Holiday Photo Shoot

Today was about learning to use the self timer and tripod with my camera.

I really needed to get started on our Christmas cards and didn't have a good picture to use yet. These were all taken today in our front yard. Nothing fancy, just my camera, tripod and some simple editing tools.

I just got the Corel PaintShop Pro software for my laptop and I was able to make some really professional looking pictures.

I think they turned out really well.....Let me know what you think.

My one piece of advice about getting a new camera is considering shutter speed. We took our first Alaska cruise in 2008 and we did a whale watching expedition. Whales are fast. We saw several whales, but ended up with several pictures of splashes in the water. I would take the picture and have to wait each time for the camera to actually snap the photograph.

One of the first things we did was buy a new camera with a faster shutter speed. The one I picked even has a feature that takes sports action shots.

Please leave me comments about the pictures and any advice you may have. Thanks

Babe-O

Christmas Breakfast Sausage Buns

I've really been in the Christmas spirit the last few days and today I bought my Christmas tree.

Yes, I realize it's only November 8th, but I just couldn't help myself. I found a 7 1/2 foot tree with pine cones at Hobby Lobby for 50% off so I couldn't resist.

My cats will eat any live plant that enters the house so I had to get an artificial tree. For the past several years I have had a teeny tiny tabletop tree and this year I'm going all out. I have so many beautiful ornaments from years past and new ones from ports we have visited and the teeny tree can't support many ornaments.

Last years teeny tiny tree

Since I was in the Christmas spirit, I decided to make my Sausage Thingy's. That's what I call them. I learned this recipe in 1998 from a really sweet lady I worked with. She brought them in as a holiday breakfast treat for the office and I've been doing it every Christmas season since. They are super easy and I really should treat my friends to them more often.

I hope you share this recipe with your work family as I do.

Christmas Breakfast Sausage Buns - aka "Sausage Thingy's"

Ingredients:

1 lb ground sausage
1 package of rolls/buns in aluminum pan
1 package cream cheese
1 medium onion
1 green bell pepper

Preheat oven 350 degrees.



Brown ground sausage in skillet on medium heat.


 Finely dice onion and green pepper.

   Add diced onion and green pepper to sausage.






Cook together until sausage is no longer pink and veggies are cooked.

Drain off any excess fat.       Remove from heat and add cream cheese. Mix cream cheese into mixture stirring well until completely incorporated in mixture.

 Take rolls out of package and aluminum pan. Cut in half length wise keeping rolls together.

 Put the bottom half back in the pan and fill with sausage mixture.

Top with roll top and cover with foil.

Cook in oven for 20-25 minutes until heated through and bottom is browned.

You can substitute turkey sausage and fat free cream cheese and save a few calories. I have done both and it is just as delicious.

I hope you and your co-workers have a merry and blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

Printable Version

Babe-O

New England Clam Chowder

I discovered a love for New England Clam Chowder during our New England cruise in the fall of 2009. It is so creamy and delicious. Frank enjoyed some in a bread bowl in Portland, Maine and I enjoyed some in every New England port after that.

I like it topped with Tabasco sauce and Oyster Crackers.

If you've read my Blueberry Pie blog, you'll think that I ate my way up the coast.

I received a coupon for Kitchen Basics stock last week at the Taste of Home Cooking School. It also included recipe cards for each of the stock flavors.

I chose to try the New England Clam Chowder recipe and it was absolutely fabulous!
I highly recommend this.

Check it out: Kitchen Basics ~ New England Clam Chowder

Enjoy!
Babe-O

Burrito Bake

This is a staple in our house, I make it at least once a week. It is everything we love - Chorizo, Re fried beans, and Tortillas. It doesn't really matter what else you add to it and I don't believe I have made it the same way twice. Just go with what you have in your pantry.

~Burrito Bake~

Ingredients:

8 oz Chorizo
16 oz can Re fried Beans

3/4 cup water

1 Tbsp ground Cumin

Medium Onion (diced)

4 oz Pepper Jack Cheese (shredded)

4 Burrito size soft tortillas

cooking spray
6 oz Taco or Enchilada Sauce
Fresh Cilantro (optional)
Jalapenos (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven 390 degrees
Crumble chorizo in skillet until cooked completely. Add can of re fried beans and water, cook together until well blended. Set aside to cool.

Spray medium casserole dish with cooking spray. Separate tortillas on counter giving enough room for each to be filled. Sprinkle cheese in the middle of each tortilla, top each with diced onions, cilantro and jalapenos.

