Labor Day Weekend...September 4, 5, and 6

Oh-Happy Day!  Labor Day that is...so, Happy Labor Day weekend to everyone!  This just happens to be one of my favorite holiday weekends!  Not only does it fall on or near mine and my brothers birthdays every year, but it also just happens to be the start of college football season!  GO DAWGS!  Yes, I am a HUGE GA Bulldog fan, heck, who am I kidding, I love just about any football game, but the Dawgs will always be my favorite.  Labor Day is always a time for lots of fun, and no better way to spend it than with good friends and good food!
We kicked things off on Saturday with some Black eyed Peas and corn bread cakes for everyone, and ALL 10 kids!  It was great to have a little adult time while all the kids ran and played together.  Next was Sunday, it was way more laid back than Saturday, and it was only my family hanging out.  We had a Prison Break marathon, courtesy of Netflix, all while eating a chili cheese frittata and also munching on Black eyed Pea dip with tortilla chips.  Finally, we made it to Labor Day Monday, AKA Aric's 35th Birthday, since he's in Iraq, we just HAD to celebrate without him.  :(  We enjoyed a day of swimming and (watching my Dad) cook out a Boston Butt.  While enjoying the company of my Mom, Dad, sister Shanda, her fiancee Chad, my husband Jeremy(aka "The Cheapest Man in America"), my son Austin, my daughters Cali and Katey, my grandparents, and of course me; we ate a buffet of BBQ sandwiches, Southern Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, Brunswick stew, fried pickles, my quiche, and my grandmothers famous lemon pound cake.

Black eyed Peas and Corn Bread Cakes:
1 package dried black eyed peas, medium size bag
water to cover peas by about 1 inch
1 medium onion, sliced
crockpot
Cook on low all day, then place in refrigerator.  On the day of, put back in crockpot that morning and cook on high till time to eat.  About 1 hour before eating, begin mixing the corn bread cakes.
Corn Bread Cakes
1 cup self-rise cornmeal
1/2 c Vegetable oil
1/2 tsp Salt
2 Eggs, beaten
8 oz Sour cream
4 oz Cream style corn
Combine cornmeal and oil, add beaten eggs and stir. Add the rest of the ingredients and pour 1/4 cup batter onto a hot griddle, flip once, only after bubbles begin to form, just like with pancakes.  Once the corn cakes and black eyed peas are done, pour one to two laddles of peas into bowl and place a corn cake on top, then add a spoonful of Rotel and a few spicy jalopeno peppers.  Enjoy!

Chili-Cheese Frittat and Black eyed Peas Dip:
10 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup garlic and cheese croutons
1 can diced green chili peppers, drained
1 container low-fat cottage cheese
1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 cup melted butter
Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a large bowl, mix the eggs, flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the green chile peppers, cottage cheese, Cheddar cheese, and melted butter. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Bake 15 minutes in a 400 degree preheated oven. Reduce heat to 325 degrees, and continue baking for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool slightly, and cut into small squares.  Enjoy!
Black eyed Pea Dip:
Leftover black eyed peas, from Saturday
1 medium onion, diced very fine
1 clove garlic, diced very fine
1 medium tomato, diced very fine
1 jalapeno pepper, diced very fine
In medium bowl mix all together very well and serve with tortilla chips.  Enjoy!

Chili Cheese Quiche
12 slices wheat bread, crusts removed

2 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese
4 eggs, beaten
1 small onion, diced
1 tsp seasoned salt
1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper
2 small cans diced green chile peppers
2 1/2 cups milk
Grease a 12 x 8-in baking dish. Arrange 6 slices bread in baking dish; sprinkle with cheese. Top with remaining bread slices. Whisk together the eggs, onion, salt, and cayenne pepper. Mix in chiles and milk. Pour mixture evenly over bread. Cover dish and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.  Bake in preheated oven at 325 degrees uncovered 45 to 55 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.  Enjoy!
Total Cost:  $11.50....ALL WEEKEND!!!!!  Oh yeah Baby!!!  :)
 
**GROUND BEEF: Even when it isn't on sale, you can usually buy the larger packages of ground beef, chuck or round, and save money. Avoid purchasing the pre-made hamburger patties unless they are on a really good sale (also available in the frozen food section). And don't waste your money on ground beef that has a fat content of 30% or more... yuck!  Now seperate the bulk beef into food saver bags by the pound and place in the freezer, for later use.  Happy shopping!!