Amazing Sky

Amazing Sky

Lately the skies here have looked so amazing

The way the sun was peeking from behind the clouds this day

just had me amazed so we took pictures 

This is the only peace I have in my life right now 

Ham Balls in Homemade BBQ Sauce

Ham Balls in Homemade BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:

2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 c. soft bread crumbs (2 slices)
1/2 c. finely chopped onion (1 medium)
2 TBS milk
1 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp black pepper
12 oz. ground cooked ham
12 oz. ground pork or ground beef


BBQ Sauce Ingredients:

3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. ketchup
2 TBS vinegar
1 tsp. dry mustard 

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 350º. Lightly grease a 2 Quart rectangular baking pan; set aside.
In a large bowl combine eggs, bread crumbs, onion, milk, 1 tsp dry mustard and the
pepper. Add meats; mix well. Shape meat mixture into 12 balls, using about 1/3 c.
mixture for each. Place ham balls in the prepared baking dish.

2.) In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar and 1 tsp dry mustard. Stir
until the brown sugar dissolves. Pour ketchup mixture over the hamballs.

3.) Bake, uncovered, about 45 minutes or until done (160º) 

Meatball Pie

Meatball Pie

Ingredients:

3 eggs, lightly beaten
2/3 cups grated Parmesan cheese
8 ounces spaghetti
3 cups thinly sliced onions (2 large)
2 TBS butter
1 Cup ricotta cheese
2 TBS fresh basil or 2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 24-26 oz. jar pasta sauce or marinara sauce
1 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1 pound frozen cooked Italian meatballs ( or homemade ones)
Shaved parmesan

Directions:


1.) Grease a 10-inch springform pan. Line pan with parchment paper or foil.
    Grease paper or foil; set pan aside. Or you can use a 2 qt. square baking
    pan, grease and set aside.

2.) For pasta crust, in a small bowl stir together 2 of the eggs and grated parmesan
    cheese; set aside. In a large saucepan cook pasta. Drain pasta; return to
    saucepan.  Add egg mixture; toss to coat. Press pasta mixture into prepared pan,
    building up sides slightly, set aside.

3.) Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook onions, covered, in hot butter over med-low
    heat about 15 mins or until onions are tender and lightly browned, stirring
    occaisionally. Remove from heat, cool slightly.

4.) Preheat oven to 350º. In a small bowl stir together the remaining egg, ricotta
    cheese, 2 TBS basil, and pepper. Spread ricotta cream mixture over pasta crust.
    Top with  caramelized onions. Place pan on a large pizza pan or baking sheet if
    using spring form pan, if using regular baking pan place directly on rack in
    oven. Bake 15 mins. Spoon 3/4 cup of pasta sauce over layers in pan. Sprinkle
    with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese.

5.) Toss meatballs with 3/4 cup of pasta sauce and 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese.
    Arrange meatball mixture over layers in pan, forming a mound.

6.) Tent pie lightly with foil. Bake for 45 to 50 mins or until heated through.
    Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Let stand, uncovered, on a wire rack
    for 15 mins. Lift pie out of pan, useing a serrated knife, cut pie into wedges.
    Garnish with shaved Parmesan Cheese before serving. Heat and pass remaining
    pasta sauce.

This can also be premade and you can freeze for up to 2 months :o)

Watermelon Centerpiece

Watermelon Centerpiece 

Cut about 1/3 of the top of a watermelon off and set aside, then cut a small part off the bottom so it sits flat on the table or plate.....set this aside...with the part you cut off slice in 1 inch slices and use cookie cutters or free hand cut shapes of flowers or hearts or letters or whatever you want , also use other fruits such as pineapples, cantaloupe, honeydew melon....put them on skewers...add grapes to make the flowers tops...you may also add strawberries or grapes to skewers just for added depth to the arrangement....add the skewers into the watermelon you have set aside and arrange them however you would like them, I made this one to say Ashley it was for my daughters bridal shower...I also used fresh greens around the bottom to cover the top of the watermelon to hide the bottom of the skewers, you can be creative and do this however you like, i free hand cut all my shapes and letters and this was my first attempt.

Strawberry Shortcake Skewers

Strawberry Shortcake Skewers

Cut the tops off your strawberries and wash them, Cut Angel food cake into small squares about the size of your berries, alternate them on your skewers starting with 

a strawberry....then drizzle them with melted chocolate...i put mine in a cup to serve them, these would make for a great party appetizer and they are so delicious.

Garters

Garters I made for Ashley's Wedding

The colors were Orange and Blue

The top one was the keep Garter

The bottom one is the toss Garter

DIY Housewarming Cake

DIY Housewarming Shower Towel Cake

for a tutorial go Here to Hillbilly Princess Diaries Blog!

Hot Fudge Cake

Hot Fudge Cake

Hot Fudge Sauce:

1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup cocoa
3/4 cup can cream
1/4 cup butter
1/8 tsp salt
Stir ingredients (except vanilla) in medium sauce pan on medium high until all lumps are gone. Bring to a boil and continuously stir for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, then add 1/2 tsp vanilla flavoring. Cut cake in half, put vanilla ice cream in the middle and drizzle hot fudge on top. 

We just baked a Chocolate cake and sliced it in halves, used the ice cream from ice cream sandwiches then poured the hot fudge over it and added whipped cream and a cherry....yum it was so delicious!!

Cheeseburger & Fries Casserole

Cheeseburger & Fries Casserole

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef ( i use chuck)
3/4 cup chopped green sweet pepper ( 1 medium)
1/2 cup chopped onion ( 1 medium)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 14.5-oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 6-oz can tomato paste
1 10.75-oz can condensed cheddar cheese soup
1/2 cup light dairy sour cream
4 cups frozen french-fried shoestring fries
1 teaspoon seasoned salt

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 350. In a very large skillet cook beef,

pepper, onion, and garlic over medium heat til meat is brown 
and vegs are tender. Drain fat. Stir undrained tomatoes and 
tomato paste into beef mixture. Bring to boiling, reduce heat.
Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.

2.) Spoon beef mixture into the bottom of an ungreased
2-quart rectangular baking dish. In a medium bowl stir 
together soup and sour cream, spread over mixture in dish.
Sprinkle fries over top of soup mixture. Sprinkle with Season
Salt.

3.) Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes or until heated through
and potatoes are golden.

Introduction!

As you can tell from the title my name is Grace, also known as Amazing Grace to many! I got my nickname from a customer when I was waiting tables. I love to cook and do crafts. So you  will probably be seeing alot of my meals and crafts on here cause I love to share my experiments. Some turn out good and some don't lol, but it's always fun trying.