Enjoying the Weather

I know every one is enjoying this wonderful weather but also wondering what is going on. I heard on the national news Thursday night that 95 percent of the U.S. had above normal temperatures and 115 cities had record highs.

My lilac bush didn't drop its leaves until 2 weeks ago and my pictures today are of my honeysuckle bush that had 4 blossoms on it. When I was watering this week I found them, could hardly believe it.

Now is a good time to get your crepe myrtles trimmed up for the spring and if you haven't planted any bulbs you still have a little time to get those in the ground. Also, if you are starting any of your vegetable plants from seeds now is the time to get those started also.

My husband has been helping me and we have new places ready for blackberries and blueberries this year. I'm excited about that.

This week has not only provided beautiful weather for being outside but the evenings have been just as wonderful. Star gazing has been great. All we have needed is just a jacket to keep us warm. We are starting into a full moon and so it's not quite as dark as it needs to be but it has still been beautiful.

I was reading an article of vitamin D. Most people are deficient in vitamin D and vitamin D does a lot of things for your body. Helps your immune system fight off disease plus much more. Anyway, I take a lot of vitamin D but in the article I was reading they said the vitamin D you get from the sun produces something in your body that the pill form does not produce. This particular thing that is produce (I can't remember what it's called) causes your arteries to be flexible. If you have a secluded space in your back yard set outside for about 15 minutes with your shirt off and take in some rays. It will be very good for you. :)

Have a great weekend and get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather.

True Happiness and Peace for 2012

Great Holiday Appetizer

I posted this earlier in the month without a picture. Since I posted it I have made it and took a pic of it and wanted to tell you what I did. I went by the recipe other than I added two whole jalapenos with seeds chopped and one jalapeno seeded and chopped. That may be a little too hot for you but for our family it worked well. Everyone loved it.

Quick and Easy Pasta Dish

This is a new recipe I tried. It is very easy to prepare and delicious. I was a little concerned about my husband liking this one but I will tell you about the changes I made. The recipe calls for freshly grated Asiago cheese. I love Asiago cheese but in this recipe it is pretty strong. It could have been just the block of cheese I bought that day. The second time I made it I used freshly grated Parmesan cheese and we both liked it a lot better. We also love Gorgonzola cheese and I would like to try that sometime. If you like Asiago give it a try. It's really good and a great comfort food.

Fettuccine with Zucchini and Pecans

3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 (12 oz.) package of Fettuccine
2 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 lb. small zucchini, shredded
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup freshly grated Asiago cheese
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil

Heat pecans in a small nonstick skillet over medium low heat, stirring often, 6 to 8 minutes or until toasted and fragrant.
Prepare fettuccine according to package directions.
Meanwhile, melt butter with olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add zucchini and garlic and saute 3 to 4 minutes or until zucchini is tender. Toss with hot cooked fettuccine, pecans, Asiago cheese, and basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Home Alone

In October, our last two little fledglings left the nest. Actually, they are not little anymore. Our two sons moved to the city and are living in an apartment together. They are loving the convenience of living in the city and all the amenities that are associated with that. From their mother's point of view, there are not many amenities to living in the city but I'm a country girl through and through. My occasional trip to the city is plenty of exposure to that loud hurried life style.

After the boys moved out, one day I was figuring how long we had had children in our home and it has been 35 years. I could hardly believe it. We had our first child two years after we married. We home schooled our children for 17 years so life for me was very busy. I think about it now and I can't believe I did all that I did in a day. It has been a wonderful part of my life and I'm very thankful for our children and the time that we have had with them.

I worked up until our first child was born and then I was excited about the prospect of quiting my job and staying home with her. I've always love different hobbies and when I quit my job I thought I would have time for those things as well as being a wife and mother. I did work in things occasionally but it added a lot of unneeded stress to my life so I didn't do it often.

I get up in the morning now and all I have to be concerned about is me and my hubby. I'm still trying to get used to cooking for two people and the house stays cleaner a little longer.

I do believe each of us is here for a purpose and while I was raising our children I knew I was fulfilling my purpose at that time. Now, I'm asking God about the next chapter and what does He have for me now. I'm excited to find out. In the meantime, I'm thoroughly enjoying not living on a schedule and doing what I want when I want.

Leafy Apple Pie

In mid November my oldest daughter had sent me a picture of a beautiful apple pie on the cover of Parade (a section in the Sunday paper). It was an absolutely beautiful pie and it was covered with leaves made from pie crust. The presentation was very unique and beautiful. So I stored away that little idea.

One of my customers that I cook for quite often called and her daughter and son-in-law are coming in from California and she ordered several pies, one of which was an apple. In the middle of making the apple yesterday, I thought of the pie on the cover of Parade and I thought I would surprise her with the leafy apple pie. It would be a beautiful dessert to present to her family. I was a little nervous about it, since I had not made it before but it came together beautifully. I was so excited.

The pie was made in a 10 inch foil pie plate. Put it in the oven, watch it carefully so it wouldn't get to brown. Finally it was done and it looked beautiful, I was so pleased. I took it out of the oven and a little juice had dripped over the side so I didn't want it sitting in the juice and drying so I carefully lifted it on both sides to move it to a wire rack on my table in the breakfast room. As I was moving it, the sides of the foil pie plate started to bend into the middle and I couldn't get to the table fast enough. The pie spilled all over my hands, the floor, chairs, table. I can't even remember the last time I was that mad. I wanted to cry, and fling the rest of the pie against the wall, I hate to admit it (but confession is good for the soul, right :)) but I came up with some new cus words. All of that work, gone. My positive vibes were gone. My husband helped me and we cleaned up the mess. I left to get fresh air and go to the store for more apples. I came home and my sweet husband said, "the best way to look at this is, this has never happened to you before, you could have been walking out the door to deliver this and it could have happened." That's true. I would have been up a creek without a paddle then.

So, I started all over and made it again and put it in a glass pie plate to hold the weight of the pie. It turned out great. I'll be delivering it to her today and I will be excited to get her impression of it.

If you are interested in making this. Cover the top of your pie with a regular pie crust. Cut a round circle in the top of the pie crust. Be sure to crimp the edges of your pie so the juice will not leak out when it is cooking. Find a leaf cut out and make lots of leaves to go on the top. Make a egg wash (one egg and 1 tablespoon of water, beat) and brush a section of pie crust with egg wash and arrange your leaves on the pie crust and then do another section until you have covered the top. Brush the egg wash over the leaves and bake as you normally do. Watch the pie and cover with foil if the top starts to get to brown. And if you use a foil pie plate be sure and carry the pie with your hand under the pie plate. :)

Judging

I have always been concerned about judging. I didn't want to judge anyone but it seemed like I was always falling into doing it. No one has ever been able to give me a good explanation of how to not judge, until recently. This explanation is so simple and makes sense. "Observe, just don't put a label on it."

Isn't that good!