Spoon chorizo and bean mixture on top of onions and cheese making sure not to overfill the tortilla. (it is OK to have some mixture left over)
Wrap each tortilla by tucking the sides and roll up like a burrito. Place in casserole dish with the seam side down. Place them side by side and they should be touching. Spoon any additional bean mixture on the top of the burritos. Pour taco sauce over burritos and place in oven for 15-20 minutes.

Garnish with sliced black olives, cilantro or sour cream.

Printable version

~Burrito Bake shown was made without sauce, soft taco size tortillas and baked with extra cheese~

Enjoy!
Babe-O

Babe-O's Bits: Babe-O's Taco Chili

Babe-O's Bits: Babe-O's Taco Chili: You MUST try this Chili! It is the best Chili I have EVER made..... I would suggest this for fall parties or just a simple quiet night at ...

Babe-O's Taco Chili

You MUST try this Chili! It is the best Chili I have EVER made.....

I would suggest this for fall parties or just a simple quiet night at home with the family. I made this recipe from simple ingredients found in my pantry and I think this is a perfect blend of chili and taco soup.

 ~ Babe-O's Taco Chili Recipe ~

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
8 oz roll chorizo sausage
1 medium onion (diced)
1 medium tomato (diced)
2 packets taco seasoning
1 10 oz can Rotel (diced tomatoes) w/ lime juice and cilantro
1 15.25 oz can black beans
1 10 oz bag of frozen corn
1 8 oz jar of taco sauce
2 cups water

In a large soup pot, brown ground beef and chorizo sausage on medium to high heat until no longer pink.
Add diced onion to meat mixture and cook until soft.
Add taco seasoning and water to meat mixture, bring to boil.
Reduce heat to medium and add diced tomato, Rotel, black beans and taco sauce. Stir until combined. Add frozen corn and continue to stir.  Let simmer on low for 15 - 20 minutes. It will be a thick chili consistency.

Note: This is the type of Chorizo I used for this recipe - 8 oz is 3 small rolls

Makes 4-6 servings

Suggested toppings:

Sour Cream              Chopped Black Olives

Fresh Cilantro           Cheese

Printable version
Enjoy!! Babe-O

Cookin' Up Something Magical Tonight

Tonight I'm going to share something very special to me and my family
~ Aunt Marthie's Banana Pudding~

You would think we were referring to some magical recipe or a secret that could never be told. The truth is it has nothing to do with the recipe itself, but the person. Aunt Marthie was magic. Everyone thought so.

Since we haven't ever sat down and actually wrote the recipe down, it was a little tricky.

Tonight my mom and Aunt Ugie joined me in the kitchen to recreate this special recipe.

Aunt Marthie's Banana Pudding

Pudding -

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup + 2 tbsp flour

2 eggs - separated

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 can evaporated milk

1/2 cup milk

12 oz pack of vanilla wafers

2 bananas

Topping -

Egg whites from 2 eggs above

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup sugar

dash of salt

Go ahead and pour all the vanilla wafers in a oven safe "pudding bowl" or round casserole dish. I have a very special yellow Aunt Marthie bowl that was passed down to me. Slice the bananas and add them to the wafers. You can just toss them all together.

For pudding, mix dry ingredients (sugar/flour) in mixing bowl. Add the 2 egg YOLKS, vanilla extract, evaporated milk, milk. Mix these ingredients together with a hand mixer until very well combined. (Anyone in the family will tell you THIS step is the secret to the whole process, so don't skip mixing it with the hand mixer)

Transfer this mixture to a medium sauce pan. Cook on Medium, Medium High temp with a constant stir for about 10 minutes or until the pudding thickens. I start the heat on 6 or 7 but never any higher than 8. Don't rush it, you will burn it. While keeping a constant stir you should notice a thick layer forming on the bottom of the pan. You will need to stop the cooking once it really starts to thicken, but is still able to pour over the wafers. Immediately pour the mixture over the wafers and bananas making sure to cover everything. Just let it sit there, it'll soak into the wafers and give you a few minutes to whip the egg whites.

Set the oven to the Broil setting.

Beat the egg whites with a hand mixer. Add the dash of salt. Once peaks start to form stop the mixing and add the sugar and vanilla. Continue to beat the whites until stiff peaks form.

 

 Add the topping to the bowl, making it pretty (of course).

Place the pudding on the top rack of the oven, under the broiler, to brown the egg whites. Be VERY careful and don't walk away! You want a nice brown to top off your pudding.

Enjoy!!

Printable version
Notes:
If you omit the bananas = Vanilla pudding

If you add cocoa powder to dry ingredients & omit bananas = Chocolate pudding