Wordless Wednesday

Welcome to the family!

Happy Trails

On the breakfast plate How do you cook bacon

Good Morning.  Today I am sharing a couple of Breakfasts that I have cooked recently. 

I have  not shared this before but My Cowboy and I are over 60

just a bit.  Since he became ill last November and had to quit work abruptly we have been going to local food pantries.  It sure has helped and caused us to eat and try things we would not have tried before. 

A few weeks ago we got Bagels.  Yes.  We have eaten Bagels but not a normal thing for us to buy.  We also got some frozen Sausage Patties.  It was a nice change and they were actually really good. I think they were Jimmy Dean.  There was 4 to the package.  I probably would not buy them because I think the frozen fast to cook things are too expensive. 

We've been eating more Breakfasts.  I think the Cowboy has a better day when I've cooked breakfast.  

I love bacon.  Because we had a little extra money we got some Low Sodium Bacon that was on sale.  Aren't these just the prettiest slices of Bacon.

Who doesn't love Bacon?

source

Some folks even say "I Love You' with Bacon!

In fact my D.I.L. a few years ago made a Bacon Rose bouquet for our grandson.  But dawng could I find the picture today to show you?  If you want to scroll and scroll through my blog it might pop up!  
I don't think I have the patience to coil bacon into Roses.  In fact I kind of don't have the patience, or time or really it is more organization to make Bacon like this . . . 

But it is soooo yummy.  It turns out super flat and tasty.  I crimped the edges of the foil to save the grease.  I usually put it on a rack so the grease drips away but this time I was too lazy. 

  What's a little Bacon Grease hurt?  

I did drain on paper towel. 

I love this method.  For me it's a little time consuming because it takes about 20 minutes in my oven at 300.  I usually am busy 

and don't get it in the oven in time.  But when I do.  Yummeee!

So how do you cook Bacon!

Thanks for stopping in! 

Happy Trails

BTW you have to come by tomorrow to see my post. 

No sneak peek.  

But I'll give you a hint. 

Our Trails are Happier

On the dinner plate / breakfast plate

What we've been eating this week or last week or maybe the week before.  I am not really sure. 

I have been having computer problems and I've loaded pics from my phone onto the blog I can do that on my phone but I can't type the text.  

So anyway here's what we've been eating. 

We got some yummy Little Smokies.  They were Turkey.  I wasn't sure how I would like them but they were actually really good. 
I had a few layer rolls and so I stuffed a few.  Now the eggs.  
Well I have learned I don't cook Fried Eggs to the Cowboys liking.  I thought a little of the White needed to be on the yolk.  I found out I was wrong.  

The next day. 

I made Him cook the Eggs.

The Cowboy buys Cod or Catfish every time he sees it on sale. 
This was a meal of Cod with leftover Clam Chowder from earlier in the week.  I fried a few Onions too.  I love them Onion Rings!

The cup of Chowder.  It was really good.

For lunch the next day I made a Fish sandwich.  I heated some 
Baby Ray's Wing Sauce and tossed in the Cod.  The Cowboy
really liked it. 

Too beige.  LOL.  Maybe another plate would have worked better.  We had a hankerin' for Green Bean Casserole.  I made my own Cream Of Mushroom soup.  It was really good.  I found a couple lone Egg Rolls in the freezer so I popped them in the fryer.  They tasted better than they look. I pulled some oven roasted Pork Loin out of the freezer to go with Aldi's brand of stuffing.  Not a keeper.  We didn't care for it. 

Since we have some Ground Beef in the freezer I have been wanting to make a Soup or Cowboy Stew.  I spent an afternoon looking through some of my favorite cookbooks.

The Cowboy has some wierd ideas sometimes.  He wanted col Shrimp with his Cowboy Stew.  

The eggs he cooked.  Canned New Potato's I fried up and some more of the Little Smokies.

Leftover Cowboy Stew with Tortilla's/  It was even better the next time when I re-heated it. 

Yummy Potato's, just a few Carrots and the Ground Beef.

And.

Drum Roll Please!

. . . 

I made an Apple Pie.  Yep.  I did.  I did the Rustic version and cooked it on the Pizza Stone.  It tasted better than it looks. 

When was the last time you made Apple Pie?

I had to look up a recipe. 

That sound silly to me. 

