Spider Attack - Join Mac for a Pet Party!

Sometimes pictures are worth a thousand words!

Look at the snout on that spider!

Mom's been to PetsMart again.......lucky me.

I absolutely deserve a treat Dad.  Do you see what I'm wearing?

Oh no here come the neighbors.  Where can I  hide?

Ok, I'm feeling it now.  Let's play ball.  This costume rocks!

Now we're talking. 


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Pimento Cheese AKA Southern Pâté

Pimento Cheese is a southern classic.  This cheese has been showing up in our homes and grocery stores since the early 1900's.  It's simply delicious.  Cheap and easy to make and so much better homemade!  You will find this cheese everywhere from b-b-ques to weddings.  We serve it up on celery, stuffed in tomatoes, on crackers, as a sandwich (with crustless soft white bread of course), as finger sandwiches for swanky affairs, on hamburgers, and hot dogs.  I've never heard a cheese pronounced so many ways!  Around the south you'll hear it pronounced pi-men-toe, pi-men-ah, men-ah, menta, and some just say PC.  No matter the pronunciation it's always divine!  

PRINTABLE RECIPE

Pimento Cheese AKA Southern Pâté

Here's what you'll need:

2 ounce jar of chopped pimentos

8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese

4 ounces cream cheese

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1 medium thick slice of sweet onion

1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce

pinch of salt 

sprinkling of black pepper

dash of cayenne pepper 

**DISCLAIMER - my ADD kicked in and I forgot to put out the cream cheese and cayenne pepper, oops.  Please just pretend they are in the photo - thanks.**

In a food processor chop the onion.  

Add in the pimentos and give the food processor a whirl.

Add in the mayonnaise, cream cheese,  and worcestershire sauce and give it another whirl.

**DISCLAIMER... the cream cheese is not in the photo.  I'm busted!  When I tasted the pimento cheese to adjust the seasonings I realized I forgot the cream cheese and cayenne pepper.  So I just mixed them in at the end.  Pimento cheese is very forgiving like that!

Dump in the shredded cheddar cheese, pinch of salt, sprinkling of black pepper, and a dash of cayenne pepper.  Pulse the food processor until you get to the consistency you like.  I like mine really processed but many people prefer to keep larger shreds of cheese.  Taste.  Add more seasoning if need.

                            

REFRIGERATE FOR AT LEAST 1 HOUR BEFORE SERVING.  It is very important to give the mixture time to come together and party.  Pimento cheese is best at room temperature.  So follow the recommendation and pull it out of the fridge for about 15 to 20 minutes before serving guests.  However, it doesn't bother me to eat it straight out of the fridge. I think it's yummy either way!

Quote of the day

All the great things are simple. 

~Sir Winson Churchill

Submit your favorite quote here.

Enjoy,

Shannon

Southern Style Green Beans

Before we get cooking let's talk about last night's episode of Glee.  Loved it!!  Food and religion together. 


The theme was how we all struggle with faith from time to time.  In short Finn saw the image of Jesus on a grilled cheese sandwich made in a George Foreman grill.  Feeling that he was experiencing a higher power he cut the sandwich in half ensuring he would not harm Grilled Cheesus (Grilled Cheesus??, LOL!).   In awe of the image on the sandwich Finn began praying to Grilled Cheesus and wished for 3 things like Jesus was a genie.  All three wishes/prayers involved other characters on the show and they all came true.  Finn was becoming almost radical about his religion until Ms. Pillsbury (Emma) told him that Grilled Cheesus did not answer his prayers.  Things worked out the way they did because of the choices each individual made she said.  All of the characters on the show struggled with their faith in their own ways.  Some believing and some not.  Everyone asking  - Does God really exist?  I think Emma summed it up best when she said " The big questions are really big for a reason.  They're hard.  And you know what, everybody struggles with them." 


I have seen God at work in my life at times and other times have wondered where He was.  But deep down I know He is always there guiding my life just where it needs to go.  Even when my free will screws it up!   This Glee episode is definitely going to start many discussions about God, Jesus, and faith over the next few days.  Which is probably a good thing.


I have to admit during the show I kept thinking....... grilled cheese (licking my lips).  You know a good ol' comforting grilled cheese with some southern style green beans sure would be good!!!  My mind is demented like that.  Always thinking about food.  I just made green beans the other night with the intention of posting the recipe.  I think I just have southern style cook em till there's probably no nutrition left in them green beans on the mind.  And cheese, it's always floating around in my mind.  Everything is better with cheese.  It's an inherited trait!  I am my fathers daughter.  


If you've never had green beans cooked this way you're in for a treat.  They are slightly salty, soft, almost creamy, with a hint of sweetness.  Even hubby who generally won't eat a green bean with a 10 foot pole loves them.  


PRINTABLE RECIPE


Southern Style Green Beans
Here's what you'll need:
1 pound of green beans (fresh or frozen)
3 or 4 slices of bacon cut into 1 to 2 inch pieces
1/2 of a small to medium sized onion roughly chopped
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
water

Place a medium to large saucepan on medium heat and throw in the bacon.  When the bacon starts to render some fat throw in the onion.  Let it cook until the bacon browns up and the onions soften. Drain off the grease and return the bacon and onion to the saucepan.

