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Harvest Time

Well the first harvest of the season is in and I am very happy to declare that the basil is looking beautiful.  I must admit it is very hard for me to bring in the first harvest of herbs every year. I grow basil from seed.

So first

  1. Find the best seeds
  2. Then the best growing medium for seeds
  3. Then plant
  4. Water gently daily
  5. Watch
  6. Wean them gently to the outdoors
  7. When the time is finally right you transplant them to the great outdoors
  8. Next it’s watering
  9. Watch some more

It seems a shame that as soon as they are big enough you chop them back so they won’t go to flower.  But alas unless you prefer your basil as an ornamental you must.  And well that has been the point of the whole excercise as well.  The freshest herbs for meals and the rest dried and put away in the pantry for future use. I didn’t have a recipe in mind for this particular batch so it all went into the handy dandy dehydrator (thank you NESCO)!

First a little bath to clean away any unwanted visitors.  Must admit the last minute cricket was a bit of a surprise but he was kinda cute.

Then pulled the leaves off of the stems and got them arranged on the drying trays.

All stacked up and ready to go!

One evening in the dehydrator later.

Quick trip through the food processor.

Now the one thing I forgot to mention was that in here somewhere hiding amongst my sweet basil there is a cinnamon basil.  I will have to be more careful next time I harvest but there was nothing to by the time I figured it out.  So I took a bit of sweet basil and purple basil left over from the garden last fall and mixed them together.

I think that it made a rather divine looking mixture.  Now it also smells heavenly.  No hint of cinammon.

It’s Summer!

Yes, yes, you are aware of that fact I assume. However, this morning I got my first little luxurious view of one of summer’s glories.  It’s my first tomato!  Isn’t she just beautiful?  I’m sure it’s a her because she’s earlier than everyone else!

Just to give perspective on how itty bitty teeny tiny she is yet here’s a different view.  Amazing what a little perspective can change!

Can not wait to see more! These are the first tomato plants that I’ve ever grown so I’ve been watching them rather closely keeping my fingers crossed. Potted gardens can be a little more delicate if you aren’t careful with the watering. Seems like we’re going to be just fine though! Also, got the nice surprise of finding my first flower on one of the pepper plants.

Am thrilled to finally see a flower on one of my peppers! As you can see below something has been making them breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Danged if I can figure out what it is. I check them morning, noon, and night and have yet to find even a single bug? I know it’s there as the evidence is well, overwhelming. I hate the thought of using chemicals but if I can’t even see the ugly bugger to get him to a new more acceptable home (i.e. a long toss over the fence) what the heck else is one to do???

So anyone out there with some words of wisdom for how to get rid of the amazing invisible bug, it would be most appreciated!

Aggghhh! No, I don’t answer my phone or update my blog enough or get on WOW and do you know why???   It’s because I’m outside!  I’m knitting or I’m reading!  I’m enjoying my little piece of paradise.  You don’t have to like it and it may not be your idea of fun but the mosquitoes and I are doing just fine!

So just so you know if you want me here’s where I am!

The view is divine IMHO :)

Little signs of summer are happening all over the garden..

So if you would like to chat bring beer or wine or something else equally divine and i’ll gladly share a seat!

Here’s how it all breaks down:

Pork 6
Chicken 9
Beef 3
Vegetarian 3
Seafood 4

Grilled 8
Baked 5
Crock Pot 3
Stove Top 9

Southern Pulled Pork

INGREDIENTS
1-1/4 pounds boneless pork roast
2 teaspoons butter
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
2/3 medium onion, chopped
2-3/4 cloves garlic, crushed
2-2/3 cups water
2 teaspoons liquid smoke flavoring (add later if desired)
4 buns

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a large ziplock bag add:
1 ¼ pork roast
2 teaspoons butter

In a medium ziplock bag:
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
2/3 medium onion, chopped
2-3/4 cloves garlic, crushed

In a medium ziplock bag:
Add the buns

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork, and brown on all sides. Remove from the skillet, and transfer to a slow cooker.

Add the onion and garlic to the skillet, and cook for a few minutes until tender. Stir in the 2 2/3 cups of water scraping the bottom to include all of the browned pork bits from the bottom of the pan, then pour the whole mixture into the slow cooker with the pork. Stir in liquid smoke flavoring (if desired).

Cover, and cook on Low for 8 hours, or until meat is falling apart when pierced with a fork. Remove pieces of pork from the slow cooker, and shred. Return to the slow cooker to keep warm while serving.

