Is anyone faithful anymore?

My granny once told me that my papaw, who was 20+ yrs older than her, had cheated on her! She had told me how they had met, fallen in love & how he couldn't decide if she was the one or not... She wrote him this big letter telling him it was either her or those other girls he was a courtin'... He chose my granny, they married & had two kids! When I asked her about their life together, I also asked if my papaw (a man that I loved more than any other man alive) had cheated on her, & her response was, well he's a man, ain't he? I knew I had heard rumors of men going through the hills to other women's homes etc but my papaw! I guess he was more like any other man that I realized & not the sweet, old man that I had known! He was 96 when he passed! It was heartbreaking to know that the one man that I had trusted the most was also like all the men that I had known in my own life... Sad, that it really doesn't seem that no one knows the meaning of loving only the one you are with, doesn't it?

Honey Bun Cake


1 box yellow cake
4 eggs
8 ounces sour cream
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Topping: 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk

Combine yellow cake mix, eggs, sour cream, and vegetable oil. Mix together and pour half in a 9x13 inch pan. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over half of batter in pan. Pour rest of batter over brown sugar mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Topping: combine powdered sugar, vanilla and milk. While cake is warm poke holes in cake with toothpick. Pour topping over cake.





Hummingbird Cake

3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups canola oil
3 eggs
1 8oz can crushed pineapple (drained)
2 cups mashed bananas
1 cup chopped black walnuts
1 8oz package cream cheese (softened)
1/4 pound butter (softened)
1 pound confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9 inch cake pans. Sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt - set aside. In large bowl, combine the oil, eggs, pineapple, bananas and nuts. Add flour mixture and mix by hand. Equally pour batter into prepared pans and bake for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool on racks. Prepare the frosting by blending together the cream cheese, butter, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Evenly spread frosting on the top of one cake - then place other cake on top. Complete the cake by spreading the frosting on top and sides.

Gum Drop Cake
Makes 3 loaves

1 cup butter
3 eggs
2 ½ cups sugar
3 ¾ cups flour
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm milk
1 cup crushed pineapple with juice
1 cup coconut
1 pound gum drops - cut up - no black
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 pound raisins if desired

Cream butter and eggs with sugar. Add flour mixed with baking powder and salt, alternately with pineapple and warm milk . Add lemon and vanilla. Dredge gum drops and raisins with ½ cup flour. Add with coconut and mix. Bake at 325°F. Place a pan of water in oven with loaves for moisture.


Holiday Cake


1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 sticks real butter
4 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons of almond extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 cups of walnuts or almonds (chopped)
1 jar of maraschino cherries

Cream together 1-1/2 sticks of butter (softened), 1-1/2 cups of sugar, cream cheese, and 1-1/2 teaspoons of almond extract (mix well). Add eggs one at a time and mix well. Add baking powder and flour, mixing well. Drain the cherries and chop the entire jar in half and set aside 8 halves to decorate the top of the cake. In a separate bowl mix a small amount of flour with the cherries and fold into the cake mixture being careful not to crush. Add the nuts and pour the entire mixture into a bundt pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Take the cake out of the oven and immediately turn upside down on a dish. After the cake has cooled, glaze the top with a mixture of confectioners sugar and water. Drizzle over the top of the cake allowing it to drip down the sides. Decorate with cherries and walnuts along the top.

Flower Garden Cake


3/4 cup sugar
6 egg yolks
, 6 egg whites separated
3/4 cup lemon juice
grated rind of 2 lemons
2 envelopes of plain gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
3/4 cup sugar
Angel food cake
whipped cream

Make a custard of the following ingredients: sugar, egg yolks, lemon juice, and grated rind of lemons. The custard should be cooked over water until it coats a spoon. Dissolve gelatin in cold water. Add to custard the dissolved gelatin. In a bowl, beat 6 egg whites very stiff and add gradually 3/4 cup sugar. Pour the lemon custard into egg whites. Tear into bite size pieces one large angel food cake then fold into above mixture lightly with two forks. Grease 8 x 12" baking dish with salad oil and pour mixture into dish. Place in refrigerator and leave overnight. Before serving, ice with whipped cream. (Remove from refrigerator one hour before serving)




German Chocolate Upside-Down Cake

1 box German Chocolate Cake Mix
1 box Confectioner's Sugar
1 stick margarine
8 ounces cream cheese

Mix cake as directed. Pour into 13x9 pan. Combine margarine and cream cheese in sauce pan. Heat on low until melted. Stir in box of Confectioner's Sugar. Pour over cake. Bake at 350 degrees until cake is done. Cake is upside down when turned out of pan onto plate.

