Foodie Friday - Bean Dip!

For Foodie Friday I am sharing a recipe that it a Family Favorite - Nacho Bean Dip.
Thank you Gollum for hosting Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum!


I admit it doesn't sound that exciting and it doesn't photograph that well, but it is my two girl's favorite food of all times. I first had this in the early 80's when I friend brought it to a potluck. She shared the recipe, which she got out of Southern Living, with me. When we moved to the town we currently live in, I carried it to a party and was surprised that no one had ever had it before. One of the product used in the original recipe (a bean dip) was discontinued and I started substituting canned refried beans for it. If anything, it improved the recipe. I put the modified recipe in my church cookbook in the early 90's and it has become something I am locally "famous" for ever since.

It is requested by my daughters and their friends at all their gatherings. One friend calls it the "Life Changing Bean Dip." They have even tagged it on Facebook!!!!

OK, here are 2 pictures. I am warning you, that it isn't pretty.



One of my online friends photographed it and added a layer of salsa on top to make it more photogenic! Here is her picture:


The recipe is on Recipezaar. (I promise I am not a shill for them, I have just been a member for years and have my recipes there and have tried and photograped lots of recipes for events. It's fun!)

Jewel's Nacho Bean Dip

I hope you enjoy it! Be sure and stop by Designs by Gollum for more great foodie posts!:D Jewel

Tablescape Thursday - Happy 18th Birthday!

For this Tablescape Thursday sponsored by Susan at BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH, I am featuring my daughter's 18th Birthday Party which was just last Saturday Night!


There was no theme, just a runner, napkins and cake plates from Target. My next door neighbors helped us cook out hamburgers for 24 people. There was also baked beans, potato salad, fruit and Nacho Bean dip.







Soft Drinks on the Buffet.



I bought some coral/orange roses and yellow mums at Walmart and acuba from my yard. I also used rosy red camellias and Carolina Jasmine (a yellow flowing vine) from my neighbor's yard for the arrangements. I used a green ceramic vase in the middle and two tin buckets on either side for vases. I used another tin container on the mantle.


These candle holders and cake cutters are my neighbor's also. They are hollow to fill with anything you want. I used napkins to tie into the color scheme.



A local bakery made the cake.



I can't believe my "baby" is 18!!!! Everyone had a great time!

Please join Susan at BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH for more inspirational tablescapes! :D Jewel

Food Friday - Easter Fare

For Foodie Friday hosted by Gollum at Designs by Gollum.


Gollum's theme this week is Train Wrecks and while I have had a few, I never photograph them. My worst culinary train wreck in recent memory is when I was brining some pork chops for dinner. Friends called and wanted us to meet them at a local restaurant. We said yes and had a great time figuring that we'd have the chops the next night. The next night they were so brined that I had made ham. Not what we were expecting!!!!

I wanted to share with you my Easter menu from last year which ties in with my Tablescape post of yesterday. My younger daughter and my brother and Easter were all within a week of so of Easter, so we had the whole family. I had made a menu on Recipezaar and here it is. Click on the link for my menu Easter/Family Birthdays 2008 - You can find individual recipes in the menu or by clicking on the links below.

Here are some pictures.

The sideboard with Broccoli Salad


Zesty Carrots


Deviled Eggs

Starring this little guy - Deviled Egg Chicks!


Barbecued chicken breasts


We never got a picture of the Ham!?! Oh well, there's always this year!

I hope you enjoy this Foodie Friday and stop by Gollum's for more wonderful dishes! :D Jewel

An Easter Tablescape Thursday

Hurray! It's Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan at BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH. Be sure and visit her blog to see all the great tables!


This is my Easter Table from last year.




I used blue melamine (if you remember the Breakfast at Tiffany's Sweet 16 Birthday Party - this is the same stuff!) I placed it on golden chargers to dress it up a bit and added an Easter spreader beside each butter dish. The Easter egg utensil holders were from Target and the stemware was a Christmas present from my daughters. Don't they have good taste?

Here is a close up of a place setting.


And the centerpiece before I added the Easter wrapped chocolate candy.


I have a different Easter table in mind for this year. Stay tuned for it on a Future Tablescape Thursday.

I can't wait to see everyone else's tables at BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH ! :D Jewel

Combination TT and FF Early St. Pat's Day!!!

I am going to do a combination post for St. Patrick's Day for both Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan at BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH


and Foodie Friday hosted by Gollum at Designs by Gollum


Neither my husband nor I have a drop of Irish blood, but we love St. Patrick's Day! I like any excuse to decorate and entertain and we both love the food!!!!

We decorate the whole house. I even fly a shamrock flag which I didn't take a picture of! I have pots of gold and leprechauns everywhere.

The Billiard Room bar

The Billiards Room mantle

Some closeups




The Parlor Pump Organ


In the Foyer


My dining room






Here is a closeup of my centerpiece against a red wall.



Here is my sideboard ready for an Irish Feast!


AND I promised to bring some food to Gollum's Potluck, so first off I will start with some store bought appetizers served on my pub table in the billiard room, served with Guiness, of course!



Then for dessert, these are delicious and easy! It's not my recipe, but I have made them many times! I did take these pictures though! Click for the recipe: Irish Cream Brownies




Are you still there? Sorry saved up so much for one big post. I will be out of town seeing my daughter sing a solo in a college play, so I will catch up when I get back! :D Jewel

Outdoor Wednesday!

Outdoor Wednesday is sponsored by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer. Be sure and visit her blog to see lots of the wonderful outdoors!


After such a beautiful weekend, I just want to show off my spring flowers!



I can't wait to see what everyone else is showing off! Thanks Susan! :D Jewel

Metamorphosis Monday - Daughter's Bed Room

This is my Metamorphosis Monday hosted by Susan at BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH.



What I am sharing today is the renovation of my older daughter's room. This had to be the ugliest room in the house when we first moved in, but it had great potential. It has a bay window, fireplace coffered ceiling. She was adamant that she did not want her decor to be Victorian like the downstairs, so we let her design it herself.

Before -




The air conditioning pan ran over before we bought the house and had warped some of the panels in the ceiling.



This was taken while we were stripping the wallpaper. There obviously used to be a picture rail - see the line and the different types of plaster over on the right. Also note that the plaster had never been painted. All throughout our house, we found unpainted scratch plaster that had never been painted.



We painted the trim white and the walls blue as she wanted. All the bedding came from Target. The little blue loveseat came from Pier1 and folds out into a bed. It has come in handy for sleepovers. We replaced the overhead light with a ceiling fan. Here is the after:









My daughter is now a Junior off at college, but still comes home - and brings friends! She is still enjoying this metamorphosis!
Thanks Susan for hosting another Metamorphosis Monday! I can't wait to see what wonders everyone will post! :D Jewel