FYI

My NEW blog address is
bj-sweetnothings.blogspot.com

and I have a link to where you can receive
SWEET NOTHINGS posts in your EMAIL ACCOUNT.

Please go to the NEW BLOG.
thanks, bj

Thursday, April 30, 2009

BLOGGING PARTY..FLAUNT YOUR REDS AND FOODIE FRIDAY...

OOO, I HAD TO BE A BUSY, BUSY GIRL TO GET THIS ALL INTO ONE POST.....
but it was such fun and....that's what it's all about......right !!
*
May I say that this is a LONG post today...there's so much going on in Blogland and it is all so much fun...
I am in THREE today so please bear with me..
*CUPIDS CHARM is having a party for bloggers to tell
WHY
we love blogging !

I love all the really FABULOUS ideas I get on decorating.... like this adorable BAKING CENTER that AMY came up with...If you've not been over to her cottage, please do...she has some great ideas!
There's hundreds...maybe thousands, of other great ideas on how to make our cottages the very best they can be... I LOVE THAT ABOUT BLOGGING...



I ADORE all the wonderful friends I have made thru blogging...
It is just simply amazing to learn that you CAN be such good good friends with people that you don't know and chances are, you will NEVER meet. ....I LOVE THAT ABOUT BLOGGING

Some of these wonderful friends will stay in my heart forever and ever... I LOVE THAT ABOUT BLOGGING.

Since I love cooking and baking.... OOOOO, the recipes I have added to my recipe files.....
Chocolate Fudge Pie
German Pamcakes
Yummy and different Salads
oh so many that I can't list them all...
I LOVE THAT ABOUT BLOGGING....
*
Most of all, I LOVE writing and telling and bragging and showing
photos of my beloved family.
I love leaving THEM a little history of their families and letting
them all learn a little about who I really am...
I LOVE THAT ABOUT BLOGGING.....
*
Don't forget to swing by CUPID'S CHARM
and pay a visit to all the other reasons
about loving to BLOG !
*
NANCY of SOUTHERN LADY is having this fabulous
FLAUNT YOUR REDS....
*
As most of you know, I LOVE RED and my whole entire house
is dripping with REDS... (there was even a lot of RED in the above Blogging Party..hmmm.)
*

I also love SIGNS...of all kinds...
old...new...funny...not too serious...
I found this adorable vintage sign on EBAY a few years ago...
It is a fairly large sign and, of course, it was the RED letters
that caught my eye...
WELL, I also liked that it was old and had the word ANTIQUES on it...:O)
*

There's lots of bloggers that are wanting to
FLAUNT THEIR REDS....so be sure to go by and leave sweet words for all..
***************************************************************

"iii-yiiii-yi-yi"
...HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO
*
Thank you, GOLLUM, for this wonderful FOODIE FRIDAY
She and a long list of bloggers have some fabulous foods waiting for you !
THANK YOU
for stopping by my place....
*************************************

*

Well, I'm pretty sure just about everyone in the whole world loves
NACHOS...
just about everyone in WEST TEXAS does, anyway..
*
We just put those tortilla chips on our plate....
and start heaping all the good things on...
beans..
cheese...
peppers..
avocados..
seasoned hamburger meat...
onions...
black olives..
tomatoes.
salsa....
and anything else that looks or sounds delicious.....
UMMMM, BABY !
*
* In the United States, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to be known as simply "5 de Mayo" and unfortunately, many people wrongly equate it with Mexican Independence which was on September 16, 1810,
nearly a fifty year difference.
*
Over, the years Cinco de Mayo has become very commercialized and many people see this holiday as a time for fun and dance. Oddly enough, Cinco de Mayo has become more of Chicano holiday than a Mexican one. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on a much larger scale here in the United States than it is in Mexico. People of Mexican descent in the United States celebrate this significant day by having parades, mariachi music, folklorico dancing and other types of festive activities.
*




