Author: QuiltLady

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 11 of 2018

ON MY MIND / THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

I had a productive weekend planned and it all went out the window when my sweet Thai neighbor asked me to go shopping with her at her favorite Asian market. I thought sure, I could use a quick trip to the market.  WHOA, it turned out to be more like a trip to Disneyland – so many colors and new things to see.  I picked up a few new vegetables I’ve never tried before and a jar of Jack Fruit which I originally saw on Guy’s Grocery Games when Damaris Phillips said she regularly use it as a meat substitute for her vegetarian husband. So many of the products had zero English so I couldn’t even recognize what they were or what to do with them. But, oh what a learning experience!

Hubby and I watched a couple NASCAR races and did a little sorting for donation items and packing others for the upcoming move. I’m still having some low blood pressure issues that left me napping quite a bit on Saturday. 🙁 I REALLY want my energy and strength back!!!

We’re really sad about Whiskey, Sady and Gunner. Losing them all within 7 months despite their advanced age was hard, but we just realized this weekend how much easier traveling will be and the freedom to do what we want, when we want for awhile. We’ve decided to put things into storage for 6 months or so and take some time for me to use the gym and the pool this summer to get my strength and energy back before we really starting searching for the next project.

So on to Happy Homemaker and Menu Plan Monday.

Be sure to link up with
Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday
and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

The weather has been ALL over the place lately.  It was 65 on Thursday and 90 by Saturday and back to 60 today.  It’s all about layers right now! The rest of the week is supposed to be quite nice, but the weather changes all too frequently around here to depend on it.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE

Protein drink and green tea

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

We took a day trip last Thursday to Galveston since this week will be spring break and we will avoid EVERYWHERE! It was EXTREMELY overcast so pictures did not turn out very good, but hubby insisted I get in one for a change.  We ate at Bubba Gumps and it was HORRIBLE, but made for a good picture.  I guess we’ll just have to go back to my favorite Bubba Gumps in Honolulu 😀 I also found this colorful drugstore wooden Indian.

INSPIRATION

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE / WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS

  • LAUNDRY… just a few loads this week, towels, bedding and clothing
  • LIVING AREAS… clean but cluttered as I’ve been packing and sorting
  • KITCHEN… pretty clean for now
  • BLOG… some recipe updating, future post planning, link party research and even some holiday post planning

CURRENTLY READING & TV / DVR

There are a few new shows starting this week, but it’s way  too soon to tell what will make the cut.

COMEDIES

  • Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, Life in Pieces, The Good Place, American Housewife

MILITARY, POLITICAL & CRIME DRAMAS and a couple that qualify as comedies

  • NCIS, NCIS New Orleans and NCIS LA, Criminal Minds, Wisdon of the Crowd, S.W.A.T., Madam Secretary, Scandal, Designated Survivor, Brave, Valor, Seal Team, Blindspot, Macgyver, Scorpion, Law & Order SVU, Blue Bloods, Hawaii 5-0, Elementary, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Chicago Med, 911

DRAMAS & REALITY

  • The Good Doctor, This Is Us, The Resident, the Amazing Race just ended and Dancing With the Stars will be beginning

SYFY

  • Z Nation, the Walking Dead, Flash, Supergirl, DC Legends, Orville, Once Upon a Time, The X-Files, Supernatural

COOKING

  • Guy’s Grocery Games, Beat Bobby Flay, Worst Cooks in America, Bobby & Damaris, Kid’s Baking Championship, Master Chef Jr., Master Chef

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

MON
TUES
WED
THUR
FRI
SAT
SUN
B-FAST 
2X DAY
HONEY NUT CHEERIOS, BANANA & GREEN TEA
HONEY NUT CHEERIOS, BANANA & GREEN TEA
HONEY NUT CHEERIOS, BANANA & GREEN TEA
HONEY NUT CHEERIOS, BANANA & GREEN TEA
HONEY NUT CHEERIOS, BANANA & GREEN TEA
SNACK   2X a day
PROTEIN DRINK
LUNCH 2-4 oz. PROTEIN
GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST or YOGURT with FRUIT
  DINNER   2-4 oz.  PROTEIN and small salad
 BALSAMIC MOZZARELLA CHICKEN with marinated artichokes and grape tomatoes
  CHICKEN CESAER SALAD with ANCHOVY CROUTONS C.O.R.N. clean out refrigerator night  C.O.R.N. clean out refrigerator night TACO SALAD CASSEROLE
 BUFFALO HASSELBACK CHICKEN and CELERY SALAD
 BROWN BOX MEATLOAF and HONEY ROASTED CARROTS

SUCCESSFUL RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

HEALTH & BEAUTY TIPS

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP

CHICKEN or BEEF SHORTCAKES

I found this recipe in a pile of grams old recipe pamphlets and it sounded so easy to update while still being really tasty. I made beef today, but will make chicken next time and add celery, onions and carrots to make it more like Inside Out Chicken Pot Pies.

