Lunch Today

Went down the road today with son had a wonderful time. I needed to find an item for scrapbooking the hot air gun which looks like a tiny hair dryer. Now I saw these a few weeks ago ,and they were all gone none left in the store we visited. I think it is that time of the year were a lot of ladies are crafting cards or wedding announcements. I did find my soldering tool for jewelry making so was thrilled with that find at the store !!! Yeah ~

So the food we enjoyed was Calimari & Seared Tuna  yumme both very good !!!

In The Pink

Biscuit time again,so I decided I wanted to fancy up breakfast for the guy's Saturday morning!  So I made these Pink biscuits!!! The one in the back is my pink pig,which Mr Man ended up sharing with my son Nicholas. They came out good ,so just follow one of my biscuit recipes and to the warm milk dissolve what ever food color you prefer,into the warm milk stir well then add to the flour mixture. Use a fork to make fancy designs on top of your biscuits.  Remember to only fold your dough 3 to 4 times but no more or your biscuits will not be tender.    Serve the biscuits with Strawberry preserves , clotted cream and a sprig of mint.    Hope you all enjoy !!!

Quick and Easy Pasta

Really easy supper. 3 kinds of pasta.  I use the tiny pasta ~ mini ravoli,penne,macaroni ! Dump all pasta's in one pot of sea salted hot water let boil.

 Meanwhile deseeded 2 tomato's & chopped fine, 1 cup of frozen peas which you have defrosted,whole bag of mini pepperoni ,minced fresh parsley,minced fresh basil,dried oregano rub between hands before adding to pasta, smoked cheese 1/2 cup, dash sea salt,dash pepper and can use pepper flakes if you like it hot.  1 small onion minced and saute in pan.

 Add 1 small velvetta cheese which has been chopped into pieces, 1 ~1/2 cups of half /half  add both items in blender,then add to strained hot pasta ,stir well.

NOTE :If you want to skip the blender to blend the cheese and cream, just chop cheese right in the hot pot of pasta that has been drained of water,and add the 2 tablespoons of butter and the 1~1/2 cup of half & half ,toss in  a quick pour of virgin olive oil ( about 2 tablespoons) stir til all is heated and blended well.

Dump the rest of veggies and spices in with the hot Pasta,stir well. Serve on individual plates and top with smoked cheese. You can also skip the velvetta cheese and make a all white cream sauce with your favorite white cheeses. For a change sometimes I use a Mascarpone cheese with grated parma cheese and half & half . When serving top with shredded cheese and add a splash of basil olive oil !!

Top with a bit of shredded smoked cheese and serve. This recipe can be baked in the oven if you like just add more half and half or you can use white wine with the white sauce.

You can add whatever veggies you like Artichokes,Mushrooms ,Zuchinni, Brocolli, Prosciutto,Celery,Sun dried Tomato,it is what ever you fancy in this dish. As for meat you can use a good Tuna, Ham or even a Maple  Bacon.      Great the second day around,just heat in microwave and eat  !!!

In The Garden

Finishing up my In The Garden Quilt needed more blocks around the main section . The pink blocks are in memory of my mother,and I love yellow. My mother was always in the garden growing her flowers or planting trees. She had a green thumb be it in the yard or house plants.

Almost Done

Now this is the last quilt I have placed together before I move on to overdue projects,four baby blankets. I had just enough material for the four triangles to fussy cut them. Now that I look at the four squares around my Bee block it is CrAzY looking but then again once I place my applique flowers in the 6 yellow blocks it will blend together nicely. I think I am going to be doing a lot of applique on some of my quilt tops !!! Great practice!

Hanging up on the Quilt are some blocks ready to be sewed onto the four sides of the quilt !!!

A good friend asked me what was behind the curtain,she was so cute with her words. Ok behind curtain number 1, I shall say are my kitchen utensils ,snacks and dry foods in containers,baking pans, mixing bowls and a big basket with some of my cookie cutters. . I need a walk in pantry like a kitten loves milk !!!!

Breakfast

A small bowl of greek yogurt topped with organic granola,walnuts,pistachios,almonds,cinnamon ,and mandarain oranges topped with honey ~ Yum

Almost Finished

Finally finished sewing on the last strip fabric! The fun part begins by adding a green vine on the golden fabric and a golden vine on the white and green strips of fabric. Have to go fabric shopping for the right fabrics !