Happy Trails

Menu Monday

Hello and Welcome to a new week in a few menu plans in a few pics of what up cooked the last few days

We had a special treat the other day.  We shared with the 'Girl's'

Our Kroger had  Nolan Ryan Tomahawk Steaks on sale.  

The 'Girls' weren't sure at first even how to eat them.  I laughed
I was reminded of the Flintstones. 

The steaks were huge.  We bought two.  The Cowboy cut the bones off.  I froze 1 steak and cooked this one.  

I am trying to clean out the freezer.  We had a partial bag of 
Aldi French Fries.  We did not like them.  I also had a partial bag of Ore Ida.  I left them to thaw on a pan and then cut them.  I sprinkled olive oil and chopped onion and garlic and S&P and then baked them till they were crispy.  Then I topped them with grated cheese and Bell Peppers and put under the broiler.

Radish from the garden.

Here's the steak.  I did a reverse sear method.  It turned out a bit over done for my liking but it was yummy and super tender. The Rosemary is from the garden too.

The Cowboy suggested slicing it for serving.  I was glad trying to cut while eating would have been hard.  

A few nights before I re-heated leftover pork and made Fajita's.

I grilled Corn on the cob, Red Bell Peppers and a Red Iron. 

Asparagus and canned Pineapple rounded out the meal. 

For this week we'll be having more meals from the freezer. 
I did find Ground Beef on sale at the store yesterday so we bought 2 big 'ole packages.  I'll probably make Meat Balls today and freeze them for a few meals.  

Still planning on making that Goulash! And I'll serve it with 
Fried Yellow Squash and Zucchini.  I love fried Squash.  

We have lots of Pork in the freezer so might look for a new idea for it.  We have some cubed.  Maybe a little Chinese. 

We have more fish in the freezer and shrimp.  I've been thinking of making Coconut Shrimp.  Hmm.  

Do you have your menu planned for the week?

I don't really do a menu anymore

Those days are gone for now at least.  Everyday I ask the Cowboy what he feels like eating.  And so we have a Surprise or at least I do everyday.  

Have a Great Week

Enjoy your Surprises/Dinners this week.

Simple Sunday

Have a blessed day and a wonderful week

Happy Homemaker In Texas

Please forgive my absence last week.  My computer must have needed a break.  It kept shutting down on my all week.  I could not get anything done!  Bummer!

The weather
Now this is it.  Spring Time in Texas.  Beautiful sunny days.
Sometimes it's a bit hot but I love the days in the upper 70's and 80's.  Not even any rain around these parts.  Just gorgeous get out and play in the dirt kind a days.

I am wearing
My gardening clothes.  Some worn out pants and a worn out-shirt.  Later I will dress to go into town.  Town is just a block away LOL.  I dream though of being in a place where I have to trek into town. 

My To Do list
Still need to organize my cookbook shelves
Want to move a shelf from The Cowboys room to the area in the 
living room where I put my cookbooks
Finish cleaning the Green House/Outdoor Room 
Gotta go to P.O. and get some Tomato and Cucumber plants

My Ta Da moment
Got to check this off last weeks list I cleaned the kitchen table.
Re organized a bit and got all the fresh fruit off the table
And . . . 

Ta Da 

I made a Rustic Apple Pie

It lasted 2 1/2 days.  That Cowboy can put away the sweets.  In his defense it was rather small.  But that was good.  I hate sweets hanging around for days on end. 

On the menu

We had some good meals.  Lots of soup which I like and are so easy to make.  That's great for me because I am spending so much time outside and in my craft room 

In the freezer to choose from for this next week . . .

Cooked Shrimp I'll make some pasta and Salad

Filet Mignon that is cut for Shish Kabobs not sure how I will cook it

Pork Chops I'll add Black Eye Peas and Rice and I bought Pillsbury Biscuits the other day so we will have them with Cream Gravy

Maybe Potato Soup or a Beef Veggie Soup 

In the craft room

I finished the Junk Journal from trash and it is in the mail.  

I  received from my partner it was so nice.

I am cleaning everything up and making small embellishments 

this week to send to a group leader that makes Prayer Pockets for nursing homes.  

What I am reading

From a favorite Christian author.  I am planning an event in  

June and will feature Cowboy Romances to celebrate our 

Wedding Anniversary in June. 

