Tuesday, August 30, 2011

TNT Tuesday

We had an international potluck at church on Sunday.  I fixed three of our old favorites.

Brown Butter Rice-  I use basmati rather than brown rice just because folks around my house like that better.  And the peas are not a deal breaker.  They mostly just make it prettier.

Chana Masala-  I used this recipe, but I made it in the crockpot.  Tastes good on brown butter rice!

KLUSKI I KAPUSTA- We like sour cream better than cottage cheese with this, but it’s great without either one!

 

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Wednesday Link Love

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The Commission Project- What a great idea.  I’ll let you guess what picture I would have done.  I wonder what it would be?  Something with my front door and my beloved Odie would be nice….What picture would you send?

I have somehow managed to reach adult life without ever having made a shrinky dink……but this makes me have a serious desire to give it a try!

Oh so sweet!  Now I want to read the book!

More glow in the dark ideas….this time with glow in the dark paint!

Some really fun ideas here (If you have access to pallets!)

Isn’t this a great idea?  (Especially if you are patient and know how to sew.)

Ohhhhh I so seriously want to get some of this!  I loved sun prints when I was a child and have remained fascinated, and this kicks it up a notch!

Now, see if this doesn’t make you smile!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

TNT Tuesday

I got okra in my box last week, and am determined to use everything I get in my box each week so I set out to find a good okra recipe.  I found this one at Cooking Books, and it was a winner!  We were excited to see okra again this week.  I should try something new, but this was just so good…..(We didn’t use the lime wedges)

And no week is complete without something from Mommy’s Kitchen.  This cherry bread is a keeper for sure!  So pretty and delicious and looks like it took a lot more work than it did!

   This simple tomato pie is a summertime staple around here. 

This smoky chickpea dip (I think of it more as a spread) was sure to be a winner around here- garlic, chickpeas, and smoky paprika?!  Three of our favs.

The first time I cooked flat iron steak, I cooked it into shoe leather.   This time, I did it this way and it was so so so good!  I marinated it overnight in olive oil, Dale’s, and a little soy sauce.  It was really good!

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Sleeping with the moon

A week ago today a crazy storm blew through town and in a matter of minutes had wiped out the power in a large portion of town.  I am not known to be very flexible when some of my comforts are taken away but in the 18 hours that our power was out, I managed to hold it together.  Many of my friends did not regain theirs until days later. I would not have been smiling.

What helped me a lot was that it was not hot out.  The streets (and sidewalks) were virtually empty, so it was quiet enough and cool enough to throw open the windows. Many of us still sat out on our porches until late, talking back and forth in the dark.  What really made it lovely was a huge bright full moon. 

In an urban neighborhood, there’s really not much true darkness or true quiet, but for one night our street was hushed with no air conditioners running, no stereos beating rhythms, no tv’s or radios playing at all.  All that quiet and that big full moon made the night almost magical.  As I was falling asleep, I remembered the picture (above) that I had seen once and I thought to myself that indeed I did feel like I was sleeping with the moon right beside me. 

I was sitting on my porch the next afternoon when the lights came back on- security alarms went off and a/c units ground into gear and life as usual came back.  I checked that night, and that big full moon was still there- but with lots of competition from all of the lights of the city.  I can’t say I was disappointed to get my power back - there was laundry to be done and email to check……..but I will long remember that bright moon on that quiet night.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Wednesday Link Love


Oh my! A tiny house WITH wall beds! I love it!


I wish I had read this years ago!!!


I love this house. Truly. But does everyone see the elephant in the room? I mean, let’s talk about the yellow pepper……


I am intrigued by these meals…..


I think one of these would be cool. Or five or six of them!


More fun with glow sticks!


OH what a great idea!!!


Yep, I miss making kids lunches. I always enjoyed making their lunches.


I see this project in my future.


My heart has been warmed as the food blogging community has come together to honor the wishes of one of their own. Lots and lots of peanut butter pies this weekend. Great video from two of the best. Be sure to read Jennifer’s blog post too.


Nice idea for an abandoned building!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

TNT’s from the weekend

I don’t think I have ever had a bad recipe from Gina’s Skinnytaste.  This roasted corn, tomato, avocado salad was really really tasty!

Dutch Babies have always been a big staple around here with the kids, but youngest daughter declared this angel food french toast from Sprinkle Bakes to be just as good, and it’s a whole lot easier and quicker to make. 

DD had made a big pan of these Monster Cookie Bars on Saturday to take to the coffee house that night- and then the power went out (for 18 hours at our house, lots longer for others)  and we ended up with the whole pan of them to share with friends since the coffee house was closed.

Olive Salsa.  Oh. So. Good.  (If you like olives!)

fried egg with zucchini

Fried Egg and Zucchini.  Mine wasn’t  as pretty as this but boy was it good.  Just trying find some ways to switch it up with zucchini at this point of the summer.  Somewhere I had seen it but couldn’t find the original post.  So, I just  sautéed the zukes and some onion and garlic.  I did a whole skillet full, then made three little wells and cracked my egg into those.  The whites spread out into the zucchini and the yellow was perfectly over easy and both DH and DD said they hoped we got more zucchini this week!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Wednesday Link Love

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While I am not sure if I could sleep there, and am positive I couldn’t use that bathtub, I do think taking a nap here at MaryJanes Farm looks divine!

I love swing/hanging beds and a great tutorial can be found here should you want to make your own. The thing is, I live on a busy urban street…….But if I lived at Fire Lake Camp, I’d be spending some serious time here!

