White Christmas in the Making

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Holiday Lights

After years of pleading from my youngest, we finally gave in and put lights on the outside of our house:

I am actually really glad because I think it looks good! Very festive:-)

Christmas Cactus

This is what my Christmas cactus looked like last year:



It does not look like that this year:-(

Thanksgiving Herbs

I started them late but I think I will have enough sage and thyme for my Thanksgiving dinner:-) Whew!

New Gardens

Look at what my husband built for me:


Two new gardens to fill with black gold and and yummies in the spring. I CAN'T wait!!

Batten Down the Hatches

No gardening this week because I am too busy cleaning up from this week's storm. It knocked over our brand new grill!! I could hardly pick it back up but the wind knocked it over!! Holy Crap! And, look what it did to our shed:

Totally blew the doors off!!!! Granted, it wasn't the most sound structure but geeeeezzz!

Back Inside

The cold temperatures have prompted my crew back inside:-)

Confused?

It has been so beautiful that this little guy is confused:



You are supposed to bloom in July!

Until Next Year...

My dreams of a warm September ends in this pile of pool shrapnel:-)

You provided many memories for us this summer and I look forward to the day that we meet again:-)

Tackling a Pergola That is Done

It's time for Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom . That's right! It is finally done and here it is:

Whew! That was a huge undertaking but now, I have to get to work on moving the grapes over:-)

Still Working On It

In between the raindrops, 3 parties and overnight guests....



...we are still working on it:-)

Don't Forget to Save Those Seeds!!!

Remember this post from last year???

"Gardening is a way to say that you believe in tomorrow." If that saying is true, than I believe! And if that is true, I need to save some seeds to have tomatoes tomorrow...or in this case, the spring.

Saving seeds is easy if you follow these steps:

1. Seed a tomato

2. Place said seed into a very fine sieve:

3. Rinse the seeds gently. The goal here is to remove the gelatinous material that the seeds swim in and the thin membrane around each seed. This takes longer than you think because those membranes can be really stubborn. For the really difficult ones, you can gently rub them between two paper towels. This is what it looks like before and after:

4. Dry them on a paper plate. See how many seeds I got from a half of a tomato?

5. Once they are dried, wrap the seeds in a paper towel and place them in a labeled food storage bag.

6. Store them in the refrigorator until them at ready to plant in the spring.

Happy Saving:-)

Tackling a Pergola

It's time for Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom . This weekend was erected this:

So, it will be the new home to my grapes:-)

Bye Bye Basil

After 12 four-ounce and 2 eight-ounce jars of pesto plus a bunch of frozen basil, that's the last of it that I am drying-) See you next year:-)

Pergola Plans

This week, we worked on plans to erect a pergola in our backyard. Our grape arbor is not only on it's last leg but should have been replaced last year.


We are looking at building a 16X12 foot structure however, my husband thinks it will only be 14X10 inside. Do you think that is enough room to entertain underneath? It doesn't seem big enough to me.

Tomatoes Galore

This is the first year that I have tried to can tomatoes (probably because this is the first year that I had tomatoes worth canning). I did 2 quarts and 6 pints!! Yahoo!!!


I have to be careful though...they are almost all gone and I haven't saved my seeds for next year yet!!

Pomodoro Sauce in Action

Happy Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordful Wednesday on SevEn cLoWn CirCus! Remember the recipe from Monday? Here it is in action on top of chicken and bow tie pasta.

Yummo!!! It was so fragrant that the neighbor kids had their noses pressed against my screen door!! No kidding! It was hilarious!!

Pomodoro Sauce

I am doing more menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie and finding more deals at Pick N Save for $5 Dinners and putting them together with great recipes:-)

Last week before school start which means...one more week of summer vacation. All of our back-to-school shopping is done. We got new glasses. Now, we just need an appointment for a flu shot and a hair cut and we will be all set for school. Yahoo!!

Thank goodness Pick N Save is helping me out with my menu planning! They have boneless pork loin on sale for $1.99/lb. (normally $3.99/lb.) !! I bought a bunch and I am going to top them with Pomodor Sauce (check out the recipe below). It is going to be super cheap because instead of canned tomatoes, I used my fresh tomatoes from my garden. We are going to eat like kings for months with what I have going on out there!!

Here is everything that I am serving this week:

Monday: Spaghetti (Cleaning Day)

Tuesday: Pork Chops with Pomodoro Sauce (See recipe below)

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Chicken and Rice

Friday: Eat Out

Pomodoro Sauce
Ingredients:
5 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for garnish later
6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
3 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes
2 1/2 tsp sugar
·Kosher salt or sea salt
1 medium onion, finely diced
1/2 cup basil, chiffionade
1 pinch red pepper flakes

Directions:
1. Begin by heating the olive oil over medium heat in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Sautee the diced onions if you're using them, until they're soft but not browned. Add the garlic (in slices or paste) and sauté carefully and briefly, don’t let it turn brown; if you're using red pepper flakes, you can add that pinch now too. Add the tomatoes and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat.
2. This sauce can be covered with a lid wholly or partially as it does not need to reduce too much; if you're making a creamier sauce your ingredients are mostly in puree and paste form and will not need much reducing; if it's a chunkier sauce with diced tomatoes, onions and garlic, you might leave the lid off so it reduces a bit better as it may be slightly watery. You can also add a small can of tomato paste with the diced tomatoes, to absorb some of their water.

