Meal Planning with Connie

Smoked Pork Ribs, Very Easy Baked Bean, Ro*tel Cheese Grits, and Quick Cheese Bread "Patience is the companion of wisdom." ~Saint Augustine, philosopher and theologian (November 13, 354 – August 28, 430) Augustine of Hippo is one of the most important figures in the development of Western Christianity. Although he received a Christian education, he resisted his mother's pleas to become a Christian, choosing instead to live as a pagan intellectual. His mother never stopped praying for his salvation, and later he converted to Christianity and opposed heresies in the church. His two greatest writings are Confessions and City of God . (We really enjoyed learning about St. Augustine last year in church history. My brain is slowly getting back into school mode! ) Larry was off and was ready to smoke something!! He's like a kid with a new toy after he's shored up his old smoker! Smoked Pork Ribs He smoked some pork ribs for our supper. They were really good! Like I...

Very Easy Baked Beans Very Easy Baked Beans 1 (28 ounce)can Bush's Country Style Baked Beans 1/4 - 1/3 cup of ketchup 2 slices pre-cooked bacon. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Open the beans and drain them in a colander. Add ketchup. Pour the beans into a small casserole dish. Top with bacon and bake uncovered until hot and bubbly, usually about 20 minutes. While they're not as good a homemade baked beans, they're the best substitute I've found. These are the only baked beans M.C. likes!

This version is a bit lighter than some. We really like it!! To make it more decadent, just add more butter and more cheese!! Ro*tel Cheese Grits Ro*tel Cheese Grits 3 -4 green onions, thinly sliced 1 - 2 clove of garlic, minced, or a bit of jarred minced garlic 2 - 3 tablespoons butter 2 cups water 1 1/4 cups milk 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup quick cooking grits ½ stick of butter, cut into pats (This is good, but optional.) 1 cup shredded 2% Velveeta 1 (10-ounce) can Ro*tel tomatoes Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sauté onions in butter for about 3 minutes. Add garlic. Sauté a minute or two longer. Set aside. Bring the water, milk and salt to a boil in saucepan. Slowly add the grits. Return to a boil; stir constantly for 1 minute. Reduce the heat to low; cover. Cook for about 8 minutes stirring occasionally. When grits are thick and creamy, remove from heat and set aside. Add butter, Velveeta and onion/garlic mixture to grits; stir until the cheese is melted. Add ...

This is a recipe that Larry's mom passed along to me some years ago. It's quick, easy and yummy! A great combination! For a quicker version, spoon into muffin cups and bake! Quick Cheese Bread Quick Cheese Bread 1 egg, slightly beated 3/4 cup milk 2 cups self-rising flour 1 tablespoon mayo 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese Mix all ingredients well. Pour into a 9x5x2 loaf pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for about 45 minutes. Serve hot. Use Bisquick if you prefer, leaving out the mayo. Good buttered and toasted for breakfast.