Wow! How fast the last year has flown

I can not believe it has been a year + that I have posted. It has been a busy year. 3 grandbabies arrived to make the total 4. 3 boys and 1 girl. All beautiful, healthy, blessings. Number 5 will arrive some time in August. Today it is snowing something crazy but it is wonderful sitting in front of a fire ,watching it snow, thinking of spring and the planning the Gardens on Indian Lore. Not sure where this new project is going but this journey will be guide by God, made possible by sweat and hard work, for the world to enjoy.

My Kitchen

I love my kitchen! Even though it is new in construction, I have and still am working to make it look old Farm House. It has been many years since I lived in my old Farm House and used a kitchen in the Farm House way. This year I get back to my canning and freezing as I did years ago when my children were young. I am planting a Victory garden, for two reason. The first is I have two of my three sons deployed and my third to deploy in January. The second because of the prices of food in our local stores, due to the price of gas. Fresh vegetables are getting ridiculous in price and I know with a little hard work I can reduce that portion of our food bill, excersize and support our Military personal at the same time.

When I am in my kitchen, I am at peace. No matter what is going on in my life or the world, I feel I can solve it by cooking. I did not learn to cook from my mother. She will tell you her best meal is from the local restaurant. She hates to cook. My grandmother did her best to teach me but she had limited skills also as her mother hated to cook. When I was first married my garbage disposal was well fed. Then one day Betty Crocker came into my life and WaLa the bliss of cooking became mine.

I do not have a favorite recipe, as I still have a billion more to try. Here is two salads I like to make in the spring when the fresh basil, early tomato and spinach have arrived.

A handful of fresh basil
A handful of fresh spinach or any fresh green
Fresh tomato
A ball of fresh mozzarella
Balsamic vinegar
Extra virgin olive oil
Fresh ground sea salt and black pepper
A pinch of sugar

Tear spinach and basil, arrange on plate
Slice mozzarella, tomato and arrange on top of greens
Drizzle with olive oil
Sprinkle Balsamic vinegar, sugar
Salt and pepper to taste.


#2 Spring Salad

Spinach
Strawberry
Goat cheese
Toasted nuts
Raspberry vinaigrette

Toss ingredients in amount to suit your taste

Enjoy a simple lunch on the porch of spring salad, glass of ice tea and the sounds of nature coming alive.
Apron by The Gypsy's Daughter A.K.A. Theresa. Visit her at the link listed in my favorites.
Making Easter dinner. Beef roll-ups, smashed garlic potatoes, and gravy for 12. That's a lot of beef roll up and potatoes.

Just a Farmgirl at heart trying to live a simple life.

Saturday April 19, 2008

It is a beautiful Saturday. The sun is shining and the birds are singing. The snow has finally melted. The early Spring flowers have made their way up through the ground and are waiting to bloom. My cat, Max is taking a early afternoon nap after his outside rounds to make sure the bird feeders and his chipmunk and red squirrels friends are all safe. It was suppose to rain today. I had planned my weekend with today being an inside work day. I find myself torn between doing my chores in the house and having fun outdoors. My husband's chain saw is calling me as he cuts wood for my garden fence. My newly acquired enamel wood tables are asking to be sanded, treated and placed in their spots on the deck for the summer. What is a person to do? I'm putting on my bibs, sunscreen, table refinishing attire and I'm out of here! My precious tables here I come.......