Italian Chicken and Potato Bake

This is one of those recipes that I will have to revisit and tweak a little.  We all liked it... sorta.  The Italian dressing flavor was a little too overpowering and I need to figure out a way to cut it down without losing the heart of the recipe.  I am thinking that next time I will use Olive Garden Italian dressing.  That may be the only change needed.  Will definitely be trying this one again, though.  SUPER easy!

Italian Chicken and Potato Bake

4 chicken breasts
4 to 6 potatoes cut into thin wedges
1/4 cup Zesty Italian salad dressing
1/4 cup parmesan cheese  (we used shredded but the recipe called for canned grated parmesan)
1 tsp. Italian seasoning

Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Place chicken and potatoes in a 13x9 inch baking dish (I used my PC stoneware bar pan).  Top all with dressing.  Sprinkle with cheese and seasoning.  Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour*  or until chicken is done.  *Remove foil after about 30 minutes*

The chicken IS under there... but you have to look carefully!  :)

Cheddar Garlic Biscuits

I served these with the Easy Haddock Bake (which didn't go over so well) but THESE were a HIT!  I used to make these all the time, but just got out of the habit.  They are tasty...

Cheddar Garlic Biscuits (Red Lobster style biscuits)
3 cups Bisquick
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic
1 cup milk
about 1/2 stick of butter  (no, they aren't good for you)

Mix the Bisquick, cheese and garlic in a bowl.  Stir in the milk until a soft dough forms then mix for about 30 seconds longer.  You don't want to mix too much or the biscuits will get hard.  Drop rounded portions onto a cookie sheet (or PC stoneware bar pan).  I use the PC muffin scoop to drop them.  Bake at 450 degrees (425 if using the stoneware) for about 8 - 10 minutes.  Meanwhile, melt the butter and then add more garlic powder.  We like a lot - at least a couple of teaspoons.  After 10 minutes brush the melted butter/garlic mixture over the biscuits then put back in the oven for just a couple more minutes - until they are golden and cooked through.  Serve warm!!

Easy Haddock Bake

Well... *I* liked this but I think I was alone on that one.  Probably won't be making this again, but wanted to share it in case you have less finicky eaters.  :)

Easy Haddock Bake
Ingredients

• 2 pounds haddock fillets
• 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of shrimp soup, undiluted
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons sherry or reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
• 4-1/2 teaspoons butter
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions

• Place the fillets in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. In a small bowl, combine the soup, lemon juice and sherry or broth. Pour over fillets. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20 minutes.
• In a small nonstick skillet, saute onion in butter for 2 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in bread crumbs and Worcestershire sauce. Sprinkle over fillets. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Yield: 6 servings.

The night before the reunion...

Still going back in time here...

The night before the family reunion we had people arriving from out of town - BOTH directions!  Kerry and family from OK and Jennifer and Tina from NC and TN.  We just had a few hours to enjoy together but it was nice.  Here are a few photos....

Practicing "Let's Make a Memory"

You can hear them perform it here

I love this photo... Anna checking to see if the canned beans are done and sealed.

Mama, Anna and Julie

Marvin

Daddy

Jonathan

I just love this boy!

Back at our house - playing Twister

Jackson, Jonathan and Jennifer

Catching up

I'm downloading photos this evening and discovering all the things I haven't blogged about.  I'm going to do a 'final round up' in this post to try to tie up the loose ends of July.  :)

Jackson and Jonathan both got their new airsoft guns.  Yippee.  Well, THEY are pretty happy about it!  They have been saving up for awhile for these things.  Sadly, I don't have any photos of Jonathan opening his box.  I think it came while I was gone and by the time I got home all I saw were shreds of a cardboard box lying around.  :)  I was THERE when Jackson's box came.

I think he likes it...

Then there was the day I walked in from the store and saw my wonderful hubby and my dear youngest doing this...

Playing Wii Tennis

They were really getting into it, too!

I just thought it was mighty cute.   :)

I waited awhile before I mentioned the big box in the back of the car.  The one I had brought home from Westlakes... with a little patio set inside.... that needed to be completely put together.  He really is a dear and wonderful man.  

Jonathan didn't mind.  He and Jackson just went and took a dip in the pool.  Good idea on a super hot day!

Of course, Marley wanted to jump in, too!

And here is my nice little patio set - on the north porch under the shade.  I love it!  Thank you Marvin!

Majesty

Remember that night I took a photo of a majestic sky as I was driving home?  I was trying to get out of the city limits so I could get a full view of the rainbow in the midst of it.  I didn't make it in time.  But, I did call Jackson at home and asked him to go outside and take a photo.  Wonderful boy, he did!  I am just now downloading his photos onto my computer and what a lovely surprise awaited me!  I had forgotten all about it, actually.  But WOW!  Isn't it beautiful?  Definitely worth posting about again.  :)

See the rainbow?  We never got a drop of rain that night...

