We are Family... I Got All my Sistahs With Me.

Except one... more on that later. 

Some quick mini-sodes from the the Hotwheel Hacienda lately... Friday was the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and in a cruel twist of irony here we are again, with Gustav knocking on the Gulf's door as a category 5. Thankfully our Louisiana family is smart, and hightailed it outta there. We should know in a few days the extent of the damage, but they are hoping there's something still standing to come home TO. Hang in there, NOLA - we're all thinking of you. 


Every Labor Day weekend for us = Family Reunions.

This year we have two, the usual one on my side and a new one on Caleb's side. Hitting them both won't be too hard because concidentally, some genius of a person planned them within a 3 mile radius of each other.

What I'm Cooking: 

Recording this here because I forget EVERY year...

Miss Mary Bobo's Green Rice Casserole

My mom always makes this and it's the hit of the reunion, but because their kitchen is literally gutted due to renovations, I decided to give it a go. Mom discovered the recipe in Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House Cookbook in Lynchburg, TN - home of THE Jack Daniels Distillery.
(If you're ever in the neighborhood, the tour is wonderful and the distillery grounds are gorgeous.)

• 3 cups cooked long-grain rice, prepared according to package directions (can use a brown/white combo)
  
• 1 pint low-fat sour cream
  
• 1 can cream of celery soup
  
• 6 oz can diced green chilies, DO NOT drain
  
• 2 cans Rotel, drained
  
• 8 oz. cubed Monterrey Jack cheese, divided
  
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
  
• 1/2 stick butter or butter substitute
  

- Mix cooked rice, soup, and sour cream together in large bowl.

- Turn half of rice mixture into greased round 2 quart casserole dish.

- Sprinkle chilies and Rotel on top. Layer half the cubed and shredded cheese.

- Top with remaining rice mixture, chilies, Rotel, and cheese.

- Dot with butter & cover tightly with foil. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

- Remove foil and bake additional 5 - 10 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.

The dessert I brought was my now-signature dish - a Triple Berry Lemon Trifle.

I like to make it just so I can lick the spoon from the lemon curd jar. God bless the English for inventing that stuff.

Reunion turnout seemed a bit on the low side this year - I can think of 5 families that couldn't make it. My sister was one of them since she had an in-law reunion to go to in Ft. Payne. Missed you Amanda!

I'll post some photos tomorrow as soon as I can get them off my phone.

For now, I'll leave you with one of my favorite Finn photos.. (ahhhh, I loves me some alliteration!)

King of the Mulch Pile...