Camera Critters and Scrumptious Sunday

Rusty and Bob, sharing!
Misty Dawn hosts Camera Critters. Please visit for a lot more great critter photos.

Mozzarella Meat Pie

1 lb. ground meat

1.4 C chopped onion

1.4 C chopped green pepper

1/4 C sliced mushrooms

1.2 tsp. oregano

salt and pepper to taste

1 small can tomato paste

4 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

1 can crescent rolls

Brown ground beef and drain off the fat. Add onion, green pepper and mushrooms. Cook until tender. Add spices, tomato paste and 1/2 of the cheese. Stir well.

Spray a pie plate with Pam and spread crescent roll pieces on the bottom and sides to form a crust. Add meat mixture and sprinkle on left over cheese. Bake at 375* for approx. 20 min.

I usually use the whole 1/4 C in the meat then sprinkle extra over the top. Probably too much cheese, what do you think?

Scrumptious Sunday is hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks!

Join in or visit, the recipes are scrumptious!

Camera Critters and Scrumptious Sunday

This is one if the critters that gives Rusty such a hard time in the back yard. This one sat there for awhile barking and fussing at Rusty while Rusty had fits on the ground.

Misty Dawn hosts Camera Critters.
Please visit for a lot more great critter photos.

COLESLAW

2 1/2 c. shredded cabbage

1 c. shredded carrot

1 sm. red onion, cut in half, thinly sliced and separated (or to taste)

1/2 c. dairy sour cream

2 tbsp. vinegar

1 tbsp. water

Layer cabbage, carrot and onion in a salad bowl. Cover surface with plastic wrap. Chill.

To make dressing, stir together sour cream, vinegar and sugar. Pour into a container with

a tight lid and chill. At picnic time, pour dressing over vegetables in the bowl.

Toss to mix well. Makes 6 servings.

Scrumptious Sunday is hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks!
Join in or visit, the recipes are scrumptious!

Camera Critters and Scrumptious Sunday

I thought this little critter was a bit strange looking even for a moth.

The tips of his wings curl up a little bit and his tail curls up a lot!

Misty Dawn hosts Camera Critters.

Please visit for a lot more great critter photos.

Homemade Mac and Cheese

8 ounces macaroni (1/2 of a 16 oz pk)
1/4 cup butter
3 T flour
2 C milk
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
salt and pepper to taste

2 t Dijon mustard
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 C dry bread crumbs
2 T butter
2 T chopped fresh parsley

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

Boil macaroni in lightly salted water until al dente, drain.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and stir in flour. Cook for about 1 minute, until smooth and bubbly; stirring occasionally.Mix in milk, cream cheese, salt, pepper, and Dijon mustard. Continue cooking until sauce is thickened.

Add cooked macaroni and Cheddar cheese.

Pour into 2 quart casserole dish. In small bowl mix together bread crumbs, butter and parsley; spread over macaroni and cheese. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and heated through.

Scrumptious Sunday is hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks!

Join in or visit, the recipes are scrumptious!

Camera Critters and Scrumptious Sunday

I took this picture late in the fall, a few weeks ago. These little birds were in the pecan tree in the front yard. Wish I knew what kind they were!

Misty Dawn hosts Camera Critters.
Please visit for a lot more great critter photos.

Berry Lemonade

4 cups of very cold water

1 (11.5-ounce) can Berry Flavor Juicy Juice Non-Frozen Concentrate

1 cup lemon juice (fresh is best)

1/4 to 1/2 cup granulated sugar (to taste)

Combine water, Juicy Juice, lemon juice and sugar in large pitcher; stir well.

Serve over ice. Makes 4 servings.

Scrumptious Sunday is hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks!
Join in or visit, the recipes are scrumptious!

Camera Critters and Scrumptious Sunday

This little (two inches from nose to tail) critter was right out side our window croaking with such a loud voice it sounded as if he was IN the room. We heard him one night and when I went out the next morning to look, of course he was gone. The next night when he serenaded us again. I went out right then to look. This picture was taken in the middle of the night with the aid of a flashlight.

Misty Dawn hosts Camera Critters.

Please visit for a lot more great critter photos.

