WATCHING MY GARDEN GROW

Good morning. The garden scene is on again. Wow all at once it seems we have loads of zucchini blossoms and the tomatoes are out of their cages. It will not be long now before we are eating squash and cukes. We have been enjoying the lettuce now for a while. We love our garden.


It is showering right now. I would not mind in the least except that I have to be out and about today and I just washed and waxed my car a couple days ago. So here it sits in the garage gleaming and now will be out on wet dirty streets. I guess the old adage is true. "Wash your car and it will rain."  Usually I just run it through the car wash but I wanted to really detail it.
I am running to the farms today for needed veggies and fruit and also out to the country meat market for hubby's favorite sausages. Tomorrow is grocery shopping and some new togs for me. As much as I loathe shopping I must buy some capri's and a couple tops. I am getting clothes poor. I also need to get my hair cut tomorrow.  So a day for Zo.


Last night I made mac and cheese and tuna cakes and green salad for dinner. Nothing to exciting but hubby always loves my mac and cheese. Tonight we are having the sausages I am picking up, and I will make the paprika potatoes he loves. So a Hungarian meal for my Hungarian man.
Today is his last long hard day on this job the next two will be shorter days. Then a few days of r&r. He is more than ready.


This how we make our paprika potatoes. (Hubby's recipe)
Peel and chop potatoes put in pot to boil.
In a skillet, add some olive oil, one large bell pepper sliced, 1/2 onion sliced, garlic minced and a Anaheim pepper if you want a little heat. Add salt, pepper and approximately 2 tablespoons paprika. This will make a nice rich color as well as adding flavor. Saute the peppers until done hubby actually likes them a bit browned. When the potatoes are fork tender drain them well and add a big dollop of butter and add the sauteed pepper mixture and mix gently into the potatoes. 
That is it.  They are soft and buttery with pieces of the peppers and onions. 
I will boil the sausages as they are not cooked and then brown them off in a skillet with a tad of olive oil. If I am not making the paprika potatoes I usually add a variety of sliced peppers and fry them off with the sausage. To add to tonight's meal I am serving sliced tomatoes and cucumbers and green olives.


We are looking forward to our anniversary lunch Thursday at Ambrosia. My husband wants calazone and I will have the pizza. We will share a bottle of their good Chianti. 


Well now what to do about my walk. I am going to hold off I think until I return home today. Maybe the sun will be popping out by then. Right now it is dismal and raining. No thanks!


Thought for the day.
"What you are is what you have been, what you will be is what you do now.
If you want to know your past look into your present condition; if you want to know your future life look at the your present actions.


Now that is something to chew on.
Ciao

NIECE SARAH IN VENICE

Here is my niece Sarah in Venice a couple weeks ago. What a time she is having this summer. Every weekend she goes somewhere new in Italy to explore. At the end of her teaching gig there in Vicenza she will have time before coming home to make a trip to Germany to see friends she met while there last year and she also wants to go to Hungary. On route home she will meet her parents in New York and the three of them will then go to Boston for a holiday as that is where her father lived in his early years. So quite an agenda this summer for this young woman.


I had a nice afternoon yesterday with my sister-in law Liz, Sarah's Mom.  She came to look at Sarah's Facebook photo's as she is without a computer at the present time. Sarah has hundreds of pictures posted so it took Liz a while to go through them all. Afterward I made us gourmet popcorn for a little snack and we sat out at the patio table and nibbled on popcorn and had a glass or two of wine. We chatted and caught up on family news and then I copied off some of my blog recipes for her. Tonight she is making those Easy Cheesy Enchilada's.