Now add the green beans, salt, sugar, pepper and enough water to cover them.

Bring everything to a good simmer, partially cover with a lid, and let it go for at least 1 hour.  I usually simmer for around 1 1/2 hours and some southern cooks will let it simmer until almost all of the liquid is cooked down. When finished taste and add more pepper or salt as needed.

Experiment with the seasonings and make it your own!

Quote of the day

People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness.  Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost. ~Dalai Lama

Submit your favorite quote here.

Make it a great day!

Cheers,

Shannon

Quote Junkie

There are times in life when quotes really keep me going.  A saying that makes me think, laugh, or go hmmm can really change the momentum of the day?  Sometimes I'm looking for inspiration or motivation. Sometimes about love or friendship. Sometimes about home and cooking. And the list goes on and on.


Do you have a favorite quote?  A quote your mom, grandmother, an author, or you have said that makes your day a little brighter.


This page was created for us to share our favorite quotes.  I would consider it an honor if you would take a minute and leave your favorite quote in the comments section below this post.   Then when we need that little something extra to get us through the day we can come back to this page and find just what we're looking for.


I will also randomly select shared quotes for the closing of each post on Delectalicious!  It is very important to me to credit you for sharing so be sure to include a link to your blog/website if you have one.  


Here are a few of my favorites to get us started.

Gratitude is the best Attitude ~Author Unknown

What is Success?

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people

   and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics

   and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty;

To find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better,

   whether by a healthy child, a garden 

   patch or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier

   because you have lived;

This is to have succeeded   ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted ~Aesop

This too shall pass ~ my mom (and Proverbs)

I'm looking forward to reading your favorite quotes!

Gratefully,

Shannon

Sausage Balls

Mmmmm, Mmmmm, good!  Every fall these sausage balls find their way back into our lives.  So quick and easy!  A perfect Saturday afternoon football snack.  They even reheat well for breakfast the next day.  You can't beat that!


Over the last few months I have been reading labels and trying to eliminate high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils from our diet to become a little bit healthier.  Wow those two ingredients are in everything!  I bet you are scratching your head and thinking sausage balls and healthier lifestyle in the same post, really!?!  I know I know!  I could argue that while high in fat sausage and cheese are real foods :-).  Anyways,  every little change counts, right?  So I was really shocked to see that Bisquick has partially hydrogenated soybean oil and/or cottonseed oil.  REALLY????  Why?  All in the name of shelf life I suppose.   So in the future I will be reading up on how to make my own biscuit mix.  If you have a recipe for homemade biscuit mix PLEASE email me! I beg you :-)!


In the meantime here is the classic sausage ball recipe.


PRINTABLE RECIPE


Here's what you'll need:
1 pound of your favorite ground sausage.  We like it hot.
3 cups of Bisquick (in the future homemade biscuit mix)
2 cups of grated cheddar cheese


Optional add in - 1 can diced green chilies or diced jalapenos

Throw all the ingredients in a bowl and mix them together with your hands.

Roll pecan size balls and place on a lightly greased baking pan.

Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool slightly and dig in!


Cheers,
Shannon

lip sMACin' ginger treats

Mac has really been down in the dumps over the last week.  We aerated and over-seeded the yard so that means no ball playing for two weeks!  I'm not sure he's gonna make it.  As we were watching football on Saturday we tossed the ball around the porch.  He bounced around but never ran out of steam.  He's a typical lab with lots of energy.  He needs running lots of running!!!!

Well I think I got back in his good graces today with a new treat!  I baked up a ginger treat that he gave two paws up.  I gave him the first one to try and he scarfed it down.  As I held up the second one he was actually drooling, smackin', and lickin' his lips.  Then it hit me..... I'll name these goodies lip sMACin' ginger treats.

PRINTABLE RECIPE


lip sMACin' ginger treats
inspired by 3 Dog Bakery Cookbook


Here's what you'll need:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
4 teaspoons milk
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Combine the oil, honey, vanilla, egg, and milk.  

Then add in the flour, baking powder, and ginger.  Mix until a dough forms.  Turn it out on a floured surface and lightly knead. Roll out to about 1/4 inch and use cookie cutters to cut your favorite shapes.

Place shapes on a greased cookie sheet.  Bake in a 375 degree preheated oven for 15 minutes.


Cool on a wire rack.  Then feed them to your pooch!  He or she will give you lots of kisses!!!

Enjoy,
Shannon

No Bake Cookies

Now here's a quick and easy blast from the past!  We grew up with these tasty little gems.  Chocolate, peanut butter, and oats yummmmo!   A perfect sweet tailgating treat.

PRINTABLE RECIPE
Here's what you'll need:
1 stick butter
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk (preferably whole)
3 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla


Bring butter, sugar, cocoa, and milk to a hard boil in a heavy saucepan for 1 minute.

Remove from heat and mix in oats, peanut butter, and vanilla.  Drop spoonfuls of mixture onto wax paper and let cool.

That's it folks you're done!

Happy Saturday.  GO SOONERS!


Cheers, 
Shannon