Happy February February is here already and we are kicking it off today with the big football game. Our team is not in the Superbowl this year, however we will be watching and enjoying the game. I am checking the local market specials before I make my meal plan this week, there are always great specials around Super Bowl time.  Sit down and have a cup of tea with me and we will make a meal plan for next week,  be sure and let me know what you are planning for your meal's this week, I love hearing from you.

Full Plate Thursday Where The Greatest Cooks On The Planet Gather Welcome to Full Plate Thursday, I sure am glad to see you today. I know that some of you are having some real bad weather and aren't able to get out and about. We on the other hand are have a beautiful day and able to go out in the garden. We are getting ready for the Big Game this weekend although our team won't be playing we will still be watching the game with friends. I am sharing my Chilies and Queso Skillet that will be on the table for the game this weekend. I can't wait to see what you are sharing with us today, so lets get this party started! Chilies and Queso Skillet

I love this Chilies and Queso Skillet , it is easy to put together and stays in the same skillet for serving. South of the border Mexican flavors from a special blend of peppers and season set this dish apart from the average Tex Mex recipe. If you don't want to use it as a dip, just put it between two tortillas, warm in a skillet it makes a fabulous Quesadilla. Serve it on the top of chicken or steak, these flavors will make any dish special. We love this versatile skillet full of goodness and hope you will too. Chilies and Queso Skillet

My Mother made the best Spanish Rice and growing up it was one of my favorites. When I went out on my own and married I began to make my Mothers Spanish Rice and I just kept adding to it, so today it has become Spanish Rice Casserole. I still love this casserole it is so full of flavor and it freezes for up to 3 months. This casserole is still one of my favorites and sure hope that you enjoy it.

We had a busy week launching our New Look for The Cottage. Come in and look around, sure hope you like the new look and you can meet my fantastic designer Here . We just got our onions planted and it started raining that is great timing. It's cold and rainy sounds like a great time to make some awesome soups and homemade breads. I just love making homemade bread it makes the whole house smell warm and cozy. What is you favorite food to cook on a cold and rainy day? I'll make sure to have some of these awesome recipes on our Meal Plan for the week.

Full Plate Thursday Where The Greatest Cooks On The Planet Gather THE COTTAGE HAS A NEW LOOK! Meet My Fantastic Designer My fantastic designer Elle Ay Esse from Pink Flame Designs made these awesome changes for me. I would love for you to look around and enjoy all the new features that we have installed. I had so much fun working with her, she is such a gifted and talented young woman. Now you know now why I have been so busy, getting this surprise ready for all of you. We have had some beautiful weather here in Texas the last week which let us all get out doors and enjoy some gardening. I am sharing my Sunday Roast with all of you today and sure hope you enjoy our old family recipe. I can't wait to see what you have in your basket today so lets get this party started!

Rosemary Potato Casserole is a great casserole that can be made with fresh mashed potatoes or left over mashed potatoes. It has a great flavor and is a real comfort dish. I have taken this potato dish to many covered dish functions and don't recall bringing home any left overs. Through the years we have used different herbs and seasons but the rosemary is one our favorites. I am very happy to share one of our favorites with you today and sure hope you enjoy it. Rosemary Potato Casserole

A GREAT NEW LOOK FOR THE COUNTRY COTTAGE I Am So Excited This Day Finally Arrived! It's A Brand New Look Come In, Take A Look Around I Am So Excited To Introduce You To My Fantastic Designer Elle Ay Esse of Pink Flame Designs

When I was a child we would come home from church and the first thing we would smell would be the Sunday Roast. Sometimes the roast would be a pot roast and sometimes it would take on other names, but mainly it was the Sunday Roast. In all those years this was my favorite of all the roast that we would have on Sunday, then we would have sandwiches or hash from the leftovers that night for dinner or the next day for lunch. I still love the Sunday Roast and hope you will enjoy it as well. Sunday Roast

We are busy here at the cottage this week, we have a break in the weather so we are off to the garden. We will be preparing the soil for spring planting and planting our onions. When making my meal plans I am always so grateful for my fresh garden vegetables that I can give my family. My neighbor has some fresh chickens so I will be using some chicken in my meal plan this week. What kind of fresh vegetables do you like to use in the winter months and where to do get them?

Full Plate Thursday Where The Greatest Cooks On The Planet Gather Hello everyone, I am so glad to see you today.  Come on in and stand by the fire a bit and warm up, it is so cold outside. We have some awesome cider on the stove to help warm you up, and you can get into the cookie jar and have some Pomegranate Chocolate Cookies. We are all excited to see what you are sharing with us today so lets get this food on the table.

