So, y'all know that I have a gajillion recipes everywhere. For the ones that I managed to do an okay job on, I'll later forget where it is and wonder where and in which book it is, or was it a torn piece of magazine, newspaper, email, or what? So this year with my Christmas cooking, I made a New Year's resolution to make a notebook of recipes that I have tried throughout the year with the date and any modifications to the recipe that I made. And also whether it was a keeper or not. Or if I just killed the recipe and to never try it again.
I'm going to have sections of the usual, appetizers, fruits, breads, meats, ets and the killed file, because there are plenty of killed recipe attempts. It's just the way it is.
I want my new recipe book to be a bit of a work of art for me. I want to pick up the book and see things that stir my soul - maybe a picture of a wishlist kitchen or a beautiful tea set that I would love to have. And the recipe that inspired me to try and cook it and whatever notes I have made about how it turned out, what my family thought about it, what I added because I thought it might work for the recipe, etc, etc You know how that goes. I want to feel good about the cooking that I do try to do. I will never be a great cook, I know that and that is okay.
This will be a book just for me and my experiments in the kitchen. I'm not sure what it will look like yet but for now it's started in a regular blue kid's notebook and a stack of recipes that I have tried throught out the years (before Huny and after).
I'll post some before pictures and show you my progress as it goes.
Tomorrow is New Year's Eve! Huny wants Black Eyed Peas with Ham Hocks. Need I say that I've never cooked this before?
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Texas Rock Rose
Pavonia lasiopetala is a Texas Native that is extremely drought tolerant.
Flower: 1" pink Hibiscus-like flower that is loved by butterflies and honey bees.
The Rock Rose will stay in bloom from summer till fall. This plant comes back every year in my garden. The plant can get leggy, but cutting it back several times a year keeps it in check and the look is still lovely.
Texas Rock Rose generally only last 3-4 years but will reseed freely and the seedlings can replace the older plants. The flower will open in the morning and will close in the afternoon, blooms can be extended if there is afternoon shade.
Package contains 10 seeds.
Clike HERE to purchase.
Where did all the snow go?
When I got up all the snow was gone! The weather is about 40 degrees, so I decided to take a walk. I opened the door and was greeted with songbirds going about their business. I immediately felt a weight lifted from my shoulders. I took the time to just relax and enjoy the morning mist and the bird songs in the neighbordhood. Because of the cloudy day, I felt as if I was alone in the world for a little while, and I found that that is exactly what I needed. I have been a little neglectful to myself as far as taking the time to be by myself and enjoy my own company. Solitude is not a bad thing. I think that being alone for a bit is an important part of our lives that we need to take and reconnect with ourself to replenish the soul.
I've been feeling a little stressed, as I'm sure a lot of us have the last few weeks, and taking the time this morning for my walk and to not think, was good. I just enjoyed the feel of the cool day and just let myself be.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Snow in the Garden!
It is snowing again!
Below are pictures of the snow we got on Christmas Day. We got three inches of the white stuff. Beautiful, but it also was icy and stopped me from going to see my grandson and new granddaughter - she's doing wonderful! 3 lbs. 12 oz. She'll be home soon!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Do you know that feeling you get when you cook a meal and then you just KNOW that it's going to sit in the fridge until it grows into a science experiment? Well, this is the feeling I have about my taco meat from last night. And it's because it has more beans in it than usual. My guys don't know a good thing when it stares at them from their plate.
So, in order to save my taco meat, I think I will convert it to chili. My guys don't like chili either, but I do and since they won't eat anymore of my taco meat they can just go fix a sandwich. I bought plenty of lunchmeat for them.
Chili with cornbread mixed with jalapenos and a cold, cold beer.
I'll show them.
So, in order to save my taco meat, I think I will convert it to chili. My guys don't like chili either, but I do and since they won't eat anymore of my taco meat they can just go fix a sandwich. I bought plenty of lunchmeat for them.
Chili with cornbread mixed with jalapenos and a cold, cold beer.
I'll show them.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Today we have frost and it is COLD. The wind died down from yesterday so that is a good thing. In a couple of days we will be back up to the 60's during the day and low 40's at night. We had a fire going all night and have it going this morning again since Huny is off today.
