I recognize Him!

People see God every day.........they just don't recognize Him.

-Pearl Bailey-

The quote above has always been one I keep in my heart..........because I recognize God every day, somewhere along the path of my life. I see Him in the colors and in the bounty that He gives us.............

Even when the flowers' petals are fading away...........God still whispers.......

"I am here".

I recognize him in all of the creatures, and in all good things,
because all good comes from Him.
How about you? Do you recognize him when you look up into the clouds, or the starry night sky?
Or do you see him in the innocent face of a sweet little one?
I would love to hear!

My most wonderful baking companion

comes in this small green container...............

Through all of the years I have cooked and baked, I have found buttermilk to work miracles, where just plain milk would most commonly do. I use it to make the best, Texas size biscuits, for dipping chicken into before the flour mixture and for baking wonderful desserts such as............
this creamy Buttermilk Pie. I have turned into a "late evening foodie" where I start baking and making late evening meals with fresh breads and desserts. Tonight I made chicken fried steak (even though in my previous post, I swore I was not making this after a day of work with it) {: Fresh blacked eyed peas from the garden, macaroni and cheese, Mexican cornbread, and for dessert, this pie. The recipe to this pie can be found on my old cooking blog.......My Country Kitchen. Just click onto this link http://countrykitchenkat.blogspot.com and then click on to the February 18, 2010 post found on the archives list on the right hand side of the blog.

For the recipe of this Mexican cornbread, again, go to my cooking blog by clicking onto this link

http://countrykitchenkat.blogspot.com

and then the April 20, 2008 post located in the archives on the right hand side of the blog.

The buttermilk makes both of these recipes a wonderful addition to any meal.

How about you? Do you bake or cook with buttermilk? Is there any different recipe you have for this wonderful concoction? I would love to hear!

I awaken to the sound

of the rooster crowing; telling me it's Sunday morning..................meaning that in just a few short hours, it will be Monday.............. and the beginning of a week full of hurry and hectic food orders, where somewhere in the crowd of hungry folks, there will be one grumpy, hungry, soul complaining that his steak was not out fast enough.................dreading........dreading.........

I push those thoughts away and ...........slowly..........on purpose.........I wander the grounds of Pleasant Prairie and dream about the farm I am hoping it will become. The cheerful morning glory are inviting me to linger in the cool of the morning
clinging their way in and out of the old antique fence.
I glance over, out across the yard to the splash of color that is calling to me...................
the zinnia garden.
I smile as I think of it now..................crisp, green, and full of zinnia showing off their colors in every hue.



There are bight cheery colors and soft pale colors.



I know that tomorrow morning I will be chopping, dicing, grilling and hurrying...................but in my heart and in my mind are these images of.................
peacefulness..................
How about you? During your busy day, what image pops into your mind to take you away from all stress and hurriedness life? Your children's or grandchildrens smile? Your soft and cuddly pet waiting to greet you when you return? I would love to hear!

Rainy Days and Comfort Food

seem to go hand in hand.................at least for me. After a hectic day of cooking at the diner, I want some kind of food that says " your home.........relax.........enjoy" and I can promise you that those foods are not hamburgers, chicken fried steaks or french fries. After a long dry spell with temperatures in the 100's +, it rained today............

I made cheese and beef enchiladas, while it thundered outside and the smell of fresh rain swept through the open windows. Soon the kitchen smelt like chili, cheese, beans, and .......................

comfort...........sigh
Sophie and I went outside after the storm had passed to enjoy the coolness and the freshness. This good size mud puddle gives me comfort to know that I do not have to water the gardens for a couple of days..............leaving me more time to stitch!


Even the gnarled old mesquite tree brightens up when the rain soaks the mosses growing on it's bark.

No matter how hot or how dry it is in West Texas, the cotton fields turn green. At this time, the plants are in bloom. It looks like there might be a good harvest this year................however, I am not a cotton farmer..............so I could be wrong.

So......................how about you? Does weather make you want to cook something special?

Is it rainy weather or snowy cold weather that gets you into the kitchen?

What do you like to come home and make after a long day's work?

I would love to hear!

