Peaches~And~Dreams

~ Martha Stewart's Banana Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies ~

2010-09-08T06:00:00.004-04:00

Ingredients
Makes about 3 dozen.
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup mashed ripe banana (about 1 large)
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped into 1/4-inch chunks
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (about 2 ounces), toasted

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk together flours, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl; set aside. Put butter and sugars into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to low. Add egg and vanilla; mix until combined. Mix in banana. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Stir in oats, chocolate chunks, and walnuts.
Using a 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop, drop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing about 2 inches apart. Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until golden brown and just set, 12 to 13 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks; let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers up to 2 days.
**********

I have to give credit to Miss Martha for coming up with these yummy, yummy cookies! They are great for an Autumn snack (good for a kid's lunchbox, too). I made a batch of these the other night and I had to control myself from eating the whole thing! The wonderful taste of banana bread meets a good, old-fashioned chocolate chip cookie. You'll like them, too, so bake up a few! :)

~*~*~*~Please visit my little shop...new items added regularly!~*~*~*~

Peaches And Dreams Store

~ Say Goodbye To Summer ~

2010-09-06T06:00:00.003-04:00

Happy Labor Day!

Hope everyone is having a restful and relaxing holiday weekend! For some interesting Labor Day facts (it originated in Canada?) read these bits from Huffington Post here.

~*~*~*~Please visit my little shop...new items added regularly!~*~*~*~

Peaches And Dreams Store

~ Breakfast With Elizabeth From A Unique Perspective ~

2010-09-05T06:00:00.004-04:00

Perhaps you are wondering who might have painted this picture? It looks like an ordinary young woman having her breakfast and reading the morning paper, doesn't it? But, take a closer look ~ doesn't the young woman look slightly familiar? How about the room ~ perhaps it is a bit grand for an ordinary person? The paintings and antiques look somewhat expensive. The gold-embellishments along the walls and over the fireplace mantel seem pretty posh, too.

Maybe you are guessing about the artist? Well, I'll give you some more hints ~ the artist is married to a very famous person. He is the father of five children; four boys and one girl. And, he's known to love horses and competition carriage-racing. Give up?

The painting was done by none other than Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II! Done in 1965 and titled "The Queen at Breakfast, Windsor Castle", Prince Philip shows a remarkable talent for capturing his wife in this private moment. We see the lovely crisp white tablecloth, the tiny little jam pot with the spoon, white china cups and plates, and a freshly-baked loaf of bread ready for Her Majesty to slice a piece for toast. Obviously engrossed in the newspaper, she seems relaxed and poised, ready to begin the day. A nod to the Royals love of horses and horse-racing are evident in the paintings on the walls. What appears to be an older radio sits on the table ~ perhaps the Queen is listening to the morning news or catching the horse-racing stats? It is a delightful glimpse into an intimate time of day in Royal life.Most people, like myself, were probably unaware that Prince Philip is an artist. He signs his works with a Greek "P" or "Phi", in a nod to his Greek ancestry. A new book titled "The Royal Portrait Image and Impact" will be published by the Royal Collections next week, and will include this and perhaps other paintings by members of the Royal family. I can't wait to see it!

~*~*~*~Please visit my little shop...new items added regularly!~*~*~*~
Peaches And Dreams Store

~ Won't You Be My Friend? ~

2010-08-30T15:59:00.003-04:00

Hi Friends!

It's been such a long time since I've done any blogging and I've missed it so much! With Fall coming on my thoughts turn to quiet times indoors where I can think and write. I hope all of you have been well and had a nice Summer season!

My little store on eCRATER has been doing so well! I want to thank everyone who's purchased something from me ~ it is so much appreciated! I've been clearing out several storage areas for the past couple of weeks and my living room is brimming to capacity (I literally cannot see the window!). There's so much stuff still to go through....boxes stuffed with all sorts of goodies....pottery, glassware, linens, advertising tins, plates, lamps, you name it, it's here! ****If you are looking for anything in particular, please let me know!!!**** I'm feverishly listing things every day, so take a peek if you have a moment (link below).

Also, I'm a newbie to Facebook. You can come over and be my friend! :) Click the little box on my sidebar to come for a visit. For so long, everyone kept asking me, "When are you going to get on Facebook?". Well, now I'm there! I haven't figured everything out yet, but I'm working on it!

Hope everyone has a good week!

