Cooking With Libby

Mardi Gras Recipes and Ideas

2012-02-21T07:30:00.005-06:00

Today is Fat Tuesday, the official day of Mardi Gras. Down here in Louisiana, we have been celebrating Mardi Gras for a few weeks now. Over the years, I have tried my hand at making some of Louisiana's infamous dishes and have posted it on the blog. If you are on our Facebook and Twitter pages, then you have seen these recipes already. However, for my RSS, e-mail subscribers, and other readers, I have taken the time to compile these recipes and ideas into one post.

Click on the picture to view the recipes.

Mini-King Cakes

(This recipe/idea has been the most viewed on the blog in the past few weeks. It is not your traditional way of making King Cakes, however, if you find yourself pretty busy and pressed for time, these will definitely suffice. All you need is a can of pre-made cinnamon rolls and some colorful sugar crystals.)

Authentic Louisiana Red Beans and Rice

(Nothing says Louisiana more then a hot, steaming pot of Red Beans and Rice. This is my family's go-to recipe for this lovely dish.)

Easy Homemade Beignets

(Yummmm! Beignets! It's one of the best things about visiting New Orleans! This recipe is super simple and so very easy to make.)

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

(It took me three tries to get this dish right...lol. This recipe is a tad bit long but y'all will love the end results. Add in some shrimp and tomatoes if you wish.)

Make these dishes today for your Mardi Gras Celebration and as we like to say here in Louisiana....

"Laissez les bons temps rouler"

(Let The Good Times Roll)

Happy Mardi Gras Y'all!!!!!

~Good News (Again)!!~

2012-02-20T10:23:00.001-06:00

For those who haven't heard, I have been battling some health issues in the past month or so (click HERE to catch up on everything).

Well....I received the results back from the second biopsy and it is............

BENIGN!!!

Woo-hoo!!! Now this mama can finally have piece of mind. The question still remains though, what is causing my inflammation and abscesses? Since I have eliminated the worst possible scenario (cancer), I will be on a quest to figure this out, but in the meantime...wanted to update y'all about this situation.

I'm still in recovery mode and am taking it easy so I can heal properly from this second surgery. I have to go to wound care therapy three times a week so they can clean both of my surgery incisions and change the dressings. Not fun at all and I am trying to look at these visits as a step closer to healing 100%.

My family and I want to say 'thank you' from the bottom of our hearts for praying for us through this hard time. And even though there are still some questions that need to be answered, we are so very grateful for the positive results we received this morning.

Thank you all so very much!!!!

God is Great Y'all....God is Great!!

~Surgery Update #2~

2012-02-17T19:13:00.005-06:00

For those who aren't familiar to what has been going on with me, click HERE to read more.

Surgery #2 has come and gone. The doctor ended up making a longer incision this time to drain this newly found abscess. He also did some 'probing' around in there and also took another big chunk of tissue for another biopsy.

We are all still waiting on the results of everything...and probably won't get them till next week sometime. Surprisingly, I feel so much better...physical wise....with this surgery then I did with the last. I mean, don't get me wrong, I am still in pain, but it hasn't been as bad as the first surgery.

I walked into the hospital this time around with a happy face and a happy attitude. I was still nervous, but not as nervous as the first time. I made it clear to the staff that I wanted certain medicines to help me through it and spoke to my breast doctor about the procedure. I was in complete control...unlike the last time.

I even made it a point to wear these colorful rainbow socks......

....these were the socks I wore to my first surgery. I like to think of them as my 'good luck' charm :) The operating nurse that I had the first time remembered me because of the socks. I thought that rocked!

Now...we just sit and play the waiting game for the results...in-between visits to the wound care specialist to clean out and re-pack both of my incisions.

This whole entire journey has not been easy on my family at all. I cannot even begin to describe how stressful this whole thing has been on everyone. I can only hope that we have seen the last of hospitals and operating rooms...and that this journey is slowly coming to an end.

I pray and hope this second biopsy comes out benign and that if anything was found through this testing, that it can be treated aggressively.

Thank y'all so much for your continued positive prayers and support!!

I'm hoping I will be able to get back in that kitchen soon and start cooking/baking up some yummy deliciousness for ya :)

~Another Hiatus (from cooking)~

2012-02-14T21:54:00.004-06:00

***This post was originally published earlier last week. I am re-publishing it for those who may be inquiring about things and for any new readers of the blog***

Yes....the title of this post reads 'another hiatus.' For those who are new to this blog, I have been battling some health issues in the past few months concerning matters of my breast....for lack of a better of word Let me fill you in on things...my left breast has been given me issues.

Since December of last year...I have been through 2 painful ultrasounds, 1 mammogram, 1 very painful draining of an abscess, and 1 biopsy through surgery. Throughout this whole entire ordeal, my breast has remained inflamed. The doc thought I had Inflammatory Breast Cancer, hence the biopsy through surgery. He was not able to perform a 'normal' biopsy on me due to the heavy inflammation. The biopsy came back benign.

Well, just as I was starting to back into a groove of normalcy with my life after surgery, the inflammation has come back...accompanied by another bump/lump...on the same breast...but different location.

So...this leads us back to square one. I went in to see the doctor this morning and he wants to perform another surgery on me, set for next Wednesday. To drain out and clear this 'new' bump/abscess...and to run more tests on it to see what type of bacteria...if any...is in there. And also...to preform another biopsy.

The second biopsy was my idea...mostly because when I felt this second bump/lump form, I started doing research and all the information pointed to Inflammatory Breast Cancer...and that it sometimes takes doctors 2 or 3 biopsies to get a permanent and positive answer.

Some people may even ask why I want a second biopsy performed after the first one came back benign. I want it done for my piece of mind. The doc is convinced it's not cancer...my family is convinced it's not cancer...but I am not convinced yet. Mainly because my symptoms have come back.

If my symptoms had not come back, I don't think I would be as worried. But they have reappeared....and it is cause for concern in my opinion. If this next biopsy comes back benign, then I will be 100% satisfied with the 'no cancer' diagnosis.

So yes...this Wednesday I will be going back in for another surgery.

But this time, I will not be crying...nor will I be worried. Why? Because this mama wants some answers as to why her breast isn't 'normal' anymore. Because it isn't normal. I look at my right breast and it's as if nothing has touched it. And yet, I look at my left one...and it's 1/4 size bigger. I don't know about y'all, but something just isn't right with that.

Sooooooooo..........

Recipe posts on this blog will be few and far between over the next few weeks. And I am apologizing in advance for that. I do have a few ideas that I will try and put together between now and my surgery date, however, any 'brand new recipe' material will not be seen on here.

If you are on this blog's Facebook Page or Twitter, I will try and pop in every now and then to see what everyone is up to...and to give status updates.

I <3 y'all!

And I'm really going to miss cooking/baking for the next few weeks....but I think it will be worth it ;)

Love and Hugs to Everyone!!!
<3 <3 <3

Attention: To All Google Friend Connect Followers.....

2012-02-13T06:51:00.000-06:00

I am not sure if y'all heard the news or not, but beginning March 1st, Google Friend Connect (GFC) will no longer be available to non-Blogger blogs all over the world. Which means, if you don't use Blogger.com for your blogging platform, you will no longer be able to use Google Friend Connect.

If you are a follower of this blog through GFC, today is your lucky day because I have compiled a list of other ways you can follow this blog, should you choose to do so ;)

Ways to Follow Cooking With Libby

Linky Followers Widget:

I have replaced the GFC Widget on here with this widget, which can be located on the right hand column of this blog. You must sign up for this service in order to start following. It is free and totally confidential. Just by poking around so far with it, I can tell you that it offers the same service as Google Friend Connect. It will allow you to follow this blog, and others if you choose.

"Like" This Blog on Facebook:

Take a chance and 'like' us on Facebook. The Facebook Page is an extension of the blog. Here, you will not only be notified of the latest posts, but also get to participate in fun, social interactions with me and other fellow foodies. I also tend to pull recipes out from the blog's archive every now and then ;)

Click HERE to catch us on Facebook

Follow The Blog on Twitter:

Like the Facebook Page, the Twitter page is the same. Anything that is posted on the Facebook Page automatically goes to the Twitter Page, so you will not miss a thing :)

Click HERE to catch us on Twitter

Follow The Blog on Pinterest:

Come follow us on Pinterest. I'm still trying to navigate around here, however, I do have a Cooking With Libby board on there and have started pinning the latest recipe posts on the blog.

