My husband Leonard says, when he was growing up and he,  his brother and sisters would come home from school and if the Cake Plate and Cover was sitting out on the counter he knew that there would be a white cake with white frosting under the Cover. When his Mother passed away one of the things that he asked for was the Cake Plate and Cover. I just love to surprise him from time to time with a White Cake with White Frosting which is one of his favorites, and I always put it on his Mother's Cake Plate and Cover it. When he comes in the door and see's it sitting there he always says "alright it's The White Cake"!

What a great week end! This is the official opening week end here at the lake. We always look forward to lots of friend's and family coming out for the opening week end. I want to take a moment to honor and remember all those who have given their life and those who continue to sacrifice on a daily basis to give me freedom. Thank you! Now lets get started on this weeks menu. Monday Bar B Q Brisket Bar B Q Brisket Southwest Spoon Bread Southwest Spoon Bread  Black Eyed Peas Roasted Corn Sweet Potato Salad Sweet Potato Salad Strawberry Cake   With Homemade Ice Cream Tuesday With The Left Over Brisket Brisket Sandwiches  Baked Sweet Potato Fries With The Left Over Black Eyed Peas Black Eyed Pea Salad Left Over Strawberry Cake Wednesday Potabella and Pepper Sandwich Surprise Spring Greens Salad with Strawberries Chocolate Chippers Delight Thursday From Full Plate Thursday Dinner My Favorite Salad   Vicki V at The Blest Nest Oven Barbecued Chicken   Adrienne at

I am honored to be a Three Star Blue Star Mom. The Blue Stars represent three of our family members that are active duty military.  I am so grateful that I am not a Gold Star Mom who has lost a loved one in this horrible struggle for freedom. My heart goes out to them always and especially today, when we stop as a nation to remember. We are so honored to display this banner in our window on memorial day and everyday to honor and remember those who have given their life and those who put their life on the line for our freedom every day. From August 8, 1990 when my son deployed in Desert Shield until this day, my prayer is the same.  From Psalms 91: 1-4 "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty I will say to the Lord, My refuge and my fortress My God in whom I trust For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge, His f

We usually always have a group of family and friends over on Memorial Day. However we have learned through past experience that we had better have a back up menu for indoors just in case it rains, as it almost always does. In the beginning of our lake adventures we had to leave our half cooked meal on the grill and run for cover. This is my favorite way to back up a summer picnic meal. It is easy, and if you don't need it just freeze it and use it later.

I am so excited to see you today, welcome to Full Plate Thursday! We always have so much fun and get to visit with all our old friends and new ones.  Now lets take a look in that basket of yours and see what you brought to share today, I can't wait. Thank you so much for sharing with us today and sure hope you will come back next week! Our thoughts and prayers go out to the folks in the Mid West and especially the Joplin, Mo area that have lost so much in the recent storms. God be with you. This Is How I Filled My Plate Last Week Breakfast Simple Potato Omelet   Lani at Food Cooking and Capturing Morning Snack Blackberry Crumb Bars   Jen at Mama Schell Lunch Cza Czas Spring Salad   Mary at Passionate Perseverance Cheeseburger Ring Ali at Jam Hands Strawberry Ginger Rhubarb Crisp   Tressa at Hecka-Good Recipes Afternoon Snack Orange Blossom Lemonade   Tanya at Greetings From The Asylum Cubretazas Cookies   Liz at A Whisk and A Prayer Dinner My Favorite Salad   Vicki

I often times have Sweet Potatoes as a side dish for a meal. I love the flavor and the color of the sweet potato and it is one of those good for you vegetables. I am always looking for a great Sweet Potato recipe and this is one of those. It is a Rachael Ray recipe. Cook The Potatoes Mash The Potatoes Season The Potatoes Enjoy! Mashed Sweet Potatoes Rachael Ray Prepared In Miz Helen's Kitchen 2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced or cubed into bite size peices Salt and Pepper 1/2 cup warm chicken stock 1 teaspoon orange zest Juice of 1/2 orange 1 pinch cayenne pepper 2 tablespoons butter 1 drizzle of honey Place potatoes in a pot, cover with cold water and add some salt. Bring to a boil and cook to tender. Drain and return potatoes to the warm pot. Mash with stock, orange zest and juice, cayenne, butter, honey , salt and pepper. This is a delicious Sweet Potato dish with the flavor of the orange and honey. Print Re

Hi there, we are back here in the kitchen, just come on back and we'll get you some hot coffee and I will get you a piece of wedding cake to go with it. We just had an awesome week end with family at my Grandson Ben and his new bride Trisha's wedding. We wish them the very best that life has to offer. Lets get started on this menu while we have our coffee. Monday Tex Mex Veggie Soup Mexican Corn Bread Happy Day Cake Tuesday Feature Recipe  Chicken Breast With Olives and Rosemary   Linguine Green Tossed Salad Garlic Bread Left Over Happy Day Cake Wednesday Meatloaf Mac N Cheese Fresh Garden Peas The Jello Salad Lemon Pudding Thursday Ham and Asparagus Quiche Spring Greens With Orange Vinaigrette Fresh Berries With  Spicy Vanilla Cream Friday Grilled Brots Sauerkraut Relish Potato Salad Greek Yogurt Pie Saturday The Annual Friends Mud Bug Party Crawfish Boil with about 50 Friends Let The Good Times Roll Sunday From Full Plate Thursday Lun

Every year when the first Rose blooms then I know that it is Spring. I just love the old Heirloom Roses that still smell like a Rose. Some of the most fun I have had is going to old parks, gardens and yes even cemeteries, to Russell Roses, bring clippings home and root them. My first Rose to bloom this year is my Heirloom Don Juan Climber. It is a beautiful Rose with a heavenly smell. Don Juan Climber Heirloom John F. Kennedy Climber The John F. Kennedy is a beautiful Rose and  takes on many different color tones during the bloom cycle. J ohn F. Kennedy In Full Bloom There are many other blooms here at The Garden Gate that I really enjoy in the Spring Time. Wild Chives Garden Chives Sage I hope you are taking the time to enjoy the beautiful blooms of Spring. Let me know what your favorite blooms of Spring are, I would love to know. I sure have enjoyed our visit today and look forward to you coming back to The Garden Gate . Peace and

This is a great recipe that I adapted from Chef Marco Canora, a restaurateur and cookbook author. His recipe is called Chicken Thighs with Olives and Rosemary. I also changed the kind of olives and added a different chop on the vegetables and increased the chicken broth to help keep the chicken breast moist. Chicken Breast With Olives and Rosemary Chop The Vegetables Brown The Chicken Cover With Sauce and Bake Enjoy! Chicken Breast With Olives and Rosemary Miz Helen's Kitchen Adapted from Marco Canora's Chicken Thighs With Olives and Rosemary 4 Chicken Breast with Rib Meat 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 cup red onion chopped 1 cup carrots chopped 1 cup celery chopped 2 small cloves garlic minced 2 sprigs rosemary 1 cup green Spanish olives 1 cup ripe black olives 2 cups chicken broth 1/4 cup tomato paste Season the chicken breast with salt and pepper on both sides Heat 4 tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy dutch oven and sear the chicken on both sides, remove and se