Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Blackeyed Pea Salad

Remember to eat your blackeyed peas on New Year's Day for good luck in 2014! This is the perfect dish for those who do not like blackeyed peas. The mixture of veggies and Zesty Italian dressing give the peas a wonderful flavor. Some people let it set over night and then drain the dressing off the mixture and use it as a topping for tortilla chips. I prefer the salad.

Blackeyed Pea Salad
 
2 cans blackeyed peas
1 bottle Zesty Italian dressing (16 ounce)
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
Jalapeno peppers to taste (1/4 to 1/2 cup)
Mix all ingredients and chill. It is better if you let it set overnight.
You can also use chopped tomatoes or what ever veggies you like.
 I put 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms in this one.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Wiederkehr Wine from Pam & David



Our friends David and Pam came to Western Oklahoma to visit and brought us this bottle of Wiederkehr Wine from Altus, Arkansas. They were shocked to learn that Oklahoma has an entire program supporting agri-tourism of the wine industry.
 
Although the Sooner State is a latecomer to the wine industry, already, there are more than 50 wineries throughout Oklahoma which are continuing to mature and expand as business associations form to champion the cause of wine and Oklahoma wine tourism.

 

According to the Wiederkehr history...
"In 1880, Johann Andreas Wiederkehr and his family emigrated from Switzerland to Altus, Arkansas (Altus comes from the Latin word for "high"). He chose St. Mary's Mountain, near Altus, as the location of his home in the New World because the area's mountains, valleys, and ridges had many different microclimates, some resembling the grape-growing climates in Europe's finest wine regions. Here in the beautiful Ozark Mountains high above the Arkansas River valley, the very shape of the countryside, the soil, and the climate closely matched that which for centuries had nurtured some of Europe's great wines.

In his new homeland, one of Johann's first tasks was to carve a large wine cellar from a hillside. The cellar still exists, and is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Johann's wine cellar was converted into the Weinkeller Restaurant, serving authentic Swiss and European culinary delights to thousands of visitors at the Wiederkehr Village and Winery each year.

Johann's first wines were produced from the grapes, blackberries, and persimmons that were native to the area. By planting the noblest grape varieties and producing fine wines, he helped to pioneer the American wine industry—Wiederkehr Wine Cellars is U.S. Bonded Winery Number 8. From these humble beginnings, the winery has remained a family operation with third and fourth generation members dedicated to producing only the finest wines available."

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Ice - Western Oklahoma December 2013

These photos taken from my front porch...brrrrrr
Western Oklahoma ice can be bad!
 







Saturday, December 28, 2013

Thankful for my husband

Many mornings when I am blogging my husband will fix breakfast for me.
It might be waffles or pancakes or oatmeal with bacon, ham, eggs, or cinnamon toast.
He makes my oatmeal with sugar free maple syrup and butter. YUM.
I am thankful for my husband.
 



Friday, December 27, 2013

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Kennda's Potato Soup

Kennda's Potato Soup
Peel and cut potatoes in small square pieces
Boil potatoes in chicken broth with
Chopped onion
Garlic Power
Onion Powder
Seasoning Salt
Salt and Pepper
In skillet mix melted butter, more seasonings 
 and flour to make white gravy like sauce
Add cup of milk and pour mixture into potatoes
Cook on medium to low heat until done
Stir often to keep from sticking to pan
 




 Make some garlic bread in the skillet to serve with soup.


Monday, December 23, 2013

Oreo Truffles

 
 
OREO TRUFFLES
 
1 package of whole Oreo cookies blend into fine crumbs.
 
You can use regular Oreos or mint Oreos or your favorite.

 8 ounce package cream cheese, blend until sticky


Chill for half hour then roll into small bite size balls. 
 
Chill for another half hour.
 
You can freeze them as it makes them easier to work with.

Melt chocolate chips or almond bark.
 
 Dip balls in chocolate and put on wax paper until firm.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Bacon Covered Meatloaf with Crisscross Potatoes

Kennda's Bacon Covered Meatload with Crisscross Potatoes
(my daughter made this dish and sent me the photos)
 
Basic Meatloaf Recipe
Ground Beef
Crushed Saltine Crackers
Bread Crumbs
Egg
Milk
Worcestershire Sauce 
Chopped Bell Pepper
Chopped Onion
Catsup
Garlic Salt
Accent
Onion Powder
Seasoning Salt
any other ingredients you put in your meatloaf
Mix meatloaf and place in 9 x 13 pan in loaf type shape
Crisscross Potatoes
Cut potatoes in half long ways
Make shallow crisscross cuts on middle of potatoes
Spread butter on top on cuts place around the meat loaf
Cover meatloaf with bacon slices and bake at 350 for hour
Mix topping
Catsup and Honey for topping
Spread on meatloaf and cook for an additional half hour or more





Bless her heart she said it is not as good as yours mom...but I know that she is an awesome cook and it was probably better than mine. It looks really good!

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Easy Yummy Roll Ups

Easy Yummy Roll Ups
 
Cream Cheese Softened
Chopped Black Olives
Fire Roasted Diced Green Chilies
Mix together
Spread on Flour Tortillas
Roll Up
Chill
Slice and Serve
 
 
Variations
Add Chopped Beef to the above mixture
 
or
 
Stir together
Cream Cheese Softened
Dry Ranch Dressing Mix
Black Pepper
Chopped Red Bell Peppers
Chopped Green Bell Pepper
Chopped Green Onions
Spread on Flour Tortillas
Roll Up
Chill
Slice and Serve

Friday, December 20, 2013

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Colonial Williamsburg, VA

 
One of our daughter's fellow OU scholars shared these photos from
Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia taken on their trip to the DCDT Conference.