Click HERE to follow us on Pinterest

Follow The Blog Through E-Mail Subscriptions:

If you don't want to go through the hassle of this social media, follow the blog through our e-mail subscriptions. It is free and completely confidential. Find the latest posts delivered completely to your inbox every week.

To subscribe by e-mail, go to the right column of the blog and scroll all the way until you see the

"Subscribe Via E-Mail"

Follow The Blog Through RSS Feed:

Still not completely sure how RSS works...LOL...however, you can follow us through there as well.

Click HERE to get the RSS Feed

*********************************************

I hope that most of you who are on Google Friend Connect will take the time follow the blog through the other avenues listed above. It saddens me to see GFC disappear, however, I am very thankful for the support of each and every one of you.

4th of July Apple Pie {Cookbook Review and Giveaway-WINNER!!}

2012-02-11T07:54:00.000-06:00

****WE HAVE A WINNER FOR THIS GIVEAWAY!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO.........

Comment # 8 sent in by Cheryl over at the blog, Cheryl's Place!!!

Cheryl, I have contacted you for more info. about the giveaway ;)

I must say....I had soooooo much fun reading all the entries!!! It was so exciting to read everyone's favorite 'heirloom' recipes ;) Thank y'all so much for entering! ******

****THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED****

Hey y'all!! For those who did not know, I have been on a hiatus from cooking/baking for practically the whole month of January due to health issues. Well, I am back and am ready to take on the blogging world again...per doctor's orders :)

I think Husband Man was getting a little tired of playing Mr. Mom so he has traded in his apron for his ACU's (Airmen Combat Uniform for all the non-Military folks out there) and is returning to work this week. Meanwhile, I am left with trying to pick up where I left off in my life before all this medical craziness happened. I am still in recovery mode though and think it's going to take at least 2 or 3 more weeks until I am completely healed. Husband Man insisted that I still need assistance so he has switched his work schedule around to where he is home during the day. Sweet of him huh? This is one of the many reasons why I love the man ;)

Anyway...I can go and on and on and on about things...but I will spare y'all....

Let's get to that recipe shall we ;)

I originally made this pie back in November and I had all intentions of posting the recipe. However, the holidays crept up on us and well...y'all know how that goes.

This recipe comes from the cookbook, Sugar, Sugar and I am so happy to be able to share it with y'all today. When the representatives from the publishing company contacted me to ask to review the book, I was more then thrilled to do so. I LOVE to bake so this book was right up my alley!

I am secretly on a quest to find the perfect homemade apple pie recipe so when I found this recipe in the book, I squealed with delight. This pie definitely made me call off my search. From the crust to the filling, it totally fit the bill. What made it even more appealing was the story that went along with the pie. When we ate it, we literally felt like we were eating a piece of history. I will not go into detail about the story because it can be found in the cookbook ;) Suffice to say, my family and I really loved it.

Make it for your family and friends ;) They will LOVE it! I promise ;)

4th of July Apple Pie

(adapted from the cookbook: Sugar, Sugar)

(makes one double crusted 9 inch pie)

To Make The Crust, You Need:

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. salt

6 tbsp. (3/4 stick) butter, chilled and cut into thin slices

6 tbsp. vegetable shortening

4 to 6 tbsp. ice cold water

Directions For The Crust:

1. Place the flour, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times to mix. Add the butter and shortening. Pulse 10 to 15 times until the mixture forms small nuggets.

2. Pour the mixture into a large bowl.

3. Add the cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, using a fork to mix it until the mixture holds together.

4. Carefully turn out the dough onto parchment paper and shape it into a ball.

5. Divide it roughly in half, wrap each half in plastic wrap or parchment paper and chill for 1 hour or up to overnight.

To Make The Pie You Need:

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

2 tbsp. all purpose flour, divided

6 or 7 Granny Smith apples, cored, peeled and sliced

1 batch of the double crust above

1 tbsp. butter, cut into small pieces

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and 1 tablespoon of the flour.

3. Place the apples in a large bowl. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over them and toss to coat.

4. Roll out half of the chilled pie dough on a lightly floured work surface until it is large enough to fill your 9 inch pie plate and leave 1/2 to 1 inch hanging over the edges.

5. Loosely roll the dough around the rolling pin, then unroll it into the pie plate and press gently against the bottom and sides.

6. Sprinkle the remaining 1 tbsp. flour over the bottom pie crust. Pour the apple mixture into the crust. Dot evenly with the butter.

7. Roll out the second half of the dough to about 10 inches in diameter. Gently cover the apple mixture with the top pastry.

8. Crimp or flute the edges. Make three 1-inch slits on the top crust to allow steam to escape.

9. Bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees, then decrease the heat to 350 degrees and bake for 45 minutes longer or until crust turns golden and the juices begin to bubble.

10. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

***The Giveaway***

Today is a lucky day for all of you :)

The wonderful people over at Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC have agreed to giveaway one copy of Sugar, Sugar to one very lucky reader of this blog!

Trust me when I say that you WILL want a copy of this book :)

Let's start with the basics.....who are the wonderful writers of Sugar, Sugar?

They are Kimberly "Momma" Reiner and Jenna Sanz-Agero. Reiner founded Momma Reiner's Fudge, which gained national attention as one of Oprah's Favorite Things in O, The Oprah Magazine. She has appeared on The Martha Stewart Show and her fudge has been featured on Rachael Ray. Jenna, Kimberly's law school classmate, previously worked as an entertainment lawyer and rocked as the lead singer of the band, Vixen. Now she works with Kimberly to spread the love of sugar. They both write regularly for modernmom.com and live near Los Angeles.

Take A Look Inside The Book...

To quote the press release from Andrews McMeel Universal:

"Sugar, Sugar contains recipes from across the country, each with its unique story. From cakes sent as a symbol of love to pies perfect for parties, the tales behind these recipes are as enticing as the concoctions themselves. Each recipe includes a nostalgic "ingredient" to convey the personalities and warmth of the friends or family behind it."

One of the things I love about this particular cookbook is the beautiful illustrations of the recipes and the comedic titles of each section, such as the one listed above. Also, each recipe has a story behind it and the authors do a really great job at bringing these stories to life. So when you are eating that yummy 4th of July of Apple Pie that just came out of your oven 15 minutes ago, you are also eating the same apple pie that graced Celia "Muffy" Hunt's family every July while growing up...thanks to her grandmother, Ms. Ida Vaughan.

At the end of each recipe, there are also specific tips given to you by the sugar mama's themselves to make the recipe easier and tastier. Each tip has a symbol to go with it. It either falls into one of five categories..or all of them (sugar momma note, old school, modern variation, carpool crunch, or sass it up). Such a wonderful thing to read if you want to learn even more about the recipe.

Seriously, who would not want to win this cookbook?! And heck, even if you don't win it, go out and purchase it! Trust me, you WILL NOT regret it ;) I really enjoyed reading it from beginning to end. The stories behind the recipes will make you laugh and make you cry. Y'all will LOVE it!

What You Need To Do To Win:

1. Comment on this post telling me your favorite heirloom family recipe.

2. Leave an e-mail address after your comment so I know to contact you should you win.

For Extra Entries (only one will count for an entry):

1. Tell all your friends on Facebook about this giveaway...with a link back to this post.

2. Tweet about this giveaway...with a link back to this post.

3. Post about this giveaway on your blog...linking back to this post.

Note: Please, please, please be sure to come back here and tell me that you have done one of the following so I can give you that extra entry.

Deadline is Sunday, February 5th.

Open to U.S. Residence only.

Winner will be chose by Random.org.

Good Luck Everyone!!!