I did another cooking experiment last night. I made Salmon Patties. I followed the recipe off the can since I've never made this before. The recipe called for one egg white, but I used the whole egg. It also called for a tsp of seasoned salt. Next time I will not use so much because it came out a bit salty for me. Huny warmed up a can of creamed corn and the recipe called for a dip of mayo and dijon mustard. I added some parsley to the dip. Huny liked it and we'll make this again. He would like tuna patties, and I'll try it, but it does not sound good to me at all.
I also made some oreo balls. I got the recipe from Lisa from Tarnished and Tattered. She said that her husband makes this all the time and it sounded pretty easy so I thought I could make it here at home. The only problem I had was the frosting of the balls. I used a toothpick to dip the balls, but I think I needed to water the chocolate down a bit because it was too thick, I think. I haven't tried one yet because - well, just haven't yet. But, I tried the mix before the chocolate and IT WAS SOOOOOO GOOOOOD. Yum. I'll have to keep trying these until I get them right for me.
Tonight will be a back to basics supper with tacos. I bought some fresh corn tortillas from a little store down the street. I had to eat a couple fresh from the bag on the way home. Tacos, with beans and rice tonight and salsa. Oh yeah.
I did another cooking experiment last night. I made Salmon Patties. I followed the recipe off the can since I've never made this before. The recipe called for one egg white, but I used the whole egg. It also called for a tsp of seasoned salt. Next time I will not use so much because it came out a bit salty for me. Huny warmed up a can of creamed corn and the recipe called for a dip of mayo and dijon mustard. I added some parsley to the dip. Huny liked it and we'll make this again. He would like tuna patties, and I'll try it, but it does not sound good to me at all.
I also made some oreo balls. I got the recipe from Lisa from Tarnished and Tattered. She said that her husband makes this all the time and it sounded pretty easy so I thought I could make it here at home. The only problem I had was the frosting of the balls. I used a toothpick to dip the balls, but I think I needed to water the chocolate down a bit because it was too thick, I think. I haven't tried one yet because - well, just haven't yet. But, I tried the mix before the chocolate and IT WAS SOOOOOO GOOOOOD. Yum. I'll have to keep trying these until I get them right for me.
Tonight will be a back to basics supper with tacos. I bought some fresh corn tortillas from a little store down the street. I had to eat a couple fresh from the bag on the way home. Tacos, with beans and rice tonight and salsa. Oh yeah.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
The garden today....
Blooming in the garden today...
Garden we took out...
New butterfly and hummingbird garden...
Strawberry garden...
Thyme the ants love...darn them...
radishes, carrots, lettuce and lemon basil going to seed
Peas!
new garden in progress - this is where the tomatoes will go
parsley
Where do the days go?
We've been working on the garden and on the house and I've been working on items for Kindred Sisters our new boutique shoppe and I've been visiting Angelique. My days are full and by the time evening comes around I'm beat.
My little granddaughter is still with us, thank goodness. She is still itty bitty, of course, and has had some spells, but so far she is still fighting to stay with us. She has gained about 1/2 oz. Her little head is probably no bigger than a tennis ball. I'll be seeing her again this week and will get some new pictures. Last week she was in the dark and I couldn't get a picture of her. She stopped breathing and her heart stopped as well while I was there. Scared me to death. It was only for a very few seconds, but still..... All in all, the doctors say that she is doing fine. Despite these spells, she is coming along and is doing what they have seen other premie baby's do at that age and size. So, all is normal and good. Every day that goes by with her still with us is a blessing.
We bought a new front door and it is beautiful. But the color on the house trim (blue) didn't really go with the new look. So, we found a deep cranberry color and we (or rather, Huny) painted the trim and the house looks so much better. I didn't really like that blue anyway. He's touched up the house paint as well and caulked and did all that other Huny stuff to get the house ready for the winter.
We took out one of the gardens along the east side of the garden because I don't think anything really did well over there. That side missed the morning sun and got only the afternoon sun. So, we made another garden along the west side of the house and I hope it does better on that side. This is where our tomatoes will go.
In the other east garden we planted peas and they do seem to like the area there. We have flowers galore and one baby pea pod. The parsley on that side is also doing well. I have some lettuce planted in there and it is coming up but I've never planted lettuce from seed, so not sure it's okay or not. We'll see how it goes.
I finished the butterfly and hummingbird garden and can hardly wait for that to come to life next year. Speaking of butterflies, they are everywhere! I don't know if this is normal, I don't really remember what it was like at this time of year last year, but this year they are everywhere. I'm leaving as many of my flowers up for them to help them prepare for the winter.
