Cracker Barrel's Cornbread.
                        I developed a recipe 
                               that tastes 
                                  like it .

 ~Warning~ ***these cornbread muffins are Not figure-friendly by any means....maybe Cracker Barrel Restaurants' cornbread muffins are less fat than mine.  lol  
ps  These are great for a "treat" once in a while. 


I love Cracker Barrel Restaurant and everything about the place. 
I think that they make the best cornbread around.
So, I developed a recipe that comes mighty close to tasting just 
like theirs. 

TAMI'S ORIGINAL RECIPE:                                       CRACKER BARREL CORNBREAD

1 C. White, plain cornmeal 
1 C. yellow, plain cornmeal 
1/2 C. all purpose flour 
2 tsp. baking powder 
1 T. sugar 
3/4 tsp. salt 
Mix all. Then add: 

1 egg
1 1/2 C. buttermilk 
3 T. butter, melted 
3 T. shortening 
1/8 C. oil 
Mix well. 

Heat 1/8 C. oil in a black cast
iron skillet, til smokin' hot. 
Pour mixture into hot oil . 
Bake 400 degrees 25-30 minutes til 
it cracks or, if you prefer , you can 
bake the cornbread in a black cast
iron muffin pan; just check for 
doneness at 10-15 minutes. 

                               ~Enjoy !~

                                ~Tami 

MY CRAIGSLIST CHINA CABINET

I live in an apt. and needed more storage space, so, I       bought a China Cabinet for $110.00 on Craigslist.
           I will share a before and during picture
               with you and when I get finished
                  with it ,completely,I will share
                       the pics of the finished
                              China Cabinet .

 This China Cabinet style is called La Casa Aruba.

I love the detail on the crown of 

the top piece. 

 In this pic , I had not waxed the cabinet doors, yet .

This is the bottom half of the 

China Cabinet, which has 

the dark wax applied to it . 

I think that I will spray paint the handles 

on the doors, Espresso Brown. 

This is a close up view of the bottom door. 

 This is the middle of the China Cabinet .

I just wanted to show what it looks 

like with the wax applied.  

    MY FARMHOUSE BUTCHER BLOCK TABLE RE-DO
                & DINING ROOM HUTCH REDO ; 
                         a work in progress. 

I have had this Oak , Farmhouse Butcher block Table for 27 years and have loved it dearly, but, now, I feel like it needed a serious update, into the 21st Century.  I painted it my favorite color, Peacock Blue, using the Olympic ONE paint color: Jamaican Dream and used Valspar Dark Acrylic Wax over it .
Here is the ''work in progress" .....

I purchased a Dining Room Hutch
on Craigslist and refinished it 

in my favorite shade of blue 

Peacock Blue. 

Scroll down to the end to see 

the after pics .

                               I added some carved, wooden
          scroll work overlays that I purchased at 
         Hobby Lobby for less than $5 for 2 and I 
           was able to use their 40% off Coupon.  

I plan to add more of the dark wax
over the Peacock Blue. 

These are the carved, wooden Overlays . 

I plan to paint the Tabletop, whipping cream color like the Armoire I posted.  

I then, will draw a French Motif on it that says something about a Patisserie and Cacao . 

 That will be in a few months.  I will post pics of the finished Table, when I get around to finishing it.

I purchased some chairs off of Craigslist, for $12 each.
I went back to Hobby Lobby and purchased

some French Script Fabric and I 

reupholstered my chairs. 

I did a pretty good job

considering  

that it was 

my first

    time .

Here, is the end result.  

               BEST SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE 
                  with  PECAN PRALINE TOPPING 
                             that you will ever find 

I love traditions ; well, some traditions.  I l love baking
 and cooking and roasting all kinds of wonderful

foods for Thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter.

Thanksgiving is such a wonderful Holiday.

Don't get me wrong, we are always thankful,all day, each

and everyday for all that God does for us, but,there's

something so wonderful about knowing that people all

over this nation and even around the world, are giving

thanks and sharing a feast together with some of the ones

they love,even if it's not with their immediate family.

(I know that there are families that don't get along

with one another and some wouldn't get together at all

if it were not for this holiday (and two other wonderful

holidays),but,I'd like to think that some are taking

advantage of the opportunity to reconcile during this

holiday while they still can.)

One very special Thanksgiving. a friend from church

made this Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Praline

Topping and it was so delicious that I passed up all

the cakes and pies just to have a second serving of it.

As with every Thanksgiving, we ate til we were stuffed

and we thought about and prayed for all the starving

children in India and felt guilty for eating such a

marvelous and enormous amount of food, but everything

was so delicious, but, that dish deserved a standing

ovation.

It is a true Tradition in our home for Thanksgiving

and Christmas, and sometimes Easter. It's the cream cheese

that makes it different and makes it so fabulous.

I will share the recipe with you...

THE BEST SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE EVER

4 large fresh Sweet Potatoes,peeled and cubed

1/4 C. pure lemon juice

1 tsp. salt

water

Boil til tender. Drain.

Mash, using a mixer.

