test

just checking that I have the email address right for this blog.

 

Billie C.
http://thelifeofbilliec.blogspot.com/

Corn Dog Casserole

Corn Dog Casserole
1 (6.5 oz) pkg Cornbread Muffin Mix
1 (15 oz) can cream style Corn
1 egg
2 T Margarine, melted
1 T Milk
4 Hotdog's, sliced
shredded Cheddar Cheese, if desired
Preaheat oven to 400F.  In a bowl, combine corn bread muffin mix, cream style corn, egg, margarine, and milk. Add sliced hot dogs. Pour into a greased 8 inch round baking pan. Sprinkle wth Cheese, if desired. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden borwn. Remove from oven and cut into pie slices. Delicious with Ketchup as a topper.

 

Billie C.
http://thelifeofbilliec.blogspot.com/

Ben Franklin Tax Relief Tax Day coupon

 

Tax Relief Day!

We know you pay enough taxes, so on Monday, April 16th, check your inbox for our e-Newsletter to print out our tax exempt coupon to use on April 17th, Tax Relief Day!

Not signed up to receive our e-Newsletter? Click here and be sure to sign up by Sunday!

Billie C.
http://thelifeofbilliec.blogspot.com

Good Morning

Good Morning.

One of the blogs I follow has joined a blog hop called "What I wore Wednesdays". Well. I'm not joining in that, but I do try to take a picture of me each day, at my computer. Expecally if I'm wearing a top I decorated. I did this top a few weeks ago, and it's been washed three or four times now and the Fabric marker I used is holding up well to washing. Did I show you the bandana I did up? Here is a picture of it.

The top of it is not that dark, it's shaded by the edge of the awning it's under. I love how it turned out, but realise I really should have laid it flat before spraying it. and turned it to an angle or made two smaller butterflies and set into the corneres. But I don't have to wear it, I can use it in some other way. The bandana's were 10 for $8.00 at Wal-Mart.

I'm on my second cup of coffee, this morning. Nothing special about that.

Outside my door ... It's sunny and cool out. I have my door open even though my desktop says it's only 46 outside. I think it's much closer to 60 than that.

The Dogs ... are in the kennels. They just won't shut up. There is nothing outside for them to be barking at. I've looked, I've gone window to window looking out. I don't hear or see anyone outside. Not even the cats.

The Cats ... Well. Two are outside and one is sitting in the back window looking out (it's open so it could go out if it wanted to) I've put a bowl of dry cat food on the counter back there for the cats if they want it. Oops she must have thought I was writing about her, she's now under my arm.... gone again... back to the bathroom again. She just wanted to check on me, I guess.

From the kitchen... I've pulled the ground beef out. Not sure what I'll make with it. I think I still have a burger mix up in the cupboard. When I finish writing this and sending it out, I need to clean up the cupboard that is over the fridge and a see just what do I still have there and what I should be making with it all. Oh yeah. Have to cook the fish today.

I am hearing... "The View" right now. Birds singing, Rocky growling (he's always grumpy when he has to share his kennel with Barney)

I am wearing... White T-Shirt with a Sunflower on it. Black sweatpants.

I am reading... I went through the Kindle library and picked up a few more books. I havn't started any of them yet.

I am creating... A better living enviroment. I really need to find better places to keep my "stuff". I cleaned up Jerry's side of the couch yesterday, and expected him to just mess it back up. Well I did pile everything on his computer that he should have taken care of, long before now. He did put a few things back on the printer, but it's not messy like before. He did try to keep it neat.

Besides the Kitchen, I need to clean up around my own computer and finish up a few projects while I'm also planning on making a few other things.

One of my favorite things... Sleeping in, waking up feeling better than just ok.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Laundry today, this afternoon. taking care of my few plants. continueing to find something to work on. Need to finish the bag I made over the weekend. I'll post a picture when I'm done with it.

 

Billie C.
http://thelifeofbilliec.blogspot.com

It's Tuesday

Well. Easter is pass, and Jerry had 4 days off. We had lots of fun but I am so glade he's back to work so I can clean the camper and outside again.

 

You know how it is.. a man under foot means little gets done. I really am going to hate it when he retires, I'm sure. He thinks he's going to get to sit around all day long. I have other news for him. I've already told him, he's got to get a hobby that will take him outside. Fishing will work for a while, but he's got to find something he enjoys doing, outside the walls. Playing games or reading means he's still going to be in my way while I'm cleaning.

 

Outside my door ... It was cloudy and cold this morning, Now it's warm enough to be comfortable and clear skies.  It's going to be cool for the next few days.  I'm working on a sweat shirt jacket. I've turned the cut edges and hemed them down, next is to poke holes every inch or so, so a crochet hook can get through and pick up the yarn I picked out, to give a decortive edge to the whole thing. We have returned to Normal weather but it sure feels cold now.

