Sunday, June 18, 2017

Week 78, 6-18-2017

Thoughts and Quotes: The greatest gift I ever had came from God; I call him Dad!
                                                                                        Author Unknown


HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL DADS

Time to Reflect: Watch this and you'll be proud to be an American. Remember the patriotism we felt right after 9-11? Click HERE. Thank you, Jeanne, for sharing this.

Tasting: Thursday was Cooking Club day at Mim's. 

THE TABLE



THE MENU

Spinach and Feta Quiche

Black Bean Salad

Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad

Apple-Raisin Cole Slaw

Crescent Rolls

Lemon-Blueberry Cake

Iced Tea
                                                                     
THE FOOD




THE RECIPES


SPINACH-FETA QUICHE with SWEET POTATO CRUST
(Cooking Light)

Cooking spray
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/8” slices
1 tsp Canola oil
1/2 cup sliced onion
1 (5 oz) bag fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup 1% milk
1/4 tsp each kosher salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper
4 eggs
2 egg whites
1/3 cup feta cheese

Heat oven to 350°. Coat a 9” pie plate or quiche pan with cooking spray.

Overlap sweet potato slices in circles on bottom. Line sides with half-slices. Spray with oil

Bake 20 minutes. Place pan on a wire rack and increase oven temperature to 375°.

Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add oil and onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add spinach and sauté 3 minutes more. Remove from heat and cool.

Whisk together milk, seasonings, eggs, and egg whites in a medium bowl.

Arrange spinach and onions in crust. Pour egg mixture over and sprinkle with feta.


Bake 35 minutes or until set. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.



BLACK BEAN SALAD


1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups frozen corn kernels
1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1/3 red onion, chopped
Pinch of ground cumin
Juice of 1 lime
2 Tbs salad or olive oil
3 Tbs honey
1 Tbs chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper


Mix all ingredients in a large serving bowl. Let stand at least 15 minutes for the corn to fully defrost and the flavors to combine.





BROCCOLI-CAULIFLOWER SALAD

2-1/2 cups bite-sized pieces of broccoli florets
2-1/2 cups bite-sized pieces cauliflower florets
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup raisins

Dressing:

1/4 cup sugar
1 cup mayonnaise
1 Tbs red wine vinegar

Mix broccoli and cauliflower together in a large mixing bowl.

Mix dressing and pour over.

Cover and refrigerate.

Just before serving, add cheese, bacon, seeds, and raisins. Mix well and put in serving bowl.


APPLE-RAISIN COLE SLAW

1/2 cup golden raisins
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
2 Tbs red wine vinegar
1/2 head purple or Savoy cabbage, shredded
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and shredded
1/3 cup peanuts
Salt and pepper

In a large bowl, stir together the raisins, mayonnaise, sour cream and vinegar.

Add the cabbage and apples and toss to combine.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.



LEMON-BLUEBERRY CAKE

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1-1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
4 eggs, at room temperature
1 Tbs vanilla
3 cups sifted flour
1 Tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
Zest and juice of 3 medium lemons
1-1/2 cups fresh or frozen (unthawed) blueberries
1 Tbs flour

Heat oven to 350°.

Grease three 9” round cake pans with nonstick spray and flour lightly.

Beat butter on high until creamy, about 1 minute in a large mixing bowl.

Add sugar and brown sugar and beat on medium until well combined, 2-3 minutes.

Add eggs and vanilla and beat until well mixed and creamy; 2 minutes.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt. Fold into butter-egg mixture; beat on low only 5 seconds.

Add buttermilk, lemon zest and juice. Mix in with a spoon very gently.

Toss blueberries with the 1 Tbs flour and fold in. Batter will be very thick. Do Not Over Mix.

Divide batter evenly among the 3 prepared pans and bake 21-25 minutes (until they test done).

Cool completely before frosting with lemon buttercream frosting. Decorate with berries.


PARTY FAVORS

Himalayan Salt and Mini Zucchini-Nut Bread Loaves


Things That Make Us Smile: You don't have to be a Senior Citizen to enjoy THIS.

Tidbits: I found this very interesting. Pretty boring until you get to California and Hawaii. Click HERE. You can also scroll down to see statistics on your name.

Those Talented Kids: I found this painting in the entrance to the food court at the mall. The artist is in middle school. Notice how he painted the trees/bushes. It's called The Happy House.


The Pepper Report: He doesn't like spiders.


Thrifting: I found these trivets at a church sale for $1 each. I don't know if they're stainless steel or polished aluminum. 