Easy Coconut Cake


1 box white cake mix
1 small can crushed pineapple - drained
1 can white icing
lots of shredded coconut

Make cake following directions on box. Pour into 2-9 inch round cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 28-30 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Drain pineapple well - then put on top of one layer - then put some of icing on top of pineapple. Put the two layers together. Use remaining frosting all over the cake -- then cover entirely with coconut





Eggnog Cake


2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/2 cup shortening (half soft butter, if desired)
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon rum flavoring or vanilla
3 eggs


Cream Fluff Frosting :
1 package Fluffy White Frosting mix (dry mix)
1 teaspoon rum flavoring
1 1/2 cups whipping cream

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 round layer pans, 8 or 9 x 1-1/2". Combine all ingredients except Cream Fluff Frosting in large mixer bowl. Blend on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping side and bottom of bowl. Beat 3 minutes on medium speed, scraping bowl frequently. Pour into prepared pans. Bake 35-40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool. Fill and frost with Cream Fluff frosting. If desired, sprinkle top with nutmeg. Refrigerate. Cream Fluff Frosting: In small mixer bowl, chill frosting mix (dry), rum flavoring, and whipping cream for at least 1 hour. Blend; beat until soft peaks form.

Deluxe Chocolate Marshmallow Bars
3/4 cup butter or margarine
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons baking cocoa
1/2 chopped nuts (optional)
4 cups miniature marshmallows
Topping: 1 1/3 cup (8oz) chocolate chips
3 Tablespoon butter or margarine
1 cup peanut butter
2 cup crisp rice cereal

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until fluffy. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa; add to cream mixture. Stir in nuts, if desired. Spread in a greased jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes. Sprinkle marshmallows evenly over cake; return to oven for 2-3 minutes. Using a knife dipped in water, spread melted marshmallows evenly over the cake. Cool. For topping, combine chocolate chips, butter and peanut butter in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until melted and well blended. Remove from heat; stir in cereal. Spread over bars. Chill.



Drizzle Cake

1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup and 2 tablespoons milk CHOCOLATE FUDGE DRIZZLE:
2- 1 ounce squares Bakers chocolate
3/4 cup heated milk
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon light corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Stir shortening to soften. Gradually add sugar. Cream together until light and fluffy. Add vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating each into the mixture before adding the next. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Shift three times together. Add creamed mixture alternately with milk. Beat after adding a little at a time. Beat until smooth. Pour into a 13x9 greased pan. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 25-30 minutes. CHOCOLATE FUDGE DRIZZLE: Melt chocolate in heated milk. Add sugar and corn syrup. Cook slowly. Stir until sugar dissolves. Cook gently and stir frequently. Remove from heat when the mixture has cooked for about 3-5 minutes. Do not cook too long because you do not want the mixture to turn into fudge. Remove from heat and add butter. DO NOT stir until the mixture has cooled to room temperature. Add vanilla extract. Beat until the mixture firms up a bit. Once the cake has cooled, cut holes or cut slash marks all around the cake. Make sure the hole goes down to the bottom of the cake pan. Pour the chocolate mixture over the cake, making sure the chocolate drizzles down into the holes you have made in the cake.

This made me cry!

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and itsdedicated staff, he offered a question:'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.Where is the natural order of things in my son?'The audience was stilled by the query.The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'Then he told the following story:Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.However, as Shay stepped up to theplate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.The game would now be over.The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!Run to first!'Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.B y the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!Shay, run to third!'As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

Cream Cheese Pound Cake


3 sticks butter
3 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
6 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups sifted cake flour

Cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add salt and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time and beat after each addition. Add flour, dividing into four additions. Pour into 10" round tube cake pan. Grease only the bottom of the pan for a smooth even cake. Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 1-1/2 hours or until done.

Desserts

Chocolate Ice Box Dessert
1 cup pecans
1 stick butter
1 cup flour
8 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
1 cup powdered sugar
3 cups Cool Whip
1 package instant chocolate pudding
1 package instant vanilla pudding
3 cups milk
Hershey bar

Combine pecans, butter and flour. Pat into 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes and cool. Mix together cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 1-1/2 cups of Cool Whip. Gently pour over the crust. Combine puddings and milk. Beat with mixer. Stir in 1-1/2 cups of Cool Whip. Put on top of first layer. Grate Hershey bar on top. Cool and serve.


