Stir in chocolate chunks and nuts (if using)

7. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto a prepared baking sheet

8. Bake 9-11 minutes. Cool on baking rack.

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Original Toll House Recipe

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heathernow.blogspot.com

French Toast Casserole

Saturday was the official party for the girl child and my cousin's graduations.
She, from high school....he, from college.
It just made sense to my aunt and I to combine the party as 90% of the guests would be the same. Not to mention, convenient for the guests to not take up two separate weekend days during the summer!

It was a fantastic day full of friends, family, and FOOD! (of course!)

People came from all over to join us to wish two very special kids adults well in their future endeavors.

We had quite the spread...none of us ever learned to cook "small"...and then we always add in a few extra this, that, and the others to make sure nobody goes hungry!

My parents were up visiting for the week to enjoy both the actual graduation as well as the party. Needless to say, I enjoyed having the extra hands!

We made:
Deviled Eggs
Baked Beans
Potato Salad
Tuna Sandwiches
Egg Salad Sandwiches

We also had on hand:
Sausage and Peppers
Meatballs
Vegetable Lo Mein
Dirty Salsa
Veggie Sandwiches
Roast Beef Sandwiches
Seafood Sandwiches
Pasta Salad
Taco Salad
Cheese Tray
Veggie Tray
Spinach Dip
2 Cakes
Brownies
Grape Salad

Then I was totally selfish and made my mother make me a batch of her brownies...just for us!

Ingredients:

1 (16 oz) Loaf Cinnamon raisin bread

6 Eggs

3 Cups milk

2 Tsp vanilla

Confectioner’s Sugar

Maple Syrup

Directions:

1. Place bread cubes into a greased 9 x 13 pan

2. Beat eggs, milk, and vanilla

3. Pour milk mixture over the bread cubes

4. Press bread cubes into milk until all are covered

5. Cover and refrigerate overnight

6. Preheat oven to 350

7. Cook for 50 minutes

8. Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar and serve with syrup

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This recipe was shared on some or all of these pages, check them out!

http://www.raisingmemories.com/2015/06/june-2015-sharing-   time.html
heathernow.blogspot.com

Chocolate Chip Pecan Blondies

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times....

OK, maybe I might have borrowed that line, but boy does it fit!

Sunday was my one and only's high school graduation.
Name an emotion. I felt it. Seriously.

Happy for her spreading her wings
Pride for all she has accomplished
Sad for mommy as my baby is leaving the nest
Angry that 12 years ended so quickly
Excited to see this next chapter in her life
Nostalgic as I watched the same pride on my parents face as they had during my own ceremony
Overwhelmed by her astounding classmates and the bond they forged

She is part of a graduating class of approx 130, with 100% graduation!
There is 1 child taking a year off before university, but will still be taking some classes at the community college. Impressive stats!

Part of me wants to tie her to her bed and not let her go
(but, we all know that can't happen)
She is headed off to a great school where she will hone the skills she has decided to focus on.

I am beyond beaming when I think of the girl child. She is an amazing human being and I am so fortunate to know her.

To my child: I hope I gave you strong enough wings. Now is the time for me to hope for you to FLY!


Adapted from Real Simple

Ingredients:

1 ½ Cups All purpose flour

1 Tsp Baking powder

¼ Tsp Salt

½ Cup Unsalted butter (melted)

¾ Cup Granulated Sugar

½ Cup Brown sugar

2 Eggs

1 Tsp Vanilla extract

¾ Cup chopped pecans

¾ Cup Semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350

2. Spray 8 inch square baking pan with cooking spray

3. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt

4. In a large bowl, whisk together the butter and sugars

5. Add eggs and vanilla to the sugar mixture

6. Stir flour mixture into sugar mixture

7. Add pecans and chocolate chips

8. Spread batter into prepared pan

9. Bake 35-40 minutes

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