Rum Balls

Yeah it's not a meal but My MeetUp Group is having a goodies exchange so I made um...

2 1/2 c Vanilla wafers, crushed (I always wonder how to measure something like this out.. do you fill the cups with whole cookies then crush or crush then measure??? I Crush then measure)
1c chopped nuts (I used pecans)
1 c powdered sugar (plus some extra to roll um in )
Dash of salt
1 1/2 Tbsp Cocoa
1/2 c rum (you can also use Brandy , OJ or Bourbon)
2 1/2 tbsp light Karo syrup




mix all together, refrigerate for 10 minutes so that  the dough firmer and easier to roll. roll into bite size balls which you then roll in powdered sugar, put them back in the fridge till you are ready to eat them.









So it was brought to my attention that I had cocoa in the picture but not listed in the ingredients list (Thanks, Linda  :0) )  So I have fixed it.... sorry if you tried them and hated them.

Muffin Flop...

Well it had been awhile since I made any muffins. We have been traveling so no fresh fruit around remembering  I had a bag of frozen berries,  I  went on line looking for a recipe. Well the recipe I found was called the Best Berry Muffins ever and called for using frozen berries.  I follow the directions to a tee even over filling the muffin tin cups,  which I normally just ignore but the promise of beautiful muffins was more then I could resist.  Bad bad plan.... muffin batter over flowing  into the bottom of the oven, which in turn caused  Hubie to wake-up to a the house filled with smoke. Oops...

Can you imagine not buying bread at the grocery store??

 I have not bought a loaf of bread since I started this blog.  A couple of times when Charlie has wanted a PB & J and I hadn't baked any bread because we just returned home from travel I thought about running up and grabbing a loaf but I didn't. I would just tell him we need to bake some bread and he would gladly help me.

This is the loaf I have been baking lately....

Amish White
2c warm water (110 degrees)
2/3 c white sugar
1 1/2 tbsp active dry yeast
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 c vegetable  oil
6 c bread flour
all-purpose flour for surface and removing stickiness from dough

In large bowl dissolve sugar in warm water then stir in yeast, allow to proof.

Mix oil and salt into the yeast mixture. Add flour in 1 cup at a time. Knead dough on lightly floured surface ( I have found that a wood cutting board works great) until smooth. Place in well oiled bowl turning to coat. Cover with a damp towel allow to rise until doubled (about 1 hour)

After rise punch down dough, knead (on floured surface) for a few mintues adding some flour to remove stickiness from dough. Divide in half shape into loafs and place in two well oiled  9 x 5 loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes or until dough has risen 1 inch above pan.


Bake at 350 for 25- 30 minutes.

Apple Cranberry Pork Chops

6 Pork Chops
1 1/2 tsp Salt
1 1/2 tsp rubbed sage
1 tbsp vegetable oil
3 apples sliced
3 tbsp maple syrup
3 tbsp all purpose flour
2 c  chicken broth
1 tbsp vinegar
1/3 c dried cranberries


Preheat oven to 350

Using sage and salt season pork chops evenly on both sides. In large skillet over medium flame heat vegetable oil and brown pork chops. Transfer pork chops to a shallow baking dish and save drippings from browning pan.

Peel core and slice apples layering over pork chops, drizzle with maple syrup.

Sprinkle flour over the pan drippings and cook until brown, stirring occasionally. Add chick broth and stir constantly until mixture is smooth. Bring to boil , stir in Vinegar, 1/2 tsp salt, and cranberries. Pour mixture over pork chops cover with foil and bake for 50- 60 minutes

Abandoned Blog...

Sorry..... I pulled a muscle in my back  then  traveled with my Hubie to Oklahoma City... came home for four days and then off to Tennessee then to Florida and arriving home this past Monday at 1:30 AM.