Cheesy Barbecue Sloppy Joes

Good Tuesday morning!

The Gallery Pics are from our marshmallow roast Saturday night. I'm telling you, if you have already asked for a turkey fryer and a HUGE propane tank for Mother's Day, you really should ask for a fire pit, too. It is so much fun, and depending on who you have over, relatively safe.

REMINDER - On May 12, in honor of my 400th post, I will be announcing the winners of the THIRD Mystery Bag Party. Six lucky women will win an opportunity to climb in the Big Gold Van and go on a little adventure. The new destinations for this Mystery Bag Party are VERY exciting! I'll have more details in April, but I wanted you to know there is a specific date. There is a contest. There is a chance (Robin, Joan and Cam). There is always a chance!

Speaking of Mystery Bag Parties, we had our fourth get-together of the Soul Sistas (the first Mystery Bag Party Girls) last night at Jim & Nicks. (I'll have pics in the Gallery tomorrow.) I'll keep having the Mystery Bag Parties until there are at least 200 or more girls participating. (It's a goal!)

I told you I wanted to share something I read recently. Today is Southern Living Day on A Simple Life. This article AND the recipe are both from this month's issue. The article made me a little nostalgic.

The article is called "Our Sunday Best" by Valerie Fraser Luesse, and every word rings familiar to me. I'll be sharing parts of her little essay today and tomorrow.

A friend of mine visited a college campus recently and was aghast to see coeds walking to class in shorts and tank tops best suited to the gym. "My grandmother used to put on lipstick to go to the mailbox," she said wistfully.

Some icons of our feminine past won't be missed at all. To that bonnet hair dryer and clear-to-here girdle, we say good riddance. To the teasing comb, we offer a more reverent farewell. Together with Aqua Net hair spray, it gave generations of pageant hair the strength to bear a tiara, and that ought to mean something.

But as we boldly march forward, let us remember that "Mama 'n 'em" knew a thing or two about style. And I can name two blasts from our past that deserve a comeback.

The Easter Dress - We used to start shopping for our Easter dresses before the Valentine's candy was even stale. An Easter dress was your prettiest, dressiest Sunday-go-to-meetin' ensemble of the year. It screamed spring: floaty fabrics in pastel colors; short sleeves, puff sleeves, or no sleeves; store-bought or handmade. Pearls required. Hat and gloves optional after 1960. If you were under 12, you wore pastel dotted Swiss, patent leather Mary Janes, and maybe a color-coordinated hat with a little elastic band that hooked under your chin. No matter what your age, the biggest challenge was trying not to shiver, since even the Deep South tends to have a mysterious cold snap on Easter (perhaps as a divine reminder that this is a worship experience, not a fashion show.)

Do you remember? Tomorrow, Part Two.

Easter "Oldie"

Today's Easter "oldie" is a recipe, of course. Enjoy!

Resurrection Cookies

After dinner the Saturday before Easter, you will need to sit down and make these cookies with your family. It is a wonderful way to share the story of Easter... BUT YOU HAVE TO DO THIS THE NIGHT BEFORE EASTER!!!

You will need the following:

1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
A pinch salt
1 cup sugar
1 zip-lock bag
1 wooden spoon
Duct tape
Bible

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. (This is very important. Don't wait until you are almost finished with the recipe).

2. Place pecans in zip-lock bag and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested. He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

6. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain the sweetest part of the story is Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

7. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

8. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoon onto a wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

10. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

11. GO TO BED!

12. Explain they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20-22.

On Resurrection Sunday (Easter morning), open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

This is a wonderful way to start your Easter morning. It is fun, interesting and keeps the emphasis on the true meaning of Easter.

Cheesy Barbecue Sloppy Joes

I made this recipe Saturday night, and it was a HIT! A HIT, I tell you. (Again, remember this recipe came from this month's issue of Southern Living.)

You will need the following:

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup bottled barbecue sauce (your favorite)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons chopped jalapeno peppers (optional)
1 tablespoon liquid form jalapeno peppers (optional)
1 or 2 packages frozen garlic Texas toast
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1. Brown ground beef in a large skillet. Drain well.

NOTE - This is where I strayed from the recipe a little. Since I wanted to prepare the meal ahead of time, I browned the meat and put it in a slow cooker before adding the rest of the ingredients an hour before the guests were to arrive. I mixed everything and then cooked it on low for an hour.

2. Stir in tomatoes and next three ingredients. (If you want to add the peppers and the liquid, add those at this time, too.

3. Prepare Texas toast according to package directions. Serve beef mixture over Texas toast.

4. Sprinkle with cheese.

This is an open-faced sandwich not to be eaten with your hands. This is a DELICIOUS open-faced sandwich! Enjoy!

Have a wonderful Tuesday. Tomorrow's Seasonal Tradition is a transition tradition for the teenagers in your family. We're going to play a little Survivor - Easter Island! It should be fun! I'll have a little Wednesday Wisdom and the rest of the article I started above. Yep... Wednesday should be a good day.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda