MEMES & LINK PARTIES – Page 2 – Chasing MY Life WHEREVER it Leads ME

TGIF ~ BLOG 365.143

*TAMY’S SOUTHERN APPLE WALNUT CARROT CAKE ~ BLOG 365.142

TAMY’S SOUTHERN APPLE WALNUT CARROT CAKE

CAKE

1 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup Malibu rum
2 cups plus more for pans all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons QUALITY ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
4 LARGE eggs
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups grated apples – half grated and half chopped (I used Pink Lady apples)
1 1/2 cups grated carrots
1/4 cup WONDRA flour
1 cup small chopped walnuts

Pour rum over raisins in a small bowl. Set aside for 10 minutes and then drain well for several minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°.
Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round pans or a 9×13 cake pan.
Line bottom of the pans with parchment paper.
In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
Add eggs and vegetable oil, blending JUST until combined.
Dredge drained raisins in Wondra flour, shaking off excess.
Fold in apples, carrots, raisins and walnuts, if using.
Pour into pans.
Bake for 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes.
Remove from pans to a cooling rack.
Allow to cool completely before frosting.

FROSTING

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
8 ounces salted butter, room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
FINELY chopped walnuts for garnish, optional

In a large bowl cream together the cream cheese and butter.
Add the vanilla and powdered sugar, beating until fluffy.
Fold in nuts if using.
Spread frosting on top of each cake layer.
Stack the cakes on a serving plate and serve.

NOTE: I tried making this gluten free. I also tried using Bob’s red mill egg substitute in making this recipe. Both are FAILS!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY ~ BLOG 365.141

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, MENUS & RECIPES week 20 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.139

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

WOW, is it really Monday? Last week was a blur of work, phone calls and errands associated with all the things that come with preparing for a sudden onset life changing illness of a family member while working to meet a deadline on the new estate sale house we took on.

We spent the weekend preparing for and participating in a BBQ competition to benefit the Mercy Children’s foundation. It was the first time our team had participated and we had a GREAT time. Today will be short and sweet. I’m just exhausted and have so many things to do this morning to help my mom arrange this home health care situation.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

We’re cold and rainy here again. It was almost miserable at the BBQ competition yesterday. I had on a turtleneck on as well as a hoodie and sweatshirt ALL day. I don’t think we got above 52° and it was cloudy as well as windy! This week is supposed to be a combination of all of that so I’m glad I didn’t pack away the cold weather gear just yet this year.

TO DO LIST, TV/DVR & PROJECTS

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS

LAUNDRY & CLEANING I did get 2 loads of laundry done after we got home last night.
GROCERIES & ERRANDS ?? so much – where to start
RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING This is day by day trying to come up with high protein, low sodium, low carb, low fat recipes that my stepdad can eat during his radiation treatment.

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV

I need to get caught up on 24 in 24, Spring Baking Championship and Guy’s Grocery Games.

READING TIME

I was supposed to be out of town for the family reunion so was going to miss book club anyway, but when things changed and we had to stay here I rejoined the BBQ team for yesterday and still missed book club. Also on the team was my friend Nicole who was skipping book club too. We commiserated on how little time we had each had to ready lately. While we at the event both our phones started pinging from the book club group text page. Absolutely everyone had to cancel except one person. Nicole and I were laughing so hard. 😂

I’m still reading Forest Trap by Sigrid Holm.

FUNNIES

MENU PLANS

BREAKFAST is always a work in progress for me – it will generally be hot water and a fruit yogurt 😀

	5/19 MONDAY	5/20 TUESDAY	5/21 WEDNESDAY	5/22 THURSDAY	5/23 FRIDAY	5/24 SATURDAY	5/25 SUNDAY
DINNER	PHILLY CHEESESTEAK STUFFED PEPPERS	VEGETABLE FRITTATA	PAN FRIED CHICKEN with FRIED CAULIFLOWER RICE	CHEESY MEATBALLS and PASTA	MEATBALL SAMMIES	BBQ WINGS and KOOSLA MAC SLAW	OUT
DESSERT

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM THE CAMERA

Presenting our dishes for judging.

INSPIRATIONS

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING / COOKING TIP

RECIPES COMING UP THIS WEEK

SOUTHERN WALNUT APPLE CARROT CAKE

RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

TENNESSEE ONIONS
CREAMY HAM & POTATOES

SILENT SUNDAY ~ BLOG 365.138

TGIF ~ BLOG 365.136

TENNESSEE ONIONS ~ BLOG 365.135

Onions really don’t get the credit they deserve! They’re the backbone of flavor in most dishes, whether they’re minced for soups, stew or casseroles, chopped or sliced and served raw on salads, sandwiches and even burgers. I use onions literally all the time, but I’d never heard of Tennessee Onions. I found this recipe by accident. And then I found another version also combining them to make my own version to meet my family’s flavor profile.

It’s a creamy and cheesy casserole full of a tangy, but sweet flavor and made of super simple, but specific ingredients – VIDALIA onions are the ONLY onions along with melty cheeses like cheddars and goudas that will work for this recipe. You also have to use REAL butter and FRESH herbs and spices. Ultimately the dish becomes a cheesy, tangy and sweet scoop of pure flavor with tender onions and browned crispy cheese.

On a side note, if you can’t get Vidalia onions in your area, WALLA WALLAs or TEXAS SWEET will work, but are second choice. 😀 This recipe makes a wonderful mouth watering side dish, but could also be considered a condiment at your next backyard barbecue. Add a scoop to your burger or dog or even to a grilled cheese sandwich. We like them with steaks fresh off the grill or Salisbury steaks. As you can see from the picture I have also used whatever I have on hand with great results.

Ironically “TENNESSEE ONIONS” only use a Georgia grown Vidalia onions for their unique flavor which is naturally sweet, but still has a bite to it like other onions without being assertive. Georgia farmers the unique soil in and around Vidalia, Georgia for their unique flavor.

TENNESSEE ONIONS
2 1/2 pounds sweet onions (3 LARGE onions), sliced crosswise 1/4 inch thick slices and separated into rings
1 tablespoon FRESH minced thyme
1 tablespoon FRESH minced parsley
1 teaspoon garlic powder
FRESH ground sea salt, to taste
Scant tablespoon FRESH chopped oregano
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard (optional)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup salted butter, cut into 1/4-in.-thick pieces
1 cup (4 ounces) mild Cheddar cheese, FINELY shredded
1 cup, (4 ounces) smoked Gouda cheese, FINELY shredded
1/2 cup (2 ounces) Parmesan, FINELY shredde

Preheat oven to 350°.
Coat a 13×9 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.  
Place onions in a large bowl.
Sprinkle with the thyme, parsley, garlic salt, oregano, mustard, and cayenne pepper and toss gently to coat.
 Arrange onion slices evenly in prepared baking dish.  
Arrange butter evenly over onions, and sprinkle with the cheeses.  
Cover with aluminum foil, and bake 40 minutes until onions are soft and sides are bubbly.
 Remove foil.
Bake another 5-10 minutes until top is golden.  
Serve immediately.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY ~ BLOG 365.134

HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY, RECIPES & MENUS week 19 of 2025 ~ BLOG 365.132

Be sure to join Happy Homemaker Monday with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

LAST WEEK RECAPPED

The name of my blog, “Chasing MY Life” and my subtext, “It Is What It Is” has NEVER been more fitting than it is right now. Hubby and I have always agreed that we end up where we are the most needed to help. This attitude certainly makes adjusting to the changes life is throwing in our path MUCH more easily navigated.

Things changed quickly last week with my stepdad. He ended up back in the hospital with complications. He was sent home over the weekend and we’re doing what can be done to make him comfortable. There should be some conclusive results early this week, but things are progressing faster than anyone expected. 🙁

Hubby and I have pivoted to make things easier for my mom to care for him and will unfortunately miss our family reunion. I will coordinate from here and make the arrangements for next year so everyone will have it in place as they leave. We will go see as many of them individually as we can in a few weeks to make up for missing the family reunion. It won’t be quite the same, but as I always say, “It Is What It Is”!

On the flip side, there were a few people having to fill in for me and my regular Eagle’s duties that are relieved I will still be here to make their lives easier. There was also 2 events that we were really disappointed that we were going to miss that we are now going to be able to participate in. We’ll also be around for the city wide garage sale weekend.