The BEST Corn Bread EVER

My mom grew up in the great state of Texas where corn bread was a standard at most meals. The cheese, corn and green chilies add a little southern twist to the traditional corn bread. I usually serve it with my White Chicken Chili.  Sooooo yummy!!!


1 1/4 cup flour
3/4 cup corn meal
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/2 can cream style corn
1 cup shredded cheese
3 oz chopped green chilies

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Combine all ingredients and mix well. Grease 9x9 pan. Pour batter into pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until light golden brown and toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Serves 4-6                       Prep Time: 8 minutes               Cook time: 25 minutes

Lemon Granita

A little bit of tang and a little bit of tart come together in this light, refreshing and icy dessert! Super easy to make!  Enjoy!

1 cup lemon juice (about 6 sm/med size lemons)
Lemon rine from one lemon (shaved)
3/4 c sugar
Fresh rosemary (one stem)
2 cups water

In a pot, add all ingredients. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes. Let cool.  Strain and pour into a 9x9 glass pan.  Freeze for 3 hours.  Stir every 30 minutes after the first hour.  Serve immediately.

Serves 2-3           
Prep Time: 5 minutes         
Cook Time: 20 minutes          
Freeze Time: 3 hours

White Chicken Chili

Fall is here and there's nothing better than some great cold weather meals!  Here is one of my favorites. It's great on a cold fall day with a side of corn bread.  It's super easy and quick!


Happy fall!!!








2 cups navy beans (or other small white bean)
1 large onion
32 oz reduced sodium chicken broth
3 cups cooked chicken (I use rotisserie chicken and pull it)
4 cloves garlic (chopped)
2 tsp oregano
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp cayenne pepper 
7 oz chopped green chilies

Toppings:
1 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded cheese (I use Mexican blend)
1 large avocado  


Saute onion and garlic.  Add beans, broth, chicken, green chilies and seasonings.  Simmer for 20 min.  Add shredded cheese, sour cream and sliced avocado to each individual serving.  Serve with corn bread (optional).

Serves 3-4                     Prep Time: 20 min            Cook Time: 30 min              

The New Playroom Part Four: Painting with Stencils

I wanted to do something fun and different, but not too crazy for the wall in the playroom.  I debated between a bright color of paint or potentially even wallpaper.  But then I remembered something I had seen when I was looking for ideas for the toy storage...painting with stencils.  The picture I had seen was at I Heart Organizing.  The birch tree design matched perfectly with the theme of the playroom.  The colors she used were great, but a little too bold for the room I'm working with.  My walls are already a taupe color, so I used a white paint with the stencil.  I purchased the stencil online at Cutting Edge Stencils.  They have a ton of great stencils to choose from. I just might have to look at getting another one for another room someday.