Here's what I do to make my home made popcorn.
Put oil to just cover the bottom in a saucepan that has a lid.
Sprinkle in the popcorn(Orville's is best) to cover bottom of pan.
Put the lid on the pan at a tilt to let air escape put not so much as to let the popped kernels escape. Set the burner to medium and keep it on med. When all the corn has popped remove pan from burner and put popcorn in a bowl. Drizzle with melted butter and then using a fine grater grate Parmesan cheese onto the popcorn. I like quite a lot of cheese. Then add some dried basil, salt and little pepper. Mix well and serve. It is so good and a nice treat to munch on. I fix my popcorn in many ways. If I am wanting a sweet and salty I add the melted butter then add a teaspoon or so of sugar and sprinkle with salt. The butter allows the toppings to stick to the corn. Try herbs or herb butter you have made. Or even some soft cheese like Gorgonzola, whatever pleases you.  With a little imagination  plain simple popcorn can be a mouth pleasing little treat.


We woke to overcast skies this morning and they are still here they will burn off and the sun will shine through clouds today to give us about seventy seven degree's. My that sounded like a weather forecast. Maybe I missed my calling.


I have been playing the piano the last few days. I just love that song "To make you feel my love" by Adele. So I have been learning to play it. That songs makes a big lump lodge in my throat. Odd isn't what music can do to your heart. Sometimes when I play I just get overwhelmed with emotions  It is almost like meditating for me. I must play more often as it cleanses my soul.


I have the house tidy already this morning but I have not walked. I did not feel the need to rush with the gray skies so when this is finished I am out the door to walk under a dismal gray blanket.


Enjoy your Monday though I know that was not my favorite day when I was working. The end of your work week always seems so far away on your first day back after the weekend.
Adios 

ZO'S EASY CHEESEY ENCHILADA'S

It was a real laid back evening last night. Hubby was so tired he has put in ten-eleven hour days all week and is still at it for the next three.
We did our little easy Mexican meal. Always his fave as I have mentioned before. These are tasty enchilada's and they are simple takes no time at all. Also I made my mexi rice which is a snap and everyone always likes it. So I will include these two recipes at the end of my blog.


So here it is an amazing Sunday morning and what is Zo doing? I don't know. I do feel a little bored today but there are certainly things I could do today as far as projects. But I really feel like having fun and having a self indulgent day. I have been diligent all week and have accomplished much. I hold the day in my hand but not to be squandered. This is an another perfectly appointed day. Not a hint of a breeze, that dark blue clear sky once again, beaming sun and not to hot nor not to cold it is a Goldilocks day!


My son called yesterday afternoon. He was perched on a high basalt rock taking in the view of the Cascade mountain range. He saw five mountains I believe he said. He had driven his truck as far as possible and then rode his dirt bike to his destination. He had taken a lunch and was quite content to spend the afternoon by himself with his thoughts in this beautiful place in nature. He made me want to be there too but without the dirt bike adventure.


Well here are the recipes. You really should throw this quick dinner together some night when you want something quick.


Zo's Easy Cheesey Enchilada's.
12 corn tortillas
canola oil for frying
14 ounces of green chili salsa
2 cups of shredded cheese. Here you can save time and buy shredded I bought a Mexican mix for the filling and grated cheddar for the topping.
1/2 onion minced
1/2 Anaheim pepper minced
Paprika for sprinkling on top
Canned sliced jalapeno peppers
Sour cream and salsa for toppings after plating.


Put a small amount of the oil in a skillet and heat the tortilla's till limp remove and set on paper towels. Continue with all the tortilla's.
Add diced onion and the Anaheim pepper to small skillet with a couple tablespoons of water, cover with a lid and let steam until tender. Spread a third of the green chili salsa to cover the bottom of the casserole.  
Spoon shredded cheese down the center of each tortilla and add a sprinkle of the onions and pepper over the top. Roll tortilla and lay seam side down in the sauce in a 9x13 casserole dish. Repeat with all tortilla's. Cover all with the remaining green chili salsa. Cover the top with grated cheddar or mexi blend cheese, scatter the sliced jalapenos over the top and sprinkle with paprika.
Bake in 350 oven for about 25 minutes till top is golden and bubbling.
Plate and add a dollop of sour cream and salsa if desired. We also at times will add chopped lettuce and tomatoes.


