~~~Foodie Friday # 2 - Pepperoncini Beef ~~~

Thanks to my friend Gollum @ Designs by Gollum for hosting this fun event which will hopefully have us all cooking up new recipes in no time... She not only can whip up some great meals but she is a WIZ at Tablescapes & decorating. Probably due to her immense collection of dishes. Go check out her blog to see who else is posting tasty recipes for you to snatch up and make. Come join in on the fun!

Pepperoncini Beef

(SERVES 12)

Roast beef cooked in a slow cooker with garlic and pepperoncini makes a delicious and simple dinner on it's own served on rice or in a sandwich.

INGREDIENTS

1 (3 pound) beef chuck roast
4 cloves garlic, sliced
1 (16 ounce) jar pepperoncini (I buy the sliced ones)
Provolone or mozzarella cheese slices

Optional: 1 carton of fresh sliced Mushrooms, 1 or 2 Onions sliced if desired ( I use them)

Note: For an extra kick throw in few Crushed Red Pepper flakes to taste

DIRECTIONS

• Make small cuts in roast, and insert garlic slices in cuts. Place roast in the slow cooker, and pour the entire contents of the jar of pepperoncini, including liquid, over meat.


• Cover, and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours in crockpot.


• When done shred the beef… I sometimes thicken the broth slightly with flour


• Serve it on hoagie rolls with provolone or mozzarella cheese. Use the juice as AuJus to dip your sandwich in.

This is great for a group functions... Just double the quantity

and serve it with crusty rolls

Until Later

~~~Outdoor Wednesday - Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado ~~~

Susan at A Southern Daydreamer is the host of "Outdoor Wednesday". If you are interested in this event....link on the logo picture....and learn about what it is all about. Join the fun.....and visit Susan and all the participants who are sharing "Outdoor Wednesday". Thank you Susan!

Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde, Spanish for green table, offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made their home in the cliffs and surrounding area for over 700 years. Today, the park protects over 4,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States. We visited this National Park about 5 years ago and was amazed with the beauty of the village in the cliffs. We went with Norm & Chris and another couple. Myself, Norm & Buck all took the tour climbing down into the cliff dwellings... Enlarge pictures to get a better look at it. We are in all the photos that show people so click on them to enlarge and find us... There are green arrows showing where we are in two of the pictures... It was a strenuous climb down into the village but climbing the rope ladder to get out was by far the most exhausting... Please sit back and enjoy the photos.

Double click on the last picture and you will see on the far right of the cliffs just past the village the rope ladder that we climbed out on...

I hope that you enjoyed your tour of Mesa Verde as much as we enjoyed it

Until Later

~~~Florida State Parks Series #4 - Ichetucknee Springs State Park~~~

Welcome to Ichetucknee Springs State Park

We visited the Ichetucknee about a month ago; The crystal clear water is still 72 degrees and remains that temperature all year. The trees have lost most of their leaves, but there is still a lot of life and activity near the water. You can canoe or kayak down the river for a peaceful experience where you are sure to see plenty of birds and fish, and possibly even manatee. You can paddle upstream and then enjoy a leisurely paddle back downstream. Tubing is one of the most popular activities during the spring through the fall months. Tubing down the river is one of the most enjoyed activities at this park. For those who are not interested in tubing a short nature trail will lead you to the river’s edge. A ½ mile, round trip walk will take you to the Blue Hole, the largest spring in the park. Also, the Trestle Point Trail loop trail just under a mile in length will guide you along the river and back through the hammock forest with an additional, optional 2 mile Pine Ridge loop trail through the beautiful sandhill for the more adventurous hiker.

The crystalline Ichetucknee River flows six miles through shaded hammocks and wetlands before it joins the Santa Fe River. In 1972, the head spring of the river was declared a National Natural Landmark by the U. S. Department of the Interior. White-tailed deer, raccoons, wild turkeys, wood ducks and great blue herons can be seen from the river. Picnic areas, equipped with tables and grills, are available throughout the park.

From the north, take I-75 south to exit 423. Take SR 47 south, turn on CR 238 and follow the park signs. From the south, take I-75 north to exit 399. Take US 441 north to the city of High Springs. Take US 27 north to Ft. White; stay on US 27 north approximately 4 miles to the South Park Entrance.

Until Later

~~~FOODIE FRIDAY # 1~~~

Well here it is... my first Foodie Friday post. I posted this before but I love it so much thought I would share it again... Thanks to my new friend Gollum @ Designs by Gollum for hosting this fun event which will hopefully have us all cooking up new recipes in no time... Not only is she a dish addict but she can cook up some good food too... Go check out her blog to see who else is posting tasty recipes for you to snatch up and make. Come join in on the fun!

Chicken Vegetable Casserole

SERVINGS: 6

This is a great quick-and-easy entree to make when you have company. It can be made ahead and then just bake when your guest are arriving. I always get compliments when I serve it! This dish is delish...

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream

1 egg

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage

1 package (16 ounces) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed

2 cups cubed cooked chicken or turkey

1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

In a small bowl, cream butter and sour cream until smooth. Beat in egg.

Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and sage; add to creamed mixture.

Spread into a greased 3-qt. baking dish.

In a large bowl, combine the vegetables, chicken, soup and onion.

Pour over crust; sprinkle with cheese.

Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 35-40 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 6 servings

I hope you enjoyed this recipe.... We l♥ve it...
Until Later

~~~Outdoor Wednesday~~~

Susan at A Southern Daydreamer is the host of "Outdoor Wednesday". If you are interested in this event....link on the logo picture....and learn about what it is all about. Join the fun.....and visit Susan and all the participants who are sharing "Outdoor Wednesday". Thank you Susan!

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico is the world’s largest hot air balloon festival which takes place each October. We went there in 2004 and parked where the balloons floated directly above our coaches. While there you’ll see more than 700 balloons in the sky at a time in many shapes & sizes as the skies becomes dotted with brilliantly colored balloons. There are many events you can attend at the festival such as morning glow (when the balloons prepare for a early morning ascension), the gas balloons, Special Shapes mass lift, going up in a balloon when they all take off or just sitting in your lawn chair and enjoying the skies filled with beautiful colors.... Here are just a few of the many photos I took while we attended this fantastic event. I hope you enjoy them...

If you have never been to Alburquerque for the Balloon Festival you should try to attend it just once. It is one of the most magnificient times you will have.

Until Later