Four Mamas In The Kitchen!

BIG POST TODAY!
BIG!
HUGE!
GIGANTIC!

Four Mamas Are In The Kitchen!

Oh Yes Big Stuff Is A Happening

In Mama Lisa's Cocina!
Mama Lisa and Mama Elizabeth
share their tradition of making
these wonderful treats!

Chocolate, caramel, sprinkles and pretzels!

What a lovely combination indeed!

Follow along and learn how to

whip up these divine treats!

First you will need to find a local

bakery that sells really good chocolate.

Mama Lisa and Mama Elizabeth feel quite

strongly about this!  Do not go to Michael's

or Hobby Lobby to get your chocolate!

You will also need to purchase
your caramel from

the same bakery.  It comes in logs! YUM!

Slice up the log as seen above.

Purchase pretzel rods from
your grocery store.

Gather sprinkles, crushed cookies, crushed toffee, crushed peppermint and so on!  
The topping choices are endless!

First you will take a slice of the caramel

and wrap around the pretzel.
This is the tedious part.

Stretch and soften the caramel
with your hands and then

wrap the pretzel in a
blanket of lovely caramel!

Mama Lisa is doing a good job!

You will want to cover the pretzel

almost to the end.

Line a baking sheet with wax paper

so the pretzels don't stick.

Make as many as you want or have time to.

Get your chocolate ready in microwave

safe bowls. Working with one bowl at a time

microwave on high for about 1 minute.

Check and stir and add more time if needed.

Be very careful not to overcook!

Using a spoon Mama Elizabeth carefully

covers her pretzel with the

yummy chocolate!

Place the dipped pretzel back on to the tray

with wax paper.
This time leaving more room

between the pretzels.
Mama Elise adds toppings while

the chocolate is still soft.

Oh how pretty are these puppies!

We did white chocolate ones as well!

So Darn Pretty!

We ROCK!

Let the pretzels set up.

You may need to pop the trays
in the fridge for a

few minutes if you live in a

humid region.
Being that we are in Colorado

where it is very dry ours set up

pretty fast on the kitchen counter.

We did stick some trays out in the

snow and that did the trick as well!

Wrap them up in pretty little bags

to give as gifts......OR NOT!

Don't give as gifts

and let your family

EAT THEM ALL!

Vintage Decorations!

One of my decorating goals this season

was to find some vintage

ornaments at Goodwill.

Well Mama found them!

I found these old glass painted ornaments!

I love the boxes they came in just about

as much as the ornaments!

Check out these perky little soldiers!

Santa is preaching to them!

They really want to make Santa proud!

I found these old ceramic soldiers

at Goodwill!  I got the whole bag of
10 for $2!

I just love them!

Stand tall little soldiers!

Make Mama proud!

And then there were three little

Mama Angels!

Oh how sweet are they!

They are wearing their fancy holly dresses

in honor of Mama Holli!

Bless their little angel hearts!

If you look closely the middle

baby angel has lost her wings!

"Oh no!", says Mama Holli

Then Mama Holli's own baby angel says,

"It's O.K. that just makes her special!"

Out of the mouths of babes!

We all have scars in one way or another.

Those scars be it emotional or physical

make us who we are!

That makes each of us unique

and very special!

Wise beyond her years that

baby girl is!

Step up to the stage Santa Mouse!

Bring your honey too!

Mama Lynette gave this Santa Mouse book

to my kids many years ago!

I recently found this old ceramic couple

to go with the book that they adore!

Look how cute they are!

Yes they are a bit cross-eyed but

Mama still loves them!~

What a cute little couple they make!

Last but not least......this special

candy cane candle holder is proudly displayed

every year!  My kids made this a
long time ago!

All they did with their baby hands was glue

candy cane sticks to a glass and tie a bow

around it!  So sweet!

So bring out the old and the new!

Spread the love around your house!

Make memories and enjoy!

Christmas is magical, embrace it!

Mama Always Says, "If You Believe You Receive!"

I just adore this graphic of our

dear friend

Santa Claus!

This is so sweet and jolly!

