Lazy Labor Day Weekend

WOW! What a weekend this was..Do you ever feel like things couldn't possibly get any crazier than they already are? That if it weren't for bad luck you would have NO luck at all? Well, sit back, get comfortable and let me tell you that you are NOT alone!!!

Friday, went as usual I came to work and couldn't wait for 5pm so that I could get off of work and head to Lamar to see my CENTRAL HINDS COUGARS play some football!! Well Copiah Academy happened to have a free night so my good friends the Mitchells joined my mom and me on our venture to Lamar! ( their dad also happens to be the offensive coach for CHA so they had reasons for wanting to go)..ANY WHO... as we get into Meridian, Camryn and I are in the very back of my moms suburban and I SCREAM "OUUUUCHHHH" something bit me..she starts laughing and says it was a yellow jacket and that it is on my purse!! (for those of you unaware..I am HIGHLY...and LEATHALLY ALLERGIC to YELLOW JACKETS) Well it just so happened that my EPI-PEN was in the purse being held HOSTAGE by the Yellow Jacket that was laughing at the idea of VICTORY over this large human!!! Camryn luckily and not swiftly killed the yellow jacket (HA right back at you) and got my EPI-PEN from my purse but then couldn't follow through with jabbing (yes jabbing is the correct word) into my leg! So little did I know (because my arm was swelling and rashes were forming and chest was tightening) that my MOTHER (aka- SUPER MOM) had pulled over on the side of the highway, dis assembled the middle seat, snatched the EPI-PEN from my grasp and JABBED...JABBED the NEEDLE into my leg...Blood goes everywhere and my heart is now so full of adrenaline that I could actually for a moment hear and see my heart beating through my chest ( a little exaggeration maybe?HA)!!!

We proceeded to mark my swelling and I ended up surviving to tell about it..the football game was amazing and my cougars triumphed over Lamar a whopping 31-14!!!!

Saturday, I had to work at Amy Head and it was a very busy day and ended up be very productive in sales!! After I got off, I had to hurry home to get supper cooked for my Mother in Laws birthday dinner that we needed to be at by 5 and keep in mind I didn't get off until 3:30 and I have at least a 15min drive home from work! ha I ended up needing to run by the grocery store first to get a few items...so instead of taking my purse in I left it in the car and just took in my wallet! I got my items and was out of the store in 10min..I loaded my car and rushed home to start throwing the food together (when I say throwing I am NOT exaggerating this time) I get home...start cooking and go to check my receipt in my wallet..HMMMMMM..wallet is not in my purse..so I must have left it in my car...SHUCKS...NOT IN MY CAR EITHER..I didn't even lock my house cut off my stove..I took off back to Kroger to look for my wallet still sitting in my buggie...PRAISE GOD!!! Everything was still in there..HE IS SO GOOD!!!!!

Sunday ended up be a lazy day, Adam and I got home from church and both slept until 4pm..it felt GREAT!! I got up and cooked supper for some of our friends that we were having over for dinner! I cooked 2 pork tenderloins and some veggies and others brought dessert and salad! We had a great night and theeeeeennnnnn it got CRAZY!!! Our friend Camryn was eating some chocolate icing off the dessert and Adam slammed her hand in it..then next thing I know CAKE is being slung from one end of my house to the other..chocolate falling from the sky (ladies I know this sounds heavenly but trust me..when you have to come back and clorox everything its not so HEAVENLY)..But all in all it was a blast!!!

LABOR DAY- Adam and I slept in..lounged around..did absolutely NOTHING all day and then finished it off with a cook out at our friends the DONALDS!!! They had all been Dove hunting this weekend and so they invited us over for some good eats!!

All in all this weekend had a little bit of every emotion in it..and I can only thank God for it!!! Hope your days have been great!! I am attaching the Pork Tenderloin recipe below!! Try it let me know what you think, and if you have any questions, just ask!!!

BON APPETIT'


Pork Tenderloin

In a small pot mix these items together and then let simmer on stove top until it comes to a small boil then remove from heat and poor over your tenderloins.. this recipe makes enough for 2 tenderloins at medium size!


1 cup Dry Sherry
1 cup Soy sauce ( I use gluten Free)
1/2 cup Honey
1tbsp Dry Mustard
1tbsp Thyme
1 clove of garlic smashed
1tbsp of ginger ( i leave this out sometimes depends on your taste)


Rinse your Tenderloins...Dry them off...baste with olive oi, then season with Tonys and Mrs. Dash origional seasoning all sides then gently poor your liquid seasoning mixture over it.

