1 important life lesson

Things we teach our kids...

It is a huge responsibility to be a parent and one I think you are never prepared for no matter how much you try to prepare.  It is a also a huge joy to watch your children grow and experience life; even if, it is very bittersweet.  Now when I can not only have fun with my kids, but also teach them an important life lesson, it is a win-win for all of us. 

Giving back to the community was a lesson I learned early on in life thanks to my family and one that The Farmer and I have tried to instill in our children from an early age.  Yesterday, the kids and I along with my mother-in-law had some fun while giving back to our community. 

For the last few years, several times throughout the year, we have tried to make a 100 pound donation of pork to our local food pantry. (We actually buy it from the grocery store when we see that they are having a great sale.  This time we were able to buy pork chops for $1.28/pound.) Yesterday was the day for one of our donations so we headed to the food pantry with a trunk full of pork

and then watched Big Sissy, Bubby, and Little Sissy fill a refridgerater full of pork

that will now be used to help feed the hungry of our community.  It is sad to me that so many people worry about where their next meal will come from in this country and closer to home, our community.  Although our 100 pounds of pork won't go very far, we are glad to know that we are able to help in  a small way and passing on the importance of giving back to the community to the next generation.

How do you help give back to your community?

Quick and easy pickle dip

 

Are you ready for some football?

I know that this pigpen is.  As hard as it is to believe that football season is here (I mean where did the summer go?), we love this time of year.  Whether it be Bubby's flag football games, high school, college, or the  NFL, we love football.  So when I saw Gooseberry Patch's Touchdown Pickle Dip recipe in The Harvest Table, I knew we had to try it.

Touchdown Pickle Dip

Ingredients

2, 8oz. packages of softened cream cheese
1 pound of deli shaved ham, finely chopped
32 oz. jar baby dill pickles, drained and juice reserved
round buttery crackers or cracker sticks

Directions

Chop the shaved ham.

In a large bowl, blend cream cheese and ham. 

Finely chop pickles and stir in.

Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of reserved pickle juice; blend well.

If dip seems too thick, add more pickle juice.

Cover and chill until serving time.

Serves with crackers or cracker sticks.

Score!

Who will you be cheering for this football season?

Time marches on...

3 weeks to go.

The last time I blogged, Bubby had just graduated kindergarten and school was out for the summer.  As I sit here today, I realize that 3 weeks from today Big Sissy and Bubby will be heading back to school to be 4th and 1st graders, respectively.  Where has the summer gone?

The month of June was a whirlwind for us with work for this full-time off-farm working momma,

Big Sissy's 1st year ribbon collection

Big Sissy's first year of 4-H,

Bubby's first year of mini 4-H,

Little Sissy thought she needed to go to soccer camp in Big Sissy's gear

 soccer camp,

Big Sissy and my mother-in-law get ready to board the bus to 4-H camp

4-H camp for Big Sissy and my mother-in-law,

My family at the wedding

 and a very special wedding for Uncle K and Aunt N.

And so far July is just flying by so with the kids heading back to school earlier than normal this year with the introduction of the balanced calendar, their summer vacation is almost over.  This is so bittersweet as I know time doesn't go by any slower during the school year and my children are growing up before my eyes.  I know this is supposed to happen, but I just didn't think it would happen so fast.

So I must apologize for my lack of blogging the last few months and I hope to get back on track, but please forgive me if my posts are far and few between now and August 1st as I want to enjoy as much time as possible with the kids before school starts.  (We refuse to call it the end of summer as we still have a few more things to accomplish once the kids go back to school.)

Needless to say...

Time marches on

The Harvest Table Giveaway

Harvest

It is one of this pigpen's favorite times of year so  I was super excited when Gooseberry Patch asked me to review one of their newest cookbook's, The Harvest Table.  

This cookbook is full of yummy recipes that I can't wait to share with you over the coming weeks.  Now many of the recipes have a fall twist to them which will be perfect for our upcoming harvest season, but since we just finished up planting season on our family farm, I was quite happy that there were several recipes that could be made year round.  

In fact, I even found too super easy dessert recipes that were perfect for our family's Mother's Day celebration... Too-Easy Toffee Cheesecake and Heavenly Key Lime Pie.

