Meal Planning with Connie

Key Lime Chess Squares Key Lime Chess Squares Crust: 1 box yellow cake mix 1 stick butter, melted 1 egg, slightly beaten Filling: 4 cups confectioners' sugar 3 eggs, slightly beaten 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1/3 cup key lime juice Preheat oven to 350 degrees. For crust: combine cake mix, butter and egg and pat into 9x13" pan. For filling: mix sugar, eggs, cream cheese and key lime juice; pour into the crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes, or until lightly brown and set in the center. Cool. Garnish with powdered sugar. Keep refrigerated.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 Whether your family is like ours and schools at home, or your children attend a local community school, it's that time of year again!! This brings about an extra commitment of moms' time, either way. I want to ask a favor! I need you guys to send me your favorite recipes for putting supper on the table in about 30 minutes. This can be actual recipes - like for a quick casserole, or it can be a way you put a speedy meal together from the grocery - with say a rotisserie chicken, instant rice, jarred gravy, bagged salad and frozen rolls. I know you guys have some great recipes and ideas! When I'm in a hurry, sometimes I just can't think of something quick to make. I will post our recipes and ideas under speedy meals, so that we can find these great suggestions quickly. You can share your ideas by leaving a comment, or you can e-mail them to me at mealplanwithconnie@...

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6 I saw my momma use this trick many times over the years: If you accidentally add too much salt to a cooking pot, add a peeled potato and continue to cook a bit. Discard potato and serve dish as usual. Potatoes are salt-sponges. They will absorb most, if not all, of the excess salt. Do you ever have trouble getting your mashed potatoes salty enough? Add the salt to the water when your boiling the potatoes. Again, the potatoes will absorb the salt. No more having to “test taste” and add salt while mashing your potatoes! Hmmm? Is that good, or not?!

9x13 pan of Chocolate Chip Pecan Brownies Mitzi and her girls came over and ate leftovers with us after church last night. I did make a fresh pan of brownies. Judy gave me this recipe years ago, and it's a favorite around here. I add chocolate chips and pecans to mine, but the brownies are delicious without them! This recipe makes a nice, full 9x13 pan of brownies. Theses have a little, thin, crisp upper crust, but a moist and tender bottom. Yummy! I have used this recipe to make gift mixes. Just mix together the flour, sugar and cocoa, chocolate chips and nuts; spoon into a zippered bag. Place zippered bag into a clear gift bag. Tie with ribbons and add a tag that says: Chocolate Chip Pecan Brownies Pour contents into mixing bowl. Add 1 cup of canola oil and 4 eggs. Mix just until everything is moistened. Pour into sprayed 9 x 13 pan. Bake for 40 minutes. Chocolate Chip Pecan Brownies Chocolate Chip Pecan Brownies 1 ½ cups self-rising flour 2 ...

But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. I Corinthians 7:7b Yesterday, Brother Ken continued his messages on waiting on God . I told y'all this sermon series was going to "step all upon my toes," and it is! This week's sermon focused on the verses found in Luke 10:38-42. It's the story of Martha serving Jesus and the other guests in her home, while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. Luke 10:38-42 At the Home of Martha and Mary 38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upse...

I made these two dips last night for our pot luck supper. Larry is so blessed to work with such a great group of people, and I love being able to call all of them my friends, as well! The food was all absolutely wonderful!! Larry made Mark's Smoked Pork Tenderloin , and everyone brought tons of great dishes to accompany it. I have requested all the recipes!! I'll share them as they are passed along to me. I am going to post everything according to category, so that I can label them. Hopefully, this will aid in our finding them later! Pineapple Cream Cheese Dip I think you will either really like this, or you'll really not like it. It has that sweet and savory mixture of flavors that some folks really like, and other folks really don't like. It's quick and easy!! 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 2 cups crushed pineapple, drained with juice reserved 1 teaspoon onion powder 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed Serve with crackers. Easy Veggie...

Parmesan-Bacon Romaine Salad 1 (1 lb.) bag torn romaine lettuce 1 cup chopped ripe tomatoes 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted* 4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled (can use precooked or bacon bits, if you prefer) 1/2 cup salad croutons **Favorite bottled Italian salad dressing In a bowl, toss romaine, tomatoes, cheese, almonds and bacon. Pour on salad dressing, to taste. Toss. Add croutons and serve immediately. *To toast almonds: Oven method: Place almonds in a shallow baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees about for 15 minutes or until almonds are lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Microwave method: Place slivered almonds and 1 tablespoon butter in a 9-inch microwave-proof pie plate. Microwave on high, stirring every minute until brown, 4 to 5 minutes. **You can use this homemade dressing, if you prefer: ½ cup vegetable oil 2 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 large garlic clove, finely minced 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon p...