~*~*~*~Please visit my little shop...new items added regularly!~*~*~*~Peaches And Dreams Store

~ Gardening Thyme ~

2010-02-20T18:11:00.005-05:00

Dear Friends,
Some of you have written me so sweetly to ask after my whereabouts ~ I haven't run off with a charming, handsome man (although, hmmmmm......now there's a nice thought! :). I've been busy pushing the Spring season by working in my garden the last few weeks. There are areas in my yard that had become seriously overgrown. In an effort to beat the heat and thwart those nasty creepy crawlies that come out in warmer weather, I've been cleaning and clearing, shoveling and pruning, and generally wearing myself out completely. Ahh, but the crisp air and exercise are good for the body and soul! So, thanks to all who have wondered about me....I'm okay, just working very hard to get everything ready for Spring and Summer. Down here in South Georgia, you have to pick your gardening times before it becomes to hot and/or too buggy. If anyone needs me, I'll be out there for the next couple of weeks. I'll still be updating Twitter regularly and hopefully will be back to real blogging soon. Love to all of you!!!

P.S. If you know any charming, handsome men who are good with a shovel and some pruners, let me know!!! A lady's work goes a lot faster with the help of a gentleman! :)

~*~*~*~Please visit my little shop...new items added regularly!~*~*~*~
Peaches And Dreams Store

~ Style Princess...Grace Kelly Exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum ~

2010-01-30T14:27:00.012-05:00

Grace Kelly, successful film actress and later Princess of Monaco, has always been one of my favorite style icons. The dresses and accessories she had are classics, and fashion today reflects the designs made famous by the beautiful girl from Philadelphia. Starting in April of this year, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London is holding an exhibition of some of Princess Grace's most famous wardrobe pieces. Included will be designer dresses by Balenciaga, Dior, Yves St Laurent, and Givenchy, plus the serene wedding dress worn on the day she married Prince Rainier of Monaco. On display will also be the original Hermes Kelly bag, splendid jewelry by Van Cleef and Arpels, and costumes from some of her most famous movies from the 1950's.

Victoria and Albert museum Exhibition schedule About the new exhibit, her son, Prince Albert said 'My mother treasured her clothes and would have been delighted to have them exhibited at the V&A. Throughout her life she exuded effortless elegance, whether she was appearing at the most spectacular public occasion, or a simple family gathering.'
with her famous Hermes bag lovely on her wedding day to Prince Rainier

I thought she was utterly charming in "To Catch A Thief" with Cary Grant, who was always dashing and polished himself! :) They both looked fabulous together! Do you have a favorite Grace Kelly movie?

~*~*~*~Please visit my little shop...new items added regularly!~*~*~*~
Peaches And Dreams Store

~ What's Growin' On With Me ~

2010-01-19T09:02:00.011-05:00

Dear Friends,
Gardening is one of my favorite hobbies. As well as being nourishment for the soul, it helps ease my grocery bill when I can bring in wonderful veggies and lettuces. Some of those bagged salads are $3-4 each and go for maybe one meal for two people. Half a garden bed full of lettuce, if properly tended and fertilized, would supply wonderfully tasty lettuce for most of the winter months. I'd rather grow my own any day! The last couple of weeks here on the Georgia coast have had unnaturally cold temperatures and I was worried, but most things made it through with only a little bit of frost burn. Now, we are back in the 60's during the day and I'm thawing out gradually. :) Thought I'd share some of my garden photos with you ~

Maypop

Don't have a lot of room? Plant a lettuce tub!

broccoli

cabbage

lettuce

baby kale for salads

Pansy

~Good Soup...Rachael Ray's Bacon and Kale Minestra ~

2010-01-13T07:27:00.006-05:00

Dear Friends,

Here on the Georgia coast it has been a little on the frozen side for the past week. This beach girl has been having a rough time dealing with the cold weather! So I've been doing what comes naturally....hibernating underneath 5 blankets, dreaming of Spring gardening, and looking for really good soup recipes. Last night, as I was flipping through the December/January issue of Rachael Ray's Everyday magazine I came across her Bacon and Kale Minestra. The delicious smell of bacon and onions cooking in my big old Le Creuset pot about drove me crazy! But when it was all done, the soup was delicious! I grated some real parmigiano-reggiano cheese on top and heated up some garlic bread. Believe me, this soup warms you up from the inside out! It is easy to put together, fast to cook, and just hits the spot! Give it a try this week....