For more information about Sugar, Sugar and the Sugar Mama's....visit their website at:

http://www.sugarsugarrecipes.com/

Valentine's Day Recipes and Ideas

2012-02-10T17:48:00.003-06:00

Valentine's Day is just around the corner! Are you still stumped on what to do or make or get for that special someone in your life?

Well, I have compiled a few ideas to make your Valentine's Day the sweetest you've ever had :)

All of these recipes/ideas can be found on the blog. Just click the picture and it will take you to the post.

Happy Valentine's Day ;)

Heart Shaped Buttermilk Pancakes

(This is the recipe we use all the time...every year for V-Day. It came from my mama so you know it's good!)

Valentine's Day Gifts In a Jar

(These will make cute gifts for Valentine's Day parties or just because)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts

(Yummmmo! These are great to make with kids!)

Buckeye Bars

(If you love buckeye candies, then you will LOVE this dessert)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bouquet

(The newest Valentine Treat to hit the blog this year. Don't have any chocolate chip cookie dough? Use peanut butter or sugar cookie instead)

Chocolate "Sin" Dessert

(Chocolate, whipped cream, strawberries, and nuts....this dessert really is a 'sin' to eat!)

Double Chocolate Mousse

(Make this and eat it as suggested in the picture, or pour it into a graham cracker crust and top with homemade whipped cream for a Chocolate Mousse Pie. Top with Strawberries.)

Classic Cupcakes

(Make these cupcakes as is and find some pink or red icing to frost them with. Top them off with cute little Valentine Candies)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bouquet {Valentine's Day}

2012-02-02T06:00:00.002-06:00

Can y'all believe that Valentine's Day is almost here? I certainly can't. It seems like only yesterday when we were celebrating Christmas. Now we are heading into February, where everything is hearts and candy galore. It's all just going by so quick these days.

Since I started this blog, I have made it a point to post something festive every year, depending on the occasion. This year for Valentine's Day, I found myself trying my hand at making these cute little babies. We had everything on hand to make them except for the chocolate hearts.

For this recipe/project, you are going to need one batch of chocolate chip cookie dough, either store bought or your favorite recipe....and these nifty little things.....

These can be found at any craft store in your area (Michael's, Hobby Lobby, A.C. Moore, etc..).

If you choose to make your own chocolate chip cookie dough, make this first before you do anything. I used my family's recipe for homemade dough, which can be found HERE.

It's been a while since I wrote a tutorial post, so I'm going to take you through the steps on how to make these ;)

Step One:

Preheat the oven as directed on the package of store bought dough or in your recipe. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. If you don't have any, aluminum foil works well too.

Scoop cookie dough and form into 1 and 1/2 inch balls (I used my handy dandy cookie scooper).

Place the ball gently on one end of the stick....like so....

Step Two:

Continue to do this for how ever many you want to make, making sure the sticks are 2 inches apart. After you are finished, gently press the dough down on each stick like you are flattening it. The purpose of this is to make sure the dough adheres properly to the stick.

Step Three:

Place in oven and bake according to the directions on the package or in your recipe. Let them cool for 7 or 8 minutes.

Once cooled, unwrap chocolate hearts and press them in the center of each cookie. I made sure the bottom tip of the heart was aligned with the top of the stick.

While I was experimenting, the chocolate started to melt around the bottom of the heart. If this should happen to you, quickly place the cookies in your freezer or fridge to stop the melting process.

Mine resulted in this cute little design:

......which made me smile because I thought it was so flippin cool ;)

Step Four:

After cooling completely, decorate as desired.

Take some green floral tape and wrap it around each stick to make it look more 'flower-like.'

You can make your own bouquet holder by taking a shoe box (or something that looks like a shoe box), filling it with filler, then lining it with green and red tissue paper. Place the cookies inside and give to recipient.

Or you can place the cookies inside a glass jar and tie a ribbon around the sticks or the opening of the jar.

Some ideas: mason jars, empty jars of spaghetti sauce, Starbucks bottles, etc....

Whichever way you choose to decorate, your loved one will be thrilled to pieces to receive this cute and tasty bouquet ;)

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bouquet

(makes enough for one batch of cookies)

Ingredients:

1 batch of chocolate chip cookie dough (you can use the one on the blog which can be found HERE, or you can the use store bought kind, or your own recipe)

1 package of cookie and/or lollipop sticks

1 package of chocolate Valentine Hearts

Decorating supplies as needed

Directions:

1. Make cookie dough as directed if you are using a homemade recipe.

2. Preheat oven according to recipe or packaged directions. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

3. Place a stick on top of the cookie sheet. Scoop cookie dough into 1 and 1/2 inch balls and place on the edge of each stick. Continue doing this for desired number you want.

4. Gently flatten the cookie dough on each stick, making sure the dough adheres to the stick.

5. Place cookie sheet in oven and bake according to the recipe/package.

6. Let cool for 7 or 8 minutes.

7. Press a chocolate heart in the middle of each cookie, making sure to align the bottom tip of the heart with the stick.

8. Cool until ready to decorate. Place quickly in the freezer or fridge if the chocolate starts to melt.

9. Decorate as desired.

Why Do You Blog? {Rant #1}

2012-01-22T11:56:00.013-06:00

I'm still on bed rest and recovering from my biopsy surgery so this post will not be a cooking/food related one. Instead, I am officially making this my first 'rant' post of 2012. I have been itching to write this for a month now....so I am thrilled to be able to finally do it today! Last year around the holidays, someone said something to me that really, really got under my skin. This 'said person'....(who shall remain anonymous) had lots to say to me when she found out that I owned and operated a blog. Here is a run down of how our conversation went (I can't really remember word for word but y'all will have the idea):

---------------------------------------------------------

Her: So.....I heard that you have your own blog....

Me: Yes...I do as a matter of fact...

Her: That's interesting. I can never get into something like that. I guess I don't quite understand what the purpose of a blog is....

Me: Blogging can be fun once you start to get the hang of it.

Her: Well....I think that's all fine and dandy for those who stay home and have nothing better to do with their time. However, for people like me, who have two jobs during the day....the last thing I want to do is come home and work on a blog...let alone read a blog.

Me (dumbfounded): I can see your point.

Her: I mean come on, for those of us in the real world....with real jobs....who has time for crap like blogging??

Me (astonished and surprised): Wow! Well...blogging isn't for everyone I guess.

-------------------------------------------------

Wow....huh? In all the years I have had this blog, no one has ever, ever, ever said this to me....least of all, in front of my face. For the most part, people around these parts over here have been super, super supportive of this blog. So when I heard this, it definitely threw me for a loop.

First of all, blogging just isn't for those who 'stay home' as she liked to call it. There are PLENTY of bloggers out there who do it either after work, on the weekends, and sometimes even during work. It's not just for those who are 'at home.' I guess she thought that since I'm a Stay at Home Mom, that I basically don't do anything at all during the day except twiddle my thumbs...so I have time to blog. Ha!

Second of all, for some people, blogging is their REAL job! I am not even going to mention how much money I have gotten paid so far through this blog to write posts. Just suffice to say that it has been enough to have some spending money here and there. If you know what you're doing and are good at it, it is possible to make money from it.

Now I'm not saying that you should start a blog and quit your day job...not by any means....but for the one's who are really great at blogging, it is possible to do it full time.

And for us food bloggers, it is a job...but it's a fun one!

It's not like all of these yummy desserts and dishes just decided to jump up and cook themselves, then take their own pictures, edit themselves, write up a post about themselves, and then advertise them. No sir. WE do all of that.

I guess to an outsider, blogging can look intimidating, boring, and complex. But for the one's who really do enjoy doing it, it's the greatest job on the planet. There have been many successful food bloggers out there who have made it their full time job.....Ree Drummond, Bakerella, and Christy Jordan just to name a few. Then there are others who enjoy doing it for fun and could care less about the money end of it all.

I'm not sure what was going through this woman's head of hers when she was talking with me. However, I guess it all boils down to that popular saying.......

"If you don't have anything nice to say to someone, then don't say anything at all."