I love the random boot left laying on the sidewalk.  :)

I could look at this all day....

Sunset over the horse barn.  Wow!

Restocking the pond

We have gotten a lot of fish out of our pond over the years.  But recently we began to realize that the fish supply was getting low.  We also needed some fish to help with the undergrowth.  Time to restock the pond!

Daddy called Harrison Fishery and they brought a truck load of bass, catfish, bluegill and two carp.  Why only two carp?  They are the cleaners in the pond - but you don't want very many.

Jackson got a lot of great photos that morning back in June.  I can't believe that I am just now getting them posted!

Catfish

draining water from the carrying tank in the truck

what a beautiful day on the hill!

Bluegill

going in the pond

Here's the funny thing.  The reason I remembered to make this post is because Marley and Mac caught a fish this evening!  I was looking out the window and saw Mac run by with a small animal in his mouth.  Since we have baby kitties I was immediately concerned.  When we went out to investigate we were amazed to discover it was a catfish!  Pretty good sized one, too!  I don't think I have ever had a dog that actually caught a fish in a pond.  We are quite certain that Marley caught the fish, but he must have given it to Mac.  Awwww....   :)

Let's Make a Memory

We got back from the annual Magruder family reunion last night.  What a wonderful weekend!  It seems we pack a lot into these reunion weekends, making lots of memories to cherish.  I have been looking through all the photos and videos we made and smiling all over again.

We so missed Uncle Mitch and Aunt Janice this year.  We are sorry they couldn't be with us and are praying for a good result from Mitch's upcoming surgery.

Friday night we met at Shannon and Stephanie's house for supper and visiting.  They have a lovely home and welcomed us all with open arms.  The kids found a good spot in the sunroom and played UNO while the rest of us ate, laughed and told stories.

As we were leaving a severe thunderstorm began blowing up.  I seriously couldn't believe it was happening again!  Remember the exact same thing happened last year?  Anyway, we again found ourselves in a blinding rain with high winds - but luckily no hail this time around.  Four carloads of us convoyed back to the hotel verrrryyyy slowly.  Visibility ranged from a few hundred yards to just barely past the bumper of the car.  :(  We were sure glad to get back safe and sound.  Once safely at the hotel, the kids decided to go swimming in the pool while Jennifer and I sat poolside chatting.  :)

Saturday morning we had breakfast at the hotel then went to Aunt Carolyn's house for more visiting and lunch.  After lunch several of us went our separate ways - some to a movie, some to Czech town, some to take a nap!  :)  A few of us went strolling along the downtown square in Marion.  We enjoyed visiting a purse store, a cute little eclectic gift shop, a used book store (score!!) and a SUPER neat toy store.  Then it was back to the hotel to clean up for dinner at the Longbranch restaurant.

After dinner Hannah, Susanna and Jackson got together in our hotel room to practice their songs for tomorrow.  Jackson broke a guitar string during practice and, of course, didn't have a spare of that string.  :(  By then it was 10:00 pm on a Saturday night and we couldn't find any store open to get a replacement.  He ended up just using a different string in that place and it worked well enough.  But, I think we all learned to double check the extra strings in his case BEFORE we leave town!  :)

Sunday morning we again met at Aunt Carolyn's for breakfast (yummy kolaches from Czech Village!) and family church.  I think family church is one of my favorite reunion activities - whether we have it 'officially' at Oak Ridge church in Lentner or in Aunt Carolyn's living room.  It is very meaningful to worship with my extended family - sharing favorite verses and scripture & singing hymns together.  What a lovely continuation of the legacy of faith that has been passed down through the generations.  We truly are blessed.

Aunt Carolyn shared some of her favorite verses, including this one...

“Hallelujah! Yes, praise the Lord! Sing him a new song. Sing his praises, all his people.” (Psalms 149:1)

She finished her reading by joyfully exclaiming, "that means we're supposed to sing!"  Amen, Aunt Carolyn.  I couldn't agree more.  (See Aunt Carolyn read that scripture at this link.)  In family church we sing hymns together with our myriad voices.  But, I can also hear the singing of our hearts when stories are shared and laughter fills the room.  Our family reminds me of a beautiful song with all the varied notes and keys, blending into a beautiful harmony, much richer and deeper because we are together.

It was a lovely weekend - it went by way too quickly, but we got so much out of it.  Already looking forward to next year!