Fall Quilt

Trying to finish this fall quilt this weekend. Made all the blocks, now have to shore them up and get the blocks fitted together to start sewing. I might need to get a bit more fabric since I have used all the fabric for this quilt top..

Fig Time

I have this tree in my back yard and thought it was a Fig tree and we have watched it grow for a couple of years now. So I finally figured out it was never going to produce any fruit, and I just love the shade tree.  We have another Fig tree that is backed up near the corner of our fence and it is hard to pick the figs because we have an olive tree that covers the Fig tree.  These trees were all planted years ago when the house was built by the first owners.

For me if I see a tree growing in my yard" hands off " til I figure out what the tree is ,so I let them grow. We have about a dozen palm trees that came from the neighbors yard when their huge palm tree had flowered. It was really neat to see the huge white blossoms hanging down from the top of their really tall Palm Tree.   So all the seeds drifted into our yard and I let them grow. Yeah free Palm Trees!

So when I was out in the yard yesterday watering everything, I was surprised too see those two Fig trees are producing fruit for the first time. A jump up and down moment !!!!!  The same with my Pomgranite bushes they have traveled to 4 other spots in my yard, awesome and blessed for sure !!!

 When picking time comes I will post some of my favorite recipes for my Figs!

He Thinks This Is His Quilt

Mr Man thinks I made this for him, but he probably will snuggle up with me so he can use my birthday quilt !!! Finally finished and now on to getting it backed and quilted !!! Three more birthday blocks to get into quilts !!

My favorite Fruit ~ The Mango

Love Mango any way shape or form !!!! But have your ever dried the Mango seeds?

Scrape the seeds out into a colander and wash. Drain well then lay seeds on a baking tray spread out , bake at a low heat to dry the seeds out. You will know the seeds are ready as they will be dry to the touch.You might hear them pop in the oven but that is ok.  Let cool and bottle them for storage.   Use as pepper in your pepper mill on your fruits,or salads.

Birthday Blocks

I worked on my Birthday quilt all day.These blocks were given to me last year for my birthday.  The small square blocks were part of my birthday surprise, and I made two more so the design would be balanced. My good friend from Canada sent me the Maple Leaf block so she got First Rate Billing on my quilt !!!! Thank you so much Ann :)   I have one more special block that I am processing it out on how to frame for my sewing room!!! Then the last two blocks are with the color purple so deciding how I want to work them around a purple and orange lap quilt.

Thai Curry Noodles

Made Spicey Chicken Thai Noodles for supper last night,boy was it HOT. I bought some Thai Green Curry Paste and it almost blew my socks right off. I mixed it with coconut milk but it was good & HOT!!!!! I  prepped the veggies early in the day so all I would have to do is grab my Japanese wok, stir fry &  serve ! You can use what ever curry seasoning you like, this is what I came across at the Asia store in my town .

1 large Chicken Breast
Dash of sea salt and pepper
Grill ahead of time
Remove from grill cut into small pieces, cover and set aside in your refrigerator.

2 bags of Udon noodles
1 bag of Yakisoba
2 Tablespoons Sesame oil

Place the 3 bags of noodles in cool water , slowly loosen noodles with your hands. Drain in colander,  place noodles back in a bowl with about 2 Tablespoon Sesame oil. Toss with your fingers and cover noodles . Now believe me there is no way your going to get these noodles looking like long spagetti noodles but do your best. When I do this they break in a thousand pieces but it is ok . When you mix the veggies with your noodles they will break but toss lightly . The out come will still be the same .....YUMMY !!

1 Red Pepper ~ deseed and cut pepper into strips( dry the seeds to use in your garden)
1 Zuchinni ~ cut tips off Zuchinni slice in half and julienne into strips
1 Carrot ~  peel and cut into bitesize wedges
1 small Broccoli head ~ stem removed  ~ cut into florettes place on plate and microwave.  Watch carefully to keep the green in these tiny trees. When lightly cooked cool down with cold water.
After all the veggies have been prepared place them all in a bowl ,cover and set aside.

1 Celery stalk ~ cut ends off of the stalk ~ peel strings off stalk ~ cut in half ~ the slice in thin strips like the zuchinni and mince.
 To get the strings off the celery stalk I usually take my fingers at the top of the stalk and peel the tiny stings off. This is the easiest way and fastest way for me.
1/2 Onion peeled and minced ~  place celery and onion in a tiny bowl and cover.