We moved the strawberries from the garden against the house to another garden all by themselves. They were taking over the world. Now they have their own place to do their thing. The garlic chives were moved there as well. I also forgot about an elephant garlic that I had planted and it got moved over there as well.
We used up most of the compost from this year's batch and we have another compost pile going, but I still need more dirt. We're going to set up another bin. We've been picking up bags of leaves from the neighbors and have been adding that to the pile.
We've been fighting ants in the garden. They seem to like the thyme that I have in a cinder block. I stopped at the store and got some orange oil and killed them dead. I hope. They can just go someplace else outside of my yard.
When huny came home from workyesterday it was 79 degrees out and by 3:00 p.m. it was rainin and the temp had dropped about 20 degrees. Good ole' Texas weather. Today it is cool and windy and cloudy and a great day for working on the computer.
Busy, busy, busy.
I'll get some pics to post later today. Have a wonderful, wonderful week.
My little granddaughter is still with us, thank goodness. She is still itty bitty, of course, and has had some spells, but so far she is still fighting to stay with us. She has gained about 1/2 oz. Her little head is probably no bigger than a tennis ball. I'll be seeing her again this week and will get some new pictures. Last week she was in the dark and I couldn't get a picture of her. She stopped breathing and her heart stopped as well while I was there. Scared me to death. It was only for a very few seconds, but still..... All in all, the doctors say that she is doing fine. Despite these spells, she is coming along and is doing what they have seen other premie baby's do at that age and size. So, all is normal and good. Every day that goes by with her still with us is a blessing.
We bought a new front door and it is beautiful. But the color on the house trim (blue) didn't really go with the new look. So, we found a deep cranberry color and we (or rather, Huny) painted the trim and the house looks so much better. I didn't really like that blue anyway. He's touched up the house paint as well and caulked and did all that other Huny stuff to get the house ready for the winter.
We took out one of the gardens along the east side of the garden because I don't think anything really did well over there. That side missed the morning sun and got only the afternoon sun. So, we made another garden along the west side of the house and I hope it does better on that side. This is where our tomatoes will go.
In the other east garden we planted peas and they do seem to like the area there. We have flowers galore and one baby pea pod. The parsley on that side is also doing well. I have some lettuce planted in there and it is coming up but I've never planted lettuce from seed, so not sure it's okay or not. We'll see how it goes.
I finished the butterfly and hummingbird garden and can hardly wait for that to come to life next year. Speaking of butterflies, they are everywhere! I don't know if this is normal, I don't really remember what it was like at this time of year last year, but this year they are everywhere. I'm leaving as many of my flowers up for them to help them prepare for the winter.
We moved the strawberries from the garden against the house to another garden all by themselves. They were taking over the world. Now they have their own place to do their thing. The garlic chives were moved there as well. I also forgot about an elephant garlic that I had planted and it got moved over there as well.
We used up most of the compost from this year's batch and we have another compost pile going, but I still need more dirt. We're going to set up another bin. We've been picking up bags of leaves from the neighbors and have been adding that to the pile.
We've been fighting ants in the garden. They seem to like the thyme that I have in a cinder block. I stopped at the store and got some orange oil and killed them dead. I hope. They can just go someplace else outside of my yard.
When huny came home from workyesterday it was 79 degrees out and by 3:00 p.m. it was rainin and the temp had dropped about 20 degrees. Good ole' Texas weather. Today it is cool and windy and cloudy and a great day for working on the computer.
Busy, busy, busy.
I'll get some pics to post later today. Have a wonderful, wonderful week.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
A new venture ~~ Kindred Sisters
A good friend of mine, Audrey, found this wonderful shop in downtown Arlington called Collected Treasures. It is a shop filled with all things vintage, antique, handmade and fun! I love this place. The owner, Jana, also has a few spots that she rents out to others for their own shop. So, Audrey and I rented a small booth for all of our treasured finds. We have called it Kindred Sisters. We'll be offering all the things that we find and things that we make and the things that we feel will bring as much joy to your hearts and home as it does to ours. This Saturday is a day for a flea market that will be held in the back of the store. There will be several vendors offering wares that everyone will love to take home. Audrey and I were planning to be there, but with all that is happening with my daughter we decided to not participate in the market this time around. I will take a little time to stop by either on my way to or from the hospital, but you be sure to come on down and see what is happening! The store itself will be closed so you won't be able to visit our shop, but you will still enjoy the beautiful fall day!
