Happy Birthday to My Husband and Sister!

 Here is the birthday cake I made for my husband and sister. 

I'm not one for roses made of frosting but do opt for what has now come to be my signature cakes! Just when I think I can't outdo the previous one, my creative mind comes up with yet another fun birthday cake!  Can't wait to sing...

Early October Farewell Gathering of Neighbors

Morrocon Stuffed Dates

Vintage linens, copper, silver, wood, Depression Glass

Southern Peanuts, and Honey Mustard Pretzels...a favorite!

A fine selection of olives and cheeses from Ed Hyder's Mediterranean Marketplace in Worcester.

 Mariposa Champagne Flutes which held Cava, a sparkling Spanish wine.
 

Pumpkin Cake with a Rum Cream Cheese Frosting

                                        Page 186 Two Sisters and The Silver Spoon Cookbook!
                                     
                                        A farewell gathering for neighbors of 49 years.

Happy Johnny Appleseed Day! ~ Good Monday Morning from Kathy Fleming!

Add caption

Don't forget the apple for the teacher!  

Kit's Pie Crust on Page 216 or...If you are short on time
use Pillsbury Pie Crusts! This crust can be found in the refridgerator section of the market.  Simply delicious!!! 
Don't tell anyone, I told you about this little pie secret!

Recipe for my "Apple Pie" follows:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
6 to 8 apples (any kind), pared, cored and sliced 
      (about 6 cups)
3/4 cup sugar 
2 T. flour 
1 T. cinnamon
       dash ground nutmeg 
2 T. unsalted butter 
Combine sugar, flour and spices...In a large bowl, mix with apples.
Put apples into a 9-inch pie plate lined with pastry.  Cut up butter and place over top of apples.  Pastry on top, cut slits for steam. 
Bake for 30 minutes or a little longer until done.  

Signature Spicy, Smoky, Sweet Chili

(One pot to deliciousness) 

(My friend, Fran is going to love this one!)

1 lb. ground sirloin

1 medium onion, chopped 

2 carrots, peeled and diced

1/2 red bell pepper, diced into small pieces 

2 garlic cloves, minced

3/4 tsp. salt 

1/4 black pepper to taste 

 29 oz. can tomato puree 

2  15 oz. cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained 

1  15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained 

3 T. chili powder

2 T. brown sugar 

1 teaspoon smoked paprika 

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 

1/2 teaspoon cumin 

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 

 

In a large pot brown beef.  Add garlic, bell pepper, carrots and onions.  Cook until carrots and peppers are soft.  Add remaining ingredients then simmer (covered) for 30 minutes stirring once or twice. 

 

Toppings:  Shredded cheese, chopped green onions, tortilla chips and sour cream!  Yum!   Serve with cornbread during the football game!

 

 

Early Autumn Weekday Dinner

 Roasted Acorn Squash

Serves 2 - 4

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees

1  Acorn squash, halved, seeds scraped out and sliced int 1/2" moons
2  T. Olive Oil
1/4  Cup grated Parmesan cheese
1  Teaspoon garlic power
Freshly ground pepper

In a large bowl, mix all of the above ingredients enough to coat.
Lay on cookie sheet.
Bake for 30 minutes or until tender and cheese has crisped up.

Simple BBQ Meatloaf

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Serves 4

1 lb. lean hamburg
4 T BBQ sauce, smokey
1 T Dijon Mustard
1 T honey
1 T. Worcestershire Sauce, plus 2 teaspoons
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup Panko crumbs, plain

In a mixing bowl, mix together ground beef, Panko, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce, mustard, 3 T BBQ sauce, salt and pepper.  Do not over mix.

Shape into thick log and place in an oiled baking dish.  In Small bowl, whisk together remaining 1 T BBQ, remaining 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce and the honey.

Spread evenly over the top of meatloaf.
Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour.  Let rest 5 minutes, slice and serve.

It's About Time...

Chances are you have clocks or watches hanging around your house that either don't work or don't keep proper time.  If they can be fixed, bring them to your local jeweler and get them running on time.  If not...these family gems should be set to meaningful times.  I have one set to the time I was born.  Another is the time I met my husband.  They're nice to look at and can be meaningful, no matter what time they display!

Tim's Grilled Potatoes

4 medium baking potatoes 

4 medium Vidalia onions, skins removed, sliced and halved 

Olive oil 

Salt, pepper, dried oregano and parsley to taste 

 Slice each potato to 1/4-inch thick slice while keeping intact.  Place onion slices in between potato slices, starting and ending with potatoes,  Onion slices need to be small size as potato slices to ensure even cooking.  Place each potato on foil large enough to wrap potato.  Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, oregano and parsley.  Wrap up each potato.  Grill 15 minutes on each side.  To serve, remove foil and place in a large serving bowl.  

Serves 4 to 6   

Recipe from Two Sisters and the Silver Spoon Cookbook ~ Page 82

Bread & Butter Pickles by Kit (That's me!)

2 cups sliced cumbers (1/4" slices)
3/4 cup thinly sliced onions 
1/2 cup sugar 
1/2 cup white vinegar 
1 tsp. kosher salt 
1/2 tsp. mustard seed 
1/4 tsp. celery seed 
1/4 tsp. tumeric

Put all ingredients n a microwaveeable bowl.  
Microwave for 3 minutes, then stir.
Microwave for another 3 minutes, then stir again.
Finally, microwave 3 more minutes and...it's ready tospoon into your canning jars.  
Refrigerate.

In Love With Blue!

Little cobalt blue vases with flowers from the garden are fun and change daily!

Waverly fabric, hydrangeas and Gurgle Pots make way for summer entertaining!

Cobalt Blue Depression Glass and Hobnail Old Fashions are ready for summer entertaining!

 

 

 

 

 

Hydrangeas are a favorite especially the traditional blue!

Blue, blue...we love you blue!

Family photos framed in blue...and white are always classic!

Blueberry waffles on a beautiful summer, Sunday morning!  Bennington Pottery, Morning Glory Blue frames this breakfast!

SO...start looking around your house and start grouping your love of BLUE together!  Perhaps, we've started something!

A Recipe from Susan Branch

A couple weeks ago, I received "Heart of the Home"  30th Anniversary Edition by Susan Branch.  Made the Green Bean Salad on page 63 (pictured above), Potato Packages on page 87  and the Lemon Chicken on page 101! 
Yummy!  This is a great book with wonderful recipes along with Susan's watercolor illustrations. 

Happy Valentine's Day to All!

Vintage flatware, crystal and some great plates given to me by my friend, Kim.

It's time for LOVE!

The Valentine pastel was framed and hung.  This was done by me in an art class when I was 14.  

English bone china cups and saucers along with hearts sit in the corner cabnet.

Pretty, Pretty!  Time for tea!

The Transition Has Begun!

The New Year is here!  Happy 2016! 

Time for Downton Abbey tea and a little British influence in order to start the year!

Healthy trips to the market and lots of home cooking in January!

Christmas Poinsettia now in a winter setting...only for a couple of weeks!

                                      

Mr. Squirrel Nutkin needs some nourishment!

Soon Valentine's Day will be here!