OUESADILLAS are one of my VERY FAVORITE MEXICAN FOODS....
They are so delicious with sour creme, avocado salad, even dipped in RANCH DRESSING...
Spread a little SALSA on them and you will be in
CINCO DE MAYO HEAVEN....
*
There's really no RECIPE for Quesadillas...
a large flour tortilla, grilled with butter,
spread grated CHEDDAR, MONTREY, MEXICAN BLEND ...whatever
cheese you like the best...We like the Sharp Cheddar and Mexican blend together...
you can add anything your heart desires at this point..chilis, hot sauce, anything..
We generally just use the cheese and then
*
DIP...DIP...DIP
*
i am so hungry for one right this minute, i am
about to pitch a hissy fit !!
*
I'm not sure if these are a REAL Mexican food or if it's TEX-MEX..
but who cares !!!
********************************
*
NOW, I am here to tell you that I dearly love
SOPAPILLAS .....don't you?
GOOD GRIEF, THEY ARE GOOD...

**

MEXICAN SOPAPILLAS
2 c. flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. shortening
Oil for deep frying (the only bad part is that they are FRIED!!)
*
Sift dry ingredients together in bowl. Cut in shortening until crumbly. Add 1/2 cup warm water gradually, stirring with fork. Dough will be crumbly. Turn onto lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth. Divide in half. Let stand for 10 minutes. Cut into 3" squares. Fry, several at a time, in deep fat at 400 degrees for 30 seconds on each side. Yield: 40 sopapillas
*
**I have found that if you hold the dough beneath the hot oil, with a fork, for a few seconds,
they will puff even more....
*another version of this wonder food is below...;O)
*********************
* *
THE MEXICAN HAT DANCE
is such fun to watch...
so jazzy and colorful...
**********
The sombrero hat is absolutely synonymous with Mexico, where it originated. It is a curiously strange looking hat, looking like a cross between a UFO and the hand piece from an air hockey game, or a giant Chinese wok with a high mound in the middle. Sombreros come in many splendid straw woven designs with great coloring, also they have a chin string to hold the hat in place. They were designed so wide to provide a big shade from the very sunny climate of Mexico, the super wide hat is big enough to cast a shadow over the head, neck and shoulders of the wearer.
***

I made these last night, using store bought FLOUR TORTILLAS..just cut in fourths, drop into hot oil... with a fork, hold the tortilla beneath the hot oil and it will PUFF. ..... While these don't puff as much as the homemade SOPAPILLAS, they DO puff and they are SO SO good with honey and butter, cinnamon sugar or just served plain....
*
JOIN ME IN A TOAST TO A VERY

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO......

blessings, bj

57 comments:

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

You've made me sooo hungry, unfortunatly I've already had dinner! :)

~CC Catherine said...

Hey BJ, The Strawberry Margarita Cake pic is the very first one at the top of the post...and the recipe is a link at the bottom of the post...it says CLICK HERE and underneath of that you'll see the HYPERLINK that takes you to the Betty Crocker section with all the ingredients, etc... It seemed like a great way to condense my post since I had SO MUCH in it today~ ;) YOUR Cinco de Mayo goodies look tremendous! I'm a fan of anything Mexican.....LOVE IT! ~CC Catherine

Stacey said...

What a great post! You know I love all your reds. I also really enjoyed your "Why I love blogging" explanation. That's sweet and we feel the same way about you! Now you know I'm a Texan at heart and always will be. Love my Tex Mex!!

Rattlebridge Farm said...

Your kitchen is heaven on earth. BJ, everything you touch looks so delicious! A thousand hugs, my friend!
Gollum

Carrie said...

I love Mexican food. It is one of my favorites.

Love all the food in this post.

Denise said...

Gee thanks, BJ!! I was getting ready to go to bed and now I'm hungry for Mexican food!

XXDenise

Foley said...

Don't know where to start - everything looks so yummy!! I loved seeing all your photos!!
Super post...

Nancy Rosalina said...