Pre heat oven to 350..in 15 min intervals remove from oven DON'T TURN...just re baste with juice in baking dish then put back in oven..repeat for 1hour or until your tenderloins are done

*every oven differs in cooking time..so you have to watch it, you should be able to tell when they are done..the center shouldn't be pink!!!

June Cleaver...I am NOT...

First, let me say that I am half way asleep typing this. Secondly, I believe my stomach just started eating itself, so this post might be a little short, since I will need lunch very soon!!

Your probably wondering why it is that I am soooo sleepy this morning..so I am going to tell you...(Brace Yourselves)!!
Work of course was busy as usual, and when I got off work I had to go to Piano lessons(funny right, someone my age taking piano..well there is more to the story, so let me back up oh say 15 years)

15years ago on September 1, 1995 my Grandmother passed away. She was probably the most beautiful Pianist that I have ever heard play and she played only by ear..never could read a single note on paper!! (AMAZING I KNOW) well naturally as a child and young teen I took piano and played pretty much the same way, I struggled so much reading music..so I tried to beat the system, I would learn the notes, memorize them and THEN I would act as though I was reading the music and playing at the same time(clever your thinking..but not really)I won trophies at competitions and always got superior at festivals..but when she passed away..I hated it..I didn't want to have anything to do with the piano again because it was what SHE AND I did together.

Little did I know that would be the BIGGEST mistake I would make at 12 years old! Mamie Nell ( that's my Grandmother) left me her brand new Yamaha Piano..beautiful in its black color...and sitting for the last 15 years, untouched..crying out to be played again.

SOO, I am taking again, while I still remember some technical things, alot is fuzzy..So every Thursday I go and I re learn and I have to say it has been an amazing feeling, I can actually feel her presence and I can remember her voice telling me certain things about playing, and how to relax, play from heart not mind, FEEL it, don't force it to come out! Anyone who knew her knew how well she played and how important it was to her that WE (grandchildren) played.

So keep me in your prayers as I re start this adventure!!

NOW, when I got done with lessons, I had planned on going straight home but of course I got caught up with something else, I ran into a friend and went to watch her daughter (who is also a youth in our group) cheer at Copiah Academy, and before I knew it had been an hour, well Adam OF COURSE had not eaten so I had to RUSH home and cook supper!!!

What do you throw together at 8:45pm on a Thursday night for supper, you might be wondering and I will tell you...LAZY SPAGHETTI ( the spaghetti is not the lazy part..EMILEE "NON WIFE OF THE YEAR" is)!!

Of course I have to fix two separate spaghetti noodles and ADAM wants meat in his...so I had to THAW out some deer meat and throw all this together...I believe we ended up sitting down to eat at 9:30pm...yeah most people are getting ready for bed and we are EATING SUPPER!!!! so like I said before JUNE CLEAVER I AM NOT!!!!

I can honestly say we are no TRADITIONAL couple!! Please try recipe below and let me know if LAZY SPAGHETTI works for you!!!!


Lazy Spaghetti-

Spaghetti Noodle- boil
Spaghetti Sauce- I use Bertolli Tomato Basil the big jar
Mozzarella Cheese- Just one pack
If you like meat in yours feel free to add it

Poor your cooked noodles in a baking dish pour the jar of sauce over noodles and stir them (this is when you would add your meat as well) then sprinkle Mozz cheese all over the top and bake at 400 until cheese is melted!!

French Bread and Salad go great with this!!!

Bon Appetit'

Procrastination...Anyone?

The word "Procrastination" could not ring more true in a situation than in the description of me and this blog that I am supposed to keep up with Regularly!! It is not that I don't think about it, it just seems that at the moment I think about it, I immediately get distracted! So here I am 3 months after my last post FINALLY updating my blog! So without further ado allow me to catch you all up..

May, seemed to fly by and Adam and I visited Orange beach frequently! Which is amazing because the rest of the summer we couldn't seem to get a breather to do anything except work and work and oh yeah WORK!!!

June, was really a busy month for us both, Adam planned youth trips and I taught swimming lessons, started playing church softball AND found out that I would have to have some surgery (nothing life threatening but enough to keep you out of work for 3wk) that was no surprise to me, I had been putting it off for 6 years!!!! It was really great though in the end, because Adam and I grew even closer than I thought possible! He took excellent care of me (in ways that I will NOT be mentioning..because they are embarrassing...BUT I am sure will be used in a sermon one Wednesday night) and I could not have asked for better!!

Below some of our sweet youth girls visited and MOCKED me after my surgery!