And these fun wooden napkin rings - $1 for the set


And last week I told you I'd show you why I need to do the Lazy Daisy Lunch table again. On Craigslist, I found these beautiful dishes. Service for eight plus lots of service pieces and six matching glasses. Total cost - $30.


Time-out: Time to fix lunch. No, I didn't eat three chicken legs. One is for Pepper. Yes, I took the skin off and gave him little bites.



Things That Grow: We have radishes. I turned my back for a minute, and they got really big. I ate some yesterday with bread, butter, and salt. (I hear that's the French way). They're a little hot, but okay for salads.


The gladiola are starting to bloom.



The flowers on the outdoor patio are doing fine. Don't ask me what they are, because I forgot. It will be a surprise.



I replanted the one in back which didn't sprout. I think I put petunias.


I know this is rosemary in the center with Moss Rose (Portulaca) in front.


The English cress is doing okay so far. I wonder if I should thin it?


From Plants

Cucumber


Tomato


Two other tomatoes - each plant is a different kind of tomato


This is the 99-cent banana pepper I got at Aldi. I planted it one day, the next morning it was just a stem. Don't know what ate the leaves, but it seems to be recovering.


Bell Pepper



Jalapeno Pepper


From Seed

I ate a cantaloupe from the market and buried the seeds. I don't know if this will ever produce, but it certainly looks as if it means business.


Yellow crook-neck squash - don't know why I planted them so close together.


I had this labeled "Marjoram", but it looks like "Basil" to me.



Beets


Chard


Spinach, which is too close to the zucchini


Mystery guests - I get so confused




Failures: Icicle radishes, Watermelon radishes, Carrots, Turnips. The Farmer in the Dell most certainly would not have proposed to me.

Tablescapes: Can you believe it? These are July tablescapes and we're in the middle of June.

I found a plastic bag all taped up around some strange-looking pieces at DAV. I had no idea what was inside, so I bought it just to see. If anyone knows the game these pieces belong to, please let me know. 
Beware the Jolly Roger





Cows





Cape Cod

This table is full of good memories. I bought the placemats on Cape Cod for $1 each; I bought the beige and blue shells at the same drugstore where I bought the magnolia dishes in Mississippi; my friends in Jefferson City brought me the great pitcher.





Tropical







ENJOY THE SUNSHINE

GO TO THE LAKE

OR TAKE A CARIBBEAN CRUISE

BRING SOME FLOWERS INSIDE TO ENJOY

BAKE SOMEONE A CHOCOLATE CAKE

VISIT THE FARMERS' MARKET

DON'T FORGET TO EAT YOUR APPLES

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE

14 comments:

  1. Wow, all those tablescapes were a joy I had to go back and look at them again. You got some great bargains at the thrift store, I particularly liked the napkin rings, a real joy.

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    1. I like the napkin rings also, but what must I do with them? Maybe an "Around the World" theme dinner? We'll see.

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  2. Your cookery club menu looks and sounds delicious, I like the sound of each of the dishes. Your table scapes are lovely too especially like the colours in Cows and Cape Cod:)

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    1. The lunch was perfect for a summer day. I loved working with the photos; so many bright colors make me happy.

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  3. Hey Sweetie! Right out of the gate - that quiche and that cake look amazing!! I get so hungry when I read your posts. Lol
    I love all of the tables - July is amazing - especially the cape cod! Love it! And I'm still amazed by the deals you find. That set of dishes is adorable. And I love those trivets - so cool looking!!
    I'm with Pepper on the spiders -although I do know they eat the "bad bugs". We get big water spiders here living on the bay...I think they'd give even Pepper a run for his money. ;)
    All of your green and growing look wonderful!! the gladiolas are gorgeous!! I bought some radishes last time I grocery shopped. I haven't had any in ages and a tea sandwich with butter is just what I was looking for. Lol Great minds think alike I guess.
    I actually finally have your goodies ready. Unbelievable I know. I will be running errands this week and should get them out even before the weekend! Shocking!! :P I will give you heads up when they're on their way.
    Blessings Lovie. xoxo

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    1. Your comments are always so welcome. I've been spending a lot of time at home, working to "catch up", and it was feeling a little lonely around here, plus I'm missing my brother Sonny since June is his birth month. I feel as if you just dropped in for a visit.

      We're going out for lunch this week, finally. Everyone is home right now except Bev. Hope we can get a group. Everyone is so busy.

      Back to weeds tomorrow. I want to read and make cards, but the weeds won't wait. They just keep growing.

