You'll soon find this will be one of your favorites!

It's easy, quick and just a can here and a can there. 

SIMPLE TACO SOUP

(simply delicious & easy)

 Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 (15 ounce) can mild chili beans
• 1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15 ounce can of black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
• 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
• 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies
• 1 (1 ounce) package ranch salad dressing mix

Directions

1. In a Dutch oven or large kettle, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add taco seasoning and mix well. Stir in remaining ingredients. Simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally.

Delicious Coca Cola Cake

           

Delicious Coca Cola Cake

2 c. unsifted flour

2 sticks butter

1 c. Coca Cola

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 c. miniature marshmallows

2 c. sugar

3 tbsp. cocoa

1/2 c. buttermilk

1 tsp. baking soda.

Combine flour and sugar in mixing bowl. Heat butter, cocoa, and Coca Cola to boiling, and pour over flour/sugar mixture, mixing thoroughly. Add buttermilk, eggs, soda, vanilla, and marshmallows. Mix well. Will be a thin batter with marshmallows floating on top.

Bake in a 9x13 inch cake pan in a preheated 350°F oven for 30 to 35 minutes.

Ice while hot with the recipe following:

COCA COLA CAKE ICING:

1/2 c. butter

3 tbsp. cocoa

6 tbsp. Coca Cola

1 (1 lb.) box confectioners' sugar

1 c. chopped pecans

Combine butter, cocoa, and Coca Cola. Heat to boiling point, pour over confectioners' sugar. Beat well, then add pecans and spread over cake while still hot.

Pretty Peppermint Bark

Pretty Peppermint Bark

This not only pretty, festive and delicious it is soooo easy.

Only 2 ingredients

16 ounces of white or chocolate almond bark

crushed candy canes or peppermint candies

Melt bark in a double boiler and stir until smooth.

Crush your peppermint and sprinkle into bark mixture.

Pour on to a foil covered cookie sheet.

Save some of your crushed peppermint for adding more color on top of bark.

When cooled , break into pieces.

That's all she wrote!

Yummy Butterfinger Cake

This ridiculously yummy cake is always a hit whenever I make it! It's VERY easy,and did I mention it's yummy? Chocolate cake mix, sweetened condensed milk, whip cream, caramel 

sauce and of course Butterfingers...did I tell you it was sinfully yummy?

It's not called the Yummy cake( though I like the idea it changing it to that)

I'll call it the Yummy Butterfinger Cake

1 chocolate cake(can use yellow if you prefer)

1 can of sweetened condensed milk 

1 jar of caramel sauce 

1 small tub of whipped cream 

                                                             2 Butterfinger candy bars

(Optional chocolate syrup)

 

1. Follow directions on cake mix box.
2. While the cake is still warm, poke holes through out cake with a wooden spoon.   
3. Pour sweetened condensed milk into holes pour rest of milk all over cake.
4. Wait 15 minutes then pour the caramel sauce into the holes and over the cake.
5. Refrigerate the cake over night so that cake is completely cool.
6. The next day frost cake with cool whip then sprinkle crushed candy bars over top of cake
7. If you like more chocolate, drizzle chocolate syrup over the cake at the end.

Enjoy the cake it is Yummy!  Will keep in the refrigerator for days.

Through all the Hustle and Bustle...

This time of the year so many of us get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

The rushing, shopping, pushing , shoving, grabbing and snatching brings us all to the point of

 total meltdown at some point in time.

 Being a retail employee we are all so mentally, physically, psychologically and emotionally exhausted by this time of year that many of us have been brought to tears at least once by now. The desperation that some people feel during their CHRISTmas shopping leads many to poor out their frustrations on we struggling retailers.  We all try to grin and bear it and go on with our lives but people can be just plain hurtful sometimes.

I've had 27 years of CHRISTmas's in retail. Every one of them I think to myself,

 " I can't do this another year!"...but I do.  

Set aside the craziness , there are a few bright points that seem to make it all worth while.

This year all of our bright point came this Sunday morning when an anonymous donor donated a substantial amount of money to pay off some family's layaway's for CHRISTmas.  Many needy families will have the best CHRISTmas ever because of the kindness of a stranger! There were many tears from the surprised layaway shoppers and employees.  It made everyone forget the craziness and remember what the real meaning of CHRISTmas really is.

CHRISTmas can be a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing His great love for us. It can be a time of healing and renewed strength. You see, CHRISTmas is when we celebrate the birth of the CHRIST child. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought great joy to the world. God gave us this GIFT... because he loves us.  This should be an example in our lives also giving our gifts of love.