Marinated Grilled Shrimp

INGREDIENTS
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons and 1-3/4 teaspoons olive oil
2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons tomato sauce
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1-1/4 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
skewers

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a medium ziplock bag add:
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons and 1-3/4 teaspoons olive oil
2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons tomato sauce
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1-1/4 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
Take one bag of skewers

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Preheat grill for medium heat. Thread shrimp onto skewers, piercing once near the tail and once near the head. Discard marinade.

Lightly oil grill grate. Cook shrimp on preheated grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until opaque.

Fruity Chicken BBQ

INGREDIENTS
1 teaspoon olive oil
3/8 small onion, chopped
1/8 red bell pepper
1 tablespoon and 1-1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon garlic
1 teaspoon dry mustard
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
1-1/2 cups pineapple juice
3/8 (16 ounce) jar pineapple fruit preserves
4 chicken breasts

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a medium ziplock bag add:
1 teaspoon olive oil
3/8 small onion, chopped
1/8 red bell pepper

In a medium ziplock bag add:
1 tablespoon and 1-1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon garlic
1 teaspoon dry mustard
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
1-1/2 cups pineapple juice

In a medium ziplock bag add:
4 chicken breasts

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Brown onions, and red peppers in olive oil. Add brown sugar, garlic, mustard, and cider vinegar. Cook for one minute on high or until bubbly. Add pineapple juice.

Cook on barbecue and baste frequently with the marinade. Near the end of the cooking, add preserves to top and allow to brown slightly.

Apricot-Mustard Grilled Pork Tenderloin

INGREDIENTS
1 (1 pound) pork tenderloin
3 tablespoons apricot preserves
1/4 cup mustard

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a large ziplock bag add:
1 (1 pound) pork tenderloin
3 tablespoons apricot preserves
1/4 cup mustard
Coat meat well

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Place pork over a medium-hot fire and grill for about 15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F, brushing with mustard mixture in the last few minutes.

Grilled Vegetables in Balsamic Tomato Sauce with Couscous

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 red bell pepper chop into strips about 1 to 2 inches long
1 zucchini trim the zucchini, and cut into thick slices.
1 small eggplant into rounds about 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick
1 large sweet onion peel and chop into large slices
3/4 cup frozen broad beans
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 cup couscous
1 cup vegetable stock

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a large ziplock bag add:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 red bell pepper chop into strips about 1 to 2 inches long
1 zucchini trim the zucchini, and cut into thick slices.
1 small eggplant into rounds about 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick
1 large sweet onion peel and chop into large slices
Seal and coat

In a medium ziplock bag add:
3/4 cup frozen broad beans
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

In a small ziplock bag add:
1 cup couscous

In a small ziplock bag add:
1 cup vegetable stock

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Heat grill over a high heat with a generous splash of olive oil. When it is very hot, add all the vegetables. Turn occasionally to prevent burning. Cook for about 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are evenly browned and cooked through.

In a medium sauce pan stir broad beans and vegetables. Simmer for a few minutes while the couscous is prepared.

Pour the vegetable stock in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.

Place couscous into a medium bowl. Add boiling vegetable stock, and stir with a fork. Keep lifting the couscous occasionally to prevent it sticking. It only takes 2 to 3 minutes to become soft. Place couscous in a large bowl or serving platter, and serve the vegetables on top.

Adobo Sirloin

INGREDIENTS
1 lime, juiced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons finely chopped canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
adobo sauce from canned chipotle peppers to taste
4 (8 ounce) beef sirloin steaks
salt and pepper to taste

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a large ziplock bag:
4 beef sirloin steaks
1 lime, juiced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons finely chopped canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
adobo sauce from canned chipotle peppers to taste
salt and pepper to taste
Pierce steak on both sides with a fork; place in the bag.
Seal and turn to coat

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Preheat grill for high heat.

Lightly brush grill grate with oil. Place steaks on the grill, and discard marinade. Grill steaks for 6 minutes per side, or to desired doneness.

Sesame Sirloin Steak

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 dashes hot pepper sauce
1-1/2 pounds (3/4 inch thick) boneless beef sirloin steak

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a large ziplock bag add:
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 dashes hot pepper sauce
Pierce steak on both sides with a fork; place in the bag. Seal and turn to coat

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Drain and discard marinade. Grill the steak, covered, over medium heat for 7-9 minutes on each side or until meat reaches desired doneness

Firecracker Grilled Alaska Salmon

INGREDIENTS
4 (4 ounce) fillets salmon
1/4 cup peanut oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons green onions, chopped
1-1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon salt

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a large ziplock bag add:
4 fillets salmon
1/4 cup peanut oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons green onions, chopped
1-1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
Seal and turn to coat

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Prepare an outdoor grill with coals about 5 inches from the grate, and lightly oil the grate.