On my reading pile

  

I am reading now  Finished


I love a good Cowboy hero.  I have my own.  HeHe.  I was 
happy when Sophia Summers announced this one.  It was perfect timing for a week long promo. event I will be hosting in June to 
celebrate My Very Own Cowboy. Our anniversary is in June so 
I thought it was the perfect time for a new event. Here's my review for Lost Billionaire Heir

Something fun to share

On sale now! I love this magazine! Only $7.00 now.  
Birds and Blooms is on sale too.  I subscribed! I haven't gotten a magazine in years.  I can't wait for my first one!

Scripture/Devo.

From a FaceBook group I am in. I am trying to be more e and to journal scripture daily

activ

Have A Good Day

You know how some Monday's come too soon. 

Well the computer feels that way today. 

Havin' a few difficulties

But

I wanted to say Hi and wish you the Best!

Have A Great Week

Simple Sunday

Killer Deadline by Lauren Carr-I Read Book Tours-Review/Author Interview

About the book 
Folks in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, claim that where Nikki Bryant goes, trouble is not far behind. Her refusal to back down from a challenge has made Nikki Bryant a top investigative journalist.

When an online friend nudges her to join him in a pact to reconnect with their first loves, Nikki and her boxer dog Elmo leave the bright lights of Las Vegas for the charming town of Pine Grove. There, she must face the biggest challenges in her career and life—the first love she had left behind and her father’s unsolved murder.

But before she has time to unpack her car, Nikki stumbles upon the dead body of local news anchor, Ashleigh Addison, her childhood rival. Could Ashleigh’s death be connected to an explosive news story that she had teased about airing live? Did that explosive story have anything to do with the murder of Nikki’s father?

With the clues in her father’s cold case hot again, Nikki intends to chase down the story of her life until she catches his killer—no matter what it takes.


Author Interview

Hello Lauren and welcome back to the blog. I am so happy to get the chance to
chat again about another new book!

Before we get into the new series let’s have a bit of fun. I seem to always be thinking
of food when I sit down to write an interview. It’s lunch time here. What’s on your luncheon plate?

Oh, I’m afraid my luncheon plate is rather boring. I’m eating a ham sandwich and tomato soup. With the social distancing, we haven’t been going out to eat. I’m a gourmet cook, but after a while, it becomes a grueling chore. All I could muster to cook for lunch was a can of tomato soup and I threw together a ham sandwich.

How’s the weather now? It’s springtime in Texas my favorite season. What
is your favorite season?

Spring is my least favorite season. I have seasonal allergies. There have been times that my hay fever has gotten so bad that I seem to go through spring in a pollen-filled fog. My favorite season is winter. I love to get snowed in and write by the fire.

Do you write everyday like on a schedule or does your writing tend to ebb and flow
as your creative mind takes over?

I do write every day. Other times, it’s new material. If the words are not there, then I will go back and rework something that I have already written. If the words are really flowing, then I will write until they stop—even as I am nodding off to sleep. Right now, I’m working on the next Mac Faraday novel. Came Upon a Midnight Murder is a Christmas mystery.

I know you’re a big dog lover but I was wondering if there is a special place in your heart for any other kinds or pets or animals? I am thinking of Thor in your Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery Series. Did you ever have a big rabbit?

No, but I wanted a rabbit. I was raised on a farm and we had animals all the time. I also had a horse. Lady was an Arabian. I have a fondness for horses. I think they are beautiful animals. That’s why Chris Matheson has a horse farm. The last couple of times I have ridden, I’ve had serious falls. I got a concussion on the very last fall and ended up in the emergency room. That was when my husband put his foot down. I’m not allowed to ride horses ever again. I can only ride in my writing.

I am just dying to ask some question about the new series. I was so happy to learn you were writing a cozy. Was it difficult to wrap your head around this new/different genre?

A little bit. Generally, I write according to my rules. My books have all been cross genre, or rather blended genres: a mixture of police procedural, cold case, political thriller, and so on.

But, when the character of Nikki Bryant crashed into my life, I realized that for this book, I was going to have to obey the rules and expectations for the cozy mystery genre. I confess, more than once, I went to Google to ask about if this or that was allowed in a cozy.

