Yummy Chocolate Frosting

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

6 tbsp boiling water (boil extra just in case your frosting is too thick)

8 tbsp (1 stick) butter at room temperature

3 cups confectioners' sugar sifted (sift extra just in case your frosting is too thin)

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

place the cocoa powder in a lg mixing bowl & pour boiling water over it, stir  until the cocoa comes together in a soft mass. Add butter and blend with a mixer on low until soft and well blended (about 30 secs.) Stop mixing and  add the sugar and vanilla on low until blended well, increase speed to med and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, add more boiling water a tsp at a time if frosting is too thick or sugar if to thin.

I find if I set this into the fridge for a few minutes after making it, it will thicken better to allow you to pipe onto cupcakes.  If spreading on a cake, it will likely do better too! 

BEST Chocolate Cake Ever

Cake Batter

1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
cream together
add 4 eggs (1 at a time mixing well)
1 cup self-rising flour
16 oz can chocolate syrup
Bake in a greased, floured 9x13 pan 30-40 minutes at 350

Frosting for Cake

1 cup sugar
1 stick butter
1/3 cup pet milk (you can use regular milk)
boil 3 minutes (start timing when it starts to boil)
stir while the mixture boils and remove from heat,
add 1/2 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet)
1 tsp vanilla, and 1 cup of chopped pecans.
Pour over warm cake

My neighbor made one of these cakes for Casey when she was on her R&R from deployment last fall.  I have to say it's possibly one of the easiest, yet best chocolate cakes I have ever eaten!  Dangerous to have around my house since I can't seem to walk by it without grabbing a bite!
Hope you will try it!

Honey Grahams

Honey Grahams
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
put in a saucepan and bring to a boil for 2 minutes
add 1 cup pecans
line a pan with graham crackers and pour the above mixture over and bake for 10 minutes on 350
This is really good and easy for those times you need something fast and easy.

We are a bit cold right now for the south, that is!  Woke this morning to temps in the teens and never got over 30 degrees.  I know that may not sound cold to others living up north but its bone chilling here!  Blessings to all and don't get too stressed with the holidays coming, not worth it!

CHICKEN CHOWDER

Delicious thick chowder for those cooler days that are surely coming, very easy too!
Chicken Chowder

2 cups cooked chicken cut up
1 can cream of potato soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 11 oz can Mexican corn
1 can rotel
1 ½ cup milk
1 cup chicken broth
1 ½ to 2 cups cheese

Mix first 7 ingredients and cook for 7 to 8 minutes until warmed and remove from heat and add cheese and mix until melted. Can be topped with sliced green onions.

So thankful today was greeted by a downpour about 4 a.m. but now the sun is shining brightly! I think we may be in for more rain later today but everything is green and beautiful and the grass is freshly mowed.

Delicious Crockpot Corn

Crock Pot Corn On The Cob

4 oz cream cheese
1 stick butter
(melt in microwave)
2 lbs. frozen whole kernel corn
1/2 cup sugar

Place all ingredients in the crock pot on low until done.
This comes from my sister and she is an excellent cook. Would be wonderful for those times you need to fix something without much effort!

I am so thankful for the rain we got yesterday although it means mowing will have to be done sooner than later. No storms, but heavy rain for a bit. Seems to cleanse the air. God is so good to us.

HASH BROWN CASSEROLE

This is a wonderful dish for those potluck dinners that come along...

HASH BROWN CASSEROLE

1 (12 oz) pkg. shredded hashbrown potatoes (frozen)
1 (12 oz) pkg. grated cheddar cheese
1 (8 oz.) carton sour cream
1/2 cup melted margarine
1 can Campbells's cream of potato soup (nondiluted)
salt and pepper to taste

Defrost hash browns, mix all ingredients together and put in a greased baking dish. Top with 2 cups crushed corn flakes with 1/4 cup melted margarine. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Watch carefully that the top does not get too brown, if it is browning too much cover with foil and continue baking.

Today is one of those days I really do need to concentrate on some of my blessings...you know how days come that you have your pity party and don't want to do anything but pout!!! I know I am blessed beyond measure and I will shape myself up and be thankful as God means for me to be!

Hot Slaw

This is a wonderful recipe for a delicious hot dog slaw that is sweet with a little heat!

HOT SLAW
1 GAL shredded cabbage
3 shredded carrots
1 cup white vinegar
1 Tbsp salt
1 tsp. black pepper
3 bell peppers, chopped
3 onions, chopped
3 cups sugar
3 cups mustard
1 1/2 tsp powdered cayenne pepper

Mix vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, black and cayenne pepper together. Add the veggies and bring this mixture to a boil and put in jars and seal.