Chocolate Sheet Cake

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 stick margarine
1/2 cup Crisco or cooking oil
1 cup water
3 tablespoons cocoa
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon vanilla

ICING:
1 stick margarine
3 tablespoons cocoa
4 tablespoons milk
1 box powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

In large bowl, sift together flour and sugar. Bring to a boil the following: margarine, Crisco or cooking oil, water, and cocoa. Whip into flour and sugar. Mix together eggs, buttermilk, soda and vanilla and then add to mixture. Batter will be thin. Bake in a large sheet pan or 2 small sheet pans at 350 degrees about 25 minutes or until done. Icing: Bring to a boil: margarine, cocoa, milk, powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix while hot. Pour on warm cake. 1/2 cup chopped nuts may be added to icing

More recipes

Cherry-Pineapple Dump Cake


1 can cherry pie filling
1 can crushed pineapple
1 box butter flavored yellow cake mix
1 stick butter or margarine
1 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans

In a 9x13 inch glass casserole dish mix together cherry pie filling and crushed pineapple. Sprinkle entire box of cake mix over fruit careful not to have any big lumps. Melt butter/margarine and drizzle over cake mix. Sprinkle coconut and nuts over entire cake. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.


Choc chip Muffins

4 oz butter or margarine, at room temperature
2 1/2 oz sugar
1 oz dark brown sugar
2 eggs at room temperature
7 1/2 oz plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 fl oz milk
6 oz plain chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 375 F/ 190 C/ gas 5. Grease 10-12 muffin cups or use paper cases. Cream the butter until soft. Add both sugars and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Sift together the flour and baking powder into the butter mixture alternating with the milk. Divide half the mixture between the muffin cups Sprinkle several chocolate chips on top, then cover with a spoonful of the batter. To ensure even baking, half-fill any empty cups with water. Bake until lightly coloured, about 25 minutes. Let stand for about 5 minutes before turning out

Cake recipes

Baby Cheese cakes
2 (8 ounce) packages of softened cream cheese
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 Tablespoon vanilla
2 eggs 1 box vanilla wafers 1 can pie filling (of choice)

Blend cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla and eggs with mixer. In muffin pans, place aluminum liners. Add one vanilla wafer round side up into each liner. Add cream cheese filling, about 2 Tablespoon each. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Test for doneness with a toothpick. Let cool, chill. Add toppings (canned pie filling).




Carmel Coffee Cake

2 (10-12 ounce) tubes or 3 (7.5 ounce) tubes refrigerator biscuits
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup (1/2 pint) whipping cream (half and half does not work)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Stand biscuits upright in a circle in a greased bundt pan or any solid bottom tube pan. Sprinkle brown sugar on top of biscuits. Pour whip cream over sugar and biscuits. Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to stand 10 minutes before inverting on a plate. Spread excess caramel sauce on the rolls.





Cherry cake

1/3 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 can sour pitted cherries (drained but reserve juice for sauce recipe)
1/2 cup walnuts (chopped)
2 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In bowl, cream shortening, eggs and sugar. Sift all dry ingredients together. Add to cream mixture alternately with milk. Blend just until well mixed. Add well drained cherries and nuts - FOLD them in. Pour into a greased and floured 9x13 inch baking dish. Bake 40 minutes or until done.

10 things about me

1. I am not a people person unless I like you.
2. I don't trust anyone completely.
3. I miss certain people from my past & I hate it.
4. My favorite thing to do is sit outside
5. I love the smell of clean clothes
6. I miss my childhood
7. I don't understand people
8. I am not sure I ever want to get married
9. I really enjoy my own company
10 . I hope to never lose respect for myself because of someone else.

Another Labor Day is upon us! The time most people celebrate Summer for the last time... Family's have their last cookout for the season so let's talk about food... I love food on the grill
This is my fav way to grill burgers

GRILLED BARBEQUED HAMBURGERS

With each 1 pound hamburger, mix: 1/3 c. barbecue sauce Chopped onion, optional
Make into thick patties (4 per pound) and grill. The juice stays in the hamburger and the barbeque sauce doesn't burn. Great taste!

