Holy Macaroon!

Super easy recipe 

(and my friend who eats gluten-free can have these!)

Ingredients

3 cups or 1 package of coconut

2-3 egg whites

2/3 c sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Sprinkles if you'd like.

Mix all very well. Round into balls and place on parchment lined baking sheets. Squish down and add sugar sprinkles if you'd like. I added red and green for the holidays.

Bake 325 for 10-15 minutes, until the tops start to brown. Let cool before you try to transfer. Makes 24.

Roasting Chestnuts

First, wash your chestnuts and then cut an X with a sharp knife into them. It's easiest to cut on the flat side of the nut.
In a 400 degree toaster oven or oven, place nuts on baking sheet for about 5-10 minutes. The X will begin to curl up and the nuts will look browner.
Take out of the oven and carefully put them in a bowl. Serve warm.

That X that we marked serves a good purpose - You start peeling the nut from there. 

Enjoy!

Joy through a child's eyes

One of the greatest things about living in Tennessee is that we have seasons. Our two large trees in the front yard have finally dropped all of their leaves.  Now the man who does our lawn care comes along to chop up the leaves and gets rid of them.  My son adores "Tractor Man" who has spoiled him all summer with rides.  Today was the last of  Tractor Man for the year.

I think I hear something

Is that a tractor?

I think it's Tractor Man!

It IS Tractor Man!!!!

And yes, we did go outside for that last ride too.

Cowboy Soup

Tonight is our monthly Pot Luck Supper at church....

or is is a Covered Dish Supper? 

I decided about a week ago to make something warm and cozy because it's been so gray and drizzly outside.  Well, wouldn't you know it, today is a pretty and warm day.  Oh well. I'll still make what I set out to do.

I found this on the Justapinch.com Web site.  Have you ever been over there?  It's really good.  A woman named Teresa Leroux from Gatesville, TX submitted this recipe.  I, of course, changed it to fit what I like. 

What you need:

1 package of ground turkey, browned

1 onion, chopped

1 can green beans, drained

1 can corn, drained

1 can sliced potatoes, drained. (I think next time I will dice my own potatoes). 

1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes, not drained

1 can pinto beans (I'll use two next time, I like beans)

1 bag of minute rice

3 cups water

Sprinkle top with garlic powder and chili powder

3/4 bottle BBQ sauce

And if you like things hot, you can add Rotel tomatoes or red pepper flakes. But since I'm making this for a group, I kept it tame. 

Handy dandy Crock-pot and a non-stick frying pan

Brown your turkey (you could use beef too, I suppose).

Some people may like to add their onions to the meat, but I put mine in the Crock-pot with the rest of the veggies.  Then, just start dumping all the ingredients in and sprinkle top with spices.  

Mix it all up.

 I started to make mine at noon and needed it to be done by 5 p.m., so I put it on High. 

 I'll serve these with rolls, but I think tortilla chips or Fritos would be tasty too.