Simply Home

The Perfect Summer Salad!

2011-08-07T10:15:00.000-05:00

The heat in San Antonio (the entire state of Texas) lately has motivated me to come up with recipes that require very little oven/stove time. The recipe below is a very old Tuscan Salad that farmers would take out into the fields in Italy "back in the day". As is often the case, these old rustic recipes often make their way out of the humble beginnings from which they were created and onto the plates of the most sophisticated of palates. Many of these recipes were also created to use up leftovers or ingredients that would normally be considered "past it's prime". So it is with this recipe for Panzanella Salad. Stale bread that might normally be thrown away makes a debut in this really nice summer salad.
There are two ways to make a Panzanella Salad. One way is to tear the stale bread into pieces and soak it in water for a few minutes. The water is squeezed out and becomes the base for the salad. Another option is to brush the bread with olive oil and maybe sprinkle sea salt and fresh ground black pepper over it before cutting it into cubes and toasting. Either method is acceptable and is based solely on personal taste. Try both ways and see which you prefer. All of the amounts listed below are just a place to start from. Adjust ingredient amounts to suit your own taste. If you prefer less red onion, more tomatoes or cucumber adjust accordingly.

6 cups of cubed stale bread either toasted or soaked in water. If soaked, squeeze as much of the water out of the bread possible and crumble into a large bowl.
4-5 large ripe tomatoes- rough chopped
2 cucumbers. (cut cucumber in half lengthwise and then slice into 1/2" discs)
1 med. red onion sliced thin
1 red bell pepper seeded and sliced
Olives- your favorite- halved
1/2 C. torn fresh basil leaves

Dressing:
2/3 C red wine or balsamic vinegar
1/4 C. good extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic minced
Sea Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

Toss salad ingredients together and drizzle dressing over top. Mix well. Cover and let stand one hour for flavors to fully develop.

The Best Ribs I've Ever Made!

2011-07-04T10:37:00.002-05:00

Several years ago I found a recipe for ribs that beat every other hands down! Whenever we are grilling on holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day) it is usually on the menu. This year when I asked everyone what they wanted for our 4th of July meal Luke immediately said, "RIBS!" Here is the recipe.

Ingredients

4 pounds pork baby back ribs, cut into serving-size pieces
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons each salt, pepper, chili powder and ground cumin
BARBECUE SAUCE:
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1-1/2 teaspoons ground mustard
1 teaspoon celery seed
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

Rub ribs with garlic; place in a shallow roasting pan. Cover and bake at 325° for 2 hours. Cool slightly. Combine the seasonings and rub over ribs. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
In a small saucepan, saute onion in butter until tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat; set aside 3/4 cup. Brush ribs with some of the remaining sauce.
Grill, covered, over medium heat for 12 minutes, turning and basting with sauce. Serve with reserved sauce. Yield: 4 servings.

Enjoy!

Sue

Figs! Figs! Everywhere!!

2011-06-22T09:41:00.000-05:00

Well, despite our lack of rain so far this year I have managed to pick over 15 lbs of figs from the tree in our backyard. I've made 9 pints of jam and I'm in the process of making Fig Newtons. The tree is still pretty loaded with fruit so I'm going to need to research some more recipes!
When it came time to make the first batch of jam I was looking for a way to not have to stand at the stove in this heat. (It's been over 100 degrees here for many days now.) The idea hit me... Crock Pot! I put the figs, sugar and lemons in the crock pot along with a half cup of water. After cooking it on high for about 2 hrs. I used my immersion blender to break the fruit down into a really smooth jam. It was SUPER easy to do and I didn't spend a lot of time in front of a hot stove stirring constantly.
The second batch of jam went into the crock pot along with the sugar and some cinnamon and a touch of salt. Don't ask me how much of each. As usual I didn't measure. This batch is WAY better than the first batch! YUM! I haven't processed it yet but I have as much as I did the first time around so I'm guessing another 9 pints or so. I've held out 2 cups of it to make the Newtons with so maybe more like 8 pints.
Do you have any great Fig recipes?? If so, I'd love to try them.

Fig Jam

6 lbs figs with stems removed
3 cups sugar
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1/2 C. water

Place figs, sugar and water in crock pot. Cook on high 2 hrs. Using an immersion blender puree the figs. (You can do this in a blender or food processor too but the immersion blender really makes things SUPER easy and much less messy!)
Add salt and cinnamon. (adjust to taste if necessary)
Process 10 minutes in a hot water bath.

