Saturdays in the Fall

I am a huge football fanatic, so there is not much that I love more than a Saturday in the Fall. Waking up to College GameDay on ESPN, getting dressed into the BAMA gear of my choice, cooking (and eating) delicious finger foods, friends and watching teams battle it out for 4 quarters! My friends down here in Florida laugh at me because I don't leave the house on Saturdays in the Fall, unless I am going to a football party. It's just what I do...I am trying to share the tradition with them!

This past Saturday was a big day for College Football. Auburn lost to Clemson (what a great start to the day), Florida beat Tennessee, Miami beat Ohio State, FSU lost to Oklahoma and BAMA WON! Now, I know you are thinking, "North Texas is a high school team"... Alabama's season starts this week with Arkansas to open our SEC schedule, and I couldn't be happier! I love a good SEC matchup.

Since I haven't shared any recipes lately, I have a couple here. Our menu for the day was Boiled Peanuts, Hot Pizza Dip, Oreo Pudding, Rotel Dip, Cookies, Grilled Chicken, and Corn on the Cob. See recipes below... (They were given to me by my Aunt Lisa)

Hot Corn Dip

16oz. cream cheese

1 dry Italian dressing packet

Ragu pizza sauce

Mozzarella Cheese

1. Combine cream cheese & dressing packet

2. Put a thin layer of pizza sauce over the mixture.

3. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

4. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top

***Serve with Wheat Thins***

Oreo Pudding

Package of Oreos

2 Boxes French Vanilla Pudding

12oz. Cool Whip

1. Crush Oreos

2. Layer 1: Oreos

3. Make pudding according to directions on the box

4. Mix in the Cool Whip with pudding

5. Top 1st layer of oreos with pudding mixtures

6. Top that with other half of Oreos

***Chill Over Night***

Back In Time

Last week I went to my hometown of Millbrook, AL to visit my family. I love where I came from and think about it and the people often. This trip was a little different, in a good way.

My mom, brother & I took Jackson to play at Kid's Kingdom. This is a park where I used to play as a kid. It is next to the city league football & baseball fields. I have so many memories from this place... Some good, some not so good. Each time my brother & I would go to a different place in the park, we would share a memory. The creek that ran alongside the playground! We used to skip rocks and run from side to side. The gaezebo! We would play hide-n-seek in there! The walking track! My mom & friends would walk their miles and I'd run all in between. The baseball & football fields! Where some of my most precious friendships were made. The parking lot! Where I had a few fights with an ex-boyfriend. This was like the heart of Millbrook. I thought about so many people while I was at this "landmark"... My friends mostly. I don't have contact with a lot of them, but I will never forget them.

While I smile on most of the memories, I thank God for where I came from, where I am, and where He's taking me! I am so grateful to have had such a lovely place to grow up in with WONDERFUL people. My childhood all the way through High School was wonderful. I don't take any of it for granted. It's where I learned so many things. So, if you are reading this, and you were part of my growing up, THANK YOU!

A View of The Walking Track & Quad

The Creek

Old Train Car

Gaezebo