My new grandbaby is here~
Angelique Marie was brought into the world yesterday by emergency C-section at 10:23 a.m. So far, she is okay but is in critical but stable condition. My daughter has not been able to see her yet as Cora is still very sick herself and is hooked up to all kinds of liquids and machines, but she is getting better. Victor, the baby's father, was able to see Angelique last night and said that she is soooo tiny. We don't know yet her birth weight or length. Hopefully today we will get that information. The baby was crying and I'm taking that as a good sign.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
WAVE OF LIGHT for all the babies ~
Every year at Christimas time, the Grand Prairie Memorial Garden has a lovely memorial service and gives out candles to each visitor. I come home and place the candle in a vintage ruby bubble glass and I have it and her sonogram picture on the shelf in my living room. At Christmas I take the glass and place it someplace special in the room so that I can have her with me at Christmas. I pray that I won't have a second glass of candles.
My new grandchild is a girl and her name is Angelique Marie.
Today, I came across this blog and felt so grateful that I did find this. I didn't know that this was out there for those of us that have either lost a baby or have someone, like Cora, that has lost their baby.
The month of October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month with October 15th being National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. Please join us in lighting a candle tonight at 7PM in loving memory of all the babies. Please visit wife.mom.nurse for additional information.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Two cups of uncooked rice DOES NOT equal 2 cups of cooked rice.
Guess how I figured this out?
Huny wanted stuffed bell peppers. Well, I've never cooked this before, so I looked up a recipie and it said it needed 2 cups of cooked rice. Sure. No problem. So, I took two cups of uncooked rice and cooked it. I figured that if you take 2 cups of uncooked you will get 2 cups of cooked. No, not really.
I ended up with mountains of cooked rice. Good grief.
I took the cups of cooked rice I needed and wondered, what am I going to do with the rest? I ended up making some Atole de Arroz (Spanish Rice Pudding or Rice with Milk). Yum. Haven't had that in a while. How to make this? I put the rice back into the pot with just enough water to cover. Added cinnamon and sugar to taste and then added milk. I just let this simmer to let the flavors blend. and Voila! It is done. This was my evening snack before bed. But, since I had all this rice and Huny doesn't like it, I'll be eating a lot of Atole to Arroz.
By the way - the stuffed bell peppers? Huny liked them and they are on the menu. He gave me a two-thumbs up. I have to admit that I wasn't all that crazy about them. They were okay, just not my thing. I figure they'll be on the menu with the first Spring bell pepper harvest and then the fall harvest. That's enough for me.
Huny wanted stuffed bell peppers. Well, I've never cooked this before, so I looked up a recipie and it said it needed 2 cups of cooked rice. Sure. No problem. So, I took two cups of uncooked rice and cooked it. I figured that if you take 2 cups of uncooked you will get 2 cups of cooked. No, not really.
I ended up with mountains of cooked rice. Good grief.
I took the cups of cooked rice I needed and wondered, what am I going to do with the rest? I ended up making some Atole de Arroz (Spanish Rice Pudding or Rice with Milk). Yum. Haven't had that in a while. How to make this? I put the rice back into the pot with just enough water to cover. Added cinnamon and sugar to taste and then added milk. I just let this simmer to let the flavors blend. and Voila! It is done. This was my evening snack before bed. But, since I had all this rice and Huny doesn't like it, I'll be eating a lot of Atole to Arroz.
By the way - the stuffed bell peppers? Huny liked them and they are on the menu. He gave me a two-thumbs up. I have to admit that I wasn't all that crazy about them. They were okay, just not my thing. I figure they'll be on the menu with the first Spring bell pepper harvest and then the fall harvest. That's enough for me.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Rain and more rain.
Well, as ususal, we either have no rain or we have a bunch of rain. Right now we have a bunch of rain. The ground is soggy and makes squishy noises as you walk on it. I'm thinking that snow shoes would probably work to keep your weight distributed on the ground because otherwise you sink into it up to your knees, or almost anyway.
Aside from that, I love the rain! I love the grey skies and the sound of the rain on the ground. I have my windows open so that I can hear the wind going through the leaves and pushing the rain every which way. A while back I wanted to move to the Northwest because of their rainy weather, but ended up in the Northeast. Bummer. Well, now I'm back home and here to stay and I'm okay with that. One day though I hope to take an extended vacation to the Northwest.
