My Own Little Corner

• 1 ¼ pounds Tyson grilled chicken breast (found in the freezer section)
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 3 – 4 cloves garlic (minced or pressed)
• 2 – 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
• 1 ¾ cups Chicken Broth
• 1 cup Pace Picante Sauce (choose the hotness level you prefer)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 can (about 15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (about 15 ounces)  whole kernel corn

(* Optional grill your own chicken)

How to Make It

Heat 1-2 tablespoons oil in a Large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 10 minutes or until well browned on both sides. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.

Heat the remaining oil in the same skillet. Add the chopped onions and let it cook until almost done, then add the garlic. Cook an additional 2 – 3 minutes and stir in well, then remove it from the skillet. Add a little more olive oil to the skillet if needed. Add the rice and stir while cooking until golden brown. Stir in the broth, picante sauce and cumin then heat to a simmer. Cover and simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes. While the rice mixture is cooking cut the chicken into bite-size pieces.

Stir in the chicken, beans and corn. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until everything is hot.

KEEP SMILING!

 

 

1 package (8 ounce) cream cheese, softened

½ cup butter, softened

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 package (15.25 ounces) chocolate or Devils food cake mix

1 package (12 ounce) semisweet chocolate chips

½ cup powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese and butter in a large bowl at medium speed 3 minutes or until light and creamy. Beat in the egg and vanilla, just until blended. At low speed, beat in the dry cake mix until combined; stir in the chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or until chilled. Place powdered sugar in a small bowl.

Preheat oven to 350 . Using 1 tablespoon of dough per cookie, roll it into a 1”ball. Coat with powdered sugar; place on parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

Bake 10-12 minutes or until set. Cool completely on wire rack.

KEEP SMILING!

We can all brighten our days by finding the things we are grateful for in life! Let’s start with our mothers ❤️

Hello everyone,

Sorry I have been gone for a while! Luckily it was just two bouts with bronchitis, a sinus infection and pink eye. Luckily and just aren’t words we usually used in cases like that but, in light of what is going on in the world I feel very blessed and grateful to be strong and healthy again. I think that it is time to switch gears for a minute to feed our souls instead of our stomachs.

I have had a fair amount of challenges to overcome in my life and I would like to share what I believe is the one thing that has made the biggest difference for me in giving me strength to overcome them all!

From the time that I was a small child the one person in my life that has always been my very best friend is my Savior Jesus Christ! He has always been there, He has never let me down, He has blessed me in ways that I could not have imagined and even in the times that the outcome could not be what I had hoped it would. He was there caring me when my own strength was not enough!

This poem is a bit dated, but it will forever be one of my favorites. It helps me put things into perspective. I hope and pray that it is helpful for you as well!

 

WHOSE HANDS?

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.

A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is worth about $33 million.

It depends whose hands it’s in.

 

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.

A baseball in Mark McGwire’s hands is worth about $19 million.

It depends whose hands it’s in.

 

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.

A tennis racket in Venus Williams’ hands is a Wimbledon Championship.

It depends whose hands it’s in.

 

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal.

A rod in Moses’ hands will part the mighty sea.

It depends whose hands it’s in.

 

A sling shot in my hands is a kid’s toy.

A sling shot in David’s hands is a mighty weapon.

It depends whose hands it’s in.

 

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish

sandwiches.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God’s hands will feed thousands.

It depends whose hands it’s in.

 

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.

Nails in Jesus Christ’s hands will produce salvation for the entire

world.

It depends whose hands it’s in.

 

As you see now it depends whose hands it’s in. So put your concerns,

your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and

your relationships in God’s hands because …

 

It depends whose hands it’s in.

 

— Author unknown.

 

KEEP SMILING

 

2 ½ pounds ground beef (very lean if possible)

1 ½ teaspoons sage

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

2 eggs

2 cups onion

3 large cloves garlic

15 ounce can tomato sauce

1 cup breadcrumbs (plain or seasoned)

 

Sauce

1 cup packed dark brown sugar

½ -1 cup tomato sauce or chili sauce

Mix and set aside to spread on finished meatloaf.

 

Mix all ingredients for meat loaf together and place in your pan. Spread the sauce on top and bake at 350 for about 60-90 minutes.

