New Years Eve Good Luck Recipe for Sandhills Black Eyed Pea Salsa w/ Allens Veggies

How many of you have a family recipe or a traditional Good Luck recipe - that you made every New Year's Eve or New Years Day?

It is amazing how these recipes continue in hopes of blessing loved ones with wealth and health to name a few things in the New Year.

I was "Lucky" enough that Allens Veggies asked me to share a Good Luck recipe for New Year's Eve/Day on my blog.  I searched online to see what others do to ring in the new year.  I found many incorporated Black Eyed Peas - Many may asked - Why Black Eyed Peas?

Well...

Eating Black-eyed Peas "Coins" Meant Wealth

In the southern United States, black-eyed peas have long been a New Years Eve staple. The shape and abundance of the legumes was compared to coins; eating the ‘coins’ symbolized gaining wealth.

So I decided to come up with my own Black Eyed Pea Good Luck Recipe.  I like to call it...

Sandhills Black Eyed Pea Salsa

Ingredients:

1 - can drained and rinsed Allens Black Eyed Peas
1 - can drained and rinsed Allens Black Beans
1 - can drained diced, pealed tomatoes
1 - can drained Allens whole kernel corn
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped red pepper
1/2 cup chopped orange pepper
1 Tablespoon minced fresh garlic
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup olive oil
3 Tablespoons Red wine vinegar
1 - fresh lime
*Optional* 1 - 4oz can died jalapenos

Directions:

Add all ingredients in a large bowl - except the lime.

Mix gently to incorporate.

Cover and refrigerate over night to let the flavors come together.

Squeeze fresh lime over top before serving.

Can be served with tortilla chips or just on the side as a relish.

This recipe turned out wonderful.  It was beauitful to look at and even better to eat.  The textures of the crunchy veggies and the firm beans were a match made in heaven. I think I am going to use this recipe in the summer time to pair with grilled chicken breasts.

The only down fall to this recipe is it didn't stick around long.

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe for the Bread Machine. Thanks Allrecipes.com

About a year ago my husband wanted to make homemade cinnamon rolls.  He went to http://www.allrecipes.com/ and searched.  He found the best recipe and it has become a family favorite.  We now always have these on the nights I make my Crockpot Chili.  I have only changed one thing about the recipe - the addition of nutmeg in the filling of the rolls.  The nutmeg goes perfectly with the cinnamon.  It leaves a person trying to figure out what extra tasty spice is included.

Here is the recipe - I hope you will give it a try - you will not be disappointed. Don't leave out the instant pudding - I am not sure what it does - but wow delicious. 

Ingredients:


1/4 cup warm water

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/2 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix

1 cup warm milk

1 egg, room temperature

1 tablespoon white sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 cups bread flour

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast



1/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar

4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (my own addition)

3/4 cup chopped nuts - optional

Directions:

In the pan of your bread machine, combine water, melted butter, vanilla pudding, warm milk, egg, 1 tablespoon sugar, salt, bread flour and yeast. Set machine to Dough cycle; press Start. *Make sure to add all the wet ingredients first*

In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar, cinnamon and nuts (optional).

When Dough cycle has finished, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 17x10 inch rectangle.

 Spread with softened butter. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture over dough.

Roll up dough, beginning with long side.

Slice into 16 one inch slices and place in 9x13 buttered pan.




I love to use my King Arthur Bench Scraper to cut the rolls - otherwise unflavored dental floss works great too.



Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes.  If you don't have a warm place - I like to warm my oven to 170 degrees and shut it off - I place the covered rolls in the oven with the door cracked and it works like a charm. (if you do this step - you will have to wait obviously before preheating your oven :)

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes.  Remove rolls from oven and top with frosting.

Let me know what you think if you give these a try.  Also anyone else a fan of Allrecipes.com?  I can't image not having them as a resource to help with my cooking and baking addiction.  Happy New Year Everyone!