Aside from that, I love the rain! I love the grey skies and the sound of the rain on the ground. I have my windows open so that I can hear the wind going through the leaves and pushing the rain every which way. A while back I wanted to move to the Northwest because of their rainy weather, but ended up in the Northeast. Bummer. Well, now I'm back home and here to stay and I'm okay with that. One day though I hope to take an extended vacation to the Northwest.
In the meantime, our seeds that we planted seem to be taking the rain in stride. The radishes are coming up. I noticed that the carrots are sprouting as well. I didn't check the other side of the yard because it's tooooo squishy over there so I don't know how that is doing. I have lettuce seeds over there.
The flower garden is loving the cooler weather and have bloomed like crazy. I planted some surprise morning glory seeds in the spring and told Huny, just wait this will be covered in blue blooms. Well, they are pink.
We have a baby! I've been watching the parsley to see if we would get a caterpillar and we did! Here she is, and she is just about an inch long. I am a little concerned because I haven't seen her since the rain started. I don't know anything about caterpillars, so I'm hoping that she's just tucked in someplace that I can't see.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The end of Summer.
Hello to all of you! It has certainly been a busy summer for me here at home and about. We have done a lot of work on the house this summer and not so much on the garden. But now that Fall is here that is about to change.
When we came back from our Florida vacation it was so hot there was not much we could do outside. The peppers, though, kept on producing and are still producing. I have Sweet Banana Peppers and Cayennes coming from everywhere. I've given away quite a bit of it and still have tons more coming on the plants. I'm about to get peppered out.
Our cucumber plant just fizzled but we never got around to pulling it out and now we have one cucumber on it that we need to harvest today. After that we will be pulling it out for sure. Next year we'll find another place for the cucumbers.
We have a ton of bumblebees that are loving the yard. In the front planter we have some obedient plant and a salvia that a friend gave me that they just love. It's fun to watch them make their rounds from flower to flower in the front and then they head to the side planter and from there to the vege garden and then back to the obedient plant to start all over again. Huny and I get a kick out of watching the pollen sacks get bigger and bigger on their hind legs.
I've started a hummingbird and butterfly garden and as I sat in the shade for a bit of a rest, I listened to the leaves of the mulberry tree next door. There is a different sound to the rustle of the leaves at this time of year. It is almost like a lazy rustle with the leaves a little heavier than in the spring. Every now and then you'll hear the fall of a leaf as makes its way to the ground.
It is quite enjoyable to listen to the trees, watching the hummingbirds at the feeders and seeing the butterflies drinking from my garden. Yesterday, a black swallowtail found my parsley and laid some eggs. I rushed to find my camera, but she didn't come back. As soon as I see some babies, I'll take some pictures.
In the front yard by the street is another garden we built around all the city stuff that we all have in our yards. In it is a coral colored salvia and a fuchsia pink phlox. While I was watering the cucumber yesterday, I noticed a hummingbird feeding off of the salvia then he would sit on a bit of fencing I have there as support for the phlox. He did that several times before he flew off.
Well, now that I'm done with vacations and house stuff, it's time to get back to the garden. I'll be harvesting more of the peppers today. I'll be getting some compost for the hummingbird and butterfly garden and for the vege garden where I need to get some seeds in the ground.
OMG! The strawberries are taking over the world! I don't know what I'm going to do about that yet. I moved some under the rose bush, but there are several yet to move. Strawberry Hill?
Well, I'd better get a move on. Day's a wastin'!
When we came back from our Florida vacation it was so hot there was not much we could do outside. The peppers, though, kept on producing and are still producing. I have Sweet Banana Peppers and Cayennes coming from everywhere. I've given away quite a bit of it and still have tons more coming on the plants. I'm about to get peppered out.
Our cucumber plant just fizzled but we never got around to pulling it out and now we have one cucumber on it that we need to harvest today. After that we will be pulling it out for sure. Next year we'll find another place for the cucumbers.
We have a ton of bumblebees that are loving the yard. In the front planter we have some obedient plant and a salvia that a friend gave me that they just love. It's fun to watch them make their rounds from flower to flower in the front and then they head to the side planter and from there to the vege garden and then back to the obedient plant to start all over again. Huny and I get a kick out of watching the pollen sacks get bigger and bigger on their hind legs.
I've started a hummingbird and butterfly garden and as I sat in the shade for a bit of a rest, I listened to the leaves of the mulberry tree next door. There is a different sound to the rustle of the leaves at this time of year. It is almost like a lazy rustle with the leaves a little heavier than in the spring. Every now and then you'll hear the fall of a leaf as makes its way to the ground.