Grill the fillets 5 inches from coals for 10 minutes per inch of thickness, measured at the thickest part, or until fish just flakes with a fork. Turn over halfway through cooking.

Chicken Breasts with Balsamic Vinegar and Garlic

INGREDIENTS
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 pound mushrooms, sliced
6 cloves garlic
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3/4 cup chicken broth
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon butter

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a large ziplock bag add:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Seal and turn to coat

In a medium ziplock bag add:
3/4 pound mushrooms, sliced
6 cloves garlic
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3/4 cup chicken broth
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon butter

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat and sauté the chicken until it is nicely browned on one side (about 3 minutes).

Add the garlic. Turn the chicken breasts and scatter the mushrooms over them. Continue frying, shaking the skillet and stirring the mushrooms. Cook for about 3 minutes, then add the vinegar, broth, bay leaf and thyme. Cover tightly and simmer over medium low heat for 10 minutes, turning once.

Transfer the chicken to a platter and set aside. Continue simmering the sauce, uncovered, over medium high heat for about 7 minutes. Discard the bay leaf. Pour this mushroom sauce mixture over the chicken and serve.

Raspberry Vinegar Chicken Breasts

INGREDIENTS
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 tablespoons shallots, minced
1/3 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup raspberry vinegar
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
salt and pepper to taste

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a large ziplock bag add:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons butter

In a medium ziplock bag add:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 tablespoons shallots, minced
1/3 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup raspberry vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

In a small ziplock bag add:
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Add the chicken and butter to a large saucepan,and brown lightly on each side. Once the chicken breasts are cooked remove them from the pan and set aside.

Add the shallots and the chicken stock to the pan. Simmer for 3 minutes. Add the raspberry vinegar. Bring all to a boil and simmer, stirring, until the mixture thickens. Stir in the cream and return the chicken to the pan. Heat for 1 minute to warm the chicken, turning the chicken pieces to coat with the sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Sage Pork Chops

INGREDIENTS
1-1/4 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon dried sage
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 center cut bone-in pork chops
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon butter
2/3 cup water
1-1/3 cubes beef bouillon

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a large ziplock bag add:
4 pork chops
1 tablespoon butter
1 ¼ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon sage
¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
rub into meat

In a medium ziplock bag add:
2/3 cup water
1 1/3 cubs beef bouillon

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Melt the butter or margarine in a large skillet over medium high heat and sauté the chops for 5 minutes per side, or until well browned.

Meanwhile, in a separate small saucepan over high heat, combine the water and the bouillon and stir until bouillon dissolves. Add this to the chops, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer chops for 45 minutes.

Baked Honey Mustard Chicken

INGREDIENTS
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup prepared mustard
3/4 teaspoon dried basil
3/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a large ziplock bag add:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
salt and pepper to taste
Seal and turn to coat

In a medium ziplock bag add:
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup prepared mustard
3/4 teaspoon dried basil
3/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Place chicken breasts in a lightly greased 9×13 inch baking dish. I

Pour 1/2 of the sauce over the chicken, and brush to cover.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Turn chicken pieces over and brush with the remaining 1/2 of the honey mustard mixture. Bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

Glazed Pork Medallions

Ingredients
1 (1 ¼ lb) pork tenderloins
¼ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup orange marmalade
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon fresh ginger root, minced
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes, crushed

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a medium ziplock bag add:
1 (1 ¼ lb) pork tenderloins

In a medium ziplock bag add:
¼ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup orange marmalade
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon fresh ginger root, minced
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes, crushed

COOKING DIRECTIONS
In a large nonstick skillet coated with non-stick cooking spray, cook pork in batches over medium high heat until the juices run clear. Reduce heat to low; return all meat to the pan. Pour the remaining ingredients over the pork and turn to coat. Heat through.

Chicken Enchiladas

INGREDIENTS
1/2 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup sour cream
1 cup chopped cooked chicken breast
1/2 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers, drained
1-1/2 teaspoons margarine
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
4 (8 inch) flour tortillas
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a medium ziplock bag add:
1/2 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers, drained
Seal and mix

In a medium ziplock bag add:
1-1/2 teaspoons margarine
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon chili powder

In a medium ziplock bag add:
1 cup chopped cooked chicken breast

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Melt in a medium saucepan over medium high heat margarine, onion and chili powder, and sauté until tender. Stir in the chicken. Cook and stir until heated through.

On the tortillas spread 1/2 cup of the soup mixture. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll up tortillas, and place, seam-side-down, in a baking dish. Spoon remaining soup mixture on top, and sprinkle with cheese.

