Pecan Pie

Spiced Potatoes


. These potatoes are parboiled then drizzled with olive oil, dusted with spices and baked until crispy.

Spicy Garlic Lime Chicken

 

Merry Christmas from the Thomas Family



Catherine, Roline, Camille

 

Christmas Menu

Baked Turkey

Cornbread Dressing

Mac & Cheese

Lima Beans

Shrimp Pies

Garden Salad

Sweet Potato Pie

Pecan Pie

This is my first Christmas without my girls. They left 2 days ago to be with family in Houston. They love spending time with family, therefore, I am grateful they had an opportunity to visit with their aunts, sisters, "brothers", neice, nephew, and cousins.  As for Earnest and I, we will chow down on our own meal and then we will visit and dine at the Romes (good friends).

Last Sunday's Dinner 12/19/10

On December 23, my kids will be journeying to Houston to be with family for the Christmas Holiday. This will be my first Christmas without my children. Catherine wanted us to have our Christmas Dinner this past Sunday. So I obliged....well somewhat obliged.

I had already planned my Sunday Dinner menu. At the last minute, I headed to Wal-Mart and purchased dinner rolls, making our meal an official Christmas dinner. So here's my non-traditional 2010 Christmas 6 days early menu:

Garlic Spicy Chicken

Potato Salad

Bacon Wrapped Green Beans

Dinner Rolls

Notice in the picture below that my food is not touching. That's one of my idiosyncrasies. I hate it when my food is touching.

Bacon Wrapped Green Beans

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Sunday Dinner

May 2007 - Talent Show
5th grade

Sunday Dinner won’t be a typical Sunday dinner. Why? Because I have 2 additional teenagers in my home! Camille’s friends are spending the weekend with us. Camille, Alexis and Mekaylah have been together since their elementary school days. Back at Otter Creek Elementary, those three young ladies were inseparable. They each possess beauty and brains. In the 5th grade they entered their school’s talent show. I, along with the other girl’s parents, was a little nervous because our rhythmically challenged children decided to perform a dance routine for the show. Shockingly and in spite of some great competition, the girls were the best performers for the show. Although the talent show was not judged, the girls were spotlighted as the grand finale of the show. The best were saved for last.

Camille, Alexis, &
Mekaylah ( May 2007)

Camille’s friends are like family. They are very much at home in our home. They’ll cook, do hair, get into my make-up, and beg to wear my shoes. Along with my other at home daughter, Catherine, friends, I have a very large extended family consisting of many “children”. I love my life. Catherine’s friend, Gabby, usually spend a portion of her Sunday with us. Coincidently, that time is usually at the dinner hour.

So what does one prepare for 5 hungry teenagers? SPAGHETTI & MEATSAUCE.

Camille, Mekaylah, & Alexis
September 2010 - 9th grade

Sorry no recipe. I dumped some Ragu Tomato, Garlic & Onion Sauce in the pot. I doctored it up with a few more seasonings and sugar. Sugar just may be a New Orleans thing. I got the sugar tip from my sister.

Here’s the Sunday Menu:
Spaghetti & Meat Sauce
Green Salad
Garlic Bread

French Toast



My mom, Henrietta Green Acox
circa 1990

Next to egg & rice, French Toast was a favorite breakfast in my childhood. My mom made the best French Toast in the world. In an attempt to pass on her recipe, I took the time to measure the ingredients so that future cooks would know exactly what amounts would be needed. I think I got it close to hers as possible. Try not to use fresh bread. Fresh bread tends to quickly absorb the liquid thereby becoming too soggy. Stale or close to stale bread works best.
Don’t be afraid of the amount of sugar the recipe calls for. It doesn’t taste as sweet as you may think. I made French Toast for my mom when she lived with me during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Mom said my French Toast wasn’t sweet enough. Go figure!



French Toast Mixture



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Easy Taco Salad

I first became acquainted with the Taco Salad some 15 years ago during a weekly Bible Study group. We’d feed on the Word spiritually, and then break bread together physically. This is a very easy and quick dish to prepare. It’s great for the family and parties.

Prepare Meat
1 lb ground beef
1 pack taco seasoning
Prepare ground beef according to package instructions.
Serve meat on top of tortillia chips

Toppings I used in my salad:
Shredded Lettuce
Tomatoes
Picanté Sauce
Sour Cream
Jalapenos
Shredded Cheddar Cheese