2/26/2011

Bright Beautiful Flowers



 A quick stop last weekend at Park Seed to see what they had out for sale.
These bright, beautiful flowers were such a wonderful sight.
Spring!!

2/25/2011

Surprise!

Surprise!!

So what do you think of the new design?!

I have to say I absolutely love it!!

Fresh, clean and fun. ")

I need to remove my old siggy from the older posts due to how it was written.

I worked with a wonderful designer that made it painless from start to finish. 

Seriously - she was wonderful!!

Check out Shay @ Dumplin Design Studio


2/15/2011

Wet Paint.....


I decided last night to start painting the trim in the boys' bathroom.
Went with the easy job first since there is not much trim in the room and would be dry by time kiddos went to bed.
One hour to paint the trim, not too bad!
Waited another two hours and warned them when they used their bathroom to be careful.
Paint was a bit tacky but they should be safe. *silly me*
I curled up in bed after the nice warning when I hear....
"Uh, Mom I sort of got paint on my shirt. Do you think you can you get it out? I have no idea how it got on there."
Inside I groan.
I swear - if there is any remotely semi wet paint Spencer will be wearing it.
He is like a magnet for the stuff.
Wonder if he can manage to get ceiling paint on himself today?
Kids....


2/14/2011

Happy Valentine's Day!


Happy Valentine's Day!


Wishing everyone a happy love filled day.

Nothing really planned here - DH and I are pretty low key when it comes to this day.

He will be treated to a new steak recipe for dinner. :)

Hope you have a wonderful day.


2/11/2011

Spinach Quesadillas Recipe....



Breakfast...

This is one meal I love!

On Monday I treated DH to something slightly different but really good!

I have been holding onto this recipe for a few years. *blush*

Quick, healthy, tasty and sure to become a fast breakfast favorite in any household.



* Exported from MasterCook *
Spinach Quesadillas

Recipe By :Pam Kaiser
Serving Size: 2
Categories: Breakfast

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 cups spinach leaf, whole -- fresh
2 large green onions -- chopped
1/2 small tomato -- chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder -- low fat
1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese -- shredded
1/4 cup ricotta cheese, part skim milk
2 small tortillas

In a large non stick skillet, cook the spinach and garlic powder over medium heat until spinach is wilted.



Remove from the heat: stir in cheeses.


Divide spinach mixture evenly among two tortillas and fold over.

Cook in a large skillet coated with cooking spray over low heat for 1-2 minutes on each side or until heated through.

Cut each quesadilla and enjoy!


Source:
"Taste of Home Healthy Cooking Magazine"
Copyright:
"June/July 2009"
Yield:
"2 "
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


NOTES:
  • The original recipe used another tortilla to top I simply folded over the one.
  • You can top the sour cream if you desire.

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Hope to see you there. :->

Head on over and join!

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2/10/2011

Hershey's Brownies Recipe...

Mmm... brownies!

This recipe makes a great brownie that will never disappoint you.

My grandmother shared this recipe with me and I have used it ever since.

Eight simple ingredients are all you need (I'm sure you have them in your kitchen) and you can have some delicious brownies tonight.

* Exported from MasterCook *

Hershey's Brownies

Recipe By: Hershey's Chocolate
Serving Size: 36 Preparation Time :0:10
Categories: Desserts

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 cup butter -- 2 sticks
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 large eggs
3/4 cup Hershey's® cocoa
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped nuts -- optional

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Grease a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan.
  • Place butter in a large microwave safe bowl.
  • Microwave at medium (50%) 2 to 2 1/2 minutes or until melted.
  • Stir in sugar and vanilla.
  • Add eggs, one at a time, beating well with spoon after each addition.
  • Add cocoa, beat until well blended.
  • Add flour, baking powder and salt, beat well.
  • Stir in nuts, if desired.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan.
  • Bake 30 - 35 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan.
  • Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
  • Cut into bars.
  • About 36 brownies.

Source:
"Hershey's"
Yield:
"36 "
Start to Finish Time:
"0:22"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 141 Calories; 8g Fat (50.5% calories from fat); 2g Protein; 16g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 37mg Cholesterol; 83mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 1 1/2 Fat; 1 Other Carbohydrates.

NOTES:
  • You can frost the brownies if desired.

2/07/2011

Sausage Tortellini Crockpot Recipe..


Simple, filling and tasty.
This is becoming a really fast favorite with the boys.
I used my Nesco Roaster to create this meal since it was down already from me
cooking up a big batch of pea soup.



This recipe makes a lot, so it is great to freeze some for a later or take for lunches during the week.
You can team it with a nice tossed salad and perhaps a slice of bread.
We tend just to eat it all alone. :)

Enjoy!



* Exported from MasterCook *

Sausage Cheese Tortellini



Categories: Main Meal -Crockpot

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/2 pound ground beef, extra lean
1/2 pound Italian sausage -- ground or take out of skin and cut up as you cook
14 ounces diced tomato -- undrained
26 ounces spaghetti sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
9 ounces tortellini, cheese-filled -- fresh or dried
1 cup Parmesan cheese -- fresh - grated
garlic & onion powder to taste

  • Brown the ground beef and Italian sausage together in a sauce pan. Season with garlic, onion powder and black pepper to taste.
  • Drain the meats and place into crockpot
  • Add in the diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and spaghetti sauce over the meat.
  • Cook on low heat for 5-6 hours so that the flavors mix together.
  • Then cook the tortellini according to the package.
  • Add the cooked tortellini to the sauce, stir and heat up for 20 minutes.
  • Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over top.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

NOTES:
  • If you use dried tortellini cook according to directions, drain and add into the meat sauce.


