Cooler Weather and a delicious recipe!

I don't know about you, but I just love cooler weather.  It seems so romantic, and I love my cozy home.  I enjoy candles, lamps, and hearty meals during the fall and winter months.
I enjoy baking more during this season, and my kids certainly don't mind either! LOL
We spend a lot time around the supper table in the evenings playing Phase 10. 

Speaking of recipes( were we?  I guess we are now! hahaha), and yesterday I told you to check back in today...
As much as my family enjoys hearty foods and meals, they love snacks.  Sometimes we get "snacky". LOL
This recipe is the most simplest of recipes, and my kids. love. it.

Fruit Dip

1 box dark brown or light brown sugar
2 8 oz blocks cream cheese, softened

Mix ingredients until smooth.  "Until smooth" is the  key.  Then it's ready to serve.
Be sure to have plenty of of sliced apples ( we can go through bags of apples really quickly with this recipe), grapes, strawberries - whatever fruit you like, this is the perfect dip! So much deliciousness!

So give me a shout out if you try it!

A couple of recipes that you will love to the moon and back!!

I so enjoy planning meals for the Holidays!
Here are a couple more of my favorite recipes that's always a hit!
I never have leftovers, and these are perfect for those church dinners as well.
As promised yesterday, here's the spinach casserole recipe.

I always double this recipe, but I will give you the original recipe and you can decide if you want to double or triple it!

SPINACH CASSEROLE

2 pckgs. chopped spinach, cooked and DRAINED
1 lge. onion, chopped
1 stick of butter
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
Parmesan cheese

Sautee onion in buttter; combine other ingredients except parmesan cheese and stire until cream cheese is melted.  Pour into baking dish and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.  Bake at 350*F degrees until edges bubble.

Then it's Heaven in a Casserole! LOL  I got this in a church cookbook.  My dad was a pastor, and this recipe is from a cookbook the church produced. The recipe was submitted by Carolyn Whitley.

From that same recipe book comes another winning recipe for Banana Nut Bread.
Debbie Stroud submitted this one.

BANANA NUT BREAD

1 cup sugar                            1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs 1 cup flour                  1/2 cup butter
3 bananas                               1 cup nuts
1 tsp soda                               1/4 cup chopped pineapple (optional)
                                               1/4 cup chopped cherries, (optional)

Blend sugar and butter;  add bananas and 2 slightly beaten eggs.  Sift and mix dry ingredients.  Add nuts, pineapple and cherries.  Pour into loaf pan.  Bake at 30*F oven for 50 minutes.

That banana nut bread is breakfast worthy too.  As well as dessert worthy.  Or in the afternoon with that cup of coffee.  It's perfect for anytime!

I've had the church cookbook since I was married in 1988.  The other one was obtained from my dear sister in law, Kathy Bobo.....well, I forgot when exactly I got it, but I am thankful for it.

Feel free to share your favorite recipes in the comments!

Thanks for coming back to The Holiday Barn!!

PS:  You won't want to miss tomorrow's recipe!!!  Make sure to bookmark and come back to visit!

What are some of your favorite Holiday recipes?

Do you have a traditional dish you make during Thanksgiving and Christmas?
For some reason, I do not make turkey and dressing any other time during the year.  That is reserved mainly for the Holidays.
So our normal Holiday meals look something like this...
turkey
ham
cornbread dressing
giblet gravy
cranberry sauce
green bean casserole
mashed potatoes
corn casserole
spinach casserole
broccoli/cheese/rice casserole
then all kinds of desserts.
Cookies, cakes, pies...whatever sounds good and we want.  Definitely always make my sister in law's chocolate pie.  It's definitely a hit, and there's never leftovers.

I don't necessarily have a recipe for the broccoli/cheese/rice casserole, but here's what I do.

I take a couple of bags of broccoli and cook it, drain.
Sautee one chopped onion in a stick of butter.  Melt Velveeta cheese in with the onion/butter on a low to medium heat. I also add a large, family size can of Cream of Mushroom soup to the cheese/butter/onion mixture.  Then, I use Minute Rice and precook it. I use about a cup to two cups of cooked rice.
Mix it all together.  Then bake at 350*F for about 10 minutes or so - just to make sure everything is heated all together.  My daughters LOVE this stuff. LOL

I like spinach casserole.
I can share that one tomorrow too.

Have a blessed day!!!

Thanksgiving 2018

One week from today is Thanksgiving 2018!!
I'm so excited to be hosting our family's holiday in our new home this year!
We moved to Texas on April 1, 2018.
I am planning on having turkey, ham, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, giblet gravy, and other family members will be bringing sides.  I will definitely be making our traditional broccoli/cheese/rice casserole.  I'll add the recipe tomorrow. 
It's going to be so much fun having family for the holidays!
Family means everything!!  I am thankful for each family member!