July, was so busy and I came back to work about halfway through the month and boy was it tough getting back in the working mode. We also went to New Orleans on our Mission trip and while I was begged by everyone not to go because I had just had major surgery, Stubborn me went anyway and it really was an Amazing experience, my pain went away in the efforts to serve my GOD!!!
August, was CRAZY, I feel like it flew by so fast that I am still writing it in the date box of everything I write on! Also this is my birthday month, so if you are very close to me you already know that i celebrate the ENTIRE month..Now my mother, father and Adam(even though he thinks its insane) do wish me happy birthday every day..I know that your thinking this is crazy, but hey I love it!!! For my actual birthday I took a much needed day off, and relaxed and did only what I wanted to!!! My sweet Sweet SWEET husband got me a HOBO bag that I had been eyeing for a couple of months and had even DROPPED hints that it was the one I wanted(subtle of course ;)

Any who, we ate dinner at my parents on my actual birthday and my daddy cooked..he KNOWS the way to my heart,what can I say!! The next night Me, Adam, his sister Andrea and her husband Jordan went to eat at my absolute favorite Restaurant CRECHALES which I have eaten at every year for my birthday for as long as I can remember!! ha

Afterwards we went to Easely Amused where I thought that just Andrea and I were going to paint, BUT again that husband of mine surprised me and he and Jordan joined us!! We had the most fun I can remember having in awhile, we laughed and just enjoyed the night!! I feel truly blessed that Adam would do that for me even when were weren't painting anything remotely masculine..he sucked it up and did it for ME :) LOVE I tell ya!!

So that brings us up to date and I am gonna try and start posting more regularly because I have actually been cooking more now that we are back in school and summer is over, so I have lots of new favorites that I have tried and turned into gluten free dishes!! I will leave you with Lasagna that I have been making that ADAM LOVES and you can make it regular for your family I just of course add Gluten free because we are GLUTEN FREE!! haha BON APPETIT'


Lasagna in 30 minuets:

ingredients:
1-2lb hamburger meat
1bundle green onions
16 oz sour cream
8oz cream cheese
2 small tomato paste
2 small tomato sauce
1 pack of sweet and low
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
4-5 Lasagna Noodles (reg or gluten free)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees- Brown hamburger meat, when done drain and put back in skillet, then add 2 cans of paste and 2 cans of sauce and 1 pack of sweet and low stir and let simmer for 10 min or until bubbling.

Make sure your 8oz cream cheese is softened so that it is easy to mix with 16oz Sour Cream as well as your chopped green onions, make sure these are mixed together smoothly.

After your noodles have cooked place them in the bottom of your baking dish poor your seasoning meat over them then poor your Cream Cheese, Sour Cream mixture over the meat, Cover the top with Mozz Cheese to your desire and put in oven until cheese is melted!! THEN ENJOY!!!!!

Seriously only takes 30 min for the entire dish to be ready to eat!!
Let me know if you try it and what you think!!

I can Explain.......

First off I would like to say CONGRATULATIONS to my awesome Junior Auxiliary Chapter for winning FOUR..yes FOUR awards at our National Conference. You ladies are absolutely AMAZING and I was so honored to serve you as President this past year!!! WAY TO GO LADIES!!

Ok, so I know that I haven't been great at keeping this blog up to date...BUT things have been extremely crazy around the Epperson house hold!! Since my last post some things have changed, I have taken ANOTHER job..so now that makes TWO (2)...and lets just say that I am very lucky to be happy at both!! This new job is so much fun, it is actually like not having a job at all because it is so much fun!! I started working for AMY HEAD STUDIOS the first of April. Now my actual job is helping women with make-up, and I love it ( have I said that enough) Amy Head is someone who's make-up I have been using for 9years and I have always enjoyed it, but never imagined that I would be working part-time for her!! So if anyone is looking for a NEW, REFRESHING look for themselves or anyone else they know, please come visit us!!



On the FLIP side, Adam and I have been Busy little bees with the end of the school year! We have had proms, awards day, banquets, and NOW graduations!!! I can't believe that some of these kids aren't KIDS anymore, they are young adults!! They are all about to embark on the most exciting yet terrifying days of their lives. I personally am so proud of the youth that we have graduating this year, such amazing ROLE MODELS for even me!!