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
1/3 pound smoky bacon (about 6 slices), chopped
1/2 pound red potatoes, cut into small cubes
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 pound kale or tuscan kale (lacinato), stemmed and shredded or chopped
6 cups chicken stock
One 15.5-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed (I used a can of red kidney beans)
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Salt and pepper
Grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese, for serving

Directions:
In a soup pot, heat the EVOO, 1 turn of the pan, over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the potatoes, onion and garlic, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Add the kale, cover and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chicken stock, beans and nutmeg; season with salt and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve in shallow bowls with the cheese on top. Yum Yum in my Tum Tum! :)

~ Cute Picture of the Week...Wen Li the Panda ~

2010-01-08T06:00:00.006-05:00

How cute and cuddly is this? I love pandas and when I saw this adorable little fuzz ball, I couldn't resist sharing her with you. Meet Wen Li, almost 6 months old and ready to get into all kinds of trouble! She is shown here trying to escape from her "crib" at the Chengdu Giant Panda Research Institute. Luckily she was caught just in time before she made too much mischief. Enjoy and Happy Friday!

~ National Puzzle Month...Get Your Mind in Shape ~

2010-01-06T06:00:00.004-05:00

Albert Einstein

Dear Friends,

Did you know that January is National Puzzle month? Even though it is cold outside, you can get those brains warmed up doing some mental exercises. Whether you like crossword puzzles, or word jumbles, Scrabble, Sudoku or (my favorite) jigsaw puzzles, take some time this month to challenge yourself. There are brain teasers of all kinds to fit every personality and ability.

Plus, they are a healthy way to start the new year! Research has shown that doing some form of puzzle every day helps keep the mind stimulated and alert. In the long term, puzzling helps to deter brain problems like dementia and Alzheimer's disease. By thinking out the solutions, puzzles help to increase the flow of blood to the brain. When blood flows to the brain, more oxygen is produced, thereby making the mind work to it's optimal capacity. In other words, figuring out a word in a crossword puzzle, or putting together all those pieces in a jigsaw puzzle, gives your brain a workout!! What a fun way to burn some mental calories and clean out last year's junk! :)

If you have access to a daily paper, try working the crossword puzzle or word jumble. Believe me, you won't know the answers to all the questions and that is okay. You might need to look at the solutions for a little while. But, soon you'll find that you can solve things faster and without any help. The same thing is true for jigsaw puzzles. Many years ago, I hated doing jigsaw puzzles, but over time I've learned to love them. With some puzzles, it is still a challenge, but the reward of having put it all together is wonderful! Now, I have confidence in my ability and I can put the picture in place much faster.

Here's a few sites to help you challenge yourself:

http://www.jigzone.com/ ~ a new online jigsaw puzzle everyday (and one down at the bottom of this blog!); you can change the piece shape and size of the puzzle

http://www.braingle.com/ ~ site has brain teasers, memory games, trivia, riddles, and daily challenges

http://www.websudoku.com/ ~ tons of Sudoku puzzles to solve

www.nytimes.com/pages/crosswords/~ a new Crossword puzzle everyday from the NY Times

P.S. I also have lots of regular jigsaw puzzles for sale in my little store ~ Peaches And Dreams

~ Happy New Year ~ Hello 2010! ~

2010-01-04T06:00:00.002-05:00

Dear Friends,

As we go into a New Year, I wish all of you the very best things. May you be blessed with health, happiness, and prosperity!

~ Warm Reads for Cold Days ~ On My Bookshelf

2009-12-30T06:00:00.003-05:00

Dear Friends,

As the winter winds howl around the corners of our cozy homes, we yearn for crackling toasty fireplaces and mugs of hot chocolate. Is there really anything better than sitting in a favorite old comfortable chair and getting lost in the pages of a favorite book? It is a most quiet indulgence. We can escape the outside world and travel to new lands, start a new romance, and almost become someone else as we read away the hours.

I've been hearing about the new e-readers, tiny little things that let you read a book electronically. Could it be possible in the future that our trusty old tomes will become obsolete? My nostalgic and bibliophilic nature makes me shudder even thinking about such a thing!! I love the feel of a book in my hands, the old worn leather of an antique volume, the slightly aged smell that comes from having been re-read so many times, and all those wonderful words waiting to escape the confines of the pages.

So, with that in mind, I hope all of you will resolve to do more reading in the coming year! Be sure to include some of my favorite Victorian Era writers in your reading list...