Here is a link to the the song that Candace, Hannah, Susanna and Jackson performed called "Let's Make a Memory".  Daddy had first heard this song several months ago and shared it with us.  We all loved it and thought it was perfect for the family reunion.  Hannah and Jackson also performed their original song from last year called "Tradition of Love".   And here are a couple of hymns with Aunt Carolyn playing piano - Wonderful Words of Life and In the Garden.

I didn't include any photos in this post, but you can see several photos from the reunion at this link.

Grandpa

I have to say that one of the greatest blessings in my life has been to be the daughter of my Daddy.  Not only has that affected my own life, but it has had a tremendous impact on the lives of my children.  Just today I was scanning through a few old photos and these three popped out.  They don't have anything to do with anything right now... but they made me smile, feel thankful, and want to share them.  They capture sweet moments of my Daddy being Grandpa to 5 of his grandchildren.

Daddy with James

Daddy with Rachel, Hannah and Anna

Daddy with Jackson

A little backstory.... that first picture was taken around mid-summer of 1990 when Daddy was still battling/recovering from Stage 4 colon cancer.  We honestly didn't know if he would survive.  (the odds were stacked against him, but he had prayer warriors all over this country lifting him up)  We were at a family reunion in Lentner and I remember looking across the way, seeing him with James and capturing the moment on film.  It was powerful then and is powerful now.

The second photo was taken at another family reunion in Stockton Lake, MO.  This was summer of 1994.

The third photo was taken in Feb. of 1999 when the big horse barn was being constructed.  Daddy was president at Truman but still made time to come to the farm and oversee the progress with Jackson.  In this photo they are standing at the west end of the arena - checking out the view.  They decided to 'share' the horse barn.  Even then Jackson drove a hard bargain!  :)

O'Henry Bars

Years ago an online friend, Emily S., shared this recipe on an egroup I frequented.  I had tucked it away on my computer and lost track of it.  Recently, I came upon the recipe and decided to make them for the summer potluck.  They were a hit!  (and don't ask me how many times we have made them since...)   :)

Here is the recipe just as she sent it through the group years ago.  Yum!!

from Emily S. in Florida

RECIPE: O'Henry Bars

Bring to a boil 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of Dark Karo Syrup just to dissolve sugar. Remove right away from heat.  Add in 1 1/3 cups of creamy peanut butter.  Stir until combined. In a large mixing bowl put 6 cups of Special K Cereal.  Add in the Sugar/Peanut Butter Mixture ...  stir to cover all the Special K.  Put in a 9 x 13 pan and press it in to fill the whole pan evenly.

In another saucepan combine 1 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips and 1 cup of Butterscotch chips. Put it on very low heat and melt.  This is a slow process but take your time and they will melt smoothly.  When totally melted and smooth pour onto the mixture in the 9 x 13 pan.  Put in fridge for an hour or so to harden up and then enjoy!!

Festivities

We spent the weekend celebrating Independence Day by attending get-togethers with family and friends.  What a lovely way to spend the weekend.  Saturday night we took a few carloads over to Milan to cousin Chris and Wanda's house for their annual potluck and fireworks show.  What an evening!  Chris and Wanda are so welcoming and we always enjoy our time there.  We ate yummy food, listened to a couple bands perform and then watched Chris's amazing fireworks show over the pond.  It truly rivals a city fireworks event!!  Then, to top it off, we had homemade ice cream!  :)  This year both boys took friends along with them which only added to the fun.

Daddy and Uncle Charles

Aunt Ilene, Mom

Uncle Charles

Chris

Charles III playing with the first band

Hannah, Daddy and Sean

enjoying the fireworks

Zack and Jonathan (with Jackson, Aaron and Adrian in the background)

Adrian couldn't wait to get home to eat the leftover pie!

riding home, watching a movie and eating pie.  It had been a good night.  :D

Sunday evening we went to dinner at the Matheney's.  They grilled hamburgers, invited us and some neighbors over for a potluck meal and then served us three kinds of homemade ice cream!  (can you see a beautiful trend developing here?)  They made vanilla, chocolate and peppermint.  I wish you could taste that peppermint ice cream.... oh my.  Unbelievable!

Monday the Matheney's brought all their left-overs to our house for yet another gathering.  What a great way to host people, I have to say.  Have THEM bring all the food!  :)  ha!  And did I mention that they brought the leftover homemade ice cream as well??   :)  We then watched the city fireworks from our front porch, followed by watching the boys light off our own fireworks.

Megan on top of the left tower!

Melina with a sparkler

It was a beautiful evening... crescent moon and brilliant stars with fireworks all along the horizon

I thought the barn looked pretty in this light

boys setting off a fountain

The 'snakes' are almost as much fun as the big fireworks!  Almost....   :)

What a terrific weekend with wonderful family and friends.