Black-eyed Pea Extravaganza

We started the New Year off with a new muffin recipe Egg Nog Muffin!  They were fabulous and I will make them again when Egg Nog is in the stores.

Egg Nog Muffin

For Christmas, Melinda gave us the Pioneer Woman's new cookbook A Year of Holidays.  It was the inspiration for our dinner on January first.  I called it our Black-eyed Pea Extravaganza.    I served Zannie's Black-eyed pea dip from the Pioneer Women , Black-eyed Pea Salad, and Hoppin' John and Loaded Cornbread from the new cookbook.  The cornbread was fixed in Boston, Denver and Waco we adjusted it a little because the vegetables got a little to soggy on the bottom for us Texans!  Melinda had the best results since she lives in Denver she had the advantage of living in a later time zone.  She did not saute the vegetables and just mixed them into the cornbread.

Melinda with Ree Drummond

This is my recipe for Black-eyed Pea Salad it is like my black bean salad so you can use either kind one and have an outstanding salad or salsa.

Black-Eyed Pea Salad

2 cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed

1 large can of corn, drained and rinsed

1/2 red onion, diced

1/2 bunch of cilantro chopped

1 pint or small container cherry tomatoes quartered

1/3 cup of Garlic Expressions Salad Dressing
1 bell pepper any color chopped

Salt and Pepper to taste

Add ingredients together and let it set for about an hour at room temperature so that flavors marinate together.  It is great served as a salad or as a salsa with chips.  Also the Garlic Expressions makes this salad taste outstanding.  If your local store does not carry it I have had to order it online before.  I have written a previous post about it.

I hope all are having a great start to the New Year and trying to stay warm.

All While Wearing Pearls

Downton Abbey

I'm getting excited about the start of Downton Abbey on Sunday!!!

I'm trying some recipes from this cookbook from London!  

Best of 2013 ...Travel

I tried to take pictures of trips we have taken this year.  I'm not always successful but this post will have some of the highlights.

February started with a trip to Florida.  All I can say is been there and done that!

BOSTON

May was graduation month in our family.  It started with our youngest graduating from Boston University on Friday, May17th.  We are  proud of her earning her Masters of Social Work.  Here are a few pictures of that day.  We were really sad not to be with her after her ceremony because we were on a plane heading to Denver!!  I love the picture of Jim helping LM getting ready for the ceremony.

DENVER

We flew to Denver and arrived at midnight got up and attended Melinda's graduation.  We are now on the graduation marathon.  Melinda graduated from University of Colorado Denver with a Masters of Science in Accountancy and a MBA.  We are very proud of her accomplishments. 

CHICAGO

May was really busy for us with travel.  We had a business meeting following the graduations so our oldest daughter joined us for fun!  I love the Art Museum in Chicago and we started there with a great picture of the lion.  We took some great selfies and ate at our favorites restaurants Mercat a la Planxa and Le Colonial.  

Door County Wisconsin

In June I joined my oldest daughter for a trip to Door County.  I had heard of it for years so we decided to go.  It was beautiful and we had a great time.  I love the water of Lake Michigan or as the locals say the Green Bay (part of Lake Michigan), it is perfectly clear with smooth stones.  We enjoyed some farm to table restaurants.  I saw some beautiful quilts on the tour of the Light House. 

We returned back to Madison and I just love the capitol building of Wisconsin.

BOSTON IN THE FALL

Really getting into selfies

SAN ANTONIO

 El Mercardo

  The Alamo

  

We ate at some restaurants while in San Antonio, Luke, Arcade and my all time favorite Paesanos.

Washington DC

 Still Working on Selfies

I rode a ferry from National Harbor to Mount Vernon for a tour.  I loved arriving by ferry because the view was beautiful.  

The best part of the Smithsonian for me was Julia Childs kitchen. Bon Appétit ya'll!!

Fayetteville Arkansas

We went to Fayetteville for a wedding in November.  It was my first time to Arkansas and I will say that this part of Arkansas was very unexpected.  The fall leaves were spectacular.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Since 1989 we have traveled to Estes Park Colorado.  We go several times each year so I have a ton of pictures from there, so I will only post pictures from Thanksgiving in Estes Park.  We had a wonderful time with our family while there and yes I cooked a lot!!  Those pictures will be a food post.

The girls are standing in front of a road that was damaged by the flood.

Catch the Glow Parade burr!