A Beautiful Thing: Pets

Pets are a beautiful thing. Some people will disagree with me because they can be kind of a pain!!! And they can be work. But the reason I think they are a beautiful thing is they add such

Joy


Protective



Pleasure


Companionship


Comedy


Weirdness


Devotion


Pretty



Part of the family



My first Old English Sheepdog used to bark at my husband if I cried. He loved me so much that if I left town, he would not eat until I came back. I never cried as hard as when I had to let him go.

I love my pets. I would do just about anything for them and they have given me such love and affection. I would not be me without my dogs. And funny thing is that everyone who knows me, knows how I am about my dogs.

P.S. It looks like we may have a new addition to our family... but we will keep our fingers crossed.

Cooking: Savory Palmiers and Testing Recipes for Company

I have wanted to make Ina Garten's Savory Palmiers for an appetizer for several years. However, I never make new recipes for company but always test them first. For the bridal shower, we are having, I decided to test these palmiers and walk you through the fail safe process I use to test recipes.

Lightly flour a board and carefully unfold one sheet of defrosted puff pastry. Roll the pastry lightly with a rolling pin until it's 9 1/2 by 11 1/2-inches.

Spread the sheet of puff pastry with 1/4 c. pesto, then sprinkle with 1/4 c. goat cheese, 1/8 c. sundried tomatoes, and 1/4 c. pine nuts. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Working from the short ends, fold each end halfway to the center. I worked from the long end... I should have read the recipe better.

Then fold each side again towards the center until the folded edges almost touch. Fold one side over the other and press lightly. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat the entire instructions for the second sheet of puff pastry using the remaining ingredients. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut the prepared rolls of puff pastry in 1/4 inch thick slices

Place them face up 2 inches apart on baking sheets, can be lined with parchment paper.

Bake for 14 minutes, until golden brown. Serve warm.

They are delicious and exactly what I would like to serve. So they pass the first test. Next, I am going to run three tests:

1. I would like to make the night before and chill over night, without baking.
2. Bake and put in foil. Reheat and see how they hold up.
   
3. Freeze in foil and reheat and see how they hold up.
   

The three scenarios will allow me to make these appetizers ahead of time. The day of a party is not a day that I like to be cooking very much. I will let you know how my tests turned out.


Ina Garten's Savory Palmiers

Ingredients

nocoupons

• 1 package frozen Pepperidge Farm puff pastry, defrosted
• 1/4 cup prepared pesto, store bought or homemade (recipe follows)
• 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese, such as Montrachet
• 1/4 cup finely chopped sundried tomatoes in oil, drained
• 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
• Kosher salt

Crafting: Laryssa Herbert Prints

I know that most of you know Laryssa Herbert but I had the honor of meeting her at Blissdom and after my kitchen remodel, knew her egg prints would be perfect.

Her prints are so beautiful! I loved them so much that I looked and looked for just the perfect frame.

Finally, I decided to purchase a floating frame. The floating frame would only highlight the beautiful prints and not detract from them. However, the only ones I could find were black. Well, that wouldn't do, so I primed

Painted the frames.

Carefully, cleaned all the glass and installed the prints.

Next, I laid them out on a paper template to ensure they were exactly the same distance apart.

Carefully laid out all the prints and drew around each of them with a black pen.

Next marked the picture frame holder in the middle of the top.

Taped the template to the wall and marked all the holes on the wall.

Look how beautiful they are in my new kitchen and how perfectly spaced they are on the wall.

Mother’s day is coming… one of her prints would make a beautiful gift to your mother or a dear friend. Check out her work here.

Cooking: Menu Week Ending May 2nd

This week, I am planting the rest of the annuals for the summer, making casseroles for my hospital stay and testing recipes. In addition, I am making items for the bridal shower.

So the menu this week needs to include dishes that will easily double and freeze.

Monday: Stuffed Shells, Caesar Salad and Garlic breadsticks

Tuesday: Seafood Salad

Source

Seafood Salad

• 1 pound shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons lime juice

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Toss shrimp with olive oil, salt and pepper then bake in the oven for 4-6 minutes (depending on shrimp size) or until light pink and the edges are slightly curled.

Remove the shrimp from the oven and immediately toss with lime juice, set aside to cool.

Shrimp Salad Dip/Dressing

• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon lime zest
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon chopped tarragon leaves
• 2 teaspoons chopped mint leaves
• 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
• pinch salt

Combine all ingredients and blend.

