BLUE BONNET BAKERY

A friend and I ate at the Blue Bonnet Bakery yesterday.  We had their famous chicken salad sandwich and shared a slice of Italian Cream Cake.  Both were so delicious.  Any time you are in Ft. Worth and want to enjoy some tasty food, the BBB is a great place.  It is located at  4705 Camp Bowie Blvd.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
~Lucille Ball

HURRICANE IRENE CLEAN UP

Clean up in Hampton

Hope everyone is doing fine after Hurricane Irene.  Here is a photo showing how powerful the winds were this weekend along part of the east coast.  In Texas we're praying for rain to ease the drought and 100+ heat.  These weather extremes are unbelievable!

Cinnamon Rolls

Paula Deen's Cinnamon Rolls

Don't they look delicious!

INGREDIENTS

Dough:
1/4 ounce package yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup scalded milk
1/3 cup butter or shortening
1 tsp. salt
1 egg
3 1/2 - 4 cups flour

Filling: 
1/2 cup melted butter, plus more for the pan
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
3/4 cup raisins, walnuts, or pecans (optional)

Glaze:
4 tablespoons butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3-6 tablespoons of hot water

DIRECTIONS

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water and set aside.  In a large bowl mix milk, sugar, melted butter, salt and eggs.  Add two cups of flour and mix until smooth.  Add yeast mixture.  Mix in remaining flour until dough is easy to handle.  Knead dough on lightly floured surface for 5-10 minutes.  Place in well-greased bowl and let rise until doubled, usually 1 - 1 1/2 hours.

When doubled, punch down dough.  Roll out on flour surface into a 15x9 inch rectangle.  Spread melted butter all over dough.  Mix sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over buttered dough.  Sprinkle with walnuts, pecans, or raisins if desired.  Beginning at 15 inch side role up dough and pinch edge together to seal.  Cut into 12-15 slices.  Coat bottom of baking pan with butter and sprinkle with sugar.  Place cinnamon roll slices close together in the pan and let rise until dough is doubled, about 45 minutes.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 25-30 minutes or until nicely browned.

Meanwhile, mix butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla.  Add hot water 1 tablespoon at a time until the glaze reaches desired consistency.  Spread over slightly cooled rolls.

REAR ENDED

What a way to start the weekend.  My husband and I were out this morning and our car was rear-ended.  Luckily, we were not hurt and the car had minimal damage.   Unfortunately, the driver that ran in to us didn't bother to stop.  All we could do was call our insurance agent and file a police report.

TGIF

It has been a busy week with grandchildren returning to school. So nice to watch their excitement and enthusiasm!

THE HELP

I just finished reading

Kathryn Stockett's novel, The Help.

If you haven't read it, you should.

BEANIES GALORE ETSYKIDS TREASURY

Elliana's Princess Bowtique

Baby Grace Newborn Photo Props

Busy Mom Designs

Check out other beautiful

"beanies" in my 

EtsyKids Treasury.

FUN WEEKEND

Ending of a very fun weekend filled with family time.

TABLE MANNERS

Table manners.  What can I say?  The simple things in life matter, and table manners are important.  I would prefer all my dining partners had table manners.  I can remember many times as a child being told not to smack or talk with my mouth full of food and to get my elbows off the table!

I came from a hard working family, so eating was big - 3 square meals a day with an afternoon snack.  Mom always had more than enough food prepared and we usually ate at the same times each day.  After everyone was seated at the table, we graced the meal with a prayer.  How many people do that in their busy lives today?  I believe this is one family tradition that needs to be instilled for at least one meal each day. It's definitely an easy way to reconnect with your family members and to teach the art of conversation.  Table manners are easy to pick up when you dine together as a family. 

I came across this article by Paula Deen, my favorite Southern lady who is a great believer in family and makes great tasting meals.

When do you start eating?
Paula's article stated in most situations, you begin eating when the hostess does.  My rule of thumb, has always been to wait until everyone was seated and the blessing was said.  And yes, you do place your napkin in your lap before you "dig" in!

Which way should the food be passed?
Pass food to the right, and only pass it in one direction. If you are at a restaurant, your server will present your plate to your left and remove it from your right.

Check out Paula Deen for other aspects of good table decorum by Cindy Edwards.

MINI ICE CREAM PIES

Choco-Coco-Nut Mini Ice Cream Pies

INGREDIENTS:

1

roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated chocolate chip cookies

1/3

cup hot fudge topping

1/3

cup roasted chopped almonds

1

cup coconut ice cream

DIRECTIONS:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease or spray each of 12 regular-size muffin cups. Remove cookie dough from pouch; cut dough into 12 slices. Firmly press 1 slice in bottom and up side of each muffin cup. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Spoon 1 teaspoon hot fudge into each cup; top with 1 teaspoon chopped almonds. Divide ice cream evenly among cups. Freeze uncovered until firm, about 3 hours.
• Let stand at room temperature 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with remaining hot fudge and almonds.

HOUSE PLANTS

Easy to care for houseplants.