3. Cook approximately 30 - 60 minutes, until the sauce slightly thickens. Stir and check it occasionally. Add sugar and salt according to taste during the process. Don't over-salt it but make sure it's not bland either, a common problem of poorly-made sauces. Taste it! as you go along, don't guess! Cook it longer if it seems to need 'more taste', as the reduction and mixing of the ingredients progresses over more cooking time, as is true with almost all sauces.

Servings: 12
Yield: 2 quarts

Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/12 of a recipe (7.7 ounces).
Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients. One of the recipe's ingredients was not linked. This ingredient is not included in the recipe nutrition data.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 195.9
Calories From Fat (29%) 56.56
% Daily Value
Total Fat 6.45g 10%
Saturated Fat 0.88g 4%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 271mg 11%
Potassium 805.05mg 23%
Total Carbohydrates 32.98g 11%
Fiber 5.03g 20%
Sugar 1.82g
Protein 6.57g 13%

Recipe Type
Italian, Sauce

Tips
Experiment with the tastes and consistencies of the tomatoes you use, since they are the most important ingredient; some chefs will mix fresh tomatoes in with canned tomato paste, some will try a can of tomatoes, mixed with fresh tomatoes, and add some tomato paste.

Experiment with different herbs and seasonings... though experiment carefully. You are usually safe to try adding small amounts of herbs that are generally known to be good in Italian red sauces... but first put the tiniest pinch of any herb on a spoonful of the sauce to see what you think, rather than dumping it straight into the main batch. If it seems to go well, you might try a pinch in with the sauce to begin with, and add more if you're liking the taste.

Common other additions include, to your taste: mushrooms of various kinds, colored bell peppers, hot peppers, and meats. Pomodoro sauce and pasta are especially famous and recommended to go with chicken, but other meats, seafood, and meatballs are used.

A secret ingredient of some chefs is to add a little cream to the sauce to make it... er... creamier.

Source
Web Page: http://www.pomodorosauce.com/

Recipe Cost: $4.32 ($1.32 with fresh tomatoes)
Serving Cost: $ .36 ($0.11 with fresh tomatoes)

Grape Jam

This is what I did yesterday:


9 jars and vines and vines to go...

Hazy Shade of Summer

My camera lense was weeping in the heat this morning but out of pain comes beauty.

Presto Pesto

Happy Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordful Wednesday on SevEn cLoWn CirCus! Heck, I am even linking this up to Amy's Round Robin on Keeping Up with the Schultz Family on Friday.

It's time to harvest the basil and I love it because that means pesto time:

I love it! It is good in pasta dishes, mixed with mayo on sandwiches and even as a topping for grilled fish. I found a recipe for some dessert pesto that I am dying to try. I will let you know how it turns out:-)

Chicken in Basil Cream

I am doing more menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie and finding more deals at Pick N Save for $5 Dinners and putting them together with great recipes:-)

Summer isn't over yet but my life is starting to pick back up anyway. This week, I have 2 doctor appointments, Girl Scout Day at The Wisconsin State Fair, an oil change and back to school shopping. I am also helping my older daughter pack to move back to Madison for college. She is a Junior this year and getting her first apartment!!! Unbelievable!

Thank goodness Pick N Save is helping me out with my menu planning! They have split chicken breasts on sale for $1.28/lb. (normally $4.69/lb.) !! I bought a bunch so I could make Chicken in Basil Cream. Check out the recipe below.

Here is everything that I am serving this week:

Monday: Spaghetti (Cleaning Day)

Tuesday: Chicken in Basil Cream (2 doctor appointments) (See recipe below)

Wednesday: Leftovers (Girl Scout Day at The Wisconsin State Fair)

Thursday: Pork Chops (oil change)

Friday: Eat Out (Back to school shopping)

Chicken In Basil Cream
Ingredients:
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup dried bread crumbs
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
3 Tbs butter
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 (4 ounce) jar sliced pimento peppers, drained
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/8 tsp ground black pepper

Directions
1. Place milk and bread crumbs in separate, shallow bowls. In skillet, heat butter or margarine to medium heat. Dip chicken in milk, then coat with crumbs. Cook in butter or margarine, on both sides, until juices run clear (about 10 minutes). Remove and keep warm.

2. Add broth to skillet. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and stir to loosen browned bits from pan. Stir in cream and pimentos; boil and stir for 1 minute. Reduce heat.

3. Add Parmesan cheese, basil and pepper. Stir sauce and cook until heated through. Pour mixture over chicken and serve!

Servings: 8

Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/8 of a recipe (6.6 ounces).
Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients. One of the recipe's ingredients was not linked. This ingredient is not included in the recipe nutrition data.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 318.4
Calories From Fat (53%) 168.36
% Daily Value
Total Fat 19.09g 29%
Saturated Fat 11.28g 56%
Cholesterol 127.1mg 42%
Sodium 259.85mg 11%
Potassium 369.98mg 11%
Total Carbohydrates 4.02g 1%
Fiber 0.21g <1%>

Recipe Cost: $13.68 ($6.27 on sale)

Serving Cost: $ 1.71 ($0.78 on sale)

How Do You Like Me Now?