One of the hardest things to adjust to was portraying the relationship between Nikki Bryant’s mother and stepfather. I wanted the readers to see that Nikki’s mother Kathleen had a loving relationship with her second husband, who happens to be the father of Ryan Spaulding, Nikki’s love interest. At first, I had written their scenes together as quite … feisty. But, in keeping with the cozy rules, I went back and really toned them down.

How easy/hard was it to leave your other series for a bit and visit Nikki’s world?

Very hard! I was in the middle of Came Upon a Midnight Murder, my Mac Faraday Mystery, and suddenly there was Killer Deadline running through my mind. I tried to set it aside, but I knew that Killer Deadline was going to be a much shorter project. It’s two-thirds the length of my other books. But I’m already back with Mac Faraday again.

I love the cover of Killer Deadline how much input did you have in the planning?

Thank you so much. I am really pleased with the cover for Killer Deadline. It was designed by Courtney Vail of Exquisitely Covered Books. https://www.exquisitelycoveredbooks.com/

Believe it or not, this cover is a pre-made one that I selected from her site. Since Killer Deadline is a cozy, I had to research cozy mystery book covers. I had to do something different. I knew I wanted an illustrated cover. There are so many ways to go. My husband saw this cover on Courtney’s website and I thought, “That’s it.”

Then, I groaned.

You see, I have been telling writers for years in my publishing classes, when I teach community ed, “Never put your character on your book cover!” Among other things, you end up married to that model. Or in this case, I’m married to that drawing of Nikki. But she is Nikki. And the cover perfectly catches the fun feel of the book.

But, Courtney assured me she has plenty of artwork with Nikki that we can use for future covers.

You do know what that means? I’m now married to Courtney Vail and Exquisitely Covered Books for future Nikki Bryant Cozy Mystery Covers.

What/who came first series concept or Nikki?

The mystery always comes first. In this case, the murder of a news journalist, who isn’t really taken seriously as a news journalist, who announces that she has a huge story and is killed before she can break that story. Then, I asked myself who is going to investigate this murder. That was when Nikki came to mind, and she came very quickly.

An investigative journalist, Nikki Bryant is one of my more fun protagonists. Not only is she the first female lead protagonist, but she’s also the most impulsive. Nikki operates almost solely from her gut. She’s got tremendous instinct but gets into trouble because she is so impulsive.

Ryan Spaulding serves as her anchor. The head of the local crime scene investigators, he’s her connection in law enforcement—and her love interest. At one point in Killer Deadline, Nikki’s mother tells Ryan to keep her out of trouble. He responds, “That’s what defines me.” Basically, Ryan’s job is to keep Nikki out of trouble, and failing that, get her out of trouble.

I loved reading Killer Deadline thanks for giving us a brand-new series to love! I appreciate the chance to chat again. But before I go I have one more question. Wasn’t Dallas Investigative Reporter? Just wondering because I hear Nikki will be looking for a new anchor.

Yes, Dallas Walker was an investigative reporter. Who knows? Maybe she’ll make a return to do the evening news at WKPG-TV.

I guess I have a sentimental attachment to journalism. That was my minor in college. I got my start writing freelance for newspapers. I learned rather quickly that journalism and mystery writing don’t mix because when it comes to journalism, your stories are supposed to be factually accurate—not fiction. At least, they’re not supposed to be fiction.

Till next time.

Sherry at My Jouney-The-Journey Back

And I thought
A brand new book; a brand new Cozy series always brings a smile to my face.  
A new series by Lauren Carr had me on the edge of my seat waiting to turn the pages. 
And turn the pages I did.  I love the new series.  I love the new
characters. 
It was a bit hard to leave behind her much loved characters for this reader but these new characters and series grab your heart and drag you in and won't let you go. 
As always Lauren gives us some giggles and a great story with lots of twists and turns and a few surprises.  

Killer Deadline is filled with some fun, smart and savvy characters.  Even the dog Elmo is smart, savvy and has his own following as a social influencer.  

Killer Deadline is a great start to a new Cozy series.  It is
filled with mystery, twists & turns and light humor that will make you laugh along the way.  And a little romance.  

I am looking forward to the next one!  

Thank you Lauren and congratulations on the new series. 

I received a complimentary copy. 
My review will appear on retail sites, Good Reads. 

Buy the book 

Amazon.com

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