Harvest

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!  We sure did.

It was a long trip to Georgia, but so worth seeing all the family and friends so far away. 

I wanted to post this blog before Thanksgiving, but that didn't happen.  

So, here it is now!

This is my families favorite corn casserole.  We make it quite often and it is more like a cornbread casserole than a corn casserole. This casserole also reminds me of harvest time.  Which Harvest is one of those things we (farmers wives) love to see it come and

 we love to see it go. 

And thank GOD our harvest is over!!!!

Some people wonder what I mean when I say "hauling food to the field".  

My Mom, Ashley, and I literally take turns cooking "home cooked foods" and deliver them to the guys in the field during harvest when they are working late and can't leave for lunch. 

So I also enclosed a sneak peak of me feeding the guys in the field during harvest this year.

Start off with 1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix, 1 can drained kernel corn, 

1 can creamed corn, 2 eggs, 

1 cup sour cream,  1/2 stick melted butter

 Mix all ingredients in a bowl

Mix well!

Pour it into a greased 9x13 baking dish

Bake for 40 minutes on 350 degrees 

Now it is time to pack the car.  All the food is in the oven and baking.

You have to pack plates, cups, trash bag, napkins, silverware, salt/pepper,

ice, tea, serving spoons, etc., etc., etc.

There is no kitchen in the field. You have to make one in the back of the car!!

I just had to share this.  Isn't it precious.

These are the little things that make my life easier!!

Ketchup in a dipping packet

Perfect

I cooked the peas on the stove and then transferred them to a crock pot so I can plug it in my car and they will stay warm for the guys.

We have a 45 minute drive to the farm and I have to keep it all warm.

I made my sweet hard working husband a little snack to take in the tractor.

Sausage Balls.... His favorite 

They get lunch at 12:00 and will not eat again until they get home at night which is usually around 10 pm or later...

Here is the corn casserole 

Baked and ready to load up!

Now I load the car with food, kids, and truck it out to the field.

When I get there I lay it all out in the back and make a buffet line.  

I have to keep it all covered up so it will stay warm. 

Especially when it is windy you can't just leave the pans open for all the sand to blow in it.

My buffet line

WOW Looks like a tin foil commercial

Mary Richard lost her pants.. 

Cutting corn and eating corn casserole...

Ironic?? 

Make shift table

Or would you call this a Redneck table???

They don't care where they eat 

they are some hungry men!! 

Plate full of goodies

 All she wanted was ice cream.  

I know....... all that food I cooked and she wants ice cream!!!

After they all eat

I throw the dirty pans in the car, take the trash, give kisses bye, and drive fast back to town to pick up the other kid from school!  Yes it takes almost all day to do this.

And this is what happens on the way home.

I had to pull over to capture this but I think this is one of my 

priceless moments.

Both girls sacked out

Here is the link to me cooking the corn casserole on Studio 4

Hope you enjoy!!

http://myhighplains.com/fulltext?nxd_id=226537

My Pumpkin Recipe

Happy Fall Y'all!!!

This is my favorite time of the year.

The leaves are turning, the air is cool, and the flies are going away!

The guys are busy harvesting corn and the girls and I are busy with all the activities of FALL!

This is a recipe that I got from GA from one of my Aunts.  I cooked it on TV last week and thought I would share it with all of you!  Hope you enjoy it as much as we DO!

Here is my link to watch Studio 4

http://myhighplains.com/fulltext?nxd_id=223507

You start off with...... 

1 Classic Yellow Cake Mix (I use Duncan Hines) 

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

12 oz can evaporated milk

1 large can pumpkin

1 stick butter

1 cup chopped pecans 

1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

 Mix together the 3 eggs, sugar, can milk, can pumpkin, and Vanilla

Save the butter, pecans, and the cake mix until later!!!

Then in my house when you turn on the beaters this is what happens.......

 She comes running screaming "Ma'ma, Ma'ma"

"Hmmmmm"

Just look at that face. I can't tell her no!