The Bronte Sisters (Emily, Anne, and Charlotte) ~ Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans)~ Adam Bede, The Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner, Middlemarch, and Daniel Deronda

Elizabeth Gaskell ~ Cranford, Mary Barton, North and South, and Ruth; plus she did a biography of Charlotte Bronte

Thomas Hardy ~ Far From the Maddening Crowd, The Return of the Native, The Mayor of Casterbridge, and Tess of the d'Urbervilles; he is also well know for his wonderful English poetry

Robert Louis Stevenson ~ Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Prince Otto

Bram Stoker ~ Dracula, The Lady of the Shroud, The Mystery of the Sea, and The Jewel of Seven Stars

William Makepeace Thackeray ~ Vanity Fair, The Rose and The Ring, The Virginians, and The Book of Snobs

Anthony Trollope ~ Chronicles of Barsetshire, Barchester Towers, Nina Baletka, Miss Mackenzie, and Lady Anna

Oscar Wilde ~ The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Importance of Being Earnest, A Woman of No Importance, The Happy Prince and Other Stories

Charles Dickens ~ A Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield, Bleak House, The Old Curiosity Shop, The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, Great Expectations

~ Happiest Of Holidays ~

2009-12-20T20:04:00.003-05:00

A little smile, a word of cheer, A bit of love from someone near, A little gift from one held dear, Best wishes for the coming year--These make a Merry Christmas!

