Joshua Paul Hernandez 1979-1993

This post is not to make anyone sad. It's to celebrate my son's life. In his short 14 years, he lived life to its fullest and loved with so much emotion. So many days, I wonder who he'd be today. Then there are other days that I know that he is the same today as he was 18 years ago...his dark eyes, curly brown hair and sweet smile...and yes even his temper. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him. Not one single day. I love you Joshua Paul and look forward to the day when you wrap your arms around me and whisper...welcome home Mom!

The mention of my child's name may bring tears to my eyes,
But it never fails to bring music to my ears.
If you are really my friend,
let me hear the music of his name!
It soothes my broken heart and sings to my soul!
~Author Unknown ~

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WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE !

I recently found some old family pictures and posted them on Facebook. OH MY how they brought back some wonderful memories! And you know, no matter what happens in your life, no one can ever take your memories from you...they are yours to keep, close to your heart.

Tattered 'round the edges,
And faded now with time;
Memories that linger still,
Are what they left behind.
Like a precious package,
Kept in a secret room,
Each memory a treasure,
A family heirloom.

On rare and quiet occasions
The package opens wide;
revealing then the memories,
That nestle there inside.
Faces etched in memories
Like photos from the past;
each snapshot printed in the heart,
Are memories that last.

Worn and ragged photographs,
So faded now with time;
Yet the lasting love deep in your heart,
Is what they left behind.

Allison Chambers Coxsey

Sharing some of my memories....


My Dad and I on my wedding day...1975

Joshua...our first born...he was 3 in this picture and it is one of my favorites of him.
I miss him so very much
Jordan..he was a year old in this picture and he is now 27 and a father himself...
a wonderful father !
And my baby, Addie! She was about a year old in this picture.
She will be 20 in less than a month.
She does so much for me, I don't know if I could ever repay her.
She is my sunshine!


And now onto a recipe....

SOPAPILLA CHEESECAKE




3 cans Pillsbury butter crescent rolls
2 (8oz) packages cream cheese (softened)
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup butter (melted)
Cinnamon & sugar

Instructions:
Unroll and spread 1 & 1/2 can crescent rolls on bottom of un-greased pan.
Combine softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla.
Spread mixture over crescent rolls.
Unroll and spread remaining crescent rolls over mixture.
Spread melted butter over the top and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

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You Know You Are From New Orleans if.....

Sometimes you don’t realize how unique the city of New Orleans is until you meet a newcomer.

Then you really appreciate the little things that make it special and unique.
Lets try to keep the traditions going for another generation.

• You cringe when you hear it pronounced New OrLEENS. It’s New OrLINS and we don’t really say N’Awlins.
• When you travel, everyone asks if you’re from New York, except a New Yorker, they’re just stumped.
• Even as a kid, you knew the address of Rosenbergs. “Rosenberg’s, Rosenberg’s, 1825 Tulane!”
• You know the opening date of your favorite snowball stand.
• When asked the highest point in the city, you reply, “Monkey Hill.”
• You remember when Monkey Hill was just a hill.
• You know that a nutria is an overgrown rat, but you still choose it for the baseball team’s mascot. Then name them Boudreaux and Clotile.
• You actually know what a zephyr is and might have ridden it a time or two at Pontchartrain Beach.
• Your sense of direction revolves around Uptown, Downtown, towards the lake, or towards the river.
• You travel East to go to the West Bank and West to the East Bank.
• You had more faith in a man named Nash with a sharpie than any Supper Doppler or Viper System.
• Your property can turn waterfront at any time.
• After every thunderstorm you have to reset your clocks.
• You never want to see another blue roof, duct taped refrigerator, or hear the name FEMA as long as you live!
• You refer to your grandparents as Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw and godparents as Nanny and Parran.
• You refer to a specific shade of purple as K&B purple.
• You get sad when thinking of all the things that “ain’t dere no more”. Especially, McKenzie’s Bakery and Mr. Bingle.
• You got excited when you found out you could get a traditional McKenzie’s king cake at Tastee’s.
• To you, an extensive art collection consists of the best Jazz Fest Posters.
• You turn your radio down, take a deep breath, and concentrate before crossing the Huey P. Long Bridge.
• When you are out of town, you think someone is joking when they say everything closes by 8pm. But they’re not!
• When traveling and you see “Authentic New Orleans or Cajun Food” you giggle and reach for the hot sauce you brought with you.
• You know you got ‘dem shoes on your feet and standing on Bourbon, Decatur St., or any street you happen to be standing on.

Food

• There are four seasons: crawfish, shrimp, crab, and oyster.
• You call winter in Louisiana the perfect gumbo weather.
• You think of a lobster as an overgrown crawfish.
• Your momma told ya ‘dey shrunk on ‘der journey to New Orleans and became crawfish.
• When sitting at a table of boiled crawfish you explain to a rookie how, “not to eat the dead ones,” and that makes total sense.
• Newspaper makes the perfect table cloth for a boil.
• You order your po-boy dressed.
• When going out for oysters you have to figure out what months have R’s.
• When eating red beans and rice you assume it’s Monday and if it’s not you’re a little “thrown off.”

Mardi Gras

• You collect Mardi Gras beads in your attic because one day you might ride.
  
• You have to reinforce the attic for Mardi Gras beads.
  
• You were [insert age here] before you realized that Mardi Gras was not a National Holiday.
  
• If you go to Disney World for Mardi Gras, you will run into lots of fellow New Orleanians.
  
• You wear purple, green, and gold together and consider yourself stylish.
  
• You can find anyone on a float by the terms sidewalk side or neutral ground side.
  
• Your family has a traditional spot on the parade route and you know the family next to you that you only see at Mardi Gras.
• Popeye’s chicken is the perfect food for the parades and you order your chicken ahead of time.
  
• You have a ladder for working around the house and a special one for parades.
  
• You stay up every Mardi Gras to watch the meeting of the Rex and Comus courts.
  
• You really stay up to watch the police horses clear Bourbon Street at midnight.
  
• Mardi Gras is judged by the amount of trash left behind. More trash equals more fun.
  
• You hate it when people associate Mardi Gras with Bourbon St. and you spend 20 min. explaining otherwise.

Saints Football

• You remember when paper bags had more uses than carrying groceries.
• When watching a game you turn down the sound on your t.v. to listen to Jim Henderson and Hokie.
• Except when playing the Saints, you have a special place in your heart for the Manning boys.
• Tradition stated that when a game was over you had to hear what Buddy D would say and who he would call a squirrel.
• You completely understand the Saints – Falcons rivalry, and it makes you smile that only the Saints have rings.
• A man in your life wore a dress when the Saints were in the Super Bowl.
• You remember lots of people selling tickets outside the Dome, now everyone is trying to buy tickets.
• Most importantly, you believe that fairy tales do come true. They start in a Dome and end with a Lombardi Trophy. Geaux Saints!

I WANT "MOORE" PEACHES

Bet you are wondering what I want "Moore" of? Well wonder no longer. It's Lance Moore! He has re-signed with the N O Saints for another 5 years..that is 5 years...60 months...1825 days of sweet eye candy! He definitely is easy on the eyes, don't you agree?



When I heard that he was staying I almost fell out on the ground!
Well not quite like that but you get the idea !



Now I am ready for football season to begin !!!

We are in the middle of redoing our entire living room. I wish I had taken some before pictures but I didn't! The sheet rock will be finished tomorrow hopefully, then the clean up begins so we can paint it and then on to laying the new wood floors. I cannot wait to see how it looks once it's all finished! I will post pictures of the finished product.....hopefully soon !

Now on to today's recipe... Addie is making this tonight. Its one of her WW recipes and I can't wait to taste it. Rene' brought home some fresh peaches that smell wonderful. Here is the recipe.

PEACH CRUMBLE

Servings: 12 Preparation Time: 10 min Cooking Time: 45 min Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

	2 spray(s) cooking spray
	3 large peach(es), pitted and sliced
	3 Tbsp packed light brown sugar
	6 Tbsp whole wheat flour
	6 Tbsp sugar, granulated
	1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
	1/4 tsp table salt
	1 large egg white(s)
	4 Tbsp butter, melted

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.
  
  
• In a small bowl, gently toss peaches with brown sugar until sugar starts to dissolve; spoon fruit into prepared baking pan.
  
  
• In another small bowl, sift together flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon and salt; add egg white and combine with your fingers until mixture comes together and starts to crumble. Drop clumps of flour mixture over fruit; drizzle with melted butter.
  
  
• Bake until fruit just starts to bubble, about 45 minutes. Allow to cool slightly and serve warm. Yields about 1/2 cup per serving.

HUMP DAY AND BISCUITS !

