family · football · husband · kids

SEC Football

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Life seems back to normal around here.  Fall is in the air.  Not really, but it seems that way since football has begun.  My family is divided in teams.  I am an Arkansas Razorback girl.  David is a graduate from LSU, hence he is a fan of the tigers.  Carmen was a little razorback, then LSU (all because we saw a game), and Stephen is a razorback but really doesn’t like football .Talk is cheap when it comes to football,  but in the SEC we talk big.  Whether you bleed in purple and gold, red and white, orange and blue…enjoy the game. Spend time with family and friends.

And Go Hogs!
This was taken in November of 2007.  We, as a divided family, 
attended the Boot Game (Arkansas and LSU).
 A very tiny Stephen proudly wearing piggie…with his Mom.
David and Carmen wearing LSU – hrumpf.
 David NOT happy with the ending score.
ARK 50 to LSU 48 in 7 overtimes!  Long day but a lot of fun!
Hope you are enjoying your football time.
Chicken · chicken pot pie · Recipes

Chicken Pot Pie

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This is my go to version…I have varied it several times.  Use what you have…and it will be wonderful.

I used two Pillsbury (rolled) Pie Crust (top and bottom).  2 cans of chicken, 2 cans of Vege-All (this is a genius can of vegetables – onions, celery, carrots, peas, lima, green beans – and is great in a stew as well), and a can of Cream of Celery.  Also, fresh thyme (use the leaves from 4 twigs), salt and pepper, and 1 cup of sour cream.  Drain the cans of chicken and vege’s.  Mix together the sour cream, and soup.  Add the chicken, and vege’s.  Roll out the dough (if you don’t like the bottom crust -don’t use it), use your favorite pie dish, and place your chicken mixture in it. Cover with dough, and poke holes in it using a fork (4 or 5 should do).  Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes or the crust is a nice golden color. 

I served it with a cucumber/tomato/onion salad.

This was mine…and I added extra ground pepper. 
Enjoy!
Oh, my 13 year old decided he didn’t like pot pies, 
until I had him try it…then it was “can I have some?” 
No, was my answer, and David had seconds. ha.
birthdays · family · Random Stuff

Birthdays

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My 44th birthday was on August 22nd.  It was a great day.  I have many blessings. 

I love Brighton.  www.brighton.com

Brighton shoes, purses, baubles.  Especially the baubles.

Stephen and Carmen have gotten me several charms the past couple of years.  My newest one is the carousel.  It spins, really.

So from left to right…Peridot (August’s birthstone), pink gems spacer, J with pink flowers (of course, how did Brighton know?), rainbow spacer (David got that one for me), A with a lady bug (My Mom’s favorite – again, how did Brighton know?), silver and gold spacer, Arkansas Pig (Yep, I am a Razorback), pink tiger eye spacer, and my newest – the carousel. 

Recipes · white beans and sausage

Sausage and Beans

jachancellorLeave a comment
Another version of White Northern Beans.

 Beans
 Cover in cold water and soak for at least a hour.
 Chop an onion.
 And some celery (excuse my hands).
Conecuh Hickory smoked sausage.
 Yes, jar garlic (two/three teaspoons), and Cavender’s Greek Season (about a tablespoon).
 Chop the sausage into bite size pieces.
 Saute the onions, garlic and celery until translucent.
 Add the sausage and brown (browning brings out the sweetness of the meat).
 Add chicken broth (I used 1 and 1/2 containers).
 Drain the water, and rinse.
Add the beans, and simmer for at least 2 hours.
And I forgot to take the picture of this yummy soup.
Try it.  I hope you like it.
Enjoy!
Recipes · stromboli

Strombolis…

jachancellorLeave a comment

Well…kind of?

Pizza dough…most grocery stores carry premade dough and have it for you in their frozen section.

Roll it out into a rectangle.  I used Ragu sauce (it was there – and ready) for the bottom sauce layer.  Then
pepperoni, six-Italian cheese, sausage (browned), more cheese, pepperoni.  Keep everything down the center (it helps with the folding).

Begin with the opposite end, folding it over the pile of Italian goodness.
Cut about 2 inch strip (not too deep), and fold over in a braid like manner.  

Keep doing this almost to the end.
Folding and overlapping the other side of dough. 
Press the dough together as you go (it helps keep everything together).

At the end, cut your strips before folding all of them, crisscrossing  each strip.
Fold over the very end cut, and then place the 2nd to last piece over it.  

It’s not perfect, but it is ready for the oven.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown, and oozing.
Yes, most of the cheese came out.  

But it was yummy!
Enjoy!
anniversary · family · husband

Happy Anniversary!

jachancellorLeave a comment

Marriage.

No words can describe what this man means to me and our family.  David is strong, kind, caring, a true geek, sometimes cranky, handyman, outrageously funny, intelligent, witty, likable, and HE loves me.  He is incredible with his step-children (although, he has never called them that), and a friend to them.  There are moments that they just curl up beside him on the couch, and he just hugs them.  Precious.  He is someone they can go to for help, for advice, and at times, he makes me jealous of the relationship he has with them. 

Both of us are strong people.  I can be difficult, OCD and demanding.  He loves me, and tells me to calm down.  I listen.  I am amazed that it has only been 4 years today that we have been together.  It seems like he has been here forever, and other times not near long enough.

Happy Anniversary my love.  I thank God daily for bringing you into our lives.

birthdays · Breast Cancer · friends

Beth

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My friend Beth.  
This is my favorite photo of her. 
She was so done with me and my camera. 
I had the pleasure of attending the American Cancer Ball with her.
Her hair had grown back, and the dress had a lace up back.
Her birthday is today, August 17.
We used to celebrate our birthdays together.
I miss that.
She would have been 38 today.
Breast cancer affects so many.
Beth was strong, happy, and always smiling.
I miss her.  She touched many of us.
Happy Birthday Beth.
blessings · family · friends · Random Stuff

Friends and Family

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Who do you consider family?

I have lost most of my immediate family over the years, and tend to believe that my friends are my family. I have family in Germany, and love them dearly.  But they are so far away.

One young family, in particular, was difficult to get to know.  God opened a door, and all of us have been so very blessed.  I have spoken of them before…but this morning part of them are traveling North.  North for another adventure in their lives. 

The youngest one…C…wrapped himself around all of our fingers.

He is a joy.  Just over a year old…and we have gotten so much love from him.  Babies love big.  Big love.  You see it in their faces, happy to see you.

This little family has had so much impact on our lives.  Touched each one of us.  Carmen: a big sister.  Stephen: an paper airplane friend.  David:  joy, from all 3 of them with games, talks, and smiles.  Learning more of himself, and the joys that a baby can bring.  Me: family. 

Today is bittersweet.  Knowing that we won’t see them for a long while, hurts our hearts.  Knowing that we will see them soon…and that we have made life-long friendships:  priceless…truly.  God given family.

We love you.

blog · Random Stuff

Blogs

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Okay – I couldn’t stand it any longer.

Two blogs!  I was out of my mind.  (I know, when am I not – heh.)  But seriously. 

I like being able to say this is all me.  My recipes, combined with the craziness of the way I think, should only belong to one blog.  Hanging…just hanging…sometimes I cook, sometimes friends cook, and sometimes we eat out.  Truth.  Okay, a lot of the time we eat out.

So I am back here…plus the sheer confusion of the other one (and), what I thought I could do there and not here…but can here…confusion.

No longer.  I am random.  I have tons of other stuff here.  I am not just recipes.  So, you will have to put up with me with all of the “other” stuff too.

I am going to be creating something different with the look here, so once again, be patient with me.  =)

Blessings!

chocolate · Recipes

Serenity Chocolate Cake

jachancellorLeave a comment

Yes!
It is wonderful.
Flour less Chocolate Cake…it is wonderful.  I will have to post pictures later…mainly I need to upload, and secondly, I am sitting in my chair not wanting to connect the camera.

Truth.
Yes, truth.

8 oz dark/semi-sweet chocolate
2 sticks butter (Yes, real butter, sweet cream no salt added!) softened, at room temperature
4 eggs (at room temperature)
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup Grand Marnier
6 tablespoons corn starch

Melt chocolate, and set aside.  Beat butter until fluffy, add cooled-melted chocolate.
In another bowl, beat eggs, slowly add sugar.  Beat 6-8 minutes or until thick.  These should be the same thickness.
Add the chocolate mixture to the egg mixture.  Beat in Grand Marnier.  Sift in corn starch.
Pour into a greased 9″ spring form.  Cover with buttered parchment.  Put in shallow dish, fill 1/2 way with near boiling water.  (water bath)
Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.  Remove from water bath, let cool 15 minutes.  Invert onto a serving plate.  Let stand 30 minutes and then remove pan.
Top with Ganache.
Recipe for the Ganache to come soon.  =)
Enjoy.