Happy New Year to all....2012!! Wow seems strange to say...so what are your new year's recipe resolutions??? Allrecipes has the below recipe for that traditional "Black Eye Peas" Now I have not had these since I was a little girl but I remember mom making them on New Year's Day....and not the hip hop group....

The "Black Eye Pea" a traditional New Year's recipe has history....

It has been a major staple in the South for over 300 years, black-eyed peas were considered to give you good luck. A dish of peas is a New Year's tradition in most areas of the South, thought to bring luck and prosperity for the new year. According to Jessica Harris, author of the "Welcome Table," some add a dime to the peas for an extra "boost" of luck to the recipient. Greens, thought to symbolize folding money, are often eaten eaten with the peas. Hoppin' John, a dish made with black-eyed peas and rice, is one of the more popular ways of serving them, but many serve them in salads or simply cooked as a side dish. Whether you're serving a full meal, appetizers, or gathering around the TV for the "RoseBowl Parade" or a football game, one of these recipes is a great way to ring in the New Year of 2012!!! George Washington Carver was known for the promotion of the black-eyed pea.  Carver encouraged the propagation of black-eyed peas not only for their auspicious effects on the soil, but also for their nutritional benefits for mankind.  Black-eyes peas are a good sources of calcium, folate, iron, potassium and fiber.  Their namesake derives from the black spot which conspicuously rests on the one end of their beige colored body.  Some love to eat the "Hoppin John" dish with cornbread to soak up the juices, mess o'greens. Hoppin John is a mixture of rice and field peas and Black Eyed peas. There were a lot of pork fat mixed in with onions a real southern dish. Black Eyed peas are in the same species as cowpeas in other-words, legumes, plants with pods. Hoppin John is very popular with families and traditions because many believe that eating this dish on NEw Year's Day will bring a bright future of good luck!     Hoppin' John T Hoppin' John Recipe Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 50 minutes Note that many things may affect the cooking times of the peas. They could take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to cook to tenderness, depending on their age, where they were grown, the water you are using. INGREDIENTS 1/3 pound bacon, or 1 ham hock plus 2 Tbsp oil 1 celery stalk, diced 1 small yellow onion, diced 1 small green pepper, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 pound dried black-eyed peas, about 2 cups 1 bay leaf 2 teaspoons dried thyme 1 heaping teaspoon Cajun seasoning Salt 2 cups long-grain rice Scallions or green onions for garnish METHOD 1 If you are using bacon, cut it into small pieces and cook it slowly in a medium pot over medium-low heat. If you are using a ham hock, heat the oil in the pot. Once the bacon is crispy (or the oil is hot), increase the heat to medium-high and add the celery, onion, and green pepper and sauté until they begin to brown, about 4-5 minutes. Add the garlic, stir well and cook for another 1-2 minutes. 2 Add the black-eyed peas, bay leaf, thyme and Cajun seasoning and cover with 4 cups of water. If you are using the ham hock, add it to the pot and bring to a simmer. Cook for 30 minutes to an hour, or longer if needed, until the peas are tender (not mushy). 3 While the black-eyed peas are cooking, cook the rice separately according to package instructions. 4 When the peas are tender, strain out the remaining cooking water. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Taste the peas for salt and add more if needed. If using a ham hock, remove it from the pot, pull off the meat, and return the meat to the pot. Serve the dish either by placing a ladle-full of black-eyed peas over steamed rice, or by mixing the two together in a large bowl. Garnish with chopped green onions. Serve with collard greens, kale, beet or turnip greens. Yield: Serves 4-6 as a side dish

New Year's Day Traditional Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 pound dry black-eyed peas
• 2 cups chopped cooked ham
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pinch garlic powder
• 2 onions, diced
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can whole tomatoes

Directions

1. Place black-eyed peas in 8 quart pot. Add enough water to fill pot 3/4 full. Stir in ham and diced onions, and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Place tomatoes in a blender or food processor, and blend until the tomatoes are liquefied. Add tomatoes to pot. Bring all ingredients to boil. Cover the pot, and simmer on low heat for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the peas are tender.

Coconut Pie and Good Freinds

I love coconut cream pie and my friends and I went out last night and had some tea and pie...yum yum....first we drove around and looked at some Christmas lights and then went for our pie. 