Taco Soup

1 1/2 lbs. Hamburger meat

1 medium onion -- chopped

2 cans corn (with liquid)

2 cans Pinto beans (with liquid)

1 can black beans (with liquid)

1can (14-1/2 ounces) tomatoes with liquid (Mexican style)

1 can Ro-tel (mild or hot)

(I never use Ro-tel or my husband wouldn't eat it.)

1 pkg. taco seasoning

1 pkg. ranch dressing mix (not the dip mix, not the low fat version either)

Brown hamburger and season with the onion and garlic, salt and pepper to taste in a large pot. Drain. Add the ranch dressing mix and taco seasoning to the meat and stir well. Do not drain any of the canned ingredients. Add all canned ingredients (including the juice) to the meat. Bring to a boil. Once the soup has been brought to a boil cover and simmer on low for 30-45 min. To serve, ladle into bowls and top with grated cheese or sour cream. Serves 8. Serve with tortilla chips. Enjoy.

Scrumptious Sunday is hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks!

Join in or visit, the recipes are scrumptious!

Camera Critters and Scrumptious Sunday

As I was driving to my nieces home last week, I took the wrong country road, again. So I thought as long as I was there I'd stop and take a picture of these guys! They were laying out in the pasture so calmly and close to the fence.

Misty Dawn hosts Camera Critters.
Please visit for a lot more great critter photos.

Happy Mother's Day

Stuffed Pork Chops

4 thick cut pork chops

filling:

2 apples, cored and chopped

1/2 C raisins

3/4 C bread crumbs

1 T brown sugar

1/2 t salt

12 t pepper

1/2 t cloves

2 T melted butter

2 T chopped chives

2 T butter

1 C beef Broth

Trim fat from chops. Make a slit in thick end of chop. In a bowl, combine apples, raisins, bread crumbs, brown sugar, pepper, salt, and cloves. Add 2 T melted butter and chives. Mix well. Stuff each chop with filling. Pin closed with a toothpick.

Heat 2 T butte in skillet. Brown chops slowly over medium heat on both sides. Add beef broth and bring to a simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes or until tender. Cover with lid if broth does not cover chops. Remove toothpicks, put on serving platter, pour pan juice over chops, and serve.

Scrumptious Sunday is hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks!
Join in or visit, the recipes are scrumptious!

Camera Critters and Scrumptious Sunday

This is my little dog, Rusty, posing for me in a local park. He is a good dog and will "stay" so I've been having some fun posing him. On his blog he is hoping to be America's Next Top Dog Idol.

Misty Dawn hosts Camera Critters.

Please visit for a lot more great critter photos.

Buttermilk Pie

1 1/2 cups of white sugar

2 eggs

1 cup buttermilk

1 t lemon juice

3T flour

1/2 cup butter (or margarine)

2 t vanilla extract

1 9-inch, unbaked and chilled pie shell

Beat the eggs thoroughly and add to the sugar and flour. Add 1/2 cup butter, belted, and one cut buttermilk. Mix well then fold in 2 t vanilla extract and 1 t of lemon juice. Pour into the pie shell. Bake at 350* for 35 minutes. Resist opening the door.

Scrumptious Sunday is hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks!

Join in or visit, the recipes are scrumptious!

Camers Critter & Scrumptious Sunday

Got a picture of this little feller on my patio chair. Poor thing has a broken tail.

Misty Dawn hosts Camera Critters. Please visit for a lot more great critter photos.

Creamy Potato Salad with Zip
8 small red potatoes
6 T mayonnaise (can use low fat)
6 T sour cream (can use low fat)
4 T minced fresh parsley
1/2 t prepared horseradish
1/4 t salt
1/8 t celery seed
2 green onions, finely chopped
2 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

Cut potatoes in half and cook until tender, drain and cool. when cool cut the potatoes into cubes. Place in a bowl. In another bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, parsley, horseradish, salt and celery seed. Spoon over potatoes, add onion and bacon then toss gently to coat potato cubes. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.




Scrumptious Sunday is hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks!


Join in or visit, the recipes are scrumptious!

Camera Critters & Scrumptious Sunday

Mockingbird

When taking this picture I was focused on the mockingbird and didn't pay any attention to the background. That black thing by his head is on the phone wire above.

