Sunday Football

Here in the USA, you know fall is coming when football season begins.  Everyone sporting their jersey's, t-shirts, and whatnot of their favorite team.  Tailgate parties going on all over town.  Just a lot of fun and making memories. It's really something special for us football fans.

Yesterday was the first game of the season for my Baltimore Ravens. You saw purple everywhere! (Oh, by the way, we won.) Folks were very excited to see the Ravens come back after last year's horrible season.  All of our best players were out with injuries from torn Achilles to fractured hips, to broken arms. It was a really bad time for us.  But it looks like things are getting back to normal.  All of our injured guys were back and looking as healthy as ever.  And if they keep playing like they did Sunday, I'm pretty sure we will make the playoffs and possibly, dare I say it, the Super Bowl.

Every Sunday or Thursday, or Monday - whatever day our Ravens play - during football season, my friends and I get together to watch football.  It is so much fun watching the game with friends.  Lots of laughter and screaming at the television, doing the Raven's chant every time they score a touchdown, "Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh."  Not to mention the enjoying a refreshing beverage and eating yummy dishes each person contributes. At the end of the evening, I usually have no voice.

Since it was such a lovely Sunday afternoon, we cranked up the grill. We had Italian sausages, hotdogs, hamburgers, fried chicken, bbq chicken, spareribs, tossed salad, macaroni salad, a few other dishes I can't seem to remember right now, and my Spicy Italian Crescent Ring.

It was easy to make and only took minutes to put together.  Here's how.

Ingredients
Salami
Prosciutto (The recipe called for capocollo but I couldn't find it)
Ham
Banana peppers
Red roasted peppers
Provolone cheese
2 cans of crescent rolls
Black pepper

Using a round pizza pan, I first unrolled each can of crescent rolls and laid them out in a circle. Be sure to lay the dough so that the wider ends are facing inward and the smaller ends are facing outward (Taking the shape of the sun). Then on the wider end I layered the roasted peppers, half slices of provolone cheese, salami, prosciutto, ham, banana peppers and topped it off with the other half slices of provolone cheese.  Like this:

Next just pull the ends of the crescents up over the deli meats and tucked them under. Finally sprinkle a little black pepper over the top and let bake in the oven for 22 minutes at 375 degrees.

And Voila!!!

My friends really enjoyed it.  I was even asked to make one for a housewarming party next month.

I found this dish on Facebook, but you can get the entire recipe here.

Getting Ready

It is Hot! Hot! Hot! out today and I have no plans to venture out whatsoever!

I spent my morning doing routine weekend house chores and once that was done I pulled out my tote of fall decorations.  I must say, sure isn't a lot in there lol. Good thing I hit the Dollar Tree earlier this week.

Originally, decorating wasn't to start until the end of the month, but I will be busy that weekend so up they go next week.  Plus I hear the weather will start to be more comfortable, in the 70's. Perfect for putting up decorations.

You may be wondering why that Christmas tree box is in the photo?  Well this year I'm doing something I've always wanted to do but never got around to doing it.  Decorating a tree for fall.  I first saw the idea on an old HGTV show called Room by Room.  That was one of my favorite programs.  I especially loved their fall and Christmas shows.  So many cute-cute ideas.  I really miss Matt and Shari, sigh!

Then recently I saw several on Pinterest.  I told myself that this year I was putting up an autumn tree.  Matter of fact, I'm putting up two.  A 6ft tree in the dining room and a small 2ft table-top is going in the living room.  Then when it's time to decorate for Christmas, tree is already in position. Just need to switch out the decorations lol.

I guess that's it for today. Next time I post, it will be the results of my labor.

Look What Followed Me Home

On my drive through the counties on Labor Day, I stopped in several Walmarts.  Just looking around for some fall inspiration and picking up a few things I needed at home.  

As I stroll through the garden center area I see all the pretty potted mums. I love mums.  To me, it's a symbol that fall will soon be here.  

 

Along the fence there were more mums sitting on metal shelves with a sign above that said "clearance" so I mosey over to see how much they were on sale for.  I picked up these two beauties for $1.97 ea.  They're big and full and so colorful. Not sure why they are marked clearance because they look just fine to me.  Now tell me!  Do you see anything wrong with these mums? 

This weekend I plan to go back to the Walmart that had these on sale.  I hope there are some left as I want to get two more.  My idea is to place them outside my front door.  Hmmm, I may get four and put two out on the balcony.

Today's Trip to Dollar Tree

Jackpot!!!

Today I decided to go to Dollar Tree, just to see what they might have.  I had been to several Dollar Trees in the last few day but wasn't finding much in fall decor.  In every Dollar Tree I visited, everything was nearly gone. If I were planning to decorate for Halloween or have a Halloween party, I wouldn't have a problem whatsoever as there are isles of decorations, party supplies and costume accessories there.

I really didn't want to have to spend a lot of money at Michael's or AC Moore, so I said I would try one more Dollar Tree. Let me tell you I am so glad I went.  I don't know why but they were just putting out their fall decorations. I found everything I needed and some things I wasn't looking for but wanted.