Bake 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until bubbly and lightly browned.

Slow Cooker French Dip

INGREDIENTS
1-3/4 pounds rump roast
1/2 (10.5 ounce) can beef broth
1/2 (10.5 ounce) can condensed French onion soup
1/2 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
2-3/4 French rolls
2-3/4 teaspoons butter

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a large ziplock bag add:
1-3/4 pounds rump roast
1/2 (10.5 ounce) can beef broth
1/2 (10.5 ounce) can condensed French onion soup
1/2 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Cook on Low setting for 7-8 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Split French rolls, and spread with butter. Bake 10 minutes, or until heated through.

Slice the meat on the diagonal, and place on the rolls. Serve the sauce for dipping.

Gnocchi & Tomato Bake

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 red pepper, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 (14 ounce) can chopped tomatoes
17 ½ ounces gnocchi
½ cup fresh basil, torn
4 ½ ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, torn into chunks

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a large ziplock bag add:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 red pepper, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 (14 ounce) can chopped tomatoes
½ cup fresh basil, torn

In a large ziplock bag add:
17 ½ ounces gnocchi

In a small ziplock bag add:
4 ½ ounces mozzarella cheese, torn into chunks

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Heat grill / broiler to high.

Heat the oil in a large frying pan, then cook the onion, pepper, tomatoes, and garlic for 5 minutes

Add the gnocchi, then bring to simmer

Bubble for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until gnocchi is soft and the sauce has thickened

Scatter with the mozzarella, then grill / broil for 5 to 6 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and golden

Salmon and Pesto with Rice

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds salmon fillets, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/3 cup pesto
2 tablespoons butter
2 shallots, finely chopped
1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
2 1/2 cups fish stock
2/3 cup dry white wine

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a medium ziplock bag add:
1 1/2 pounds salmon fillets, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/3 cup pesto

In a small ziplock bag add:
2 tablespoons butter
2 shallots, finely chopped

In a small ziplock bag add:
2 cupx uncooked long-grain white rice

In a small ziplock bag add:
2 1/2 cups fish stock
2/3 cup dry white wine

COOKING DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, toss salmon fillets in pesto to coat.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, and sauté shallots until tender. Stir in rice, fish stock, and wine. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 15 minutes.

Without stirring rice, place salmon in the saucepan. Cover, and continue cooking 25 to 30 minutes, until rice is tender and salmon is easily flaked with a fork.

Black Bean and Corn Pasta with Chicken

Ingredients
1/2 (16 ounce) package jumbo pasta shells
1/2 cup fresh corn kernels
1/2 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 dash hot pepper sauce
1/2 dash Worcestershire sauce
1 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a medium ziplock bag add:
1/2 (16 ounce) package jumbo pasta shells

In a medium ziplock bag add:
1/2 cup fresh corn kernels
1/2 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 dash hot pepper sauce
1/2 dash Worcestershire sauce

In a medium ziplock bag add:
1 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

In a large skillet over low heat, cook corn and black beans until bubbly

Increase heat slightly, stir in chicken, and heat through, 3 to 5 minutes. Spoon over cooked pasta.

Oriental Shrimp Noodle Soup

Ingredients
1-1/4 teaspoons vegetable oil
2/3 onion, chopped
1-1/3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root
2/3 pinch crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
5-1/3 cups chicken broth
2/3 cup peeled, diagonally sliced carrots
2/3 cup diagonally sliced celery
1-1/3 cups snow peas
1/2 pound fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
2-1/2 ramen type noodles

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a medium ziplock bag add:
2/3 onion, chopped
1-1/3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root
2/3 pinch crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

In a large ziplock bag add:
5-1/3 cups chicken broth
2/3 cup peeled, diagonally sliced carrots
2/3 cup diagonally sliced celery

In a medium ziplock bag add:
1-1/3 cups snow peas
1/2 pound fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined

In a small ziplock bag add:
Ramen noodles

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Add 2 tbsp oil to a large saucepan over medium heat cook onion, garlic, ginger and crushed red pepper in oil for 2 minutes.

Pour in broth, carrots and celery and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 5 minutes.

Stir in snow peas and shrimp, cover and cook 3 minutes.

Break noodles into 2 inch pieces and stir in to soup; cover and cook 3 minutes more, until vegetables are tender and shrimp is pink.

Easy Fusili with Tomato Pesto Sauce

Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1-1/3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
2/3 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
9 ounces fusili (spiral) pasta
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons pesto
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves for garnish

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a medium ziplock bag add:

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Sauté garlic for 2 minutes, then add tomatoes and simmer for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and return to pot.