Spices
Ginger ~ peel ~ slice and cut into long thin strips
4 Large Garlic cloves minced
Place these spices in 1/4 cup soy sauce cover and set aside

Sauce ~
1 tablespoon curry paste
3/4 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup chicken stock
1~1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
one good grind of pepper ~ Mix all and set aside

Cut off the tops of your Organic green veggie and wash pat dry and set aside You will add this delicate greenery that last minute before plating your food. Cover and set aside

To Cook: Heat your stove eye to medium high ,grab your wok ,season your pan with olive oil. When cooking this I usually start off with one flat wok shovel, but after I add the noodles I will be using 2 wok shovels . It will be easier to incorporate the mixture together.

Add items below in order
    Spray of olive oil to season your pan
1.Celery /onion mixture ,
2.Spices ~Ginger/garlic/soy sauce mixture keep stiring,
3.Veggies keep tossing,
4.Chopped cooked chicken,keep working those arms and toss ,
5.Udon /Yakisoba noodles,toss toss toss,
6.Sauce
Add last your organic delicate green leafy veggie to noodles.

                                                            

Using a spoon to peel my Ginger

I usually add Japanese red pickled ginger ,and seaweed sprinkle on top as a garnish ~ Enjoy

If you need more liquid you can add more coconut milk or stock. I usually eye ball my liquid.

Sweet Potato Biscuits

Yeast  Milk~

3/4 cup of warm milk
1 package of yeast
1 teaspoon sugar

Place Yeast in bowl, add sugar,then 3/4 cup of milk let sit do not stir.


Flour Mixture~

Add 2 cups flour to a bowl
2 teaspoons baking powder
dash sea salt
half stick very cold butter cut into small pieces into the flour mixture

Mix up the butter into the flour with your hands lightly to incorporate them together.
Slowly add the yeast milk to the flour mixture and stir with a fork lightly to blend til you get the mixture some what into a ball. It will not be a perfect ball ,all you want is for the flour to be blended well.

Place 1/3 cup of flour on your pastry table ,scrap out wet Flour Mixture onto your table.   Dust your hands with flour then lightly fold the Flour Mixture in the flour you placed onto your table. This is a very quick step,which your basically tossing that ball of dough into the flour and patting down lightly..      Lay the sweet potato pieces on top of the flour mixture, start folding the dough flour over the sweet potato cubes ,making sure your hands are floured when working with the dough. Keep adding sprinkles of flour under the dough to make sure the dough does not stick to your pastry table.   Nothing like your biscuits sticking when you have cut them into your pretty shapes.  Pat down the dough lightly and cut out your biscuits in rounds shapes or squares. Place them on a buttered sheet pan or round cake pan side by side to make the rise. Top with butter and bake til brown at 350* you may also add fresh ground pepper on top of the uncooked biscuits !!!

Remember the less you work with your dough the lighter your biscuits will be when they are cooked. Only turn your dough 3 times , quit and pat down ,then cut out your shapes. If you keep working your biscuit dough you will be making doorstops that will be as hard as rocks !!!

Now for the sweet potato you can do many versions. I prefer to use a left over sweet potato from the night before from our supper. So if you have a taste for sweet potato biscuits the next day bake your potato the day before. Just do not over cook the potato,it should still be firm to the touch.   After the sweet potato sits overnight it will be firmer to cut up and work into the biscuit flour. Or you can cut the potato in any desired crazy fashion to not have the sweet potato cubes to match. What ever your desire! Another version of my sweet potato biscuits coming later !!! YUM :)

Anniversary Day Today

A long time ago in a different galaxy ha ha ha~~~~~~~~ daisys around the cake,parasol and champagne punch !!!! Cake was a lemon pound cake,so light and top layer was a fruitcake!

Going Home

Thousands of Joshua Trees line both sides of the interstate driving home ! They are so pretty, not bad for driving and taking a photo. Photo would have been clearer if we had stopped, but time to get moving long drive ahead!!!

Brunch A Go~Go

  We were going for the buffet at the Bellagio, stood in line for 30 minutes only to find out that we were standing in the wrong line. I was wondering why the tables were being served bread/ butter and trays of food. So we struck up a conversation with a lovely couple from Liverpool, England and they said they would keep our spot if we decided to get back in line. Off we walked over to find the buffet and the line was 4 times the length!  So we walked back to the other restaurant,and got back to the original line and talked a bit with the Liverpool couple , chatted up about the Beatles and the husband I kid you not he sounded like Ringo Starr. I told the husband that I hoped he would take this as a compliment but he sounded like Ringo Starr. He laughed. But breakfast was good and we took the rest of the day exploring and hunting down hubbies phone which he left in the hotel room !!!! Oh such fun !!!!!! 

