"Growing up Southern is a privilege, really. It's more than where you're born - it's an idea, a state of mind that seems imparted at birth. It's more than loving fried chicken, sweet tea, high school football, country music, and acoustic guitars. It's being hospitable, being devoted to front porches, magnolias, the good Lord, and each other. We don't become Southern - we're born that way."

3.25.2010

My World Famous Potato Salad


It's World Famous!
{Simply because I say so!}

Sorry friends, but there are no real measurements here. I'll do my best!
I make a big bowl of this because everyone loooves it.

5 lbs. Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed {I cube them pretty small}
1 large white onion, diced
4-6 boiled eggs {smooshed with the smoosher thing}
Kraft mayonnaise. {Accept no substitutes!}
Hellman's Dijonniase mustard. {see above}
Dill pickle relish

Egg Smoosher= Something like this:



Boil your potatoes until they are soft but still firm. Then mix all ingredients together. You want it creamy but not soupy. Use plenty of dill relish, about half of one of those little jars.
And I season this with my all-purpose seasoning, Nature's Seasons.


Enjoy! I'm taking this to church this coming Sunday for Palm Sunday. =)

3.17.2010

St Patrick's Day Dinner

I'm not Irish, and not a big St Patrick's Day celebrator, but I wanted to do something fun for the kiddos for our St Patrick's Day dinner. I did the traditional corned beef and cabbage (which was delicious!), and as a surprise, I added neon green food coloring to our cornbread. It was very green! We also had green Kool-aid to drink, which was a treat because I usually don't do Kool-aid at all (mean mama).

This is the Kool-Aid, and the cornbread before baking.

the cooked cornbread...

Andrew's plate. YUM!


What did you do for your St Patty's Day dinner?

3.12.2010

Star Fruit

In my quest to get my kids to try new & different things, I picked up a star fruit at the grocery store.
Here are the results of this taste test:

Elayna (9 yr old): said it tasted like grass. I asked her how she knew this; has she ate grass? And she said that she has, many times. Alrighty then.
Andrew (10 yr old): loved it. He's never met a fruit he didn't love.
Shelbie (14 yr old): refused to taste it. Spoilsport!

At least I got some cute pictures out of it!



{I so love picnik.com! }

The Ultimate Smoothie

I learned this recipe years ago when I worked in child care. Someone came to talk to us about nutrition, and they made these yummy smoothies. I've been making them ever since!
This recipe makes one serving.

handful of frozen strawberries
half a banana
half carton of strawberry yogurt
one cup of pineapple juice
a few pieces of ice

Blend, and enjoy!

3.11.2010

Delicious Pasta Salad

This pasta salad can be a side dish, or a meal by itself. We had it this weekend with garlic bread.

1 16 oz package of tri-colored rotini
3 slices of salami, cut 1/4 inch thick
3 slices of pepperoni, cut 1/4 inch thick
3 slices of ham, cut 1/4 inch thick
8 oz colby jack cheese, cubed
8 oz pepper jack cheese, cubed
1 can stewed tomatoes, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 package of 4 Seasons Zesty Italian Dressing, prepared according to directions

Cook the pasta per package directions. Slice the meat into bite-sized pieces. Mix everything else together. Serve chilled. Enjoy!

3.08.2010

Meatless/MeatFree Monday

I really feel good about reducing the amount of meat that we consume by participating in Meatless/MeatFree Monday. It's just one of the little ways of making a difference!

Tonight for Meatless/MeatFree Monday, we had fettucini alfredo, a green salad, and garlic bread. Like most of our meatless meals, it's so simple, but very good!

Link up if you also cut out meat one day a week!