BREWING BLACK TEA

Hot tea brewing method: Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 teaspoon of tea for each cup into the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea). Milk and a dash of sugar help capture the complex nature of this tea, but it is also perfectly acceptable to consume this tea ‘straight-up’.
Iced tea-brewing method: (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 6 teaspoons of tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the leaves. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water]. Please note that this tea may tend to go cloudy or ‘milky’ when poured over ice; a perfectly normal characteristic of some high quality black teas and nothing to worry about!

 

Make an Old Fashion Coconut Cream Pie

Ingredients

• 3 cups half-and-half
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup flaked coconut, toasted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (9 inch) pie shell, baked
• 1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, combine half-and-half, eggs, sugar, flour and salt. Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in 3/4 cup of the coconut and the vanilla extract. Pour into pie shell and chill 2 to 4 hours, or until firm.
2. Top with whipped topping, and with remaining 1/4 cup of coconut.
3. Note: To toast coconut, spread it in an ungreased pan and bake in a 350 degree F (175 degrees C) oven for 5 to 7 minutes, or until golden brown, stirring occasionally.

Christmas Recipes

Christmas is almost here and there are so many delicious recipes floating around...one of my old time favorites is to make my family "Magic Cookie Wonder Bars" that was my mom's traditional recipe....I love them but can only eat a few as they are so rich...there are many versions of these wonderful bars this is the one I use...

Magic Cookie Wonder Bars

• 1 bag semi-sweet chocolate pieces
• 1/2 bag coconut
• 1/2 bag chopped walnuts
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 package of graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup margarine

1. melt margarine in the bottom of a 9" x 9" glass baking dish in microwave [or melt margarine and pour in a metal 9" x 9" baking pan 
2. spread graham cracker crumbs and use a fork to dampen all the crumbs spreading them a little up the sides
3. pour the sweetened condensed milk over the crumb crust
4. sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate pieces over the milk
5. sprinkle the coconut over the chocolate pieces
6. top with the nuts
7. bake @ 350' till the top is browned a little and the sides bubbling about 20 minutes
8. let cool on a rack 
9. refrigerate about an hour
10. cut into squares and serve
11. About 12-15 servings depending on how large a piece you want [my hubby eats 3 at a time, lol]

I love these for lunch, they are easy and taste great, they remind me of the little pizza bits I used to make when I was younger, I would make them on a 1/2 a bagel with tomato sauce and a little shredded cheese with a bit of pepperoni, only now my tummy cannot handle the pepperoni so I eat it plain.. but just as good!!! If you haven't tried these you should if you're a pizza lover as I am!

One of the gals in my Red Hat  group Social Butterflies  brought this cake to our Christmas party. It was fantastic, so I am sharing it here as it is easy and everyone loves it.                                  

    

 

APPLE CAKE

3 eggs                                           ¼  t. salt

2 C sugar                                      1  C oil

2 C flour                                       ½ C  walnuts ( I slightly toast)

2 t. cinnamon                                3-4 apples diced ( green, medium

1 t. baking soda                                                           sized)

Mix all ingredients together, add 3-4 apples.  Batter will be thick.

Bake 350 degree for 45 minutes in lightly greased  9 x 13 pan … while cooling and after DO NOT COVER SEALED – or be sure air can flow around it otherwise it gets damp !!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

Red Wine and Its Positive Benefits on Your Brain and Body

I read today about Red Wine and how if you start drinking 8oz or less a day by the end of the week you will gain more energy and feel better and have better thinking than you did before..hmmm now I am not fond of Red Wine but I am going to test this out and will report back on my findings....

Most of the pathogens that threaten humans are inhibited or killed off by the acids and alcohols in wine. Because of this, wine was considered to be a safer drink than much of the available water up until the 18th century.
Wine is a mild natural tranquilizer, serving to reduce anxiety and tension. As part of a normal diet, wine provides the body with energy, with substances that aid digestion, and with small amounts of minerals and vitamins. It can also stimulate the appetite. In addition, wine serves to restore nutritional balance, relieve tension, sedate and act as a mild euphoric agent to the convalescent and especially the aged.

ANTI-CANCER & CORONARY BENEFITS 
Moderate consumption of red wine on a regular basis may be a preventative against coronary disease and some forms of cancer. The chemical components thought to be responsible are catechins, also known as flavonoids and related to tannins . Catechins are believed to function as anti-oxidants, preventing molecules known as "free-radicals" from doing cellular damage. One particular form of flavonoid, called oligomeric procyanidin, recently proved to prevent hardening of the arteries.
There are also compounds in grapes and wine (especially red wine, grape juice, dark beers and tea, but absent in white wine, light beers and spirits) called resveratrol and quercetin. Clinical and statistical evidence and laboratory studies have shown these may boost the immune system, block cancer formation, and possibly protect against heart disease and even prolong life.  Red Wine is cn be considered a "youth" drink and a great food for the brain!!