CHICKEN or BEEF SHORTCAKES makes 8
3 cups rotisserie chicken pieces* OR beef rib eye cubes
8 warm biscuits (made from scratch or Pillsbury canned)
1 quart chicken or beef broth
1/3 cup butter
scant 3/4 cup flour
FRESH ground salt and pepper, to taste

  • In a saucepan bring all but 1/2 cup of the chicken broth to a boil.
  • In a separate small saucepan melt butter.
  • Add flour and whisk until golden.
  • Add in reserved broth and whisk until well blended making a roux.
  • Slowly add roux to broth and combine well.
  • Simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Add chicken, salt and pepper to taste, stirring to coat chicken well and heat through.
  • Split biscuits in half.
  • Ladle chicken mixture onto biscuit and replace top.

NOTE: *I usually buy a rotisserie chicken each week at Costco to eat off of so always seem to have one around for quick recipes like this.

 

BALSAMIC BAKED MOZZARELLA CHICKEN

BALSAMIC BAKED MOZZARELLA CHICKEN serves 4
adapted from CafeDelites.com

4 skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons lemon olive oil
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning mix
FRESH ground salt teaspoon salt, to taste
FRESH ground black pepper, to taste
6 cloves garlic, minced
6 ounce jar marinated artichokes, drained well
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 red onion, sliced
1 LARGE shallot, sliced
1/4 cup QUALITY balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
3/4 cup fresh shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon FRESH chopped Italian parsley
1 tablespoon FRESH chopped basil

  • Preheat oven to 425°.
  • Place chicken breasts in a baking dish and drizzle with lemon olive oil.
  • Mix together Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
  • Rub seasoning all over each breast.
  • Arrange the tomatoes, half of the garlic, shallot slices and red onion slices around the chicken in the dish.
  • Whisk together the balsamic vinegar, sugar and remaining garlic in a jug to combine.
  • Pour over the chicken breasts, flip each breast in the sauce to evenly coat.
  • Bake 20-25 minutes (depending on the thickness of your chicken breasts), or until no longer pink in the middle.
  • Sprinkle with cheese and broil for 4-5 minutes, until cheese is melted and golden.
  • Garnish with parsley and basil.
  • Serve over pasta
  • Drizzle with the pan juices.

LINKING WITH:  CELEBRATE YOUR STORY, CRAFTASTIC MONDAY, DISHING IT & DIGGING IT, NIFTY THRIFTY SUNDAY, SHOW & TELL, SUNDAYS AT HOME, SUNDAY’S BEST, THAT DIY PARTY, JCOOKING & CRAFTING WITH J&J, INPIRATION MONDAY , INSPIRE ME MONDAY , MADE BY YOU MONDAY, MAKE IT PRETTY MONDAY, MELT IN YOUR MOUTH MONDAY, MERRY MONDAY, MIX IT UP MONDAY, MOTIVATE ME MONDAY, PROJECT INSPIRED, SHOW AND SHARE, TUTORIALS & TIP , DIY TUESDAYS, LOU LOU GIRLS FABULOUS PARTY, THE SCOOP, TREASURE BOX TUESDAY, TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME, TUESDAYS WITH A TWIST,CREATIVE INSPIRATIONS, SHARE YOUR CUP , WINTER BLUES WEDNESDAY, WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY, SHOW ME WEDNESDAYS, WOW US WEDNESDAY , CREATIVE CIRCLE, DAGMAR’S PARTY, HOME SWEET HOME, FAVORITE THINGS, GRACE AT HOME, HOME MATTERS, PIN JUNKIE PIN PARTY, TALK OF THE TOWN, BLOGGER’S PIT STOP, HANDMADE HANGOUT, PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY, SHARE IT ONE MORE TIME, SWAY SHAREFEST, WHAT TO DO WEEKENDS PARTY, BOUQUET OF TALENT PARTY, INSPIRE-BE-INSPIRED, RAE GUN BLOCK PARTY, I’M LOVIN’ IT, THIS IS HOW WE ROLL THURSDAY, FULL PLATE THURSDAY, FOODIE FRIDAY

