Mississippi trip

Mama and I made a quick trip to Mississippi to see her sister and family.  It was a bit of a whirlwind, but we are so thankful for the time we got to spend with everyone down there on the coast.

We met for dinner at a restaurant the evening we arrived.  Our nice waitress took this group photo for us.

Steve, Aunt Aleta, Uncle Charlie, Mama, Laura, and Shari

The next day we spent some time at Charlie and Aleta's house looking through some old linens Aleta found in a drawer.  Each of these have stories to tell.  Makes me realize that I want to go through items like this with Mama and get the stories recorded.

sisters - Mama and Aleta

This beautiful quilt has the names of family members sewn into the blocks.  And along the base of the quilt are names of people who used to work for Aleta in her nursing home all those years ago.  A treasure.  It is absolutely amazing that all of these linens survived Hurricane Katrina when Aleta and Charlie lost their home and everything they owned.  Somehow, though, these linens made it through.  A miracle.

Mama and Aleta

I spent some time walking around the yard of their home.  Lots of great memories here from my childhood right on up to present day.

Grandma's trailer stood there in the yard behind their house for many years. 

Charlie's workshop

Jeff's boat ended up high in those trees after Hurricane Katrina

the back of their (completely rebuilt after Katrina) house

cousins - Laura, Shari, and Steve

Interesting little tidbit... Mama and I ended up in the exact same hotel room that the kids and I were in back in 2014.  So funny!  It has this beautiful view out the window.  This was the first time I have ever visited the coast when I did NOT go down to the beach.  Wasn't that kind of trip, but it did still feel a bit weird.

view from Room 417 

The next day Uncle Charlie brought KFC to the care center where Aleta lives now and we spent several hours in the facility's private dining room enjoying looking at old family photos.

Mama, Aleta, and Charlie

The care center is a very nice facility and has many areas that are perfect for visiting.  We took advantage of several of them.  

Sisters - Mama and Aleta

That evening, we went out to dinner with Jonny and Shari at a neat place called 'The Front Porch'.  And yes, we sat on the front porch.  :)

Mama, Jonny, Laura, and Shari

My beautiful Mama... missing my Daddy

Home

Updated to add the memories video that I made...
https://vimeo.com/189553153


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Pampered Chef party

This turned out to be a really fun afternoon!  I had arranged to host a Pampered Chef show and was sure sorry when my wonderful consultant was unable to do the show because of an injury.  (Sure hoping that she heals completely and soon!)  Since I already had the party scheduled and I knew that folks wanted to see the products in person, I decided to go ahead and host the party.  I warned my guests that we would be 'winging it' and they all agreed to just come and have fun.  We truly did!  And we managed to make the recipes without too much trouble.  And boy, were they tasty!  (I'll post all the recipes separately for future reference.)

Making the punch

that punch was a group effort!  :D

Janet likes limes??   :D

This was SO good!  

Shonda, Chris, Laura, Janet, and Kathy

Loaded Nachos

Rush Hour Fajitas

Coconut Tres Leches cake

What a fun group of ladies!  

back row - Laura, Kathy, Julie, Janet, Susan, and Shonda
front row - Mama, Chris, and Susie

Coconut Tres Leches Cake (PC)

We made this cake in the microwave at the Pampered Chef party that I hosted!  :D  We used my RockCrok dutch oven that I already had.  I was glad to get a reminder to use this pan in this way.

Coconut Tres Leches Cake
2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
1 pkg white cake mix
1 cup water
¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
3 eggs
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
1 can lite coconut milk (13.5 oz)
fresh berries and whipped cream (optional for garnish)

Place the coconut in the Rockcrok dutch oven and microwave, uncovered, on High for 3-5 minutes until golden brown, stirring every minute.  Remove the coconut from the dutch oven and let it cool completely.

In bowl combine the cake mix, water, yogurt, and eggs and which until smooth.  Stir in 1 ½ cups of the toasted coconut.  Pour the batter into the dutch oven.  Microwave, covered, on High for 12-14 minutes or until the cake pulls away from the sides.

Meanwhile, combine the two milks in a small bowl and stir until well blended.  Pierce the cake thoroughly with a Hold n Slice.  Carefully pour the milk mixture over the top of the warm cake.  Let the cake stand, uncovered, for 5 minutes.

Just before serving, top with remaining toasted coconut.  Garnish each piece with berries and whipped cream if desired.

Rush Hour Fajitas (PC)

This was the main dish recipe we made for the Pampered Chef show at my house.  It was super good and I will definitely make it again.  I also purchased that Salad Chopper that you see in action cutting up the chicken in the photo above.  I had sort of ignored the Salad Chopper in the past because of the name.  But it is useful for much more than just salad.  I plan to use it to chop chicken, pork roast, beef, etc.  Very handy tool!


