A Visit from Christmas Past

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I love the holidays. I love the community events, get together’s with family and friends, sitting in front of the fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa as the snow gently falls outside and baking Christmas cookies while watching holiday … Continue reading 

Pumpkin Spice Banana Nut Bread & Pre-Fall Y’all Decor

Pumpkin Spice Banana Nut Bread

Well, September is here and that means I can now officially be in Fall mode since its this month, right? Well, I hope you agree with me because I have been practicing my “Fall Y’all” around the homestead lately and … Continue reading 

How to Raise Chickens in an Urban Setting

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Country folks are not the only ones who have the privilege to raise chickens. Even if you live in the city, you can raise chickens, too. Jordan Walker, the lead content curator of the Coops And Cages blog, shares with … Continue reading 

Wait…..I’m a Homesteader?

Wait.....I'm a Homesteader!

  If you would have asked me a few years ago if I would ever consider myself a homesteader, my answer would have been, “What’s a Homesteader”! HaHa Isn’t it amazing how our perspective for our lives change! But even … Continue reading 

DID WE REALLY JUST DO THAT FOR HOMESCHOOL TODAY?

Did we really just do that for

I’m so glad that you came back to visit my blog! Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Pinterest! For many years I doubted myself on whether or not I was equipping my children, as a homeschooler, with … Continue reading 

Spicy Farmhouse Chicken Casserole Guest post for MamaGoesFrugal

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I am so blessed to be able to create and share my work with MamaGoesFrugal. “Here in the South, nothing says home cooking like a casserole. As a little girl, I can remember casseroles being one of my momma’s favorite … Continue reading 

Homemade Christmas Wreaths

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I love Christmas.  I love celebrating the Reason of the Christmas Season, The Birth of Christ. So when I do my Christmas decorating, I like to keep the simplicity of the season.  Which fits perfectly with my early farmhouse/primitive decor. One … Continue reading 

Deep Fried Chicken Bombs & Petit Jean Bacon Bowl Giveaway

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One thing you have probably noticed about me by now is that I love to cook for family and friends.

When I start to cook my southern roots shine thru and thru.  I sometimes get envious of bloggers who cook Amazing French Dishes and Pastries or Delish Vegan Recipes (since I am crunchy), but then I have to remind myself that my readers and friends, come back for my Southern Comfort Food.

I have a group of friends, we call ourselves “The Three Musketeers”, who I say in a jokingly (is that even a word lol) manner that they use me only for my food.  Just kidding!  No actually I’m not haha!  I will casually mention a dish I am cooking or new recipe that I am testing for my blog, and they automatically ask what time dinner is.  I’m actually really okay with it.  See I am an introvert and I love being at home, alone, a lot. Problem is, the more time I am at home, the more I withdraw from the outside world.

This group of friends, “The Three Musketeers”, think they are being sneaky by coming to eat, all while intending to pull me back into the real world, but I have them all figured out. (:  But in all reality, I think they are pretty amazing for wanting to check on me without making it seem too obvious.

Back to my cooking.  I  mentioned a couple weeks ago to one of “The Three Musketeers”,  that I was trying a new fried recipe which included Petit Jean Bacon.  Well, it just so happens that “Fried” and “Bacon” are her two most favorite words ever so she was automatically on that like “Flies on a Sticky Trap”!  I’m not even for sure if she heard the rest of the ingredients or not.  Of course, that meant the third musketeer must be included as well so it turned out to be a full blown dinner party.

I call my recipe “Deep Fried Chicken Bombs”, cause, oh baby they are the BOMB!

Here is what you need to serve 4:

4 large chicken breasts

4 jalapeno’s

4 slices of bacon (I use Petit Jean, I’m from Arkansas, what can I say)

1 mozzarella string cheese

Sounding good so far?

My batter consists of:

2 cups of flour

2 tsp black pepper

2 tsp salt (I use kosher)

1 tsp of cayenne pepper (optional)

2 cups of milk or buttermilk

2 eggs

Here is what you do:

1)  I slit my chicken breasts down the sides, leaving them uncut at each end.

2)  I cut the ends off of Jalapeno’s and clean out he insides.