-----End of Rant----

P.S. Husband Man was with me when all of this happened and after he heard her say those things to me, he proceeded to give her a run down of all the successes and achievements that this blog has had over the years. ....then it was her turn to look dumbfounded ;) And this is why I love the man ;)

<3 y'all!!! :)

~Good News!!~

2012-01-20T20:19:00.002-06:00

Hey y'all! If you have been keeping up with this blog's Facebook Page, then you know what has been happening with my health in the last few weeks. To catch up, click HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Well, I have some wonderful news...........

***Everything came back BENIGN!!!***

I cannot tell y'all how happy my family and I are right about now. We really needed this wonderful piece of good news :)

It's been a really tough few weeks around here and hearing these results just made everything better.

During this whole journey, Husband Man and I were beside ourselves...thinking of things that one would have to think about if I really were to have been sick.

Things such as, who will take our kids to school on the days when I can't do it? Who would attend all of the kid's functions if I just didn't have the energy to do it? Who would do the grocery shopping? Who would take me to my chemo and radiation treatments?

We are Military and are not stationed anywhere near family...so all of these thoughts were floating through our minds.

Sure I could've flown my parents down to help us....but they would have only been able to stay a few weeks.....then would have to go back up North due to other responsibilities. Husband Man even thought as far ahead as switching his work shift so he would be able to be home during the day to take care of the kids and I.

It. Was. A Lot. To. Ponder. On.

I'm sure there are people out there who may be gasping at all these thoughts that were swarming in our heads, but when you have young children and are not near any family at all....these questions come up...even when you don't want them to.

And then there was the ultimate question, what would we do if I were sick and Husband Man had to deploy or go TDY for a few months?

Luckily, everything didn't have a chance to get that far and these questions were left unanswered....which is totally and completely fine by me :)

....and then there were the scenarios I would picture in my head......

I pictured myself brushing my hair in front of the mirror one day and a clump of hair would fall out of my brush.

I pictured getting sick in the bathroom and turning on the vent so my kids wouldn't hear me.

I pictured myself driving to my hair stylist and asking her to shave my head completely bald so I wouldn't have to go through the pain of losing my hair. Then I cried after I saw my bald reflection in her mirror.

These were all the thoughts that were going through my head.

And I know none of it was healthy to think...and not on the positive note....but this is where your mind wonders (at least mine did) when you are faced with the question, "do I have cancer?" And the other question, "What about my husband and my children?"

All these thoughts were running through my mind this month. And I guess you can say, I have been a complete and utter emotional basket case.

The tears would not stop. It was hard not to cry in the doctor's office. It was hard not to cry in the operating room. It was hard not to cry while I was in physical therapy getting my incision re-packed. It was hard not to cry in front of Husband Man. And bless his heart, he's heard more crying from me in the last 2 weeks then he's heard in our whole 10 years of marriage.

It. Was. Hard. Period.

But God had a plan and it started with that one little phone call I received earlier this morning...telling me that everything was benign.

Thank You Jesus! God is Great!

I am still on bed rest until the physical therapist gives me the 'ok' to start doing more things around the house again. Until then, it's laying up in the bed in between trips to the hospital to get my incision cleaned out and repacked.

Thank y'all so, so, so much for your positive prayers and thoughts :) Your words are what kept me going...along with the support of my family, neighbors, and close friends ;)

I <3 y'all!!!

And I promise to return to the kitchen once I am completely healed :)

~Surgery Update~*~

2012-01-19T07:55:00.006-06:00

For those who don't know, for the past few weeks I have been having some health issues concerning my left breast. You can read up on things HERE and HERE.

I had my surgery yesterday and it was a pretty anxious experience. I cried during the prepping, I cried when they rolled me into the operating room, and I cried after it was all over with and woke up. Yes...I'm such a cry baby...lol. Up until yesterday, I've never had to have any major surgery before so all if it was pretty overwhelming and pretty scary to take in. I think they even put "crying alot" on my chart...LOL.

When I balled my eyes out after it was over with (I was still groggy) the nurses were so concerned that I was in pain. They got a kick when I told them, "No...I'm not crying cause I'm hurting. I'm crying cause I don't know where I am." The staff kept telling me, "come on...you can do this. You've had 2 kids before. This is nothing compared to child birth." And they were right. As soon as that anesthetic kicked in, I was out like a light.

My breast doctor was great though. He came in before I was due to go the operating room and assured me that everything was going to be fine. His words bought me comfort. The nurses and staff over there were also so very supportive and wonderful.

After the surgery, the doc came in to talk to Husband Man (since I was in recovery). He told Husband Man that what he found didn't look like your normal typical abscess and the lump he found did not look like your normal typical cancerous lump. What this all means, I do not know...lol.

He said that he took a big triangle shaped chunk of the tissue and sent it to the lab.

So...now we play the waiting game for the results.

There is a glimmer of hope in this because the doc did say that it doesn't look like your normal malignant lump. But again, it all depends on the result of the test.

Now, I'm stuck in bed...between trips to the physical therapist to get my incision packing cleaned and repacked...just trying recuperate.

I sure do miss cooking though! And I can't wait to get back to that kitchen and make some delicious food to share with y'all. Poor Husband Man has been making the easy meals...Hamburger Helper, Frozen Ravioli, Sandwiches. I'm sure he's ready for me to get back in there and make some yummy food ;)

Anyway, just another little update for y'all. We get the results either tomorrow or Monday...so please keep your fingers crossed that everything turns out well ;)

Till Next Time...

~~An Update~~

2012-01-16T12:41:00.000-06:00

As some of you know, I am going through some medical issues at the present moment. If you are just now joining us, you can catch up on everything on this post HERE.

Today, I went in to see the breast doctor so he could examine my abscess and also examine my breast again to see if there has been any change in the last week.

Good news is, my breast has gone down tremendously in terms of swelling. Bad news is, it is still inflamed....and also, the lump that was there near the tissue is still there.

So....what does this mean exactly??

This means that I will be in the hospital, having surgery this Wednesday :( The doc will drain all the fluid out that is still there and also remove a portion of the tissue from the lump. Then send it off to the lab for testing. So in plain words, a biopsy through surgery....which is what we were expecting to begin with.

We are looking at having the results from the surgery as soon as next Monday.

I teared up a little when he told Husband Man and I this. Just a little though. And I have a theory it is because I've done so much crying in the last 2 weeks that I really couldn't find the tears anymore.

I'm actually to the point where I just want to get this procedure done and over with so we can find out whether it is malignant or not...then we will go from there.

What actually made me cry, was when I posted the first post last week about my journey through all of this. I have been VERY skeptical about saying anything on here about it because I know that when you open yourself up like this for millions of people, you can never go back.

But I also knew that if I didn't say anything on here and left this blog untouched for a month or so.......the questions would have started to form. So I took a chance...and made that first post.

Y'all were so wonderful and so, so supportive with it all. My inbox was loaded with private e-mails and comments from everyone around the world....and for that, I want to thank you. I am actually planning on making a booklet of all the e-mails and comments...and keeping it in my purse...so I will have it with me during my procedure on Wednesday and anytime after that :)

Also...I wanted to let y'all in on something...since Husband Man has been home, taking care of me and the kiddos...he suggested that he get on here and make a recipe post this week ;) Not sure if he will do it or not because he's pretty tired by the end of the day, however, don't be surprised if you do see one up this week from him ;)

Anyway, just wanted to write everyone a little line or so about what has been going on. Please continue to keep me and the family in your prayers this week...and next week as well.

We <3 all of you! And thank you so much for being such a wonderful inspiration through all of this ;)

Hopefully, the next post I write will be GREAT news ;)

Where I've Been....

2012-01-11T16:59:00.006-06:00

Hey y'all...I just wanted to pop in and say hi to everyone and to let you know where I have been these past few weeks (for those who are keeping up with things on here).

I haven't been doing much cooking lately...obviously. If you are on this blog's Facebook Page, then you know that I recently announced that I was taking a "hiatus" due to health issues.

I have been debating on whether or not to go public with this information because once I open the door...then there is no way of turning back and closing it.

But I do know that I have some loyal readers out there, and I felt like I had to at least explain what has been going on lately. I couldn't just leave y'all in the dust like that and leave you wondering what was the reason for my absence.

Well....here it goes.....