BJ, I'm starving!! Didn't want to eat supper because I ate so much for lunch today and now the hunger pains are hitting me at 11 at night...not good..LOL :)
I love this post! It is chalked full of wonderful recipes!
I love all the same things about blogging that you love! AMEN Sister!
Thank you so much for joining in the Flaunt!!!! Hope you have a great weekend! Nancy

The Muse said...

Dear BJ I completely understand the blog length dilemma...I am never sure how to blog! LOL Should I write it all together... prose~games~design...
or give each their own blog....

Then I debate and wonder if I think I have more to blog about than people really care to read! LOL

Admittedly, my downfall is I am a horrid typist...and that keeps posts short!

I loved reading yours tonight!

Rechelle ~Walnuthaven Cottage~ said...

hey BJ!
Great post. I make those little puffy things but I just leave the tortilla "whole" drop it in a skillet, fry it up and pour lots of sugar and cinnamon over it. The kids love it served with Mexican hot chocolate :0)
We have a great time on Cinco de Mayo, can't wait!

Beth in NC said...

BJ, your posts always make me HUNGRY!!! Sheesh. I really miss Mexican food!

Thanks for sharing all of your exciting pictures my friend! Your reds are lovely. You know I love me some RED!

Susie Q said...

Well that was fun and now I am hungry!! It is past 11pm..do you think nachos would sot well this late? Hmm...well, won't know till I try right?

I am SO glad you are a blogger 'cause we all love you and if you weren't a blogger we all might not know you and that would be sad and i would cry so we are glad you DO blog. How is that for one heck-ova good run on sentence?? : )

Love,
Sue

Anonymous said...

Hi Dear BJness! I've loved your post today! Just one thing I want to ask, can I come over? ;)
Be a sweetie,
shelia :)

Anonymous said...

Great party. Love Mexican food.
Charlotte

xinex said...

Everything you have shown here look so good, BJ. Happy cinco de Mayo!...Christine

Allidink said...

Oh man all those recipes sound so yummy! Bj you always make the best food. I love all the things about blogging that you do :)

All the best,
Allison

Unknown said...

Yes SOPAPILLAS oh yes, right from the frying pan to my plate... bite off the corner and fill with honey or Agave nectar! Oh my gosh. Yes-SOPAPILLAS-oh-yes!
Happy Cinco de Mayo
~Really Rainey~

Cathy~Mille Fleur said...

BJ,
All of your dishes look amazing...I think I might have to make a run to the kitchen...you are making me hungry!!! YUMMY!!!

Have a wonderful RED Friday!!!
XOXO
Cathy

imjacobsmom said...

BJ, you were a busy girl - and you fitted everything together so effectively, too! I really enjoyed your contributions today! Thanks for all of the recipes. Jacob is in spanish class and we need to create some of those for "extra credit". And you know how it is in school - you need all of the extra credit you can get! ~ Robyn

Gabriela said...

Hello,

Wow! This is so fun! Lots of friendship and food.
Blogging is so wonderful!


~ Gabriela ~

Judi said...

Hi BJ
This was a fun filled post for sure. I can see why you LOVE blogging and your explanation and pictures are just as I would have them. I feel the same way.
I love your recipes too..oh yum they look good. Love the colour red too!!
have a lovely day
Judi

The Raggedy Girl said...

What an inspired post and I loved reading every word of it. It all looked yummy.

The Raggedy Girl

Chandy said...

That is one full post, BJ! I bet your arms were tired putting it all together.

I love it all! I'm getting hungry!

Anonymous said...

I have to agree 'bout all you said bout blogging. :-) And it really is what makes it fun.

Now to the sopadillas. Sounds easy, thanks for sharing. Will defintely save recipe for the future :-)

Li

Debby said...

Oh, it has been so much fun visiting your blog. You are quite the storyteller and all that yummy food. Nice to have found you through the blog party.
Debby

Amy said...

Hi BJ,
You are just a sweetie. Thank you so much for mentioning my baking center! You also have wonderful ideas and super yummy recipes (love your pies!)

Yummmmm....your Mexican recipes sound so delicious. I will definitely be trying those. Thanks for sharing! Amy :)

Salmagundi said...

