big helper...

Hello Friends!

Yes, it's been a while.

I sincerely apologize.

But, this one little blog post doesn't

mean I'm back at blogging full time again either.

It's just that recently my blog has come up

in a few conversations.  Which made me realize how much
I miss it and that some really do stop by to read it and keep up with me.

Again, I sincerely apologize for my absence.

It's just that blogging takes TIME... a lot of time.

And there just are not enough hours in the day for me to get it ALL done.

So, since my last post, which by the way, was back on June 9th,

my baby boy grew up and went off to college.

No, not really, he just turned 3...

But he will one day... and that day will probably be tomorrow.  *sniff*

But, as of yesterday... he was such a big helper!

He helped his dad put out our inflatable snowman...

Here he is reluctantly wearing his hat...

The stakes were a tangled mess.

Oops, he saw me with the camera... typical of him.
Hey Jude, cute hat!

Patience is a virtue.
One glance up and I got it!

He's working so hard...

Ha!  Yes, he's such a good helper!

I hope you all are well and enjoying this holiday season.
We are all well and oh so very blessed.

Thanks for stopping by.
xo
rolo

tex-mex beer chili...

*slurp*, *slurrrrrrp*
Oh, hello... please excuse me while I lick my bowl.
I'm sorry.
I just can't help myself.
This stuff ranks up there with finger-lickin' good.

By the way, Happy New Year!


Here, I served it over homemade tamales.
My good friend, Amy, hand made tamales
over the New Year holiday and brought me some.
My, oh my were they yummy... she came later and
we made them together at my casa. More on that later.

Today I want to share this chili.
I want you to make this chili.
And I want you to slurp your bowl.

So, I'll stop talking now and tell you how to make it.
It's super easy...

~Tex-Mex Beer Chili~

2 lbs ground beef
1 can black beans, drained
1 can diced tomatoes
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
1 can Shiner Bock beer... or your favorite
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, or more
1 tsp salt, to taste
1 small onion, chopped and sauteed
in butter until golden and soft
2 cloves of garlic, chopped and sauteed
with the onion.

~Cook ground beef in skillet... while cooking use a potato masher
to break apart the beef for a finer texture. Drain.
~Mix beef in a large pot with the black beans, tomatoes,
tomato sauce, water, and beer.
~Cook on med-high heat for about 5 minutes, stirring a couple of times.
~Add the chili powder, oregano, cayenne pepper (remember, you can more
if you like it fire breathing hot) and salt. Stir.
~Bring to a simmer and cook about 10 minutes.
~Add the sauteed onion and garlic.
~Simmer for about 20 minutes.

Serve it with crackers or cornbread.
Serve it over hot dogs or tamales.
I don't care how you serve it...
I just want you to make it and eat it!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a bowl to finish slurping.
rolo

rum glazed pecans...

These were a fun and scrumptious treat to
make and give away this holiday season...

and it's not late for you to make and enjoy, or share,
for your New Years celebrations.

They are super easy to make.
Here, let me show you...

Combine 1/2 cup white sugar,
1/2 cup brown sugar,
and 2 tablespoons butter in a sauce pan.

Add 1/4 cup Dark Rum.

Put your heat on medium-low.


Begin to stirring to combine.

You'll want to stir continuously until it boils.
Continue to stir for about 7 minutes until the syrup
begins to appear clean and non-granular.

Pour in the pecans.

Here's where you can give another splash or two of rum...
if you'd like, or not. Then stir to coat the pecans.

Remove from heat.

Spray your baking sheet w/ a non-stick spray.


Pour the pecans onto your baking sheet and spread the out evenly.

Give 'em a little sprinkling of Sea Salt.

Followed by a dashing of sugar... or not, if you prefer.
This is totally optional.

Bake for about 10 to 12 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

Remove from oven, cool completely, break apart and devour!

So good.

Happy Holiday's Friends!
xo
Rolo

an peace offering...

A Holiday treat...
I offer you for my non-bloggin' self.
Please forgive me for my lameness the past six months or so.


Now, with the majority of our casa
updating complete, I'm back in my kitchen.
Yippee!


And just in time for the holiday's no less.