      I just saw that Hallmark channel is having Christmas in July starting the 7th. I was reminded of your celebration last year. Such a great idea. Are you doing it again? You are such a great mom, daughter, aunt, wife, sister, in-law, friend.

      Love to all the Bachands (including the little furry one), Patsy

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    2. I always love dropping in and providing my Dear Patsy a visit! I am hoping to do Christmas in July again!! That was so fun last year. ;) And you are the one that always makes me feel so wonderful and special. Thanks for the that dear friend. Life got in the way again (& some construction road issues too) for getting to the post office last week. I had things ready and was sure I'd get it there. 2 days to a new week ::sigh:: - I know you understand and I love ya for it. xoxo

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    3. Please don't put pressure on yourself. The Post Office is not at the head of the list, so not to worry.

      I've been having little nosebleeds off and on, for no apparent reason. On a rerun of Monk, he was having the same issue and the doctor told him it was probably from stress. Well, I'd been finding myself clenching my teeth and waking up in the wee hours of the morning and unable to go back to sleep. Too many deadlines, so guess I was stressed, too. Once I got a little caught up, no more clenched teeth - no more nosebleeds. So don't put yourself under a lot of stress or you might find your nose dripping onto your new clothes. Can't have that. As a matter of fact, I've decided to take a week's vacation. I'll tell you all about it on Sunday's post.

      As usual, sending bunches of hugs your way, P

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  4. Hello Patsy. Thank you for visiting me and leaving a comment on my last blog post. Sorry it's so been a while since I've been in touch, but blogging has taken a bit of a back seat as I've been trying to sort out downloaded photo files that's slowing down my laptop which makes it harder to enjoy using it. Most of us here in England have been experiencing hot weather so we're all trying to keep cool. Some people love it, of course. The best place is by the sea to get those sea breezes, but we live inland here in Yorkshire. You have green fingers as your herbs and vegetables are thriving well in the ground outside. I can appreciate the need to be out there weeding, but I hope you get together with your friends this week. It's good to have some human company as well as kitty friendship.

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    Replies
    1. Nothing more irritating than a slow computer. You'll be glad you spent the time fixing the problem.

      It's only in the high 80'sF here, but humid as we have rain off and on. I, too, love sea breezes, but I live smack in the middle of the US.

      I fear I only have green fingers (we call it a green thumb) when it comes to weeds. I struggle with plants. No patience. If you know anything about English cress, please let me know if I should thin it. The seeds were very tiny so I have lots of little leaves close together.

      I'm going out for lunch this week, as the travelers are home again. Of course, kitty Pepper will expect a treat when I get back.

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    2. Hello Patsy. Well, a green thumb is a good gift! Your basil is doing well, for example. We usually sow seeds in a tray and then thin them out. You'll need to thin your cress, but because it's in the ground don't get back ache
      trying to sort out those little seedlings. Children love to grow mustard and cress on a clean, wet kitchen towel and then cut it and then make egg and cress sandwiches. When I was a child I would eat a boiled egg, make a face on the shell, clean out the shell, fill it with soil and grow cress. After cutting off the leaves to eat the stalks looked like hair. The laptop is still going slow so my blogging will continue to be sporadic. Wishing you a good evening.

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    3. Oh, dear! I have so much to learn about cress. I only know watercress, which grows in water at the head of a spring. I could buy it in the markets in California, but not in Missouri. The leaves grow to the size of a man's thumbnail. To grow it on a towel, do you just scatter the seeds and make sprouts?

      I learn so much from blogs around the world. Aren't we glad we weren't born too early to miss all this?

      Thanks for the help.

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    4. Watercress is good for salads and garnishing a plate of food with its spicy flavour. Or you can make watercress soup. Pity you can't get it as it's good for you isn't it? Here we have watercress beds in some suitable geological areas where the water is very clear and pure. The cress I'm talking about is different. The seeds are relatively big enough to place on a wet kitchen towel to germinate. The seedlings have a stem and little leaves and grow quite quickly so that's why children love it and then eat in a sandwich - something we used to do with the infants at school. Look on your packet of seeds you have to see what type of cress you've grown and there'll be instruction too. All the best!

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    5. I want watercress for sandwiches, salads, and mainly Cream of Watercress soup. I don't know if what I planted in the ground will grow big enough for soup. The package called it "English Cress" and said it needs to grow where the ground will be damp all the time.

      We'll see how this goes, and then maybe I'll order some more seeds to try the wet towel method.

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