Blue Skies And Cheery Thoughts

are now encircling me;......................... the encouraging comments and emails from YOU, my blogging friends.......... have given my spirit a boost

making the frustration of the past few days...................melt away.

To all you dear friends, a big THANK YOU!!! Your words and advice helped in so many ways, and yes, I am going to give my hand a try at a lot of what you advised me to do. And in reading your wonderful words.............I realized, it's not just your good advice.............it's the heart warming feeling I get knowing that , although we are miles and worlds apart............you are there, sending your sweet thoughts and comfort. I am heart touched and feel so blessed because of you!
Today, being my day off, I spent the early morning hours, listening to the rooster's crow, the birds chirping and visiting around the garden grounds. I seem to linger in my pumpkin and gourd patch the most. The vibrant, large round balls, are telling me fall is not too far away. Fall is my favorite time of year.

This year I have planted different and unusual looking gourds and am getting quite excited to see the results. These gourds are as big as the pumpkins and the photo on the seed package promises them to turn to orange and rust colors, along with the green. I can't wait!

My zinnia garden is still a large mass of green leaves with buds, so there is not much to yet see in the large garden. In a few weeks, you will see the whole picture when it all starts to open up and bloom. There are, however, a good handful that have already started airing out there floral dresses in the prettiest colors of summer.

Again, this vibrant orange color, makes me think of the pumpkins growing in the next garden. It was not too long ago, that I did not really care for the color of orange..............until I discovered pumpkin growing and the world of zinnias.

So I close this post with warm wishes to all of you, my blogging friends and readers.

Have a happy weekend !

Catching the Elusive

Frustrating times at work these past few days, and I find myself feeling like a butterfly, in a jar, flapping my wings to get out....................have you ever been there, felt that way???

It seems that the harder I push myself to keep doing what I need to do..............the more problems pop up. Thankful to be able to leave it all behind me............until bright and early the next morning..................

I come home to this....................my son was able to capture it to show me. This beautiful creature has flitted back and forth in front of me for the past several years. I have tried everything to get close enough to take it's photo..................but it is as quick as lightening and I have never been able to. It is so sleek and black that it looks as if it has been dipped in fresh paint.
It's blue sapphire tail shimmers as it dashes along. You can't see very well on the photo, but it has white and gold spots that run along the sides of it's face. My son was able to scoop it up and after I took these photos, he released it into the flower bed. How funny it has struck me, especially this week.........................seems I have been chasing the elusive in trying to figure out exactly what it is I am supposed to be doing in life. Have you ever reached that point?? Is it just old age with regret creeping up on me that I chose to stay home all of these years and now................what do I do?? I really thought I would find some grand outlet in my embroidery and that, that would define who I am......................or at least that was my dream..................although I like being a short order cook ............................I know it is something I don't want to spend the rest of my life doing...............especially with the events of these past few days that have unfolded.......... But do I just throw up my hands and quit...............no................not at this time.......................... I just wonder if I ever will find "my niche"..................
How about you??? Have you spent your life staying home, taking care of your family, and now it's time to find something else to do? Or have you been at the same job for eternity and now it's time for change.................and you wonder..........."what could it be" ?
I would love to hear!

Cooking from the garden

The squash seeds from Hometown seed company sprouted well and I am now getting a wonderful supply of zucchini and winter squash. I usually fry, bake, and grill it, along with making sweet breads from it.

This time, I tried something different. I cut the squash in half, length wise, scooped out the inside, removing the seeds. I browned ground beef in a skillet, then added the scooped out squash, along with a small can of diced tomatoes, chopped onion and chopped bell pepper. I seasoned this with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. I also added about a cup of mozzarella cheese.

I placed the stuffed squash into a well greased baking dish and baked it a little over an hour at 350.F degree oven until squash was tender to prick with fork. It was then easy to slice and serve. So delicious!

Soon I will have a bounty of tomatoes and will share this wonderful recipe along with some more with you. Of course, there will be fried green tomatoes.........my life's favorite! Can you believe that none of my co-workers or bosses have ever had fried green tomatoes?? They are looking forward for me to bring some to the cafe and to fix for them.

How about you? What bounties are you now getting from your garden?

Is there a new way you are preparing these goodies? I would love to hear!