John Deere Make Over...

Symbol restored to original state - snazzy

One of the many hobbies my dad has is tinkering/restoring John Deere Tractors.

There is no other tractor but a John Deere to my dad. He spent weekends on his grandparent's farm growing up and yup, they only had a Deere.


He will not look at any other tractor/lawn mower/snow blower and we razz him all the time.
We were up in visiting in October when he unveiled the completed tractor.


A peek inside his 3 stall work shop - one area is all old tractors waiting to be worked on.


Putting a little touch up paint on before a big fall tractor ride. When he put the hood on (which did not want to go back on) a few tiny scratches occurred. :-(
Nate was there with a paint brush ready to assist and make it all better.


There she is in all her restored glory.
The pipe is not proper - I asked my dad why.
His reply, " I like the shiny one better, guess it's a bit of my teenager in me still. I have the correct one but this one looks better."
I had to simply smile.



From behind






My dad wanted the boys to drive it.
You can see here the hood was not on the tractor yet - that was done later that night.
Spencer was not thrilled with me snapping his picture but it was one for the memory book.


Nate loved driving the tractor.
Can you tell from the picture?

My dad ever so carefully parked the tractor after the long tractor ride.
I have to admit it was a tissue moment.
After many years of hard work (something like 5 yrs) and determination
he was able to see him dream completed.
It is restored to original condition, complete with the proper paint, stickers, tires and parts.

Nothing runs like a Deere.



Shrimp Boat...

Every morning we would watch this shrimp boat go out.
I was able snap a few pictures one morning where there were quite close to the beach.


It was quite interesting to watch the boat as they were getting their daily catch.


I successfully boiled the shrimp we picked up locally for a fish & shrimp dinner.
The boys and I loved the shrimp they were so good.
Nothing quite like shrimp fresh off the boat.
An excellent way to end our trip.


2/06/2011

Sour Cream Coffee Cake


I am always one on the look out to try a new recipe for a coffee cake.
I adore coffee cakes.
I wanted something nutty and sweet on night a few weeks back and this fit the bill.
With this cake I kept half out and cut the remaining up into smaller squares to freeze and pull from in the future.
The cake was moist and very tasty.
Then again the recipe is from a diner so how can you go wrong?
Diner food rocks!


* Exported from MasterCook *

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Recipe By: Elizabeth McKeon & Linda Evertt
Serving Size : 6
Categories: Breakfast

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup walnut -- chopped
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • In a mixing bowl cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
  • In a separate bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  • Add to the butter mixture alternately with the sour cream.
  • Mix together the walnuts, brown sugar and cinnamon.
  • Spoon half the batter into a 9 inch square pan.
  • Sprinkle the top with half the walnut filling.
  • Spoon the remaining batter over the filling.
  • Sprinkle the remaining filling over the top.
  • Bake @ 350 for 45 minutes.

Source:
"Blue Plate Special The American Diner Cookbook"
Copyright:
"1996"
Yield:
"6 "
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


NOTES: Mmmm...so good


Southerners' Enjoyment of Snow..


One of my Plurk buddies posted this and I simply had to share.

(click on it to open it up larger)

Yes, this sums it up properly.

2/05/2011

Bourbon Chocolate Cookies...

I discovered these tasty little gems this summer when DH and I went into
our local Japanese store.
The boys were away and Nate wanted us to check it out for him.
(He is into all things Japanese & learning the language.)
So...
I saw them on the shelf and simply could not pass them up.
They are so good.
A cross between an animal cracker and a fudge filling.
The chocolate is not overly sweet, rich and cream. *drool*
Needless to say they did not last the whole week.
They come wrapped two per package which actually is enough to curb your sweet tooth.
If you have a Japanese store near go and grab yourself a package.
You might be able to find them in an Asian store too.


Really, you will enjoy them!

Harbor Island, SC Fun...


Various sights I wanted to share from our trip in November to Harbor Island, SC.


Palmetto tree that greeted us outside out front door.


In the drive there were these beautiful colored sea glass "pebbles" that just made me smile.


Egrets were all around and could be found on the inlets by the homes.



A wood duck greeted us one morning, it was a lovely surprise. I had never seen one before and was thrilled to see one.


We were told that we might see an alligator - yeah, that was not what I wanted to hear.
This was one of the many signs that were posted by the inlets.
Er..ok it was odd at first but then we became adjusted to it.



This larger one was over by the pool/club house.
No, we did not see one and in the end we were a tiny bit disappointed.



Our mode of transportation to get to & from the beach it was about a 10 minute ride. :)



Our cute little beach house - love the door.

The view from the back of the house. There were fish always jumping it was pretty wild.

This was our holiday meal! Perfect in every way.

Loved these bikes that were parked by an entrance to the beach.


This fuzzy little crab scuttled out at us when we passed by his/her hole.

I will admit that it was pretty creepy.

Poor Teddy Boy - he seemed to be the king of sand burrs. He wanted to go and explore but was
rendered with at least a dozen every single time. I do believe that he was the one by the end who really wanted to go home. Poor fellow.


A lovely entrance to a beach area and reminded me a magical entrance.

Just a little view of our wonderful, relaxing vacation.

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