Boring Saturday!!

Soo I'm sitting here on a perfectly good Saturday all alone!! The Farmer is officiating a collegiate livestock judging contest and I got left behind!! Well...I guess I should clarify...I was invited, but he had to get up at 4:30 this morning to leave. My body does not function at that hour....seriously it barely works at 9:30!! Anyway, I opted out and stayed home in my nice warm bed instead!! I have, however, done the dishes, washed clothes, edited some pics, and rented The Return of Nanny McPhee off pay per view....and now I am BORED!!! I'm thinking I will try out my new cookbook!! Remember this summer when got this cookbook??
http://thefarmerandthesouthernbelle.blogspot.com/2010/08/have-you-missed-my-recipes.html

Well they have a new one out, so I got it too!! I loved the first one so much I figured I couldn't go wrong!!

I haven't used it yet, but all the pictures look scrumptious!! Maybe I will make a few casseroles for this week since we we'll be so busy.

We have our Annual Church Auction and Dinner (last year's post http://thefarmerandthesouthernbelle.blogspot.com/2010/02/church-auction.html), I have a photo shoot, and we are leaving on Thursday to go to The Black Hills Stock Show (in Rapid City, SD) for 4 days!! Woohoo!! I'm soo excited! The Farmer is fitting for the Simmental Show and I will be shopping at the Trade Show!! hehe!! A ton of my girls are gonna be there, so I'm super excited to be reunited :)

Ohh look at that...Big Business is on HBO! I love that movie! Scraping the cooking idea, that's what eating out is for, right!?!!? :)

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Lincoln 9 months! - Hull, IA Photography

Little Lincoln was full of smiles and funny faces!! What a cutie pie!! Enjoy some of my faves :)







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Asher turns 4!!! - Hull, IA Photography

How cute is my little nephew Asher??? I can't believe he is actually 4 years old! Enjoy some of my faves :)







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Dinner and a Movie!!

Soo remember how I told yall about our Dinner and a Movie Bible Study??
http://thefarmerandthesouthernbelle.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-gathering.html

Well it was our turn again to host!! Soo I decided to go with a Valentine theme and use my scarlet (red), rose (pink), and plum (purple) Fiestaware!!

It's hard to tell, but the plum is a really pretty shade of purple. I actually didn't want this color when I first started collecting, but my brother insisted I have it and actually gave me my first place setting of plum...he could care less about dishes but is a huge LSU fan and wanted to make sure I had his colors!! Ever since then I have added more and more pieces of plum...and it will most definitely come in handy for my Mardis Gras Party in March(stay tuned!!)

This color combo was a bit tricky though...you see, I only have 2 place settings of each color of Fiesta that I collect...
http://thefarmerandthesouthernbelle.blogspot.com/2010/03/feista-my-love.html
Well there are 8 of us in our Bible Study, so of course I needed 8 plates. I racked my brain trying to figure out another color to go with the 6 red, pink, and purple I had....nothing seemed to work!! I thought maybe white..but I don't have the white Fiesta and don't really want it, so that got vetoed immediately! Then I decided I would just have to get 2 more red plates!! haha!! Red goes with most holidays anyway, so I thought this would be the best choice. I figured I could just get the plates and not the whole place setting, since I didn't need everything else that comes in it.

I also decide not to tell The Farmer about my little scheme because he would just say to use the 11 million plates you already have!! Boo!

After we went antique-ing last weekend, I tell him I need to run to the mall really quick to grab something and he can just wait in the car! No luck..he insists on coming in, he surely sensed something was awry!! So as we make our way to the Fiesta display, I have no choice, I have to break down and tell him....I say it really fast, hoping he just let's me have my way, so we can get home so he could do chores! Again, no luck..he needs clarification/an explanation!! It's not like I can say "I have to have it" ...he sees the overflowing Fiesta cabinet everyday, he knows I have plenty of plates!! So I tell him I can't explain the way I am, but if I don't get these 2 red plates my life will be over and then I give him the most sad, pouty face I can manage and he says fine!! WOOHOO!!! He probably knew stomping my foot and whining were next on my to do list!!

I head straight to the where all the scarlet pieces are set up, before he changes his mind, and guess what?!?! No red plates!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Perfect, now what was I gonna do??? My main selling point was that I only needed two plates....just two plates!! I turn to The Farmer and quietly wail there are no plates!

Of course he doesn't fully understand the travesty, and picks up a plate in Paprika (orange-red) and proudly declares, here's a red plate! My patience is gone but I kindly tell him that it's not RED and ask if we can go check out the other stores in the mall. The Farmer hates shopping, so I knew this would be a struggle! He then asks was I sure there were none here in this store? I said weeeeelllllllll.....I could just get two place settings instead, then we could just go home!! DONE!!! HAHAHA! Well, it was done until he saw the price (the place setting is actually only 13 more dollars than the plate, so it really is a better deal!) He confirmed that I positively absolutely had to have these plates..(duh!!) then he said fine but I had to carry them!!! Just so yall are aware, they are heavy and I am a super wimp and a chronic klutz...this lasted about two seconds before The Farmer realized he was about to pay for two BROKEN place settings!!! He then took the load and we lived happily ever after with two more red place settings :)


Now back to the Dinner party!!! I just had to use my new tiered pastry stand so I made a few cute thing to serve!