There's 125 calories in one 6 oz glass of red wine...so drink up!!! IT's good for you. 

Let's Make a Halloween Drink

Wouldn't you love to serve a "Spooky Drink" to everyone? There are a ton of Spooky recipes like "Spider Web Brownies" and "Vampire Blood Smoothies" in a fantastic book by Linda Sadler’s "101 Spooktacular Halloween Party Ideas.

Try this easy "Black Magic Punch" recipe that will cool down all your guests at your unforgettable Halloween party.

Black Magic Punch

• 1 liter bottle Ginger Ale (refrigerated in advance)
• 1 small envelope unsweetened orange soft drink mix
•  1 small envelope unsweetened grape soft drink mix
• 2 cups white sugar
• 3 quarts cold water

1. In a large punch bowl, mix together orange and grape mixes, sugar and water—stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
2. Add the ginger ale.
3. Serve and enjoy. Makes 20-1/2 cups of punch.

An Easy Way To Shuck Corn

This is so simple and so clean I had to post this since I had posted the easy way to cook them in your cooler

What is Cooler Corn?

I received this recipe for cooking corn on the cob from my daughter and I have to say as life long camper I have never heard of this way of cooking corn? But WOW what a revelation, and not only for camping either. I mean what about large family gatherings or parties? No more struggling to fit the corn into a pot or finding a pot big enough to even accommodate all the corn. Now its easy and I don't have to cut the cobs in half anymore either. I am truly a "Happy Camper" as the saying goes!!!! 

The Best Way to Cook Corn on the Cob    "It's Cooler Corn"   All you need is  1 large cooler clean it out fill with the corn [shucked of course] add 2 pots of boiling water close cooler  let it sit for 30 minutes then eat Voila!!! That's it....and it will last perfectly cooked for about 2 hours.  Has anyone else heard of "cooler corn"? A real genius method for cooking loads of corn on the cob perfectly every time. And there's no fuss or dirty pots This is so easy to do. Opps I guess there is a pot because you have to have boiling water...but at least its easy to clean. Turns out, Cooler Corn is pretty well known among the outdoorsy set (I found a handful of mentions on various camping websites). But for those of us who avoid tents as much as possible, it's perfect for large barbecues and way less of mess than grilling. In fact, I may even buy another cooler just so I'm ready for the next corn fest!!! Yummy...

Fun and Pumpkin Pie Easy to Make!!

Ok I have not been posting lately, my life seems to have been put in a whirlwind and seems like I just cannot get caught up. :( So before I post a Halloween Recipe lets have some fun thanks to Chatty Crone.

Moo Shoe Pork

Answer Below

Thank you Chatty Crone

An Easy Pumpkin Pie:
INGREDIENTS


3/4cup sugar1 1/2teaspoons pumpkin pie spice1/2teaspoon salt1can (15 oz) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)1 1/4cups evaporated milk or half and half2eggs, beaten1Pillsbury® Pet-Ritz® frozen deep-dish pie crustDIRECTIONS

1 Heat oven to 425°F. In large bowl, mix filling ingredients. Pour into pie crust. 2 Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F; bake 40 to 50 minutes longer or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool 2 hours. Serve or refrigerate until serving time. Store in refrigerator.











Cow-e-socky

French Toast

I love French Toast...and this recipe for Cream sounds GREAT!!!  (from All Recipes)

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
6 slices French Bread
5 eggs
1-1/2 cups half-and-half cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon brandy-based orange liqueur (Grand Marnier)
14 teaspoon salt
(note--I think a pinch of cinnamon would be good)
Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Mix in brown sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved.
Pour mixture into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.

Remove crusts from bread (note--I thought this step was silly, so I skipped it).
Arrange bread in the baking dish in a single layer.

In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, cream, vanilla, orange brandy, and salt.
Pour over bread.
Cover and chill at least 8 hours, or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Remove dish from refrigerator and bring to room temperature.
Bake uncovered 35 to 40 minutes, or until puffed and lightly browned.

Here's a slightly different version by Smitten Kitchen, using brioche. Yum!http://smittenkitchen.com/2011/05/creme-brulee-french-toasts/