It is quite enjoyable to listen to the trees, watching the hummingbirds at the feeders and seeing the butterflies drinking from my garden. Yesterday, a black swallowtail found my parsley and laid some eggs. I rushed to find my camera, but she didn't come back. As soon as I see some babies, I'll take some pictures.
In the front yard by the street is another garden we built around all the city stuff that we all have in our yards. In it is a coral colored salvia and a fuchsia pink phlox. While I was watering the cucumber yesterday, I noticed a hummingbird feeding off of the salvia then he would sit on a bit of fencing I have there as support for the phlox. He did that several times before he flew off.
Well, now that I'm done with vacations and house stuff, it's time to get back to the garden. I'll be harvesting more of the peppers today. I'll be getting some compost for the hummingbird and butterfly garden and for the vege garden where I need to get some seeds in the ground.
OMG! The strawberries are taking over the world! I don't know what I'm going to do about that yet. I moved some under the rose bush, but there are several yet to move. Strawberry Hill?
Well, I'd better get a move on. Day's a wastin'!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
I really had the best of intentions...
But, the smell just made me do it!
A little while back, well a bit more than a while, but anyway, I bought Cinnamon Sopapilla Dessert from Homemade Gourmet. YUM.
I pulled it out today and reckoned I'd fix it for Huny. Oh my gosh. For you fellow don't know-how-to-cook-people this is the easiest thing to fix for a dessert. And it smells soooo gooood.
And that is why this has a BIG hole in the corner. I was going to wait for Huny to wake up and we could have a piece with coffee...but noooooo! Before you knew it I tore off the the covering and was munching away.
OMG it was sooo gooood.
A little while back, well a bit more than a while, but anyway, I bought Cinnamon Sopapilla Dessert from Homemade Gourmet. YUM.
I pulled it out today and reckoned I'd fix it for Huny. Oh my gosh. For you fellow don't know-how-to-cook-people this is the easiest thing to fix for a dessert. And it smells soooo gooood.
And that is why this has a BIG hole in the corner. I was going to wait for Huny to wake up and we could have a piece with coffee...but noooooo! Before you knew it I tore off the the covering and was munching away.
OMG it was sooo gooood.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Feisty Hummingbirds
A while back I got a hummingbird feeder from Freecycle and have enjoyed my little visitors ever since. I try to keep it filled with sugar water but occasionally I don't get to it until the water is gone. Yesterday was one of those times.
I was working at the computer and kept hearing a trilling sound. In the back of my mind I knew that it was the hummingbird but didn't pay much attention. The trill got louder and each time it got a bit more insistent.
Well, it was Mr. Hummingbird letting me know that his feeder was empty and he was not shy about letting me know about it and that He Was NOT Happy. Plus, it's his local pick up spot for a couple of female hummingbirds that hang around. Can't entice the ladies if there's no food for them.
So, I got up to look and noticed that the feeder was empty and while I was at the door he flew up to the feeder and noticing that it was still empty, turned to the door and trilled at me.
Okay, okay! Sheesh. I took the feeder down, filled it (have to make more sugar water today) and put it back up. I stopped getting trilled at, he got his drink and his ladies are visiting again. All is well.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
The Cantaloupe that took over the world!
Good Grief! I had an idea of how much it would grow but my goodness! It's taking over the world! We put it in the corner of the bed that had the onions (you remember how big those got don't you) and look what happened. It's overtaking the strawberry cage and slowly creeping into the cayenne peppers. 
Say Hi to Johnny. He's in there somewhere....
Like most of us in this part of Texas we're low on rain and the heat has been just terrible. When we got back from Florida I very rarely ventured outside and when I did it was hard to even breathe it was so hot. I really don't know how people in the really hot parts of the country do it. Our highest temp in Denton was 107. TOOOOOO hot. But that is over and we're in the stretch now to Fall and I can hardly wait. ***
Here are some pics of my flowers in the garden.
For my latest cooking adventures from the garden, I made some pico de gallo with my cayennes. I sliced them up and deseeded them. I sliced up some onions, lemon basil, (going to grow more of this next year), lemon juice, salt and pepper, and of course, tomatoes (I still have some coming on). I took a batch of this to a friend's bbq and they liked it. We had the last of the batch a few days ago here at home. Yum.
