You just never too old for an adventure!

Well my cousin Brenda, the bravest woman I know, decided that she had enough of California and trying to work for old Arnie. He kept cutting her working days and wanting to give her IOU's instead of wages, so she sold her house, retired early and moved to the South without knowing a living sole, except her realtor!

Well if you know me, I'm like my Papa Johnson's old dog, always ready for a trip! So we left California last Saturday afternoon and proceeded to drive over 2,800 miles, through 8 states and well, here we are! Pretty tired and everyday is a new learning experience.

Had lunch with one of my favorite blogging buddies today and Nana Trish is a true love! That in it self was so wonderful because we make friends out in Cyberspace and then to have the honor to meet her really touched my heart. She brought precious Avery her granddaughter with her, and we all laughed our selves silly.

If I believed in past lives, I would say were sisters. We live in similar houses, have the same style wallet! She brought me a beautiful purse to remind me of the state and a wonderful house warming gift for my cousin Brenda. We're so appreciative and then she bought our lunch too. Not to worry we are going to try to visit her hometown this weekend and I get to buy her lunch.

I'll be sending pictures when I can find my camera cord! My cousin and I are having such a great time together, finding new stores and getting lost everyday. Thanks goodness for Garmin!

I too love the south with all it's beauty and gracious people and will truly miss it when I leave. If you ever have a chance to come....don't hesitate!

Dustye

My Memorial Day

I had the most blessed Memorial Day and I want to share my experience with you, I hope that you don't mind. My brother Steve and I lost our father, Quinton on October 27, 2008. We know that was the best day of his new life when he joined our LORD and SAVIOR in Heaven. Even though his death hurt us deeply, we're so glad that he was no longer suffering from the trappings of Alzheimer's.

Our stepmother gave our father's flag to my brother in remembrance of our father. Steve chose to have our father's flag flown in the cemetery where he's buried today. My brother, our spouses, our stepmother (who will soon be ninety) and I went to the " Memorial Day Observance" in Porterville, CA to honor of our father who fought for and so loved our country. My father's flag was the 1,075 flag to be standing in remembrance of the over one million fallen soldiers, who have fought and died for our country, the United States of America. We also found our Uncle Bobby's flag that was numbered 577.

I am forever changed because of that wonderful service yesterday. The taps that were played and the military fly over, still gives me chills. The song, "Sleep Solider Boy" brought tears to us all. I will never forget that some give all, and all give some. This family thanks all the military servicemen and servicewomen all around the world for the service they give this great country of ours. God Bless you all!

Scarface Pasta

SCARFACE PASTA

Well even though I'm on a diet and craving pasta like crazy, at least I can share a really good pasta dish with you! My family loves this dish and I hope you will too.

SCARFACE

8 oz. chicken breast, cut in bite size pieces
2 Cups of pasta ( I use Rigatoni ) or use your favorite
6 fresh large mushrooms sliced
2 cloves of fresh garlic
4 oz. of chicken broth
extra virgin olive oil
Chopped Italian parsley
2 Cups prepared Alfredo Sauce ~ or use the Bechamel Sauce recipe listed below

Saute chicken, mushrooms and garlic. Add the chicken broth and simmer until chicken is fully cooked. Now add the Alfredo sauce, heat and serve with your pasta. Garnish with the parsley.

Bechamel Sauce
4 T. Butter
3 T. all purpose flour
2 Cups milk
1/2 t. freshly grated nutmeg
Parmesan cheese

Melt the butter and the flour and stir until a paste. Add the milk and thicken. Add the nutmeg and Parmesan cheese. Check for flavor and add salt and pepper as needed.

I hope you give this a try for your dinner. It's a great dish when company is coming. Add a salad and great crusty French Bread. Enjoy!

Dustye

Sorry it's been so long friends!

I'm sorry I've been gone for so long friends, but things went a little crazy at year end. I lost my lovely father who was captured in Alzheimer's Disease for a long time and it happened on the same day that I was having surgery...but my beloved family and friends rallied around me, as only they can do, smoothed out all the wrinkles of my life. God bless them all. Thanks to all for the support.

On to one of my favorite subjects, food since I'm such a foodie...I just finished making this for dinner tonight and I thought since it's we still have winter hanging around, that you might like to make this for dinner one night. I'm making it with ham tonight. If you just give it a try I promise you are going to love it...almost a dessert!