BASIC OMELETTE RECIPE


BASIC OMELETTE serves 1
2 eggs
2 tablespoons water
Fresh ground salt and pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon butter
1/3-1/2 cup filling of your choice (bacon, diced ham, crumbled cooked sausage, onions, shallots, mushrooms, diced peppers, shredded cheddar or swiss cheese, etc…)

  • Prepare all your filling ingredients before you begin cooking as the eggs will cook fairly fast.
  • Whisk together eggs, water, salt and pepper in small bowl until WELL blended.
  • Heat a 6 to 8-inch nonstick omelet pan or skillet over medium-high heat until hot.
  • Add butter and TILT pan to coat entire bottom.
  • Pour in egg mixture. Your mixture should set almost immediately at edges.
  • Gently push cooked portions from edges toward the center with a spatula so that uncooked eggs can reach the hot pan surface. Continue cooking, tilting the pan and gently moving cooked portions as needed until the surface thickens and there is no visible liquid remaining.
  • Layer your filling on one side of the omelet.
  • Fold omelet in half with turner.
  • With a quick flip of the wrist, turn pan and INVERT or SLIDE omelet onto plate.
  • Serve immediately.

HAWAIIAN HASSELBACK CHICKEN

I’m working on a Italian Pizza, Buffalo Chicken and Mexican Taco version too!
HAWAIIAN HASSELBACK CHICKEN adapted from The Painted Apron
4-6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs**
3-4 ounces thinly sliced tavern ham from the deli
1 LARGE can crushed pineapple, drained, juice reserved **
1-2 cups King’s Hawaiian ORIGINAL BBQ sauce

  • PREHEAT oven to 375°.
  • Spray baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Slice thighs grid like, cutting about 2/3 way down DO NOT CUT ALL THE WAY
  • Tuck a piece of tavern ham in between cut areas.
  • Arrange chicken pieces close together, but not cramped together.
  • In a small bowl fold together the BBQ sauce and pineapple pieces.
  • Spoon pineapple mixture over chicken. Use additional BBQ sauce as necessary to make sure chicken is completely coated.
  • Bake for 50-60 minutes until cooked through, basting with pan juices 1/2 way through baking time.

NOTES:**

  • Breasts work too, but require less cooking time. DO NOT OVERCOOK or they will be dry!
  • I also  throw in a small can of drained pineapple chunks just because hubby likes them and it adds a bit of texture to the dish.
  • You can prep this dish in the morning to cook when you get home from work. It refrigerates well to be baked later.

Linking to  DISHING IT & DIGGING IT at Rustic & Refined, SUNDAY’S BEST at Mother 2 Mother, SUNDAYS AT HOME at Celebrating Everyday Life and My Soulful Home, CELEBRATE YOUR STORY at Celebrate & Decorate,
COOKING & CRAFTING with J&J AT Julie’s Creative Lifestyle, MAKE IT PRETTY MONDAY at The Dedicated House, MELT IN YOUR MOUTH MONDAY at Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms, MERRY MONDAY at Where The Smiles Have Been and Our Crafty Mom, MIX IT UP MONDAY at Flour Me With Love, SHOW and SHARE at Coastal Charm, LOU LOU GIRLS FABULOUS PARTY at Lou Lou Girls, TAKE OUT TUESDAY at The Painted Apron, TREASURE BOX TUESDAY at Memories by the Mile, TUESDAYS WITH A TWIST at Stone Cottage Adventures, DELICIOUS DISHES at Walking On Sunshine, SHARE YOUR CUP @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, FAVORITE THINGS at Katherine’s Corner, FULL PLATE THURSDAY at Miz Helen’s Cottage, BLOGGERS PIT STOP at The Blogger’s Lifestyle, HOME MATTERS at Life with Lorelai, KITCHEN FUN & CRAFTY FRIDAY at Kitchen Fun with My Three Sons, PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY at Coffee with Us 3, SHARE IT ONE MORE TIME at Everyday Home, SWAY SHAREFEST at The Sway Life

TIE-DYE EASTER EGGS

Using ordinary materials (vinegar, food coloring and whipping cream) you probably already have on hand to decorate gorgeous Easter eggs is so easy and fun too! You will want to wear gloves so as not to dye your fingers.