Get it girl! 

Back to the recipe, 

Now pour the pumpkin batter in a 9x13 baking dish.

Make sure you spray the pan!!!

 Take that cake mix and sift it over the pumpkin batter. 

Then drizzle the 1 stick melted butter over the dry cake mix.

Sprinkle with the chopped pecans.

Here is a side view

 Bake this in the oven on 350 degrees for about 1 hour

I promise you,  it is the best..... serve it with whipped cream!

You will hurt yourself eating this!

 Here are my little trick o treats

Maddie and Maelee were girls going back to the Future!

 Little Miss Mary Richard was a ice cream cone.

That is her favorite thing to eat!

Big News Flash..... The Big Dreher/Gardner wedding date has been set for March 10, 2012 in Fayetteville Arkansas

Check out the wedding website to get all the details!

We are so EXCITED!!

http://www.weddingwire.com/wedding/UserViewWebsiteIntro?wid=0268c650cdfcb4d8&pid=e1bb1925f3c80075&themeCode=

Are you Ready for some FOOTBALL????

Yes I think it is official.... 

My family and I cook way too much! 

September started off with Football season and tailgating!  My Moms house is really close to the high school football field and a large group of us meet before each home game 

and tailgate before and after the game! 

Yes, we come back and eat that late at night and if I have to be honest the food is better the second time than the first.  

Go figure???

Here are Maddie and Maelee at the Homecoming Game!

Here are the BOYS being BOYS!!!

Here are the Girls being Girls!!

More Cheerleading Stunts! 

Leave it to Brenda to have a football helmet  made into flowers!

Thanks Jennifer for making beautiful flowers! 

Now lets jack the kids up on SUGAR!!!

Aww... Baby Sam and Aunt Becca Becca Becca 

Dad's Chicken Wings!

 Yes always a lot of FOOD!

But what could be better than Food, Family, Friends, and some Dalhart Football!!

GO WOLVES!!!

My Little Miss XIT 2011

Anyone and everyone that lives near Dalhart Texas knows about the XIT Rodeo. 

It is a week long full of events in the first week in August and the whole town shuts down for this festival!

This was the 75th year this tradition has been going and

my little Maelee was in the Little Mr. & Miss XIT Pageant .  

And I hate to brag... but she did a great Job and won!  We are so proud of her and here is all the pics from her week long event!

Congrats Maelee.. We love you and are so Proud of you!

Here she is getting her beauty ready. Hair, make-up, boots, and McDonalds!

In the Pageant you have to wear cowgirl attire and get up in front and speak and do some sort of talent.

Most kids sang a song. 

Maddie and Maelee take guitar lessons, so they wrote a song called "Rodeo Queen" 

and that is what Maelee sang.

"Rodeo Queen.. That is my Dream... Flicka wins.. RO-DE-OOOOOOO"

Taylor Swift in the making...

There she is after she was crowned!

Maelee and her big sister.. the Pageant coach!

Family Pic..

This was after the Pageant.

 Here is Aunt Hashie chasing 

Miss Mary Richard around at the Rodeo!

This the uniform Maelee had to wear to ride out in the arena. 

One Proud Daddy!

She rode out every night at the Rodeo before it started.

I was so worried she was going to jump out!

Remember this is the middle child... put nothing past her!

Look who came into town for all the festivities!

Mrs. Nancy and Shelby

Maelee riding through the parade

 There she goes!

Her quote of the day "This Queen stuff is hard... I am tired of smiling"

Only Maelee

Maelee and the newly crowd Miss XIT

Maelee and Little Mr. XIT Quin

Last ride out!  They had a very eventful week!

Proud Nana and Papa!

What a great week we had at OUR 2nd XIT!  So glad it is over.... but it was so much FUN!

Now Maelee wakes up every morning and says ...

"Mama is today the Rodeo?? Do I get to ride in the parade today?" 

Poor Child will have to wait another year to see the rodeo again!