Best Grilled Dinner

August 10, 2015 by Debra 4 Comments

stuffed jalapenos pork chops! — Stuffed Jalapenos & Pork Chops!

Hi, my husband grilled the best dinner last evening- seasoned pork chops, corn and stuff jalapenos. I am one lucky gal who enjoys his delicious cooking! Kevin starts with a recipe and tweaks it to his liking. He adapts most recipes for the grill and I get to enjoy the taste of it all.

Ingredients:

12 fresh jalapeño peppers
8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 slices bacon, cut in half
24 toothpicks

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400F degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper (best for clean-up) or a silicone baking mat. Place a baking rack on top of the baking sheet. Set aside.

Cut the jalapeño peppers in half lengthwise; remove seeds and center membrane. Set aside.

Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic, and paprika together until combined. You could also do this by hand using a rubber spatula. Salt to taste – I add just a pinch. Spoon filling equally among all 24 jalapeño halves.

Wrap each stuffed jalapeño with a half slice of bacon and stick a toothpick through the center to assure the bacon stays in place. Place each on the baking rack and bake for 25-28 minutes or until the bacon is crisp to your liking. I like to turn the oven to broil for the last minute or two to get things extra crispy. Serve immediately. Cover leftovers and keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Make ahead tip: jalapeño peppers can be stuffed and wrapped 1 day in advance. Refrigerate until ready to bake. You can also assemble and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake as directed.

Best Wishes,

Oh My Dear!

August 8, 2015 by Debra 2 Comments

Hi, my dear was on his way to work when a young deer crossed his path. It wasn’t the deer’s day. I’m being silly I know, but rutting season is just around the corner. As you can see, my husband had a bad start to his day. After taking the images I was thinking of ways to avoid hitting a deer.

1. Pay attention to the deer marked crossing signs on the side of the road.
2. Slow down when you are in areas known for deer. Deer run in groups, so when you see one there’s usually another one or two near by.
3. Be cautious of the time of year and time of day. October – January is rutting season and the deer are on the move.
4. If you do see a deer, honk your horn. One long blast can scare the deer out of the road.
5. Should hitting a deer be unavoidable, don’t swerve. Apply your brakes and stay in your lane.

My hometown is approx. 20 miles north of Lawrence. I drive to Lawrence 5 or 6 times a week. Kansas City is where my husband drives 5 days of the week. Between the two of us, we are on the road lots! Our track record is for each car we own they will get hit at least once by a deer. I just can’t hit one in my new car! Well I’ve had it two years now- still new to me.

Be careful and be cautious when you see the deer crossing signs.

Best Wishes,

Early Morning Drive

August 3, 2015 by Debra 3 Comments

early morning drive — Early Morning Drive

Hi, each morning on my drive to work I see beautiful scenery or something unusual catches my eye and I say, “One of these days I’m going to take that picture”. Well this one morning I did it. Left for work earlier than normal. The fog was beautiful. Several ponds were gorgeous with the sun just over the horizon and the fog rising. Each one I passed I thought, “one of these days” as I have said over the past 20 so years.

I stopped. No other cars were following me. Pulled my camera out and took several images. These were my favorites of the countryside fog.

Best Wishes,