3)  Cut your string cheese into 4 pieces

4) Stuff your cheese into the jalapeno

5) Wrap a slice of bacon around your jalapeno

(if you like your bacon a little more cooked, I recommend frying slighty before wrapping)

6) Stuff your bacon wrapped jalapeno into the slit of your chicken breast.

7) Secure with toothpick to hold shut

8) Set aside

9) Whisk your eggs and milk together in one bowl and your dry ingredients together in another bowl

10) Dip your chicken in egg mixture, then roll in flour mixture and dip back into egg mixture.

11) Drop your chicken into a fryer or skillet of oil (Trick here is to heat your oil very hot and turn half way down before frying  the chicken to ensure it cooks on the inside as well as the outside.

*I use a cast iron dutch oven skillet.  Its deep enough to completely cover chicken

*You can also use a fry daddy

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You seriously cannot go wrong with these bad boys!

And speaking of Petit Jean Bacon, September 13th is the 2014 BACON BOWL!

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The  Bacon Bowl is the ultimate bacon cooking competition! They had an amazing inaugural event in 2013, and this one promises to be even better! This year’s competition will be in Bentonville, Arkansas on Saturday September 13. Among the special events this year is the Pig Out Bacon Eating Competition!  

Can you think of a better way to spend your Saturday?  I think not!

So in honor of everyone who loves BACON, one lucky reader, chosen at random thru , will win two tickets to The 2014 Bacon Bowl!

*Contest will run September 2, 2014 through September 9th 2014.

*Winner will be notified by email.

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fresh, Fried Okra & Fresh, Fun Photos

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You might remember a TBT I posted a while back titled “Children of the Okra”.  It was an old post that I re-shared about an awful experience in the Okra Jungle, helping my dad.  I get chills just thinking about that day.  I swore, Yes I swore, I would never eat okra again, but somewhere between then and now the thoughts from that day became less frightening and Fried Okra starting sounding appealing again!

A few weeks ago my dad brought over a few bags of okra that had finally decided to produce.  Well, I certainly couldn’t pass it up so I decided to conquer my fear of okra and fry up some for dinner.  My family was extremely pleased that my fear of okra was gone, because they had been missing my Southern Fried Okra for sometime now!

I got to work right away cutting it up, bagging most for the freezer and saving a bowl for dinner.

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My okra batter is pretty basic.  But it sure is good ole southern amazing!

What you need:

1 cup corn meal

1/2 flour

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

1 cup buttermilk

(0r 1 cup milk and 1 tbsp on vinegar, let set for appx 3 mins)

2 eggs

2 cups of cut okra

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What you do:

Get your pan of oil hot and ready.  (I use a cast iron Dutch Oven Skillet)

Slightly whisk your cornmeal, flour, salt, and peppers together in bowl.

In a separate bowl mix your milk and eggs together.

Add appx 10 pieces of okra into egg/milk.

Using a metal spoon with holes, scoop up okra and let mixture drain for a second before adding to the dry mixture.

Completely cover in the dry mixture and add to hot oil.

Fry until golden brown and crispy!

Continue until all okra is fried.

You will LOVE this okra!  And to make it extra amazing, dip it in some good ole ranch!  Yummo!

Don’t get much better than this here is the South!

 

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This week it’s all been about Freshness, including Fresh Photos!

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My daughter Lindy Photo taken by Carosello Fete Photography

 

So to go along with my Fresh, Fried Okra, I wanted to share with you some Fresh, Fun Photos taken by my friend and amazing photographer Erin Wilson.

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Erin, from Carosello Blog is a handmade business owner, wife, mom and word mispronouncer.  She  blogs about her favorite things, cooking, business life, decor, DIY and personal style. She just moved from Oklahoma to Boston-ish and then back down to Arkansas. She has been a big city gal most of her life and now living in a quaint little small town. She just bought a new house and are deep into renovating madness. Erin always love a good cardigan, pink pedicures, liquid eyeliner, hot tea and exploring all things local.

This past week, Erin captured some amazing shoots of my daughter Lindy.

I think I will cry now.

She looks way to grown up in this pictures!

 

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I can’t believe this shots!

My baby isn’t a baby anymore ):

You can also find Erin on Facebook.  Head over and show her some Bloggy Love!

Hope everyone enjoys the Freshness this week!