30 Tuesday Jul 2013
Posted in Culinary Style, Yum for the Tum
Hey Dirt Roaders! I am so serious about the fact that you will love this recipe from yesterday…that I am posting it again…and a little more snazzy this time. I’m also going to pop it onto Pinterest for ya. If you want to follow me on Pinterest…I’m here at Along the Dirt Road. Now…how fun would that be? 🙂
If you did indeed miss yesterday’s mmmMonday! post…you can find our recipe here.
I hope that your Tuesday is full of all good things. 🙂
Smiles!
29 Monday Jul 2013
Posted in Yum for the Tum
Hey Dirt Roaders! How are you today. I hope that all is well in your world. It feels so good to be up and running with a mmmMonday post once again. This recipe is DIVINE! It’s one of those favorites that you keep coming back to…all down through the years. The picture above…was snapped with my phone…cause…like…who has time to grab the big camera…when something this YUMOLA is on the farmhouse table? 😉
The first time that I ever tried this was years ago (okay…not that many…) when I was a little girl. Our friends made this and had us over and my parents loved it. My dad still loves it. I’ve made it before, while the Mr. and I have been married…but I don’t think that the kids remembered it. THEY LOVED IT. There wasn’t a shrimp left to be found…and I cooked three bags!!! Plus….we ate a loaf and a half of French bread with it too. Dipping the French bread in the sauce…it out of this world. Come on…you gotta try it…and let me know what you think!
Without further babblings:
Seafood Marinade
1 stick of butter
Vegetable/canola oil
(Liberal amounts of…)
seasoned salt, coarse black pepper, garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce
Shrimp, oysters or crab
Directions:
In a 9 x 13 inch pan, melt butter on top of stove. Place layer of seafood in butter. Add enough oil to go half-way up on your seafood. Add liberally: seasoned salt, pepper, garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce. Broil on middle rack for 3 to 5 minutes. Dip sauce with French bread.
I’m telling you…so good that you will want to slap your momma. Of course, if you invite her over for this…she may slap you back. 😉
Have a wonderful mmmMonday! Dirt Roaders. Now….go forth and marinate!
Smiles!
27 Saturday Jul 2013
Posted in heart and soul
A good man provides for his family.
A good man laughs with his family.
A good man makes his peace with God…to spend eternity with his family.
A good man encourages his family.
A good man encourages his friends.
A good man uses the talents that God gives him…to make life more beautiful for others.
We attended a service for my uncle today. These are the things that I learned by listening about his life. Of course…I already knew them, but they rang so true today. God is good to bless us with men like this in our lives.
While the family was visiting after the service, across the road in the old part of the cemetery, a coyote trotted through. It wasn’t even paying attention to us. He had his sights set on something elsewhere. How fitting. We were there to pay our respects to my uncle…but he too, had his sights set elsewhere a few days ago. It was time for him to go. It was time for him to cash in on that heart that he gave to Jesus. After all…a good man makes his peace with God…to spend eternity…not only with his family…but with his Lord.
25 Thursday Jul 2013
Posted in heart and soul
My life is still in a spin. Do you ever have weeks like that? I’m sure that you do. Most times…all of the crazy in life comes in batches. Maybe the good Lord knows that we need major down time…most of the time.
The thing is…even though my blogging has been suffering and limping along….you, my Sweet Dirt Roaders…continue to visit. I feel honored that you would read my babbles. I have had no DIY projects to offer you. I have had a limited supply of junkin’ finds or much else too totally inspiring…and yet you keep coming by. I appreciate you….and you…and you over there too.
My sweet daughter went junkin’ today with her friend and her friend’s Grammy. She bought a prizey for me that I cannot wait to show you. I want to wait until I get my big camera out…instead of just snapping pics with my phone. You have been so patient…during this time…that you deserve a little more creativity than that.
My one request for you, Dirt Road Friends, is that you hold our family up in prayer. God’s grace is sufficient in times like these and I told the Mr. today that “When Jesus is right beside us…we can lay our heads on His shoulder and He makes it all better.” I am thankful for that…and I’m also thankful that you love me…you really love me. 😉
Love…from our dirt road….to yours,
p.s. If you drive by the Farmhouse and see lights at all hours…it might be me cleaning. My routine has gotten bumped to the side. Oh well…you gotta “roll with it.” 😉
24 Wednesday Jul 2013
Posted in heart and soul
Is it warm where you are? Are you feeling parched and dry?
Maybe you have had more rain than normal…and you are ready for sunshine…if it’s going to be summer.
Wherever you are….your Father knows exactly what you have need of. I am so thankful for that. Did you know that God thinks that YOU are awesome? I ask our kid’s at church that question all the time. Then I ask them to repeat after me….”God thinks that I’m awesome.” You should see the smiles on their faces.
Maybe you are in the Dog Days of summer….or in the Dog Days of life. I just wanted you to know that Someone cares about you. He cares about me. He has our best interest at heart.
Have a wonderful Wednesday afternoon, Dirt Roaders. Sending love…from our dirt road to yours.
23 Tuesday Jul 2013
Posted in heart and soul, Simply...living
Just wanted to let you know that in the middle of all of the crazy that is called “our life” right now….that I am still here.
Truth is….my PawPaw has been in the hospital…and we have some other family members that are on Hospice…so things have been a bit touch and go.
Prayers for our neck of the dirt road are so appreciated. We shall return to your regularly scheduled program…shortly.
Thank you, my patient Dirt Roaders. Happy Tuesday evening to you.