Season tomato sauce with salt and pepper; stir in pesto. Pour sauce over hot cooked pasta and mix well. Sprinkle with cheese, garnish with basil leaves and serve immediately.

Quiche in a Bag

Ingredients
1 cup cooked diced ham (Optional)
10 oz. frozen package chopped spinach or broccoli, thawed a little and broken up.
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 small onion chopped
2 cups milk
4 eggs
1/2 cup flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 pie shell

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a large ziplock bag add:
1 cup cooked diced ham
10 oz. frozen package chopped spinach or broccoli, thawed a little and broken up.
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 small onion chopped
2 cups milk
4 eggs
1/2 cup flour
2 tsp. baking powder

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Pour into a pie shell sprayed with non stick spray. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes until set.

Paprika Chicken

Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 tbsp paprika
2 tsp salt
pepper to taste
½ cup chopped yellow onion
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp lemon juice

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a large ziplock bag add:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 tbsp paprika
2 tsp salt
pepper to taste
½ cup chopped yellow onion

In a small ziplock bag add:
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp lemon juice

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Brown chicken and onion in oil over medium heat in skillet. Cover skillet and simmer for 20 minutes over low heat.

Add sour cream and lemon juice simmer until sour cream is cooked through.

Raspberry Glazed Chicken Freezer Recipe

Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
¾ cup raspberry jam
3/4 cup ketchup
1/8 cup white vinegar
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp chili powder
1/8 tsp salt

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a large ziplock bag add:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
¾ cup raspberry jam
3/4 cup ketchup
1/8 cup white vinegar
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp chili powder
1/8 tsp salt
Seal and mix

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Barbecue on the grill, or cook in the oven at 350F for 35-45 minutes until juices run clear and thermometer registers 165F.

Cranberry Pork Roast

Ingredients
2/3 (3 pound) boneless rolled pork loin roast
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2/3 (16 ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce
2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons honey
3/4 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a large ziplock bag add:
2/3 (3 pound) boneless rolled pork loin roast
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2/3 (16 ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce
2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons honey
3/4 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

Rosemary Roasted Chicken

Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
2-1/4 teaspoons minced garlic
1-1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
3/4 teaspoon chopped fresh basil
3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
salt to taste
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

PREPERATION DIRECTIONS
In a large ziplock bag add:
3 tablespoons olive oil
2-1/4 teaspoons minced garlic
1-1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
3/4 teaspoon chopped fresh basil
3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
salt to taste
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

COOKING DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F

Place the chicken on a rack in a roasting pan. Add about 1/4 inch of water to the bottom of the pan. Roast in the preheated oven 30-40 mins.

Photo Restoration

A little somethin, somethin for my friend Lette’s birthday…

Before - This is where the image started.

Before - This is where the image started.

After - Some Restoration

After - Some Restoration

The December Sock

Very, very, very loudly the sigh drifts from my lips. This is of course after I’ve thrown a full scale temper tantrum that had I not been on a crowded bus would have involved an on the floor screaming, leg kicking, fist pounding best two year old tantrum that anyone has ever seen!  The tantrum did involve some needle throwing and some full fledged rather violent ripping.  I did manage to bite the ever loving crud out out of my cheeks to hold in the many curses that I wished to scream at the top of my lungs!  I only managed to refrain from throwing the full tantrum when I by chance glanced up from mad cheek biting and violent ripping to notice that a very good portion of the bus was staring at me.

My knitting while occasionally frustrating rarely really upsets me.  I accept that as part of knitting there is frogging this is and always will be just something you suck up and you do and you march on. There will always be bad patterns out there and even more often there will be bad pattern readers out there.  There will always be the days where you just didn’t think the rule of creating a gauge swatch really applied to you.  There will always be projects that require modification to fit your actual measurements.  Most of the time I actually try to take frogging as a learning lesson for something to do differently in the future.

But I digress back to the conniption on the bus…  What led to this little round of madness you ask?  THE SOCK or as it is now and shall forever be known as that F’ING SOCK.  I had a plan, I stuck to the plan, the plan worked like a charm!  Eleven long months of sock knitting had produced on time 5 pairs of socks and 1/2 only 1/2 of one pair of socks left to go.  I being the brilliant project manager / planner that I am was on track to finish on time no less!  I had fully planned to save one of the easiest pairs for last.  One that knit up on larger needles so that it would go quickly.

