Happy Mother's Day

This is a tribute to my Mom...& all moms..

even though she is up in heaven with

my dad...I know she will know just how

much she is missed &  loved by her children

&  grand children.. especially on Mother's

Day..this Sunday!

Although she had a hard life growing up

(her own mother died when she was 1yr. old

& her dad died when she was 15) she made

a wonderful life for my dad & us 5 kids & I

will be eternally grateful for all the wisdom

she gave each one of us & example she

showed daily..

First & foremost she was the most charitable

person I ever knew..she always made room for

people who did not have a place to stay or food

to eat. She opened her home & her heart to

always helping someone or something.

Below is an old picture (sorry it's blurry) of her

helping a Rooster that my little sister brought

home from school (to give a good home to) My

mom was raised on a farm & she helped that little

rooster (until the neighbors complained of being

woke up@ 5am!) He eventually went to a zoo.

You could always find her in the kitchen
laughing & baking something for
somebody in need. She would bring in
dinners, babysit, take care of the elderly..
you name it..she did it.. But by the same
token...she was always there for
each one of us to make feel special
everyday. She had a special gift that way.
I think it was because as a child she only had 1 pair
of shoes & 1 dress made out of a flour sack material
&  her parents dying so young she wanted to give
us everything but most importantly..time & love.

She worked the graveyard shift at the hospital
just so she could have breakfast ready & lunches
made when we got up each morning...& be home
when we got home from school so she could help
us with our homework & have chocolate chip cookies
& milk waiting. I really wondered when she ever got
to sleep or eat..She loved cooking meals & serving
them to my dad & us kids &  she would get up 10
times for us before she ever got a bite of food.
(That reminds me of the "Christmas Story" Mom)

Anyway..I salute you mom & treasure all our talks,
& everything you taught me about being a good mom.
I cherish the memories of all our times baking together
& you being such a good example of Charity to others.

Your loving Daughter,
Barb

*****Hope all of you get to give your moms a kiss
& hug (I wish I could) & tell them how much they
mean to you..Life goes too fast & is too short to
not tell them what they mean to you...

BBO Chicken at its's BEST/Blog Hop

Looking for the Blog Hop??? It's below....

Looking for the best BBO Chicken???? Recipe is below...

I love.....this BBQ Chicken....and so does everybody
else who has tried it.....I'm told......it's really juicy &
delicious..... I really like to BBQ (when it's not hard
& it ends up tasting really good!) I tried a few different
ways of BBQ-ing chicken & this (for me) is the fastest
& easiest way to get Great Results.....

1) I get the chicken (a bag about 4lbs.)
@ Vons on sale price for about $8-$9.99 for
10-12 boneless/skinless breast pieces) The
number of the chicken breasts in the bag can
vary, but the taste is the BEST. Sometimes it
will be $5-$6..then I really stock up. The
flavor is the best tasting out of all the different
chicken breasts & tenders that I've tried.

2) TIP....I fry it on the stove first before I BBQ....
I do 1/2 of the bag at a time....Put a little canola
oil in a HOT frying pan...(you'll use less oil that
way) spread it all around, then I sprinkle garlic
powder.....lite salt.... and pepper on both sides
of the chicken pieces.

TIP..(seer on both sides to keep the juices in....)
Let cook on med. heat til 3/4 done..

3) Put on plate and ....TIP....brush each piece
with a brush or two of oil (on each side) so the juices will
stay inside the chicken...(that was a Bobby Flay's TIP....)

4) Pre-Heat BBQ grill to around 350F-375F....(you
may want to do this before you start cooking the chicken
on the stove so it'll be ready to go when you are)

5) When the grill is ready....put chicken on.....
let cook for a minute or two (with cover of grill
down...to get that smokey flavor) and then flip
chicken over and cook on other side......then start
brushing a coat of BBQ sauce (I used Kraft Honey
BBQ sauce) on one side, grill for a few min. (always
shut the lid in between... to keep the smokey
flavor in the chicken) then the other.....

6) Then repeat (I did it 3 or 4 times) just for a min.
or 2 each time...til they have finished cooking.......
and look done......and enjoy!!!

Chicken/Cheese Broccoli Soup w/Bread Bowl & Blog Hop

Here is a FUN Recipe for you..Chicken/Cheese Broccoli Soup in a Bread Bowl

What's for dinner???

One of my New Year's resolutions was to use up
the food we have & make meals from the
ingredients I have on hand...

This is one of those recipes..I had a lot of
broccoli, & chicken to use up..So this is what
I came up with...Hope you like it...

So let's begin to make this phenomenal
"Chicken/Cheese/Broccoli Soup"...and
Bread Bowl (next time the bowl will be from
scratch...I promise & I'll give you the recipe)

I love the eye appeal this has when using the
Sourdough French Bread as a "Soup Bowl."
This recipe is from Liz K. as adapted by Sister's
Cafe...

I have changed the recipe to include chicken
(I always like to have more protein if possible)
& mixed Mexican cheese I had on hand...

