Chill and Serve!

What's New In Your Garden?

While you're out treasure hunting for the day

looking for rustic gems for your yard, things you cannot live without, going for a scenic drive, meeting a friend for lunch.... you can have the recipe listed 
below in your crock pot!

I have been collecting primitive odds and ends for quite some time. The inside of my house is getting less cluttered - whew. But my gardens are being tucked with perennials, buckets,funnels, baskets & more!

Etsy and EBay along with perusing magazines have continued to feed my wild imagination.

see what I mean... it amazes me what's out there!

It's been a fun summer of collecting, planting and friends.

Is there something you're on the hunt for? 

What do you collect?

I'm looking for:

• a claw foot tub
• an enamel colander
• chicken feeders
• funnels
• money in the bank

Pulled Chicken Sandwiches: Place bone-in leg quarters in the crock pot and baste with your favorite barbecue sauce and add 1/2 cup of broth in the bottom of the crock pot. Cook on low for about four hours then shred chicken and allow to marinate for an additional hour in excess sauce. When shredding with a fork, do not overdo it as this will make your sandwich soggy in the end. To serve, scoop the meat on a sturdy roll and top as desired—try provolone, crisp lettuce, onions or coleslaw.

Come home, put comfy clothes on,

paper plates, an icy drink & dinner's ready!

Chill!

One Step Closer To Summer!

These blue eyes are telling you that 

Summer will be here before we know it!

playin' in the grass, lickin' ice cream cones

Summer!

sittin' on the beach...

ANY beach...

Summer!

I've been roasting every vegetable imaginable,

trying new recipes, 

being thankful for the beauty 

God presents every day

getting ready for bilateral knee 

replacement in March - and no, 

haven't worn heels in many a moon 

and the surgeries won't change a thang!

I'm more a barefoot gal. 

I love my life.

I have moments, even in the Winter 

when I say say "thank you Lord

for the wonder of it all"

and if I'm down....

I phone a friend (and make the recipe below)

 read a book, or go to Home Goods!

Winter Drearies Tamarind Margarita

For those of you who want to make a blended tamarind margarita, here is a recipe that is very easy and has been very good. I use a tamarind paste (concentrate) instead of fresh tamarinds, which eliminates cooking, straining, sweetening, and other cumbersome steps. It may not be quite as good, but it's damn close.

Tamarind Margarita
2 oz tequila
1 oz triple sec
1 oz tamarind paste (concentrate)
1 oz simple sugar
2-3 cups ice

Combine in blender and blend until smooth. Rim glasses with chile salt. Serves 2-3.


Notes
Vary the amount of tequila based on how strong you want your drinks. The tamarind is overpowering and you probably won't taste much of the tequila.

Look for tamarind paste in Indian or Mexican markets. I use "Mr. Manish Tamarind Paste" purchased from an Indian grocery store, which contains only tamarind extract.

You may find 1 oz of tamarind paste to be a little too much. I like bold flavor and the tartness, but experiment to find the amount you like best.

Don't over blend  You want to crush the ice but still keep a somewhat watery drink. If you blend too long, the drink becomes too thick and looks kind of unappealing because of the brown color (use your imagination). 

Life isn't always a bowl of cherries

but a good Margarita recipe

ain't half bad!

heeheheehee!

There's Always Hope...

There's hope...

but in the meantime... I continue with my projects

throwing crap out

donating books to Am-vets

washing woodwork and windows

bought some new bath towels

wishing I was in need of a beach towel... at the beach

getting rid of old clothes that I haven't worn, thought I'd wear, didn't wear

trying not to be overwhelmed by lists of stuff to do

eating Pho with friends (Vietnamese)

wanting have some Bibimbap....at a Korean restaurant
and having Korean food with my kids....

enjoying nature

and feeding the birdies

taking care of me by...

going to Massage Envy when times allows

and being thankful!

Baby It's Hot Outside Let's Go For My Dip!

Hot Fun In The Summer Time!