In December it began I started this little project about a week late but I knew how quickly and easily the first sock had gone and thought to myself no problem.  This sock was actually my first attempt at design and it had gone extraordinarily well.  I knew this sock like the back of my hand, no worries… and then it began:

  • Frogging round 1 – I started with a larger size of needles by mistake
  • Frogging round 2 - Can’t remember why this frogging round occured but I remember that it did occur
  • Frogging round 3 - UNFREAKING BELIEVABLE the  F’ing sock has to be knit a very specific way from the heel and who paid no attention that’s right the f’ing planner (hence foreward known as the dumb ass)
  • Frogging round 4 – Did something wrong and frogged the heel again
  • Frogging round 5 – OMG kill me now this is a sock for heavens sake a SOCK why is a SOCK defeating me!!!!!  This time I finished the heel all is on track and THEN I screwed up the pattern.

This is how a grown 33 year old woman succumbs to wishing like mad that they could act like a two year old and throw a full scale tantrum.

The Unfinished Sock

The Finished Half of the Socks

A Room of Her Own

I was in a knitting frenzy. Don’t ask me what had come over me it was just one of those days where I wanted to knit everything in site.  And I went to it.  But then I needed my knitting guage measure; out to the living room I went.  Then I needed a different pair of needles oop those were in my room and off I went.  Then I needed to check on the previous sock that I had made.  Oop that was downstairs where I had left them to take picutres for Ravelry. 

In short I walked up down and around my house trying to get to all of the items that I needed I made so many trips that I quickly became very frustrated.  I am, or at least I thought I was an organized person prior to all of this nonsense.  This was not only frustrating I was WASTING valuable knitting time!  Simply unacceptable!  How was I going to fix this I pondered?  I stared at the accumulation of all those trips and thought to myself of all the other areas in my home upstairs, downstairs,  work bag, and car where items were stashed and <BING> the light went off!  My room yes, yes, this just might work.  I am very fortunate to have a rather large room and since I’m not married (thank you LORD!) my room belongs only to me! 

What if I cleared out a corner, if I brought this chair up?  And brought this in, I could move this around… Quickly the idea emerged and I was off to work.  A few short hours later VOILA!  So the picture below is horrible no matter what I do this room just doesn’t receive enough natural light in the winter to take a good picture.  Alas, I know what it looks like in my head…  Sanctuary, peace, serenity, I don’t get to spend enough time there but when I do; dogs at my right in the sunny spot, generally my teenager taking over my bed I find a place often yearned for, home.

Home is where the heart is.

Home is where the heart is.

I love it! I love it! I love it!  You know what it’s like when you get a little obsessed with something???  Well having created my own Yarn Swift and then getting the new ball winder I may have gotten a little OCD… I mean just a little itty bitty tiny bit.  Getting the hang of using them took about 3 skeins to accomplish but once I had it down no piece of yarn was safe.  Dear Lord who knew I had so much stash that needed to be wound?  Every piece of leftover yarn that wasn’t in a cake somehow became one. You know you’ve got it bad when you’ve exhausted your own stash and have had to call in your other knitting buddies to bring you their stash so that it can be wound as well.  They needed nice neat pretty wound balls too don’t they?  No, really I’m not kidding… THEY DO: Lette’s Cakes.

All the yarn cakes!!!

All the yarn cakes!!!

And this isn’t even a fraction of the balls that I’ve wound! WEEE!  Anybody, else need to have some skeins wound?

So, I sit in the haircut shop the other day waiting for my son to get a new “do” and I’m of course BOMBARDED by all of the “rags.” I use the term rags very liberally here. What do I mean by rags you ask?  Well I mean People, Cosmo, In Style and their ilk. I can’t help it one calls to me, I have to pick it up. It’s one of their, “Most Beautiful” issues and then it begins. You know what I’m talking about, every woman does. You start to feel less… every flaw, every drop of fat, every pore, every piece of clothing is no longer good enough. You may have felt great, clothing perfect, hair perfect, and thought my butt looks G O O D in these jeans. Now that you’ve touched the rag however that’s all gone. I swear the rags are made by vampires. Vampires that suck away ones ability to feel good about themselves in the skin they are in.

Well you know what, screw every single one of them; at 33 I have:

  • Wrinkles
  • My hair hasn’t been done in God only knows how long
  • My butt is so much further south than it used to be
  • My breasts which have never been one of my assets and have seen way to many push up bras are now more depressed than ever

And you know what I DO NOT GIVE A DAMN! That’s right I do not give a damn. Like it? Great! Don’t? I do not care!

