Taco Corn Casserole

Years ago I went to the pot luck supper at my church and tasted the yummiest casserole. I thought, hey! I should be able to figure this out. So, I conducted one of my cooking experiments that are known for being either really yummy or really awful, rarely in between.  Lucky for me and my family, this was one of the yummy ones.  Now, it has been one of our favorite dinners for years! So, here it is for you my followers. If you haven't clicked to follow my blog, please do...I need followers to make this worthwhile. :) THank you!

Taco Corn Casserole

2 boxes Jiffy cornbread (must be Jiffy, this is the secret to it's yumminess)
2 eggs( or egg beaters)
1 c milk
2 cans cream style corn
1-1/2 c grated cheese ( I like Mexican blend, but it can be any you like)
1 lb ground meat (chicken, turkey or beef is fine) browned and drained
1 pkg taco seasoning

Preheat oven to 350*.
Brown meat in skillet, drain and stir in seasoning, set aside.
Mix 1 box cornbread in a bowl with 1 egg and 1/2 c milk. pour and spread on bottom of greased casserole baking dish, Dish can be round, square or rectangle. about medium sized. (9x13 is too big, btw).
pour 1 can corn on top, spread out. Top with 1/2 the cheese then meat mixture. next layer the rest of the cheese and the other can of corn. Mix the other box of cornbread with the remaining egg and milk and spread over top of casserole. Bake uncovered for 35 minutes.

Breakfast Super Sandwich

I love a good breakfast sandwich, so I created a healthy but very yummy one.

2 slices of your favorite bread (I prefer whole grain or whole wheat), toasted
1-2 slices cheese (again use what you want to I like provolone)
2-3 egg whites
1 handful of fresh spinach leaves
1/2 avocado, sliced thinly

Spray a non-stick pan and lay spinach in single layer in pan. Top with egg whites and cook 3-4 minutes till egg whites are almost done, flip for another minute. 
meanwhile  spread avocado on to toasted bread, lay cheese over avocado, top with egg whites. easy peasy. YUM!!!

The Perfect Plateful

  I don't like to seem as tho I do not appreciate my blessings. But, sometimes things are tough. I sugar coat it, if I talk about it because I don't like to seem a victim but, a survivor. This has not always benefited  me as my strength to a less charitable person is read as lack of caring about something. I haven't yet figured out the balance. So, when I talk about something publicly I tend to sound like I have it, mostly, together.

  Recently, I have begun to feel as if I am the only one who is a mess, or whose house is. I am not the most organized person, and while I am trying to get it all purged and situated, it is no there yet. But, I read everyone profile and see pictures of their homes and they all look like perfect little housekeepers. I am so envious. Why didnt I get that gene?  

  You see I came from a family where my mother kept everything perfect. I mean if you searched the back corner of her least used closet you would not find a speck of dust. But, I honestly cannot remember doing anything fun with her. My childhood memories are of her in the kitchen, cooking, cleaning, sewing. Now, I do appreciate how nice everything always was tho. But, I wanted to have my priorities to be different. I have never been skilled enough to be able to do it all, so I unintentionally had to choose.

  So, now I come to this past Christmas. My parents were talking about my mom's mom and her last Christmas.  I had never put it together before but, that would have been the time we were at her house and she threw me bodily out of the kitchen. You see she was a perfectionist and wanted the perfect last Christmas, all the best decorations and food, everything looking just so. But, what she didnt realize is that the perfect Christmas came with the price of her only granddaughter remembering her as a mean old woman. I imagine she was more than that. I dont remember the exact reason, I'm sure I was doing something annoying as many 8-9yo little girls can do.  Back then, no one would have explained that Grandma was very sick, and to please be more aware. Of course even if someone did would I have understood?

   It wasnt until this past December that I realized, she didnt feel well and was pushing herself physically to make Christmas wonderful. But, you know what? neither I nor my 4yo brother would have cared if we had the perfect decorations or food. I might have remembered her fondly if that last Christmas had been spent more low key, less worry on the perfection, more emphasis on love and affection.

  I dont know what my children truly got from their childhood. But, I hope it is love, caring, acceptance, the knowledge that they are important and special, that I am here if they need me. I don't have to be perfect anything. I just dont want to miss a moment to make a good memory. For me or them. What if it is that last thing they remember about me?

toffee bars

Toffee Bars

1 &1/2 sleeves of saltine crackers
1 c brown sugar
2 sticks butter
1 bag chocolate chips (I prefer Ghirardelli)
3 Heath bars chopped (or the bagged toffee bits, however much looks good to you)

Prepare a large cookie sheet by lining with non-stick foil or spraying, however you prefer. Preheat oven to 350*.
Spread out saltines in one layer very close together to completely cover cookie sheet.
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. add sugar. Stir till melted and combined well. gently pour over crackers, so as to keep them from moving all over the cookie sheet. Use an offset spatula to spread the mixture out and completely cover crackers. Gently place in oven. bake till bubbly or about 8 minutes, depending on your oven.
Remove carefully from the oven, mixture will be slide all over pan if you dont keep it level. sprinkle with chocolate chips, let sit while chips melt or place back in oven for a minute or 2. when chips have softened, use spatula to spread chocolate out evenly. next sprinkle with heath bits. leave in cool place to harden or place in the refrigerator to quicken the process. We prefer the fridge. ;)
These are addicting. I suggest having someplace to take these after making them or you will eat them all yourself. lol