Red Velvet Whoopie Pies!! Soo fun!!
http://www.pizzazzerie.com/parties/holidays/heart-shaped-red-velvet-whoopie-pies/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Pizzazzerie+%28Pizzazzerie%29


Candy coated pretzels!



candy coated marshmallows!



I have been dying to use one of my new fab drink dispensers...I was going to use the one I got for Christmas from the Farmer's Fam, but there was some "technical" difficulties (don't ask! It's all better now!) This one had some issues with the spigot but doesn't it look pretty!! hehe!



The spread.. Meat Loaf Minis, Strawberry Pretzel Salad, mashed potatoes, and french bread!

We had such a good time...especially after the smoke cleared (oven malfunction while cooking the meatloaf...it was just not my day!!!) We finished up watching It's A Wonderful Life...which was SOOOO good, can't believe I had never seen it!! We will discuss next week, can't wait!! :)

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Warm Toasted Marshmallow S'mores Bars

My sister (JayKay) called the other day and said she had the best recipe!! I immediately wanted details!! S'mores bars..how can you go wrong! We had soo much fun making real s'mores at our Lodge in Jackson Hole..she knew I would love this sweet treat!!
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/warm-toasted-marshmallow-smores-bars/902bb288-e52b-4aba-a264-925d20f37d98

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup butter or margarine, melted
3 cups milk chocolate chips (18 oz)
4 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, stir together cookie mix and crumbs. Stir in melted butter until soft dough forms. Press into ungreased 13x9-inch pan.
Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until set. Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Let stand 3 to 5 minutes or until chocolate begins to melt. Spread chocolate evenly over crust.
Set oven control to broil. Sprinkle marshmallows over melted chocolate. Broil with top 5 to 6 inches from heat 20 to 30 seconds or until marshmallows are toasted. (Watch closely; marshmallows will brown quickly.) Cool 10 minutes. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Serve warm. Store any remaining bars tightly covered.

The first tip I have is to use the normal WHITE mini marshmallows!! The colored/flavored ones taste a little funny with this recipe. In my defense, I wasn't aware they were flavored...I just saw the fun colors and threw them in my buggy (yes I say buggy..I'm from the south and that's how we roll!). My next tip is to be very careful while toasting the top....my smoke alarm went off and that's all I'm gonna say about that!! :)





Enjoy!! :)

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Cheesy Meat Loaf Minis!!!

Soo the other night I decided to make these yummy little meat loaves!! They are soo scrumptious!!

Cheesy Meat Loaf Minis
½ cup breadcrumbs
Cooking spray
1 cup of chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, chopped
½ cup ketchup divided
3 ounces white cheddar cheese, diced
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
¾ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon of pepper
1 ½ pounds of ground beef
1 large egg beaten

Preheat oven to 425
Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, add breadcrumbs; cook 3 minutes or until toasted, stirring frequently
While breadcrumbs cook, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion and garlic; sauté 3 minutes. Combine onion mixture, breadcrumbs, ¼ cup ketchup, and remaining ingredients. Shape into 6 (4x2-inch) loaves on broiler pan coated with cooking spray (next time I will line with parchment..it was no fun to clean up!!); spread 2 teaspoons ketchup over each. Bake at 425 for 25 minutes or until done!



all you need!

ohh you need this too!


and this is the coolest!! It's a cutting board from Pampered Chef...it comes with interchangeable little cups so you can cut then measure! Love it!

and you can get the extra strainer attachment too!!

dice onion

saute the onion and garlic

add breadcrumbs...I didn't really follow the recipe but who want to dirty up two skillets!?!?!


mix it all up!

add onion breadcrumb mix

mix it all up!

make the little loaves!

cover with ketchup

yummy mashed potatoes from the microwave!! ;)



I added some microwave mashed potatoes jazzed up with ricotta and butter, some fresh veggies, and homemade apple sauce...wish I had this all on the table tonight!! Oh well I did just make some Warm Toasted Marshmallow S'mores Bars, so maybe we'll have those for supper!! hehe :)

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This and That!!

Soooo the Farmer and I decided to give antique-ing another whirl on Saturday! Still no apothecary cabinet, but I did find this neato old printer drawer (what they kept all the letters in!)
I had just read this blog on Friday...
http://www.blog.acherryontopphotography.com/?p=7642
so of course I just had to have it!! Not sure if I will make a jewelry display out of or not??


Then the Farmer spotted this fun item!! A cast iron cornbread pan! Each little piece will come out shaped like corn!! LOVE IT!! My Momma has one, so I just couldn't resist having one of my own!

Then we went to World Market, and can I just say, I am in LOVE!!! It is the coolest store! I initially went to find these.....
Lorina Pink Lemonade...I really just wanted the amazing bottles, but the lemonade is pretty good too!! My friend Anna at Life Be Delicious wrote this blog...
and I have been dying for some ever since!! Anna, The Farmer would like to formally thank you for introducing me to another place to shop!!! Ha!!!


I picked up a few other fun things including this super cute serving tray!!
Now I can't wait to entertain!!! :)

I have a photo shoot and yummy recipe to share with yall soon...as always, stay tuned!!!

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