Tasty Tuesday -- It's Football Time!

In the South, we’re all about some sports. We love them all, but really, all of the others just hold us over till football season comes around. Men and women alike count down the days till the first football game. Whether you go to the games, tailgate and listen to a radio, or choose to sit in your recliner at home from 9:00 am (when Sports Center starts) till 11:00 pm watching multiple games on your HD TV, one thing is for sure. You’ve got to have some great munchies. So, since there are 30 days till the first college football games begin, I’m going to share some of our game-day family favorites.
I attended The University of Alabama, and grew up going to all of the games. I’ve been to a lot of stadiums, and I can honestly say, the hotdogs at UA games are far better than any I’ve had from other places around the country and they’re so easy to make. You could easily make a large amount for a big crowd. What’s better than a hotdog that’s already “doctored up”?

Alabama Stadium Dogs

Hotdogs (brand of your choosing)
Buns
Shredded Sour Kraut
Diced White Onion
Ketchup (Heinz)
Yellow Mustard (French’s)

Mix kraut, onion, ketchup and mustard together, and warm in microwave for 20-30 seconds or until everything is warm. You be the judge on the amounts, but it doesn’t need to be dry. You can either serve this on your hotdog right away or put it on there and wrap it in foil. That’s what they do at the game, and it’s wonderful! These will travel well too.

This next hotdog may sound gross, but everyone I’ve gotten to try it loves it. I made up this concoction when I was a kid, and have eaten it ever since. Warning: You cannot eat this without a plate and a fork.

Ash Dog

Hotdogs
Buns
Shredded Sour Kraut
Diced Onion
Hotdog Chili
Cheddar cheese
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Ketchup

Warm kraut, onion, and chili in separate containers. Load up your dog, and chow down.

No Saturday in the fall is complete without this dip we call, “Crack”. We call it that because it’s so addictive. It’s so simple, and I haven’t found anyone who didn’t love it.

Crack

8 oz Cream Cheese (softened)
1 lb Jimmy Dean Hot Sausage browned (like hamburger meat) and drained
2/3 of 16 oz Jar Medium heat Pace Picante Salsa

Preheat oven to 350. Spray 8x8 glass dish with PAM. Mix ingredients together and pour into dish. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes, and serve with Tostido’s.

Thursday Therapy -- Are you worth it?

Are you worth it? The answer to this question says a whole lot about who we are and how we feel about ourselves in regards to so many things in life. I was watching The Biggest Loser Couples earlier in the year, and this question was asked to Kristin in regard to weight loss. Did she feel like she was worthy of being healthy? If you saw this, you’ll remember that Kristin burst into tears before saying, “Yes! I’m worth it!” I’ve read more articles about her, and she identified this moment as the turning point in her weight loss success, and her whole outlook on life. You may be in a power struggle with yourself over a wide variety of things from jobs, to relationships to health. Today, ask yourself, “Am I worth it?” If you feel like you’re not worth it, then you need to talk to someone who can really help you, because we’re all worth it, but sometimes we get these horrible views of ourselves and our self-esteem can plummet. Sometimes we do it to ourselves, but sometimes others are the main contributors. If you know you’re worth it, but aren’t acting like it, it’s time to change your ways and act like you believe it. Thoughts without action get you nowhere, but going through the motions of everyday life without the right attitude won’t get you far either. It took me a long time to figure out that I was worth it, but I know I am, and I live every day with that mindset. You’re worth it too.

Wednesday Whatabouts -- It's Time

I just want to start out by saying that I'm terribly sorry if this post comes off as a rant, but I'll try not to make it such. I also want you to know that I am not into politics, and I don't claim either political party. I do vote in the elections where I've done my research, and found which candidate I align most closely with. I generally feel like if I don't vote, or voice my opinion, I have no right to complain. I did vote in the last presidential election. All of the being said, I feel more strongly about the current healthcare proposal than I've felt about anything political in my life. I work in a healthcare provider's office, and I deal with insurance, and have recently had some dealings with Medicare. I have patients calling me all of the time crying because of how badly they are treated by Medicare. If you think private insurance is a racket, you haven't seen anything until you've experienced Medicare. I know you may be thinking that the universal healthcare plan isn't Medicare, but it's basically the same style system we're looking at. I feel very strongly about certain elective medical procedures, and I certainly don't want my tax dollars paying for someone to have an abortion or to be euthenized. Yes. It's legal in a few states. On the same token, I don't want to die because it took a month to get me in for a surgery that if I'd had quickly, I would've been fine in a few days. All non-private hospitals are already required to see any person who walks into their door. They can't refuse treatment.