Dieffenbachia

Spider Plant

Dracaena

Snake Plant

DOUBLE COCONUT CREAM PIE

Double Coconut Cream Pie

Ingredients

• 5 cups sweetened flaked coconut
• 7 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups whole milk
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• Additional sweetened flaked coconut, toasted, optional

Preparation

• 1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Mist a 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray. Place 3 cups coconut in a bowl. In a pan, melt 5 Tbsp. butter. Stir butter into coconut until moistened. Press mixture into bottom and sides of pie plate. Bake until crust is deep golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Check often—if edges are browning before bottom, cover edges with strips of foil. Transfer crust to a wire rack. Sprinkle chocolate chips over hot crust and let stand for 5 minutes, until melted. Gently spread chocolate over bottom of crust. Refrigerate crust for 10 to 15 minutes.
• 2. In a bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, flour and vanilla until smooth. Warm milk in a pan over medium heat until nearly simmering. Whisking constantly, slowly pour hot milk into egg mixture. Return milk mixture to pan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to boil and thickens enough to coat back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in remaining 2 cups coconut and 2 Tbsp. butter; let stand 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour custard into crust. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing directly against surface of custard, and chill completely, about 1 1/2 hours.
• 3. Using an electric mixer, beat cream until stiff peaks form. Spread whipped cream over custard, swirling decoratively. Chill pie for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with toasted coconut before serving, if desired.

RAIN

Woke up this morning to rain - blessed rain after over a month of 100+ degrees of heat and drought!  

CUSTOMIZE YOUR OWN COOKBOOKS

I came across this de-clutter solution for all the cookbooks and food magazines I collected over the years.  Scan and print the recipes that are your cookbook favorites, then donate the cookbook.  Tear out the relevant pages of your food magazines, then recycle the rest.  Put the pages into clear plastic pockets in a three-ring binder.  You now have a customized cookbook with plenty of room for additions.

-- Lorie Marrero, author of Clutter Diet

FREE TUTORIAL FOR MONOGRAMMED BABY QUILT

Baby Monogram Crib Quilt

Create a personalized quilt

for a special little boy or girl.

Here are the instructions for the baby girl crib.

Materials for Baby Girl Crib Quilt

Cut the Quilt Fabrics

Assemble the Crib Quilt Center

Add Border and Monogram

Finish Baby Girl Quilt

I found this at Better Homes and Garden via allpeoplequilt.com.

US BUDGET CUTS

"If the US Government was a family, they would be making $58,000 a year; spending $75,000 a year; and are $327,000 in credit card debt.  They are currently proposing BIG spending cuts to reduce their spending to $72,000 a year.  These are the actual proportions of the federal budget and debt; reduced to a level that we can understand."

Dave Ramsey 2011

ANOTHER HOT DAY IN TEXAS

It only got to 105 today!

QUIET SUNDAY AFTERNOON

We enjoyed a sleep over with our 3 youngest grandchildren last night.  House is so quiet now!

BUSY WEEK

One of my FB friends posted this prayer.  This week has been very busy, so I really appreciated it.

Heavenly Father, walk through my house, and take away all my worries and any illnesses, and please watch over and heal my family and friends. Bring quiet where there is chaos, bring light where there is darkness and put love in our hearts. In Jesus' name, Amen.

KID FOOD CREATIONS

Petal Pushers

Get your kids to eat more fruit by turning it into vitamin C-packed flowers!

1. Use a 2" scalloped cookie cutter to make petal shapes out of melon.2. Use a 1 ½" cutter to make petal shapes out of kiwifruit.3. Stack the kiwi on top of the melon and put a sliced red grape in the center.

Tasty Toadstools

These tiny toadstools make a protein-rich snack.

1. Peel hard-boiled eggs; slice a piece from the bottom so they'll stand.

2. Top each egg with half of a seeded cherry tomato.

3. Sprinkle tomato with feta cheese.

CHICKEN SALAD CRESCENT ROLL

Crescent Roll Wrap

Ingredients

• 1 (8-oz.) can refrigerated crescent rolls
• 1 cup your favorite chicken salad
• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds

Preparation

• Unroll 1 (8-oz.) can refrigerated crescent rolls; separate each dough portion along center and diagonal perforations, forming 8 triangles. Spoon 2 Tbsp. of your favorite chicken salad on the wide end of each triangle. Starting at the wide end of each triangle, roll dough over chicken salad, pinching edges to seal. Place rolls, seam sides down, on a lightly greased baking sheet. Sprinkle tops of rolls evenly with 2 Tbsp. poppy seeds. (Seeds will stick to rolls without a binder; you don't need to brush with egg.) Bake at 375° for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.
  
  Southern Living APRIL 2007

BREAST CANCER

Life is  too short to wake up with regrets.

So love the people who treat you right.

Forget about the ones  who don't.

Believe everything happens  for a reason. 

If you get a second  chance,

grab it with both hands.

If it changes your life, let it.

Nobody said life would be easy,

they just promised it would be worth it.