RECIPE
1 can chicken broth (about 2 cups)
1 small onion, diced

1/3 c. flour
1/4 c. butter
Pepper to taste (I used about 1/2 tsp.)

2 c. milk
1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese (sharper...better)
1/2 c. shredded Swiss cheese
1 c. Mixed Mexican cheeses
2-3 c. steamed broccoli florets (chopped in pieces)
3 chicken breasts (skinless/boneless/cooked) diced
1 Lg. Round Sourdough French Bread

Directions:
Simmer chicken broth & chopped onions for
15-20 min. in a covered saucepan, until onions
are soft. Heat milk in microwave for 1-2 min.

In a separate lg-size sauce pan, melt butter
& then add flour and pepper. See Photo Below..
Cook together for a couple of minutes until thickened..

Add warm milk until blended...Then add chicken

broth w/onions, cheeses, steamed broccoli, &

lg. pieces of diced chicken. Stir & heat together

on medium-high heat until soup starts to thicken..

As shown in next 3 photos...

Ouuu..it looks sooo good & smells even better!!!!

I wish you could SMELL IT!!

Now for the Bread Bowl.....I had planned to make

them from scratch, but the afternoon flew by &

(I made Bread pudding instead..that will have to be

for another post) Wish you could smell that too!!!

Anyway I needed this done to take dinner into a dear

friend (& her family) who just came home from the

hospital..So I was fine with store bought...See Below:

Looking further below... shows how I cut the "Top"

off with an electric knife (It's easiest I think) & then

cut a circle around the loaf (leaving about 1/2"

of bread creating the "bowl". Then pull out (by hand)

the soft bread..

(You can use that to eat with the soup..Same with

the top..You can eat it with the soup or maybe with

some spinach dip like we did...)

It is out of this world....Try it & let me know what

your family thinks...

It is so delicious & Comforting on a Cold, Gray

day outside...It's nice to be cozy & warm &

have a delicious nutritious meal that you

know will leave your family cozy & warm on

the inside, too.

Easter Bunny Lollipops/Blog Hop

EASTER is Coming!!!!

Easter also brings back so many fond memories
of new white or Black Patent Leather shoes, a little
matching purse, bow in our hair & oh yes...Let's
not forget that White hat with pink ribbon..we have
many photos my dad took to keep that very
memorable.

Does that sound like anybody elses childhood Easter
Sunday??? Going to church, Finding our Easter
Baskets, Ham Dinner with all the extras??? Sound
familiar??? Getting hungry for mom's cooking??

Our family still does all that but little girls/boys
do grow up all too fast..I have to admit I love for
my grown kids to come home to find Mr. Easter
Bunny has indeed come & left not as much candy
but maybe earrings, or book or some surprise in
Easter Baskets for them.

I love the family ties & gatherings...even if both
of my parents are gone..I still try to keep the
traditions alive & well.


SUPPLIES NEEDED:
For Basket
1 basket
1 piece of oasis foam
thin gauge florist type wire or tape
wire cutters
1 pkg. of iridescent grass
a couple (2 or 3) of colors of curling ribbon
scissors

For Chocolate/White Chocolate Lollipops
1 candy mold (I used bunnies, eggs, & tulip mold)
1 Bag of candy melts (a bag will usually do I think
around 25-35 maybe more depending on the size
of each mold)
1 bag of (50)lollipop sticks (Walmart or Michaels)
1bag of (50) lollipop bags (Walmart or Michaels)
aluminum foil
med. microwave-safe bowl
teaspoon to stir & put melted candy into molds
Oh..Another thing..I used what I had on hand.
This is how I did the Basket..

DIRECTIONS FOR BASKET:
1) Found basket I could use..Found some old
already used (but recyclable) Oasis Floral Foam.
Took some wire (thin gauge florist type..Walmart or
Michaels have) & made it so the wire secured the
foam, cut it with wire cutters & twisted until tight.
It's hard to see but that's what I did. You could
secure it tightly with florist tape (I didn't have any)
& wrap it through the holes of the basket.
SEE BELOW:

2) Arrange iridescent Easter grass on top & sides

of foam (I didn't even need to secure it. It worked

out just fine. The lollipops will keep it pretty much

in place. (I cut off old ribbon with wire cutters)

This is how I did the lollipops
.

DIRECTIONS FOR LOLLIPOPS:

1) Gather supplies together..SEE BELOW:

2) Pour 1/2 bag of candy melts into microwave-

safe bowl. Microwave on full power for 45 sec.