I serve this with my quick version of mexi rice.
Follow directions for long grain white rice. Instead of the water called for I use chicken broth and jarred salsa of your choice to make equal the amount of liquid required. The rice should be dry as possible when done so I let it sit a bit on the burner but with the burner off. Just fluff and eat. It is easy and has good flavor.
We also served this dinner with canned whole pinto beans that I added a pinch if cumin, black pepper and chicken broth to make it more soupy. We like the whole beans this way as they are amazing when you top your mexi rice with the beans and broth. All we lacked was a corn cake.


Well my phone has rang twice and I have let the machine pick up as I wanted to finish this so I get on with my day, whatever that will be.


Have a good one!

OUR WEDDING ANIVERSARY TODAY 9TH OF JULY

Here we are a wild and crazy couple so in love. Well not much has changed. Still crazy and in love, but wild? Wild occasionally ignites and sparks but does not blaze as in days of old.
Twenty-nine years together and truthfully there is little I would change. We are a odd pair I think as we really are very content just being in each other's company. We do not need others to entertain us and brighten our world. We are best friends and enjoy the same the things so we can easily entertain ourselves. Of course we love it when we share time with family and friends it is like frosting on our cake.
As I mentioned yesterday we will not celebrate our anniversary today that will occur when hubby is not having a hard days work. However we will share a tasty meal and enjoy the evening together. I even plan on wearing the little red and purple stripped shirt I was wearing when he first met me. Too funny. I have had that shirt all these years and every once in while I slip it on and he always laughs as it warms his heart that I have kept it all these years. 


I walked early this morning through a sleeping neighborhood.  I loved the quiet. The sun is bursting today, the sky is deep and the breeze is gentle. A perfect day. I walked with thoughts of my husband in my heart as it is our special day. I recalled anniversary's past, adventures shared throughout the years , difficult times we have waded through, losses and gains, sunshine and rain. It is our life together created by us, our reality. And the most splendid thing is there is more to come. We are still writing our book.


I must get on with my day. I will put my favorite music on while I work in our home. I will have the doors open so the summer air can flood in and I will be content and thankful for the life I have and especially for the man in my life.


Have a wonderful day.

FAVORTIE PLACES

I had no food to blog about as I made fried chicken last night and have already included that recipe on a previous blog. Tonight we are just dining on a green salad from our garden with blue cheese dressing and bakers loaded with a variety of goodies. A veggie meal tonight.
Tomorrow night I am making cheese enchilada's with mexi rice and pinto beans. 


It is our wedding anniversary tomorrow but hubby is working all day so we will celebrate as quickly as we can once this job is completed. My hubby mentioned this morning we can go somewhere of my choosing for a late lunch or early dinner. So I am thinking perhaps a quaint little restaurant downtown. They have brick oven pizza authentic Italian style and sidewalk seating. The place is quite funky. The kitchen is open to the dining area and each table and each chair is different though of the same era. It really has old world charm with the warm colors, subdued lighting and lots of wood and brick. Outside bright umbrella's pose against a backdrop of lush leaf trees that line the street. We will dine outdoors if we go there and enjoy the street scene. They have a great selection of Italian wines. Sounds fun! Perfect for a little wedding anniversary celebration.


I thought it would be pleasant when I walked this morning but as I started heading north, the wind coming from the north was hearty and nippy! Brrrr. So I changed direction and went south not so bad of course I even skirted west and east I knew at some point I would have to head north to get back to the house. I just put my head to the wind what else to do. I was under dressed and felt chilled it was exhilerating. Oh well the walk is out of the way for the day. It is so pretty out it is deceiving as the sky is cobalt, the sun is big but that wind is cold like a March wind.


Today is a day of whatever for me. For one thing I need to start working on a website for our business. We are listed of course on the Internet but do need a nice website. I am not the most proficient doing something like this but will chip away at it. Also on my list is going through my linen closet. Believe me there is a lot more in that linen closet other than linens. I have a feeling I will be packing up a big box for the thrift store. 