Great post! Loved everything, but especially the Tex-Mex food. We love our Tex-Mex food here in Colorado, too. We make the nachos just like you except we use Fritos and call it Mexican Heartburn. The quesadillas are my grandkids favorite lunch at my house. Have a great weekend. Sally

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

This looks so good, BJ!!! I almost made Sopapilla's too!

SmilingSally said...

Oh, yum. You need some powdered sugar on those sopapillos. (I KNOW I spelled that wrong!)

jeanne said...

Hello BJ, Thank you for your sweet comment on my post today. You already know that I love you like a sister friend and I do hope someday we WILL meet and share some blogging love. In the meantime blogging is our communication and like you, for so many reasons, I love blogging. The photo of your family on your cruise is wonderful. You look beautiful as does your family. We are blessed to have our families that love us and support us in all things.
WARNING, THIS IS A LONG COMMENT. LOL.
I do love red too. Maybe not quite as much as you, but red always catches my eye. I too love signs and your antique sign is fab!!!

Did I forget to mention that cake is giving me a real yearning for a piece of 'that' cake. Mmmmmm. Nothing else will do.
Cinco de Mayo. sounds like a great celebration. I'll have some of those nachos please. all the other food you shared is so tasty looking.
I enjoyed your history too.

Ok, I have 70 more blogs to visit. Your fun post just wore me out. Big smile.

Love ya...Jeanne

Stacy's Shabby Shoppe said...

Hey BJ ~ absolutely terrific post...and you have made me so HUNGRY! LOL! (*_*) Have a great day! ~Stacy~

Theresa said...

Happy Blog Party! Great to meet you.
I can't wait to drop by and get some more yummy recipes and ideas.
Love all the visual goodies you have on your blog! ~Theresa

The Quintessential Magpie said...

BJ, I'm starved! Love these recipes, girl! Oh, YUM!

xo,

Sheila :-)

Lisa~A Cottage To Me said...

Wow, now I'm hungry! Good thing it's almost dinner time! Isn't it so fun talking about family. I have been doing some of that on my blog lately. Please stop over and meet a few more of my family members.

Fete et Fleur said...

WOW! What a post!! I'm here from Joy's party. I learned so much in such a short amount of time. Thanks for all the interesting information. This is one of the things I love about blogging.

Nancy

Tara said...

What an eyeful of content you have for today's post. You are a faithful blogger to make sure not to miss any of your previous obligations to go to the Blogging Party! I have to tell you thank you for that, as a new guest. That chocolate fudge cake looks to die for!
Thanks for sharing some of your loves, they match mine too. Have a great day and thank you for coming by Loveleigh Treasures to visit.

Melissa Miller said...

Ahhh BJ I seriously have tears in my eyes...
That is so sweet of you to post about my RED giveaway.
Thank you very much my friend!

I really appreciate you becoming a follower.
I'll give you an extra entry for posting it too.
I'm a big fan of your blog as well!

I meant to tell you a while back how neat that was about another Melissa Miller that you all know. I knew when I was getting married ten years ago it would be a pretty common name from then on.
Small world!

Happy FY RED Day!
Your REDS are gorgeous and I must have some chocolate cake now ASAP!

Have a blessed weekend.
~Melissa :)

Celestial Charms said...

I had a great visit to your blog party. The chocolate cake looks to die for. So yummy.
Maureen

Kathleen Grace said...

The recipes! The decorating! The friendly caring people! Why, they are all right here at Sweet Nothings my dear BJ, and you are one of the things I love about blogging:>)

Sandi McBride said...

OMG BJ where's the chocolate fudge pie recipe???!!! I love all you shared, but I'm going to need the pie recipe...
hugs
Sandi

Four Paws and Co said...

OMG, I was so excited to find your recipe for Sopapillas!!! I just saved a copy of it! ☺♥☺ Diane

santamaker said...

