Recipes

It seems like I've lucked out the last couple of weeks and found some yummy recipes that our family has enjoyed...even Everly approved! Since we're now officially in winter, I thought I'd share a few easy, yummy winter recipes for everyone! Happy cooking!

Oven Barbecued Chicken Thighs

• 8 chicken thighs
• Montreal Chicken seasoning
• 1 cup ketchup       
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar, packet
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 garlic clove, mashed and finely minced

      1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle chicken thighs generously with grill seasoning.
      2.  Heat oil in a large skillet over med-high heat. Sear the chicken thighs on both sides until browned; transfer to a baking dish.
      3.  Combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl.  Spoon over the chicken thighs.
      4.  Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until chicken is tender.

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

• 6 medium baking potatoes, fully cooked
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 3/4 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 16 ounces sour cream
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• 2 cups cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped onions
• 2 teaspoons dried chives

1. Cut baked potatoes into chunks (approximately 1-inch cubes) and put into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
2. Beat together sour cream and cream cheese until well blended.
3. Stir in remaining ingredients until well mixed.
4. Spread evenly over potatoes.
5. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20 minutes or until heated through.
6. Sprinkle with additional cooked crumbled bacon and dried chives if desired.

Wendy's Chili Recipe

• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 (14 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
• 4 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (14 ounce) can ranch style beans
• 1 (14 ounce) can pinto beans
• 1 (14 ounce) can kidney beans
• 1 (10 ounce) can Rotel diced tomatoes
• 1 (1 1/4 ounce) package mild chili seasoning
• 2 lbs ground chuck/ground beef

1. Brown meat and cook until onion and pepper are tender.
2. Add all canned items, including juice, into large pot and heat through.
3. (You can also throw everything in crockpot on low for 6-8 hours once step 1 is completed).

Biblestudy Chicken Wings

• 5 lbs chicken wings
• 1 (8 ounce) bottles soy sauce
• 1 lb brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard
• 2 -3 cloves garlic, minced

1. Mix all ingredients together, add chicken wings, and marinate for 2 days.

2. Drain marinade and bake at 350° for 1 and 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. 

'And happy eating too!'

Birthday girl!

This is a bit late, but on Saturday Everly turned T-W-O! Everyone tells you time goes by quickly, and it's proved to be quite true since we've had Everly.  She is a blessing to be around and is learning so much every single day.  We are treasuring each moment and very proud of the big girl she's becoming!

 

On the big day we had some family over for lunch, cake, and present-time.  I think Everly's favorite part was blowing out candles!  She asked to do it again and again! Ever since Saturday, if anyone asks how her birthday was or what she did, she always answered that she 'blew the candles up!' She's not the biggest fan of cake and made sure to dissect the piece that she had.  I think next year I'll make a birthday brownie :)

 

Moving on a little...winter is here!  Not sure that needs an exclamation point.  Since birthdays are officially over we've embraced Christmas in our household.

Everly got a gingerbread house kit for her birthday and she's loved her new decorating project!  It's a fun, interactive way to enjoy the holidays.
First we had to mix up the frosting and set up the walls...

 Then decorating! Every day we've added something to the roof or the yard...

And our Christmas tree!  Everly was a good helper getting the lights out and finding all her ornaments.  She put all her favorites at eye level on the tree and visits them everyday.  She loves seeing the tree all lit up as she comes down the hallway after she wakes up.  Every time we come back from being away, the first thing she wants to do is turn on the tree!

Harvest Party fun...

Well let me introduce you to the cutest little giraffe that's ever lived...

Everly never actually liked having the giraffe part on over her head. Oh well. You'll have to use your imagination and trust me that there was a giraffe on the end of that costume!

And now some family shots:

The Doctor and Mrs Pepper

Cici the Nerd

Besides the recent party, another fun fall event included picking out and decorating pumpkins and gourds! Who doesn't love that!

Now to find the perfect one...

Vacation from sunny South Carolina

We went to the Charleston area with my family during the first week of August. Our vacation began and ended with some airport delays, but Everly was a trooper and great flyer! Here she's having a snack with Alex...

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We stayed in Seabrook Island, a little town outside of historic Charleston, and it was nothing short of wonderful. We were able to spend lots of time on the beach, which Everly lived for! Usually the first thing she said in the morning or at naptime when she woke up was 'ooooocean'...meaning hurry up and get that swimsuit on me, I'm ready to hit the beach!

Seabrook Island was lined by the ocean and its beaches, but also had tidal marshes and lagoons meandering inland. See the marshland meeting the ocean in the background...

The boys tried their hand at fishing a few different times and in different places. Here they're getting their poles ready on the local crabbing dock...

The first catch! Everly even touched Cici's fish!

They also tried fishing in the ocean, just off the beach. Look what Alex caught...A stingray!

There were rumors of alligators, but when they saw this guy floating along in the little lagoon they were fishing in, they wrapped up shortly after :)

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We drove into Charleston a few times to explore...Pretty old buildings and houses lined the streets in the city where the first Civil War shot was fired...

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Other fun little side trips included:

*Visiting a tea plantation

*Visiting the Angel Oak Tree...a live oak tree estimated to be 500+years old

*Visiting a Fun Park with sliding, bouncing, go-carts, and minigolf!

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We had such a great time and Everly is still talking about everything we did and the ocean she experienced. She was loving things non-stop all week but finally on the car ride back from the airport, just couldn't hang on any longer :)