Several years ago, Scarlette and her husband sent James and me to a beautiful B & B for our 35th anniversary. I think it was in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. We walked around the well-manicured yards before coming in for breakfast. Anyway, the food was excellent, so when I saw that the lady had cookbooks for sale, I bought one to remember the event. It seemed unique and personal with pics of pressed flowers on the 8 category dividers. Her pic is on the cover, holding a large plate she has prepared to serve her guests. I’d like to share a few of her easy-to-make, delicious recipes.

BREAKFAST CASSEROLE (Prepare recipe the night before cooking.)

1 pound turkey or pork sausage (hot or mild) 6 slices bread 8 eggs 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese 2 cups milk 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon mustard Brown sausage and drain. Arrange the bread slices on the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Spread the sausage over bread. Whip eggs, milk, salt, and mustard. Pour over sausage. Sprinkle cheese over entire top of casserole. Let set overnight in refrigerator. Next morning, if pan is glass, set out on rack for ½ to 1 hour before placing in hot oven. Bake in pre-heated oven at 350 for 40-45 minutes, or until edges are brown. Serve. Enjoy.

BISQUICK TURKEY (OR CHICKEN) POT PIE (Good for left-over Thanksgiving turkey) 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 cup chopped turkey or chicken 1 bag frozen vegetables 1 ¼ cup Bisquick ½ cup milk 1 egg Preheat oven to 400. Combine soup, turkey and vegetables in 9-inch pie pan. Stir together remaining ingredients and pour over meat mixture; bake 30 minutes. Serve. Enjoy.

MIRACLE LASAGNA Prep time-5 min. Cook time-1 hour. Stand time-5 min.

1 28oz. jar Prego traditional spaghetti sauce 6 uncooked lasagna noodles 1 (15 oz. container) cottage cheese 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese In a 2-quart shallow baking dish (11x7), spread 1 cup of the sauce. Top with 3 uncooked noodles, cottage cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and 1 cup sauce. Then, top with remaining 3 uncooked noodles and remaining sauce. Cover with foil. Bake at 375, 1 hour. Uncover and top with extra parmesan cheese. Let stand for 5 min. before cutting.

Enjoy with salad and a light dessert.

PECAN PIE (the lady’s favorite) 3 eggs 1 cup sugar ½ cup white Karo syrup 1 stick melted butter 1 cup pecan pieces 1 deep-shell pie crust Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put pecan pieces in bottom of pie crust. Mix 3 eggs, sugar, syrup, and melted butter and pour over pecans. Bake for 1 hour, or until knife comes out clean. Cool. Serve. Enjoy.

EASY CHOCOLATE BARS (Great to share during coming holidays) 1 stick of butter 1 cup graham cracker crumbs 1 6-oz package semisweet chocolate chips 1 6-oz package butterscotch chips 1 cup shredded coconut (optional) 1 cup chopped nuts 1 15-oz can sweetened condensed milk Preheat oven to 350. Melt butter, pour in a 9x11 inch pan. Layer remaining ingredients, in order given, in buttered pan. Bake for 25 minutes. Cool, cut into bars. Makes 30 bars. For gifting, place in baggies or wrap in clear wrap. Place in festive gift bags.

If you’ve never stayed at a B&B, you should try it! Whether for an anniversary, honeymoon, or for no other reason at all but to be pampered, having great homemade meals, no housework to worry about, and most have outside areas to walk around and just enjoy nature. Check them out as to what amenities they offer.

Distance yourself from being glued to electronics and enjoy really visiting with friends and family IN PERSON as you plan ahead for a more blessed Thanksgiving holiday.