  • Every wrinkle is because I laughed and smiled as much and as often as is humanly possible. I love being blessed enough in this life to have so many opportunities to smile and laugh.
  • Hair is clean and long and I still get a thrill messing with it. Those streaks that are fading aren’t from a damn two hour torture stint in a beauty shop they’re from being out in the beautiful sunshine sitting on the swing with my son, they’re from playing with my dogs outside, they’re from many hours spent in an herb garden that I adore.
  • The stretch marks on my breasts and their general lack of perkiness are because I nursed a child that I didn’t know if I was going to be able to bring home and for that I will always be grateful!
  • The butt… well it’s still there and let’s face it if I really wanted to I could eat less of the food that I like and exercise more. Guess what I am healthy and so is my gear in the rear. I’m not going to miss out on food just to maintain a size 2 world be damned! I am not overweight and if the rear view bugs you I’m guessing you know what you can do!  If you aren’t sure what to do send me an email and I’ll gladly reply with a lengthy email on where you can go and exactly how you can get there.

For every one of my friends who looks at themselves and doesn’t feel good enough.  For every woman who looks in a mirror and can’t smile.  For every time I’ve looked at myself and judged every single flaw real and imagined I QUIT!!!  I am not going to worry about what’s failing me on the outside.  It’s time to face facts, what’s outside is going to rot away one day very soon and no amount of botox, surgery, or lipo is going to change that fact. I will worry about what I believe is going to live on long after I do; my legacy as a mother to a child and the soul that I believe will live on forever that’s what I’ll be working on.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not giving up on myself.  I’m not going to a commune to live as a nudist.  I’m just accepting myself exactly as I am.  Now however, I’ll have the presence of mind to realize that what others and I myself have seen as flaws are really all about perception. I choose to look at what most would consider to be a flaw or GOD forbid a sign of aging and recognize each and everybit of it as a blessing.

So take the rags and put them to good use, start a compost heap or start a campfire with them then make some awesome s’mores (probably not a good idea to actually roast a marshmallow on top of the fumes they put off though). Really that’s all they’re good for!

DIY Swift for $18.00

Recently I walked into my LYS; I had two skeins of yarn that I’d been given I was wanting to work with and thought maybe they wouldn’t mind winding them up for me.  Naturally, I assumed there would be payment involved.  I figured I’d get charged $1 or $2 bucks each to have them wound. However, when the LYS owner said $5 a skein I think my jaw may have dropped. Matter of fact I’m almost sure that I stared for awhile like a blundering idiot thinking that this was a joke. Perhaps they thought I was lying and that I’d bought the yarn elsewhere. I wasn’t, I was given this yarn as part of a swap – Forum Post. Who knows what they thought? But the thought of $5 a skein struck me as ludicrous. So I did what any other cheapskate like myself would do. I politely said, “No, thank you I’ll just buy my own.”

Now perhaps at this moment savy LYS owner smirked knowing what the price of a swift and ball winder was and thought that I’d be back with my proverbial tail between my legs to pay for my skeins to be wound.  Sadly though I did at that time know exactly what a swift and ball winder cost and I was determined that I would do this for $50.  Why $50?  Ten just happens to be the number of skeins in my stash that needed to be wound and therefore the break even dollar amount.  If I could do this for $50 it would be the same amount as if I’d paid to have it done but I’d never have to worry about it again.  Now some of you are probably thinking, “oh wind the damn skeins yourself and quit your bitching”.  For most folks I’d agree with you but I ride a train to and from work everyday and this is where I do a ton of my knitting.  Anyone who has ever dropped a ball of yarn knows those bad boys have the incredible tendency of going further and around more things than you would have thought possible.  On a train however it is positively spectacular; trust me I know.  So center pull balls are a MUST!

Now how could I do this on the cheap for $50??? Working the online mojo I found the cheapest but well rated ball winder that I could. There were no acceptable shortcuts that I could find for a ball winder. All in all it’s just worth it to buy that bad boy and be done with it. The ball winder just happened to come from Amazon the cheapest, no tax and free shipping scored the ball winder for $28.99. Step 1 done and over half of the budget gone. As anyone who’s looked into a ball winder and swift knows, the ball winder is the easy part; your average swift will run you anywhere from $55 for a cheapy on up. I started to look at all kinds of swifts; Lacis Umbrella Swift, Table Top Yarn Swift, and even a Goko Yarn Swift.   None of these were going to make the budget so I started looking into DIY swifts. I have to admit I found many more ideas out there than I thought that I would:

I’ll be damned if there aren’t some very creative folks out there who are absolutely brilliant in using things they have on hand. After seeing all of the spectacular ideas I still hadn’t hit on the one that worked for me. Either they required things I didn’t have; be they skills, tools, or toys or they weren’t quite as permanent as I wanted to make mine. AND then after a few hours of hunting I found IT! The Beka Yarn Swift (see it in action). Now this I thought to myself I could do. Even better I knew just how I could do it. I was also, pretty positive I could do it on budget. One trip to the local Home Depot confirmed all of my suspicions. If you own a drill, 1/4 inch drill bit, and a saw you too can make your own swift for about $18.00.

