A Grandmother's Secret and a Giveaway!

I'm having a giveaway! Almondina Cookies! Enter to win the same package that I received, pictured below! Just follow the instructions in the section at the bottom of this post. It's just that easy! Come back each day and get extra points! The contest ends on July 1st, 2014! Good luck!

Almondina ~ "To put a delicious healthful cookie on every table."

What a mission! I received this package of cookies to try and share. They are "all-natural, wonderfully crunchy almond biscuits" No cholesterol. No added fat, trans-fats, salt or preservatives.

For the story visit here: Grandmother Dina's Secret Cookies.
Find At A Store Near You

As for the taste, I think a picture is worth a thousand words! :-)

Kendal digging into the Almondina with both hands, saying "Mo! Mo!"

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Elliott's Old School Country Ham

The other day the hubby and my son Elliott went to the grocery store. Elliott picked up a couple of packs of country ham pieces. When he got home, he asked me how you cook it. I told him that I usually cook it in the cast iron skillet. He told me, "No, Mama! For Country Ham, we are going old school!" He told me to find an old skillet that he could use outside. I came out back and found this...

 He cut vents in the bottom of a #10 vegetable can

so the fire could get air and he could add more wood.

He stoked the fire.

When the pan was hot enough, he added the ham.
Nothing like cooking "old school"!

Here are some recipes that you can make using country ham!

Ham Bone Pinto Beans

15 Bean Soup with Ham

Ham Biscuits

Aunt Vashti's Browned Squash in the Crock Pot!

I had a sweet lady at church bring me a bag of yellow squash. It was enough that I shared some with my brother. He loves Aunt Vashti's squash, but says that his crowd will only eat it if it's breaded and fried. I had enough for him to do both, thank goodness! Aunt Vashti's recipe is below, and then my crock pot version below that...

Aunt Vashti used:

Yellow Squash... about 4 or 5 

3 T butter

1 onion, minced 

Basil

3 cloves minced garlic

Salt and black pepper, to taste.

Cook in a sauce pan on medium low, stirring occasionally. I covered it for the first 30-45 minutes for it to cook down. Then let it simmer and turn golden brown. (about an hour to an hour and a half) Aunt Vashti's squash was always a deep bark brown,  and caramelized to perfection! YUM!

This time, I put all of the ingredients in my crock pot, and I added mushrooms. I cut it on high and got it up to temperature. Then I cut it back to low and let it simmer all night... Voila!

It was very good, but I still like it pan fried like Aunt Vashti made it!

Shrimp Scampi

My family doesn't always agree on what to have for supper, or how I fix shrimp for that matter. They do, however, all agree on Shrimp Scampi! 

1 (16 ounce) package angel hair pasta
1/2 cup butter or margarine
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup minced onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 pounds shrimp
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

Bring a large pot of salted water (with a drizzle of olive oil added) to a boil over high heat. Add the angel hair pasta, and cook until done; drain. Reserve the pasta water. 

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, onion, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Once the mixture begins to bubble, stir in the shrimp. Cook and stir until heated through. Add in cooked pasta and toss. Add enough pasta water to create a sauce as thick or thin as you want. Taste and adjust seasonings. 

Serve sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and add a salad and some garlic bread to serve.