- John Greenleaf Whittier

~~~~~~~

Hello my Friends,

Can the year be almost at an end? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was harvesting those first summer tomatoes? And now, here we are almost at Christmas and the New Year! Time is going by so quickly and I can't seem to slow down the pace. Tonight I sit here with fuzzy pink socks upon my feet and a woolen blanket around my legs, fully aware that to some parts of the country we're having a heat wave. Well, I'll make you a deal...if I can have at least one white Christmas, you can borrow a little of my 35 degree nightly temperatures! I haven't seen snow in almost 30 years, so I probably wouldn't know what to do with it! Here, we have to be content to make sandmen with corncob pipes and button noses....Life on the coast!

Over the past couple of months I have let my blog slip into quiet neglect. It wasn't intentional, but I haven't had a lot of time to write about all the interesting things I'd found. Plus, I don't get around to visiting all my friend's blogs as much as I'd want. That makes me really sad because I miss seeing what y'all have been doing! I've met so many creative and talented, and just wonderfully kind people through blogging. Your emails and comments always make me smile and I am so thankful to be able to call you my friends! So, a New Year means a fresh start and I'm going to work to refresh and revitalize my little corner of blogland. I hope to have more interesting art and history posts, new jigsaw puzzles at the bottom of the page, and maybe a giveaway or two in the coming year. :)

So, in the meantime, I wish all of you the best things of the season ( my favorites right now are clementines!! Love those little sweets in the little crates!!). May you find love and keep it, may your heart be light and free, and may your pockets be filled in the New Year!

Many Blessings and Lots of Good Tidings to All!

~ Thanksgiving Blessings ~

2009-11-25T15:50:00.002-05:00

"The First Thanksgiving" (1914) by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe

Ah! on Thanksgiving day....

When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more,

And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before.

What moistens the lips and what brightens the eye?

What calls back the past, like the rich pumpkin pie?

~John Greenleaf Whittier

Dear Friends,

On Thanksgiving Day and all the days that come after; I wish you peaceful joys and glad hearts full of laughter! May all of you have a wonderful holiday!! :)

~ Cute Pictures of the Week ~

2009-11-14T12:19:00.005-05:00

"Okay, we are ready for our close-ups"

"Come on, say "freeze!"

Wildlife and landscape photographer David Schultz took these incredible pictures of Emperor penguins. He left his equipment and was rewarded with these wonderful pictures of their antics on the ice. Another amazing day in Antarctica!

Read and see more about David's photographs here ~ http://www.westlight.net/

He has a wonderful eye for the beauty of nature so be sure to click the GALLERY section to see more (penguins, polar bears, mountains, flowers)

~ New Twitter Account ~

2009-11-11T15:59:00.003-05:00

Dear Friends,

Today I opened my email and realized that my Twitter account had been the victim of a malicious hacking. If you have received a direct message from me in the past several days that sounded strange, (something like "I took a quiz and I want you to take it, too" or "here's a vid for you") please know that it did NOT come from me! Several of my friends also were victims and I've been receiving their strange direct messages. Apparently, the fruitball hacker had been working his or her way around TwitterLand! If you are out there, WE ARE NOT AMUSED!

So in an effort to get back on track, I just opened an entirely new account today. I'm trying to find everyone again, so please be patient. If you want to follow me you can click on my Twitter sidebar on the left-hand side of this blog or click here for my new page: https://twitter.com/GAPeachyBebe

~ Marie Antionette's Blog-Birthday and Giveaway ~

2009-09-16T07:05:00.003-04:00

My friend Marie Antionette is having a blog birthday celebration! She is the sweetest person and makes the most beautiful dolls and Christmas angels! Like me, she is a Southern girl and her blog never fails to delight.

Whether she spices her stories with sparkly wit and charm, or is giving a peek at one of the lovely new creations she's made, Marie always makes you feel like you are family! So, go over there right now and give her some love........
http://tonidolls.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-past-due-one-year-bloggiversary.html

Did I mention she's also doing a giveaway to celebrate??? :) The prize is a secret, but I can bet it will be something very special indeed!!

Bebe's Chocolate-Pecan Brownies....and some Freebies!

2009-09-14T07:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Monday! Over the weekend I just felt like making some serious comfort food. What could be more ooey-gooey, yummy wonderful than chocolate brownies??? I used the best, most-tastiest pecans in my recipe.....Georgia pecans! :)

CHOCOLATE-PECAN BROWNIES

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter (I use unsalted plain butter)
2 tablespoons water
1 package of chocolate morsels (12 oz.)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup Georgia chopped pecans

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour (or spray with nonstick spray) an 8 inch square pan.
In a saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, and water. Bring to a boil on medium heat.
Stir in 1 cup of the morsels and the vanilla until the mixture is smooth.
In a separate bowl, mix the flour and the baking soda. Then add in the eggs and the slightly-cooled chocolate mixture.
Add in the rest of the chocolate morsels and the pecans. Mix all of that well.
Bake for 30-45 minutes or until the toothpick test comes out clean.
Cool and then cut into squares. You can add some confectioners sugar to the top if you wanted.
Try not to eat all of the brownies in one sitting!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some freebies for Monday:

Free sample of Honey Nut Cheerios ~ http://sample.nonchallenge.com/HNCFY10/Default.aspx
Free sample of Curel Itch Defense lotion ~ http://www.curel.com/event.asp?action=entry&EventCode=curel_itchdefense
Free sample of Total Cereal ~ http://freesample.totalcereal.com/TotalFY10/Default.aspx?source=11268_11267_11266
Free Carnation holiday recipe booklet ~ (download or have it mailed to you) http://www.verybestbaking.com/products/carnation/virtual-kitchen/holiday-guide.aspx

~ A Romantic Mood...Vintage Kissing Couples ~

2009-09-08T06:00:00.002-04:00

Hello my friends! I hope everyone had a nice restful Labor Day holiday! This morning I was in a romantic and nostalgic mood. Don't you just love the old vintage postcards? The men and women are all so fashionably dressed! They just don't make sweet sentimentality like this anymore....

"A Hot Lunch"

"Just When Nobody's Around"

"Making Ends Meet"

~ Setting The Course For History...The First Ship of the American Navy ~

2009-09-02T20:48:00.010-04:00

Quick question for all you American History fans...What was the name of the first ship to be used by the United States Navy? Thinking, thinking....nothing comes to mind? Well, I'll tell you and then you can work this bit of trivia into the conversation. Your friends will be dazzled and amazed. Don't be surprised if they invite you to a game of Trivial Pursuit!

Statue of General John Glover

On this day, September 2nd, 1775, then-General George Washington commissioned the Schooner Hannah, under the command of Nicolson Broughton, to sail against the British. The Hannah was owned by General John Glover's family of Marblehead, Massachusetts and was named for his wife. A renowned military man, John Glover founded the "Glover's Regiment" or 14th Continental Regiment during the Revolution. The regiment was a bit of a precursor to today's Navy Seals because they were known for their tough and aggressive nautical skills. Fighting determinedly, they were instrumental in the skirmishes at Kip's Bay and Pell's Point. Glover's regiment, however, is most famously known for taking General Washington and his men across the Delaware River in December 1776. Once there, Washington's men were able to join several other regiments and overtake the enemy.

