What's Cooking

  • Family Recipe: Bean Dip for Chips

    My Aunt Michelle St. Clair brought this amazing Bean Dip to my bridal shower.  We still make it on occasion when we have guests over.  It has a great mix of flavors and usually by the end of the night the dish is empty.  The dip tastes best with any type of Corn Chip.  It can be used for a party or an appetizer to before a Mexican meal.

    Bean Dip for Chips

    • 2 cans Refried Beans
    • 1/4 cup Onion (optional)
    • 16 oz Sour Cream
    • 1 bottle of Oretoga Taco Sauce
    • 1 package finely Grated Cheese (Cheddar)

    In a 9 x 13 pan layer the above, refried beans, then onion, then sour cream, the sauce, then cheese on top.  Refrigerate for at least two hours before serving with chips. Optional – you can add chopped peppers for additional color and flavor.

  • Family Recipe: Karen’s Fresh Fruit Dip

    If you need a super quick recipe to throw together right before the guests arrive you should try my great Aunt Karen Younger’s Fresh Fruit Dip.  It is easy and a hit with everyone.  The fruit looks amazing next to the white dip!

    Karen’s Fresh Fruit Dip

    • 1 (8 oz) package Cream Cheese (soften)
    • 1 (7 oz) jar Marshmallow Creme

    Mix together equal parts of soft cream cheese and marshmallow creme.  Stire well together, cut up fresh fruit and dip.  Works really well with tart fruit.

    My great Aunt Karen added a note on the bottom of recipe – “No double dippers, (smile).  Enjoy!”

    Love that this recipe is quick, easy and delicious!

  • Life Simplified: Meal Delivery

    Dessert tray we delivered to a family!

    Every new year we set goals, challenge ourselves to reach new heights and to focus on what’s really important in life.  In 2011 I have made it a goal to simplify my life more by enjoying the blessings and not wasting what God has given me.  I will be sharing with you the successes and challenges on those specific areas in my life as I go through them.  I have already shared with you my 1st Life Simplified Goal of No Grocery Shopping for the month of January.  One of the most rewarding blessings in life is sharing what you have with others.  My second Life Simplified Goal goes along with that piece.

    My 2nd Life Simplified Goal:

    • Deliver 1 Meal a Month to a family outside of our household

    Explanation of the Goal: In 2010 I signed up to deliver meals to new Moms after they came home from the hospital, people who had surgery and various other volunteer opportunities.  There were a couple months I didn’t do any meals and other months I had several extra meals to prepare.  For example, in December I had 4 extra meals to prepare and deliver outside of our home before the week of Christmas, some of them being over an hour away, plus we had a Christmas Eve party at our house and guests staying with us for a week.  While I enjoy the blessing of helping others I need to work on saying “No” once I have met my limit.  After much prayer and talking with my husband we have decided it would be best for our family if I would stick to 1 meal delivery a month.  Once I have delivered a meal in a month I will have to say no to any additional inquiries.  There are so many people out there that need help, however, I have to decide what is best for our family too.  I want the girls to continue participating in these amazing acts of service and having a limit will give us the freedom to continue to do it without putting our family in a spot we are over our budget. I think with all the people in our church and community that if everyone did just one meal a month for someone needing a meal there would even be extra to go around.

    I will continue to deliver meals for people once a month.  Below are the opportunities that I am currently and will continue to be involved in:

    • Moms with Newborn Babies
    • People coming home from Surgery
    • Death in the Family
    • Other Volunteer Needs for Meal Delivery

    I have a hard time saying “no” to someone in need but in order for me to have the opportunity to continue ministering to others in this way I need to stick to the goal as well as respect my husband in his decision to help me with this area I love to volunteer.  I will share with you the challenges, successes along the way so you can keep me accountable or you can even go through the journey with me by participating  and sharing your story.

    Life Simplified is a series on getting rid of the extras in our life while learning how to enjoy what God has given us so we can continue to be a blessing to others.  Our homes can quickly start are bursting with “stuff”  and if you are like us we just have too much.  I am doing a series on ways we are learning to simplifying our food, homes, and lives.  When our hearts, lives, and homes get too cluttered we may start missing out on opportunities to serve and bless the people around us.

  • Book: Better Homes and Gardens

    Grandma Willa gave me this cook book –  Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book as a wedding gift and we use it all the time.  Grandma Willa is one of the most amazing cooks I know.  I am thankful for the times we had cooking together.  Grandma is still cooking a lot of meals for family and friends but due to distance I am not able to participate in her cooking adventures as often as I like.  Below is the note she put in my cook book, which I treasure even more then the cook book itself:

    What’s Cooking?