Enjoy!

Sue

Chocolate Sugared Donuts

2011-06-03T10:33:00.000-05:00

Today is National Doughnut Day. Here is a recipe to celebrate!
By the way, Chocolate sugared doughnuts are my Daddy's favorite. He used to work for Harris Doughnuts in Maine many years ago. Chocolate sugared doughnuts were one of the varieties they made. I guess I sorta followed in his footsteps years later when I went to work for Dunkin' Donuts. We didn't usually have "sugared" chocolate cake doughnuts in the case (typically they were glazed) but I'd worked a "deal" with the baker and he would save out a half dozen or so for me to sugar for Daddy. These came in handy some times! ;-)
This particular recipe has been in my family for many years. It came from a family friend. They will freeze very well. Don't sugar them if you are going to freeze them. Just pull one out of the freezer and zap it in the microwave. Roll in sugar while warm if desired.

Chocolate Doughnuts
1 C. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 C. baking cocoa
1 C. sour or buttermilk
1/2 tsp. salt
2 TBSP. crisco
3 1/2 C. flour

Mix dry ingredients (except flour) thoroughly. Mix eggs, vanilla, buttermilk/sour milk and crisco. Add to dry ingredients and mix well. Work flour into mixture to a workable but not too stiff dough. You may put the majority of the flour on your cutting board and work in from there.
Generously sprinkle flour on a large cutting board or clean counter. Place dough on flour and roll out to about 1" in thickness. Using a doughnut cutter cut out doughnuts. (Save centers for doughnut holes!) Heat oil to 375 degrees in a heavy bottom (or cast iron) dutch oven. It is important that the oil be hot enough or your doughnuts will just soak it in and be extremely greasy. Carefully place raw doughnuts in hot oil. Do not overload pot to allow doughnuts to cook evenly. Fry for about 5 minutes.
Place cooked doughnuts on paper towel lined cookie sheet. Allow to cool slightly. If desired place sugar in a large bowl. Place doughnuts in sugar to cover. Serve immediately.
If storing doughnuts place in an airtight container once completely cooled.

Enjoy!

Sue

Pecan Crusted Chicken

2011-05-26T19:34:00.000-05:00

1 C Biscuit Mix
1/2 C. finely chopped pecans
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. creole seasoning
4 skinned and boned chicken breasts
1/2 C. buttermilk
1/2 C unsalted butter or margarine, melted
Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl; stir well. Dip chicken in buttermilk, dredge in pecan mixture. Place chicken in an uncreased 13X9 pan. Drizzle butter over chicken. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 50 minutes or until chicken is done. Makes 4 servings.

Baked Strawberry Cream Cheese French Toast

2011-05-21T22:25:00.002-05:00

This weekend I hosted a ladies brunch with some friends I haven't been able to visit with for awhile. As usual, I broke all of the rules and tried out a new recipe for the first time. I was anxious to see how well it went over with my wonderfully honest group! It was a hit and I promised to post the recipe so here it is! Please note that I've halved the amounts of the ingredients as most families wouldn't consume the size of the original however, if you are feeding a crowd just double it. Also, I doubled the amount of the strawberries called for... after all, when it comes to strawberries... more is better...right? :) Additionally, I used homemade bread in place of the french bread. I think just about any bread will work as long as it is somewhat stale or has some substance to it.
I've also included the strawberry syrup recipe. Double this recipe if you double the French Toast recipe.

4 cups day old french bread cut into 1" cubes
6 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
4 oz. cream cheese cubed

Spray 8X8 baking pan. Cube bread into 1" pieces. Cut cream cheese into small cubes. (About the size of a lima bean) Set aside
Beat eggs, milk, vanilla, salt and sugar together.
Place half (2 cups) of cubed bread in baking pan. Spread cheese cubes evenly over bread. Layer strawberries over cheese. Top with remaining bread cubes. Pour egg mixture over bread/cheese/strawberries. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
Bake 30 mins covered at 350. Remove foil and bake 15-20 minutes more until top is nicely browned and center is set.

Strawberry Syrup.
1 C. sugar
1 C. water
1/8 C corn starch
2 C. sliced strawberries

Cook sugar, water and corn starch over medium heat until thickened. Add strawberries and cook 5 more minutes. Add orange juice or water to thin if needed. Serve warm.

Enjoy!