Juicing is very popular today and a healthy way to have your fruits and vegetables, so the folks over at Williams-Sonoma are having Juice Week. I love going to the garden gathering a few herbs and vegetables then making a nice glass of juice. I have made a very different juice for you to try today, it really is "Not Your Average Juice", and certainly not for the faint of heart. Part of the ingredients came from our winter garden and the Pickled Tabasco Peppers come from summer canning. Pickled Tabasco Juice with Spinach and Apple

Carrots are one of the foods that I could feed my family every week and they would never complain, we just love them especially when they are fresh from the garden. Carrots are one of the root vegetables that we plant every year in the garden and we always look forward to the first signs of the little tops peaking out of the ground. This recipe for Spicy Glazed Carrots is a little different but very kid friendly, our little ones loved the carrots. The recipe is a fresh combination with a flavor that brings a different taste to carrots. Spicy Glazed Carrots

When I made these meatballs the other day it occurred to me that the recipe card was very old and I had been making these meatballs for many many years. I really don't look at the card anymore I just get it out, in case I forget something. This recipe has been around our family for a very long time and has been added to and refined through the years. It is a simple recipe and a great go to meal that can be made in a short time. The meatballs can be frozen and then baked or baked and then frozen, and the sauce can be frozen, just cook the pasta and your meal will be ready to set on the table. Italian Meatballs with  Sauce

Come on in the kitchen and sit by the fire with me today, it is very cold outside. I am doing some baking today and it smells so good plus it feels warm and cozy in the kitchen with the oven on. When making my meal plan this week I want to include some comfort food that will keep folks warm in this weather. I bundled up earlier and went to the barn to get some potatoes and onions from the cold storage bins, burrr, glad I don't have to be out there again today. What is one of your favorite foods to have in cold weather, let me know what they are. The Menu Sunday Old Fashioned Meatloaf Brussels Sprouts and Pears Garlic Mashed Potatoes Chocolate Cake Monday Rancher Beans Mexican Rice Casserole Mexican Salad Left Over Chocolate Cake Tuesday Ham and Pasta Casserole Gazpacho Salad Garlic Bread Caramel Chocolate Pecan Bars Wednesday Vegetable Beef Soup Corn Bread Left Over Bars Thursday

Full Plate Thursday Where The Greatest Cooks On The Planet Gather I sure hope that all of you had great holidays and is it sure good to see you here in our new 2015! This is the time of the year when we gather our comfy throws, a good book, nice fire and some real cozy food. Its a time to reflect back over last year and look forward to the year ahead. In looking back over 2014 I am sharing my Readers Favorite Top Ten Recipes and I sure hope you enjoy them. Now lets get your food on the table, I can't wait to see what you have brought to share. Top Ten Recipes 2014 From Last Week We Are Featuring YOUR Top Ten From 2014 Top Ten Recipes 2014 at The Seasoned Mom A Year In Review at My Carolina Kitchen   Top Ten Recipes 2014 Olla-Pondrida Top 10 Readers Favorite 2014 at The Kitchen Is My Playground Best of 2014 at Culinary Flavors Readers Favorite Recipes of 2014 at Yesterfood 2014 Top Ten Recipes at Memories By The Mile Readers Fav of 2

We love Brussels Sprouts and one of my favorite ways to prepare them is just to roast them in the oven. This roasted combination of Brussels Sprouts with Pears has been one of our favorites this season. The fresh Brussels Sprouts at our farmers market have been so fresh this year maybe because it has been cooler and we have had more rain. The pears are so sweet they just melt in your mouth. The recipe has combined lime juice and zest along with some spice and topped with nuts and cheese, oh my it is so good. We love this dish and sure hope you will too! Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pears Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pears Miz Helen's Kitchen Ingredients 1 pound Brussels Sprouts, cut in half 3 Bosc Pears, cut in half, then quartered length 3 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon thyme leaves juice of 1 lime zest of 1 lime 1/2 cup pecans, roasted and chopped 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled Directions Wash the sprouts

I really love a recipe that can be put together in a short time, walk away from and come back to a fabulous meal. These Carnitas Pork Tacos take no time to put in the slow cooker then finish with awesome flavor and so tender the meat pulls with a fork. The Honey Lime Dressing puts these Carnitas Tacos over the top with just the right flavor to compliment the flavor of the pork. We didn't have that many left overs but the next day we made Carnitas Burritos, they were so good. I sure hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did. Carnitas Pork Tacos with honey Lime Dressing Carnitas Pork Tacos with Honey Lime Dressing Miz Helen's Kitchen Ingredients 2 pound pork tenderloin Rub 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin 1 teaspoon oregano 1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup cilantro, chopped 1 cup green onions with tops, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups Salsa Verde The Dr