I made some Lemon Blueberry Muffins with some leftover blueberries, But I was not happy with the way they came out. I followed the recipie exactly and they were not exactly yuk, but not yum either. The batter looked too dry to me so I added a bit more of milk and it still could've used just a little bit more. Plus, they were not sweet enough - more sugar? I don't know. But they are okay toasted and with some butter. I had one just now. Will I make these again with the extra milk and sugar? I don't know. Very disappointed with how these came out.
Made some chicken salad with seedless red grapes. Huny like it and it is now on the menu. From the garden I added some sweet banana peppers (these are still going like crazy too).
Huny has had grill duty so I've not had to cook as often - yoohoo!
Say Hi to Johnny. He's in there somewhere....
Like most of us in this part of Texas we're low on rain and the heat has been just terrible. When we got back from Florida I very rarely ventured outside and when I did it was hard to even breathe it was so hot. I really don't know how people in the really hot parts of the country do it. Our highest temp in Denton was 107. TOOOOOO hot. But that is over and we're in the stretch now to Fall and I can hardly wait. ***
Here are some pics of my flowers in the garden.
For my latest cooking adventures from the garden, I made some pico de gallo with my cayennes. I sliced them up and deseeded them. I sliced up some onions, lemon basil, (going to grow more of this next year), lemon juice, salt and pepper, and of course, tomatoes (I still have some coming on). I took a batch of this to a friend's bbq and they liked it. We had the last of the batch a few days ago here at home. Yum.
I made some Lemon Blueberry Muffins with some leftover blueberries, But I was not happy with the way they came out. I followed the recipie exactly and they were not exactly yuk, but not yum either. The batter looked too dry to me so I added a bit more of milk and it still could've used just a little bit more. Plus, they were not sweet enough - more sugar? I don't know. But they are okay toasted and with some butter. I had one just now. Will I make these again with the extra milk and sugar? I don't know. Very disappointed with how these came out.
Made some chicken salad with seedless red grapes. Huny like it and it is now on the menu. From the garden I added some sweet banana peppers (these are still going like crazy too).
Huny has had grill duty so I've not had to cook as often - yoohoo!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Summer Vacation
We just got back from our summer vacation to Destin, FL. My FIL's 70th birthday is this year and to celebrate my MIL rented a house a couple of blocks from the beach. All of the kids came down with their families so we had a very full house. We spent our days at the beach and at the pool. And eating. So. Much. Food. I took all the veges that were ready to be harvested. We had onions, bell peppers, sweet banana peppers, chives, cayennes, jalapenos and tomatoes.
One morning BIL Greg fixed egg omelets. Huny made his world famous pork chops with a sauce made with dill, olive oil and dijon mustard. One night we had Mexican and cooked up some beef and chicken fajitas with all the fixin's, a pot of beans and some guacamole. Oh! And I fixed some cream-cheese stuffed jalapenos. (LOVE those things.)
My MIL made a macaroni salad that was wonderful. She is such a great cook. I tried fixing it at home on Saturday for our 4th of July dinner. It came out pretty good and was simple to make. The only thing I did different was use sweet banana peppers. Next time I will use both bell and sweet banana peppers. She didn't really have a recipe that she used, she just kind of threw it together.
Macaroni Salad
Small bag of macaroni, cooked.
Miracle Whip
Salt and Pepper
Chopped carrots
Chopped bell pepper
Chopped onion
Hard-Boiled eggs
Vinegar
As she said, mix it to taste and that is what I did. For the vinegar you don't need very much - maybe a teaspoon or just a bit more. Again, to taste.
We did local restaurant eating too of course! Excellent food!
I came home with a bit of a burn and tons of seashells from the seashore. I'm fixing up some jars with some sand (that I brought back with me) and some of the shells for souveniers for my friends and family. To save money I'm using some small canning jars that I found on the curb one day (someone was throwing away several boxes of these - jeesh).
One morning BIL Greg fixed egg omelets. Huny made his world famous pork chops with a sauce made with dill, olive oil and dijon mustard. One night we had Mexican and cooked up some beef and chicken fajitas with all the fixin's, a pot of beans and some guacamole. Oh! And I fixed some cream-cheese stuffed jalapenos. (LOVE those things.)
My MIL made a macaroni salad that was wonderful. She is such a great cook. I tried fixing it at home on Saturday for our 4th of July dinner. It came out pretty good and was simple to make. The only thing I did different was use sweet banana peppers. Next time I will use both bell and sweet banana peppers. She didn't really have a recipe that she used, she just kind of threw it together.
