Foodie Friday: Feta Artichoke Appetizer

So.. I may be the worst blogger ever... seeing as I have not posted since last Friday... and even today, I have a guest post for Foodie Friday.  I'm hoping I will get back to posting soon... 


This recipe is from my mom... she made it last week when she had an old friend over for dinner.  My dad, who said he does not like artichokes, loved this appetizer.  My mom originally got the recipe from one of her co-workers.  I can't wait to try it myself!


Feta Artichoke Appetizer
Ingredients:

1 package Puff Pastry

Sun Dried Tomatoes

Marinated Artichoke Hearts

Feta Cheese

Fresh Basil

Spray a cookie sheet with Pam.  

Take one Puff Pastry and let it thaw.  

Chop 6 oz. of artichoke hearts and 6 oz. of sun dried tomatoes and put on the top of the puff pastry.  

Sprinkle feta cheese on top of the puff pastry and top with chopped fresh basil.  Bake at 425 for 10-15 min.

My mom says this is GREAT!  A true crowd pleaser!

Foodie Friday???

I have hit a wall of sorts... I have been so busy wedding planning... traveling and such that I have not cooked in a while.  I also don't really have any recipes that I made but that I have not posted.  So... here's the question... I have a few options...

1. Skip Foodie Friday this week, and come back next week.
2. Post a recipe without the pictures.
3. Repost one of my earlier recipes... it would be one of my favorites.

I am still trying to decide what I will do... if you have a preference, leave a comment and let me know.  Hopefully I will have a decision shortly... I just thought I would keep you all posted... Also, so my mom doesn't get worried when she doesn't see one today.

Fancy shoes...

Look what I found when I got home yesterday...

It was holding this wonderful Yellow Box!!  I decided a while ago that I wanted to wear comfortable shoes at our reception.  I have been to enough weddings to know that by the time you get there your feet are usually very very tired!  I am not big on going barefoot in strange places... so, I thought about my favorite shoes in the world... Yellow Box!

But since it's my wedding day... I knew they would need to be special.  So I went for the bedazzled Yellow Boxes... what do you think?

I am so excited... and my feet are already thanking me!

Foodie Friday: Butterscotch Brownies

I made these beauties a few weeks ago... I used this recipe from bakerella.com... but I used butterscotch chips instead of chocolate chips... I took them into the office for a special treat... and they were a big hit... well most all food in the office is a hit... but I thought they were very good too!

Butterscotch Brownies

2 3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup butter, softened
1 lb. light brown sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
11.5 ounce package butterscotch chips
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl.  Set aside.

Stir brown sugar into softened butter, until butter disappears, in another large bowl.

Add the eggs one at a time to the butter mixture.  Stir each one in.

Add vanilla, butterscotch chips, and pecans (optional).  Stir them into the butter mixture.

Stir in the dry ingredients a little at a time.

The batter will be very thick!

Pour the mixture into a greased 9x13 pan.  Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Yum... a very tasty treat, indeed.

Sweet Hellos

This weekend we also got to meet our sweet niece for the first time (well, she's not my niece yet... but I am already claiming her).

It took us a while to get over to Birmingham to see her... but we are going to make up for that in the years to come...

I rocked her and rocked her and rocked her... I think I could have rocked that precious sleeping baby all day!  She is such a beautiful little girl!  I can't wait to watch her grow...

We love you so much sweet Catherine!

It's official...

Patrick has officially finished his seminary studies!! I could not be prouder!!  The program at Southeastern Baptist Theological seminary is very difficult... and very intense!  It's a 90 hour Master's program!

The campus at Southeastern is beautiful!!!  This is Binkley Chapel where the graduation took place.

We had such a great time celebrating with his parents and brother Sid.  We are all so proud of Patrick!

I got a cake from Publix and took it to North Carolina to celebrate.  We forgot to bring a knife to the restaurant where we planned to eat it.  So, we asked the manager if they had a knife we could use... this is what they gave us... crazy!

This is one of the major events we had to get past before the wedding!!  I am so excited we are checking those off... I can't wait until August!!

Busy busy busy...

I had a wonderful... and very FULL past few days.  I spent five wonderful days with Patrick... and we made some timeless memories.

As I watched him go through security at the airport today, I was struck by how it never gets easier.  Every time I think it has to get easier... and yet it never does.

Then in the Hartsfield Jackson Atrium, I was confronted with just how lucky we are.  As I turned to leave I saw a soldier and his family saying goodbye.  Wow... just when I thought it was rough putting Patrick on a plane.  I cannot imagine.

So, I want to thank all the families, husbands and wives, moms and dads, sons and daughters of our soldiers.  Your sacrifice is so much more than most of us can imagine.  Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed.  Your service to our country is exceptional!

Happy Memorial Day... and THANK YOU to our soldiers and their families... Thank you Damien and Jen... Rachel and Phillip... (a few of those I know who are serving our country).