Rush Hour Chicken Fajitas (by Pampered Chef)
2 medium peppers - we use one red and one green
2 medium onions
2 garlic cloves
1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 Tbsp. Chipotle Rub (this is a PC seasoning and is SO good!)
12 flour tortillas (6 to 7 inch size)
1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup sour cream
½ cup prepared salsa

Slice the peppers and onions.  Mince the garlic.  Place all vegetables in the PC Deep Covered Stoneware Baker.  Combine the chicken and the Chipotle Rub in a bowl and turn to coat.  Place the chicken over the vegetables.

Place lid on the Stoneware Baker and microwave on High 12-15 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees.  Scoop the salad chopper user the chicken, avoiding the vegetables if possible, and cut the chicken into small pieces.  Stir the chicken into the vegetables.
Place the tortillas in the microwave in the large micro cooker, covered, and heat on High about 30 seconds or until warm.  To serve the fajitas, spoon the chicken and vegetable mixture onto the centers of the tortillas.  Serve immediately with cheese, sour cream, and salsa.

Loaded Nachos (PC)

Another great dish from my Pampered Chef show.  These can be done on the grill or in your oven.  This time we did them in the oven, but I plan to try them on the grill sometime, too.

Loaded Nachos
2 cups fresh corn kernels (I thawed frozen corn kernels)
1 large red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
½ red onion, chopped
1 Tbsp. canola oil
1 package tortilla chips (we used multicolor)
4 cups shredded Colby/Monterey Jack cheese
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 Tbsp snipped fresh cilantro
Sour cream, diced avocado, chopped fresh tomatoes (optional)

Preheat grill for direct cooking over medium high heat.  Combine the vegetables and oil in a large bowl and toss to coat.  Spread the vegetable mixture on a grill pan (or a Rockcrok Grill Stone from PC) and grill, covered, for 14-16 minutes without stirring.
If you are doing this in the oven, preheat oven to 425 degrees and roast veggies on the lowest rack for 14-16 minutes or until charred.

When the veggies are done, layer half of the chips, cheese, black beans, and vegetable mixture on either the grill stone OR the baker.  Repeat layering.  Grill the nachos, covered, 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted.  OR bake the nachos for 5-7 minutes at 425 degrees.

Sprinkle with cilantro, top with additional toppings if desired, and serve.

Mock Berry Mojitos

We served these at my Pampered Chef party.  They were so pretty and so yummy!  Definitely a keeper recipe.  The only change we all agree that we would make next time is to double the amount of lime juice and HALVE the amount of sugar.  I am recording the recipe below exactly as we made them, so you will want to do the doubling and halving yourself if you trust our judgement.  :D

Mock Berry Mojitos
3 cups water, divided
1 ½ cups sugar
2 cups fresh mint leaves, coarsely chopped (we omitted)
2 cups raspberry or strawberry sherbet (we used raspberry)
1 cup lime juice (about 7-8 limes)
8 cups club soda, chilled
lime slices for garnish

Combine 2 cups of the water and the sugar in a large micro cooker and microwave, covered, on High for 4-6 minutes or until the sugar is dissolved.  Stir in the mint leaves.  Let stand 5 minutes.
Combine the sherbet, remaining water, and lime juice in the Family Sized quick stir pitcher.  Carefully pour the sugar mixture into the pitcher, straining the mixture through the small holes of the micro cooker lid.  Discard the mint leaves.  Cover and plunge until well mixed.  Add club soda to the pitcher and stir gently with the plunger.  Pour Mock Berry Mojitos into ice filled glasses.  Garnish with lime slices and serve.

Susie showing off her Mock Berry Mojito

We also made Strawberry Lime Infused Water for the party.  (see below in clear glass pitcher)

2 limes, sliced

12 strawberries, sliced

Mint, optional

Water

Cut the limes and strawberries into slices.  Fill the bottom of the pitcher with the fruit.  Top with water.  Chill for at least 20 minutes before serving.  

Strawberry Lime Infused Water in clear glass pitcher on counter

Celebration

We had a big reason to celebrate in early October.  Rojina passed her driver's test and is now a fully licensed driver!  :D  Mama took her to her driving test and we all went out to eat at the lake restaurant that evening.  Congratulations, Rojina!   :)

Mama and Rojina

Mama and Rojina

Marvin, Jackson, Mama, Daddy, Julie,
Matthew, Rojina, Jonathan, and Laura   

 (Brianna and Anna were unable to join us)