I am back on facebook. I tried it a few months ago and truthfully it is not my thing. But my neice Sarah is in Europe for the summer and she has all of her amazing photo's on facebook and I wanted to see them. That was my main critera for signing on again. So we will see how it goes. I do like to read my grandchildren and daughters little daily comments. However everyone who knows me knows I am a e-mailer. I type fast and tend to be long winded. No wonder they like me on facebook! But alas that is me I am a writer.


The collage of photo's today was a desperate attempt to post something.
But hey these shots are some of my favorite places. Wine country of course and the beach and Siltcoos Lake a coastal lake near Florence.
I am so longing now to get into nature. My first trip there will be in less than two weeks. I will be camping with brother Jack at Silver Lake in Washington. I can already smell those kosher dogs roasting over the campfire.
Well I need to do what needs doing in this home today not more procrastinating.
Till tomorrow.

CRISPY FRIED BUTTERFLY SHRIMP

There was not one shrimp left. We ate them all. So yummy and crispy. These are Argentine red shrimp, large and succulent.
I served them with a red leaf lettuce salad from our garden and french fries. I made a firecracker sauce and also lemon butter for dunking.
I made hubby banana cream pie with whipped cream. This was his birthday meal yesterday but however as you know we did celebrate his birthday early on Saturday. So he had two special days.


I just returned from my morning walk I was out the door at seven-thirty. So nice to have it out of the way for the day. It is already warm out. Yesterday topped out at 89 it will not be quite as warm today but still into the mid eighties.........lovely.


Hubby is now on a work marathon. Sixteen days straight without a break. he will be one tired man when these two jobs back to back are done. Seems that is the way it goes, no work or too much work all at once. Go figure? But we have come accustomed to dealing with the circumstances of that.
So I am making a list of to-do's and also some fun things that I would like to do to entertain myself over the next couple of weeks. I truly hope to get some projects done that have been nagging at me. I also want to do a lot of walking and will take the camera along. I will take the Willamette river trail for one walk and have a few other places in mind. I like to people watch and this time of year there are many out doing their thing.


Today I will be in the office for a hour or so. Then I need to make out a menu for the next week. I will be grocery shopping tomorrow as well as another stop for more books.


Tonight we are going to have chicken and olives with spaghetti. It is a simple dish with a flavorful red sauce, garlic and green olives over pasta with lots freshly grated Parmesan cheese. once again we will have a green salad from our garden. I am getting a little tired of lettuce but it is coming on so fast and growing larger each day so I must use it up as quickly as possible before it turns bitter. I will take more down to my sis in law this afternoon. I will take a photo of the pasta dish and post the recipe tomorrow.


Now here is the simple little dredge I use for everything including these shrimp. I know I have posted it previously but it is such a good crust for everything I will repeat myself.
Butterfly Shrimp.
Use large or extra large shrimp we figured five apiece.
Canola oil for frying. These are not deep fried so just put a inch to two inches in the frying pan. Just keep the shrimp turning as you know they do not take long.
Clean and de-vein the shrimp. To butterfly just cut deeper along the back where you remove the vein, then press open.
Here is the three plate dredge.
Flour in one bowl
Beaten egg with a little water in the second bowl
Equal amounts of Krustez's bake and fry(blue box) and Panko crumbs.
So they go into the flour, then the egg to coat then into the panko mixture,
then sprinkle with paprika and fry till golden
set onto parchment paper to drain.
Eat and enjoy!


Firecracker sauce.
A  small dab of may
A tablespoon of chili paste or more if you like the heat
1 quarter cup of ketchup
onion powder, garlic powder and pepper to taste
A good squeeze of lemon.
Mix well.