Sue

Homemade Strawberry Jam

2011-05-14T21:20:00.000-05:00

If you've been to the grocery store lately you know that strawberries are abundant and very reasonably priced. This is a great time to take advantage of "in season" fruits and make some jams, jellies etc.
Today was Strawberry Jam Day!!
If you've never attempted to make jam/jelly at home it really is quite easy. There are just a few steps to be sure to follow and within an hour or so you've got some sweet goodness to enjoy throughout the year!

Strawberry Jam

4 C. crushed strawberries
4 C. granulated sugar
1/4 C. fresh lemon juice
Place a large pot (big enough to hold 4 pint jars (or 8 half pints) on stove and fill 1/2 way with boiling water. (You want enough water to cover the tops of the jelly jars once placed in the pot.) Bring water to a boil.

Put crushed strawberries, sugar and lemon juice in a large heavy bottomed pan

Bring jam to a boil over medium heat until temperature reaches 220F. Stir often to prevent burning.

Meanwhile, sterilize jars (in dishwasher if you have a "sanitize" option)or by rinsing with boiling water.
Place lids and rings in a pan and cover with boiling water. (do not boil)

Place sterilized jars in a pan filled with very hot water. This will keep the jars from cracking by when filled with hot jam. It also will help keep drips contained to an easy to clean up area!
When jam has reached 220F fill jars to within 1/2 - 3/4 inch from top of jar. (This is called leaving "headspace".) Wipe the rims of each jar to clean off any syrup to allow for a clean seal.

Place lids and rings on jars and screw down firmly. Do not over tighten lids. Place jars in pot with boiling water. Ensure that tops of jars are covered with water. Cover pot. Boil gently for 8-10 minutes. Turn off heat and remove jam jars from pot. Place on two layers of dishtowels. Cover with another dishtowel. Allow to cool. You should hear little "pops" as the jars seal. To ensure that sealing has occurred wait until completely cooled and then gently press center of lid. If there is no "give' in the lid your jars have sealed. If there is a little "give" your jars did not seal. Simply place them in the refrigerator and use within a month.
See? Now wasn't that easy?
Hmmmm.... I wonder who might get one of these? ;-)

Sue

Bran Muffins- Yum or Yuck?

2011-04-18T10:56:00.001-05:00

I'm on a quest to create a bran muffin that is not only incredibly good for you, low in calories, fat and cholesterol but yummy as well!
Typically, bran muffins leave something to be desired. Most of the recipes I've found really aren't all that healthy for you, (lots of fats, sugar etc.) or they taste like card board.
This morning, I fiddled around a bit and concocted a recipe that wasn't "bad" but I think it can be better.
It had dates, apples, walnuts, sunflower seeds, flax seed, oat bran, wheat bran, wheat germ and non-fat yogurt.
While I'm not ready to go ahead and publish this recipe just yet I wanted you all to know what I'm working on. Check back in a couple of days and see if I've gotten it figured out!
Oh, by the way, I'm working on making yogurt this week as well! I'll let you know how that goes.

Sue

A Litte Guest On My Patio

2011-04-17T20:43:00.001-05:00

As most people know, I love to entertain on our back patio. Generally, these guests are of the two-legged variety. Recently, however, we had a tiny little four legged visitor.

Yes, that is a tiny little baby 'Possum! Lucy discovered him in the corner of our patio. After we finally got the dogs put away he seemed to settle down a little bit. He wandered back and forth between the patio and the side yard a couple of times before I thought to take pictures!

He finally decided to wander off. I'm not sure where he came from but it makes me wonder where the rest of his litter mates are?!

And such is life in the big city!

Sue

How To Divide And Repot A Plant

2011-04-14T09:02:00.001-05:00

This morning I was walking around my back yard with a cup of tea when I realized that one of the plants that I've had bordering the pond probably needed to be re-potted.
Purple Heart is a perennial ground cover. It is extremely hardy and if not contained will completely take over an area in no time. If you have areas in your yard where you'd like some color and no fuss this is probably the plant for you.
When I tried to pull the pot out of the little nook where I had put it a couple of years ago it wouldn't budge! I figured that it was likely that the roots had worked their way through the drain holes in the bottom of the pot and had grown into the soil beneath it. I was right! After nearly falling into the pond I did manage to get the pot out of it's happy place.
It took cutting the pot away from the roots before I had the monster free. It was then that it dawned on me that this would make a great blog post! LOL.