I am so thankful today for the ability to see, hear, speak, smell and hear. We tend to take these "simple" 5 senses for granted. I am thankful that God gave me these five senses so I can enjoy all His creation!

Easy Sausage Balls

Now I know you saw that title and said "OH NO, not another sausage ball recipe"! Well, I found this one to be the BEST one I have tried and the EASIEST...

SAUSAGE BALLS
2 cups Pioneer baking mix
1/2 cup water
1 lb. hot pork sausage (I use Groggans)
12 oz grated sharp Cheddar cheese

Put sausage and cheese in a bowl and microwave until warm (about 30 secs in mine)
Mix this together and add the Pioneer mix and water. Mix all of this well with hands and make into 1 1/2 inch balls and bake at 400 for about 12-15 minutes. (I do spray the pan with a cooking spray but you could use parchment paper!)

Heating the sausage and cheese will cut down on mixing time by half! These are delicious and can be frozen after cooking and cooling for a quick snack or breakfast....that is if you have any left!

Thankfully today I am getting some more baby gifts made for the upcoming babies popping up all around me! I just love doing these things and will be posting some pictures soon of finished gifts. There may be lots of repeats as far as the item in the gift, but they will all look different with the different fabrics and such!

Chicken Salad

4 chicken breasts boiled in water with 1 stick of butter
(boil the chicken for a long time and it will just fall apart and be very tender)
2 cups sliced red seedless grapes
1 peeled and chopped Grannie Smith Apple
2 small cans drained pineapple tidbits
about 1 cup (more or less) of toasted chopped pecans (I just put them in a nonstick skillet and get them warm so the oils will really let go of flavor, but keep them stirred!)
about 2 tbls sugar
about a 1 1/2 cups of chopped sweet pickles or sweet salad cubes
Get a large jar of HELLMAN'S mayo and you'll just add and stir until it looks like it is creamy enough, you can always add more later if you need too
Better if you make it the night before its to be served
You can adjust your ingredients if you wanted to make a smaller amount

This is a big hit at showers and get-togethers. My sister gave me the recipe.

Today I am so thankful to be up, dressed and feeling better. I have had a bout of just not feeling too well. Maybe its the heat? The sun is shining and although it promises to be a very hot day, its beautiful. Only God could create the beauty of sunshine!

Easy Italian Beef

Italian Beef

1 2-3 lb chuck roast
1 package Italian Dressing Mix
1 jar drained pepperoncini peppers
1 package Au Jus gravy mix

Wash the roast and place in crock pot. Cover with the peppers (I normally remove the stems) and cover with Italian Dressing Mix.
When the roast becomes tender (approx. 6 hours) remove some of the liquid and mix with the Au Jus gravy mix and return to the crock pot and allow it to cook another 20-30 minutes. If you feel you don't have enough juices, add some water. Some like to serve the sandwich "dipped" but I don't really care for soggy bread!! Serve on hoagie buns for a hearty sandwich! Wonderful for those days you don't want to spend lots of time in the kitchen but want folks to think you did!

This makes a very hearty MAN'S sandwich, but really a good one for ladies too! The peppers are not too spicy but you could add some spicy ones if you prefer.

Thankful today that my back is feeling better. A couple years ago I spent much time at the acupuncture's office getting this problem resolved and it worked well until the last couple days. I think I am just tired. I don't like complaining, so I am thankful for the pain to be gone for a bit!

Busy Day Peach Cobbler

Busy Day Peach Cobbler

29 oz. can of sliced peaches
1/3 cup sugar
3 oz. box peach jello
stick of margarine melted
1/2 box yellow cake mix (or the l layer size)

Drain the peaches, reserving syrup, and spread in a long dish. Sprinkle sugar and jello over the peaches.
Cover with the cake mix, dribble peach juice over cake mix, pour melted margarine over all. Bake at 350 45
minutes. (Very easy and fast to fix)

This recipe came from my DAD! To be fair, his sister shared it with him. When I asked what size long dish to put it in, his reply was "longer than a baby's shoe box but shorter than a football field".....quickly followed by saying a 9x13 pan worked well for him. You can see his wonderful sense of humor in this as it is in nearly all things.
For more delicious recipes and some wonderful links to fun sewing tutorials and ideas, visit my friend Pam's blog at http://pam-thebestlaidplans.blogspot.com/. Pam and I are long time friends although she has lived in South Carolina now for over 20 years. When we see each other or talk, we just pick back up where we left off!
Today when thinking of blessings, I am thankful for getting my sense of humor from Dad. A sense of humor I feel is a blessing because it can get you through daily trials by seeing it in a whole new light. Laughter is wonderful. When my family manages to get together there are always plenty of laughs. I have wonderful friends that always help me to laugh. Humor can be a healing emotion that everyone needs in their lives!