Easy Red Pepper Dip
Ingredients:
1 cup pomegranate juice
1 package whole-wheat pitas, 1 pita torn into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup walnuts, toasted
3/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 jar (16 ounces) roasted red peppers, drained, rinsed, and roughly chopped
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt
Directions:
1.In a medium skillet, simmer pomegranate juice over medium-high until thick, syrupy, and beginning to brown slightly around edges, 13 minutes (you should have about 2 tablespoons syrup).

2.Meanwhile, in a food processor, process torn pita until coarse crumbs form. Add walnuts, paprika, cumin, and cayenne and process until finely chopped. Add peppers, lemon juice, and syrup and process until mixture is a smooth paste. With machine running, slowly pour oil through feed tube and process until combined. Season with salt and serve with remaining pitas, toasted and cut into wedges.

Avocado-Corn Salsa
Nutritional Info (Per serving):
Calories: 101, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 75mg, Dietary Fiber: 4g, Total Fat: 7g, Carbs: 11g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Protein: 2g  Carb Choices: 0.5

Ingredients:
3/4 cup(s) corn, frozen, thawed
1/2 cup(s) tomato(es), grape, quartered
1 medium avocado, diced
1 tablespoon cilantro, fresh, chopped
2 teaspoon lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt, Kosher
Preparation:
Toss avocado, corn, tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice and salt in a medium bowl.

No Biggie!

now let's partee!

Lemon Angel Hair Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
12 ounces angel hair pasta

1/2 cup pine nuts

1/4 cup olive oil

3 cloves garlic, very finely chopped

2 tablespoons lemon zest

Juice of 1 to 2 lemons (1/4 cup or so)

1 tablespoon table salt

2 cups grape tomatoes, halved

1/2 cup chopped fresh herbs such as basil, parsley, and mint

1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper


Instructions:
Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, toast the pine nuts, stirring often, until they are golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a bowl.
Reduce the heat under the skillet to medium and pour in the olive oil. Add the garlic and stir it often, until it softens and becomes fragrant, about 45 to 60 seconds. Remove the skillet from the heat and add the lemon zest and juice. Set the pan aside.
When the water boils, season it with 1 tablespoon of salt and bring it back to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook it al dente (for about 4 to 5 minutes or as the package instructs).
Spoon 2 tablespoons of water from the cooking pot into a small bowl and set it aside. Then drain the pasta well. Return the pasta to the pot. Pour the reserved cooking water and the lemon juice mixture over the pasta and toss it well. Add the tomatoes, herbs, and pine nuts.
Season the mixture with the salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature. Makes 6 servings.

I don't know about you - but summer for me is about family and fun - NOT slaving in the kitchen! Hope you like this recipe...Jenn
oh and....

chillax!

Cold, Cold, Cold! I'm Cold!

Here's my list of the things I like about winter:

1. Christmas
2. Cozy Fires
3. Cuddling
4. Quilts
5. Reading
6. Being with friend and family
7. Spring is the next season
8. Others love it.

Vignettes of Winter...

so you see...I look at positive images, I see beauty

in nature, people, places and things

I readied my sons many a time for sleigh

riding and snow ball fights...

but I still prefer SUMMER! jennifer

Under The Boardwalk,,, ahhhh sweet summertime!

Oh, when the sun beats down and burns the tar up on the roof

And your shoes get so hot you wish your tired feet were fire-proof

Under the boardwalk, down by the sea, yeah

On a blanket with my baby is where I'll be

(Under the boardwalk) out of the sun

(Under the boardwalk) we'll be havin' some fun

(Under the boardwalk) people walking above

(Under the boardwalk) we'll be faling in love

Under the board-walk (board-walk!)

From the park you hear the happy sound of a carousel

Mm-mm, you can almost taste the hot dogs and French fries they sell

Under the boardwalk, down by the sea

On a blanket with my baby is where I'll be

(Under the boardwalk) out of the sun

(Under the boardwalk) we'll be havin' some fun

(Under the boardwalk) people walking above

(Under the boardwalk) we'll be falling in love

Under the board-walk (board-walk!)

The Drifters  "Under The Boardwalk"

I just finished it!