I have a few recent photos of our visit to the Nashville Zoo that I thought I would share. Courtney loves the zoo and we decided to become members this year. I also love the zoo because after Courtney and I get done walking, she's exhausted and we've both gotten in some exercise. The zoo is also adding a new exhibit of flamingos this summer, which we're really excited about. You can go to their website at www.nashvillezoo.org and check out the latest info. Enjoy the photos!
Friday, April 30, 2010
We're Back!!!
I have a few recent photos of our visit to the Nashville Zoo that I thought I would share. Courtney loves the zoo and we decided to become members this year. I also love the zoo because after Courtney and I get done walking, she's exhausted and we've both gotten in some exercise. The zoo is also adding a new exhibit of flamingos this summer, which we're really excited about. You can go to their website at www.nashvillezoo.org and check out the latest info. Enjoy the photos!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
New Haircut
Friday, January 15, 2010
New Addiction
Friday, December 11, 2009
New Car
Favorite Christmas Recipes
- 1 loaf challah bread
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1/2 stick butter
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup whole milk
Directions
Slice challah bread into thick pieces. Combine cream cheese, sugar, fresh cranberries together. Cut a pocket into the bread and stuff cream cheese mixture inside. Melt butter over medium heat in a saucepan. Beat eggs and milk together in a large bowl. Dip stuffed bread into egg mixture, coating both sides. Place bread in pan, heat 1 to 2 minutes on each side.
Creamy Hash Brown Casserole
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter a casserole dish.
In a small skillet, melt 1/4 cup of butter over medium heat. Add onion, and cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until soft. Pour mixture into a large bowl. Add the sour cream, cream of celery soup, cheese, garlic powder, hash browns, and salt and pepper. Combine until well blended.
Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Top evenly with crushed potato chips and bake for 45 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
English Toffee
Ingredients
Directions
Generously butter a cookie sheet.
Put butter, sugar, and water in a heavy pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Bring to a bubbling boil, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes. Remove spoon from pan, and cook to a very brittle stage (300 degrees to 310 degrees F on a candy thermometer). Or, make a cold water test: candy will separate into hard, brittle threads when dropped in cold water. Remove from heat and add nuts to mixture. Add vanilla and salt. Pour onto prepared cookie sheet and spread to 1/4-inch thickness. Cool slightly, top with chocolate chips or chocolate bars, and spread as it melts. Cool completely and break into pieces. Store in an airtight container.
Dummy Fudge
Ingredients
Directions
Butter a 9 by 9-inch baking dish
Melt chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and condensed milk in double boiler on medium heat. Once smooth remove from heat. Add vanilla and nuts. Scoop into baking dish and chill in refrigerator until set for approximately 10 minutes.
Corn Casserole
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl, stir together the 2 cans of corn, corn muffin mix, sour cream, and melted butter. Pour into a greased 9 by 13-inch casserole dish. Bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and top with Cheddar. Return to oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Let stand for at least 5 minutes and then serve warm.
Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
Directions
Stir the soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper, beans and 1 1/3 cups onions in a 3-quart casserole.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes or until the bean mixture is hot and bubbling. Stir the bean mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining onions.
Bake for 5 minutes or until the onions are golden brown.
Tips:
Use 2 bags (16 to 20 ounces each) frozen green beans, 4 packages (9 ounces each) frozen green beans, 4 cans (about 16 ounces each) green beans or about 3 pounds fresh green beans for this recipe.
To add crunch, add 1/2 cup sliced almonds to the onion topping.
For bacon lovers, add 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, to the bean mixture.
To add a festive touch, add 1/2 cup chopped red pepper with the soup.
For cheese lovers, stir in 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese with the soup. Omit the soy sauce. Sprinkle with an additional 1/2 cup cheddar cheese when adding the remaining onions.
For Golden Green Bean Casserole, substitute Campbell's® Condensed Golden Mushroom Soup for the Cream of Mushroom Soup. Omit the soy sauce. Stir in 1/2 cup chopped red pepper with the green beans.
Maple-Roasted Turkey with sage, Smoked Bacon, and Corn bread Stuffing
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and remove the top rack.
Combine the butter and sage in a mixing bowl, mash with a fork or spoon until the sage is well incorporated and the butter has flecks of green in it; season with salt and pepper.
In a saute pan, melt 4 tablespoons of the sage butter, add the onions, cook and stir for 15 minutes until soft and golden. Remove from heat. Put the cornbread in a large mixing bowl and scrape the sauteed onion mixture on top. Add the egg, heavy cream, and just enough chicken stock to moisten the stuffing without making it soggy (about 1/2 cup.) Toss well to combine, season with salt and pepper.
Remove the neck and gizzards from the inside of the turkey and discard. Rinse the bird thoroughly inside and out with cold water, pat dry. Sprinkle the cavity and skin liberally with salt and pepper. Using your fingers, gently lift the skin from the breast and legs, and slip pieces of the sage butter underneath; massaging it in as you go. Fill the bird with the cornbread stuffing without packing too tightly; cook the remaining stuffing separately in a buttered baking dish. Truss the turkey; place it on a rack in a large roasting pan, and put into the oven.
Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, whisk together the maple syrup and hot water to thin the glaze out a bit; use this to baste the turkey every 30 minutes. The turkey should take about 3 hours to cook (i.e. 15 to 20 minutes per pound.) If the legs or breast brown too quickly, cover with foil. About 2 hours into cooking, shingle the strips of bacon oven the turkey breast to cover; continue to roast and baste for another hour or so. The turkey is done when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the meatiest part of the thigh registers 170 degrees F (the thigh juices will also run clear when pricked with a knife.) Transfer the turkey to a cutting board and let rest for 20 minutes before carving, so the juices can settle back into the meat.
Skim off the excess fat from the pan drippings with a spoon and place the roasting pan over 2 burners set on medium-high heat. Using a wooden spoon, scrape up brown bits stuck to bottom of pan. Whisk the flour into the drippings, stirring as it thickens to prevent lumps. Add the remaining chicken stock and bring to a simmer; season with salt and pepper and hit it with a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten the flavor. Simmer for 5 minutes and then strain to remove any particles. Serve the gravy with the maple-roasted turkey and cornbread stuffing.