ALL ABOUT THE FAMILY-

Sharing my family & dinner last night... You can read more of the Summer Sunday dinners here:

Some weeks the table is fabulous and beautiful.. sometimes it's paper plates... the really cool thing about the Summer Sunday Dinners is not the meal I have prepared or how beautiful my table decor is ... it's that we are all family and together.. 

Menu consisted of:
Raw yellow & red peppers & celery with onion dip 

Fresh Spring Mix Salad
Roasted Potatoes on the Grill
Smoked Summer Chicken Sausage
Apple Cobbler 

Recipe for the Apple Cobbler below-  ((It was a hit!!))  

3 tbsp. Land o Lakes cinnamon sugar butter (amazing to cook with!!) 
1 c. Bisquick
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. milk
3 cups of fresh apples (can be fresh, frozen
(thawed) or canned)

Turn oven to 375°F.Melt 3 tablespoons butter in 8 x 8 inch baking dish. Mix Bisquick, sugar, and milk. Pour over melted butter. Spoon fruit over. If using canned peaches, pour on some of the juice also.
Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes. Bake in 9 x 13 inch pan.

Daughter Karly - Son Jon Eric 

Jon Eric, Me, Karly

Jon Eric-LOML-Karly

Hope you are enjoying the summer with your family -

Thanks for stopping by!
Valarie 

Yesterday.....

I am so glad that I started the Summer Sunday family dinners.. They have been fun, and it is interesting to have all 4 of the kids home each week. Each of them have their heartbreak, their version of happy, and day to day struggles. 

As perfect & charmed as my blog may appear our blended family is not immune to every day life... broken hearts, broken promises, and empty dreams. We are a real family - We have each other, LOML & I have a blue cottage we call Home and it serves us well. For this I am thankful.  

We did have a surprise guest yesterday... MY Sweet Mama drove up to see the 4 grandkids and attend the dinner. She lives about 2 hours East from us. I loved having her here. She is such a dear.. It is amazing the peace she brings to all of us. She is my Mother, my Rock and I adore her.

MY GRANDSON jACK AGE 3- (Daughter Ashley's son) 

My Mama, son (Jon-Eric) and LOML (Tim) reviewing Mama's pictures of a recent trip to Europe 

My Mama and her Grandson 

My son Jon Eric - dealing with a heart break right now..  I took this picture out of the dining room window - he is on his iphone writing and journaling ... On his chest is the book The Purpose Driven Life  

My Mama always a sweetheart, (you don't know it, I recognize the look she is about to cry) while hugging her GRANDSON telling him how much she loves him. 

Love of my life and my son.. 

Daughter Karly & jon Eric 

Grandson Jack playing football

Missing in pictures... Daughter Ashley, Jack's brother Wesley who is at camp, and son Jonathan who was visiting out of town college friends.

Menu Tonight
Grilled Pork Chops
Spinach Salad
Roasted Red Potatoes with Rosemary
Freshly Baked Apple Pie (a weekly favorite, recipe of my Grandmother's)
Thanks for stopping by and visiting my family...
Valarie  

Cooking it up!

Sharing my Family & Summer Sunday dinner meal with you!!  

Menu: 

• Grilled Pork Chops marinated in jalapeno jelly 
• Peach Pie - Find recipe here! 
• Steamed fresh green beans 
• Baked squash casserole-  Courtesy of Paula Deen 
• All fresh vegetables farm grown at The Smithville Ranch... my dear friend Christina! 

Fresh Squash 

=great Baked Squash recipe courtesy of Paula Deen.. 

Peach pie was a hit... was talking while making so my lattice work is not perfect! :(

My hope is you enjoyed your Sunday with family - 

3 of the 4 kids... (we miss you Ashley!!)
Have a great week!
Valarie

Have a great week! 

Freedom & Remembrance

Three of the four kids were here to celebrate with a Memorial Day holiday..... we had the delectable BBQ dinner. May we never forget to honor our country and those who fought to honor it.....

Jon Eric, Jonathan, Karly 

Jonathan, Karly, me, Jon Eric 

Jonathan, Karly, (love of my life) Tim, Jon Eric 

Jon Eric & Jonathan 

Hope you enjoy the day with family and loved ones! 

Valarie

Summer Sunday

Since 3 of the 4 kids are close by this summer, I am planning frequent dinners on Sunday. All of the kids are so busy with new careers and one left in college it's nice to catch up with them once a week and enjoy movies, new recipes, memories ... & enjoy the summer.. These are the recipes I tried out on them!!

Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers -

Recipe here .. 

INGREDIENTS

• 4 bell peppers, any color
• Salt
• 5 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, peeled and chopped
• 1 lb of lean ground beef  ( I USED TURKEY WE DON'T EAT BEEF!)  
• 1 1/2 cup of cooked rice (I USED BROWN RICE!!!)  
• 1 cup chopped tomatoes, fresh or canned (if using can, drain of excess liquid first)
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
• Fresh ground pepper
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 tsp of Worcestershire Sauce
• Dash of Tabasco sauce (I added 2 dashes - men at this dinner loved spicy!!) 
• Go to this recipe link for method -- 

Spinach Salad -
Spinach, fresh cherry tomatoes, pine nuts, mandarin oranges, dried cranberries - Toss & serve! 

Blueberry Banana Pie 

Yes, this is a store bought pie crust but the filling is homemade....

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 cups whipped topping
• 4 medium firm bananas, sliced
• 2 (9 inch) pastry shells, baked
• 1 (21 ounce) can blueberry pie filling
• fresh blueberries and mint and additional sliced bananas (optional)

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Fold in whipped topping and bananas. Pour into pastry shells. Spread with pie filling. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Just before serving, garnish with blueberries, mint and bananas if desired.

Hope you try the recipes out... The kids were here for dinner Sunday night - we had a blast!
Valarie