 

The Dogs ... have been barking at every sound they hear.  People across the way are living out of a tent and if they talk loud, Rocky can hear them and he barks to let me know someone is "outside" the fact that they are also across the road doesn't seem to matter to him.

 

The Cats ... have been enjoying a few days outside.  Now that it's cooled off, they want to come back inside and sleep on the beds with the dogs.

 

From the kitchen...  I'm going to bake two thick cut pork chops, and some potatoes and fix a salad to go with it. I still need to figure out something for a dessert as well.

 

I am hearing... The T.V. is on.  I can hear the birds outside, as well.  and the windmill I have taped to the front of the camper rattles just enough to remind me it's out there.

 

I am wearing... Black Sweat Pants and a white tshirt that I "colored" up with all the sprits paints a couple of weeks ago.

 

 

this is something I worked on a couple of weeks ago.  The light could have been better but you get the idea.

 

I'm going to make another one, with the Saints football team logo on it, for the land lady. She's a Saints fan. It was a good thing I was up at the Easter gathering cause I was going to go with black in the middle and gold around the edges.. No, it's the other way around Gold in the Center and a black outline.  I'm even thinking of doing a t-shirt for her, as well (make it a set.  Also thinking of just putting the Fleur De lise in each corner instead of one large one, or just doing two, one with 4 small ones and one large one she can then hang like a flag on her wall.

 

 

 

Billie C.
http://thelifeofbilliec.blogspot.com

first 5 recipes

 

1

 

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK Makes 4 servings.

GRAVY---

Salt and Pepper

1/3 cup flour

2 tbs unsalted butter

2 1/2 cups low fat milk

2 tbs oil

STEAK---

Sliced green onions

2 eggs

2 tsp baking powder

Salt and Pepper

Oil

1 cup low fat milk

1 1/2 cups flour

4 beef cube steaks

MAKE GRAVY---Melt butter with oil in a saucepan. Sprinkle in flour and cook until smooth and deep golden brown, whisk in milk and simmer until gravy thickens. Add 2 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper. Cover and remove from heat. MAKE STEAK---Place steaks between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and pound to 1/8" thick. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk flour, baking powder and 1 tsp each salt and pepper in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, whisk milk and eggs, dredge each steak in flour mixture, dip in egg mixture, then return to flour mixture. Transfer breaded steaks to a rack. Heat oven to 250°. Set another rack on a rimmed baking sheet. HEAT 1" of oil in a cast iron skillet. Fry steaks until golden brown. Transfer finished steaks to rack on baking sheet and keep warm in oven. Reheat gravy. Stir in some water if gravy is too thick. Drizzle fried steak with gravy and top with green onions, then SERVE...

 

**************

 

2

BEEF SANDWICHES Makes 12 sandwiches.

HORSERADISH SAUCE---

Salt and Pepper

1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

1/4 cup light mayonnaise

1/2 tsp sugar or Splenda

2 tbs low fat sour cream

3/4 cup horseradish, drained

SANDWICHES---

Onion rings

1 1/2 pounds beef tenderloin, cut into 12 pieces

4 tbs unsalted butter

Salt and Pepper

12 slider buns, split

MAKE HORSERADISH SAUCE---Mix horseradish, mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, sugar, 3/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper in a bowl. Cover and chill 2 hours. MAKE SANDWICHES---Melt 1 tbs butter in a skillet. Add bun bottoms, cut side down, and cook until golden, set aside. Melt 1 more tbs butter in skillet and toast bun tops until golden, set aside. Season beef with salt and pepper. Heat remaining butter in a cast iron skillet. Add beef and cook until browned and desired doneness. Assemble sandwiches. Put a slice of beef on each bun bottom. Top each with a spoonful of horseradish sauce, some onion rings and a bun top, then SERVE...

 

*****************

 

3

CREAMY SCALLOPED POTATOES Makes 6 servings.

Salt and Pepper

1 bay leaf

3 cups heavy cream

Unsalted butter

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 tbs flour

2 pounds potatoes, peeled, sliced

HEAT oven to 350°. Brush a baking dish with butter. Put potatoes in a pot. Whisk cream, flour, bay leaf, nutmeg, 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper in a bowl, then pour over potatoes. Cook until cream comes to a simmer. Continue to simmer until potatoes begin to soften. TRANSFER potato mixture to baking dish, discard bay leaf. Set baking dish in a roasting pan and add enough water to come halfway up sides of baking dish. Bake until potatoes are tender and golden brown 1 hour. Remove baking dish from water bath and let stand 10 min. before SERVING...

