Enchiladas!

I'm linking this with Bunny Jean's Bunny Hop Wednesday Party!  Give her a visit and join in.  You can post whatever you like.  The party is for newish bloggers, with less than so many followers, or have been blogging for less than a year (I think that right). 

Hop on over to Bunny's page for all the details!  She's such a sweetie!  I know she'll be glad to see you!  Oh, and she has something new!  Check out the BIG blogroll! 


Click for the Blog Hop!

I made some enchiladas the other day, and thought I'd share with you how I make them.  This is probably not a standard or traditional recipe for enchiladas, but we like them.



Enchiladas!



Some of the ingredients you'll need.  Forgot to show the canned diced tomatoes & salt.
You know what ground beef looks like! LOL!



Browning beef, onions, garlic, taco seasoning, salt & pepper, enchilada sauce.
I didn't add the tomatoes to this batch.

Spray baking dish with cooking oil and place on baking tray.
 This will prevent any bubble-over from messing up your oven.

 

Heat tortillas in microwave, cover until ready to use.

 

Spoon beef mixture onto a tortilla, sprinkle with cheese.

 

Roll...



roll...



fold top sides toward middle like an envelope flap and roll...

 

and your done (rolling)!  Place in the baking dish as well as possible.

 

Cover with enchilada sauce (green, in this case)...

 

then with shredded cheese and bake at 400 degrees, 23-25 minutes.



JOY'S ENCHILADAS

1 pound lean ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced, or 2 heaping tsp. jarred minced garlic
1/4 cup taco seasoning (more or less to suit your taste)
1 can diced tomatoes (optional)
1 small can green chilis (optional)
2 cans enchilada sauce, either red or green
salt and pepper to taste
8 taco sized tortillas
2 cups shredded cheese, your choice

Brown ground beef, onions, and garlic.  If there's any grease, drain.  Sprinkle taco seasoning, salt, and pepper over beef and stir in.  Add the diced tomatoes, including the liquid, and 1/2 can enchilada sauce.  Simmer about 5-8 minutes, just enough to warm it through.  Remove from heat.

Warm your tortillas in the microwave for about 3 minutes.  Once warmed, cover until ready to use.  Spoon about 2 serving spoonsful of the beef mixture onto a tortilla, add a sprinkling of cheese, and roll.  Place into a baking dish that's been sprayed with cooking oil and placed on a baking sheet.  Take remaining enchilada sauce and cover the enchiladas in the baking dish, then cover with remaining cheese. 

Bake at 400 degrees F. 23-25 minutes.  Once done, let the enchiladas rest for about 5 minutes before serving.  Enjoy!

This makes enough for a family of four, or left overs for the next day for two.

I used to add a small can of green chilis, but Hubby's tummy can't take too much spicyness anymore. 

I hope you'll try this, and enjoy!  If you do, please let me know the verdict!

Take care and God Bless!

XoXoXo

Earth Wonders and Texture Tuesday Photo Challenges

I ran across a few of our old photos of when my hubby and I were dating!  These photos are 18 years old this month.  We were both a lot thinner then and Doug still had his red hair! LOL!

The pictures were taken in Brown County State Park, Brown County, Indiana.  It's just a county away, but there's really no direct route to get there from here.  We have to go up I-65 to Columbus, then take SR-46 toward Bloomington, passing through Nashville. 

Nashville is the county seat of Brown County and  the fall leaves are one of the major draws.  It's a quaint little town with lots of artists and crafters selling their wares, antiques, little specialty shops & neat local restaurants.  Brown County State Park is just west of Nashville and has lots of lookout areas to view the beautiful fall scenery!  We spent our honeymoon here, but that's another story!  G-rated, REALLY! :)

This photo isn't as vibrant as I remember the leaves being, as they are almost every year.  But with a little bit of manipulation and Kim Klassen's textures, it is.  Ana's Earth Wonders Photo Challenge was Autumn, and Kim's Texture Tuesday Challenge was to use at least  one of her textures. 



Scan of the original photo.



This is how I always remember Brown Co., Indiana



I adjusted the brightness/contrast and vibrancy to being with.  

1st texture:  Kim's Pumpkin Grunge - soft light @100% opacity

2nd texture: Kim's 1 2 3 - Multiply @ 75% opacity



Scan of the original photo.





Much prettier!

I did the same here, adjusted the brightness/contrast and vibrancy.

1st texture - Kim's Yesteryear - Multiply @ 40% opacity

2nd texture - Kim's Pumpkin Grunge @ 50% opacity

If you ever get our way, you really should try visiting Brown County State Park and Nashville.  I don't believe you'll regret it!