Now if you remember from earlier in my post I mentioned that we have been going to alot of banquets and such...WELL this past Sunday ( MOTHERS DAY) was Senior Recognition at Raymond Road..and naturally we had a breakfast for the seniors and their parents before church! Of course you all know that Adam is allergic to GLUTEN and DAIRY, but we also have a Senior and his mother that are only allergic to gluten. SOOOO....guess who had to fix their breakfast??? (GIVE UP) Yep that is right little OLE me!!! Of course the mother of the Senior made muffins but I got up EXTRA EARLY (not something I like to do) and cooked eggs and bacon!! Not to mention that Adam asked me the NIGHT BEFORE to make a FRUIT TRAY!! Which wasn't so bad except cutting the PINEAPPLE...the one fruit I actually do not like! That was the most annoying thing to do, I was complaining the whole time, while my "WONDERFUL, SWEET, LOVING" husband was watching TV!!!!!! But I did it, and it looked great...OR did it just "EAT"great? Hmmmmm??

All in all, the last month and a Half has been HECTIC, I haven't been cooking much at all since we have been out so much...BUT I did want to let all of you know that I cooked a pork tenderloin last week and it was DIVINE!!! I will post Recipe tomorrow, also if your looking for a really great chocolate cake mix that is gluten/dairy free try PAMELA'S Chocolate Cake mix with Icing..we really love it..better than any chocolate cake I have ever had!! Let me know what you think!!

Finally Friday

Ok so I know it has been a couple of days but I have lots of excuses 1. I went to Ft.Worth last Friday through Monday with my mom to visit her sister Carla. 2. I got home and Adam was gone on a camping trip with some of the youth boys so I had some of the youth girls over for our own slumber party (2am is not the best time to go to sleep if you have to be up for work the next day) 3. Adam got home from camping and brought twin boys with him because their parents are remodeling and they needed a place to stay through sunday (I have decided that I want girls for sure..boys are NASTY) 4. I have been having to cook the last two nights so I have some new dishes to post!

So, Wednesday night was my first night back cooking and I prepared for hubby and the twins a steak, potatoes and salad..Nothing too glamerous about that!!

But Last Night I cooked Fajitas which is something we have been having a lot lately because I am constantly craving them..don't know why..not really a big chicken fan!!

First I take either Chicken breasts or Naked Chicken Strips and I slice them up finely into Fajita strips Depending on how many you are feeding I usually for the two of us I do 4 chicken breast or 6 Chicken strips..

I put them in a skillet and pour Worcestershire and Sprinkle Tonys or any other seasoning that you prefer..I have even used Dale's seasoning before it just depends on your taste buds!!

I eat normal tortillas but I have to get Corn Tortillas for Adam because of course he can't have flour ones!!

It is so simple and takes all of 10 minutes to prepare!

I won't be cooking anymore until next week because my precious husband bought me tickets to the John Mayer concert in Memphis tonight!! I am so excited, love his music and I have heard he puts on a GREAT concert!! While I am up that way I am also going to stop in to visit my sweet sweet friends the Stegalls'. I haven't seen them since my wedding so I am looking forward to the visit!!

I will be sure to take lots of pictures to post next week!! Have an awesome weekend everyone!!

It's Party Time.....Happy Birthday Daddy!

My Daddy is my Hero and
He always makes me laugh!!

I am his little Brown Eyed Possum Girl

OK, so today is my dad's birthday...(I won't mention his age) so Adam and I decided that we would have him, my mom and brother over for dinner at our house tonight! First of all, we could have just taken them out but my dad is a little bit different when it comes to gestures. He is someone who would be more moved by having dinner at our home than going out to eat. He is the emotional male in our family!!! I have been trying to decide all week what I would cook for him, but at the same time something that Adam could eat (story of my life)!

So for our dinner tonight we will be have Baked Talapia, Fresh Gulf Shrimp baked to perfection, Green salad, and Grilled Asparagus!! (I am already hungry)

Talapia, you will need to take each fillet and season each side with Tony's Chachere Seasoning- sear each side in a skillet with a small amount of Italian dressing (don't drench)-
once each side is seared take your fillets put them in a large baking dish (depending on how many pieces you are cooking) and add a generous amount of Italian dressing, a little white cooking wine, and sprinkle just a little more Tony's to the top, drizzle some lemon juice across each and then put a small slab of butter on each piece. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes or until fish starts to look crisp on edges!

SHRIMP, make sure that you de-head the shrimp if they are fresh, if you buy the pre-pealed ones from Kroger then you won't have to worry about that!! Ok, take the shrimp whether pealed or not and put them in a baking dish, add a generous amount of Worcestershire Sauce and Italian Dressing (keep in mind they don't need to be drowning in it ) just make sure there is enough where all can soak in it, sprinkle some good ole Tony's Chachere Seasoning on them too (add more if the shrimp are still in shells) add some slabs of butter and bake at 350 for 20 minutes!!

