Comfort Food Oh How I Love You!

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My darling grand-girl Jillian.  Is there anything cuter than a little blonde girl in braids, Farmgirl blue jeans and a vintage apron?  And sitting in her Gram’s kitchen on a vintage stool?  Smile!

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Merry Christmas friends!

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  1. Donna Kozak says:

    Yesterday, my husband asked for my ‘Mexican Lasagne’ which I haven’t made for a couple of years – very similar to yours … and I must try the springform pan. We’re all craving comfort food at this time of year !

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hello Donna,

      Yes… it would be similar! Hope you are having a lovely Christmas day today! We are expecting a houseful of company – I’ve cooked Brisket!

      – Dori –

  2. Joan says:

    Looks and sounds delicious – will give it a try. Yes the darling granddaughter is always a wonderful sight. Merry Christmas!!! God bless.

  3. Colleen says:

    Happy Holidays, Dori, to your family from ours!
    Probably one of our favorite comfort foods is Shepherds Pie, topped with cheese and a layer of ketchup. 🙂
    Take care and stay warm!
    Love,
    Colleen

  4. This sounds awesome, and I got new springform pans for Christmas. 🙂 How perfect is that? I do a stacked “enchilada casserole” that takes advantage of layers of flavor with corn tortillas. It is chicken, and cheese, and Wolf’s chili. So good and filling!

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hello Susabelle! I’ve made the enchilada casserole before with the chile and cheese. I think we also made it with Frito chips. If you love that, you’ll love this too! Let me know!

      – Dori –

  5. Susana says:

    I will definitely try this recipe…we love Mexican!
    Susana

  6. Angela says:

    Looks delicious! We’ll have to try it. We stack rather than roll our enchiladas.

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Angela!

      Hope you are enjoying your Texas vacation! 🙂

      I stack my enchiladas sometimes and sometimes I roll them. Depends on my mood I guess!

      Big hugs,

      – Dori –

  7. Carol Moore says:

    We had ham and turkey for our Xmas meat. My sons wife and grandsons wife brought the rest of the food. I did bake 2 pumpkin and 1 pecan pie for dessert

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Carol,

      For our Christmas meal I made Brisket, twice baked potatoes, a pot of pinto beans and homemade biscuits. Others brought green salad, fruit salad and roasted veggies. It was a perfect meal. And I’ve discovered that Brisket actually tastes better the next day! 🙂

      Nothing beats pumpkin and pecan pies!

      – Dori –

  8. Debbie says:

    Favorite comfort food: fresh cooked pinto beans over hot buttered cornbread! Another New Mexico favorite and most definitely mine!

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Debbie,

      Oh yes…. nothing better than a pot of pinto beans. And wonderful crispy cornbread! When my Mom and Dad came last month they brought me a 25 pound bag of fresh pinto beans and they taste so good. It is amazing!

      – Dori –

  9. Vivian Monroe says:

    Her Dori, my best friends mom was from Mexico, and she taught me a lot about cooking, so I too like mexican for my go to whenver I am sick or just get home from vacations, I always go to my mexican food. I make my own tortillas, and tamales. Growing up, we always had pinto beans and cornbread like Deb, so I turn to that alot. Raising my boys their early years as a single mom, we turned to those beans and cornbread a whole lot. 🙂 My boys are not so crazy about them anymore but I still love them they give me comfort knowing that they were something I could always afford to feed my boys. Hope you had a Merry Christmas and now I gotta try your recipe. Be Blessed. Neta

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Vivian,

      I loved your comment. It made me smile because it is exactly how I feel… when I’ve been sick, when I’m getting home from vacation I too want Mexican food!!! 🙂 My Mom always made our own tortillas too – both corn and flour. But I’ve never been able to master it. I’ll take any pointers you have! I do love to make tamales though. It is a lot of work, but oh so worth it!

      Thanks for writing!

      – Dori –

  10. Wayve says:

    That first photo makes my heart sing!

  11. denise says:

    looks so good, I’m going to give it a try soon! thanks!

  12. Winnie Nielsen says:

    YES, comfort food to ring in the New Year too! You know, I get that same sort of undercurrent melancholy when Christmas ends sometimes. I attribute it to the post adrenaline rush that surrounds December. Comfort food is my go to as well when I just want to feel like I did when my Mom would put her arms around me sometimes. Nothing sweet to eat, nope, sometime savory and cheesy is best.

    Your sweet Jillian is totes adorb in her Farmgirl braids, jeans and apron! It is a hopeful 2016 when we see the next generation of Farmgirls getting experience with making comfort food. We must never lose those traditions and skills from our Grandmothers!!!