Macaroni Salad
Small bag of macaroni, cooked.
Miracle Whip
Salt and Pepper
Chopped carrots
Chopped bell pepper
Chopped onion
Hard-Boiled eggs
Vinegar
As she said, mix it to taste and that is what I did. For the vinegar you don't need very much - maybe a teaspoon or just a bit more. Again, to taste.
We did local restaurant eating too of course! Excellent food!
I came home with a bit of a burn and tons of seashells from the seashore. I'm fixing up some jars with some sand (that I brought back with me) and some of the shells for souveniers for my friends and family. To save money I'm using some small canning jars that I found on the curb one day (someone was throwing away several boxes of these - jeesh).
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Harvest Suppers
Some of you know that I am not a cook. I would much rather be outside digging in the dirt. But, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. And fixing supper for Huny is one of those things even though I did make a full disclosure before we got married that I DID NOT COOK. I'm still trying to figure out how I got the bum end of this deal.
So, now that I have this garden and have all these vegetables growing, I'm trying to figure out what to do with it all. Salad's are wonderful and yummy, but I've got to do something different with some of it. I pulled out my ton's of recipe books (funny thing to have for a girl that doesn't cook) and tried to make sense of it all. I ended up making a partial Chicken Cacciatore. Partial because at the time I didn't have any tomatoes ready to come off the vine.
Partial Chicken Cacciatore (cooked in a crock-pot)
1 medium onion, sliced
4 stalks of celery, sliced
5 leg and thigh chicken pieces
2 cloves minced garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon marjoram
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup white wine
Place sliced onions and celery in bottom of crock-pot. Add chicken pieces, minced garlic, salt, pepper, herbs and white wine. Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours.
I served this with fried chunky potatoes cooked with rosemary and some sliced sweet banana peppers.
The last couple of nights Huny has wanted omelets.
Huny's Omelet
2 eggs
salt and pepper to taste
dash of milk
chives, cut
1 sweet banana pepper, seeded and sliced
1/4 cup bell pepper, seeded and sliced
1/4 cup onion, sliced
grated cheese (I used Marble Jack)
Saute, peppers and onion. Remove from pan. Mix eggs, salt, pepper and milk and add chives to taste. Pour into hot pan and cook until it's almost cooked all the way through. Place peppers and part of the cheese on one half of eggs and fold over the other part of the eggs. Allow to cook and then flip to cook other side. Place the rest of the cheese and more chives on top. Cover and let cheese melt. Serve.
Yesterday I added some of the chicken from the Partial Chicken Cacciatore.
Except for the eggs, chicken, celery, garlic, salt and pepper, wine and cheese, everything came from the garden. So satisfying.
My harvest from last night:
Sadness! My zucchini growing so beautifully and looking so healthy died! I don't know what happened to it, so I gave it a proper burial in the trash bin. May it compost in peace.
A Walk in the Wilds of Denton...
Down the street is an empty field that has wild blackberries in it. One morning I decided to go pick some. I walked down the street with my harvesting bucket and with my head filled with visions of blackberry cobbler, blackberry jam, blackberry pie. 
After braving the thorns (ouch!) and fighting the birds for that one ripe berry, I came home with....
1/4 cup of berries.
Sigh.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Today's Harvest
I went for my morning walk and came home to see what was ready to pick for today's salad. Well, there are a few tomatoes, but they are not quite ready. I've eaten all the ripe cherry tomatoes, save one from today. Huny has given up on having some of those for the salad. I just can't help it! I love them!
Mom likes to tell a story of a time when I was a baby girl and got lost. They searched up and down for me and finally found me sitting in the middle of the tomato patch eating cherry tomatoes. Wish I could remember that. I'm sure it was pure heaven.
Our Sweet Banana Peppers are going crazy though! I picked one for the salad and the other two to slice and deseed and serve with some ranch dressing for an appetizer. There are still quite a few on the plants for tomorrow.
These are just two and one hiding in background, but there at least five more on these two plants.I still have lettuce going. I planted these from seed so that is whey they are still here but it is starting to get hot out so I don't know how much longer they'll be around.
I also got some chives and and a green top from the Walking Red Onion. It may not seem like much but this is good for Huny and me for our dinner tonight. I'll just add some feta cheese, olives, sunflower seeds and dressing and I suppose I ought to split that one little cherry tomato with him.
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