We are currently in a winter storm warning - humm...make have to make these ones when I am snowed in again :)

Banana Walnut Bread and Banana Blueberry Bread Recipe w/ King Arthur Flour's Help

I think I was one of the lucky ladies around on Christmas morning.  My darling husband and children bought me shiny new kitchen utensils from King Arthur Flour. 

I love them all.  They are heavy gage stainless steal and feel great in my hands.  So I had to think of something to bake to try them out.  Anyone who follows my blog knows I have been baking and cooking LOTS in preparation for the holidays.  I wanted to bake something not so sweet. 

I decided to make my mom's delicious banana walnut bread.  While I was mixing the double batch of batter up, I wondered what frozen blueberries would taste like in the recipe.  So I spilt the mixed up batch (less the walnuts) in half and added  1 1/2 cups of frozen blueberries to that batter.  I then added the walnuts to the others.  

So here is the recipe for the Banana Walnut Bread - and if you want to change it into Banana Blueberry Bread - leave out the walnuts and add 1 1/2 cups of frozen blueberries.

Ingredients:  (single batch) ***can just use 2 cups of All-purpose flour if you like***

1 cup All-purpose flour
1 cup King Arthur Whole Wheat Flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup softened unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 large ripe bananas
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vinegar

Directions:

Combine milk and vinegar and set side.

Cream butter and sugar together.

Add eggs and bananas to the butter/sugar mixture.  Beat until well combined.




I love to put over ripe bananas in Ziplock bag in the back of the fridge - it helps the banana flavor develop - and they are always there when I am ready to create.



Combine flours, baking soda and salt.  Alternate adding some of dry ingredients and then the milk/vinegar combination until all incorporated and blended well.

Stir in 1 1/2 cups of coursely chopped walnuts. 

Or if you like gently stir in 1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries.

Add batter to lightly greased loaf pan (5 1/4"x2 3/4"x3 3/4").

Bake at 350 degrees for 60 to 70 minutes.  Until toothpick comes out clean in the center of loaf.

Let cool in pan on wire rack for 20 minutes.  Then turn pan over and gently tap on bottom until bread is released.  Cool loaf rest of way before cutting.  Enjoy.

The blueberry banana combination was wonderful and a definite do again (even my boys say so).  The bread was slightly more moist and the blueberries add a whole new flavor dimension.

The 12th Day of the Christmas Blog Swap has come and Gone w/ Mixed Feelings

I just want to say my first experience with a blog swap was an Awesome time! 

Whoever did the matching for this gift exchange  - did a phenomenal job.  Being matched with Evelyn was perfect.  I feel like I have a new blog friend and love it!  We really seemed to understand each other.  Every gift Evelyn gave had meaning behind it and a cute rhyming note.

I started to open the last :( present slowly and noticed some thing inside for my boys.  I called them over and had them sit down.

They used teamwork to open this gift.

They were so excited and so was I.  Lot of Police race cars, go fish card game and a deck of cards.

What a great way to end the swap.  Gifts for the whole family.

I can't wait to find other swap that I can participate in!  This one is going to be hard to top.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Day 11
Day 10
Day 9
Day 8
Day 7
Day 6
Day 5
Day 4
Day 3
Day 2
Day 1

Day Eleven and I am in heaven....

Yes - the title says it all - Day 11 of the 12 Days of Christmas Exchange has arrived!!!

I am in HEAVEN.....

I love, love, love Chocolates!  What a gourmet treat!!!!!  I haven't had See's Candies in many, many years as they don't carry them where were live.

Evelyn you are the Best.  Merry Christmas to me.....

Day 10
Day 9
Day 8
Day 7
Day 6
Day 5
Day 4
Day 3
Day 2
Day 1

Day 10 has arrived - And I love it!

Day 10th has arrived in the 12 Days of Christmas Swap!

I had no ideas what might be in the package.

It was heavy and squishy....

Thank you Evelyn - We love Bear Creek soup mixes.  We haven't had this flavor yet this winter.  I love it!  Yes, supper will be on you.  Thank you for a great gift.