So here you have it directions for an $18.00 homemade swift that works dang nicely if I do say so myself!

DIY Swift

DIY Swift

Supplies

  1. 8 – 3/4 inch PVC 45 degree slip elbows: .64 x 8 = 5.12
  2. 4 – 3/4 inch PVC 90 degree slip elbows: .67 x 4 = 2.68
  3. 2 – 3/4 inch PVC cross all slip: 2.05 x 5 = 4.10
  4. 2 – 3/4 inch PVC pipes: 1.27 x 2 = 2.54
  5. 1 – 1/4 inch wooden dowel: .65 x 1 = .65
  6. 1 – Wooden Base: 2.09 x 1 = 2.09
  7. 1 – Old CD
  8. 1 – Drill
  9. 1 – 1/4 inch drill bit
  10. 1 – Saw
  11. Sandpaper

**IMPORTANT NOTE – Make sure that you get PVC that is not threaded it should be a slip end for all pieces (in other words the pieces connect by just slipping in, no screwing) (wow all the double entendres in that sentence alone are staggering).   If you’re not sure ask a sales person they’ll be able to help!

Directions

  1. Take your handy dandy drill with that 1/4 inch drill bit and grab the two PVC cross slip pieces (Item 4 in the Supplies list) in the very center drill straight through the middle of the cross sections do this to both of the cross sections on the top and bottom (picture below)
  2. Take your wooden base (Item 6 in the Supplies list) and drill in the center approximately 1/2 way through the center of the board (picture below)
  3. Saw 4 lengths of PVC pipe (Item 4 in the Supplies list) to 5.5 inches long
  4. Saw 4 lengths of PVC pipe (Item 4 in the Supplies list) to 15 inches long
  5. Saw 4 lengths of PVC pipe (Item 4 in the Supplies list) to 1.25 inches long
  6. Saw 4 lengths of PVC pipe (Item 4 in the Supplies list) to 17 inches long
  7. Attach pieces from step 3 (5.5 inch lengths of cut PVC pipe) to the PVC cross that you drill through in step 1 (Item 4 in the supplies list)
  8. Attach the 45 degree slip elbows (Item 1 in the supplies list)
  9. Attach pieces from step 4 (15 inch lengths of cut PVC pipe) to the other side of the 45 degree slip elbows
  10. Attach the next 4 45 degree slip elbows to the ends of the PVC cut in step 4
  11. Attach the small pieces of PVC cut in step 5 above (1.25 inch lengths of cut PVC pipe)
  12. Attach the 90 degree PVC (Item 2 in the Supplies list) elbows to the other side of the PVC from the step above
  13. Attach the 4 remaining pieces of PVC (17 inch lengths of cut PVC pipe) to the PVC cross (Item 3 in the supplies list)
  14. Then attach to the ends of 90 degree elbows
  15. Cut the wooden dowel (Item 5 in the supplies list) into a 17 inch length
  16. Cut the remaining wooden dowel into 4 small 2 inch pieces
  17. Insert the 17 inch wooden dowel (step 15) through the top of the PVC cross then through the bottom cross
  18. Line up the CDs inner open circle with the bottom of the wooden base that you drilled the whole through in step 1 (picture below)
  19. Insert the bottom of the wooden dowel into the wooden base
  20. Drill small holes in the upper 4 sections of the PVC
  21. Insert the small lengths of dowel cut in step 16 into the small drill holes made in step 20
  22. Last but not least the PVC on the edges where the yarn rests is slick to give it some surface tension use the sand paper and rough up the arms a bit with a good sanding.  This will help to hold the yarn in place
  23. DONE!  Start winding!

Now, I’m sure despite my best effort that my directions suck so hopefully the following pictures will help to better demonstrate what I have tried to describe.  If not please feel free to post your questions and I’ll try to get back to you as quickly as I can.

Step 1

Step 1

Step 2

Step 2

Top Leg Angle with Dowel

Top Leg Angle with Dowel

Bottom of Leg Angle

Bottom of Leg Angle

Center View - Assembled

Center View - Assembled

Top of Swift

Top of Swift

Here is the final result with a skein on in full spin!

Its alive I tell you, its alive!

It's alive I tell you, it's alive!

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