Petunia Bloom

Spring Flowers April 8, 2010

After being told I had a black thumb one too many times, I decided to go all out this year.  Something has to survive….right??  As soon as the dirt work in my backyard is finished, I will probably plant more back there as well.

The front

The back –
I was told that this plant is almost impossible to kill.  And if it does die, water it and it will come back to life.

So pretty and delicate looking

Gerbera Daisies I was talked into buying…

I love love love hydrangeas, so I hope this little bush does very well.  And if it doesn’t live for a year, I was told at Lowes that I could get a refund.  Plant insurance — who would have thunk it??

Blarney Stones – A little late… March 22, 2010

It is March, and therefore, it is time for Blarney Stones.  Let me warn you, they are not for the faint of heart or those on a diet.  They are comprised of butter, sugar, butter, sugar, and peanuts – salted ones.  Basically, a Blarney Stone is a piece of sponge cake wrapped in butter and sugar (did I already say that?) and then rolled in salted peanuts (they must be salted).  I am not sure why these are served at St. Patrick’s Day and called Blarney Stones.  My guess would be that they are made to resemble stones which is representative of The Blarney Stone in Ireland.  The process of making the stone is time-consuming and often times I just make a Blarney Stone cake.  Let’s get started:

Recipe

Cake
1 C Sugar
1 C Boiling Water
4 Eggs
2 C Flour
3 t Baking Powder
1 t Vanilla
For frosting – butter and powdered sugar
Will also need ground salted peanuts

1. Separate eggs
2. Stiffly beat egg whites in a separate bowl
3. Cream sugar and egg yolks
4. Add boiling water to sugar and egg yolk mixture and mix well
5. Sift flour & baking powder 3 times (I don’t do that….)
6. Add flour and baking powder to first mixture (egg yolks, sugar and water)
7. Add vanilla
8. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites
9. Bake at 350 degrees in a greased sheet-cake pan for 18 mins
10. Cool and cut into squares and place squares in the freezer.

Frosting
Cream together:  3/4 lbs butter & 3/4 lbs powder sugar
Note:  To make it easier to frost the squares, freeze them before you begin.

Frost individual squares of cake then roll in salted peanuts.

I store these in the freezer and eat right out of the freezer.  They need to be stored in the refrigerator if you do not put them in the freezer.

According to Wikipedia, the Blarney Stone is in Ireland in the Blarney Castle.  The ledgend is that if you lean upside down and kiss the stone, you will have the gift of gab.  If I ever go to the Blarney Castle in Ireland I doubt I would kiss a stone that more than 500,000 people have kissed….I would make someone else (whose name starts with R) do it…. 

It doesn’t get more rustic than this….. March 16, 2010

We went to Dallas this weekend and met my parents for dinner.  My mom ordered a roasted chicken, and this is what she got!!  It was so funny as it came with that knife in it.  The restaurant  was called Brio Tuscan Grille and it was in Grapevine at the Southlake Town Square.  The whole area was beautiful and we got to enjoy 70 degree weather.

Christmas Present January 3, 2010

I received a Vita Mix Blender for Christmas from my mom and I LOVE IT!!

Here is the Strawberry and Green Smoothie Recipe I have been making for breakfast.

Green Smoothie:
1/2 c water
1/2 c milk or mocha milk
1 handfull of spinach (handful)
1/2 c frozen strawberries
1 banana (frozen or fresh)

Blend and enjoy!

Can also add blueberries or any other fruit

Cauliflower Soup January 2, 2010

Pioneer Woman’s Cauliflower Soup Recipe
Modified by Me

½ Stick of Butter (Give or Take)
¼ Onion, finely diced OR couple of shakes of minced onion
3 Carrots, (chopped fine in food processor)
2-3 Celery Stacks, finely diced
1 Head of Cauliflower
- I take cauliflower and cut it into 3-4 sections and wash each section.
- Then I finely dice one of those sections in the food processor (sometimes two of the sections; depending on time).
- The other sections I cut into small put recognizable pieces.
2T dried parsley
1 Quart of Chicken Broth
2 Cups of Whole Milk (or whatever you have)
3 T Flour
Salt and Pepper to Taste (I use no salt and lots of pepper)

Garnish (CRUCIAL TO RECIPE):  Sour Cream and Shredded Cheese (Cheddar)

In large pot, melt 2T of butter.  Add onion (if using fresh) and cook.  Add carrots and celery and sauté.    Add cauliflower, parsley, and splash of chicken broth.  Cover and cook on low for 15 minutes until cauliflower is steamed and soft.  Pour in rest of chicken broth, bring to a boil, and allow it to simmer.

In medium saucepan (not on heat), whisk together 1 cup of milk and 3 T of flour.  Add 2 T of butter, put on heat and whisk until thick.  Take off heat and stir in another cup of milk.  Add mixture to simmering soup.  Allow to simmer another 15 to 20 minutes.  Season

Garnish and serve.

Original Recipe

Cowboy Soup November 30, 2009

1 Large Can Fire-Roasted Diced Tomatos
1 Can Rotel
1 Can Diced Tomatos (optional)
1 Can Green-beans, drained and rinsed
1 Cup Frozen Corn (optional)
1.5 lbs Browned hamburger (browned with 1 small diced onion)
1 Can Ranch Style Beans
1 Can Black beans, drained and rinsed
Pepper to Taste
Several Cans of Water – fill to cover everything
1-2 Hunks of Velveta

Put everything together, except velveta, bring to a boil, lower to a simmer for 30-40mins, add velveta.  Serve with chips.

Trip to Branson November 29, 2009

We recently went on a trip to Branson and stayed at Chateau on the Lake.  It was beautiful.  We took Sophie and received two offers buy her!

I love foggy mornings.

Our room was upgraded to a King Suite with a lake view which is $100/night more than we actually paid.

Here is the hotel’s marina which does not seem very busy on a cold fall morning.

There are quaint spots all over the hotel grounds.

Sophie – the poodle.

A Table Set for Four September 18, 2009

I got to use my china for the first time.  It was so fun pulling it all out and setting a table with such beautiful china.

I couldn’t find any candles to float so I dropped in some flowers from a bouquet I had.

Going Green September 17, 2009

It is so annoying having to spend money on paper products.  Paper towels, paper napkins, toilet paper, paper, paper, paper, paper…..   ANYWAY, I stopped using paper towels to clean with.  I don’t even use paper towels to clean the glass and mirrors in my house.  A soft towel works even better.

Also, I bought several cloth napkins so I don’t need to buy/use paper napkins.  I bought them on sale at JCPenny.  They were 75% off (about $0.75/napkin).  It is actually very nice using cloth napkins.  It feels as if your eating at a restaurant.

I think I will keep buying toilet paper…  My husband might move away if I stop buying it.  LOL

Remember the Tickle Me Elmo? September 16, 2009

This is the Tickle Me Elmo of the adult world.

If you go into a Starbucks and see this cup, buy it!!!!  For one, it is a cool cup and is very handy for taking drinks to work, school, etc.  Two, you can sell it on Amazon or eBay for more money than you paid for it.  They are in such high demand that they are being sold online for $10+ more than Starbucks sells them for.  My mother-in-law bought me the large one for my birthday on amazon.com and she calls it the “Golden Chalice.”  She was here recently and asked me for a drink of the golden chalice.  I had no idea what she was talking about until she explained.