Grilled Asparagus , after washing your Asparagus make sure to cut about 1 inch off each stalk (helps those ends to be tender) take some olive oil and pour it in your hand (yep your gonna get a little dirty) take the Asparagus and rub the olive oil on it, then take good ole Tony (can you tell we LOVE him) and sprinkle all over the Asparagus (DON'T coat them in it), just throw them on the grill for about 5-7 minutes and you have some awesome veggies!!! ( I always put them in aluminum foil and wrap them up so that they also steam a bit just your preference)!!

I hope if any of you try this that you will let me know how it all turns out!!! I will be sure to post some pictures of our dinner tonight and of my daddy blowing out his CANDLES (fire Extinguisher will be handy!!)

Gluten Free Chicken Piccatta

So this is a recipe that I cooked last night for my MAN and our little friend McCaa! I got this Chicken Piccatta Recipe from the Pioneer Woman Cooks website because lets face it I haven't gotten creative enough on my own!! However I had to change some of the things to be more suitable for Mr.Eppersons ever so sensitive tummy! So out to the side of the ingredients I will list the Gluten free or Substitutes!! Hope you enjoy....All three of us did!!!

Ingredients

• 4 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
  
• Salt To Taste
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste
• 4 Tablespoons All-purpose Flour ( Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour)
  
• 5 Tablespoons Butter
• 4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 cup Dry White Wine
• ¾ cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth (most has gluten in it, but not enough)
  
• 2 whole Lemons (make sure to strain seeds before adding to sauce)
  
• 3/4 Cup Heavy Cream (for some reason creams don't affect adam)
  
• Chopped Fresh Parsley
• 1 pound Angel Hair Pasta( we use rice noodles)
  

Preparation Instructions

Have a pot of water simmering for the pasta.

If chicken breasts are overly thick, pound until slightly flattened. Sprinkle with salt and pepper on both sides, then dredge in flour.

Heat 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry two of the chicken breasts at one time until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes on each side; a little longer if breasts are thicker, a little shorter if breasts are thinner. Remove to a plate, then add the other 2 tablespoons each of butter and olive oil. Fry the other two breasts until golden, monitoring the oil/butter mixture to make sure it doesn’t burn. Decrease heat as needed!

After removing the chicken, have the heat on medium to medium-low. Pour in wine and chicken broth, and squeeze in the juice of two lemons. Whisk the sauce, scraping the bottom of the pan. Allow sauce to cook and bubble and thicken until reduced by about half. Sprinkle in a little salt and pepper as it’s cooking.

Reduce heat to low and pour in cream. Whisk together and allow to cook for a couple of minute until sauce thickens. Taste and adjust seasonings or other ingredients. Expect the sauce to have a real tang to it; counter it with a little more broth and cream if it’s too strong! Sprinkle in some chopped parsley and stir.

Right at the end, cook angel hair!

With tongs, place a medium-sized mound of pasta on a plate. Place a cooked chicken breast beside it, then spoon sauce over the chicken and the pasta. The sauce is strong, so no need to drown it. Sprinkle a little minced parsley over the top.

Good Idea...Or Bad Idea?

Ok, I will have to admit that this idea of a starting a blog was ALOT of my doing and a little (teeny tinniest) my moms! Although it is something we have talked about for a month now in theory, making it actually happen was a little difficult. I don't think I realized just how much it takes to get a blog up and going! So to all of you who have already conquered this feat HOORAY for you :)

Alright so my mother being the AMAZING cook, mother, planner, EVERYTHING woman that she is has decided( with my twisting her arm) to let the rest of the small world know some of her VERY BEST recipes, ideas and even moments of pure insanity! Believe it or not even THE MOTHER messes up and yes THE DAUGHTER is there to quickly take note and blab about it on this lovely thing we will call ADVENTURES IN COOKING...

Oh, you thought I was finished..how dare you smile! I on the other hand will be the primary BLOGGING QUEEN (a title that was yes self given). I will be posting recipes that are (A) Either Gluten Free (B) Dairy Free or (C) All of the Above!

With Adam having this food allergy it really makes me cooking even more of a challenge. I think that CiCi would even admit that sometimes its HARD to come up with new ideas and taste bud friendly items for Adam to eat. So I will be posting anything and everything that works for us and that is easy to prepare!

Oh and humor there will most certainly be..because I have been known on occasion to still leave gluten or dairy in a meal on accident (YES ACCIDENT) and live to tell about it the next day..even though poor Adam is not always so lucky!!

So be patient...until I post again!