See the mess all over my dining table?  I cannot wait to start decorating!  I found garland, pumpkins, silk sunflowers and other floral/berry bushes, twig wreaths, acorns, burlap ribbon, glitter leaves, even some small bales of hay.  Oh and these cute owl ornament.

I bought six (Think I will go back to get six more).  These are going on my Autumn tree, an idea I got from Pinterest.

How about these adorable acorn salt and pepper shakers?  Could not believe these were in Dollar Tree (They also had owl salt/pepper shakers). They will go nicely with my table settings.

Even the pumpkins are cute and colorful this year...not just plain old orange.  These are going on the shelf above my television. I'm not sure if I want to cut off the top and fill with flowers or leave them as is.  Still deciding.

Yes!!! I am very happy about today's findings.  When I'm done in here, my little palace is going to look so pretty.  Time to pull out the totes.

Stay tuned!

Well it seems Santa and his merry elves have been very busy over at Magical Holiday Home.  Check out the new look!

Ready For Fall

Hope everyone in the USA enjoyed their Labor Day Weekend.  I know I sure did.

This weekend was so lovely.  The weather was awesome...actually felt like fall had arrived.  For the entire weekend, I could keep the AC off and just open all the windows and allow the cool breeze to flow through my little palace.  It was actually cold one morning when I woke up.  It felt great!  Unfortunately the heat is coming back today. Grrrr

Since the weather was nice I just had to take a drive. I was looking for color changes of the leaves, but didn't see any.  It's okay, though. I know they're coming.

I love to drive the back roads through several counties.  Just me with the windows down. Cruising the winding roads while contemporary jazz plays softly in the background. Sometimes I get as far as Hanover, PA where my brother lives.  The scenery is really beautiful in autumn. Something about driving over bridges and seeing nothing but water and trees, is very soothing to me.  Not to mention seeing horses, cows and even buffalo grazing on the grasses or the huge rolls of hay laying all over the fields.  Oh, and corn stalks as far as the eyes can see.  I mean they are everywhere lol.  Sometimes a few horses will graze close to the road.  So naturally I pull over, grab my phone and take a few pictures.  In my travels if I see a stand selling fresh produce, I'll stop and buy some strawberries, or corn on the cob, or tomatoes from the farmers.  I like to support our local farmers.  

On occasion I will call my BFF if I'm driving in her neck of the woods and we'll meet up to have lunch at Richardson's Farms. The food there is always fresh and so delicious. On a chilly fall day, I like to indulge in one of their potpies. Mmm-mmm so good and warms the body too.  They have an area right inside their greenhouse where we sit and chat and admire the view of hills and trees with all their pretty fall colors.  Afterwards, we walk around the greenhouse, checking out the pretty plants and flowers and decorative displays.

Sometimes I spend an entire day out driving.  I absolutely love it!  My dad used to take us on Sunday drives when I was a kid and I guess it stayed with me.  Ooh and driving back home as the sun is starting to set is truly a thing of beauty.  At the end of the day, I feel so good.  Nature is truly amazing. 

Ah, yes.  Autumn, I can't wait for you to finally get here.

Pineapple Jerk Chicken Recipe

I am so excited that fall is only a few weeks away.  The summer has been extremely hot and I am so done with hamburgers, hotdogs, pasta salads and all those other summer foods.  I'm ready for some warm, homemade comfort food like meatloaf, chili and chicken & biscuit casseroles.   I have been waiting for a nice day when I could go into the kitchen to cook and I finally got my wish this week and decided to try a new recipe. It's not a dish I would categorize as "comfort food" but it was better than eating a burger or hotdog.  Let's call it an "in-between seasonal dish." Plus it was easy to make and tasted really good too.

Grilled Pineapple Jerk Chicken Thighs (http:/erecipecards.blogspot.com)

Ingredients:
1/4 cup jerk chicken spice mix
1 cup pineapple chunks w/juice
8 chicken thighs
salt and pepper

Because I live in an apartment (grills are not allowed), I baked mine's in the oven.  Also in the recipe they used chicken thighs with the skin on, but I used boneless/skinless thighs.

For the jerk spice I used my favorite:

It comes in mild or hot and you can find it in any grocery store.

First I placed the chicken thighs in a 9x13 baking dish. I seasoned the chicken with a little salt and pepper, then added the jerk seasoning/pineapple mixture.  I let the thighs cook for about 25 minutes, covered, at 350 degrees making sure the meat didn't dry out.  Then I uncovered the dish and broiled the chicken for 2-3 minutes so that it would get a nice browning on top.  They didn't brown as much as I wanted however.  Probably because they were skinless.  And that's it really. I wish I had taken a picture of the chicken when it first came out of the oven. Must remember that for my next dish.

To compliment the chicken I made coconut rice, green beans, plantains and macaroni and cheese. Cabbage is a favorite side with Caribbean dishes like jerk or curry chicken but I have not mastered making that yet. I'm always told it's simple. One day I'll give it a try.  The macaroni and cheese was a last added side. I had made a big pan to take to our office cookout and decided to make a small pan for home.

I found this recipe on Pinterest but you can get the full recipe here.  Give it a try!