I also love grilled weiners the same way but VERY Black!

A good steak is hard to find but this is how it is recommended, not sure how well this works...
Grilling the perfect steak is an art form. It takes practice and patience to master it. If you follow these simple steps you will have no trouble grilling a great steak. I am assuming that you already have the right cut of steak and know how to seasoning it (or not) to your liking.
Let your steak reach room temperature before grilling. Some people might tell you that this isn't necessary, however I feel that this helps grill your steak more evenly and faster.
Trim the steak of excess fat. Any strips of fat should be about 1/4" thick. Also cut through the fat strip about every 1 1/2". When grilling fat shrinks fast than the meat and it can cause your steaks to curl.
Season. I light brushing of olive oil, maybe some fresh cracked pepper is all you want. Seasoning is entirely up to you. Preheat the grill. Hot as it will go for a gas grill or a single layer of ashy white coals for a charcoal grill.
Oil the grate. An easy way to do this is to take a piece of trimmed fat, hold in tightly in a pair of tongs and rub it on the hot grate.
Grill. Place each steak on the grill for one minute. Turn and grill on the second side for an additional minute. Turn and rotate 45 degrees and grill for half the remaining cooking time. Turn again. If you do this right you will get a nice diamond pattern of grill marks.
Remove when done. I use the pressure test to check my steaks. When you are getting close to having a done steak press it with your index finger or the flat side of a grilling fork to get a feel for it. A rare steak will be soft. A medium steak will be firm but yielding. A well steak will be firm. Once you get the hang of this trick you will be able to remove steaks from the grill at just the right second.
Let the steaks rest for 5 minutes before serving. This will let the juices flow out from the center so the whole steak is nice and juicy.
Grilling Times by Thickness
These times are total cooking times. Divide in half for each side. Times are approximate and will vary depending on the type of grill, fuel, weather conditions, etc..
Thickness
Rare
Medium
Well
Heat
1"
8-10
12-14
16-20
High
1 1/2"
10-14
16-20
22-26
High
2
12-16
18-22
24-28
Medium


Sides on the grill include.......
potato salad
This is a delicious potato salad for a summer meal or cookout, and it's one of my family's favorites.
Ingredients:
4 to 5 cups cubed waxy potatoes, cooked, drained, cooled*
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped red onion
3 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped sweet pickle
2 teaspoons sweet pickle juice
1/2 to 2/3 cup mayonnaise
1/2 to 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Preparation:Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir gently to combine. Refrigerate until serving time.Serves 4 to 6.*For best texture, use new potatoes, red skinned potatoes, or other boiling potatoes.


baked beans
Awesome Baked Beans:
1½ hours 20 min prep
8-10 servings
1 (53 ounce) can pork and beans (Drained and pork removed)
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
3 tablespoons mustard
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 white onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 slice 1/2 inch thick deli ham, cubed
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1. Set Pork-n-Beans in a collander to drain while you mix together the rest.
2. In large bowl stir together tomato sauce, mustard, worcestershire sauce.
3. Stir in onion, bell pepper and ham.
4. Once it is well mixed stir in the brown sugar til it is dissolved.
5. Now add beans to the mix.
6. Bake at 425 for one hour.


pasta salad

COLD PASTA SALAD

1 lb. pasta, cooked & drained
1 cup Italian salad dressing or vinaigrette
1 tablespoon Salad Supreme seasoning
3 tomatoes, chopped
2 cucumbers, chopped
1 1/2 red onions, chopped
2 green peppers, chopped
Combine all above ingredients into a very large bowl and marinate overnight. Put a lid over your bowl. Serve cold.

deviled eggs

8 hard-cooked eggs
1/2 cup MIRACLE WHIP Dressing
2 Tbsp. CLAUSSEN Sweet Pickle Relish
2 tsp. yellow mustard
1/4 tsp. salt
Dash of pepper
Dash of paprika
CUT eggs in half lengthwise. Remove yolks; mash in small bowl. Add dressing, relish, mustard and seasonings; mix well.
SPOON or pipe yolk mixture evenly into centers of egg whites.
SERVE immediately. Or, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.


assortment of chips w/ dips
fruit salad, fruit tray w/ dip
veggie tray w/ dip

Enjoy!

Nicholas Sparks

As a lover of reading, I was excited to hear that this book is going to be a movie in the very near future... The movie stars Richard Gere & Diane Lane, 2 all time great actors in their field! I can't wait to see this one!

