Bacon & Green Bean Heart-Attack Roll-ups

Any recipe from my fabulous sister-in-law, Heather, is always a favorite.  Check out her other contributions.

Bonnie knows how to lay a spread

Once a year is the only time you should ever have these . . . but it just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without them. I am always thankful for bacon.

This is how it looks before you refrigerate it--
not very appetizing, I'm afraid.

This is me placing the roll-ups on a platter on
Thanksgiving Day 2011 at my beautiful sister
Bonnie's house (my favorite Thanksgiving
destination), two months after my baby Calvin
was born.  Be VERY careful when removing
your dish from the oven--see all that grease
and butter in the bottom of the pan?

Calvin, two months old

My sister Ali made my mom's delicious rolls, which recipe I will
be highlighting in November . . . 

Holy decadence, Batman!  There are never leftovers.

Italian Pasta & Bean Soup

I make this soup at least twice a month, and I never get tired of it. It's also my kids' favorite. In fact, it's one of the ONLY soups I make that inspires my most picky child to exclaim, "Yay! Bean and shell soup!" He likes it because the beans try to "hide" inside the shells, but there's no escaping a hungry six-year-old.  I served this soup with sweet cornbread last night.

One of the things that makes this soup good is to grill your chicken.  It makes the chicken pieces so tender and flavorful.

Also, I used to use canned chicken broth until I discovered chicken bouillon in bulk at Winco--it's just as flavorful and about one-tenth the cost.  (Thanks for the tip, Cori!) 

Texas Caviar

Um, hello.  That's what your mouth says the first time you taste this "dip."  I'm not going to lie, sometimes this is a meal for me.  Everyone asks for the recipe--it is a summertime (meal time, chore time, supper time too . . . name that musical) essential.