I may or may not have breast cancer. There. I've said it.

This all actually started before the holidays (December of 2011). I went in for a diagnostic mammogram Christmas week for some pain, swelling, and irritability that I was having. Up until that point, the docs thought all I had was a breast infection and loaded me up on antibiotics. Well...the antibiotics didn't work...which led to the mammogram.

Everything on the mammogram came back fine....except for one abnormal part around my breast tissue. The doctor suggested that I see a breast specialist for a biopsy on the tissue...but I told them that I needed to wait because I wanted to take the time to enjoy the holidays with my family.

The holidays came and went....and after New Year's...I scheduled an appointment with one of the breast care doctor's here in town. My biopsy was scheduled for this Monday, however, it had to be postponed due to an abscess that they found under my breast. The doctor told me that before he even preforms a biopsy that the abscess had to be taking care of first.

Which leads me to this week. The abscess is on it's way to healing and I have to go back in to the breast specialist this coming Monday to see where we stand with the biopsy. The doctor will then re-evaluate me to see what course of action needs to be taken in terms of extracting the breast tissue (either through surgery or a normal biopsy in the office).

As some of you know, my mother had breast cancer twice back in 2002...so I'm hoping this isn't a case of history repeating itself...but it just may be.

I won't know for sure whether or not I have it until the end of next week.

The kind of cancer the doctor is talking about is not the one you hear all the time in the news. It is not the one where you find the lump in your breast and you have to go get it checked out. The one he is concerned about is what they call, "inflammatory breast cancer." Which deals with the breast tissue.

Husband Man has been a wonderful help and has been with me every step of the way so far. I know this is going to sound crazy, but I believe this experience has bought us even closer together as a couple. There is a new respect that we have for each other that I cannot even put into words.

I have not told my children yet and don't plan on it unless a diagnosis is made. Plenty of tears have been shed so far and I have a feeling more will come as my family and I wait patiently for the results of my biopsy. I am trying to have a positive outlook on things as best I can, however, I'm also preparing myself for the worst.

I have had my share of people tell me that I shouldn't worry about things right now at this point because I haven't even been diagnosed with anything yet...and that worrying isn't going to get me anywhere. Well, they may be right about that, however, I am a worry-wart by nature...and knowing that my life is at stake here is not something that I think I can just 'ignore' and not think about. When you are in a room with a doctor who is repeating the words 'possibility of cancer' to you....of course you are going to worry. You are going to cry. You are going to get emotional.

I wish I could be like everyone else and pretend that it isn't bothering me, but I've never been good at pretending and I do not plan to start now.

I just wanted y'all to know that I have not dropped off the face of the earth. I am still here. Just in the background.

I have not had the inspiration to cook anything new, nor to even eat for that matter. And since my abscess is healing, Husband Man has been doing all of the cooking.

It is with great hope that my biopsy will come back clean and I can start this new year out with a fresh start...but we will see.

I love all of you very dearly and I promise to keep everyone informed and updated.........

Life Lessons From 2011

2012-01-01T08:52:00.013-06:00

2012 is here! Wow huh? Another year has come and gone...and while this is the start of a new year, I am taking the time to reflect on things. I learned so many lessons this past year due to so many things that happened in my life.

Lesson #1:

I learned to try to not fit in so much among others.....

~This past year, I have had a few friendships falter and go by the wayside. Hurtful things were said and done. And now that I look back on things, it really wasn't anyone's fault that they ended...it was just the fact that I just tried way to hard to fit into their lives. I was always trying to impress them or what not. When the truth of the matter was, I really never fit in from the beginning.

You shouldn't have to try so hard in friendships. They should just come easy to you. It is amazing how you can step back and see yourself through others if you really take the time to look. And this person that I'm seeing when I was around these other people, is not who I really am. Friendship wise, I shouldn't have to try so hard to fit into someone's life. It was exhausting for me....and literally took up to much time and energy. Especially when the feelings were certainly not reciprocated.

When certain people didn't want to hang out with me...I went around and around and around in circles trying to figure out why. Like....what is wrong with me to where they don't want to be around me. I drove myself crazy thinking about it...when honestly, there was no need for that! I want to kick myself in the butt because I wasted so much time and energy trying to figure out what was wrong. When really, it wasn't me....it was just the fact that I never really fit into their lives from the get-go.

So yes....this year...I am not going to try so hard to fit in to anyone's life anymore. I refuse to waste what precious time I have trying to make people like me...lol. It's just to darn stressful. Wanna be my friend? That's great and wonderful. Great to have you aboard ;) If not, that's fine too. I wish you well with life and everything it has to offer ;) ~

Lesson #2:

I learned the art of forgiveness....

~While two of my friendships were falling apart, an old friendship also came back into my life. Interesting how that happens. They always find a way to creep back into my life....lol. But because of this, I have learned to forgive and move on. Whatever happened in the past should be left in the past. Let 'sleeping dogs lie' and get on with things. Life is to short to be petty about stupid little things.....which brings me to the next lesson..........

Lesson #3:

I learned that life is just to dog gone short.....

~My beloved uncle passed away back in September of this past year. Going to his wake, reception, and ceremony was a very touching experience for me. It was like, one minute he was here....and the next minute he was gone. He had a heart attack while sleeping and passed away...no warning signs or anything.

Husband Man and I packed up the kids and headed to Oklahoma to be with my side of the family that weekend. It was hard explaining things to Ava (my daughter)....to where she could understand. She wanted to know why so many people were crying and sad. And why my uncle was laying very quietly and peacefully in a coffin for everyone to see and why he wasn't waking up. Such a hard life lesson to learn for a 5 year old....but an important one.

Death is inevitable. We all are going to have to go through it some day. Life is just way to short to worry about the petty things. Tell the people around you that you love them every day because you don't know what tomorrow will bring. It sounds very cliche'.....but it is soooo true! Make each day of you life count. ~

Lesson #4:

I learned the art of patience.....

~Anyone who is married and has children can tell you this. Having children and a husband can test your patience like there is no tomorrow. You combine all this with having a house that is a 'fixer-upper' and you have one big ball of stress heading your way. I sometimes wonder how I do it everyday...lol...literally. Husband Man thinks I'm super mom....but what he doesn't know...is that I pray for patience every day....lol. Literally. And God must hear my prayers because he has blessed me with lot of it so far. Although, I have lost it once or twice...but he so graciously has given it back to me. ~

Lesson #5:

I learned that Kindergartners are people too....

~Ava started Kindergarten in 2011. Since she's been in school, I have helped her class out a few times. And the one thing that I am learning...is that even though they are smaller then we are, Kindergartners are people too. They are just cuter then we are when it comes to things ;) ~

Lesson #6:

I learned that while traveling on a plane, there is nothing better then arriving safely to your destination....

~Yep. I learned this lesson back in May of 2011 on my trip to Colorado. It was just the kids and I traveling...and well...let's just say that you will never see me on a plane for at least the next 10 years. Nothing worse then feeling like you are re-living the first few episodes of Lost....you know, the one where everyone is still on the plane before it actually crashes...and then you see the beginning stages of the crash.

Yeah....that was us. Suitcases weren't flying in the air...but they were rolling up and down the aisles...as well as people literally being lifted from their seats from the majorly aggressive turbulence. My kids deserve a gold star for how they acted while we were going through all that. It was mommy who had the issues. I have never been so happy to be on solid ground in my life. God Bless the ground we walk on.~

Lesson #7:

I learned that our family really does know the importance of team work........

~Case in point....when Ms. Paula Deen came to visit our local Wal-Mart in town. I found out about this 'surprise' visit a day before it happened. My kids both had school the afternoon she was supposed to arrive, Husband Man had to work, and Ava's Fall Carnival for school was that evening. Opting out of the carnival was a no-go because we already had pre-paid the admission fee. But Ms. Paula Deen was coming and I didn't want to miss that either. What's a mommy to do? How can she keep her promise to her kids and at the same time, fulfill her wish?