Here is what it is about......
Adrienne Willis is forty-five and has been divorced for three years, abandoned by her husband for a younger woman. The trials of raising her teenage children and caring for her sick father have worn her down, but at the request of a friend and in hopes of a respite, she’s gone to the coastal village of Rodanthe in North Carolina’s outer banks to tend the local inn for the weekend. With a major storm brewing, the time away doesn’t look promising…until a guest named Paul Flanner arrives.At fifty-four, Paul is a successful surgeon but in the previous six months his life has unraveled into something he doesn’t recognize. Estranged from his son and recently divorced, he’s sold his practice and his home and has journeyed to this isolated coastal town in hopes of closing a painful chapter in his past, completely unaware that his life is about to change forever.Adrienne and Paul come together as the storm gathers strength over Rodanthe, but what begins between them over the weekend will resonate throughout the rest of their lives, intertwining past and future, love and loss.

Just one of the lakes in our area

This is an area lake that my family visits several times a yr! It is always crowded with people, young & old looking to have a good time on the water...



Dewey Lake is the result of Dewey Dam on Johns Creek Of Levisa Fork in Floyd County, Kentucky and is used for flood control, recreation and fish and wildlife protection, among other things. Construction of Dewey Dam was completed in 1949. At normal levels it has a surface area of 1.7 square miles. It is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake property.


Dewey Lake and Jenny Wiley State Resort Park have many facilities for visitor recreation and assistance: Marina, May Lodge and Cabins, Convention Center, Golf Course, Swimming Pool,theatre, Jenny Wiley State Resort Park Campground, and Corps of Engineers: Shoreline I, Shoreline II, and the Downstream Recreation Area

Recipes for the day.... Pasta salad

BLT pasta salad
1 (16 ounce) package medium seashell pasta
1 pound sliced bacon
1 1/2 cups light Ranch-style salad dressing
1 small onion, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped

DIRECTIONS
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the pasta, and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain, and rinse under cold water to cool.
Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat until browned and crisp. Remove from the pan and drain on paper towels.
In a large bowl, stir together the Ranch dressing, onion, and tomatoes. Mix in the cooled pasta. The pasta will absorb some of the dressing, so don't worry if it seems like too much. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Crumble bacon over the top just before serving.



Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
1 (12 ounce) package uncooked tri-color rotini pasta
10 slices bacon
1 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons dry ranch salad dressing mix
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic pepper
1/2 cup milk, or as needed
1 large tomato, chopped
1 (4.25 ounce) can sliced black olives
1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Stir in rotini pasta and cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until al dente; drain.
Place bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook until evenly brown. Drain and chop.
In a large bowl, mix mayonnaise, ranch dressing mix, garlic powder, and garlic pepper. Stir in milk until smooth. Place bacon, tomato, black olives and cheese in bowl and toss to coat with dressing. Cover and chill at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. Toss with additional milk if the salad seems a little dry.


Confetti pasta salad
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 cups colored rotini pasta
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped yellow bell pepper
1/2 cup sliced black olives




DIRECTIONS
Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse in cold water, and drain.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, black pepper, and garlic until well blended. Mix in basil. Add pasta, tomatoes, bell peppers, and olives; fold gently until mixed. Chill several hours. Stir gently before serving


Salsa pasta salad



2 cups dry rainbow radiatore pasta
1 onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives
3 tomatoes, diced
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles
1/3 cup distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon chili powder



DIRECTIONS
In a large pot with boiling salted water cook radiatore pasta until al dente. Drain.
Meanwhile, combine chopped onion, bell pepper, olives, tomatoes, and green chilies in a large bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, cilantro, garlic salt, lemon juice, vegetable oil, sugar and chili powder.
Mix cooked pasta with vegetables. Toss with cilantro dressing and serve.

Let them eat cake

Pioneer Woman Chocolate Sheet Cake

Combine in a mixing bowl:2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
In a saucepan, melt: 2 sticks butter
Add 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa.
Stir together. Add 1 cup boiling water, allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds, then turn off heat. Pour over flour mixture, and stir lightly to cool.
In measuring cup, pour 1/2 cup buttermilk.Add:2 beaten eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
Stir buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture. Pour into sheet cake pan and bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes.
While cake is baking, make icing:
Chop 1/2 cup pecans finely.
Melt 1 3/4 sticks butter in a saucepan.Add 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa, stir to combine, then turn off heat.
Add:6 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 lb minus 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Stir together.Add pecans, stir together, and pour over warm cake.
Cut into squares, eat, and totally wig out over the fact that you’ve just made the best chocolate sheet cake. Ever.