 

*****************

 

4

 

LIGHT SCALLOPED POTATOES Makes 6 servings.

Mexican crema or low fat sour cream

Salt and Pepper

2 pounds potatoes, peeled, sliced

2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

2 tbs unsalted butter

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth

2 tsp chopped thyme

1/2 onion, thinly sliced

1 poblano chile pepper, halved, seeded

HEAT broiler. Put poblano cut side down on a baking sheet and broil until skin is browned in spots. Transfer to a bowl cover with plastic wrap and let cool 5 min. Peel skin off poblano under running water, then chop into small pieces. HEAT oven to 400°. Butter a baking dish. Heat 2 tbs butter in a skillet. Add onion, garlic and thyme and cook until onion is soft. Add potatoes, broth, 1 tsp salt and pepper to taste and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook until potatoes are tender. ARRANGE half of the potato broth mixture in baking dish. Sprinkle with half each of the roasted poblano and Parmesan. Repeat. Bake until bubbly and slightly golden 35 min. Let stand 15 min. before serving. Thin some sour cream with water and SERVE alongside for topping...

**************

 

5

CAKE BALLS Makes 36 servings.

Stir 1/2 cup low fat milk and 3/4 oz pkg sugar free fat free vanilla instant pudding in a bowl until pudding mix is moistened. Add 1 mashed banana and 10.75 oz pkg pound cake, crumbled into fine crumbs, mix well. Shape into 36 balls, place on wax paper covered rimmed baking sheet. Freeze 1 hour. Melt 3 pkgs 4.4 oz each milk chocolate bars, chopped, in microwavable bowl on high 1 1/2 min. stirring after 1 min. Dip balls in chocolate, return to baking sheet. Top with 2 tbs multi colored sprinkles. Let stand until coating is firm, then SERVE...

 

 

 

 

 

Billie C.
http://thelifeofbilliec.blogspot.com

first 5 recipes in my email

 

1

Turkey Cutlets - South Beach Diet Recipe

2 lbs. thinly sliced turkey cutlets
2 Tbsp. fresh rosemary
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/4 c fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. black peppercorns
1 tsp. salt

In a large bowl, mix together rosemary, garlic, 2 Tbsp lemon juice, olive oil and black peppercorns.
Add turkey cutlets and let marinate in refrigerator at least 1 hour.
Preheat grill or non-stick frying pan. Spray frying pan with cooking spray.
Remove turkey from marinade and sprinkle with salt. (optional).
Cook cutlets on both sides for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. lemon juice.

****************

2

Frosted Swiss Chocolate Cake recipe

1 (18.25 ounce) box Swiss chocolate cake mix

1 small box vanilla instant pudding

3 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups

milk

Mix cake mix, pudding, eggs, oil and milk. Blend well. Pour into 3 (9-inch) greased and floured cake pans.

Bake

at 325 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes, until cake tests done. Cool.

Top with Chocolate Icing.

Chocolate Icing:

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

8 ounces

cream cheese

1 (12 ounce) container Cool Whip, thawed

2 plain chocolate bars, such as Hershey's, chopped into small pieces

1/2 cup pecans, chopped (optional)

Mix sugars and cream cheese until smooth. Add whipped topping, chocolate pieces and pecans, if desired. Mix well. Spread between layers and on top and

sides of cake. Enjoy.

********

3

Southern 7-Up Cake recipe

1 (18.25 ounce) box yellow or pineapple cake mix

4 eggs

1 small box vanilla instant pudding

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1 (12 ounce) can 7-Up, at room temperature

Beat all ingredients together well for 2 minutes with electric mixer. Pour batter into 3 (8-inch) layer pans or a 15 x 10-inch jellyroll pan that has been

greased and floured.

Bake at 325 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes, if in layer pans, and remove from pans to cool thoroughly on wire rack. Fill and frost.

Filling:

1 cup granulated sugar

1 heaping teaspoon cornstarch

4 eggs

1/2 cup margarine

1 (No. 2) can crushed pineapple

1 1/2 cups flaked coconut

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup coarsely broken pecans

Combine first 6 ingredients and cook over medium heat until thick. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract and pecans. Cool before spreading between layers

and over cake. If using a 15 x 10-inch pan, leave cake in pan and spread frosting over top. Enjoy.

********

4

Sock-It-To-Me Coffee Cake recipe

1 (18.25 ounce) box Duncan Hines butter golden cake mix

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup Crisco vegetable oil

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup water

4 whole eggs

Filling:

1 cup chopped pecans

6 tablespoons brown sugar

6 teaspoons cinnamon

In large bowl, blend cake mix, sour cream, oil, sugar, water and eggs. Beat at high speed for 2 minutes. Pour two-thirds of batter into a greased and floured

10-inch tube pan or 9 x 13-inch cake pan.