I put on my thinking cap and set out to plan the day. This took lots of multi-tasking on my part and the help of Husband Man. Then I put it into action. I knew I had to take the kids with me if I even had a chance of seeing Paula. I packed up the mini-van with everything that I thought they would need to wait with me in the loooong line then drove off to pick them up from school. We made a quick stop to Mickey D's (which I am not proud of...but desperate times call for desperate measures) for something to eat then headed over to the Wal-Mart.

We waited in line for 2 or 3 hours to see her. Ava took her school work/home work out of her book bag and we all had fun reviewing it. The other people in line with us thought she was a hoot. She provided them with some much needed entertainment during those few hours.

Husband Man ended up coming to the Wal Mart after work and took the kids to the Fall Carnival while I stayed in line to see Ms. Paula Deen. The plan was brilliant and it worked. Everyone got what they wanted that night.....including me.........and an added bonus..Paula signed ALL FOUR of my cookbooks ;)

So yes....meeting Paula wouldn't have happened if we all hadn't come together as a family. I was the multi-tasker and planner....Husband Man was the helper...and the kids...well...they did what they do best and provided the entertainment ;) God Bless my family. ~

Lesson #8:

I have learned to count my blessings and to stop being jealous of others.....

~This is a trait of mine (jealousy) that I wish would not appear. I am always, always, always, always looking at what others have and say to myself, "must be nice. I wish I had that." Or...."wish that were me." Or...."she just doesn't know how lucky she is." It doesn't make an appearance as much anymore...but I must admit, this ugly trait likes to still rear it's head from time to time. I think we are all like this in one way, shape, or form. Some of us hide it better then others though.

What I've learned so far, however, is that instead of focusing on what others have that I wish I had...I need to count my blessings and concentrate on the things that I do have in my life. The grass may always look greener on the other side....but that certainly does not mean that it is.

I used to think I was the unluckiest woman out there....literally. I would look at what other people would have in their lives and think to myself, "wow! She's so lucky. I wish I was half as lucky as her." When really, things aren't always what they are cracked up to be...no matter how people may seem to look.

I started counting my blessings. And truth be known, I'm getting a lot better at it too ;) I'm learning to turn negative situations into positive ones....and learning that just because so and so has so and so....it shouldn't mean a gosh darn thing to me. Why should I give one flippin iota about what others have? I really shouldn't.

I've come to realize that I am one lucky woman. I have 2 beautiful kids, a house, an awesome husband, wonderful and supportive family members, a few close friends, and great neighbors. This is all a person needs to make it through life. This is what I am learning....and still continue to learn.

------And there you have it folks....I may add onto this if I think of more....but this is what I have learned so far from 2011.-------

What important lessons have you learned this past year?

A Little More About Me

2012-01-01T00:04:00.006-06:00

Welcome to the first post ever for the "It's My Life" section of the blog. When I asked y'all on Facebook and Twitter about the idea of adding a section like this onto the site, the response was tremendously supportive.

So...to start things off...I have decided to dedicate this first post into letting y'all know a little more about me. I'm not talking about the About Me section of this site either. Read on and get to know the woman behind the blog :)

....the basics....

I am in my mid-30's (yikes!) and am a Military wife to my lovely Husband Man. I have two wonderful and adorable children who are 5 and 3. 10 years ago the Military moved us down here to Louisiana....and we have not left since. In the whole time we have been here, we have seen so many Military folks come and go. And yet....we still remain. People join the Military to travel....but this has not been the case with us. And to this day, I'm still trying to figure out if this makes me happy or sad. I really have mixed feelings about it all.

At times I don't even consider myself a Military wife because my life is so much like a Civilian's life. We live about 20-30 minutes away from the base...so my connection with life on the base is few and far between. I'm pretty much in my own little bubble over here...lol...and I actually like it this way ;) Less drama for me to deal with....lol.

....my personality.....

I love to cry and think it's actually more therapeutic and cheaper then seeing a shrink. I wear my heart on my sleeve wayyyyy to much and it is VERY easy to hurt my feelings. Just ask Husband Man. I have that kind of personality to where I will tolerate anything and everything that comes my way.....but if I have had enough of it...you will definitely know. I've been called crazy at times...but I just like to think of it as being very dramatic...lol ;)

....my hobbies.....

To quote Leonardo DiCaprio's character in the movie, Titanic...I am what you may call..."an indoor girl." You wanna go for a hike? Don't call me. You wanna go climb Mount Rushmore? Don't ask me to go with you. I do go speed walking from time to time...but that's about as much of the outdoors as you're going to get out of me. If you need a shopping partner though...I'm the one you need to call. Or if you want to go out for lunch or coffee....I'm here for ya. If you also want your cabinets organized and your room decluttered, I'm your girl ;) I also enjoy traveling...from taking 2 day road trips to taking 30 minute road trips...I <3 em all ;)

I love chick flicks (I <3 Netflix), chocolate, and a good book (preferably a cookbook or a nice novel). I love to do crafts but get pretty darn frustrated when they don't turn out the way they should. Then I curse myself and vow to never touch them again....only to find myself learning another one a week or two later. Thus, repeating the vicious cycle.

....my roots.....

I'm from Fayetteville/Fort Bragg, North Carolina and met my husband at Books A Million many moons ago while he was a soldier stationed over there. I was his cashier and he came through my line 3 times in 2 days before he finally asked me out for coffee ;) I'm also multi-cultural....and have parents who are from the island of Guam...but raised us in the United States. I have one younger sister and one younger brother...both of whom are in the Army (sis is married to a soldier and my brother is a soldier). Did I mention my father is also retired Army?? I basically grew up all up and down the east coast and overseas. So yeah....my family is VERY pro-Military ;)

.....my work background....

I wasn't always a food blogger. I have my Bachelors Degree in Social Work (BSW) and spent a good 3 years in the career field before I realized that it just wasn't for me. I saw lots of things when I worked in that field...things that make me grateful for the life I live now. When life doesn't go as planned..I am VERY quick to remind myself that there are people out there who seriously have it worse then I do and that God has blessed me with so much more then I really, truly deserve.

After I figured out social work wasn't for me...I went on this career exploration spree. I worked in a bakery, a bank, and a library. I became pregnant with my daughter around the same time I was working at the library. I decided to leave that job and become a stay at home mommy....which was the best decision I have made to date. Two years after my daughter was born, God blessed our family again with a little boy ;) You can pretty much figure out the rest ;)

.....what I do now.....

My days are filled with playing taxi cab driver, being a room mother, cleaning, running errands, cooking, laundry...and of course...writing and blogging ;) But I love it! Really...I do. And no...this is not a line of fluff that I'm feeding y'all. I really am happy ;)

Some people don't like staying home with their kids. They try it and then go crazy and figure out soon enough that it isn't for them. They say the repetition of the day gets to them and that it's to boring for them. Why in heavens would someone want to stare at four walls, eat bon bons all day while watching Lifetime Movie Network?? (by the way...these are all things that people have said to me in the past 5 years). I mean, that's what women who stay at home do right?

Well, I'm here to tell y'all.....that ain't my life! It's nowhere even in the vicinity of my life. Heck, I consider eating bon bons while watching The Young and The Restless a vacation ;) If staying home with my kids means doing that...then I'm definitely doing this all wrong...lol.

-----And there you have it folks ;) A little more information about me that y'all didn't know. I am glad I was able to share this because now you kind of get a mental picture of who I am. Trust me...there is more to me then just what I have written above. But we won't get into all that right now ;) Ta-ta for now ;)

It's My Life {My Thoughts and Ramblings}

2011-12-31T10:03:00.007-06:00

Welcome to a new section of the blog that I am starting. Here you will find all the posts for everything in my life that is not food related. From family updates to thoughts and rants that I have, it can all be found on this page.

I do realize that this is a food and cooking blog, however, as y'all know.....sometimes, it's not all just about the food. So go ahead...brew some coffee (or tea) and prepare to come inside that head of mine for a few minutes each week. Maybe we can figure this thing called 'life' out together ;)

Posts Start Below:

A Little More About Me
Life Lessons From 2011
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Scare
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Scare {Con't}
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Scare {Con't}
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Scare {Con't}
Why Do You Blog? {Rant #1}

Cooking With Libby's Best (and not so best) of 2011

2011-12-29T06:30:00.001-06:00

2011 is almost over y'all! In exactly 3 days we will start a brand new year. Although I am sad that it all has come to an end, I am so very excited and anxious for 2012 to arrive.