TIE-DYE EASTER EGGS
INGREDIENTS
Bowl of Vinegar
Whipped cream
Food coloring
Hard-boiled eggs

  • Boils eggs and cool to room temperature.
  • In a bowl large enough to hold all the eggs (or work in batches) place the eggs in the bowl and cover with vinegar for 20 minutes. The vinegar allows the dye to adhere to the egg shell better.
  • Dry the eggs and set aside.
  • In a large baking dish fill it with a thick layer (about 1 inch deep) of the whipping cream.
  • Generously dot the cream with various colors of food dye coating most of the surface fairly close together.
  • Drag a skewer or chopstick through the cream to create a tie-dye design, kind of like you’re making a marbled cake.
  • Place a layer of paper towels on a cookie sheet and set aside.
  • Put on gloves to protect your hands from the dye.
  • Gently place an egg on the surface of the whipped cream.
  • Slowly roll the egg over the surface to coat the shell.
  • Place the egg on the cookie sheet and repeat with remaining eggs. DO NOT WIPE ANYTHING OFF!
  • Let dry 20 minutes.
  • Fill a large bowl with water. The water will remove the excess cream leaving the design on the egg.
  • Gently submerge the egg and then GENTLY dry with paper toweling. DO NOT RUB HARD as you might rub off the design.
  • Store eggs in refrigerator.

NOTE: This can be done substituting shaving cream for whipped cream, but then they are for decoration only and NOT edible!!

And just for your information here is a great little color chart for other methods.

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 10 of 2018

Good morning sweet friends. Saturday was gorgeous here so we made a trip to the Farmer’s Market and bought some beautiful carrots and turnips as well as some local BBQ sauce, but Sunday was rainy and dreary so we rented and watched a couple movies, Same Kind of Different as Me and The Darkest Hour. Both based on true stories. They were good and informative for so many different reasons so it was a LAZY Sunday! I did get some future blog posts organized and decided on some link parties to join up with for some new blogs to follow.

 

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE

Still raining and thunderstorms which will only keep me inside because we’re now in the 80’s with high humidity. The rest of the week is supposed to be warm, but at least sunny.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE

Honey Nut Cheerios, Banana & Green Tea

CRAFTS / PROJECTS

I’m not working on anything right now, but am setting a few projects aside to keep separate from the moving boxes in case the inspiration strikes.

ON MY MIND / THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

We are so very close to being out of here.  Just a few more medical tests and appointments to get past and the house sale.  I’m not letting that slow me down or stop me though.  I’ve been getting super organized – right down to using the dishes, pots and pans that I will be donating so I can pack what we’re keeping. We took 2 more loads for donation this past week. When we delivered some metal baker rack shelves to Habitat for Humanity someone was purchasing them as we unloaded them – so glad they are going to a good home. We’re probably 85% packed and ready to go. I don’t want to jinx anything, but it all seems to moving right along! We are SOOOOOOO ready to put THE HOUSE FROM HELL in our rear view mirror!

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

I recently did a product review for SILK PLANTS DIRECT and love their products. This is one of the pictures I used in the review. They really do have nice silk plants.

INSPIRATION

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE / WEEKLY TO DO LIST & HOUSE PROJECTS

  • LAUNDRY… Just some routine loads – towels, bedding and clothing
  • LIVING AREAS… did a serious deep clean last week so all is pretty tidy
  • YARD… we had a couple days rain free last week and we were able to re-seed the backyard and replant the barrels to spruce it up for the upcoming sale.
  • BLOG… some recipe updating, future post planning and even some holiday post planning

CURRENTLY READING & TV / DVR

COMEDIES

  • Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, Life in Pieces, The Good Place, American Housewife, Living Biblically

MILITARY, POLITICAL & CRIME DRAMAS and a couple that qualify as comedies

  • NCIS, NCIS New Orleans and NCIS LA, Criminal Minds, Wisdon of the Crowd, S.W.A.T., Madam Secretary, Scandal, Designated Survivor, Brave, Valor, Seal Team, Blindspot, Macgyver, Scorpion, Law & Order SVU, Blue Bloods, Hawaii 5-0, Elementary, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Chicago Med, 911

DRAMAS & REALITY

  • The Good Doctor, This Is Us, The Resident, the Amazing Race just ended and Dancing With the Stars will be beginning