Makes me want to get out the cookie plate

and cup of hot chocolate right now!

Thank you Graphic Fairy!

Here are some wonderful websites set up

to track Santa on Christmas Eve!

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html

NORAD Santa tracker

http://www.santaclaus.net/SantaTracker.asp

Santa Claus

http://santa.lanl.gov/

Government website

Sharing Recipes! That's What Mamas Do!

Fabulous Warm Blue Cheese, 

Bacon, and Garlic Dip

This dip is to die for!

I have made this for 
several years now!

The recipe is from a cookbook, 

Stop and Smell the Rosemary.

It is a wonderful cookbook from

The Junior League of Houston.

Ingredients

7 slices of bacon, chopped

2 gloves of garlic, minced

8 ounces of cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup of half and half

4 ounces of blue cheese, crumbled (1 cup)

2 Tbls. chopped fresh chives

3 Tbls. chopped smoked almonds

Directions

Cook bacon in skillet over medium high heat until almost crisp.

Drain most of the fat from skillet.  Add garlic and cook until bacon is totally crisp about 3 minutes. Remove the bacon and garlic from the skillet and drain on a paper towel.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add half and half and mix until combined.  Stir in bacon mixture, blue cheese, and chives.  Transfer to a minimum 2 cup oven proof serving dish and cover with foil.  Bake about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped almonds.  Serve with sliced green apples, crackers or bread.  

I usually double this recipe if 
taking to a big party.

Sometimes I use a little more 
half and half if I 

think the consistency is too 
thick before baking.

  When bringing to a party ask 

the hostess  if you can bake 
it upon arrival.

It is so good hot out of the oven!

Mama Likes It Hot!
Mama Also Likes it COLD!

My friends LOVE this appetizer as well.
It is sooo easy and oh sooo YUMMY!
Go HERE to this post to get the recipe.

Texas King Ranch Chicken Casserole!

(These photos do not do it justice 
but it will have to do for now!)

If you are from Texas you have had
this dish for sure!

It is so warm and filling!

Great for a cold winter day

like it is here today in Colorado!

There are many variations to this

dish but all involve chicken,
cheese and tortillas!

How can you go wrong with that combo!

So Mamas just go to the kitchen and

whip this puppy up for supper!

The kids won't fight all evening cuz their

bellies will be so full they will

pass out on the couch!

Ingredients

1 whole chicken cooked, deboned and cut into medium pieces

12 corn tortillas (cut into quarters)

1 can of Rotel Tomatoes

2 cans of cream of chicken soup

1 cup of sour cream

1 can of chicken broth

1/2 cup of chopped fresh cilantro

2 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

In a bowl add Rotel, soups, sour cream, cilantro, and 1 cup of cheese.  Mix well.  Slowly add in 1/2 can of the broth. Check consistency.  It needs to be a thicker than a pancake batter but not too thick.  Add more broth if it seems to thick. I usually end up using the majority of the can. I can always add more cheese if I get it to thin.  In a 12 x 10 or so casserole dish ladle about 1/2 cup of the sauce into the dish and spread it around. Put one layer of tortillas on top of the sauce. Next place cut up chicken on top of the tortillas.  Don't use all of the chicken as we will repeat this layer again. Ladle some of the sauce on top of the chicken.  Continue with this layering; tortillas, chicken, and sauce until all ingredients are used up.  So you have ended with sauce on top.  Take the remainder of the cheese and dump on top of the casserole!

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until it browns and bubbles.  Make sure the middle is hot too!  I serve this with a green salad, chips and salsa! Guacamole and pico are excellent with this as well!  This serves 6-10 depending on the serving size. We are a family of 5 and we always have plenty left for breakfast! Yes I said breakfast! YUM! If you would prefer turkey instead of chicken that can be easily substituted with the same great taste. And for a speedy version you can pick up a rotisserie chicken and go to town or just throw about 4 medium chicken breasts on the grill instead of boiling a whole chicken. Any of these versions will be delicious!

So get to the kitchens Mamas!  A Hot Meal Is Calling Your Name!