Combine nuts, brown sugar and cinnamon for filling. Spread two-thirds of mixture over batter. Spread remaining one-third batter evenly over filling. Then

spread remaining one-third filling mixture over batter. Swirl with knife.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 35 to 40 minutes, until cake springs back when touched lightly. Drizzle confectioners' sugar glaze over top. Enjoy

*********

5

Triple Chocolate Pudding Cake recipe

This cake is moist and delicious!

1 box regular chocolate pudding (not instant)

1 (18.25 ounce) box chocolate cake mix

Chocolate chips

Nuts, chopped (optional)

Prepare pudding according to package directions. Allow to cool slightly. Stir in cake mix. Pour into a 13 x 9-inch cake pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips and

nuts over the top.

Bake as directed on cake mix box. Cut into squares. Enjoy

 

Billie C.
http://thelifeofbilliec.blogspot.com

Apr 2

 

 

For Today ... April 2, 2012
Yesterday,  being Sunday, we have done our "Usual".
Eat breafast at Golden Corral
Shop at Walmart (found some goodies)
drive around a bit.
Shopped at Hilltop. That's where the title of this note comes in at. Oh Great. I do all the shopping and as we are putting stuff in the van the cashier comes running out, they forgot to put our cheese in the bag.. Okay??...  We get home and I put away the food and, wait, where is the roast I wanted to fix for tomorrow nights supper? It's not here. Jerry goes through the van, it's not there either. He had to look up the phone number and call them. They will give him another one, tomorrow on his way home from work. Great...(grr) I had planned on that roast for tonights dinner. At least they are going to replace it.  I can't believe it didn't get packed with the rest of the cold stuff.
I went over the recept to make sure every thiing else was brough int, It was.

 

Whew, I'm beat and the day is only half over with. Buth then, I once read that if you don't have at least 1/2 of your work done by 10 am, your not working hard enough (????)  Well I have a lot done, that's for sure.
I cleaned up outside around the camper, put the cover on the canopy, weedeated the grass and after that took my shower (don't peek, I'm sitting here on the couch on a towel with one over me while I finish drying)
combed out my hair
My Grand daughter sent me a "Flat Stanley" and we took him a few places on Sunday and took a few pictures.  Two that sthand out is one in front of the statue for Wilma G. Rudolf.  She went through so much before she started running.  I wish that, during Black History Month, you could heard more about a person like her, than some of the others that are year after year.  We ended up at the flea market and I picked up a few things. A pack of permanent markers, two packs of potato bag clips, a large wire basket that I can use to rinse the vegetables off in, before making a salad, and a large bag. I had a time of it, convincing the man to put the stuff in the large bag. I wanted the bag to carry the stuff in and for other uses around the camper.I'm thinking of making it into a picnic kit. I use to have a nice woven bag that was just perfect to carry a colth, paper plates, napkins and plastic wear in.  I don't know where it ended up  in all our moves.
The other picture that stands out, is at the lime kilns.. They are relics of the past now. but stand as a reminder that all things end. They use to provide the lime for water plants all over the country, until the lime sources ran out. (just like all the oil will "run out" one of these days)
Outside my door ... It is NICE.. a bit warm but nice for this time of the year. I can remember many a earl April that the weather was still bone cold and muddy/nasty.  But I do wonder what is June going to be like since this weather reminds me very much of many a good June in the past.
We have a few high, white fluffy clouds but nothing that says rain in it.

 

The Dogs ... Barney is in trouble (again) I caught him chewing on the lead I have tied around the leg of the couch to keep him out of the bed room (and from peeing on my bed) I told him stop, and he did. But just as soon as I stop watching him, he was chewing on it again. In the kennel.

 

The Cats ... were doing their usual ninja move practic this morning, Bed to bed, run the hall, jump at the sink, into the bathtub. back to the bed and over each other. Oops.. they were chasing a sketter killer . finally they wore out and are now asleep with Rocky on Jerry's bed.

 

From the kitchen...  I'm going to make taco meatloaf. I will add a package of taco meat spices to a package of ground meat along with 1/2 cup of oatmeal and an egg, form into a loaf and bake outside in my roasting oven (so the heat is outside) Praying that I don't trip the breaker while it's baking. I'll toss a couple of potatoes into the oven along with it. We went to Dollar General yesterday after dinner and I found a drip pan that should fit on top of one of my baking pans so the grease will drip away from the meat. 

 

Billie C.
http://thelifeofbilliec.blogspot.com