Now in addition to these desserts in the Save Room for dessert section, we have found many delicious recipes from the Hearty Autumn Brunch, Soup Supper with Friends, Simple Harvest Supper, Thanksgiving with All the Trimmings, and Festive Fall Flavors sections.  Are you hungry yet?   (Just wait until I share the recipes and pictures.)

Now here is the best part... My friends over at Gooseberry Patch sent me an extra cookbook to giveaway to one of my lucky readers so be sure to enter below for your chance to win The Harvest Table .

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. Additionally, this post does contain an affiliate link.

Bubby's Big Day

Bittersweet...

It is the only word I can think of to describe Bubby's Big Day.


In a blink of an eye, Bubby went from his first day of kindergarten

to kindergarten graduation.

And he has been on cloud 9 ever since despite having to have 2 baby teeth pulled today.  (Don't worry he is milking it for all it is worth complete with a trip to Dairy Queen and a sleepover at my in-laws.)


Where does the time go?

Yummy Quick Taco Soup with a winner

Seriously what is not to love with the words yummy and quick being in the same sentence and when that sentence just happens to be a recipe it really can't get any better.  Unless this also happens to be where I announce the winner of Gooseberry Patch's Simple Shortcut Recipes ... time will tell.  But for now, let's get back to this super easy recipe.

Yummy Quick Taco Soup

Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef

1 onion, diced

2 16-oz. cans black beans

2 16-oz. cans kideny beans

11-oz. can corn

10-oz. can diced tomatoes with green chiles

46 oz. can tomato juice

2 1 1/4 oz. packages of taco seasoning mix

Optional:  sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, tortilla chips, jalapenos, etc...

Directions

Brown beef in a skillet over medium-high heat; drain. (Or use this handy dandy Pampered Chef Micro Cooker  that Miss Cris and Miss Leah told me I had to buy (they were right).  I had browned ground beef in about 5 minutes.)

Add beef to a large slow cooker.

Add onion and undrained beans, corn, and tomatoes.

Pour in tomato juice.

Stir in seasoning mix.

Cover and cook on low setting for 6-8 hours.

Serve with sour cream, cheese, tortilla chips, jalapenos and other toppings, if desired.

This was a big hit with The Farmer and will definitely be a go to recipe at this pigpen in the future.

And now it is my pleasure to announce that entry #290, Apple B, is the winner of my giveaway of Simple Shortcut Recipes thanks to Gooseberry Patch.  Thanks to all of you that entered and be sure to stay tuned as another amazing Gooseberry Patch cookbook or two may have just arrived in my mailbox.  

Linked to Beyer Beware's Hunk of Meat Monday

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store. Additionally, this post does contain affiliate links.

Easy Cheesy Appetizer from Gooseberry Patch

This super easy appetizer caught my attention the first time I picked up Simple Shortcut Recipes: More than 225 Simplified Recipes Plus Time-Saving Tips for Today's Busy Cook! (Everyday Cookbook Collection) from Gooseberry Patch.  Growing up there was a restaurant that had the most amazing appetizer that had the same name as this recipe so I knew I had to try it. 

Crabbies

Although these crabbies are nothing like the crabbies I grew up enjoying, they were quite delicious and easy to make.

Ingredients

7 1/2 oz. can crab meat, drained
5 oz. jar sharp pasteurized process cheese spread
2 T. mayonnaise
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 t. garlic powder
hot pepper sauce to taste
6 English muffins, split
Garnish:  fresh parsley, chopped

 

Directions

In a bowl, combine all ingredients except muffins and parsley. (I decided to mix everything, but the crab meat first and then add the crab meat.)

Spread mixture evenly over muffin halves.  Cut each round into quarters and arrange on an ungreased baking sheet. (I covered my baking sheet with aluminum foil. Additionally, since we ate these as a meal, I did not cut them into quarters.)

Bake at 425 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, until topping is heated through and golden.

Sprinkle with parsley.

Serve warm. 

Enjoy and don't forget there are just a few days remaining to enter for your chance to win a copy of Gooseberry Patch's Simple Shortcut Recipes thanks to Gooseberry Patch!

Special thanks to Gooseberry Patch for providing me with this great cookbook to try and share with you. If you would like to purchase this or other cookbooks, please visit their store.  This post does contain an affiliate link.