Good morning! Ohmugoodness can I tell you how COLD it is here this morning?? My tootsies are freezing. I think I’m going to have to find some warmer socks.  Temps are at zero with windchill around -9F. Burrrrr!!! Spring can’t get here fast enough!

I am so glad it’s the weekend.  Well, it’s the weekend for me because my last class was yesterday. I’m sitting here watching Throwdown with Bobby Flay. He’s doing omelets today. I am totally going to buy an omelet pan… when it warms up that is;)  I think my favorite omelet is the Mitchell at Louie’s Cafe in Baton Rouge.  It’s this dive that is right off LSU campus. They have the BEST food. YuUuMMmM! So I need to venture into making the perfect omelet – when it gets warmer!;)

Well the other night, when I was doing the Thousand Island Dressing, I also made a French dressing. I’m so happy with it. It’s a bit oniony but after it sits overnight, the onion is still there, but the flavors meld together so it’s not so prominent. If you aren’t crazy about onions, just half ‘em:) My friend Marcy sent me her recipes for Greek dressing and Sensational Salad. I can’t wait to give them a try:) Enjoy!

OK, HERE’S What You Need:

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup ketchup
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
1 small onion, chopped
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt

HERE’S What You Do:

Just blend it all together in a blender or food processor and store it in the fridge:) I’d let it sit over night before you use it though. Let those flavors get to know each other;)

Good morning!  Ok, Autumn has arrived! It’s a very crisp morning. LOOOVE it:)  Just got the kids off to school.  Since it’s so chilly out, I woke the kids up with hot oatmeal. They LOVE the Quakers Apples and Cinnamon. Between them, they ate 7 packages! I had to smile at Jamie though. Jamie’s favorite thing to wear is his flannel lined pants/jeans. So I stuck them in the dryer to warm them up before I gave them to him.  So he got up to his warm pants and his favorite oatmeal. When he sat down at the table he looked at me with the biggest smile (and so sincerely) said, “Could this day get any better??”.  Just did my heart good:) 2 small things and his day was made:)

Yesterday after school, Jamie’s middle school had their Halloween Dance. I don’t know what happened with my baking. I made Nigella’s Hokey Pokey and TRIED to make  Powder Puffs.  I’ve made both plenty of times. Never a problem. However, yesterday, my Hokey Pokey never got hard (it’s like Honey Comb). Not only did it not harden, but by last night, it looked like it had melted.  Then, my Powder Puff cakes were flat as a flitter.  I’m baffled.  I know that humidity effects baking and such but for the last few days, it’s been really windy and the barometer has been very low. I was just glad I also made the Buckeye Peanut Butter Balls. Thankfully, they turned out fine. The kids seemed to have a great time (and they bought the peanut butter balls up!).  I met a couple of Jamie’s teachers and they just made me feel so good:) They both told me that Jamie is the most mannerly child they have ever met and he’s a delight to have in their class:)  His Science teacher actually said she’d never had a student with such wonderful manners:) *happy dance*  Now, as a parent, I was just glowing inside:) So, so proud:)  Still smiling today about that:)

Ok, enough being proud and onto recipes!:)  My neighbor, Amy, sends down her ham bones when she makes one.  So I pulled one out of the freezer the other night and made a big old pot of baby limas:) I think baby limas are probably, my favorite veggie, EVER:)  If you have a spare ham bone, give it a try:) Enjoy!!

OK, HERE’S What You Need:

Lima beans

ham bone

seasoning (if needed- I didn’t need anything extra)

small yellow onion (chopped)

butter

water

big pot:)

HERE ‘S What You Do:

Chop your onion and saute in some butter.

Add that de-lushious ham:) Amy does her's like I do, with a sweet glaze. I'm getting plum excited just typing about this recipe! Add your water to just cover the ham bone and let it boil and boil. I probably boiled this one a couple of hours. Add water when needed.

After a little boil time throw in your Limas;) I used a bag and a half (one I had already used part of).

I'm totally going to have to make some more super soon! Doesn't that look amazing?? *wipes drool from her key board* Cook these babies down for about an hour and a bit. Make sure of the water though. You don't want them to stick and burn. I didn't have to add any seasoning at all:)

I pulled some of the ham off the bone to serve. I was so excited by the time these were done that I didn't even get to make any cornbread to go with it! It's a good southern meal on it's own:) Enjoy yall!