Bringing Ya'll Up To Date

Hey everyone! So I've been a busy busy gal these past few days! The only evidence of this are the few pics that I took with my phone...oh and on my brother's girlfriend's camera so I will have to retrieve those pics from her fairly soon. So here has been my week in pictures:

My trusty Mountain Dew! I love that stuff, although I don't indulge in it often ;) This little darling of a dress I bought at Ross for $11.99 what a steal right? It is so flowing, light and breezy that I love it during the hottest days. (I will try to take some full length pics of it for you ladies.)

Now down to why I am holding this Mountain Dew bottle and wearing this dress. My brother's girlfriend was flying into the DFW airport and I guess I needed some artificial energy. lol! After picking her up we headed to Fort Worth Stockyards where they have amazing shops, gorgeous restaurants with delicious food, they have a "cattle drive" down through Main Street at 11 and 4 o clock every day (this is where they take the longhorn cattle through the streets from one pen to the other), and have period dressed cowboys and cowgirls riding horses and able to talk to anyone and everyone. If you are ever in this area of Texas I would suggest that you check it out. Also on your bucket list should be Billy Bob's, the Largest Honky Tonk in the world...literally. This is actually on my list of things to do as soon as I can. There is so much history there, especially if you are country music, or a western movie buff. Then we went to Risky's BBQ for dinner, and wow is the food good! Here are some pics:

Beef Brisket Sandwich

And to this beautiful radio that I saw in one of my favorite antique stores....

Sorry that it's side ways....

More to come, Adios!

Jessie Lou

Blueberry Cream Cheese Pie

 

  Want a dish that can cool you off on those warm summer afternoons? This dish would be perfect! I can't imagine a better warm weather dish, blueberries just spell out summer and pinics for me! Plus blueberries are amazing for your health check out this link here for more information: http://www.blueberrycouncil.org/health-benefits-of-blueberries/?gclid=CNvBgcvRxrACFaNeTAody35PWA


  A little history pertaining to this recipe: I was homeschooled all through pre-school, kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school by my wonderfully talented mom, who can multi task amazingly! ;) This gave me the opportunity to be as creative as I wished. And that creativity started to blossom in the form of cooking classes in my highschool years. I had so much fun cooking with her (btw, she has this magical sense of what tastes well together and an unceasingly creative mind. Our dinners never lack for excitement and flavor!) and learning all of her tips and tricks.

  This recipe was actually made up by lil ol' me ;) We had some blueberries sitting in the freezer, and cream cheese in the fridge. So I decided to whip something up for dinner and surprise everyone. I was so proud of myself when this came out well! And it's been a hit with everyone that I have made it for. 

  Oh and just a little reminder that if you don't like a certain part of this recipe, you can substitute it for something else. My mom does not like the bananas at the bottom of the pie so I omit that when making it for her. And my friends husband does not like any kind of nuts so I omit that in the topping when I make it for them. Have fun with this recipe and I hope that you enjoy it!

  This recipe is made in three parts, I like to make the blueberry topping first and then throw it in the fridge to chill while I make the pie. Also, the final crunchy topping I like to make ahead of time and keep in an air tight container, so that it is readily available, because I like to make this pie at a moments notice and fairly frequently.

Blueberry Pie Topping
3/4 c. sugar
4 c. blueberries
1 c. water-optional (only if the mixture seems a little thick)
3 tlbs. cornstarch (add more if the mixture is a little thin)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. grated nutmeg
2 tlbs. lemon juice-optional (the lemon gives it a really summery flavor)

(This recipe is also very nice for any type of berry that you are making, so it can be used with strawberries, etc. You can use it as a pie filling as well.)

Makes enough for two pies. Stir everything together except blueberries in a bowl. Pour blueberries into pan-medium heat on stove, stir in other ingredients. Let thicken, if too thin thicken with more cornstarch or sugar. Cool in refrigerator in bowl, set on hot pad to protect fridge.

Cream Cheese Pie
2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. confectioner sugar
1 packet of lemon or 2 slices of lemon squeezed (for bananas) optional
1 (16 oz.) whipped cream cheese container
2 packets of lemon
1 1/2 bananas sliced-optional

Makes 1 pie. Slice bananas, sprinkle with lemon juice or mix powdered lemon with water (1 packet of lemon) and then sprinkle bananas. Lay banana slices on bottom of crust. Mix vanilla, sugar, 2 packets of lemon, cream cheese together. Put cream cheese filling in pie crust (I go the easy route and buy a ready made crust. I prefer the graham cracker crust.)Chill for 2-5 hrs. Put topping on pie.

