Uncooked Creation

Summer has finally graced us here in Central New York.  It is hot and beautiful! This week I made a new flower bed along with bird feeders.

Boston Cream Pie

One of Wyatt's favorite deserts is Boston Cream Pie, so I thought I would give it a try...totally simple.  I used yellow cake mix, instant vanilla pudding and canned frosting.  To be honest it was not as good as I can buy at Price Chopper bakery, but non the less enjoyable.

Double Crusted Pork Chops

Dipped first in egg, next flour, egg again and lastly Italian bread crumbs. I season all  the ingredients with the acceptation of the bread crumbs.  I oven fry at 400 degrees until the crust is browned and the pork is not pink.

Tonight I served with fried okra and a salad.

Tomorrow Cup a Cup a Cup a Stick Peach Cobbler.

Not So Creative

I have been off my feet for 3 days now. I don't sit well. I like to try to keep my house clean and make hearty meals and baked goods for my family. If I can just behave and rest my foot I should be back to rights in a couple days.

Easy Rice Pudding

Jesse was so proud of himself helping cook

I didn't make this one up, but  this is a recipe that my family loves and it does away with leftover rice. It can be easily divided for the amount of rice I have.

2 cups cooked rice
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs lightly beaten
2 cups milk
1/4 raisins (not)
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix all together and pour into a prepared baking dish (I use my Pampered Chef Pie Stone) and bake for about 25 min at 350 or until set.
Recipe found at www.southernfood.about.com

A Southern Lady's Guide to Your New Year's Dinner

I can hardly wait for New Year's Day! It not only is a new start to a fresh year, but the meal itself is steeped in tradition! We have our tried and true menu. Fried Hog Jowl (it is like bacon but not smoked) this is for health. I will cook a big pot of mixed greens (collards, turnip greens and kale). The leaves of the greens look like folded money. With that said we eat greens to make sure we have plenty of money in the new year. And last but not least we eat black eye peas for luck. This tradition started during Sherman's march to the sea. The union soilders destroyed all the crops and storehouses except for the dry corn and black eyed peas since this was thought to be food for the livestock. The confederate soilders felt lucky to have it.

Now that I have taught you what to eat, I think I should warn you of things you should not eat on New
Year's. First on my list is crayfish or lobster. They walk backwards...you want to go forward, not backwards in the new year.  Second, stay away from the chicken wings. I know it is hard with all the bowl games, but you don't want your luck to fly away. And last but not least, no matter what chick-fil-a says eat no chicken. Chickens scratch the ground and you want to look to the future, not dig up the past.

I hope that clears up any questions you may or may not have had. No matter what your New Year's traditions are remember the most important tradition is sharing it with the ones you love!!!

God Bless and Happy New Year,
Karen