I’m undecided about joining pinterest, but there sure are a zillion great things to look at!  Loved these ideas!

Love this!  It reminded me that my mother made my case for my first Barbie out of a little old red cardboard suitcase which she made perfect by adding a trip and Barbie spelled out in plaid rickrack.

This time of year I am instinctively drawn to lunch-packing goodies.  Isn’t this a fun idea?

I’ve been enjoying these two sites- They Draw and Travel and They Draw and Cook. I see that you can order prints!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

TNT’s

These are some of the recipes we’ve tried around here of late.  Some of them have already been made more than once.

sliced heirloom tomatoes with marinated fresh mozzarella balls and basil Stock Photo - 5976849

Peach and Heirloom Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese from White on Rice Couple.

Cheesy Salsa Mini Meatloaves from Real Mom Kitchen.

Cornbread baked in Bell Peppers from Rhonda on Tasty Kitchen.

SUMMER CUCUMBER SALAD
Cucumbers are the flavor of the week for Summer Fest (a celebration of seasonal summer ingredients on the Food Network Blog: FN Dish) and I couldn’t be more excited!
Being Greek and all, I believe I am genetically pre-programmed to have a soft spot for cucumbers.  I’m sure most will have expected a tzatziki recipe, but instead I went with one of my favorite things to make and bring into work for lunch during the summer.  It’s a take on a salad that Gina at skinnytaste.com has made in the past and it will NOT disappoint.  I love how the juices from the tomatoes mix with lime juice to create a guilt-free dressing.  When you’re in the mood for something cool as a cucumber (pun intended), refreshing, crunchy yet buttery and ultimately satisfying - this is the salad for you!   
INGREDIENTS:2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and chopped1 lb. grape tomatoes, halved1 avocado, chopped½ red onion, minced1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained2 limes, juicedsalt and pepper
DIRECTIONS:Put the chopped cucumbers

tomatoes

onion and black beans

and avocado in a bowl.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then douse in the lime juice.  Stir to combine and taste to see if you need to adjust the seasoning. 

Serve immediately or chilled and enjoy!

Check out these links to other great cucumber recipes by other bloggers participating in the FN Dish’s Summer Fest this week:
FN Dish: Summer Fest: Cucumber Recipes
Pinch My Salt: Chilled Cucumber, Kefir and Avocado SoupWhat’s Gaby Cooking: Cucumber-Basil GimletIn Jennie’s Kitchen: Radish-Cucumber CrostiniBig Girl Small Kitchen: Spicy Cucumber Salad with Shallot, Ginger and MintAnd Love It Too: Cucumber, Mint and Watermelon SaladNapa Farmhouse 1885: Cucumbers Coolers with Agave Simple SyrupCooking With My Kid: Cucumber LimeadeCIA Dropout: Relishing CucumbersHealthy Eats: Cool Cucumber SoupFood for 7 Stages of Life: Cucumber Cherry SalsaCooking With Elise: Green Tea Cucumber PopsGlory Foods: Cucumber and Shrimp BoatVirtually Vegan Mama: Fire-Roasted Tomato and Cucumber GazpachoFood2: When Life Gives You Cucumbers, Make a Cucumber CocktailCooking Channel: Cucumbers Stuffed with Crab-Mango SaladRecipe Girl: Bread and Butter PicklesTaste With the Eyes: Spicy Pickled Cucumbers with Wakame and Garlic BlossomsVirtually Homemade: Cold Thai Cucumber-Mint SoupAdd a Pinch: Cucumber Tea SandwichesThe Cultural Dish: Ahi Tuna with Cucumber Sauce and SaladDaily*Dishin: Cool n’ Zesty Cukes: 7 Minute Summer in a JarDaydreamer Desserts: Cubanita MargaritaPurple Cook: Cucumber Gazpacho with Indian Flavored Shrimp RelishIndian Simmer: Cucumber at its Best with Chaat MasalaBig Apple Nosh: Quick and Easy Homemade PicklesSweet Life Bake: Agua de PepinoThe Sensitive Epicure: Tzatziki with Grilled Gluten-Free Pitas and Fresh Cucumbers and PeppersZaika Zabardast: Cucumber GazpachoA Way to Garden: Cucumber-Growing Q&A and the Best PicklesCooking with Books: Summer Fest: Cucumbers 

Summer Cucumber Salad from Culinary Exploration

Sesame Encrusted Baked Chicken Tenders from Gina at Skinnytaste.

Italian Heirloom Wax Beans with Mint

Roasted Wax Beans with Mint from Market Matters.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Wednesday Link Love

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Rachel is so creative!  The possibilities are endless now that she has planted the idea in my head!  Love this Welcome!

This pretty garland has shown up on a couple of blogs I frequent and you can sure see why.  Isn’t it nice?!

I am definitely trying some of these this weekend- maybe blue or maybe cranberry…..or both!

Great steps to come home to!

Ir you have forgotten how to be happy, Jen has some ideas to help=here and here.

DH is generally the pancake maker around here, but I’d like to try my hand at these.

Placemats for those who do not sew….like me.

Don’t these sound divine? 

I’m pretty sure I am way too old for these…..and can only imagine the looks on the faces of my friends at the office if I came in with these……but maybe for Easter at Jeff Street?  They are so dang cool.

Kiddos schmidos……I want a nook like this just for me!

My friend Amy showed me these cool lego crayons.  Look easy enough.