Family Reunion and a Potluck Meal

Happy , Happy Friday to you!

I'm not as excited about the fact that it's Friday as I am about the family get-together tomorrow with the my family on my Mama's side. We don't call it a reunion but I suppose that's what it really is. It's really just Mama's brother's and the children and the grandchildren and great-grandchildren and so on!

My mother was the youngest of eleven. All the sisters and quite a few of the brothers have passed away. 

I think the reason we don't call it a reunion is because it is something that we have always done!

Our family is somewhat unique and close! 

When my Grandma was alive it was an every Saturday thing;

and 

everyone showed up. 

I guess you could say we communed as a family as it had always been.

There was absolutely nothing fancy but oh..how beautiful it was.

It still is for us now. 

My Mama and Daddy live at the homeplace now and that's where we all continue to gather once or twice a year. It's kinda of amazing there's always a bitter sweetness for the ones that have gone and the looks on the faces of the ones that are left but oh man...has one family grown. 

Now use to Grandma did the cooking every Saturday!

I mean a electric and a wood cook stove and two tables full of prepared food.

Lol..even if it was 80 degrees outside that wood cook stove was cranking!

Grandma was amazing and there was nothing like her.

It takes all of us these days. Mama cooks up a mess of stuff and everyone brings a dish or two but if you don't have the time or just don't cook don't worry there is always plenty.

Now that leads me to figuring out what I'm bringing. That can get hard because we all know certain things get claimed quickly. Don't even think about deviled eggs or chicken. 

I'm thinking I'm going to dumpling up.

I think I'll take my Turkey Dumpling Casserole.

http://sookz-nook.blogspot.com/2014/01/turkey-dumpling-casserole.html

The dessert I've chosen will be Apple Dumplings. They are dumplings but completely different than the casserole. Lol..I don't think I even have a picture. I will try to get some pictures and a recipe for those. they are very good.

I also think I'm going to try this new little dish I had pinned on Pinterest. 

I think I had a version of it at a dinner at work one time

and 

it was very, very good.

This is a recipe from Manila Spoon.

http://www.manilaspoon.com/2015/07/oriental-asian-coleslaw.html

Check her site out. It's pretty awesome.

I'll definitely try to take some pics of what I come up with.

I am the worse to tweek and change a recipe so it's always a little different.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Be Blessed!

Star Covered Cherry Pie

Hey Ya'll!

I hope you've all had a wonderful Father's Day Weekend.

I sure did!  

I baked up a simple cherry pie, I thought I'd share with you.

This is just a no-brainer kind of recipe. I just tweeked my basic 2-crust pie shell  with a little bit of granulated sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

I generally use the Crisco Butter flavored shortening. It always proves to give me good butter results. I am still using White Lilly All Purpose flour these days. I can't seem to remember to pick up some Martha White when I'm in a neighboring county. 
I'm not quite sure why neither grocer we have here in Stuart will offer Martha White All Purpose but until they do White Lilly is the next best thing.

I really enjoy making pie crust. I think it's probably the kid in me. I'm the get in there with your hands kind of girl.
Just cut your shortening in until it's about the consistency of cornmeal.
That's about the texture I like to see.

Take note to use ice water. Your shortening will work a little more to your liking as well if it's chilled just a bit. Just enough to take the smushiness out.
You've added enough water when your dough will sort of follow you around the bowl and sticks together. If it's too moist it will be difficult to work with.

Form into a ball and divide in half.

Fold up your dough, set it in my pie dish and fluted the edges.

I filled up my pie with ready made cherry pie filling and topped with cut out stars from the crust . In the oven at 425 degrees for about 45 minutes or until it's nice and golden.

The funny thing about this whole pie was my anger that was congered up when I put the large can of Duncan Hines Comstock Pie filling in my pie to find it was barely there. I had used this product for a long time but it simply was not enough to fill my pie. 

So...

I grab my purse and run for the nearest grocery store.(not Walmart but Lowes) to find that they don't even carry that brand at all nor do they carry a large can at all.

So... 

I purchase two regular cans of Lucky Leaf  and as luck would have it they were not the same cherries. The Comstock were bright red and the lucky leaf were dark.

So..I just kind of stirred them around om the pie.

I suppose alls well that ends well!

Have you ever had a simple pie not be so simple?

Thanks  for stopping by and sharing a little bit of pie with me.

As always

Be Blessed!

Take It Outside Sunday

I have been so glad to see the sunshine on a regular basis. Sunshine on a Sunday afternoon just screams, "cook out doors!" And for the second Sunday in a row that's what we've done. 

The Ole Man had been jonesing for barbecue ribs for at least the most of last month.

I'm not really talking about putting on a big put-on; I'm just talking about some real casual laid back family togetherness.

The right deal on a mess of ribs 

and 

some charcoal,

We were on our way!

Sometimes it's not about the fancy recipes and outstanding exterior decor it's really just about getting  out there and doing it.

Barbecued Ribs, buttery corn-on-the cob, garlic buttered onion, basic cole slaw, Sunbeam dinner rolls, and wash it all down with a big glass of sweet tea.

It will get the good times rolling!

Feeling Blessed on a Southern Sunday!

  

Happy Face

Country kids loving Country Cookin'!
Turkey Dumplin' Casserole

Oh yes...enjoying the day with the kids and just kickin' back!
The weather channel is predicting cold and snowy days as the week rolls on.
The kids haven't truly been on regular schedule, yet!
We're making the best of our time.
How 'bout you?

BE BLESSED!

Good Neighbor Finale

Just a quick little post to Thanks Everyone who participated in 

the Good Neighbor Hop.

I had a lot of fun with this and I met several great people. 

<center> <a href="http://southerndirection.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Southern Direction" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7i6Kh4OOgNfHYIn1sGO45I-mdxdL7IABhGoYxoI6HnsiN1L-ovSzQDFWRJAfgg0NV20nRKt8NlhFbTju4HO5cwOoo7J9nO838u0QnhFKsVZnRGNkRLRIVkDUC0aquSRWOUVycunHDwc-w/s1600/FotoFlexer_Photo+late+bloomer.jpg" /></a></center>
Our Late Bloom Feature goes to

Country Road Abode~Thankfulness in my Living Room
It was a very thankful and sweet post.

<center> <a href="http://southerndirection.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Southern Direction" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EGfDev8UAt8h7wON4DmPF5NTmSBLcgxewD-Eo-6a6qPXWzZj4Tgbx-QbLMiEbDHmQ6jwvAkiId93wU4D4kXzlbnUMBuXiVlSeyyw7uxFkXiDzYtCHnEwxkHJbUHjy4h_poNtqbmMCD6W/s1600/FotoFlexer_PhotoFeatured+button.jpg" /></a></center>
My favorite post and choice for feature spot goes to

Cheese Acre Farm for their Southern Pecan Pie
Anyone who knows me know I Love a Pecan Pie.

Thanks again for all who joined us!
The Christmas Countdown is on!
BE BLESSED!