Washington Crossing The Delaware by Emanuel Leutze

But back in 1775, Washington found himself infuriated by the British. Almost all of the supply ships heading to the Continental Army from Nova Scotia, the West Indies, and England had been plundered by British troops. He desperately needed some help, so he turned to his friend John Glover, who made the 78-ton Hannah at his disposal. (Friendship only went so far, though, as Washington paid for the charter out of his own pocket) The crew were selected from Glover's own sea-experienced regiment. Soon, however, Washington and Glover came to the realization that one ship would not be enough for the marauding British fleet. The Hancock, Lee, Franklin, and Warren were also put into service by Washington. Together with the Hannah, the newly-named American Navy were able to severely disrupt the British's plundering tactics and capture some arms for themselves.
~
The Hannah's career as a sea vessel was brief, lasting until October, 1775 when she was viciously run aground by the British ship, Nautilus. The town of Beverly, Massachusetts (the place where the grounding occurred) offered assistance to the ship and it was mercifully saved from total destruction by the British troops. Today, the towns of Marblehead and Beverly (Mass.) proclaim themselves "the Birthplace of the American Navy" and "Washington's Navy Base", respectively.

Monday Freebies For You ~ Love those free samples!

2009-08-31T20:36:00.006-04:00

Don't you just love to get free samples in the mail? It is such fun to open up the mailbox and find lots of coupons and free things (other than bills, junk mail, or catalogs). Just today, I received a sample of Fiber One cereal and a granola bar/coupons, a Nestle calendar with coupons, and a "Don't Bite Me Patch" sample (should come in handy for all those pesky mosquitoes down here!).

~Here's some free samples so your mailbox can be full, too! :)

Betty Crocker potatoes ~ Au Gratin style or Roasted Garlic ~http://freesample.bettycrockerpotatoes.com/BCPotatoes/Default.aspx
Country Bob's All-Purpose Sauce (this is wonderful and I use it all the time! They sell it at Walmart.) ~http://www.countrybobs.com/try-a-free-bottle.html
Fancy Feast Appetizers for cats ~ http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid75984.aspx
Kashi Cereal ~ choose from three: Honey Sunshine, Heart to Heart, or Go Lean Crunch ~http://www.kashi.com/surprise
Aveeno Nourish Hair Care ~ from CVS Pharmacy ~http://cvstoday.com/Programs/AveenoNourishHairCare.aspx?WT.mc_id=EM_082009_04_JNJ_10056_AveenoEmail_TDM
Nature Valley Nut Clusters/Trail Mix Bar ~ you also get an email newsletter called "Eat Better America" which has lots of good recipes ~http://freesample.naturevalley.com/NatureValley/Default.aspx?source=14181
There are always some good samples at Walmart.com ~ http://walmart.triaddigital.com/In-Stores-Now-free-samples.aspx

A Return to Blissful Blogging ~ Autumn is Here

2009-08-29T17:36:00.003-04:00

Hello Friends!

It is really me! Hopefully this week I'll be able to make my triumphant and long-awaited return to the blogging world! :) Well, maybe just a few new posts.... I wanted to thank all of you who have written to me (or emailed) over the past few months. Your kind support has meant so much to me. Friends make the world a much better place! When I started typing this, I had to remember how to work on Blogger again, so I know I have been away entirely too long. More to come....!

~ Some Time Away From Blogging ~

2009-02-27T06:58:00.003-05:00

"Lady in the Garden" by Jane Seymour

Hello Faithful Friends!

As many of you have discovered, I haven't been updating my blog in quite a long time. I'm so sorry to have to say that I won't be able to do any new posts for awhile longer. There have been so many things going on in my life and personal problems of late, that blogging has had to take a backseat. I didn't want it to be that way, but sometimes it just happens. I feel overwhelmed by everything right now. I hope to return to blogging in the coming months! All of you mean so much to me and your kind comments have always brought smiles and happiness to my heart. I am so thankful that I started blogging in the first place, because many of you have become good friends. If you would like to drop me an email, I'd love to hear from you from time to time. I'm not leaving blogging forever, but taking a leave of absence just for awhile until things settle out a bit here....
In the meantime, I send all of you lots of love and hugs, Bebe :)

P.S. I still have my eCrater store and will be adding new items as I'm able. Stop by over there if you have a chance.

~ My Souper Bowl ~

2009-02-02T18:26:00.002-05:00

Hope you all had a "Super" weekend! While the Steelers were making the plays, I was busy in my kitchen making some soup and cornbread. This month's Country Home magazine has a section of wonderful homemade soup recipes and I just had to try their Ham and Bean. I am so glad I did, because the soup was easy to make and delicious! Be sure to give this one a try! **You do have to soak your beans overnight (or canned beans would be okay, too).

HAM AND BEAN SOUP
Soak a large batch of beans when you have the time, drain, and keep frozen until needed.
Prep: 40 minutes Cook: 1 hour

1 1/2 cups dried beans (such as giant lima beans, navy beans, black beans, pinto beans, and/or cannellini beans) ~ I used 1/2 cup baby lima beans, 1/2 cup red beans, and 1/2 cup cranberry beans)

6 cups water

2 cooked smoked pork hocks or 1-1 1/2 lb. meaty ham bones ~ ***See Note Below***

1 Tbsp. butter 1 1/2 cups sliced celery (3 stalks)

1 1/2 cups sliced carrots (3-4 carrots)

1 1/2 cups sliced leeks (4-5 leeks)

1 14-oz. can reduced-sodium chicken broth ~ ****See Note Below****

3 1/4 cups water

2 Tbsp. snipped fresh rosemary or 2 1/2 tsp. dried rosemary, crushed

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

1 bay leaf

3 cups torn winter kale or fresh spinach

Salt and ground black pepper

1. Rinse beans. Soak beans in 6 cups water, covered, in a cool place for 8 to 24 hours. (Or, in a large pot combine beans and water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover; let stand for 1 hour.) Drain and rinse; set aside.

2. In a 4-quart Dutch oven brown pork hocks or ham bones in hot butter, turning to brown all sides. Remove from pan. Add celery, carrots, and leeks to pan and cook until tender. Return hocks or ham bones to pan. Add beans, broth, 3 1/4 cups water, rosemary, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and bay leaf. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until beans are tender.

3. Remove hocks or ham bones and cool slightly. Meanwhile, if desired, mash beans slightly. When hocks or ham bones are cool enough to handle, cut meat off bones and chop; discard bones and bay leaf. Stir meat into soup. Add kale; heat and stir just until wilted. Season to taste with salt and additional pepper. Makes 6 servings.

***Instead of ham hocks, I used a little over half of one of those slices of ham steak and cut it into cubes. It was easy to deal with for me and the ham was already tender. I just added it to the water when everything was about finished cooking.
****I used a product called "Better Than Bouillon" Ham instead of the chicken broth can. I added about 2 teaspoons to the pot and it really gave it a good "hammy" flavor.

Hope y'all enjoy this recipe! It is really good, nourishing, and definitely a winter comfort food!!
~~~~~
Be sure to check out my new highlights this week over at my other blog, Peachy Antiques and Uniques. I have some really cute items for the wee-folks. If there is anything you see you like, be sure to leave me a comment or email. :)