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Winnie,

      I agree. I get so hopeful when I see my little grand-girls interested in learning real-life skills. It warms my heart!

      Happy 2016 to you!

      Big hugs,

      – Dori –

      P.S. Thank you so much for your email. I read and re-read it. Made me soooo happy!

  13. Bonnie B says:

    Hi Dori, We have had a couple cold days here in Ohio and I always seem to want to cook some comfort food when it gets really cold. So…I remembered your post and had all the ingredients so gave it a try tonight. Yum! It was so good and my husband even liked it and he is not much of a Mexican food fan (if you tell him that’s what it is, LOL). We both had second helpings!
    Thanks for a great recipe that I will add to my recipe box.

    Bonnie

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Bonnie,

      I’m so glad you tried the recipe! And thank you for letting me know! 🙂 It tastes just as good the next day for leftovers too!

      Stay warm! It is finally getting really cold here in Middle TN now.

      – Dori –

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When A Tree Falls… Make Snowmen!

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We’ve had a huge dead tree on our farm that is right next to our driveway.  My husband has talked about cutting it down all summer and he and our son in law were just waiting for the right day to get started on it.  Knowing that once they felled it, it would block the road and they would be cutting wood for an entire day kind of kept them from starting.

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  1. Virginia Hewson says:

    What a project that turned out to be! Life on a farm is like that, isn’t it? Anyway, you had a very special day with your grand-daughters, and one they will never forget! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Virginia,

      You aren’t kidding… everything on the farm is harder than I thought it would be! And I grew up in the country, I ought to know better! 🙂 I’m thankful for my husband who isn’t afraid or unwilling to handle the hard things! 🙂 And loves every bit of it!

      Those days with the grand-girls are special beyond measure.

      Thanks for writing!

      – Dori –

  2. Bambi Miller says:

    Love this story. I am sure the girls will remember it for a long time. I love your snowmen! We don’t have very many trees where we live, but, if I found a few pieces, I would try to make them. Have a very Merry Christmas!

  3. These are adorable snowmen. What a fantastic project and I love that you included your grand daughters. Merry Christmas, enjoyed!

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Carole,

      Yes those little grand-girls get included in all kinds of fun things! Luckily they only live about 2 miles away so I get to grab them whenever I want!

      – Dori –

  4. Sunny says:

    What a great share!! Thank you!! Such great fun!! All that hard work and family time, making adorable snow men paid off!!!

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Sunny,

      Thank you! Yes, sticking with something (even when I wanted to just throw them in the wood stove!) is sure worth it, isn’t it? 🙂

      – Dori –

  5. Mary Rauch says:

    Oh, these are definitely Pinterest-worthy. I love, love, love them!… If I were the girls, I’d be so excited to show “everyone” the project after it was finished!

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Mary,

      The girls were very excited! I actually need to take a picture of them sitting on the mantle at their house with tiny little twinkle lights interspersed around them. They are really darling.

      – Dori –

  6. Sandy says:

    My daughter bought one just like this at our local nursery for $35!

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Sandy,

      Wow! How big is it? I think if you were making little ones (like my little grand-girls made) and had an assembly line sort of thing it wouldn’t be so bad. The first time I do anything is hard! 🙂

      – Dori –

  7. Barb P says:

    Love this post! Even though you have discovered what I suspected when I first saw this project, I’d still like to make some. Yours most certainly ARE ‘Pinterest-worthy’!

  8. Nicole Christensen says:

    OH Dori…I WANT ONE! Truly those are the most adorable snowmen! We have lots of trees that my hubby has been working on for firewood, clearing, etc., so I am going to show him this and tell him we have to make one (though I won’t show him the bit about how difficult it is). Love seeing your sweet grand-girls, and your mom is so cute! What a stunning photo of them together. Merry Christmas, Nicole (Suburban Farmgirl)

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Nicole,

      Maybe knowing up front that they are kind of tedious and time-consuming to make will make it not quite so hard! And if you don’t have little girls waiting on you, that will help a lot too! 🙂 Let me know if you make one!

      – Dori –

  9. Ellen Gerard says:

    Oh how darling and what fun!

  10. Angela says:

    Can’t wait to see them! I’m not big on projects that take forever, but they do build patience!

  11. Kristeen says:

    super idea and good looking snowmans..
    HUgs

  12. Wayve says:

    A 5-generation memory: your Momma and Daddy, you and Eldon, your son-in-law, your grand girls, and your snowmen! Not so sure the snowmen will remember, but they will be remembered, probably for many years. How wonderful!

