Five On Friday: My Favorite Food Blogs (Right Now)

I don't know who started the idea of posting your five favorite whatevers on Fridays, but I like it! I've been locked up indoors with my kitchen a lot lately, so cooking and food are keeping my hands busy for now. Here are five fun cooking and baking blogs and a few recipes from each that got my taste buds going.

1.) Elly Says Opa!:

Smoky Pork Tinga Tacos with Avocado and Fresh Cheese -Slow Cooker Meal

Photo Credit: Elly Says Opa!

Slow Cooker Shredded Beef for Tacos (or Burritos, or Nachos, or Tostados) - I love being able to smell dinner cooking from the garage when I get home.

Photo Credit: Elly Says Opa!

Chicken and Smoked Sausage Gumbo - Jess, this reminds me of Albondigas with with scoop of rice in it.

Photo Credit: Elly Says Opa!

2.) Annie Eats: Sadly, I could not get you pictures for these ones. But just check out the links, k? Totally fun blog.

Queso Blanco Dip - Party food!

Mini Meatball Sliders with Basil Pesto Party food!

Tortellini Soup - A tasty way to get your leafy greens.

3.) Steamy Kitchen:

10-minute Thai Shrimp Curry - Dinner real quick!

photo credit: Steamy Kitchen


Roasted Cauliflower with Bacon and Garlic - Cauliflower roasted is something else.

photo credit: Steamy Kitchen

Chinese Broccoli Beef Noodle Stir Fry - Why buy take out?

photo credit: Steamy Kitchen

4.) Joy the Baker:

Strawberry Pineapple Crumble - Me loves your pretty dishes, Joy.

Photo Credit: Joy the Baker

Cinnamon Sugar Pull Apart Bread

Photo Credit: Joy the Baker



Dulce de Leche Cupcakes

Photo Credit: Joy the Baker

5.) Smitten Kitchen:

Meatball Subs with Caramelized Onions -Oh, yes!

photo credit: Smitten Kitchen

Iced Oatmeal Cookies - I've never met a cookie I didn't like.

photo credit: Smitten Kitchen

Crispy Potato Roast - Perfection!

photo credit: Smitten Kitchen

I do need to clarify - I only tried a few of these recipes. This is my recipe wish list and it will probably take me approximately six months to a year to actually make each of these things. I'll let you know how it comes out. ;)

Until then what are your favorite topics to read about on blogs and what are your favorite blogs? If you leave me links I'll be grateful....

Happy Friday (and feasting) to you all!

Using Up Your Easter Ham... Part II

When I saw this picture I couldn't help myself. I had to post it as another idea for using up your leftover ham. These yummy little sandwiches are made on Hawaiian Sweet Rolls. Umm, yes please!

Ham and Cheese Sliders

photo credit: Delish

A Kiss For The Little Miss

I may have already told this story to anyone who would listen because it tickled me so, but here we go again.

We've been spending our Friday mornings at the library. At 10:30 they have toddler story and song time and it's so much fun! Some have accused me of enjoying toddler story time even more than Sophia. I admit it. It's probably true, but I'm sure it's good for both of us.

Sophia was looking so cute that day and we just so happened to have a few minutes to take pictures before we left.

Hi Phoo-Fa. ;)

Warm ups. The wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round!

The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish.

swish, swish, swish!

Okay, she's all warmed up and ready to go now.

But real quick check out the braids.

So, we get to the library and after a few stories we end up singing If Your Happy And You Know It. The librarian instructed us that the last verse would be if your happy and you know do kiss, kiss. And she demonstrated how the kids should purse their lips and kiss the air. Evidently a little boy standing near by needed no further instruction. His eyes sparkled wildly with excitement as he considered his options. He started towards a little girl who squirmed away like a wise veteran of library story time. He was not wounded by her rejection, but rather quickly moved on to Sophia who at least had enough sense to turn her head to avoid a full lip lock. Stunned and speechless she soon occupied my lap and remained there until the singing was over.

So, it's finally feeling like spring out there and I can hardly wait to start planting flowers. I'll hold myself off for another two weeks or so, but doesn't it feel good to see the sun a little more and get outside?

Did you notice the stakes in the ground in the last picture? Ben is in the planning stages of building a larger patio area out of pavers in our backyard. Pictures to follow....

A Dinner Idea for Leftover Ham...

Our friends Tim and Jessie had us over for a yummy Easter dinner yesterday and we were lucky enough to be sent home with some of the leftovers. I love leftovers! And lately I love figuring out how to make them into new dinners so they don't go to waste and I don't have to go to the grocery store. Since many of you probably have leftover ham in your fridge I thought it might be fun to share ideas of what we can morph the leftovers into so we all don't have to go to the store, and if we do at least we don't have to spend much money to put a good dinner on the table tonight. I'll go first.

As I was dreaming of a ham dinner last week I did have the forethought to pick up a few things to make Eggs Benedict. It was pretty quick and easy and it definitely isn't something I think to make often, so I am counting it an overall success.


Here are the ingredients I used minus the butter. My photography skills leave a lot to be desired, but I'm no Oklahoma cattle rancher's wife...


One of the things I like best about cooking is learning new techniques. Tonight with the help of the Internet I learned how to poach an egg. Yay me!



And there you have it. Dinner good enough to make a grown man and a two-year old smile. Oh yes, and me too. :)

So, now it's your turn. Don't be shy. What have you been using your Easter dinner leftovers to create? What do you think of eating breakfast for dinner? And am I the only one who didn't know how to poach an egg?

Easter and Journal Entry #1 - My Heart Is Full

The house is quiet and still. My little sugar bunny is napping and my big sugar bunny is doing his P90X workout in the garage. My heart is full and thankful and I feel the need to share.

It was especially good to celebrate Jesus today and remember all the hope I have in Him. At times I am full of anxiety and worries. But I'm so comforted by the reminder that even when the circumstances of life are too heavy and complex for me to sort out I can be certain that He knows all things and WILL make all things right in the end. My perspective is limited, like looking through a foggy windshield, but He sees all things clearly. My love can be weak and prejudice, but His love is unconditional and available to all. My heart can be selfish, but His heart always has our best interest in mind. So when the muck that is life splashes up and gets in my eye, I can hang on tighter to the the truth of Jesus. He came. He lived. He walked in our shoes. He bled. He died. He rose again. He offered me His Holy Spirit. I believed and accepted. He gave me new life and the promise of a home in heaven with Him no matter what happens. Thank you, Jesus for doing what I couldn't have done for myself!

Here are just a few pictures from the Easter celebration at The Thompson House.



Happy Easter!