    Bridgette,

    My Aunt Zell Body, gave me a BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS cook book as a Wedding gift.  It was my first and faithful cook book, and I found it to have many helpful hints as well as great recipes.

    I and the girls wore one out, and almost the second one over the many years.  If I couldn’t find something, needed to substitute, know cuts of meat etc….. I’d go to old faithful BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS.  I hope this new version is as good or better than my old one was.

    Happy Cooking!!!

    Love,

    Grandma Willa

    “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” – John 6:35

  • Recipe: Confetti Dip for Veggies or Chips

    This is a colorful dip to make for when you have people coming over.  It is good on vegetables, crackers, or chips.  Great appetizer or snack for guests.  I received this recipe from a church friend at my bridal shower Andy Conn.

    Confetti Dip

    • 2 1/2 cups sliced and shredded Beef (lunchmeat)
    • 1 (8 oz) package of Cream Cheese (softened)
    • 1 Tablespoon Green Goddess Dressing or Ranch
    • 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
    • 1/2 cup Green Onion (chopped)
    • 1/2 cup Yellow, Orange or Red Pepper (chopped)

    Mix well and refrigerate.  When ready to serve set out with veggies and crackers.

  • Life Simplified: No Grocery Shopping

    Every new year we set goals, challenge ourselves to reach new heights and to focus on what’s really important in life.  In 2011 I have made it a goal to simplify my life more by enjoying the blessings and not wasting what God has given me.  I will be sharing with you the successes and challenges on those specific areas in my life as I go through them.

    First Life Simplified Goal:

    • No Grocery Shopping (except for necessities) in the month of January.

    Explanation of the Goal: My goal during the month of January is to not shop for groceries other than necessities (milk, eggs, bread).  Our freezer is full and our pantry is overflowing with all the great deals that we have received.  One of the reason for the goal is that I want to use the items I have and not waste them.  Stockpiling is wonderful but there may come a point when we need to eat through that stockpile before it expires, save the extra money to work on a financial goal, and be creative with what we have at home.  I have been thinking about this challenge for several weeks after doing Operation Christmas Child and other charities over the Holidays it really hit me that we have been blessed yet there are children and families that have nothing.  Menu planning may take a little extra creative thinking on my part but I think I can do it. If I do purchase something it needs to meet one of the following criteria:

    • FREE – I don’t want to waste free grocery coupons that my family will use while doing this goal
    • Necessity – Milk, Eggs, Bread, etc…
    • For Someone Else outside of my household.  For example I make meals for new Moms in our church and if I need to pick up an item for them on the way to deliver a meal that will be an exception.

    I have already started this goal.   The only things I have purchased this month so far have been a loaf of bread and 2 gallons of milk.  Last week we ate a bunch of leftovers for several days after my our family guests left since our fridge was full and we don’t want to waste the food we have.  It takes a little more time and focus to come up with a menu but everyone seems to be doing pretty well.  The real challenge will come at the end of the month when we are getting low in the pantry and when we host guests!

    I will share with you the challenges, successes and what I had to purchase so you can keep me accountable or even go through the journey with me by participating  and sharing your story.  I would love to extend this goal into February if I can make our pantry stretch!

    Life Simplified is a series on getting rid of the extras in our life while learning how to enjoy what God has given us so we can continue to be a blessing to others.  Our homes can quickly start are bursting with “stuff”  and if you are like us we just have too much.  I am doing a series on ways we are learning to simplifying our food, homes, and lives.  When our hearts, lives, and homes get too cluttered we may start missing out on opportunities to serve and bless the people around us.

  • Recipe: Veggie Beef Soup

    We made this soup recently when friends came over.  I was trying to use up some fresh vegetables that we had in our refrigerator and came up with this recipe.  It was super easy and tasted delicious.  We have been trying out a variety of different soup recipes during the cooler winter months.  All of us have enjoyed the leftovers too!  The items that we put in the Veggie Beef Soup were ones we had on hand.  Feel free to add more or substitute with the veggies that you have in your refrigerator.  Today is a snowy day in SC so we are loving the warm meals.  The kids have been in and out playing in the snow today.

    Veggie Beef Soup

    • 1 pound Beef Stew Meat
    • 1 cup potatoes (cut into 1/2 inch)
    • 1 cup carrots (cut into 1/4 inch pieces)
    • 1 can stewed Tomatoes
    • 1 can Beef Broth
    • 1 cup frozen Green Beans
    • 1/2 cup Snap Peas
    • 1/2 cup Onion (chopped)
    • 1 tablespoon of McCormick Grill Mates 25% Less Sodium Montreal Steak

    Put all ingredients in the crock pot turn it on low and cook for 6 to 8 hours. If you want a slightly thicker soup you can add a tablespoon of sifted flour.

