Key Lime Pie (WW version)

I stopped by my parents house on Sunday afternoon and my mom was whipping up this pie. It is super quick and easy, and by using sugar free jello and light Cool Whip and yogurt it is great for those dieting or with diabetes - like me and my dad!

1 graham cracker crust
1 box (4 serving) sugar free lime jello
1/2 of a small carton of Cool Whip
2 Light Key Lime yogurt cups

Mix jello with 1 cup of boiling water. Stir until well dissolved. Put in refrigerator to chill until slightly set.

Mix Cool Whip with yogurt. Add chilled but still soft jello. Mix well. Pour into graham cracker crust. Chill at least 1 hour before serving.

Oh my! Think of the possibilities of this pie: any kind of jello with its corresponding yogurt. It could be a guiltless pie filled spring!

Love Me

Hamburger Vegetable Soup

(I think these frozen chopped onions are a life saver.
I hate chopping onions and with these for most recipes
I don't have to.)

I have several vegetable soup recipes - and I like them all. But this recipe is so very simple and basic it may be my favorite.

This soup does have one pound of ground beef in it which makes it very filling. The ground beef also makes it a little more palatable for those who don't prefer the cabbage instead of meat version and a little cheaper than the nicer cut of beef versions.

1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 cups diced peeled potatoes
1 (1 lb) pkg frozen mixed vegetables
3 cups water
2 (10 1/2 oz.) cans condensed beef broth (not ready-to serve broth)
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained

In a large skillet brown ground beef (seasoned with salt and pepper) and onion over medium-high heat until beef is thoroughly cooked. Drain well.

In a large stock pan add browned ground beef as well as all remaining ingredients; mix well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 18-20 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.

Love Me

Strawberry and Kiwi Tart

Temperatures in the 80's and it is April! Makes me want to serve something light and fruity with supper tonight!

Dough for one pie crust
1 pint strawberries, washed and sliced
2 kiwi, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup apricot preserves
1/4 cup apple jelly

Place pie dough in bottom of spring form pan or on the bottom of a sprayed large round cake pan. Using a fork, poke holes in the crust. Bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned. Allow crust to cool completely then transfer to a pretty plate.

Heat apricot preserves until boiling; stir well. Spread onto cooled pie crust.

Arranged sliced strawberries and kiwi on top.

Heat apple jelly until boiling; stir well. Pour over fruit.

Chill for one hour. Cut as you would a pie and serve with a dollop of Cool Whip if desired.

Love Me

4/12/10 Menu

Joel leaves Tuesday at 5:30 am to head to Bob Jones University in South Carolina for AACS National Fine Arts Competition. Brian and I chaperoned the Nationals trip the last two years - 2008 Megan's senior year and 2009 Levi's senior year.

I hate that we aren't going this year but I don't hate that I am not spending the week sleeping on a bunk in a crowded dorm room. As much as I hate to admit it, I am definitely not a teenager anymore.

It will most likely be a quieter week at home with a little less running.

Monday - biscuits and gravy, strawberry and kiwi pizza
Tuesday - vegetable soup, patty melts, key lime pie
Wednesday - pork fritter sandwiches and California blend vegetables before church
Thursday - pulled pork sandwiches, broccoli salad, pink salad
Friday - Joel gets home! spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread, salad, angel food cake
Saturday - California baked beans and cottage cheese, chips, applesauce brownies
Sunday - Eat out. I am thinking Chinese. Maybe an early Mother's Day treat?

Recipes I will highlight this week: strawberry and kiwi tart, key lime pie (WW version), pink salad, and vegetable soup

Coconut Cream Pie

I am experiencing technical difficulties at Farmer's Daughter Cooks. I cannot for the life of me find my coconut cream pie recipe!

I will continue searching and promptly post the recipe as soon as it turns up!

Love Me

Virginia's Ham Salad (sandwich spread)

I have been promising this recipe for a while now but have not posted it because I wanted to have pictures to go with it.

Pictures of sweet Virginia as well as pictures of the whole yummy process. But I have decided to go ahead without pictures for now and add them later.

But first a little background on this amazing ham salad and its inventor.

Virginia is one of my BFFs. She and her family go to church with us - Robby, Virginia, Troy and Beth - the whole gang.

Virginia truly has the gift of hospitality. She is such a blessing to me personally as well as to my preacher hubby and the whole entire church.

And she makes ham salad/sandwich spread that is more addictive to me than crack. Although I have thankfully never been addicted to crack, I am pretty sure that my previous sentence is true.

1 pound of bologna
1 pkg (24 slices) wrapped processed cheese (like the kind you put on a bologna sandwich)
3 hard boiled eggs
1 Tbsp. sweet pickle relish
Miracle Whip (1 small jar)

Using your meat grinder, grind bologna, unwrapped cheese, eggs, and relish into large bowl. Mix well with spoon.

Add Miracle Whip to desired taste and preferred consistency. Refrigerate.

Serve on whiter than white bread (you know the kind that sticks to the roof of your mouth) and experience sandwich spready goodness at its finest!

Love Me (and Virginia)

4/5/10 Menu

We have left over ham from Resurrection Sunday.

I hate to say it but I am not a real ham fan. So, I really don't want to have ham every night for supper this week, but I really don't want to throw any of it out either.

I hate to throw away food. That is why my pants are tight.

Monday - Papa John's pizza while watching the Butler game!
Tuesday - chicken fettuccine, California blend vegetables, brownies
Wednesday - fresh green beans with red potatoes and ham
Thursday - pulled pork BBQ, baked beans, cottage cheese
Friday - bean burritos with lettuce and sour cream, home made salsa with chips, angel food cake with strawberries
Saturday - spinach quiche, hash brown potatoes, applesauce
Sunday - venison round steak, buttered potatoes, relish tray, fruit pizza

Recipes I will highlight this week: Virginia's ham salad, coconut cream pie, and fruit pizza.