I made these the other day to give away...
that was after I "tested" it. mmm... ;)

*Salted Caramel Pecan Bars*

1 cup chopped pecans
12 whole graham crackers
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter
2 Tablespoon whipping cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp kosher salt

~ Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake pecans in a single
layer in a shallow pan 10 to 12 minutes or until toasted
and fragrant, stirring halfway through.
~ Line a 15- x 10-inch jelly-roll pan with foil;
lightly grease.
~ Arrange graham crackers in a single layer
in prepared pan, slightly overlapping edges.
~ Combine sugar, butter, and cream in a medium-size
heavy saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat,
stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, and stir in
vanilla and pecans. Pour butter mixture over crackers,
spreading to coat.
~ Bake for 10 to 11 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly.
~ Immediately sprinkle with salt, and slide foil from pan onto
a wire rack. Cool completely (about 30 minutes). Break into bars.

Enjoy!

Peace, Love, Good Food and Warmth...
Rolo

half of July...

Hello friends!

No, I did not drop off the face of the earth since my last post.

After spending July 4th weekend here...

hanging with friends...

having a good time.

I've spent the past week and a half catching up on laundry,
comforting a toddler that's cutting a molar (or two),
and scratching no less than a dozen chiggar bites.

Oh, and something exciting happened... Well, exciting for me anyway.
I finally figured out how to apply textures to photographs.
Well, I actually knew how to apply a texture to a photo... it was removing it from
the skin and other areas that I just couldn't figure out.
I've been trying to figure it out since, like, January.
I don't know why I wasn't getting it... It was just one of those things I guess.
Here's a handful I've had fun with the past few days...

Don't ya just love it when you learn something new?

As much as I love to cook, I equally love photography.
xo
Rolo

happy 4th...

Happy 4th!

Have fun.

Eat food.

Be safe.

xo
rolo

sweet lemon tea with basil...

Ahhhh... there's nothing like kickin' back in
the hammock with a cold refreshing treat in hand.

I simply adore sweet basil.
The flavor of it, the scent... Oh, the scent. *faint*
In fact, I'm growing some right now and I love to sniff it.
Yes, I'm weird.

This refreshing treat has a hint of fresh basil and makes it oh, so special. Yum.

Let's make it...

You're gonna need water, sugar, a family size
tea bag, lemon juice, and fresh basil.


Start by heating 2 cups of water and 1/2 cup sugar
(if you like it extra sweet, use 1 cup sugar)
to just boiling... Just until the sugar dissolves.
Remove from heat.


Add the tea bag...


and let it steep for about 10 minutes.

While you wait for the tea to steep,
gather up some fresh basil (about 3 leaves will do)...

and 1 cup lemon juice.


Put the lemon juice and fresh basil leaves in your blender...


and blend it for about 30 seconds.


Oh, it smells so delightful. *insert smiley face*


After the tea and sugar mixture has cooled
a bit, pour it in a pitcher.


Add the blended lemon and basil.


Spoon off the foam.


Serve over ice.

Now, go put your feet up and enjoy.

It'll help wash

this down.

Enjoy your 4th of July weekend!
xo

Where liberty dwells, there is my country.
~ Benjamin Franklin

grilled berries with brandy...

Because it's Friday.
Because we have two days until we
celebrate our nations independence.
Because most of us are relaxing
with a three day weekend.
Because I love you.

I give you this...

This is it.
It doesn't get any more American than this.
Who doesn't love vanilla ice cream topped with warm
berries in a sweet, buttery sauce?
It just melts in your mouth... mmmmmm.

Start with about 2 cups of fresh berries. Strawberries,
blueberries, raspberries, blackberries... whatever you
have will do. Fire up your grill or stove top.
Sprinkle about 2/3 cup of sugar over the berries.

Add about 2 tablespoons butter.

And about 1/4 cup Brandy... Amen.
But you could totally skip the brandy part if you're not a sinner like me.

Warm, stir, warm stir, give a good shake.
Total time on grill... about 7 to 10 minutes.

Let cool for a few minutes and serve over ice cream.
*slurp*

*Side note- You could totally to this with apples,
peaches and pears too.

I also think it makes a nice sidekick to this.

Enjoy!


“That’s why I stand here tonight. Because for two hundred and thirty two years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women – students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors — found the courage to keep it alive.”
~ President Barrack Obama