Easy Appetizer

Easy Appetizer

Toothpicks

Cherry Tomatoes

Bell Pepper Piece

Cubed Pepper Jack Cheese

The Greatest Gift

Make sure you turn off bottom music on this page to hear this ... it is just beautiful!

Snow at the Red Barn

Christmas 2011 Kitchen

One of my family members has informed me that I have not done a blog in awhile.
As I sit here and try to come up with an excuse... the only thing I can think of is BUSY.

1. Art orders out before the 20th (4 more paintings to go)
2. Shopping till I drop and I have just finished the last item today.
3. Decorating every room.
4. The usual chores of my daily life..
5. All sorts of gatherings, parties and getting organized for ours.

6. Stretching out on the couch on a cold night with a good movie and my husband.
Life Is Good

Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011 ~Week Two Decorating

Front bedroom almost complete.

When we were 22..

First wedding Anniversary May 6 Going through photos this morning and missing my home town
Tampa

Happy Birthday to My Granddaughter

Assembly Required!

Dining Room For Christmas

Italian Cheese Straws

The Holidays are upon us and many gatherings are on our list in the next few weeks. Italian Cheese Straws are always a hit when serving finger foods.This recipe is a wonderful do ahead as I have done for so many years.Doubling this recipe might not a bad idea for they do not last long.

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan or Romano cheese *Fresh grated is always better
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 cup butter
4 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
3 tablespoons cold water

1.Mix the flour, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, basil, rosemary, and oregano in a large bowl. Cut butter into small cubes, and add to flour mixture. Use a pastry blender or 2 knives to cut the butter into the flour; continue until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in cheese. Sprinkle water, 1 tablespoon at a time, over the flour mixture; mix lightly until dough is evenly moist and clings together. You may not use all of the water.
2.Shape dough into a disc, and divide into 12 equal pieces. Wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm.
3.Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F 3.On a lightly floured surface, roll pieces of the dough into just slightly thicker than pencil shaped sticks. Cut sticks into 4 to 5 inch lengths. Arrange the pieces on the baking sheet.
4.Bake in preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks.

My Little Helper

Christmas 1993

While going through some of my Christmas things I came across this photo.
This is our home in Tampa Florida that my husband built with some of our employees the second year we were in business. Life has been good for 28 years and we have been BLESSED!!

Happy Birthday to My Husband

(Engagement Photo 1982)

Happy Birthday to the worlds BEST husband, father and Grandfather.

Looking forward to our next adventure this weekend!

Christmas 2011 ~Week One Decorating

The front entrance hall is starting to take shape with seven more room to go!

Barred Owl

Pumpkin Fluff Dip

1 box of instant vanilla pudding
1 tub of Lite cool whip
1 can of pumpkin

In a mixing bowl combine incredients for your vanilla pudding. Stir until it is nice and smooth. Fold in your whipped cream until everything is nice and blendid. Finally add in your pumpkin. Cover and chill in the refrigerator.
Serve in large bowl with graham crackers for dipping

Spinach & Artichoke Crock Pot Dip.

24 oz. frozen Spinach
2 8 oz. package Cream Cheese
1 cup shredded Parmesan
2 cups Mozzarella
2 14 oz. cans Artichoke Hearts Chopped
1 small Onion diced small
1 Tsp. Garlic Powder
1 Tbs. Horseradish
1 Tsp. Chili Powder

Combine all in crock pot and set to high for 2 hours. Stir from time to time while cooking.
Serve with cracker , chips or just about anything you like.

Happy Birthday Mother

Mama Leone Celebrating her 80th Birthday!

Back To Oz

Corky in Venice Italy

Ballet

Crockpot French Dip

2-3 pounds chuck roast
1 (10.5 ounce) can beef broth
1 packet dried French onion soup
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbs garlic powder

Add all to Crock pot for 6-8 hours. The longer the more tender.
Sever on rolls with Provolone cheese or any cheese you would like.
I also like to saute a medium onion and mushrooms. Oh So Good!!

Alabama Football

Roll Tide
SOLD

Chocolate Bourbon Cake

Chocolate Bourbon Cake

1 Chocolate Cake mix
5 eggs
8 oz. Sour Cream
1/2 c. Coconut flakes
1/3 c. bourbon
1/2 c. REAL butter (melted)
1 pkg. Chocolate Instant Pudding
1 c. Pecans Chopped
1/2 c. Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips

Procedure
In Bundt Pan grease well (I use spray)
Bake @ 350 for 45- 55 min.
till tooth pick comes out clean

Little Yard Fairy

Garden Totem

Family Tradition

Very proud of my son keeping with the family tradition.
I am also proud of the man , husband and father he is to his wife and daughter.

Bowling Ball Art

Chalkboard paint sprayed on bowling ball as a message ball at backdoor.
Here in my neck of the woods not often the front door is used when people come to visit. Nine times out of ten if the front door is used it is someone you don't know.

Grandpa Leone's Cookies

My grandfather Leone used to bake these all the time and were used to dunk in coffee.
I just thought they were the greatest as a little girl and even better when I started drinking coffee . Missing Grandpa today and his Italian cooking

3 cups all purpose flour
3 eggs
3 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp anise
1/2 cup real butter

Directions
Heat oven at 350

Cream eggs butter and flavoring.

Add rest of ingredients.

blend well and form a dough ball. Pinch off enough to make long tube shape about 5 inches.

Place then on non-stick cookie sheet and bake for about 20 minutes or until lightly tan in color. Remove from sheet and let cool on wire rack.

Island Beach

Mountians

Heat Relief

Revamped Dining Room

Bowl of Sweet Million Tomatos

Just picked!

Blue Heron

Blue Heron
16 x 20
Acrylic / Watercolor
SOLD

Happy Birthday Son

Son and Granddaughter at the age of two
Love those brown eyes!
Happy 23rd Birthday Son!!

Revamped Bathroom

My project for this week.... DONE

French Coconut Rum Cake

1 box French Vanilla cake mix
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1/3 cup vegtable oil
1/3 rum
1/3 cup Coco Lopez's Cream of Coconut

Directions
Preheat oven to 350
Mix all ingredience and pour in 9 cup bundt pan.

Cream Cheese frosting
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar.

Decorating

Created on a 4 x 4 particle board
Native American Indian/ Native American Wildlife
acrylic

Ready for Fall

Ready to spend an Autumn holiday in the smokies!
Eveything is booked.......what shall I wear??

Good Taste