BEST YAMS EVER!

3 Cups cooked, peeled and mashed yams ( 3 or 4 medium)
1/3 C soft butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 tsp cinnamon
2/3 C sugar ( I use Splenda)

Mix together like mashed potatoes. This will fit in a 9x13 pan with a thinner layer or an 8x8 with a thicker layer.

Toppings

1 C. brown sugar ( I use Splenda)
1/3 C soft butter
1/3 C flour
1 C Coconut
1 C chopped pecans

Mix together and crumble over the yams. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Well need I say more...does this not sound like dessert! Give it a try. Enjoy!

Shrimp Enchiladas Verde

Okay, okay, your all right, I have been away much too long...no real excuse except that life just gets in my way. Even though I haven't written in a while, I have checked on you my friends. So since I heard that the salad I had left on the last blog has wilted beyond belief, how about a new recipe. This one is totally yummy for all you foodies out there and I think you going to love it!

SHRIMP ENCHILADAS VERDE
1 1/2 lbs. peeled cooked shrimp 21-25 count tails removed and diced
1 C frozen corn thawed
2 small cans chopped green chilies undrained
2 C canned green enchilada sauce or green salsa divided
12 corn tortillas
1 15z. can refried beans
1 C shredded cheese, mexican style
1 C chopped fresh cilantro
1 lime into wedges

Oven should be set 425 degrees. Spray pam on a 13 x 9 glass baking dish. Combine shrimp, corn, chilies and 1/2 cup of enchilada or green salsa and put in microwave oven for 2 1/2 minutes.

Spread 1/4 cup of sauce in baking dish. Top with 6 corn tortillas. Spread the refried beans evenly over the tortillas. Top with shrimp mixture and then add 6 more tortillas. Pour the remaining shrimp mix over the tortillas and cover the dish with foil.

Bake the enchiladas until it begins to bubble around 20 minutes. Remove the foil and spread the cheese on top. Continue baking until heated through and cheese is all melted about 5 minutes. Top with as much cilantro as you want and serve it with the limes wedges.

This is really yummy and your family and guests will really it. This is different and new and definitely a keeper. My family just loves it. Add a salad and fresh fruit! Enjoy!

Strawberry Salad

Well I guess I should have published this yummy salad at the beginning of the summer instead of the end but I just made this salad for my granddaughter's 16th Birthday party at her request and I also wanted to share this with you. This is another salad that came from a friend to a friend. That's what we do...share the good stuff and I hope that you like it too.

Strawberry Salad

Chopped washed Romain Lettuce
Sliced strawberries
1 package of sliced almonds caramelized with sugar and in a frying pan
1/4 thinly sliced red onion.

Dressing:
2 C mayonnaise
2/3 C sugar - I use Splenda
1/3 C light or regular cream
1/c red wine vinegar
2 T. poppy seeds
3 T. strawberry jam

If you would like to exchange raspberry's in this salad use raspberry vinegar in the dressing. Toss the Romain, strawberry's, red onion and almonds with the dressing right before serving. There is enough salad dressing for several salads. This salad is so refreshing you, your family and friends will love to serve this. Enjoy!

Mandarin Orange Salad

Since I'm making this wonderful salad for our Sunday super tonight, I thought that I would hop onto the computer and share it with you also. This salad came from my daughter who is a great cook and luckily for me she will also share her recipes. Here in the family we call this the "Batty Salad", because that is her husbands Family name and her wonderful mother-in-law shared this salad with her! That's how the all those recipes goes around and around...

MANDARIN ORANGE SALAD

Large head of Romain Lettuce, washed and cut
4 green onions, sliced thin
1 can Mandarin Oranges, drained
1/3 C of sugar...I use Splenda
1 t. salt
1 t. celery seed
1 t. dry mustard
1/2 C apple cider vinegar
1 C Canola Oil
1 C sliced almonds, toasted

Mix the dressing and Chill. Just before eating mix the lettuce, onions, almonds and Mandarin oranges and add your dressing.

This salad is so great, every time I make it for someone that hasn't had it, they want the recipe and I wanted to share it with you, my new friends. Enjoy!