SYFY

  • Z Nation, the Walking Dead, Flash, Supergirl, DC Legends, Orville, Once Upon a Time, The X-Files, Supernatural

COOKING

  • Guy’s Grocery Games, Beat Bobby Flay, Worst Cooks in America, Bobby & Damaris, Kid’s Baking Championship, Master Chef Jr., Master Chef

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK with RECIPE LINKS

MON
TUES
WED
THUR
FRI
SAT
SUN
B-FAST   2X DAY
HONEY NUT CHEERIOS, BANANA & GREEN TEA
HONEY NUT CHEERIOS, BANANA & GREEN TEA
HONEY NUT CHEERIOS, BANANA & GREEN TEA
HONEY NUT CHEERIOS, BANANA & GREEN TEA
HONEY NUT CHEERIOS, BANANA & GREEN TEA
SNACK   2X a day
PROTEIN DRINK
PROTEIN DRINK
PROTEIN DRINK
PROTEIN DRINK
PROTEIN DRINK
PROTEIN DRINK
PROTEIN DRINK
LUNCH 2-4 OZ. PROTEIN
GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST
CHERRY YOGURT
 PEACH YOGURT
CHERRY YOGURT
 PEACH YOGURT
GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST
GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST
 DINNER   2-4 OZ. PROTEIN and small salad
 C.O.R.N.    clean out refrigerator night SPAGHETTI CARBONARA PAN SEARED BARRAMUNDI C.O.R.N.    clean out refrigerator night SHEPHERD’S PIE ITALIAN  BLK BEAN CHICKEN RECIPE EXPERIMENT NIGHT

SUCCESSFUL RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP

 

SO MANY LINKS, SO MANY BLOGS… just NOT ENOUGH TIME

Somehow in Chasing MY Life I got away from my actual description of the journey.  My life became all about the kitchen, well at least primarily.  One of the discoveries I’ve made with life altering surgery that changed how I eat is that my life is no longer just about the food and recipes.

So, as we say goodbye to A HOUSE FROM HELL, put EVERYTHING in storage and begin the next leg of our journey to spend some time concentrating on working out and recovery and then search for our next project (hopefully our last) I want to return to my blogger roots and chronicle ALL of life.

I’ve been getting organized to get back into link parties and such, just searching around to see who is still out there and where the parties are at. I have found that many of my old favorites are no longer, but there are soooooooo many new parties to link up to which leads me to my post title, SO MANY LINKS, SO MANY BLOGS… just NOT ENOUGH TIME. Initially I’m choosing link parties by whether or not their title peaked my interest.

AND soooo many parties are now co-hosted which creates even MORE links to explore so I’m still reading as much as I can and finding new interests to become a part of.

I’m sure I’ll will find many more new blogs and parties on my future journeys, but for now I’m excited to be joining these new linky parties on a regular basis.

SUNDAYS
DISHING IT & DIGGING IT at Rustic & Refined
SUNDAY’S BEST at Mother 2 Mother
SUNDAYS AT HOME at Celebrating Everyday Life and My Soulful Home

MONDAYS
CELEBRATE YOUR STORY at Celebrate & Decorate,
COOKING & CRAFTING with J&J AT Julie’s Creative Lifestyle
HAPPY HOMEMAKER MONDAY at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
MAKE IT PRETTY MONDAY at The Dedicated House
MELT IN YOUR MOUTH MONDAY at Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms
MENU PLAN MONDAY at I’m an Organizing Junkie
MERRY MONDAY at Two Chicks and A Mom
MIX IT UP MONDAY at Flour Me With Love
SHOW and SHARE at Coastal Charm

TUESDAYS
LOU LOU GIRLS FABULOUS PARTY at Lou Lou Girls
TAKE OUT TUESDAY at The Painted Apron
TREASURE BOX TUESDAY at Memories by the Mile
TUESDAYS WITH A TWIST at Stone Cottage Adventures

WEDNESDAYS
DELICIOUS DISHES at Walking On Sunshine
SHARE YOUR CUP @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

THURSDAYS
FAVORITE THINGS at Katherine’s Corner
FULL PLATE THURSDAY at Miz Helen’s Cottage

FRIDAYS
BLOGGERS PIT STOP at The Blogger’s Lifestyle
HOME MATTERS at Life with Lorelai
KITCHEN FUN & CRAFTY FRIDAY at Kitchen Fun with My Three Sons
PRETTY PINTASTIC PARTY at Coffee with Us 3