I am getting hungry so I will grab a banana and have a honey yogurt. Then I must get on with my chores. I am hoping I can set on our festive deck later this afternoon and finish my book. Always so sad to end a book like leaving a friend.
Summer is here.
La Dolce Vita

SUMMER DECK

The deck is set for summer. Makes me smile.
Yesterday we celebrated hubby's 5th of July birthday as he will be working on his birthday. We spent a couple of hours on the patio of The El Torito Cantina, dining on good food and drink. The day was glorious a huge hot sun, deep blue sky and a mild breeze full of summer pleasures.
After we arrived home we called family and had them join us on our deck for frozen Tequila Sunrises(recipe on a previous blog). I put out a few snacks for others but we were still severely stuffed from our mexican fare.
We played games at the patio table and listened to music and had a very nice relaxing afternoon. Later I served up home made strawberry shortcake with fluffy whipped cream. Hubby's faux birthday cake.


The shortcake was almost a disaster. I tried a new buttermilk biscuit shortcake recipe. When I was making it I thought to myself the ingredients were off kilter.  It called for two cups of flour and a third cup of sugar which I thought was fine but then it called for a whole cup of buttermilk and I thought to myself that is a lot of liquid more like a cake recipe rather than a biscuit recipe. Then after all the ingredients were added I was to remove the dough to a board and slightly kneed. What dough? It was batter. So I added more flour at that point to make a biscuit dough and patted it out and hoped for the best. They turned out ok,  but they would not have if I had followed the recipe. So I chucked the recipe in the recycle.  I should know better than to try a new a recipe when having guests but heavens it was just a biscuit recipe. Go figure? The strawberries were luscious sweet juicy Oregon strawberries. I make my whipped cream with a little twist which is very good. To the cream in the mixer I add pure vanilla of course but also a little powered sugar instead of granulated sugar. The powered sugar makes the cream more full bodied and very rich thick and creamy. So we enjoyed this desert in spite of the shortcakes.


Today is a day of lazing about. It is Sunday and we have coastal clouds once again. It is like we are living at the beach but without the ocean. Hopefully the sun will smile on us today at some point.
Late afternoon we are grilling a spice rubbed sirloin steak and marinated shrimp will be grilled in the grill basket with lemon wedges, red peppers and onions. I will make a green salad with our red leaf lettuce and make one of my Mom's dressing, have not decided what I am in the mood for, maybe the thousand island. If it warms and turns lovely we will dine once again at our patio table on our little festive deck.


Tomorrow the 4th we are going down the street to enjoy rotisserie chicken on the grill. I am taking my creamy cheesy scalloped potatoes to go with the chicken. I think I may add some deli style jalenpeno's and mince them to scatter over the potatoes for a little zip and added color. There will also be salad, baked beans and a relish plate. So a good 4th fare.
We are going to play croquet and lawn darts to entertain ourselves. Lawn darts are no more as they are deemed dangerous. We have had a set for almost thirty years and only adults play and we are always watchful when someone is throwing. It is fun to play and we get quite competitive.
No fire works this year for us it will be an early evening. However I am sure we will have our sleep sound machine on with the volume turned up as others will be doing their thing in the neighborhood.
When I was a little girl growing up in the country my Dad would start building a rocket in June. This was our entertainment, Dad's rocket and sparklers. So he would build a launch pad and the whole works. His goal was to have it shoot straight up and go out of sight. Well that never happened as I recall. It would sometimes take off and fly for a bit before plummeting to the ground. It was always the big event on the 4th.
My Mom would be in the kitchen non stop making food to be carted to a gathering place in a shaded part of the pasture. There Dad would set out log rounds and set planks on them for our seating. The swing set would be moved to the area so my cousins and I could swing and hang by our knees or whatever we needed to do to keep ourselves entertained. There were galvanized tubs of soda's and lots of beers for the adults. Long tables made of sawhorses and plywood covered with colorful tablecloths held the plates of food offered not only from my Mom but my Aunts as well. Some would plunge or wade into our pond if it was hot and we needed to cool down. There was always softball in the pasture dodging the fresh cow pies of course!  So in the shade of trees with the barn at our backs we would enjoy our country 4th of July.
Wherever you are and whatever you are doing have a safe, fun 4th of July.
Till later.