Oh, BJ.. you always have the bestest food on your posts! Wow, those great nachos and sopapillas look amazing.
Speaking of why I love blogging:
Did you know that it was your blog that inspired me to start blogging? Well, it's true!
You put so much warmth and humor in your posts that it always feels like I'm visiting an old friend.
Have a Happy 5 de Mayo!

Anonymous said...

GM BJ, I'm having my coffee with you this morning, so get your coffee pot going. I just went through your entire post, AWESOME. Boy I miss visiting you every morning. But, I'm hoping it calms down soon. Has to, we're leaving in 4 weeks for the summer. LOL..

Love ya,
Chris

Geralyn Gray said...

Wow!!!!! I am seeing red! That was fun!

Linda's Blue Gate said...

I would love to join you in a toast..... blackberry wine?

I almost fainted dead away but what really happen I updated my Iweb and my address has changed it is now

http://web.me.com/lindasbluegate/web.me.com_lindasbluegate/Bluegate_Blog/Bluegate_Blog.html

Holy moly...... please change you link dear one I have posted twice since.....

Love and hugs
Linda

Lori (All That Splatters) said...

Yum! Your food looks wonderful as does your decor! Perfect! Btw, I love sopapillas - I can't wait to try both verions from your post! Yum.

Valerie said...

Hi BJ,

Thanks so much for dropping by and leaving a comment.

I loved today's post...blogging party reasons, your love of red and the special Cinco de Mayo post! (I've tried to explain the history behind Cinco de Mayo to my 3rd graders, but the details surely get lost on them! Oh well, at least I tried!!!)

Many blessings to you,
Valerie

Carole Burant said...

It's no wonder we love this blogging world of ours, especially with posts like this one:-) I always love my visits here, dear BJ, always so warm and welcoming!!

Would you believe I've never had any of the Mexican food you've posted about? I know, I'm soooo deprived! lol Of course I've had Nachos but only with cheese and salsa. I think I need to come over to your house to taste all the other goodies:-)

Love your signs with the RED writing on them. Like you, I love signs as well and have a few around the house:-)

Have a wonderful weekend my friend. xoxo

Chrissy...The Apothecary Shop said...

B.J. I love all your reasons for blogging, I so agree with you!! Friends you may never meet are still friends indeed!! Talk soon, Chrissy

Brenda Eason said...

Thanks sweetie. I love this post. Im getting a Spanish Daughter-in-law and we are having a blast with the food she makes.
Im so excited to go to my first party soon.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Enjoyed your "Why I Love to Blog" commentary. I really like the red antique sign, and those sopapillas made me sooo hungry! I've never tried making them, but I will now, because I love 'em! You found some great pictures and I enjoyed learning some new things. laurie

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Lordy, bj, it would have taken me a month to do all that! I posted two pictures tonight..and had one heck of a time. I was going to do the repost Favorite Sunday thingy and could NOT for the life of me, figure out how to get an old post reposted. I know it is probably simple..but..NO GO!. So just chose a couple of favorite pictures of Mele..and that was it! HEAVY SIGH here.
Every single post..I struggle.
It's easier now but still.
Your comment on my blog.. thanks.
Yes..I am doing fine. I jumped in and you are right. He is precious and I love my sweet husband to pieces..but..I am still probably grieving to a degree..but we both are. We are the best of friends and companions. I am fine bj. Time heals..I love you for your well placed concern.
Mona

Miss Janice said...

Love your "Why I Love to Blog" story. And...that Mexican food looks soooo good!

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Running late this week visiting blogs....Hope you had a Happy Pink Saturday ~ Susan

Mr Lee said...

Thanks for leaving comments on our blog.So kind words.
We would like to further exchange with you.We hope we can keep in touch!
Best wishes.

Joy Jones said...

Hello BJ! I wanted to stop by and thank you for participating in the Beautiful Blogging Party!! I hope you enjoyed the event and also enjoyed meetings lots of new bloggers. Have a beautiful week ~ Joy

Back Through Time said...

That was one heck of a post!!! I loved it and you always do such a great job!
Have a great week,
Michelle
I have a blue giveaway going on:-)