Wednesday: Ham and Mushroom Frittata

Thursday: BLT's with Avocado, chips and fruit

Friday: Out with family to celebrate daughter's home purchase

Saturday: Super Steak Nachos with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, black beans, corn, avocodo, salsa and sour cream

Sunday: Roasted Chicken with extra for burritos to freeze, Rosemary New Potatoes and Creamed Spinach

Creamed Spinach

• 3 tbsp. butter
• 4 tbsp. flour
• 1 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 c. whole milk
• 1/2 c. sour cream - can be low-fat
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 2 tbsp. onion, minced
• 1/4 c. water
• 20 oz. frozen spinach, chopped
• 1/4 c. Parmesan cheese

Melt 3 Tbsp. butter in a small saucepan on Med-Low heat. Stir in flour and salt until creamed together. Stir in milk a little at a time. Increase the heat to Medium. Constantly stir with a whisk until mixture is thick and smooth.

Remove from heat and set aside.

Melt 2 Tbsp. butter in a 2 quart saucepan over Medium heat, add onions and cook until transparent. Add spinach and water to pan, lower the heat and cover. Stir several times until spinach is almost completely cooked.

When spinach is almost done, add white sauce, sour cream and Parmesan cheese. Stir well and simmer until completely blended.

What do you wear all day?

Several big bloggers are discussing what they wear all day... Well, I though I would join the discussion. On most days, as you know, I am either painting, cleaning, baking or gardening. So I have a type of uniform if I don't leave the house.. I wear overalls.


Nothing as cute as her overalls... I don't look as cute as she does either, but overalls let me work without worrying about getting paint on me or fondant. I even have two pair of pink overalls... covered, and I mean, covered in paint.

When I run errands, meet friends for lunch or step out of my house ... to meet the public. I wear cute clothes... I dress nice but for around the house and working in the yard... Overalls it is. I just ordered three new pairs for this summer.

What do you wear around the house?

A Beautiful Thing: Music

I cannot tell you how much I love to put on my headphones and play music. It makes me clean, or garden, or weed, or organize, or cook. Something about the act of listening to music energizes me and makes the world wash away.

The music I listen to also allows me to feel smart.. like listening to classical. Or young… like listening to the Go Go’s or be in love.. like listening to Michael Buble or Frank. Buble is nice to look at too...

If I want to get off my booty and work like a fiend… I listen to ABBA, Genesis or the Police. If I want to cry… I listen to Todd Rundgren.

Music transports me through time and moods.

Music creates an environment. When I have company, I try to fill the house with beautiful music. I think it makes my home look better.

What music do you listen to and why?

Gardening: Cleaning Gardening Tools

My garden tools are sometimes neglected… but let me explain. When I am working in the yard, I work until I am pooped. Too pooped to clean my garden tools. I know, it is terrible. I should be ashamed but hey, I have a solution. Once a week, I give my tools some tender loving care.

First, I wash and scrub all the tools that I have used in the week.

I use a wire brush to remove all stubborn mud and dirt.

Next, I use some steel wool and rub on any rusted areas.

I also sharpen with a file any tools I use for pruning, clipping and cutting.

But this little guy is really rusted and awful...

And finally, I take some WD-40 and spray on the tools, giving them a quick wipe down. The oil prevents any new rust from forming and allows the tools to be protected when I am neglecting them. Look how much better he looks!!

My tools are my best friends all summer long. I need to make sure they are well taken care of, even if I am too lazy at the time.

Confession: My House is a Wreck

This picture sums up my life. I tried to mow around the newspaper, rather than get off the mower and pick up the paper!!!

With getting ready for the kids condo, the bridal shower, my next knee surgery and cleaning the yard for spring, I am cutting corners and creating a mess!!! And my new knee hurts like heck!

The positive news is that you all understand and love me as I am!!!

P.S. The punishment for my son to clean up this mess was me posting this picture on my blog!!! Hopefully I have fulfilled my end of the bargain!

Cooking: Menu Week Ending April 25th

I am still working in the garden. Also, I bought a fabulous piece of furniture so I need to finish painting and caulking that piece, to show it too you. The bridal shower is fast approaching and I hope to finish all the things I am making for the bride this week.

Spring brings lots of weeds so every free minute will be weeding…. and weeding… and weeding.

Monday: Chicken and Spinach Quesadillas

Source

• Canola Oil
• 2 c. baby spinach
• 2 c. leftover chicken
• 8 flour tortillas
• 2 c. Monterrey Jack
• ½ c. Sour cream
• ½ c. Fresh Salsa

Sauté spinach and leftover chicken for about 1 minute until spinach is wilted. Sprinkle bottom half of tortilla with cheese and some spinach, chicken mixture. Fold in half and working in batches, cook the tortillas in a medium heat sauté pan treated with some oil. One to three minutes per side, until cheese is melted. Serve with sour cream and salsa.

Tuesday: Sausage, Peppers and Rice

Wednesday: Pancakes and Fruit

Thursday: Turkey and Ham Bagel Melt

Friday: Steaks with Herb Butter, Potato Wedges with Cesar Salad

After the steak has been cooked top with a small portion of herb butter!!!

Herb Butter

• 3 T. butter at room temperature
• 2 T. Fresh chives
• 1 T. Rosemary

Saturday: Spring Risotto

Sunday: Spinach, Pear and Walnut Salad

Source

• 6 c. of Spinach leaves
• 4 Bosc Pears, peeled, halved and cored. Then cut the pears into thing slices
• Blue Cheese, 2 oz. I also use Gorgonzola
• ¾ c. of Walnut, toasted.

Dressing:

• ¼ c. Sour Cream
• 2 T. Mayonnaise
• 2 T. Walnut Oil
• 2 t. Red Wine Vinegar
• 1 t. Worcestershire Sauce
• Hot pepper sauce to taste
• Black Pepper to taste

My daughter received her honors from the Wizard

My daughter is a very smart, young lady. The reason I am telling you this is because she would never be so bold to:

1. Brag about her accomplishments
2. Think she is smart
3. Draw attention to herself.

Despite graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science with a Mathematics degree and graduating #1 in her Air Traffic Control school in the Navy, she does not think she is very smart. She is now in Engineering school at the University of Tennessee and has a 3.97 GPA.
So when Phi Kappa Phi contacted her and wanted to initiate her in the honor society for her academic accomplishments, she hesitated… but as a proud ( pushy) mother, I encouraged her to accept their invitation and attend their banquet.


Well both of us attended the banquet and it was lovely, wonderful dinner companions, smart students and lovely food. The former Ambassador of Poland and former mayor of Knoxville was the honored speaker.


Which brings me the Wizard. Like the Scare Crow…. my daughter does not think she is smart. However, the Scare Crow upon receiving his honorary degree, he could state the Pythagorean theory and is deemed intelligent.


On Thursday night, the Wizard, okay maybe her Physics professor, decreed to my daughter the medallion, a certificate and a charm of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor society.





She should now be able to look at the medal and know that she is intelligent but also…. she should be able to state the Pythagorean theory.. Although I am pretty sure should could state that before the honors.




She now has the light of learning.... according to the honor society... I think she should carry that around the campus!!

A Beautiful Thing: Office files

I have a serious confession. I am addicted to office supplies…. And I need a 12 step program to recover.

Look how pretty these files are.

Well, one of my must haves in the office is pretty files to store my ugly paperwork.

I love these files.

They make me smile when I use them.

I feel professional when I take them to the florist, hardware store, fabric store, etc. to match paint colors, flowers, upholstery, or my latest sewing project.

My files keep up with all my paper work, blog ideas, decorating ideas, new recipes, magazine articles, places we want to visit, etc.

If you want to keep your paperwork organized; pretty files can do the trick.

Decorating: Where to start?

My daughter has purchased her first home. A pretty two bedroom condo. She loves it and hopefully, the Newfoundland will love it too. However, she does not close until the end of this month and we have some fun projects to do before my next knee surgery so this month has been spent planning where to start.
I am an Economist not a decorator so this post is strictly my opinion of how I decorate my home and have done it this way for 26 years.
1. First I find a great piece of fabric. Something that every time you look at it, you smile. A fabric so pretty and so inspiring that you could build a home around it.

How do you find that fabric? Search every fabric store in your town.
Here is her inspirational fabric for her bedroom. Isn’t it fantastic…. feminine and bold all at the same time.




2. We loved the purple in the inspiration fabric so we went on a search for purple fabrics…. not an easy task. But we can't decorate the whole room in this fabric so we will support the initial fabric, through color, texture or design.




This purple geometric design matches the inspiration fabric perfectly and offers modern twist in the room.





Next we look for a solid... always a good fabric to have for lots of different pieces... like duvet covers or big pillows.





And then we found this sweet green geometric for additional dimension.






Finally, we found some dark purples. They will be used sparingly as they can overwhelm the original inspiration fabric but these purples add strong anchors to a light palette of colors.

3. Next, what will the walls look like? Paint or wallpaper.
Well, as luck would have it…. two months ago when I was searching for kitchen paint, we came across this little Behr booklet and this picture!!! She so loved it, that I ripped it out of their little pamphlet.
When she picked the fabric, I just so happened to have that picture in my purse. How perfect is the paint pallet for this fabric.






Here is a better picture of the bathroom. We are considering adding the molding to the bedroom.




Behr colors: Sliced Cucumber with trim of pillar white. French lilac and Contessa both purples, one lighter and one darker.

4. By now, you know the direction or style you are heading in…. classic, modern, traditional, French country, etc. We are looking a very sweet elegant French country. Next, we are looking for a pretty chandelier for the room.



Like this one from Home Depot for $89.
Once you find the fabrics, paint or wallpaper, and the direction your heading, the decorating is very easy. Like painting by numbers, we look at the existing bedding, pillows, furniture and decide what gets re-upholstered, re-painted, new pillow shams, new covering and what color to paint what. We will inventory every thing she is moving and make a to-do list.
Next, I will have to start sewing… but don’t worry, I will bring you along for the adventure.