Pecan Pie Muffins

These are SO easy to make and they taste just like a tiny pecan pie.  Who could resist?

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup butter, melted

Directions:
Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl, make a well in center of mixture and add melted butter.  In a separate bowl beat eggs and add to the dry ingredients and mix well.  Place 9 muffin liners in a muffin pan and spray with non-stick spray.  Fill  each muffin cup 2/3 full and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. 

Black Bean Soup

You have to try this yummy soup.  It’s delicious and easy and will warm your soul.   Make some jalapeno cornbread to go with it and a salad.  Yum.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 clove garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 heaping tbsp flour
• 3 tsp chili powder
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 cups vegetable stock (maybe a little more)
• juice of half a lime
• 3 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (8.75 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp white pepper
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes

Directions

1. In large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat; cook onion, garlic, and carrots, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until onion is softened. Add flour,  chili powder and cumin; cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add stock, 2 cans of the beans, corn, lime juice, salt and pepper; bring to boil.
2. Meanwhile, in food processor or blender, puree together tomatoes and remaining can of beans; add to pot. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until carrots are tender.
3. Garnish with whatever you like such as sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, avocado slices, sliced green onions, broken tortilla chips or black olives.

Be sure to stop by Howdy From the Kitchen for more recipes. 

Sock It To Me Cake

This is my favorite cake of all time.  It’s moist and perfect with a cup of coffee.  It has simple ingredients which is my favorite way to cook.
Ingredients:

• 1 box Duncan Hines yellow butter cake mix
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup oil
• 8 oz sour cream
• 4 eggs (add 1 at a time)
• 1 cup pecans, chopped

Filling Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:
Mix cake ingredients together and pour 1/2 of the batter into a greased and floured tube pan or bundt pan.  Sprinkle with the filling ingredients and then pour remaining batter over the filling.  Bake at 325 for 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar or glaze as desired. 

Gus Plays Ball

Gus Plays Ball from Deb on Vimeo.
I forgot about this video taken in December.  Gus likes to throw the ball back to me.  What a goofball.

Brother-in-law Sausage Bread

My brother-in-law called me the other day and requested that I make a loaf of bread stuffed with sausage and cheese.  So, being the great sister-in-law that I am, I made him one.  This is what I did.

Bread Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 tsp yeast
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 1/2 to 4 cups flour

Filling Ingredients:

• 1 lb. pkg Jimmy Dean regular sausage
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 diced green onions
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2  tsp salt

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine water, yeast, sugar, and salt. Let sit five minutes or until yeast has activated.  Stir in the first two cups of flour with a heavy spoon. Add the remaining flour a little at a time until dough becomes too stiff to easily stir. Use your own judgment on how much flour to use as you may not need the entire 4 cups. Turn out onto a floured surface and begin to knead, adding a little flour at a time until the dough is no longer sticky.   Continue kneading until dough is smooth and elastic. Let dough rise in a greased, covered bowl until doubled in size. (It usually takes a little over an hour for me.)   Be sure to place the dough in a warm place in the kitchen.

While dough is rising prepare filling.  Brown sausage and drain grease and combine with all the filling ingredients. 

Once your dough has risen to twice it’s original size, punch the dough down and turn out on a floured surface.  Roll out to an approximate 13x9  oval and spread filling out leaving an inch all the way around edges.  Roll it like a jelly roll into a French bread shape and seal edge and ends by pinching together.  Place on a greased baking sheet, seam side down, cover with tea towel and let rise for 30 minutes.  Before placing in oven brush with the egg wash.  Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

It’s Fun to Be Me

Could she be any sweeter?

Aubrey Ann

Welcome Aubrey Ann, our little early bird. 

Whoever says babies can’t see when they are born is wrong.  She turned her head and  looked right at me when as I was talking to her.