(My microwave is 1100 watts & this works fine

for me..you may have to fine tune your own time

& your wattage maybe different than mine..just

keep checking it & stirring it & it should be fine)
Keep stirring & checking very 15-20sec. (if it's on

high) until melted. You might feel safer having it

on 50% power & checking every 30sec. or so. Do

the same with rest of candy melts (depending on

how many you need)

SEE BELOW:

3) Take a clean candy mold & with a teaspoon

fill each bunny, tulip, (whatever) with chocolate

or white chocolate (not overflowing)

4) Lay lollipop stick (inside slot provided in mold

going into the melted candy) & twist til stick is

covered with melted chocolate. You would be wise

to add a dollop of chocolate on top of that place where

you twisted the stick to make sure it is secure &

it will stay in much better. After it cools & hardens..

it will be very secure.SEE BELOW:

5) Place in refrigerator or freezer for a short time

(try 10-15 min.) & keep checking them until they

"harden." Then take out of freezer or refrigerator

(I like the freezer best because it's way faster)

& turn them over & "pop" them out on to a piece

of foil. Believe it or not they do not need anything

like Pam or spray or anything to help them pop out.

I have used these again & again & have never had

any problem with them not popping out of their

molds.The detail is amazingly clear on them.

SEE BELOW:

6) I like to put mine in one of the lollipop bags

(they are the perfect size) & tie some curling ribbon

around the stick to secure bag in place.

SEE BELOW:

7) Curl ribbon with scissors edge & your thumb.
(Careful not to hurt yourself)SEE BELOW:

8) Stick each one in the oasis in the basket &

look at them...They look like a little bunch of

bunnies in an egg field or bunny & egg patch..

SEE BELOW:

AREN'T THEY CUTE????? Have fun & let me

know how they turned out for you...Enjoy..

St. Patrick's Day Oreo Suckers/Blog Hop

St. Patrick's Day is Saturday..Don't
forget to wear Green or get pinched!
Where did that idea come from??

Well, I have a Delicious "TO DIE FOR"
St. Patrick's Day TREAT..."CHOC/MINT
OREO SUCKERS" (TUTORIAL BELOW)
(See Photos BELOW)



Supplies Needed:
Oreo Mint Cookies
Parchment/wax paper
White & Green Candy Melts
Lollipop/Sucker Sticks/bags
Curling Ribbon/or Twists


Directions:
1) Lay out some Wax Paper on counter top.
Take Oreos & separate them (See Photo
BELOW)

2) At 30 sec. increments..microwave Candy Melts.

3) Take a Lollipop Stick & dip into

melted candy (will look like a Q-tip) &

place in middle of Oreo. Press down

softly into green frosting)

(SEE PHOTOS BELOW)

4) Place top of Oreo on top of
stick & press gently..Let harden

(about 5-10 min) See Photo BELOW

5) Dip hardened Suckers into melted

coating (making sure all sides & edges

are coated) See Photo BELOW

6) Decorate however you choose. I

used green sprinkles, Green Candy Melts,

White nonpareils (See BELOW)

7) Decorated & protected by plastic bags

these delicious "Choc/Mint Cookie Suckers"

are ready for gift giving...Friends, Neighbors,

Co-workers are going to ask you for the RECIPE!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY EVERYONE!!!

St. Patrick's Day Brownies/Blog Hop

Looking for the Blog Hop..It's below the recipe.

Watch out..these will be super-delicious!!
Your going to LOVE these..These minty
brownies melt right into your mouth.

RECIPE
1 Box Brownie mix
(ingredients on back of box: water, veg. oil, & eggs)

Mint Filling
1/4 c. butter, softened
1/4 c. whipping cream
1 package (3oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/4 tsp. mint or peppermint extract
4 drops of green food coloring
3 1/2 c. powered sugar
***Baker's Secret...To soften butter
(out of the refrigerator) place in microwave
for 10-15 sec.

Chocolate Topping
1/2 c. whipping cream
1 bag (12oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c. butter (do not use margarine)

Directions: Pre-heat oven 350F.
1) Grease 13"x 9" pan with cooking spray.
Make & bake brownies as directed on back
of box for a 13" x 9" pan, using water, oil &
eggs. Cool completely.

2) In large mixing bowl, put butter, cream,
cream cheese, mint extract/green food coloring
& 1 cup of conf. sugar. SEE BELOW:

3) Start to blend on a low speed... then higher

to blend & make nice & smooth.

4) Add 1 more cup of conf. sugar..start slow again
then higher speed until thoroughly smooth.

Add rest of powered sugar & beat until silky,

smooth & delicious!!!!!

5) On cooled brownies..spread the mint filling

& put into refrigerator to set for 1 hr...

Meanwhile, in a 2 qt. nonstick saucepan, heat

topping ingredients over medium-low heat, stirring

constantly, until melted, smooth & gorgeous!!

Cool about 10 min.

SEE BELOW:

6) Pour topping over filling, spread to cover.

Refrigerate uncovered about 2 hrs. or until set.

Before cutting into bars let stand for 10 min.

at room temperture. Store covered in refrigerator.

Finished & Looking wonderful!!! Enjoy!!

(Maybe cut into smaller bars because of the richness)

Ahhhhhhhhhh!!! That left over frosting!!!!! Do you

remember when you were a kid & your mom made

these??? My mom use to always put frosting in

between some graham crackers & either put them

in my school lunch or to eat when we got home

from school. SEE BELOW:

Sometimes the sweetest memories are some of
the simplest things..Happy Memories everybody!!!