~ The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Society ~

2009-01-31T07:00:00.005-05:00

Happy Saturday! As winter insists on hanging around here (I had to bundle up my citrus trees again last night!), I've found myself doing a lot of reading these past couple of weeks. Nothing seems quite as nice as having a nice bowl of soup and snuggling down beneath my comforter with a wonderful book! Recently, I came across a nice book called The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I'll admit it....the name caught me!! :) The book is written as a series of letters between Juliet Ashton, our 30-something heroine, and the people living on the small English island of Guernsey. I was captivated from the start by the quirky characters she "meets" through the letters. (And, yes, the book has a relatively happy ending!) Be sure to put this one on your library list!

Read more about the book ~ GuernseyLiterary.com

From Publishers Weekly
The letters comprising this small charming novel begin in 1946, when single, 30-something author Juliet Ashton (nom de plume Izzy Bickerstaff) writes to her publisher to say she is tired of covering the sunny side of war and its aftermath. When Guernsey farmer Dawsey Adams finds Juliet's name in a used book and invites articulate—and not-so-articulate—neighbors to write Juliet with their stories, the book's epistolary circle widens, putting Juliet back in the path of war stories. The occasionally contrived letters jump from incident to incident—including the formation of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society while Guernsey was under German occupation—and person to person in a manner that feels disjointed. But Juliet's quips are so clever, the Guernsey inhabitants so enchanting and the small acts of heroism so vivid and moving that one forgives the authors (Shaffer died earlier this year) for not being able to settle on a single person or plot. Juliet finds in the letters not just inspiration for her next work, but also for her life—as will readers.

What are you reading now or is on your reading list? Anything deliciously dishy? A Biography? An historical fiction novel? :)