Remember the geraniums that I got in May? Well, check them out now:

I am so happy how they are growing:-)

Impatiens

My impatiens are looking great this year!! It's amazing what a frequent application of fertilizer will do!!

Fancy Mailboxes

Part of the outdoor landscape includes hardscaping like stones and patios and things like that. But, it also includes your Mailbox. Now, here in Wisconsin, our mail boxes take a licking. Every winter, the snowplows come out and leave a battlefield of Mailbox carnage in their wake. Many homeowners take this opportunity to upgrade their formerly erect pillars of correspondence receptacles. And there are many options!

You can go from this:

To this:

Or show some personality with this:
Or go all ostentatious like this (my personal favorite):

No matter which way you chose to go, make sure that the design you choose fails under the guidelines of your particular area. Some subdivisions have very specific restrictions on creativity when it comes to the curbside appeal of your home.

And, if that darned snow plow threatens your mail box again, you can always do this:

Hostas!

They are doing so well this year:-)

Future Spaghetti Sauce

The basil is ready but...


...the tomatoes are just starting.

Soon there will be sauce:-)

Look Who Came to Breakfast

Happy Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordful Wednesday on SevEn cLoWn CirCus!

That stinker was eating all my apples!!

Hometown Seeds Deal

I have got a lot of watching grass growing around here so, I don't have much to share for Gardening Thursday however, I do have a deal for you.

Hometwon Seeds would like to offer a 20% discount on all of our products to my readers. By entering the coupon code "thanks", 20% will be reduced from the total cost of any order. The code will be good through July 31, 2010.

So head on over to Hometwon Seeds and tell them Susie sent you:-)

Chicken Pesto Penne Rerun

I am doing more menu planning with I'm an Organizing Junkie and finding more deals at Pick N Save for $5 Dinners and putting them together with great recipes:-)

Well, my husband is back at work but I still have a housefull with my oldest still here from college and my youngest home from school. In addition, I have training for the leading a unit in day camp. Simple is key!!!

Thank goodness Pick N Save has chicken breasts on sale for $2.79/lb. (normally $4.79/lb.) because I am making my Chicken Pesto Penne which is yet another rerun....when will the madness end?

Here is everything that I am serving this week:

Monday: Not-sagna Pasta Toss (Cleaning Day)

Tuesday: Tuna Pasta Salad

Wednesday: Chicken Pesto Penne

Thursday: Left Overs (Unit Leader Training)

Friday: Eat Out

Garden Chores

After our trip, all I can muster up today was cleaning my pool and pulling weeds in the vegetable garden. I guess I am still on vacation because that is as far as I got before we jumped in my newly cleaned pool:-)

Just a side note, we have one of those Quick Set pools. In the past, we have had tons of problems with the ones with the inflatable top. They leak air. They leak water. And unless you are on completely (and I mean completely) level ground, you have a deep end. So, this year, we got the kind with the frame and so far so good! So, if your yard is less than stable, I recommend it:-)

Have Some Lettuce

We are on our way to Kansas. So, while I am gone, enjoy my first lettuce harvest of the year:

Even though I am gone, come back tomorrow for a Blog Frog Friday experiment:-)

Lovely Peony

Veggie Garden

I usually don't plant the veggie garden until Memorial Day weekend but this year, summer has come early. I actually feel a little behind. Some other blogs are showing buds and harvest already! But here in Wisconsin, this is what you get:-)

Geraniums of Appreciation

This week, volunteers were honored for their service at the elementary school. I was a recipient of this appreciation for chairing the bake sale (did anyone doubt that I wouldn't lead a bake sale?) and for my committment to the PTO. Look what I got:

I got two of these little globes that water your plants for you. Neat:-)

I was also introduced to the masses as the next Vice-President of the PTO:-) I guess I have my work cut out for me next year!

Snow in Spring

Another flowering crab but this one looks like snow:-)

Flowering Crab

This is the view from my bedroom window.

Gorgeous, right?

My Bleeding Heart

...is singing:-)

I Wanta Soak Up the Sun

My tulips are enjoying the day basking:-)

Snow is a Four Letter Word

I can't even bare to take a picture of it!!

What is Going on in My Garden

We are still painting away but, I have done a lot in the garden before this week to keep on schedule during this busy week. So, here is a recap of what I have been up to:

3/9/10:

I sowed lettuce, peppers, marigold and basil. The lettuce is sprouting:

and so are the marigold:

3/17/10:
I had planted some peas directly into the garden on St. Patrick's Day. This was the first time I have tried this so early in our Wisconsin spring. So, wish me luck with these.

I also turned my compost and although it is very "leafy" there is some really great black gold in there!! I can't wait to get started!!

3/19/10:

I started the tomato seeds today! They tested well so, I am looking forward to a good crop this year:-)

Sprouts

Glorious Sprouts!!

Welcome Back Babies!!!