My Kids' New Favorite Meal

Creamy Chicken Piccata

On the menu for tonight was "Creamy Chicken Piccata".  This is one of those recipes that I found on Pinterest and it looked so yummy, I knew I just had to try it and put it on the menu.  Needless to say, my meal was sold-out for tonight.  I prepared 5 of these + one for my family,

It turned out amazing and was fairly simple to prepare as well.  ALL my kids ate it.  Which pleasing 5 picky kids is very hard to do!  I was a little worried about the capers because I don't think they have ever had them, but no one complained.  They weren't that strong and they probably thought they were peas LOL!

I suggest that you give this recipe a try.  If you are too busy during the week try it on the weekend!

The recipe I used can be found here

Treasured Recipes

One of the things I cherish most are old family recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation.  I am fortunate enough to have my dad's Sour Cream Pound Cake recipe.

 I remember him making these every year for Christmas to give to family and friends.  Even though my dad "Big John" is gone now, his recipe lives on and I am so happy to be able to share it with you.  This is truly a fantastic pound cake.

One of the things I love is that I have his recipe in his own handwriting.  With today's technology, and the printers that we use, handwritten letters and recipes are becoming a lost art.  I would encourage you to write recipes down for your family and friends, they will be treasures one day!

The smell of this pound cake baking his heavenly.                                     

Although the pound cake recipe is perfect in every way.  I have added my own secret touches through the years.  I like to add 1/2 tsp of "Butter flavoring" it gives the pound cake a nice butter-enriched flavor and I add 1/8 tsp of Lemon flavoring, this is not noticeable, but I think tastes better with it.  

My secret ingredients

Enjoy!

Creamy Cornbread

My first cookbook

(This cookbook is mostly all I used when we first got married). 

Before I was married, our church back in Jacksonville, Florida, First Baptist, handed out these nice recipe books one year for mother's day to all the ladies.  I was fortunate enough to receive a copy.  The recipes were complied by women in the church and is filled with fabulous recipes.  I have been using this cornbread recipe for over 20 years and it is still the best.  I always get rave reviews and there is never any left!  The best part is that is it so easy!

This is the best cornbread recipe I have found!

There are a couple of modifications I have made the the recipe above.  I do not use corn oil, but 1/2 stick of butter instead.  Also, I do not use the self-rising corn meal.  Just a box of Jiffy will do.

Preheat the oven to 400 and melt the 1/2 stick of butter in the pan that you are going to be using.

While that is melting, mix all remaining ingredients together.

When butter is all melted, pour butter into the batter and stir.  Then pour the batter into the buttered pan.   Bake 25 minutes.

One reason I like this cornbread so much is that is is not dry.  A lot of cornbread I have tried is very dry and it crumbles.  This is very moist!  Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Chocolate Sheet Cake

This dessert will be my dessert of the week soon, but today I just had to  bake one for my open house tonight!  It is a chocolate cake from scratch that is so delicious!  The homemade icing is something special.  I usually add finely chopped walnuts or pecans, but I was out.  Even without the nuts its still the best.  Recipe courtesy of Pioneer Woman: Recipe