I love HUMP DAY for 2 reasons...
reason #1..every other HUMP DAY I am off and
reason #2 every other HUMP DAY means only one more day to work until my Friday off...meaning a 3 day weekend!
Yes I know I am spoiled having to work only 4 days a week but I promise you this...
being a pediatric triage phone nurse takes it toll on ones nerves and sanity!
I don't know if I could actually do it 5 days in a row!
Perhaps I could but I would not be a nice person.
I pride myself in my job and I love doing what I do...just not 5 days a week!
This would be me...after those 5 days...


OR this?




Anyway...I am glad that tomorrow is MY Friday!
Now on to a great recipe!
My daughter-in-laws uncle makes these amazing biscuits that are to die for!
I searched and searched for his exact recipe and I forgot where I saved it.
So I found this one online and I am hoping the results are just as good!
They don't rise like regular buttermilk biscuits but I assure you,
they are mouthwatering!

SWEET POTATO BISCUITS

2 c. Bisquick
1 (16 oz.) can sweet potatoes
Dash of Cinnamon
Dash of Nutmeg
OR
Dash of Pumpkin pie spice


Drain sweet potatoes, reserving liquid. Mash them on a plate, using a fork. Mix Bisquick and mashed potatoes. Add several dashes of the spice at this time, if desired. There should be about 1 cup of reserved liquid. Slowly add it to biscuit mixture while stirring, until it is the proper consistency for biscuits. You can add a little water, if needed.Sprinkle more Bisquick on counter top and knead biscuits a few times. Pat or roll them to about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thickness. Cut the biscuits with round cookie cutter or the edge of a glass dipped in Bisquick.
Bake at 450 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

CAKE/CORN BREAD AND PHOTO SHOOTS

Last week, Addie and I picked up Zoe and Jillian for an adventure photo shoot!

Addie promised them that she would take some pictures of them as a birthday gift.

We had so much fun, just wish we would have had more time!

They are both so photogenic and so much fun!

Here are a couple of shots..we have way over 100!

And one funny shot..I had the music playing in the car and

of course they HAD to dance!!!

If you click on each photo, you can see it full size...aren't they precious?

Today's recipe is one of my all time favorites!

If you love cornbread, you will LOVE this cake!

Yummy with a little honey butter spread on top while

warm!

Ingredients
Two 8.5 oz. boxes of Jiffy corn muffin mix
One 18.25 oz box of butter cake mix
5 eggs
2/3 cups of milk
4/3 cups of water
1/2 cup of softened butter

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Mix all the dry ingredients together.

3. Add wet ingredients.

4. Grease mini loaf pans or cupcake tins.

I suggest cupcake tins so it will bake better and more quickly.

5. Bake in oven for thirty minutes, or until it is golden brown on top and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

6. Let cool and serve while warm!

ENJOY!

AIN'T NO CURE FOR THE SUMMERTIME BLUES

This photo of Joshua speaks summer don't ya think?

I could just squeeze him so hard! He is such a good baby.
Being a Ya Ya is so much fun!
We had an amazing weekend in St Francisville.
Good times, great family, yummy food and creating precious memories.
Doesn't get much better than that!

On to today's recipe...
Do you like Twinkies?
WHAT? YOU DON'T??
Well I do and IF you do, you will LOVE this recipe..
super simple and oh so good!
I borrowed it from a fellow blogger

Twinkie Cake

• 1 box (of 10) Hostess Twinkies (9 for cake, one to have with coffee or tea)
• 4 large bananas, sliced
• 1 large can (20oz) crushed pineapple (drained, but not pressed dry. Keep a little of the juice for moisture.
• 1 large box Vanilla instant pudding (mixed with milk according to directions on box)
• 1 – 12 oz. Cool Whip (I just used the big size and had extra since it was a little more than 12 oz)
• Maraschino cherries and pecans for garnish (optional)

Remove Twinkie cakes from wrappers. Cut each in half lengthwise from top to bottom. Place Twinkie halves in 9 x 13 baking dish with cream side facing up. Layer sliced bananas, pineapple, pudding, and Cool Whip over Twinkies in that order. Sprinkle chopped cherries (drained well on paper towels) and chopped pecans over the top. Keep refrigerated. Cool and refreshing dessert with no heat in the kitchen.

This recipe was borrowed from

http://www.southernplate.com/2010/07/miss-mary-annes-twinkie-cake.html