Poppy Is Hungry!

Arriba! Andale!
Here is yet another amazing Tex Mex Recipe!
Lana's Mexican Casserole! GO HERE
SOOOOO GOOD!

GO HERE to get my SALSA RECIPE!

GO HERE to get THIS SALSA RECIPE!

Because you can't just have one kind 

of salsa on the table!

Doors!

Doors!

Doors lead us inside.

Inside a house, church, store,

school, library, hospital, office,

cafe, and so on.

When we enter through a door we are leaving

one space and transitioning into a

new space.
A door can either

welcome one or shun one.

A door is the barrier between

the outside and the inside.

Here are a few doors I have photographed.

Old door to an old house in Pennsylvania.

Love the ivy and love the moss on the steps!

How many families have entered through these doors?

Church doors in Breckenridge, Colorado.

It is cold outside but the doors are calling people in!

Old Church doors in Pennsylvania.

100 year old doors!

Beautiful old wood Church doors

in New York City.

These heavy doors keep the noise

from the streets out!

It is like a fortress to a castle.

A safe haven inside from the big, loud city.

Old country store doors in Pine, Colorado.

I love this store!  It reminds me a

so many Texas country

stores from my childhood.

Coke in a bottle and some Wrigley's chewing

gum would be a purchase I would make

from this store!

Old but fancy doors to a bookstore

in The Big Apple!

Very proper and very red!

Love it! It calls you to come inside!

Fancy Store Doors!

Lots of glitter and shiny objects await those

who enter through these

sophisticated doors!

They even have a doorman to greet

you or boot you out!

Yet another fancy prancy store!

What about your door?  Is it
fancy, cozy, stuffy,
red, black, big or small?

Whatever kind it is make sure that

it welcomes those who enter through it!

Marinated Shrimp Appetizer!

My sister, Mama Joy makes a

mean shrimp appetizer!
This is her special recipe!

It is served cold with crackers, bread, chips

or some just use a big fat spoon to
make sure all the yummy
marinade makes it to their mouth!

Ingredients

2 pounds of medium shrimp

(boiled using a shrimp boil mix

peeled and cooled)
We use Old Bay Shrimp Boil

1/2 cup olive oil

2 T red wine vinegar

2 T fresh lemon juice

1 tsp Worcesterhire Sauce

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp black pepper

1/8 tsp white pepper

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp tabasco sauce

3 green onions minced

2 garlic cloves minced

1/2 sweet red bell pepper diced

1/2 green bell pepper diced

1 celery stalk diced

In a bowl whisk oil and vinegar together.

Add remaining ingredients and stir.

Place shrimp in your serving bowl.

Cover shrimp with marinade and
chill covered for about 2 hours before serving.

Bring to room temperature and serve

assorted crackers and breads.

Thanks Mama Joy!

Vintage Gifts!

Are You Ready Mamas?
Drum Roll Please!
Follow The Dancing Mamas
From
The Graphics Fairy........

Kicking It Up With Some Vintage Gifts!

What Mama Would Not Like

A Fun Vintage Cookbook

For Christmas or Wedding Shower!

Oh Would You Look At That!

So Pretty And All Dressed Up

Ready To Be Read By Their

New Owners!

Can't you just picture the kitchens
these books

have been living in!

Some cute mamas put their little fingers

on the pages of these old cookbooks!

I just love it and I just love giving

them as gifts!

Let's Look Inside!

Look at these darling illustrations!

So clever and creative!!! NOT!

Oh now this looks interesting!

Fruit and green olives in a molded jelly!

Not sure what this is!

Not sure I want to know!

Got to love the fancy hot dogs!

What a nice little outing they are having!

These mamas worked hard to please their men folk!

I like the guy with the hat!

He is definitely

thinking he is a pretty cool dude!

He has both mama's full attention!

The other guy is saying to himself,

"Man why didn't I think of sporting my hat!"

So be creative this year in your gift giving!

Have fun and make mama memories!

 Santa says, "See ya later Mamas!
Keep baking those cookies!"