  • Recipe: Cheesy Broccoli Soup

    It is winter and we are having a snow day here in South Carolina so I have been thinking about warm weather meals such as soup.  I have been debating which one to make for our family but thought I could share them with you.  If you like veggies and cheese you’ll enjoy this soup.  You can add in other vegetables that you have on hand in your fridge.  The girls like Cheesy Broccoli Soup just as much as we do.  Glad both girls love eating veggies!

    Cheesy Broccoli Soup

    • 1 (16 ounce) package of Broccoli
    • 1 can Chicken Broth
    • 3 medium Potatoes (cut into 1/2 inch pieces)
    • 1/2 onion (chopped)
    • 1/2 tablespoon Butter
    • 1/2 package Velveta Cheese
    • 1/2 cup Milk
    • 1/2 teaspoon Chives
    • Pinch of Salt & Pepper
    • Shredded Cheddar Cheese (optional)

    Put butter and diced onions in the crock pot on high for about 30 minutes.  While that is cooking prepare the remaining ingredients.  Turn down the crock pot to low then add the cut potatoes, broth and broccoli to the crock pot.  Stir in the cut up pieces of the Velveta cheese, milk, and chives.  Cook on low for 6 hours, stirring occasionally.  Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese to the top before serving!

  • Recipe: Snow Ball Ice Cream

    Vanilla Snow Ball Ice Cream!

    The girls woke us up at 6:30 this morning and announced that it had snowed outside.  We knew they would not be going to school because we received the phone call the night before letting us know that the school was closed.  It is bright and beautiful outside today.  I dug up another great Snow Ice Cream recipe that I enjoy.   This recipe uses milk instead of sweeten condensed milk like our Snow Ice Cream recipe.  We do not get a lot of snow in South Carolina so when it happens we have extra special treats.  We had over 6 inches already today and we have been having a blast playing in the snow.  I am not sure if the kids or the dog are more excited by the snow adventures!

    Snow Ball Ice Cream

    • 12 to 14 cups of Clean Snow
    • 1 package instant pudding (we usually do Vanilla or Chocolate depending on what’s in the pantry)
    • 1 1/2 teaspoon of Vanilla
    • 2 cups cold Milk
    • 1 cup Sugar

    Mix the pudding, sugar, and vanilla together.  Add the 12 to 14 cups of snow.  Stir until evenly mixed.  Top with chocolate syrup, sprinkles, or whatever your family enjoys.

    Today we did vanilla pudding because it is what we had in the pantry.  A couple added chocolate to their ice cream and of course everyone had to have sprinkles!

    *The picture above is prior to us adding sprinkles to the ice cream!

  • Family Recipe: Dad’s Favorite Carrot Cake

    My Mom is an excellent cook!  Over the years my parents have hosted a lot people in their home and continue to have people over regularly.  I am thankful for all Mom taught me about cooking and for her willingness to allow me to “experiment” in her kitchen as I was growing up.  Mom makes the best Homemade Carrot Cake!  She would make it for special events such as a Holiday or birthdays.  This is my Dad’s favorite cake.   It is rich, moist and delicious.  Here’s her recipe:

    Dad’s Favorite Carrot Cake

    • 2 cups of Sugar
    • 2 cups of Flour
    • 2 teaspoons of Baking Soda
    • 1 teaspoon of ground Cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
    • 1 1/4 cup Oil
    • 4 Eggs
    • 3 cups grated Carrots
    • 1 cup chopped Nuts (optional)

    Combine all ingredients.  Mix thoroughly and pour into a greased and floured 11 x 13 pan.  Bake at 350 for 40 to 55 minutes.  If you want a layered cake you can do it in two 8 or 9 inch round pans just reduce the bake time by ten minutes and add the Cream Cheese Frosting in between the layers. Cool, then frost.

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 1 stick Margarine (softened)
    • 1 lb Confectioner (aka powdered) Sugar
    • 8 oz Cream Cheese (softened)
    • 3 teaspoon Vanilla
    • 1 cup chopped Nuts (optional)

    Cream ingredients together until smooth and place on cooled carrot cake.   Optional you can add the nuts in with the frosting or sprinkle the chopped nuts over the top.  Optional you can add green and orange food coloring to a small amount of the frosting to create a decorative carrot(s) for the top for the cake.