twochicksandamom.blogspot.com

Thursday, September 28, 2023

FUNTASTIC FRIDAY LINK PARTY 455 AND GRATITUDE JARS

If you'd like to join us as a party host

contact Michele @ Coastal Bohemian

HI THERE! IT'S ALMOST OCTOBER SO WE BET THE HALLOWEEN AND THANKSGIVING LINKS WILL BE RAMPING UP--WHICH WE LOVE!

OUR LATEST POSTS ARE FALL-RELATED:

CHOCOLATEY CHIP CAKE MIX HALLOWEEN COOKIES

HOMEMADE VEGETABLE BEEF SOUP

NOW ONTO THE FEATURES FROM 454 AND THE PARTY!

Meet Your

HOSTS

PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

Donna & Staci @ Two Chicks and A Mom

Heidi @ Building Our Hive

| Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram |

Michele @ CoastalBohemian

| Linkedin |BL |

Features from last week:

Monday, September 25, 2023

Chocolatey Chip Halloween Cake Mix Cookies

Hi there! I have recently retired from nursing and as such, I have a bit more time to do blogging--this will be my third post in just over a week. I have had some health issues at play for over a year and one year I will write about that. I didn't do much blogging during my treatments so trying to make up for lost time lol.

Today I am sharing another Cake Mix Cookie recipe. Easy to mix up and bake--I make them often for family and even send some to my husband's work (though he retired recently, too) or some of my kids take them to work to share. I love it when my son, who works at a gold mine nearby, takes them to work and employees from other departments come to his office and say, "I heard your mom made cookies. Still have some?" I guess I've made a name for myself with my cookie-baking skills.

Here's the recipe:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

One Betty Crocker Super-Moist Chocolate cake mix (that is the brand I have always used)--choose from Milk Chocolate, German Chocolate, Fudge, etc.

2/3 cup shortening

2 eggs or 1/2 cup pasteurized liquid egg product

Add half the dry cake mix to a mixing bowl, add the shortening and the eggs, mix well. Add the other half of dry cake mix and mix again.

Add 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips to the dough (or M and M's to match the season, white chocolate chips, etc.) and stir by hand.

Scoop about a 1-inch ball of dough, flatten with hand and place on ungreased baking sheet or sheet with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 8 minutes, depending on your oven.

As cookies are cooling on pan, add a white melting chocolate chip to center of each cookie (I used Chocomaker White melting Chocolate). As chip melts, add a few Fall or Halloween sprinkles to garnish.

Remove from sheet after about 5 minutes and place on cooling rack.

The melting chocolate will set up in a few minutes. Store cookies in a sealable container, if they last that long lol.

HAPPY BAKING AND THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!

Friday, September 22, 2023

HOMEMADE VEGETABLE BEEF SOUP

Fall is here and with it, cravings of heartier meals and something to warm us. Maybe even a recipe that was Mom's or handed down through the family over the years.

My Mama loved to make Vegetable Beef Soup often during the winter months. As a child, I can't say that vegetables were my favorite thing but, I did love my Mama's soup.

My mama in her Senior graduation photo. She graduated at 16!

Whenever I make Vegetable Beef Soup, I feel my mama nearby, even though she has been gone 18 years this week. I called my mom "Mama" because we are from the South and so she will always be my Mama. I wanted my kids to call me Mama, too, but my husband had called his mother Mom so before I knew it, that was what I was to my kids. Oh well.

Recently we began purchasing a quarter beef 2 or 3 times a year from a local family who raise cattle without hormones, antibiotics, and that are grass-fed. The taste is amazing! I thawed out soup bones to make this soup and the amount of meat on the bones was surprising--much more than I expected. Really pleased with the quality and taste of the beef we receive. We recently placed our 3rd order for a quarter beef.

Yummy and lots of vitamins, minerals, and proteins!

Without further ado, I will present our

HOMEMADE VEGETABLE BEEF SOUP

1 to 2 pounds of beef soup bone

Salt and pepper to taste

1 TBSP minced garlic (I used Kirkland brand)

3 to 4 whole carrots, scrubbed or peeled and sliced

1 to 2 zucchini squash, washed and sliced thinly (about 1/4" thick)

One can green beans with juice added to soup

One can Rotel Original Diced Tomatoes and Green Chiles (we like a little spice but you can also use a small can of tomato paste if you prefer)

In stock pot, place the soup bones and enough water to cover bones. Place on stove and bring to boil, cook till done/tender. Move to large platter and pull meat from bones; add back to stock. Add salt and pepper, garlic, green beans, and Rotel or tomato paste. Add sliced carrots and zucchini squash and bring to boil. Stir as needed and cook till carrots are tender. Add more water if needed for the consistency of soup that you prefer.

I do play with the ingredients at times with what I might have on hand. Sometimes I add kidney or garbanzo beans to the soup, other times I might add small potatoes in. I think some of the best meals I have cooked, I just threw together and I bet that has been the experience of many!

I hope you enjoyed our post today.

Thanks for stopping by!

MOST POPULAR POST AT PARTY #438!