This is what I found! I'd say it was overdue to be re- potted! The cut you see is where I took a knife to it as there was NO way I was going to be able to tear it apart. If you are attempting to re- pot a plant that has gotten completely root bound it is very acceptable to take a knife to it to help divide the plant.
Purple Heart is a part of the Wandering Jew family and is quite hardy. It will produce pretty little pink and white flowers from spring through the first frost. You can take cuttings and put them in water or moist soil and they will quickly root. In fact, I cut this particular plant completely back once the temps have killed off most of the foliage. As you can see, it always comes back quite nicely! In fact, if not kept under control it will get quite straggly and look unruly. I good "haircut" every now and then is a great thing!

After a little work, this is how many little new starts I came up with. you really don't need to be afraid to be quite brutal with these kinds of plants. They are so hardy and are nearly indestructible. Some of these actually have very little root system attached to them. They will do just fine when securely buried in the potting mix and watered well.

I'm going to try an experiment. These are some of the roots that were pulled away from the starts. I'm wondering if I plant them if they'll send off some new shoots? Some of the roots are quite thick and obviously part of the "mother plant". I'm going to plant them in some bare areas in my garden and will let you know what happens.

Here are two of the newly replanted pots. I actually got 4 pots from the one original plant. The terracotta colored pot will stay where it is on the edge of the pond. The green pot will become a hanging plant.
Good to go for another couple of years!

Sue

Taco Seasoning-

2011-04-13T09:02:00.001-05:00

Have you looked at the back of a food package lately? The list of unrecognizable ingredients is sort of unnerving. When I can't pronounce an ingredient in a food product there is something wrong. (And I'm pretty good at pronunciation!) The bottom line is: Do you really know what you are putting in your body? What effect are those science lab chemicals having on your body?
One product that everyone seems to use, mostly for convenience and because no one really knows what its made of, is Taco Seasoning. Below is a recipe that can be made up in advance and kept in a jar for future use. You can make as much or as little as you like.
This leans toward the "hotter" side so chili powder and red or cayenne pepper may be adjusted accordingly. This recipe seems to work for my Texan folk who love the heat.

Taco Seasoning

4 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. crushed red pepper or cayenne pepper
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. cocoa powder (yep!)
1 tsp. flour (used as a thickener but may be omitted or masa flour, corn starch or other thickening agent may be substituted)

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. To use: 1-2 tsp. per 1lb. ground beef. This mix is wonderful on chicken and fish as well!

Sue

Quick Tip Of The Day- Measurement Equivalents

2011-04-01T17:15:00.000-05:00

Here is a quick reference tool for measurement equivalents:
1 TBSP = 3 tsp.
1/8 C.= 2 TBSP
1/4 C.= 4 TBSP
1/3 C.= 5 TBSP +1 tsp.
1/2 C.= 8 TBSP
2/3 C.= 10 TBSP+2 tsp.
3/4 C.= 12 TBSP
1C.= 48 tsp
1C.= 16 TBSP

8 fluid oz.=1C.
1 pint = 2C.
1 Qt = 2 pints
4 C.= 1 Qt.
1 gallon = 4 Qt.
16 oz.= 1lb.

Sue

Cedar Plank Salmon, Strawberry Salad and Cranberry Rice Pilaf

2011-03-31T19:19:00.001-05:00

Tonight's menu is probably our family favorite. It really is a nice meal and doesn't take that long to prepare. It's even great for company! Below is the menu, recipes and instructions.

Mango/Peach Salsa- Serves 6
1 Mango- chopped
1/2 jar peach jam or 3 canned peaches- chopped
1/4 C. orange juice or juice from canned peaches
1/2 sweet onion- finely chopped
1/2 jalapeno- finely chopped
1/2 green pepper- finely chopped
1/2 C. chopped fresh cilantro
Place mango, peaches, onion, jalapeno and green pepper in a small saucepan. Gently simmer 10-15 mins. Cool. Mix chopped cilantro into salsa.

Cranberry Rice Pilaf- Serves 6
1 1/2 C. Wild Rice Pilaf
3 C. Chicken Broth
1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 finely chopped onion
1 C, dried cranberries
1/2 C. orange juice
Combine rice and broth in a med. saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer gently until most of the broth is absorbed. Add orange juice and cranberries and finish cooking. Fluff with a fork.