My heart is overflowing with the giving and love of a stranger.  So many lives were brightened by a small act of kindness. 

This is what CHRISTmas is suppose to feel like!

Yes, there are Angels among us! And they are right here in Florence,Alabama!

Merry CHRISTmas to everyone!

I LOVE this song!! It makes me feel so calm,

 peaceful and relaxed!

They play it every year at CHRISTmas over the satellite radio at work, and that's where I found that each time it came on I could just take a minute out of all the retail craziness , briefly close my eyes, take a slow breath in  and listen...just listen!! Some how it just makes things a little better!!

 Try it all my fellow retail employees and all you frenzied shoppers that KNOW what real RETAIL CRAZINESS is really about!

( the words to the song are at the bottom of the page)

There is also a rock version that is just as great... a little more exhilarating but fantastic!

  Lyrics

Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas

The hope that he brings
The hope that he brings
The hope that he brings
The hope that he brings

This night
We pray
Our lives
Will show

This dream
He had
Each child
Still knows

We are waiting
We have not forgotten

On this night
On this night
On this very Christmas night

Christmas Countdown

Alabama vs. LSU

Being pegged as "The Game of the Century", the much anticipated Alabama vs. LSU game is finally here.  Like many devoted fans, I have been a nervous wreck for the last week.  

This is THE BIG ONE ...

I'm ready to ROLL!!!

ROLL TIDE!

Remembering 9-11-01

I guess I grew up in a snowglobe world where everything around me was Cinderella,rainbows, kittens and sunshine. My little world was beautiful, loving and wonderful and I was protected from everything bad. Nothing could harm me and all was well with
 the world I lived in...

 I never  thought of what may happen if someone picked my snowglobe up and shook it or even worse dropped it to the ground shattering life as I knew it.  

On September 11, 2001 that very thing happened to our complete horror and devastation.

We all know EXACTLY where we were, what we were doing and who we were with when the tragic events of  the terrorists attacks began to unfold.  Unbelief, astonishment and confusion was our first reaction. Soon to be followed realization, horror and  terror. Our safe, beautiful little world was under attack !

I was getting ready for work as I watched the today show as I always did .  Then, there on the screen flashed an image of the World Trade Towers and smoke was bellowing from the top floors.  At first it was thought a small plane had hit the tower, but soon after the first hit, another plane appeared on the screen and the second tower was hit by a large plane. The news anchors were astonished ,

" It appear's this is a terrorist hit, America is under attack!"

I sat in disbelief as the events unfolded right there in front of me. Soon the first tower began to collapse.  It folded down like an accordion. Billows of grey smoke and debris rolled from the tower as it collapsed.  My fellow Americans were running for their lives right there in front of me, while others were losing theirs... 

                                                                                                

Then the next tower fell as I listened to the radio driving in to work....

A plane had crashed in Pennsylvania...

The Pentagon had been hit by another...

So much information began to unfold so fast , my tiny brain could hardly process all the events that were unfolding right there in front of me.  

We all know the horrific images of that day like we know reruns of Andy Griffith. 

They are all permanently embedded in our hearts, minds and souls. 

 The tragedy was the worst thing I had ever experienced.  My beloved beautiful, country America  was in pain like I had never known.  I sat like every other American , glued to my television searching for answers and comfort .  

It was soon evident that this was not America at it's worse...

I was witnessing America at it's VERY BEST!

OUR HEROE'S

The amazing coming together of American! Fighting for each other, like we always have in the past. Civilians, EMT workers, policemen, firefighters, construction workers, businessmen ...
Everyone coming together to aid our fellow American in need. 


What became to be known as Ground Zero, soon became known as Ground Hero!

I Have NEVER witnessed anything like this! I have NEVER felt prouder to be an American. This is why America is so great! This is what built this great nation. 

The patriotism was astonishing! Flags blanketed our nation! 

The terrorist did not accomplish what they thought.  This tragedy did not tear us down.  It made us stronger, prouder and more determined than ever before.  

When I look back at this day, it is so, so sad.  But I am so, so PROUD to be an American! 

Lee Greenwood's song "God Bless the U.S.A" says it all...

2011 ALABAMA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

This is my grandson Shawn.  His mother Morgan, has made us
a football schedule every year since he was born. When we receive
our schedule , I KNOW football is around the corner!
Thanks Morgan!! 

Happy 90th Birthday Lucian Richey

          

                                                                          

       Happy 90th Birthday Uncle Lucian!

                                                         

                                                      

                                                                     

      

       

   

  

 

                                                                   

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