Avocado Tree!

I  can't tell you how many times I have tried to sprout an avocado seed.

I finally learned the secret - I was giving up too soon!

It takes months, not weeks, for the seed to sprout a root and then a plant. 

After watching this youtube video I vowed to not give up this time.

I wish I knew when I had started this seed.  It was either late June or early July I think.

And here we are in September with a little plant started.

Now to research what to do next...

Lazy Saturday Morning Kitties

Chupa

Cannello

Luttrell

Muller

Messi

Muller

Reeses and Cannello

Reeses and Cannello

Messi

Game Day Snacks

Football season 2014 started for our family on August 28th at 5:30 pm

when the Fightin' Texas Aggies took on South Carolina.

I wasn't sure how our Aggies were going to play,

so I wanted our game day snacks to be tasty

just in case the food was the only good part of the game. ;-)

Turned out the food AND the game were great!

I tried four new recipes that I want to share because they were all hits 

with the family.  

We had loaded baked potato dip.  This was my favorite. 

 Definitely make it the day before - it gets better with time.

The kids loved the buffalo chicken bites.

I made the jalapeño popper spread ahead as well and just put it in the oven right before game time.

Mr H. liked the sweet and spicy sriracha chicken bacon bites best.

(He cooked them out on the grill instead of broiling in the oven.)

All four of these recipes were quick, easy to prepare ahead of time and perfect for big game munching!

Surprise babies...

Three weeks ago, one of our barn cats had two babies on the back porch,

but, after that day, we never saw them again.

Imagine my surprise when I went outside this morning and saw not two, but THREE 

baby kittens on the porch.  Reese's, who is actually the grandmother cat of these kittens, had brought them all back up to the porch.

We'll need to give these away in about five weeks,

but my daughter says she's keeping this red one. :-)

We'll see.

New babies!

Our day old chicks arrived today.

They were born yesterday…on Daisy's 7th birthday!

It's been quite awhile since we've had some babies.

They are just so fun.

I'd like to introduce -

Anne Murray

She's a White Leghorn.

Crystal Gayle

She's a Golden Laced Wyandotte.

Jessi Coulter

She's a Silver Laced Wyandotte.

Dottie West

She's a Rhode Island Red.

And, Charly McClain.

She's a Welsummer.

Sail away with me...

to the Caribbean! 

I made some island inspired dishes tonight and

the family really enjoyed them.

Mr. H. even declared it the "best meal of the summer!" :-)

On the menu was Jerk Chicken with Caribbean Quinoa.

(Except I realized at the last minute that we were out of quinoa,

so we had couscous instead!)

We also had Caribbean Salad with Honey Lime Dressing, 

and rounded out the meal with some King's Hawaiian rolls.

There wasn't a bit of chicken or rolls left,

and I am pretty sure that the rest of the couscous and salad 

will be fought over at lunch tomorrow!

If you are looking for something different and tropical for supper

I suggest these recipes - they're fantastic! 

Menu Plan Monday

Supper Menus

August 4th - 10th

Monday

angel hair pasta with marinara sauce, ceasar salad, garlic bread

Tuesday

jerk chicken with caribbean quinoa, caribbean salad with honey lime dressing, hawaiian rolls

Wednesday

tacos, spanish rice, refried beans

Thursday

stuffed bell peppers, garlic bread

Friday

homemade pizza

Saturday

leftovers

Sunday

pot roast, macaroni and cheese, lettuce and tomato salad, dinner rolls

Strawberry Eclair Cake

I tried a twist on a favorite summer dessert. 

Instead of making a chocolate eclair cake I made a strawberry one!

I just switched out strawberry pudding for the vanilla in the original recipe, 

used strawberry frosting instead of the chocolate, and added some fresh strawberries on top.

It was a yummy change.  We thought strawberry pudding with chocolate frosting would be good, too.

The pudding/frosting combinations are really endless. :-)

Menu Plan Monday

Supper Menus

July 21st-27th

Monday

enchiladas, spanish rice, refried beans

Tuesday

chicken tenders, mashed potatoes and gravy, fried okra, biscuits

Wednesday

homemade pizza

Thursday

soft tacos, pinto beans, tortilla chips and guacamole

Friday

leftovers, maybe out to eat? 

Saturday

bar-b-q chicken, new potatoes, sautéed vegetables, salad, blueberry pie

Sunday
hamburgers, french fries, baked beans, jalapeño poppers, watermelon

Linked to Menu Plan Monday.

Meet Luna

My daughter's new parakeet. :-)

Daisy had to meet her of course.

It looks like Daisy's thinking, "But, I thought I was the only animal that got to come inside!" :-)

~In N Out Burger~

In N Out Burgers  have been around since 1948, 

but our family did not discover them until our 

trip to California in 2011. :-)

I recently discovered a copycat version that you can make at home!

The secret sauce is the key ingredient.

You combine the following -

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons ketchup

1 tablespoon white vinegar

2 teaspoons pickle relish

2 teaspoons onion, finely minced

2 teaspoons sugar

While Mr. H. grilled the burgers,

I baked some french fries.

Use some good buns

and be sure to butter and toast them!

and assemble your burger In N Out style.

Spread some sauce over the bottom bun.

Add your lettuce and tomato.

Then your patty,

cheese if you wish,

a slice of onion,

and more sauce.

Dig in!

If you are able to visit an In N Out Burger restaurant,

this list :-)

might come in handy!