Food for thought

Stuffed Green Pepper Soup

1 lb extra lean ground beef1 cup diced onion1/2 tsp basil1/2 tsp oregano1 (14.5oz) can diced tomatoes2 cups chopped green peppers1 (15oz) can tomato sauce3 cups water 1 tbs. beef bouillon1 cup cooked brown riceBrown beef w/onion. Place in slow cooker w/ remaining ingredients on low for 6-8 hrs or place in lge soup pot and simmer for 1 hour.


Pioneer Woman Apple Dumplings "2 Granny Smith apples2 cans crescent rolls2 sticks butter1 1/2 cups sugar1 teaspoons vanillacinnamon1 small can Mountain DewPeel and core apples. Cut apples into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.

Funny pics

Sometimes you really have to wonder about what people think when these pics are released on to the big ole world wide web... I found these to be quite funny, hope you do as well...


Now why would you want to eat here? What would the dessert menu look like? Dingle Berries served in a "special" chocolate sauce?


So........ you can buy kids now? What if I wanted to sale you some? Can I get a even better discount?


Cheesy Tits? Shouldn't this be at Hooters? Have you seen the waitresses at Burger King?


Tired of your old kid? Get new ones here? Now this is a great idea because I hear people complain about their kids everyday but with this great program, no need to complain ever again.


Big Manly beach.... As if men don't think they are manly enough, there has to be a beach named after them? What kind of men are here? Manly as opposed to wimps, maybe? Does that mean these men know how to put the toilet seat down? How about tell the truth? Keep their zipper closed? Oh but wait, I guess this is what makes it a "manly beach" after all...


Looks like Lorena Bobbit has a job.... This one speaks for itself...



Is this a discount store for the mentally challenged? & just who donates to this store?


&& last but by no means last.......... Why do some people even go out of the house?
Ummmmm NO it's not!

Recipe

RECIPE of the Day


This sounded so yummy to me! I haven't had the chance to make it yet but I am hoping someone else will & let me know if they like it or not. Now I love corn bread, esp Jiffy corn bread mix so this should be good, right?

Broccoli Corn Bread

Ingredients: 2 boxes Jiffy corn muffin mix, or similar 4 eggs, beaten 1/2 stick melted butter or margarine 1 pkg. (10 oz) chopped broccoli, thawed and drained 1 medium onion, chopped (I leave the onion out, no one here likes it)1 cup cottage cheese1 cup grated cheddar

Preparation: Combine all ingredients and pour into greased 9- X 13-inch baking dish. Bake at 375° for 35 to 40 minutes, or until lightly browned.

I love to online shop

DEAL OF THE DAY

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/clearance/mens1/youngmenspants/PRD~405002/Urban+Pipeline+Relaxed+Fit+Jeans.jsp?prtID=pfx&src=k1971&cm_mmc=Performics-_-Affiliate-_-**Slick%20Deals**-_-120x30%20Kohl's%20w%2Fborder

One of my biggest passions in life is shopping! However, I only like to online shop! There are no people to deal with, no lines, nothing! It is wonderful! I can find you a bargain on almost anything that you might be looking for... I go here www.currentcodes.com for coupon codes but the best are shopping forums! Yes, they make online sites for people, like me that love to shop. I ONLY buy something if it is super cheap, like I got my sister stainless steel cookware for $33, orginal price was over $200, see what I mean? Some people don't understand online shopping because in order to find the bargains, you have to pretty much troll the shopping boards several times a day! My favorites is www.fishingfordeals.com & then you go under catch of the day. What I like about this site is that you can also sign up & talk about other things with people but not in a chat type of format. It is a good way to whine about family problems & get advice with out anyone knowing who you are & better yet, your dear loving family not knowing at all. Once you sign up there, go to catch of the day & then for the halibut to see what other people have to say about anything & everything. They also have a cooking board where I have gotten some great recipes from there, YUM!

Ok, my other fav place to shop is www.slickdeals.net they have a board about kohls & everything that is a really good price from there. I have so much stuff from kohls that I think I have bought stock in the co by now.