SATURDAYS
SHARE IT ONE MORE TIME at Everyday Home
SWAY SHAREFEST at The Sway Life

CHILI HONEY LEMON LIME SALMON

CHILI HONEY LIME SALMON

2 limes – 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice (about 1 lime and 1 lemon juiced) and 1 lime cut into wedges
1/4 cup FRESH chopped Italian Parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons water
4 garlic cloves, minced
+/- 1 1/2 teaspoons red chili flakes (based on spice level preference)
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
1 tablespoon honey
4 FRESH salmon fillets
4-6 baby sweet red, orange, yellow bell peppers, de-seeded and diced
1 large shallot, sliced thick

  • Preheat oven to broil settings on high heat.
  • Cover baking sheet with foil.
  • Spray foil with cooking oil spray; set aside.
  • Whisk together lime juice, parsley, olive oil, water, garlic, chili flakes, cumin and salt together to combine.
  • Add the honey and whisk again until well combined.
  • Arrange the salmon fillets, peppers and onion in a single layer on the prepared baking tray.
  • Pour half of the marinade evenly over salmon, peppers and shallots, turning to coat well.
  • Broil until the peppers are just beginning to char at the edges and the salmon is cooked to your liking, about 10 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and serve immediately with lime wedges and remaining marinade for added flavor.

PEACH BLUEBERRY CRISPS

PEACH CRISPS
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen diced peaches
1 1/2 teaspoons + 2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
pinch salt
Juice of 1 lime
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
3 tablespoons rolled oats (NOT instant)**
4 teaspoons flour
2 tablespoons COLD unsalted butter, cubed
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
1/4 cup raspberries or blueberries or ???

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Line a baking sheet with foil.
  • Lightly spray 2 ramekins with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Toss peaches, 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar, cornstarch, lime juice and salt together. Set aside.
  • In a small food processor, pulse oats until a fine crumble.
  • Add 2 tablespoons sugar and flour to oats and pulse until well blended.
  • Cut in butter with pastry blender until a coarse meal.
  • Stir in vanilla and walnuts.
  • Divide peach mixture between ramekins.
  • Divide raspberries over each ramekin.
  • Sprinkle each ramekin with oat mixture.
  • Bake 30-35 minutes until golden and bubbly.
  • Cool 5 minutes before serving – that fruit is HOT!
  • Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

SILK PLANTS DIRECT solved my COLOR issues

SEVERAL years ago we purchased a 120 year old Queen Anne Victorian home with a barn on a half acre back east as an investment. We arrived in late fall LOL just in time for snow so the yard was the least of our concerns. Long story short, we were swindled and the house had oh so many issues (mold, plumbing, etc…) that became our focus throughout the winter.

When spring finally came to be we received the MOST amazing surprise in the back yard. There were green sprouts and leaves popping out of the ground EVERYWHERE! I had NO idea what they were going to be, but was anxious to find out.

When spring arrived in full swing my ENTIRE yard was surrounded by the most beautiful German Bearded Irises in amazing blues and purples. The picture in my blog banner is one of those very irises. I still have some of the bulbs years later and my mom has some in the Pacific Northwest.

I really like having plants in my house and yard year round. We are going to be traveling quite a bit and real plants need water so silk plants are the KEY to year round beauty without needing to be watered. These silk flowers are the PERFECT replacement and look even more real than the real ones if that’s possible.

I’ve really missed having the irises around as they won’t do well here. So, when I was given the opportunity to review silk plants from Silk Plants Direct I jumped at the chance to bring new color into our lives.

All I can say is WOW!!!! They have so many beautiful choices that are so lifelike! It took me days to choose, but when I ran across the irises that looked EXACTLY like the 100 year old bulbs in my yard I knew my choice was made. There are also tons of complimentary accent colors and choices to mix and match.

Caring for them is so easy too. I use a feather duster and a can of canned air regularly to keep them looking fresh and colorful. I am SOOOOOO happy with my flowers – they are the PERFECT choice for me.

I have a coupon code for you all to use, you can get 10% off your order, EXCEPT for Custom orders.

BLOGGER10

There is something else you may be interested in, it’s their 3D Wall Panels from CSI Wall Panels.  They have gorgeous and inventive architectural wall panels for your home.  Go see for yourself.