Linking with:

Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday

Ana's Earth Wonders Photo Challenge

Take care and God Bless!

XoXoXo

In Memoriam - Performers who have passed away this past year

Performers who have passed away this year. 

Some who are noted here really surprised me.  The clips/photos at the beginning are of the more well-known, I guess.  Toward the end will be a scrolling list of names which is supposed to include all.

 
                                                         source

Take care and God Bless!
XoXoXo

AUTUMN LEAVES - Roger Williams

Linking to Pinning and SingingWeekend Party at 5 Minutes Just for Me.  

Click HERE!


"Autumn Leaves" is one of my favorite pieces of music, especially this version!  Here's a little history on it.

"Autumn Leaves" is a much-recorded popular song. Originally it was a 1945 French song "Les Feuilles mortes" (literally "The Dead Leaves") with music by Joseph Kosma and lyrics by poet Jacques Prévert. Yves Montand (with Irène Joachim) introduced "Les feuilles mortes" in 1946 in the film Les Portes de la Nuit.^[1] The American songwriter Johnny Mercer wrote English lyrics in 1947 and Jo Stafford was among the first to perform this version. Autumn Leaves became a pop standard and a jazz standard in both languages and both as an instrumental and with a singer.

The film Autumn Leaves (1956) starring Joan Crawford featured the song, as sung by Nat King Cole over the title sequence. The French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg paid tribute to this song in his own song "La chanson de Prévert"

It is the corps song of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps.

The British Invasion band Manfred Mann released a rock version on their 1966 album, As Is.

Enjoy!



Take care and God Bless!

XoXoXo

Wordless Wednesday - Surprise!



Garrett's 1st Birthday Party
August 2002

Grandson Garrett's surprise is evident!

Grandpa Doug is holding a toy

for him that is making some sort of noise. 

He latched onto that present quickly!

Take care and God Bless!

XoXoXo

Earth Wonders Challenge "LIGHT"

This week's photo challenge at Ana's Earth Wonders is "light."



Click HERE!

A few years ago, my hubby's uncle died and his wife had a dove released at the end of the service to the hymn "Fly Away Home."  I tried to capture a shot of the dove as it flew away into the sunlight.  I don't think I was successful in getting the dove, but I did get the bright sunlight!

I used two of Kim Klassen's textures here. One is "start" - soft light @ 50%, and the other is "warm sun" - multiply @ 40%.

I know Uncle Ray was already with our Lord, but the beautiful sunshine that day seemed to be welcoming him home!

Take care and God Bless!

XoXoXo

{Texture Tuesday} The DO eDition

Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen's today has to include either one layer of her Autumn Burst and/or revolve around the verb "DO."


Click HERE

I took a photo of my red-hot poker flower this summer.  It was so pretty, and I finally got two more.  It should multiply again next year. 

I added a layer of Kim's Autumn Burst - Soft Light @ 100, and one layer of her Golden - Multiply @ 81.  I've also added the Golden Rule for the verb "DO" requirement.

Take care and God Bless!

XoXoXo

PATRIOT'S DAY - 10 Year Anniversary of 9-11-2001

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL' 

You say you will never forget where you were when 
you heard the news On September 11, 2001. 
Neither will I. 

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room 
with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I 
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the 
peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it 
is OK . . .. I am ready to go.' 

I was with his wife when he called as she fed 
breakfast to their children. I held her up as she 
tried to understand his words and as she realized 
he wasn't coming home that night. 

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a 
woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been 
knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said. 
'Of course I will show you the way home - only 
believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest 
ministering to the injured and devastated souls. 
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He 
heard my voice and answered. 

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, 
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they 
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the 
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their 
faith has saved them. 

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan . 
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. 
Did you sense Me? 

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew 
every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me 
for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath. 
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the 
smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take 
my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. 
But, I was there. 

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You 
may not know why, but I do.. However, if you were 
there in that explosive moment in time, would you have 
reached for Me? 

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey 
for you . But someday your journey will end. And I 
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may 
be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are 
'ready to go.' 

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

 God

I received this as an email from my sister-in-law, Bev.  I felt so deeply moved by this, I had to share it with all of you. 

I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but if it does - TOO BAD!  It's my blog, I can voice my opinion as I see fit.  

Those of you who agree with me, thank you and God Bless you and yours.  

If you don't agree with me, I hope the above note from God softens your heart enough to hear Him calling to you.  I truly pray that you WILL hear! 

Take care and God Bless!

XoXoXo


*The photos/images above were received in various emails.  To the ones responsible for their existence, Thank You!*