15 Monday Jul 2013
Posted in heart and soul
The love of God….
how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure…
the saints and angels song.
-Frederick M. Lehman 1917
I hope that you feel the love of God warm your hearts today, Dirt Roaders. Next week…I will try to be back with mmmMonday! This week…is a crazy one.
Smiles!
11 Thursday Jul 2013
Posted in everyday stuff, RaMbLiNgs
Do you ever have times where random stuff just flies around in your brain? Like this, for instance:
I mean…seriously…we just had the July 4th stuff going on…and I’m dreaming about pumpkins. Yes…they are my favorite thing to decorate with but….come on Kel.
Then….sometimes there are things like this in my brain.
Well…actually….this ^ is swirling around in my brain…a lot. Junk is my “happy place.”
(Why am I using the word brain so much?)
Then at times I’m thinking about stuff like this:
This week….I have been thinking a lot about a bedroom makeover that is going on…like right now. It’s a room that has had ballet slipper pink, boysenberry, and pineapple colored walls. Now they will be ballet slipper and salmon striped and sort of a sky blue/turquoise. I cannot wait to share it with you. Today…I made a banner for the wall out of vintage sheets. Soooo exciting!
Before I ever do a project…it swirls around in my brain. People think that I’m just…all sittin’ there being quiet and listening to them. In all actuality….I’m painting walls and buying rugs and moving furniture…in my brain. lol! I’m kidding!!!!!! I listen to people. I save my daydreaming for car rides and such…where I really don’t have to pay close attention. (You know…when I’m not driving.) 😉 btw: Tonight on the way home from camp…I stood on the edge of the highway with my little child…while he was throwing up. It’s all good. We were puking and praying. We are a talented family. 🙂
This plant died. Isn’t that sad? What did I do wrong? Someone tell me….why the Lemon Button didn’t love us?
Have a wonderful Thursday, Dirt Roaders. Thank you for coming on my crazy quilt ride today. Sometimes it’s nice to not have much form…and just to go with what pops into your head. Try it sometime. Take a mini mind vacation. Just don’t do it during the sermon! 😉
The preacher’s wife,
p.s. Really Honey….I listen! 😉 I love you!
10 Wednesday Jul 2013
Posted in Culinary Style, fluffin' the nest, Yum for the Tum
Hey Sweet Dirt Roaders! How are you? We are good…doin’ good. Life has been crazy…and summer has been super busy. Busy is good though. I missed mmmMonday! this week…because of some of the busy in our lives. Sooooo….since I was canning our beets from the garden yesterday and sharing on Instagram…I thought that I would bring a little mmmMonday to Wednesday this week. Are you down with that? I knew that you would be. You are flexible that way. 😉
Sooo…here I was laboring away in my farmhouse kitchen…and what to my wondering eyes did appear? My momma. How awesome is that? I know…pretty awesome. She came just in time. Plus, she brought our little cousin…to swim with my little one….so it was a win/win all the way around. She can peel beets like nobody’s business. Even hanging way over the sink…right Mom? 😉 AND…getting to visit with your mom…while you are having to work….makes it go super fast. I love you Momma….you are an amazing person. Thank you for teaching me the joy and satisfaction of raising a garden and putting up food for your family. I hope that your new wax pot worked and I hope that you are enjoying all of the goodies that I sent you home with. Plan that vacation….and get back up here….PRONTO…please. 😉
Okay…so….here is my “famous” pickled beet recipe…for all of you that want to know. It’s a little hodge-podge. Our friend Connie gave it to me a few years back…and I tweaked it (of course) to my own taste…..so…well….I hope that you enjoy.
Connie and Kelli’s “famous” Pickled Beets
3 gallons of beets
4 c. of sugar
4 c. of vinegar
4 c. of water
about 1 tsp. of allspice
sea salt (to taste)
Directions:
Cover beets with water in canner and boil until skins loosen. Drain and let cool. Peel beets and place back in (washed) canner. Add vinegar, water, sugar, allspice and sea salt (a couple of pinches) and taste. Just kind of go by your own judgement and tweak it to the way that you think they should taste. I don’t like them really spiced. Maybe you do. Just go wild. 😉 I love the way that the salt balances out the sweet. Cook them until they boil and then ladle them into hot jars. Seal…and wait for the popping sound to start. (My favorite part of canning.)
If you have questions about all of the steps to canning I will be happy to answer. Just leave me a comment. Canning is an art…and actually for me a heritage. It has been passed down from my grandmothers…to my mom and now to me. Even though it is a lot of work…canning is one of my favorite things about summer. There is a certain feeling in your kitchen and home…when you are preserving. Maybe it’s the essence of the Proverbs 31 woman….in the room. Whatever it is…it makes me thankful for this country life that I am blessed to live.
Smiles!
07 Sunday Jul 2013
Posted in sCoRiN' some JuNkItY JuNk
Do you ever…like…go for a while without doing something that you love and then all of the sudden, it dawns on you…that you miss it?
I haven’t been junkin’ for a while. That’s totally fine because we have been super busy and I have been loving all of the time with the kids. It’s just that I have been having these daydreams about enamelware.
As if that wasn’t bad enough…my friend Lynette…found this super cool antique egg box…and she rescued it from the trash! Can you believe it? That is like a dream come true for a junker!
So…in the near future, I may have to scratch the ol’ junkin’ itch. I have a hankerin’ for some enamelware with the blue lip. It’s my favorite.
Have a wonderful day, Dirt Roaders! I hope that you find a wonderful FREE treasure…just like Lynette.
By Rana Renee Dimmick
Along the Dirt Road 