Keep Smiling!

When our Savior Jesus Christ came to earth and left his Heavenly Home, he did it with his heart full of love for all of us.  It is evident as we read in the scriptures of his pleas to the Father for the cup to pass in the garden, it must have been a heavier weight than even he could have imagined.

He came even though he knew the great work he had to do would be very difficult, even for him. He came as a baby trusting Mary and Joseph to care for him until he was old enough to take care of himself. He came even though he knew there would be many that would not accept his offering. He came because he loves us!

The love required for this selfless act of service is beyond our comprehension. But He came and He did it for us! He didn’t just give us his love he is love!

It is my hope and prayer that as we celebrate his birth and our thoughts turn to him this Christmas season, that each of us will make a permanent place in our hearts for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Not just at Christmas but forever!

That we will give to him all our love as he has done for us!

Keep Smiling!

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1-pound Kraft caramels

2 cubes butter

Rice Krispies cereal

1 bag regular size marshmallows

Optional: coconut instead of the Rice Krispies

Heat and melt the top three ingredients in a double boiler (do not boil), Stir until smooth. Remove from heat and dip the marshmallows in the caramel mixture using a shish kabob skewer or whatever you have and roll them in the Rice Krispies or coconut and place on a baking sheet lined with foil and lightly sprayed with cooking spray.

Makes about 50

KEEP SMILING!

Shortbread cookies (the circle cookies that have fudge stripes on one side)

Big marshmallows

1 -12 ounce bag Chocolate chips or melting chocolate

1 tablespoon shortening

White frosting

Sugar sprinkles (color to fit the occasion)

 

In a small pan on top of the stove melt the chocolate and shortening on the lowest setting your stove has, stirring constantly.  You can also use a double boiler.

Place the cookies upside down on a cookies sheet lined with aluminum foil.

Take the marshmallows one at a time and dip them in the chocolate using a spoon to cover all the sides. Tap the spoon with the marshmallow in it on the side of the pan. This allows any excess chocolate to drip off and makes a smooth coating on the marshmallow. Place each chocolate covered marshmallow in the center of a cookie.

When all the cookies have marshmallows, place the tray in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes allowing the chocolate to harden.

With white frosting make the shape of a buckle on the front of a hat and then sprinkle it with the sugar sprinkles. If you need to, use a toothpick very gently to perfect the shape of the buckle. Add the buckles one at a time making sure to hold the cookie part so you don’t leave fingerprints on the hat.

Refrigerate again for a few minutes to allow the buckles to harden and then store at room temperature.

Optional: These hats can be decorated for any occasion by putting a simple hat band around the hat with the frosting and sprinkles, or a shamrock for Saint Patrick’s Day etc.

Keep Smiling!

4 cups Miniature marshmallows

1 cup Butterscotch chips

3 tablespoons Butter

3 quarts Popped popcorn

1 (12 ounce) jar Hot fudge sauce

Optional – you can substitute peanut butter chips in place of the Butterscotch chips if you prefer.

Pop the popcorn and remove all the un-popped kernels. In a large pan over low heat melt the marshmallows, butterscotch chips and butter; stirring until smooth. Pour over the popcorn and stir until all the popcorn is coated. Press one half of the mixture firmly onto the bottom of a 9-inch square pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Spread the fudge sauce evenly over this mixture. Press the remaining half of the popcorn mixture over the fudge layer. Allow it to cool and then cut it into desired size pieces.

KEEP SMILING!

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups oats

1 1/2 cups packed dark brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup butter cut into pieces

1 – 12-ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup heavy cream

14 ounces Kraft Caramels

Combine the first five ingredients. Add the butter and cut in using a fork or pastry blender. Press all but 2 cups into the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle chocolate chips over this layer and set aside. Unwrap the caramels and place them in a separate bowl. Bring the cream to a simmer in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the caramels and stir until they are melted and smooth. Pour the caramel mixture over the chocolate chip layer in your baking pan. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the caramel layer and bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. When the baking dish is cool enough to put in the refrigerator, place it in the refrigerator for about 3 hours. Cut into squares and serve.

 

KEEP SMILING!