In the blogosphere, I have seen others post their "Best of 2011." I thought this was a pretty neat idea so I'm jumping aboard and playing too. Hang on to your spatulas because this year has been a pretty chaotic one for this blog ;)

***Note: These results are based on the amount of page views per post according to Blogger, from all the correspondence I have received from readers, and from my own experiences.***

Click on the picture to read the posts.....

Best Dessert Post

~Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Brownies~

Best Slow Cooker Post

~Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings~

Best Casserole Post

~King Ranch Chicken Casserole~

Best Breakfast Post

~Easy French Toast Sticks~

Most Controversial Post

~Mama's Strawberry Pie~

(the debate was over pre-made pie crust vs. home made pie crust. Wow is all I can say about this one! I did not know some people felt so strongly against the pre-made kind.)

Most Challenging Recipe

~Chicken and Sausage Gumbo~

(the post will tell you what happened)

Most Easiest Recipe.....Ever

~Ice Cream Bread~

(Two ingredients folks....two ingredients)

Most Memorable Post #1

(My experience teaching a children's summer cooking class at the Parks and Recreation Center)

Most Memorable Post #2

~Eggland's Best Eggs Plate Date~

.....and there you have it folks. This blog's year in review for the year of 2011!

I cannot wait to see what 2012 will have in store ;)

See y'all next year ;)

Christmas Breakfast Ideas

2011-12-22T06:12:00.000-06:00

Christmas is literally just around the corner y'all....3 days to be exact! I have taken the liberty of compiling a post full of holiday breakfast ideas that will take the guessing out of your menu planning for the upcoming few days. All of these recipes can be found on the blog. Click on the picture to get to the post.

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

(these make A LOT and can be made ahead of time. Just make them and cut the baking time in half...then freeze. Pop them in the oven on Christmas morning for the rest of the baking time...or until they start to brown)

Sausage, Cheese, and Grit Casserole

(This is great to make for those who just love grits! If you have company over, double the recipe.)

Spinach, Bacon, and Cheese Quiche

(This is the perfect thing to make for a holiday breakfast. Can be made the night before. Just make as directed and refrigerate until morning. Bake as directed.)

Biscuits and Gravy

(This is sure to please anyone who has got to have their Biscuits and Gravy in the morning. Double the recipe if you are expecting company.)

Homemade Buttermilk Pancakes

(These are sooooo good and such a treat to make for family and guests in the morning. I can't think of a better breakfast to make during the holidays.)

Have yourselves a very Merry Christmas y'all!!

Mini-Spinach Artichoke Dip Bread Bowls {Sister Schubert's}

2011-12-20T06:56:00.003-06:00

For the post few months, I have been posting about my partnership with Sister Schubert's Homemade Rolls. Past posts have included reviews of their products (click HERE to read more), a recipe for Bavarian Style Meatball Subs using their Mini-Baguettes (click HERE to read), and a Sister Schubert Prize Package Giveaway (click HERE to read).

This will be the last post in our little 4 post series. Since it is the last one, I decided to share a little recipe that my family has grown to love over the past year. The recipe is already on this blog, however, I wanted to share a little twist I did with it.

Upon the advice of a great blogging buddy (thanks Larky), I decided to use the soft pretzel rolls as bread bowl of sorts. It was such a wonderful idea! They are just the right size to be considered as mini and they are the perfect thing to serve if you are looking for individual appetizers. Not to mention, with Christmas only 5 days away, these would be a great thing to serve before that huge holiday meal.

Make these for your family and friends this holiday season ;) They will <3 them!

For more information on Sister Schubert's, check out their Facebook Page.

Disclosure:

I was one of eight bloggers selected by Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls to review their products. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program as well as my writing about my experience. I have also been provided products for review. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

Mini-Spinach Artichoke Dip Bread Bowls

(recipe adapted from Kraft.com...but modified by me)

(makes 6 rolls)

Ingredients:

1 bag of Sister Schubert's Soft Pretzel Rolls

1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen spinach, thawed and drained

3/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese

A little under 1 cup of light mayonnaise

3/4 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1/3 cup Shredded Provolone Cheese

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Place all of the above ingredients (except the rolls) in a large mixing bowl.

3. Mix well.

4. Place the ingredients in a 9 inch pie plate and bake for 20 minutes. Let cool.

5. While cooling, preheat oven to 375 degrees.

6. Place rolls in the oven for 7-9 minutes.

7. Once rolls are finished heating up, cut the tops of them off in a circle.

8. Scoop out the inside of the roll.

9. Fill with 2 or 3 spoon-fulls of the dip.

10. Serve warm.

Georgia Spiced Pecans {Paula Deen}

2011-12-15T04:00:00.002-06:00

Who does not like Ms. Paula Deen? I simply adore this woman. She is just a ball of laughs. I had the pleasure of seeing her twice in the last 5 years and she is such a hoot! I’m so happy to share this recipe with y’all today.

This is a great treat to make for the holidays for two reasons. Number one, it's very easy to make and number two, it's just plain yummy!

These make really great gifts to give out during Christmas. Make them and place 'em in cute little tins like the one in the picture above and hand them out to neighbors, co-workers, or friends. Or just simply make them and keep them for yourself :) Either way, everyone will love these and will be asking you for the recipe in no time flat :)

Paula Deen's Gerogia Spiced Pecans

(adapted from The Lady and Sons, Too)

1 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/3 cup evaporated milk

2 cups pecan halves

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine the sugar, cinnamon, and milk in a medium-size saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook to the soft-ball stage (234-238 degrees on a candy thermometer). Add the pecans and vanilla and stir well. Using a slotted spoon, drop single pecans on a sheet of waxed paper; allow to cool.

And that's it....easy as pie :)

Sister Schubert's Giveaway!!! {Winner}

2011-12-13T04:00:00.004-06:00

***Congratulations to Comment #6 sent in by Jan from Alabama!!! Enjoy the package girl ;) ***

****THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED****

These past few months, I have been partnering with the company, Sister Schubert's. You know, the lovely folks who make those scrumptious and heavenly yeast rolls that you can find in your grocery store every day?

My past posts have featured reviews of their products (which you can find HERE) and a yummy recipe using their Mini-Baguettes (which you can find HERE).

Today, I am pleased to announce a Giveaway that is just so awesome that my excitement literally cannot be contained!

Check out this HUGE prize package that is up for grabs....

~FREE product coupons (5 per prize pack)~

~Sister Schubert's Linen to Line Bread Basket~

~Sister Schubert's Branded Apron~

~Sister Schubert's Branded Wooden Cutting Board~

~Bread Basket~

~Butter Knife~

~Sister Schubert's Autographed Cookbook~

Y'all, this prize package is worth over $100.00!!!

For more information on Sister Schubert's, check out their Facebook Page.

To Enter This Giveaway:

Leave a comment on this blog telling us what is your favorite thing to make with Sister Schubert's Rolls.

Do you eat them plain? Jazz em' up with butter and jelly? Put them in chicken and dumplings?? Let us know and YOU can be the winner of this wonderful prize package!

***Please remember to leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win. ***

Bonus Entries:

Post this giveaway on your Facebook or Twitter Page.

(be sure to come back here and let me know)

This giveaway will end on December 16th, 2011.

Winner will be chosen by Random.org

Stay tuned in the next few weeks....I will be sharing one last recipe from Sister Schubert's!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Disclosure:

Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Bruschetta

2011-12-08T04:00:00.001-06:00

Bruschetta........yummmmmmmmmm!

I'm not sure if any of you have seen the movie, Julie and Julia....but there is one particular scene in there that had me wanting to try to make this yummy dish. One of the main character's, Julia, cooks this recipe for dinner one night and her husband could not stop 'oooing and awing' over it. This scene is just one of the many food scenes in the movie that made me want to try every recipe on there.