Chicken and Dumplings.....ummm good!

My sister makes the very best Chicken and Dumplings and they are so easy to make. I thought I would share her recipe for those that have, like myself, struggled to find the perfect dumpling recipe.

Chicken and Dumplings

First, boil two or more, depending on your preference, boneless chicken breasts in a large amount of water and 1 stick of butter. Boil them until they are so tender you can just flake them apart. Remove from the broth it makes and then proceed to making your dumplings.

DUMPLINGS

2 cups self-rising flour
2 heaping tablespoons shortening
(cut this together until crumbly)
At this point, you take a can of chicken broth straight from
the cabinet and add to the mixture a little at the time
until you form a good dough. Let this mixture
sit for 10-15 minutes. Have the pot of broth
turned on and boiling, add 1/2 to 1 tsp. of the
dumpling mixture at a time to the broth. Do this
rather quickly. The more you stir the more your
dumplings will fall apart, so try not to over stir.
(you may have to reduce the heat some at this point)
After you have all the dumplings added, salt and pepper
to taste, and add the chicken back into the broth and enjoy!

Wow, is this ever a good meal! You can adjust the amount of dumplings or chicken by just adding or using less of the base recipe. Like my sister, I don't like just a lot of chicken in my dumplings, but others may want more. I love using the boneless chicken breast.

Today I am thankful for the beautiful weather we have been having the last few days in Mississippi. Normally our July's are hot and dry. Last week we had some rain and the humidity broke and the weather cooled. The days have been sunny with a light breeze. These are the perfect days that God provides for us along the way so we can enjoy all his earthly creations.....the birds, flowers, trees, sunshine....ahhh, so much to be thankful for.

Favorite Meatloaf Recipe

I consider meatloaf a comfort food. My husband "hates" meatloaf but he does like this one. I found the recipe years ago in a microwave cookbook but I bake it in the oven. Add some creamed potatoes, green beans and rolls and you are set to indulge!
Many like making a sandwich with the leftover meatloaf! Everyone that has tried this one raves about it.

Favorite Meat Loaf
(I normally double the sauce recipe)

SAUCE
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 teaspoon prepared mustard

mix well and set aside

MEAT MIXTURE
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 med onion chopped
1 sm bell pepper chopped
1/4 to 1/2 cup quick cook oats
2 lbs lean ground beef
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Mix everything but oats with meat and mix well, add oats and mix again, then add 1/2 of sauce and mix well again. Shape in a donut shape (makes it faster cooking and sure to get done through and through) and cover with remaining sauce. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 1 1/2 hour or more depending on your oven.

Today I am thankful that the youngest grandson, Caden, is better. He has had a virus this week and really gave us a scare this morning when his temperature got up to 100.8 and he screamed when you touched his stomach. Caden is only 2 and can't tell you where it really hurts. After a series of chest and stomach xrays and another trip to the doctor, his fever finally broke this afternoon and although his eyes still look weak, he is smiling and trying to play some. Keep prayers coming that this is the beginning of the end of a miserable week for him. You know when a 2 year old is too sick to play and smile that he/she is really sick! I asked many to pray for him and I believe God answered those prayers!

Georgia Cornbread Cake

Need something fast and easy for a quick dessert? Try these. I describe it as a non-chocolate version of a brownie. Be careful when you try these....they're so good you might just (as we say in the south) swallow your tongue!

Georgia Cornbread Cake

1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla flavoring
1 cup oil
2 cups pecans

mix all ingredients together and put in a pan sprayed with Pam and bake at 350 for about 30 to 45 minutes
(I used a 13x9 pan)

Today I have to say I am thankful to be home after a quick trip to see my daughter in Enterprise, AL. She is presently stationed at Ft. Rucker. In the picture you'll see her and her dad (my husband) from the trip he took down in April. Casey will graduate with her "wings" in a couple weeks. She has always been the sunshine in our lives and has a wonderful personality. We have so much fun together. She says when she told her classmates she had a surprise waiting when she got home on Wednesday afternoon and it was her mom she got funny looks. I am blessed that Casey and I share a wonderful relationship. We had such a good visit and so many really good laughs and some heart to heart talks. The doctor's office referred to the baby on the sonogram as the size of a Lima bean....I told her that was the northern term, here in the south she is carrying a little butter bean! So for now the baby is affectionately known as "Butter Bean".
God blessed me with a safe trip there and back and a wonderful time with Casey!