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Wayve,

      I love the way you express yourself (and in so doing, you express my thoughts)! Kindred farmgirl spirits maybe? 🙂

      Hugs,

      – Dori –

  13. Marilyn Collins says:

    Thanks for sharing this experience. What a clever idea concerning the wooden snowmen. Your granddaughters are beautiful young ladies. I enjoyed this post tremendously. Wishing you and yours a blessed and Merry Christmas.
    Marilyn

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Marilyn,

      Yes, those little grand-girls are pretty special little things!

      Thank you for your kind words.

      – Dori –

  14. Marvene says:

    Hi Dori,

    Wayne & I enjoyed the birth of the snowmen. We talked about how your grand girls are not walking around with iPhone or tablets in their hands — they are creating something beautiful with their hands and using their minds. What a treasure they have with you and Eldon in their midst and vice versa we are sure.

    And, the best of all is you did this as a family unit, talking, laughing and doing. God bless you all!

    Marvene & Wayne

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Aunt Marvene,

      Well… to give credit where it’s due, Andrea and Justus are the ones that have laid down the law with their little girls on electronic devices! 🙂 Eldon and I just get to reap the benefits of their great parenting! 🙂 But yes, we are so lucky to have them close by and that they love our farm and everything we want to do!

      Big hugs… hope to see you soon???

      – Dori –

  15. Marsha says:

    They are adorable, and so are your grandgirls!

  16. Sandi King says:

    Dori,
    those snowmen are absolutely gorgeous. If we don’t get snow soon, I may have my son do this project. I love snowy winters and snowmen, but these are really special when the snow doesn’t show up any time soon. Especially at Christmas and New Year’s. Thanks for a wonderful story. So glad you had family there to enjoy this time with you.

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Sandi,

      Yes! Have your son make you a few! 🙂

      Family is the best. My parents live across the United States in New Mexico and I miss them terribly. I cherish every little bit of time we get with them.

      – Dori –

  17. marge hofknecht says:

    Dori, These are adorable! My pastor’s wife is a high school teacher who has a huge collection of snowmen. She decks out her house throughout with these little fellows right after Thanksgiving. She would love these. Merry Christmas!

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Marge,

      I love snowmen too. I don’t have a ton of them, but they are my choice for winter decorating!

      Thanks for writing!

      – Dori –

  18. Jeff says:

    That’s cute, love it!

  19. Joan says:

    LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! I so wanted to make some too but — well maybe next year. The girls snowmen are really spectacular!!! great job cutting a wowzer the painting is superb.
    Merry Christmas and God bless.

  20. Jodie says:

    Dori!!! Oh my word, these are darling!!! This will be a project for my babe and I. We are in Portland, OR and it doesn’t snow here either. I miss the snow of Iowa this time of year. We’ve got a tree that needs felled, so I see these little snowmen in our future. I shed a little tear when I read that Jillian called you “Gram”. I had a Gram and she was the most dearest person in my heart. Your relationship with your grands remind me of Gram and myself. Keep on memory making! Thanks for the inspiration! Love your crooked head/had snowman! Perfect imperfection! Also love that Eldon got in the spirit, too! Merry Christmas!

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Jodie,

      I’d love to see a picture of your snowman if you get to make one! email me: redfeedsack@gmail.com.

      My grand-girls used to call me Grammie but the little one shortened it to Gram, which I absolutely adore! So now I am Gram. 🙂 Eldon is Gramps… so we are Gram and Gramps!

      I’m so happy that you have such special memories of time with your Gram and I always just hope that my grand-girls will grow up with those amazing memories of our time together.

      Thank you for writing,

      – Dori –

  21. Deb Bosworth says:

    Hi Dori,
    Those adorable snow men most certainly are pinterest worthy! Love the story and your day with the girls!
    You made some great memories that day!
    Merry Christmas to you and yours my dear!
    Big Hugs,
    Deb

  22. Vivian Monroe says:

    Looks like sweet Christmas Grand time memories made. And adorable snowmen, I love that idea especially the big one. Merry Christmas to you and yours and a very blessed New year. Neta

  23. Winnie Nielsen says:

    What a wonderful project, Dori!! I love the way these snowmen turn out and the little ones the Grandchildren made are just precious. It looks like it was all such an adventure! And yes, I do believe these snow friends are Pinterest worthy!!

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Thank you Winnie! In hindsight… they were a super fun project!!! 🙂 Doesn’t seem like near the work now! Ha!

      Happy Holidays!

      – Dori –

  24. Susan says:

    Love the snowmen…..clevera!

  25. Patricia Hosey says:

    LOVE IT!!!THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR STORY!

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