Cranberry Chicken Salad

4 cups chicken breast, cooked and chopped (about 4 large chicken breasts)
3 celery ribs, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise (start with one cup)
1/3 cup orange-blossom honey
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

You can bake or boil the chicken or put it in the microwave.  I boil mine.  Place thawed breasts in a saucepan, cover with water and boil until cooked thoroughly.  It takes about 10 minutes.  Chop into pieces once cooled.  Chop celery and add to bowl.  Add cranberries, salt, and pepper as well. Toss lightly.  Lay out pecans on a jelly roll pan and put in the oven at 350 degrees.  You only want them in the oven for about 5-7 minutes.  I add the honey to a microwave safe bowl and heat it up for a few seconds.  It mixes easier when it is a bit warm.  Add one cup mayo to bowl and combine together.  Add this to the chicken and stir.  You may need to add more mayo. Add pecans and toss. Put in the refrigerator until cold.

Lemon Cheesecake Bars

1 box yellow cake mix with pudding in the mix OR yellow cake mix and a 4oz box vanilla instant pudding/pie filling
8oz package cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Add the yellow cake mix and the instant pudding to a bowl.  If you found the yellow cake mix with the pudding in the mix then you do not need to buy the instant pudding.  Do not make the pudding and then add it to the bowl. Add it dry.  Also add the oil and one egg to the bowl.  Mix until crumbly.  Reserve one cup and then add the rest to a 9x13 pan.  Press gently into the pan to form the crust. Bake for 15 minutes.

In a mixing bowl combine cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice and the other egg.  Beat on low until smooth.  Spread over crust and sprinkle with the reserved mixture.  Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.  Cool and cut into bars.  Will make about 16 to 24 bars.

Sunday Tea Party

A small get together for some girlfriends. Various teas served alongside scrumptious treats.  

Menu:

Popovers with butter, blackberry jam, blueberry jam or apple butter

Cranberry Chicken Salad on sourdough bread

Lemon Cheesecake Bars

Teas:

Jamaican Red Rooibos (Rishi)

Green Mint (Rishi)

Huckleberry (a black tea from Ashland Coffee and Tea)

Blueberry Red Iced Tea (Rishi)

And we move on to the bedroom

Decorating a house is fun, but a lot of work and can be expensive.  I usually focus on just one room at a time.  The living room and dining room are pretty much done.  I do need curtains for both, but I haven't found any that have wow'ed me yet.  Curtains really do pull a room together, but when panels are only sold one to a package it can get pretty pricey.

Here are some additions I have made recently:

Bedside rug found at Marshalls:

Curtain print found at World Market:

New nightstand found at Trash and Class on Rt 1 in Ashland, Va and new rug found at Marshalls:

April Smith and the Great Picture Show

I usually do not post about music, but I am just so enamored with this lovely gals sweet, sweet music.  Successfully pulling from ragtime, jazz, swing, cabaret, as well as pop and belting out sassy lyrics.  Check her out por favor.

Mother Maybelle's Cookbook

A lot of basic recipes, but also packed with stories about times growing up. This was my grandmother's and gave it to me as a wedding gift. She knows how much I love Johnny Cash and June Cater. She also had it signed by June Carter on the inside. I hold it dear to my heart.


Never know, maybe it will get me on Antique Roadshow one day in the future. Oh, what a dream!

Corn Bread

1 cup flour
3/4 cup cornmeal
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3 tablespoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon bacon grease or butter
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
1/4 cup cooking oil
1/2 cup corn, either frozen and thawed or canned (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar and salt. For cornbread that is a tad less sweet only use 2 tablespoons sugar.  Add the bacon grease or butter to a 10-13 inch cast iron skillet or 9 inch round baking pan.  Every time we make bacon, I put the grease in a tightly sealed jar and keep it in the refrigerator. So when I need grease I already have it. Plus it adds flavor. You will want to pull the grease jar out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature. Put the cast iron skillet or baking pan in oven to melt grease/butter.  Take out and swirl around to coat bottom and sides.  Add oil, eggs, and milk to bowl and stir with whisk until smooth.  Pour into pan and cook for 15-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.