Welcome to the Blog Plantation Y'all

Our family welcomes you and thanks you for stopping by to visit. We are delighted you have taken a few minutes out of your day to spend with us. We are Joe and Jessica. We have two children and one very regal beagle! We post often and it usually includes details of our Christian faith; life here in the South; entertaining our family and friends; tales of our travels; as well as the daily adventures of having two children. Oh, and our passion for Alabama Crimson Tide Football!
Grab a mint julep, relax, and enjoy the site. Don't forget to leave us a message. You can click under any blog entry to do so. We love to hear from our guests.
(Also, please remember that all writings and pictures are the sole property of the blog plantation and it's authors and may not be duplicated, unless otherwise noted. )

Thanks for dropping by Y'all!




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What time I am afraid I will trust in thee
Psalm 56:3

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Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Well Y'all, we finally have a winner!

Well, Y'all I had to go and injure myself and delay our drawing.
 But CONGRATS are finally in order for Karen @ Ladybug Creek! 
Y'all please forgive me for the unforseen setback.
We are going to have another giveaway VERY soon, so stay tuned.
Alright, time for Night Y'all  and a cup of tea!
Thanks for dropping by Y'all!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Foodie Friday!

This week we are making

Lettuce Wraps


About three years ago, I finally got my college friend Shana to eat with me at a "Chinese" place.
 It was P F Chang's and she was expecting, but hey after trying for 12 years it was a start.
 She fell in love with the lettuce wraps.
Of course that is one of the top sellers!
 I vividly remember her calling her husband and saying, "I found chinese food I like"
Since that time the mission has been to find a version made at home to rival it.
 I think that mission has been acomplished!
Great job Shana!!
So let me share with you, I made this for my parents and they just ADORED them!

INGREDIENTS:

Filling

3 tablespoons oil

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 cup water chestnut

2/3 cup mushroom

3 tablespoons chopped onions

1 teaspoon minced garlic

4-5 leaves leafy lettuce

Special Sauce

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

2 tablespoons ketchup

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon hot mustard

2 teaspoons water

1-2 teaspoon garlic and red chile paste

Stir Fry Sauce

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar


Directions



1 Make the special sauce by dissolving the sugar in water in a small bowl.



2 Add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ketchup, lemon juice and sesame oil.



3 Mix well and refrigerate this sauce until you're ready to serve.



4 Combine the hot water with the hot mustard and set this aside as well.



5 Eventually add your desired measurement of mustard and garlic chili sauce to the special sauce mixture to pour over the wraps.



6 Bring oil to high heat in a wok or large frying pan.



7 Saute chicken breasts for 4 to 5 minutes per side or done.



8 Remove chicken from the pan and cool.



9 Keep oil in the pan, keep hot.



10 As chicken cools mince water chestnuts and mushrooms to about the size of small peas.



11 Prepare the stir fry sauce by mixing the soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar together in a small bowl.



12 When chicken is cool, mince it as the mushrooms and water chestnuts are.



13 With the pan still on high heat, add another Tbsp of vegetable oil.



14 Add chicken, garlic, onions, water chestnuts and mushrooms to the pan.



15 Add the stir fry sauce to the pan and saute the mixture for a couple minutes then serve it in the lettuce"cups".



16 Top with"Special Sauce".
 
 
( I poured the sauce over all of the filling in a large bowl and let everyone serve their own)
 

Be sure to stop by Gollum's for more Foodie Fridays!
 
Thanks for dropping by Y'all!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Home Sweet Home (still under renovations)

Well, we had another VERY productive day at the house.
The children's rooms are now functioning, the living room, the kitchen, the children's bath. The wet bar is not finished and the dining room isn't complete either. The master suite will most likely be the last of ALL the projects. The house is coming together and I am VERY excited about the colors we used and the fabrics. Remember, once complete I will saturate you with photos! I know, I know, I am such a tease!
Seriously, I could not do any of this without my Mother!
She is truly amazing and works so hard to help me get everything picture perfect!
Thank you Mother I love you!!
Thank all of you so much for checking on us and being patient. Maybe soon we will be done and I will be back to blogging full time. Just think, I am going to have a TON of Met Monday posts!
Thanks for dropping by Y'all!

Friday, May 7, 2010

CONTEST TIME!

OK FANS.. here is the prize...
a body buddy: which can be warmed for heat therapy or frozen for cold compress. It is filled with cherry pits, so you can imagine how luxurious these are. The heat and cold are so much more soothing than any other compress! You are going to love this.(pattern to be chosen by sponsor)sponsored by Fresh Eye

ALSO some wonderful AVON products sponsored by Misty Ehart

You win BOTH!


So here is how to win... simply leave a comment under this post saying what you love about our page/ blog. You can do this once everyday for more chances to win. AND if you are a fan of both the blog AND the facebook page you will automatically get 5 more chances for each one!
So let your friends know!
Drawing will be Next Friday!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Foodie Friday! West Indies Salad

Welcome to Foodie Friday!
For supper tonight, we had West Indies Salad,
smoked tuna dip,
baked striped pang with bernaise sauce
and asparagus


It was delicious. So I thought I would share a WONDERFUL
West Indies Salad recipe
(ONE OF MY FAVORITE DISHES EVER)


Ingredients

1 pound lump crabmeat, picked

1 medium-size sweet onion, diced

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup cider vinegar

4 oz of ice water

 salt

pepper
 
In bottom of the bowl pour about 1/2 of your chopped onion. Then add the crab. Remaining onion. Salt and Pepper to taste. Then pour oil, vinegar and then the ice water ( in that order) on top of mixture. Cover and marinate from about 4 - 48 hours. To serve toss lightly. Enjoy!
 
 
Be sure to stop by Gollum's for more Foodie Fridays!

Thanks for dropping by y'all!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Outdoor Wednesday

Things are still crazy busy here.
We have been painting and renovating.
I cannot wait to show y'all the finished product.
Shouldn't be long now!
We are watching the oil leak carefully.
So far so good.
Keeping prayer in our heart and joy in our step!
Here are some pics for outdoor Wednesday!

This is the view from The Princess's room


She has a wonderful view of the lake to wake up to each day

The Prince wakes up to the golf course


Which is perfect because he is OBSESSED with golf!

golf and football!
Check out this form!
not bad for two.
The golf pros were VERY impressed!
We are enrolling him in golf camp



Be sure to see Susan for more outdoor Wednesdays!

Thanks for dropping by Y'all!

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Oil Spill on the Gulf Coast

As you know, my family JUST moved down to the Gulf Coast.
The oil is expected to hit our beach late Sunday night/ early Monday morning.
You can smell the oil in the air now.




 The seas are up to 8 ft and EXTREMELY rough.

 I pray that this has a  minimal impact on all of us.

Thanks for dropping by Y'all!