Live and learn.

Misty Dawn hosts Camera Critters. Please visit for lots more great critter photos.

Chili

1 1/4 pounds ground beef

2 cups diced onion

1 (6 oz) can whole tomatoes, with juice

2 1/2 T chili powder

2 1/2 t cumin

1 1/2 t salt

1 1/4 cups beef stock

1/2 t garlic powder or 3 garlic cloves, minced

1 small bay leaf

1 t oregano

1/4 cayenne pepper (I usually leave this out, my husband can't eat it)

1 (15 oz) can kidney beans

Toppings:

grated cheddar cheese

3/4 cup coarsely chopped onion
6 T sour cream

To prepare the chili: Saute' the meat and the onions over medium heat until the meat loses its pink color. Add all of the remaining ingredients except the beans and toppings. simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Add the beans and simmer the mixture for 15 minutes longer. Remove the bay leaf. The chili will hold, refrigerated, for 3 days at this point; the flavors will mellow and improve with time.

For service: Serve in heated bowls. Top each serving with grated Cheddar cheese, chopped onion, and sour cream. Serves 6

Scrumptious Sunday is hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks!
Join in or visit, the recipees are scrumptious!

Scrumptious Sunday Cookies

For more Scrumptious Sunday visit Mercedes' World!

We just finished reading 3 versions of

"the Gingerbread man" at school

so I thought I'd use this gingerbread man cookie

recipe this week!

Gingerbread Man Cookies

2/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
2 tsp ground ginger
pinch salt
3/4 cup molasses
1 egg
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda

Cream together first 6 ingredients. Add egg and mix. Add molasses and mix again.
Mix together flour, baking powder and baking soda in a separate bowl. Sift. Add to the creamed mixture and stir until well blended. Chill 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375 F. Roll out dough 1/4 at a time to 1/8" thickness or slightly thicker on a lightly floured board. Cut with a cookie cutter and transfer to a greased (or non stick) cookie sheet.
Repeat with remaining dough. Before baking, decorate with raisins as you like.
Place in oven for 8 - 10 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack
Decorate with any items you wish.

Scrumptious Sunday

Scrumptious Sunday Third Edition

Mercedes’s recipe theme for today is casseroles . I do love a good casserole! If you would like to join in or see the recipies click on the picture above.

Mexican Chicken Casserole

1 chicken (about 4 lbs)

2 t salt

1 t pepper

1 bay leaf

1 can cream of chicken soup (10 3/4 oz)

1 can cream of mushroom soup (10 3/4 oz)

1 can Rotel tomatoes (10 1/2 oz)

1/2 cup chicken broth

additional salt and pepper

12 corn tortillas, torn in small pieces

2 onions, finely chopped

3 cups grated sharp cheese

Boil chicken in water with 2 t salt, 1 t pepper and bay leaf. Remove cooked chicken and cool. Reserve 1/2 cup broth. Cut chicken into large, bite-sized pieces and set aside. Combine soups, Rotel, 1/2 C stock and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. In a 3 quart casserole, make three layers int he following order: corn tortillas, chicken, tomato mixture, chopped onions and grated cheese. Use all ingredients in the three layers, being sure that cheese is on top. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. Can be prepared a day ahead of serving and it freezes well. This recipe serves 6-8.

Scrumptious Sunday - Chicken

This is the first week for Scrumptious Sunday over at Mercedes Rocks. Please go there to read about it and to participate!

The theme for Scrumptious Sunday this week is chicken! Right up my alley, we eat lots of chicken here.

Frozen Chicken in a Crock Pot

This recipe is easy and perfect when you don't want to mess with thawing anything!It's very tasty too.

Place 8 to 10 (depending on size) boneless, skinless, frozen chicken thighs in the crock pot. If you prefer, use chicken breast halves.

In a bowl mix one family size can of cream of chicken soup, one package of fresh sliced mushrooms (or canned sliced mushrooms,) and salt & pepper to taste.

Pour the soup mixture over the chicken. Cover and cook on low for 10 hours.

When it is done it should look like this.

Cook up a nice batch of brown rice.

Serve with steamed vegetables and a side salad if desired.

I am a member of NaBloPoMo '08