It is time for us all to research what the plan includes and excludes and call all of our representatives to let them know where we stand. We cannot sit back and let this pass and let future generations just deal with it. No, our healthcare system isn't perfect, but this plan would be so much worse for our country. Just ask all of the immigrants who have come here to get away from this type of system in their native country. Yes. I believe it's time.

Tasty Tuesday - Oatmeal Carmelitas or as I call them... Heaven

Oatmeal Carmelita is the official name, but Heaven would do way more justice to these scrumptious bits of goodness. You just can't go wrong with chocolate and caramel. Try them and I think you'll agree.

Oatmeal Carmelitas

Top and Bottom Crust
2 c self-rising flour
2 c quick-cooking oats (my little trick is that I pulse them in a mini food processor a couple of times so they aren't as big)
1 1/4 c butter (softened)

Filling
1 12.5 oz jar of caramel ice-cream topping
3 Tbsp self-rising flour
1 1/2 c chocolate chips
1/2 c chopped pecans

Heat oven to 350. Grease 9x13 glass dish.

In a large bowl, blend all crust ingredients at low speed until crumbly. Press HALF of the mixture into bottom of dish. Reserve ramining half for topping.

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Meanwhile in a bowl, combine caramel and flour. Remove partially baked crust from oven, put chocolate chips, pecans and caramel on top. Stick it back in the oven for 2 mintues, then take it out and swirl around all of the melted chocolate. Then put the crumb topping on top and continue baking for 18-22minutes or until golden brown.

Cool completely, then refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours to allow filling to set. Remove from fridge, and allow to come to room temperature before cutting into squares.

I generally don't use the edge pieces because they don't look as pretty. These are great at room temperature or heated just for a few seconds with vanilla bean icecream. Like I said... Heaven.

Tasty Tuesday -- A day late

Better late than never. This is a quick and simple dessert that's good warm or cold. Some call them chess squares, but my Grandmother calls them Cheesecake squares. This last time, I added a cup of toasted coconut just to add a slightly different flavor. Enjoy!

Grandmother's Cheesecake Squares

1 box yellow cake mix
1 stick butter (melted)
1 egg

Mix together and press into 9x13" glass dish that has been sprayed with PAM.

1 8oz. pkg Cream Cheese (softened)
1 lb confectioner's sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract.
(If you want to add something else like coconut, stir it in here.)

Beat until smooth, and then pour over bottom mixture. Bake at 325 for approximately 45 minutes. This is better a little under-done than over-done. Cool and eat. Refrigerate un-eaten portion.

Make a Difference Monday --Share a Coke

I must say that I have had a wonderful weekend filled with family and fun. I'm very thankful for times like this and hope I never take them for granted. I'm also loving the new coke commercial where the kid gives a whole bunch of people a bottle of coke with a bright napkin telling them where to meet at a certain time. So, I'm thinking.... how much fun would that be to do with friends? It may take a little planning, but it could be a really fun and random get together. Even if you can't get away from work, make it work in the break room. Try it and you just might make a difference in someone's day. Recycle and you'll make a difference in the envrionment too. Happy Monday!

Thursday Therapy - BFFL

I believe that every woman needs a best friend. No, your husband, boyfriend, family members, dog, cat, and guinea pig don’t count. We need the kinship of another woman because men don’t understand everything that we feel or go through. We need a friend who will be there no matter what. Who will tell us the brutally honest truth no matter how much we don’t want to hear it. Who will drop everything and be there for us when we go through a break-up, divorce, sickness or loss. A friend who will go to the terrifying Dr.’s appointment because they’ve found something that doesn’t look good. We all need one friend who will listen to us rant for hours on end without mentioning that they just had a horrible day too. One who will listen when we’re crying so hard they can’t make out what we’re saying. We need the friend who knows when we need a chick flick and a pint of double chocolate fudge brownie ice-cream. We all need a best friend who is funny and who doesn’t take themselves too seriously. We need a friend who isn’t afraid to be absolutely ridiculous in front of us. Who will work out with us, meet us for a quick lunch, who will tell is if we’re being awful to our men, who doesn’t back stab us, and who will defend us if we need it. We need a friend who isn’t jealous of us and doesn’t care to share any lime light that may be given. Best friends should laugh together and cry together. Your best friend should help hold you accountable in every aspect of your life. They should lift you up, and never tear you down. I have to say that I am so fortunate to have a best friend who fits all of these qualities, and I’m so thankful. So many days, talking with her or hanging out with her is my therapy. I hope all of you are as blessed as I am, and if you aren’t be on the lookout. I met my best friend in college and our friendship has just grown ever since. We went for years living hours apart, and now we’re so lucky to be in the same town. I just hope that am as good a friend as she is to me.