Crunchy Topping-Optional
Brown Sugar
Chopped Nuts (I use walnuts)
Grape Nut Cereal

  Crumble on top of pie.


  I realize that this seems like an awful lot of work, but once you get it down it really isn't that hard at all. The recipe is just very long! But the outcome is amazing! I never have any leftovers when I make this pie, no matter how many I make! I will leave you with these yummy blueberry pics. I hope that you try this recipe out and you enjoy it!

Adios!
Jessie Lou

TGIF

  Yay! I have internet! I'm not a big fan of too much technology, but I do need a computer to talk to all of you lovely people! So I am happy to be back online. I hope that your week has gone well, you only have the rest of today to go until the weekend. I love Fridays ;)


  Well, I did get the sunflowers planted. Hopefully I didn't plant them too late! Atleast I feel like I got something done today. I hate days with a long to do list and you only cross off a couple things on that list at the end of the day. I hope that your day was fruitful!


  I believe that I will leave you with a pic of our dogs puppies, we believed that she was getting too old to have any more, but I'm so glad that she had this litter! They are so adorable! Take a peek.....Oh and I love how one pup is on sleeping on top of the other, they do so many cute things!

Clothing Tid Bit

  Don't you just love these ladie's outfits? I adore them! It's such a tough but yet romantic look. Thank you to Cowgirl Kim for the beautiful clothes and these amazing pics, this gives me some ideas for my wardrobe. Once I get a little more settled and all of my clothes are unpacked be expecting to see some recreations of these outfits. Let me know what you think!

Adios!
Jessie Lou

P.S. For more information on Cowgirl Kim visit:  http://www.cowgirlkim.com/shop/

Hey ladies! I'm sorry that I haven't been online in the past few days, my internet hot spot died :( and now I'm sitting at Starbucks trying to check my email. I'm hoping to be on and posting again in the next few days to a week.

It's driving me nuts because I really want to post more! I just bought some reproduction dresses that I am revamping, I'm hoping everyone will love them when they are finished and I post pics.


Take care ya'll and I will talk to you soon!
Adios,
Jessie Lou

LEMON TREE!

Lemon Tree!!!





I have been wanting to own a lemon tree my whole life! This dream started when I was probably about 5 years old?


My mother is from Southern California and grew up around all sorts of citrus trees, I heard of these citrus trees growing up. And then went for a visit to a family friends house who had quite a few lemon trees growing on the rolling country side behind his home. I remember picking lemons in the misty California morning, the pungent smell of the lemons is something that I will remember for the rest of my life.

 Living in Colorado I was never able to grow one......since moving to Texas I have seen tons of them at gardening stores....so guess what Mom and I went and bought yesterday? A LEMON TREE!!!! I will be planting it tomorrow in the front yard near my bedroom window so that I can smell the lemons in the morning, I will try to fill ya'll in on how the planting goes and how it looks when finished. I'm sorry this post sounds a little scattered but I wanted to post pics before I run off to church. Have a blessed Sunday and I will be writing again tomorrow!

Adios,
Jessie Lou

The Lemon Tree: Kind of tiny right now, but all it needs is love!

The Baby Lemon: It's still green ;)

Dale Evans

I absolutely love Dale Evans! She was always a lady but no one could ever push her into anything. She would fight for what she believed in and was independent enough that if Roy couldn't rescue her she would find a way out of her captures clutches. She was one smart cookie with beautifully powerful singing pipes. She is an inspiration to girls and women even today. To learn more about Dale Evans and Roy Rogers visit: http://www.royrogers.com/ or wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Evans

"Cowgirl is an attitude, really. A pioneer spirit, a special American brand of courage. The cowgirl faces life head on, lives by her own lights, and makes no excuses. Cowgirls take stands. They speak up. They defend the things they hold dear. A cowgirl might be a rancher, or a barrel racer, or a bull rider, or an actress. But she’s just as likely to be a checker at the local Winn Dixie, a full-time mother, a banker, an attorney, or an astronaut.”
- Dale Evans Rogers

Amen to that Dale! Welcome cowgirls! Whether you always have been one, not sure yet, or just becoming one. This is your country, COWGIRL COUNTRY.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MrFgkHV4kE