Add:

1 8-oz. bar cream cheese

2 C. sugar

1 bar real butter        

  

1 tsp. lemon juice

4 eggs

pinch o'salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract          

5 oz. can Pet Evaporated milk

Mix all with and electric mixer. . Spread in a lightly buttered 13 x 9 Pyrex Baking Dish .

                                                                                                               Topping:

1/2 C. flour

1 bar real butter

2 C. brown sugar '

2 C. pecans, finely chpd.

Mix all and sprinkle on top of the sweet potato mixture.

Bake 350 degrees for til set. approximately 30-45 mins.

                                                          ~ Enjoy ~

I am sure that you will love this recipe.

Let me know what you think.

I pray that you and your family are blessed this Thanksgiving!  ~ Tami 

MY ARMOIRE RE-DO

I have had this Armoire for 20 years and never did paint or stain it.  I decided to paint it Milk Chocolate Brown, then, paint it Whipping Cream White and make it look worn, French Shabby Chic.  I did not have to do any sanding, because I accidentally figured out how to paint it to look worn.  I did this by accidentally overloading my paint brush and painting thick and heavy in some areas, and practically ''dry brushing'' in other places.  Ta-Da !!! It was automatically Shabby Chic .  I added some more of those beloved , carved, wooden Overlays, from Hobby Lobby; my most favorite store , ever.  This gave me so much confidence, that I decided to paint my 35 year old Oak, Butcherblock Harvest Table.  I will show pics of the Table, in the next post.                              

The results are exactly what I have always wanted. I am so very pleased and it only took 3/4 of a pint of paint.

Here is a close up of the overlays. 

 Sorry that I did not take a pic of it after painting the overlays on top of the Armoire.  I thought I had.  The black wire on the left side, is the antena wire.

      MOM'S RECIPE for ORANGE ALMOND PUNCH

                                                MOM’S ORANGE ALMOND PUNCH 
                                              In Loving Memory of my Mom, Dorothy .  

 I promised this recipe and here it is.  
You will love this punch. I guarantee! 
  

recipe makes enough for 2 punch bowls

3 CUPS SUGAR 
2 CUPS WATER 
COOK UNTIL SUGAR DISSOLVES AND 
THICKENS SLIGHTLY.

ADD : 
2 REGULAR BOXES LEMON JELLO 
STIR UNTIL MIXED WELL. LET COOL.

ADD :
(1)12 oz. CAN FROZEN ORANGE JUICE 
CONCENTRATE
(1)12 oz. CAN FROZEN LEMONADE 
CONCENTRATE
(1) LARGE 46oz. CAN PINEAPPLE JUICE
MIX WELL. CHILL OVERNIGHT.


ALSO CHILL :
(3)2-LITER BOTTLES OF GINGER ALE 
PURE ALMOND EXTRACT

WHEN READY TO SERVE , MIX ½ THE MIXTURE

AND 1 ½ BOTTLES GINGER ALE AND 1 ½ -2 
TABLESPOONS PURE ALMOND EXTRACT PER 
PUNCH BOWL.
~

I like to freeze some extra pineapple juice 
in 2 Bundt Cake Pans to use as ice rings for each bowlful of punch.
You can place pineapple rings, lemon slices or orange slices in the 
pineapple juice after you position the bundt pan in the freezer. 

I hope you enjoy this recipe.
It is so refreshing.

MY ORIGINAL RECIPE for ORANGE ALMOND CAKE with CREAM CHEESE ICING

My dear Momma was a caterer.  
She and her best friend were fabulous cooks .   They used to make ORANGE ALMOND PUNCH for celebrations such as Wedding Receptions, Graduation parties, Baby Showers, Retirement parties , etc.  It was so delicious that I developed a cake to taste like it.  I am sharing the recipes for both; the cake today and the punch is next . 
                              In Loving Memory of My Mom, Dorothy. 
TAMARA'S  ORIGINAL RECIPE:  ORANGE ALMOND CAKE 

1 box Betty Crocker "Butter Recipe Cake Mix,(dry mix)
but follow these instructions:
add:
1 bar real butter,room temperature
2 teaspoons Pure Almond Extract 
1/4 cup orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 Tablespoon orange zest, or more if desired 
1 Box Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix(just dump-in the dry mix)

3 large eggs

Mix all, in the order given. Add eggs last and only beat on medium speed, just until they are incorporated. Don't over beat.
Bake in a greased and floured Bundt cake pan, approximately 38 mins. on 350 degrees. 
Let cool in the pan for about 5-10 minutes,then,cover with a cake plate and flip gently. Let cool completely. 
Frost with cream cheese frosting. Recipe follows.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

1 bar real butter, room temperature 
1 bar cream cheese, room temperature 
3 cups powdered sugar 
1 teaspoon Pure Almond Extract
**orange zest is optional in the frosting.
I added 1 Tablespoon of it to the frosting. 
Mix all and refrigerate til firm enough to frost with.  

***I will share the recipe for the Orange Almond Punch .
~Enjoy~  Check my blog for the Orange Almond Punch recipe....