Phantom BRAVO Standing Ovation !!!!!

The Best Show in Vegas For me !! This was the surprise show hubby took me to for our Anniversary!!! It was FANTASTIC and the show is leaving in September. All I can say is see the show before it leaves !!!

The only problem I had with the show was the girl who I sat beside did not speak a word of English,so no explaining to her please shut off your texting. All she could do was text message on her phone. So every few seconds her phone lit up and she was texting away. I finally placed my arm up on my purse which was in my lap and covered the side of my face with my hand as to shield my face. Then she had a big bag of teriyaki dried meat she was eating and the smell of that meat did not smell great after a few minutes.

But please if you go to shows be mindful of those who are sitting around you trying to enjoy the show they paid for that evening. If your not interested in actually seeing the show then save your money and sit a spell someplace else, text all you want in the pleasure of your own company. :)

But a happy balance to that event was the family that sat in front of us.   The mother/dad would explain what was happening in the play to their daughters who looked around 6 and 8 years old. It was so cute because I am sure the youngest did not understand some of the play.The youngest giggled at the big kiss and looked over at her parents smiling.  But there was a good amount of laughter through out the whole show,with it's serious moments that tear at your heart strings ! I love it when the play is happening around you everywhere !!! BRAVO to All the Actors !!!!!! I LOVE Theater Acting !!!!

 We even see people use their phones in the movies and sometimes I wonder what happen to people having any manners.

Rio Hotel Room

      We stayed here and they gave us an upgrade on our room!!! We could see part of the strip from our room which was about a mile away.   What a great view of the largest Marquee on the Vegas Strip!  Loved our Dining Room table with the beautiful chairs and the Jacuzzi tub!! See the Mirror in the bathroom with the black square,that is the tv over the sink!! Wild never have I see a tv in the mirror.

I kept asking honey can you stuff the DR table, chairs and that mirror in your bag and take them home with us !!!! Gee they just would not fit in hubbys bag !!!!!

Gelato

                                    Limoncello & Coconut~~~~~~~~~~~ Raspberry & Blackberry

Irish Lunch In A Pub

                                                 Fish & Chips, Beer and Shepards Pie

V egas Baby

                              Finally arrive in Vegas to do a lot of walking and seeing the sights !!!

Road Trip

                          Low fuffy clouds the day we left for a day and half vacation for our Anniversary!!!!

All Dressed Up!

                                    My presentation for some of my Easter cupcakes on Easter Day~

Lime Cupcakes

         Meringue tops these lime cupcakes for Easter ! All home made and they were the hit for Easter treats !!!!

Ducks All In A Tree ~ Quack Quack Quack

   My Peep Chicks and ducks are all dressed up on my Easter tree to make it a colorful day !

All Dressed Up For Dining

                                               My table is all ready for the Easter festivities !!!!!

Happy Easter

                            Hope everyone has a BLESSED Easter with a bit of chocolate for fun !!

Homemade Chicken Soup

   Almost no calories with one fresh tomato chopped in small pieces, 2 carrots,3 celery stalks, 1/2 cup brown rice,2 brocolini stalks chopped,2 pieces of chicken breast chopped,2 rosemary stems left whole ,1 small onion chopped dash of fresh ground pepper, fresh garlic and basil minced..  Serve with buttered garlic bread toasted with slices of Parma cheese on top!

  Actually I used about 6 big pieces of chicken breast and placed in water to boil til done. Then I took half the chicken and made chicken salad for that day and minced the rest of the chicken placed in a pyrex bowl with the reserve chicken stock to use the next day, and made the soup for tonights supper. Yum!!!

cRaZy bLoCk

                                   Here is another large crAzY block I worked on yesterday !!!

Veggie Quiche

  I made Quiche the other morning with red peppers, mushrooms ,onions ,and spinach! I also added herbs ,shredded cheese,egg whites and egg beaters. Made the crust with butter as I do not like using crisco that is hydrogenated.  Yum ~ ~ ~

CrAzY bLoCkS

                         This block will be the center block of my quilt and it is the biggest of the blocks !