Of course, the bruschetta I made looks nothing like the one in the movie, but that is ok ;)

For my first time making it, it received rave reviews from Husband Man. And like Julia's husband did in the movie, my husband started ooing and awing as well!

With fresh basil, tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella, this appetizer sure did aim to please. We ended up eating the whole entire batch! Can we say yummmm? :) This recipe is definitely filed under our favorites!

So make this tonight for your family and friends...or heck, just make it for yourself. You won't regret it ;)

Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Bruschetta

(recipe inspired by all recipes.com and a few others around the net)

(makes 6-8 mini baguettes)

Ingredients:

1 to 2 bags of Sister Schubert's Mini-Baguettes OR 1 or 2 loaves of French Bread.....sliced

1 can of diced tomatoes (with basil and oregano seasoning), drained

1 chopped up fresh tomato

6-10 fresh basil leaves, stems cut off

1 package of fresh mozzarella

3 cloves of minced garlic

2 tbsp. of balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil, plus more to brush the bread with

Directions:

1. Follow the directions on the back of the Sister Schubert bag to prepare the mini-baguettes.

2. After the baguettes are prepared, preheat oven to 400 degrees.

3. Cut each baguette in half and brush the insides with olive oil.

4. Place on baking sheet and toast in oven for a good 5-8 minutes.

5. While they are toasting, mix together the tomatoes, basil, rest of the olive oil, vinegar and garlic in a small bowl.

6. When baguettes are finished toasting, place a few pieces of mozzarella in each piece and top with a couple of spoonfuls of the tomato mixture.

7. Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese starts to melt.

Homemade Waffles

2011-12-06T04:00:00.007-06:00

**This was originally posted on March 8th of 2010. But I am digging it out of the archives for y'all**

Waffles....waffles...waffles....I can't think of a better way to start off a good weekend then making homemade waffles fresh out of the kitchen. These waffles are not as sweet as others we have tried in the past. At first, I didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. However, we found out quick that it definitely was a good thing. Once you add fresh fruit, syrup, and butter to them, it's like they automatically came to life with yummy sweetness.

The original recipe calls for milk, however I decided to substitute buttermilk to see what would happen. And as buttermilk does with most things, it added a really nice texture and flavor to it. I also decided to separate the eggs and beat the egg whites until they were stiff (like you would if you were making a meringue). There is still more tweaking to do with the recipe, as I am completely convinced that if I find the right amount of cinnamon, sugar, and nutmeg...it will just burst with more flavor then we could ever dream of. For now though, I will share what I have with y'all ;) Oh...and another bonus to this recipe, the waffles are freezable ;)

Homemade Waffles

Ingredients:

2 eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 and 3/4 cup milk or buttermilk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tbsp. sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

4 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Directions:

1. Preheat waffle iron.

2. Separate egg yolks from egg whites.

3. Beat egg yolks, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract.

4. In a separate bowl mix flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

5. Combine flour mixture with egg yolk mixture and mix until well blended.

6. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff.

7. Gently fold the egg whites into the rest of the batter.

8. Fill waffle iron with 2/3 cup of the batter (or however much will fill up your iron). Cook until golden brown.

9. Serve with fruit, syrup, butter, whipped cream, or whatever you like on your waffles ;)

***To freeze: Take each waffle and place them on a cookie sheet. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer and leave for about 3 hours. Take cookie sheet out and place frozen waffles in a zip lock freezer bag. Place frozen waffles in the toaster when ready to cook.***

Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bake

2011-12-01T04:00:00.005-06:00

Now that Thanksgiving is over with and we are all back into the hustle and bustle of the school/work week, I'd like to share this recipe with y'all. This comes from the October 2011 issue of Southern Living's Best Fall Recipes. This one caught my eye because it looked so easy to make. And I did discover, that it was pretty simple to cook.

What's interesting about this dish is that it does double duty. You can make it for a busy weeknight dinner or you can make it as an appetizer of sorts. Don't ya just love recipes like this? ;) I added a few ingredients to the recipe because, well....that's just my style and that's how I roll ;) Make it tonight. Your family will <3 ya for it ;)

Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bake

(adapted from the October 2011 issue of Southern Living's Best Fall Recipes)

(serves 8)

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef or turkey

1 can sloppy joe sauce

1 can chili with beans

1/2 a package of frozen country-style shredded hash browns (about 4 cups)

2 cups of Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 to 2 tbsp. of molasses (optional)

1 to 2 cups of Frito chips (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Brown ground beef until ready and no longer pink. Drain.

3. Stir in sloppy joe sauce, chili, and molasses.

4. Place meat mixture in a lightly greased 9x13 inch casserole dish.

5. Top with frozen hash browns.

6. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 more minutes or until hash browns are browned and crisp.

7. Sprinkle cheese and Fritos on top and bake for 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted.

Candied Sweet Potato/Yam Bread

2011-11-29T04:00:00.002-06:00

I know the Thanksgiving Holiday is done and over, however, our family is still eating left overs...if you can believe that. One of the dishes I made for Thanksgiving was our family's recipe for Candied Sweet Potatoes/Yam. After the first few days of eating left overs, only one cup of these lovely taters was left in the fridge. I felt so bad for it and knew there had to be a way save it from the garbage disposal.

After hours of research, I came up with this recipe. Upon baking it, I did not know how well it was going to turn out. The batter was very, very, very thick and as I scooped it into the loaf pan, I thought to myself, "there is no possible way this recipe is going to be good."

Ha! Boy was I ever wrong. About 15 or 20 minutes into the baking time, the house started smelling like Thanksgiving all over again! It tasted just as yummy as it smelled too ;) It looked like a rustic type of bread from the outside, but the inside was so moist and soft. Who knew that one little cup of candied yams could produce a lovely dessert such as this??

You can bet this recipe will be added to our list of dishes to make after the holidays!

Add it to yours as well ;)

Candied Sweet Potato/Yam Bread

(Adapted from food.com)

(makes one 9x5 inch loaf)

Ingredients:

1 cup candied yams

1/2 cup butter, softened...plus a little more for greasing the loaf pan

3/8 cup of sugar, or 1/2 cup or more, depending on how sweet you like your bread (taste test it to find out)

2 eggs

1/2 cup of milk

1 and 1/2 cups of flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. of salt

2-3 tbsp. of cinnamon sugar mix (we used 1/4 cup sugar mixed with 1 tbsp. cinnamon)

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Butter the loaf pan and dust with some of the cinnamon sugar mixture.

3. Stir together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Set aside.

4. Cream together the sweet potatoes/yams and sugar until smooth.

5. Add butter and mix.

6. Add eggs and mix. Add milk to the eggs and mix.

7. Fold the flour ingredients in with the sweet potatoes mixture.

8. Fold in nuts.

9. Pour batter (it will be really thick but do not panic. I did at first...but it came out just fine) into the loaf pan.

10. Sprinkle the top with more cinnamon and sugar mixture.

11. Bake for 60 minutes. Let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Cooking With Libby

Mardi Gras Recipes and Ideas

*~*Good News (Again)!!*~*

*~*Surgery Update #2*~*

*~*Another Hiatus (from cooking)*~*

Attention: To All Google Friend Connect Followers.....

4th of July Apple Pie {Cookbook Review and Giveaway-WINNER!!}

Valentine's Day Recipes and Ideas

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bouquet {Valentine's Day}

Why Do You Blog? {Rant #1}

*~*Good News!!*~*

*~*Surgery Update~*~

~*~An Update~*~

Where I've Been....

Life Lessons From 2011

A Little More About Me

It's My Life {My Thoughts and Ramblings}

Cooking With Libby's Best (and not so best) of 2011

Christmas Breakfast Ideas

Mini-Spinach Artichoke Dip Bread Bowls {Sister Schubert's}

Georgia Spiced Pecans {Paula Deen}

Sister Schubert's Giveaway!!! {Winner}

Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Bruschetta

Homemade Waffles

Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bake

Candied Sweet Potato/Yam Bread

~Good News (Again)!!~

~Surgery Update #2~

~Another Hiatus (from cooking)~

~Good News!!~

~Surgery Update~*~

~~An Update~~