Strawberry Salad
8-10 large strawberries
mixed greens
purple onion sliced thin (optional)
Feta or Farmer's cheese crumbled
Brianna's Blush Wine Vinagrette Dressing (yes, that is the brand name!) :)
Slice strawberries and place on top of greens. Dress with vinagrette. Sprinkle cheese on salad.

Cedar Plank Salmon
Soak cedar planks for at least 2 hours prior to grilling
Place salmon, skin side down on plank. Sprinkle Creole Seasoning over salmon Grill until center of salmon steaks feels firm to the touch. Usually takes at least 20 minutes with grill at 400-500. Do NOT over cook salmon! (very common mistake when grilling/cooking fish) If you find it is still pink in the center you can microwave each serving for 45 seconds to finish)

This meal will feed 6 adults. Enjoy!

Sue

Chinese Ground Beef

2011-03-29T18:35:00.003-05:00

中国地面牛肉砂锅

I recently resurrected a recipe that I haven't made in quite some time. I made quite a large batch so several folks have had a chance to try it for the first time. Several have asked for the recipe so here it is!

2 1/2 lbs. ground beef
2 TBS. brown sugar
2 TBS. butter
2 C. chicken broth
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
2 C. chopped celery
1 bell pepper- chopped
2 med. onion- chopped
2 1/2 C. uncooked rice
1 C. slivered almonds
5 TBS. soy sauce (low sodium works fine)
1 small can sliced mushrooms
Salt and Pepper to taste

Saute onions, in butter. Mix all other ingredients in a big bowl. Add saute'd onions. If mixture seems dry (should be about the consistency of pudding) add more chicken broth or water.
Put mixture in a 9X13 casserole (or a 3qt. casserole) Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until ground beef is cooked through.

Sue

Idea Of The Day

2011-03-24T13:25:00.001-05:00

Doctor up some olives! Drain the liquid from the jar and add olive oil and sliced garlic. Chill 24 hours. Simple!

Sue

2011-03-23T21:27:00.000-05:00

Looking for more counter space? I was! Those of you who have seen my kitchen know that I have VERY little counter space. I recently repainted all of my cabinets and walls in the kitchen along with replacing the cabinet hardware. In the process of this "mini makeover" I began to think about ways to make more counter space. One of the areas in my kitchen is my "tea" area. I have my tea box, electric tea pot and my various tea containers on this one counter area. It was really bugging me to have all of this stuff spread all over the counter. Here is what I came up with as a solution!

I installed the shelf unit under the cabinet! This gets all of the tea "stuff" off my counters! Simple!

Sue

Barley Salad

2011-03-23T21:06:00.000-05:00

We have some friends visiting over the weekend who are on a no meat diet. In an effort to come up with some nutritious AND delicious meal ideas I thought I'd experiment with Barley. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this little nutritional dynamo here are a few facts.

As cereal grains go, barley is a winner when it comes to good nutrition. This centuries-old grain is packed with fiber, contains important vitamins and minerals, is slim on fat, and, like all plant products, cholesterol-free. Here’s a closer look:

Fiber
Barley is a great source of dietary fiber and actually contains both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber is effective in lowering blood cholesterol and can reduce the risk of heart disease. Soluble fiber is also beneficial in slowing the absorption of sugar and reducing the risk for developing type 2 or non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The insoluble fiber found in barley may be beneficial in helping the body maintain regular bowel function. Insoluble fiber may also help lower the risk for certain cancers such as colon cancer. Cholesterol and fat
Like all plant foods, barley is naturally cholesterol-free and low in fat. A 1/2-cup serving of cooked pearl barley, a typical grain serving, contains less than 1/2 gram of fat and only 100 calories*

Here is what I came up with:

2 C. uncooked barley

3 C. low sodium chicken broth

1 tsp. sea salt

Rinse barley until water runs clear. Place in a stock pot and add broth and salt. Cook on medium heat until liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside to cool completely.

2 lg. tomatoes, diced

2 small shallots, finely chopped

1 med. green pepper, finely chopped

3 stocks celery, finely chopped

1 tsp. coarse black pepper

1 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 C. Basil/Balsamic Vinaigrette

Place all veggies in a bowl. Add cooled barley. Add black pepper and garlic powder. Stir in vinaigrette.

May serve immediately but gets better if allowed to set for a couple of hours.

Serves 4 as a main dish or 6 as a side.

Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken

2011-03-11T08:35:00.000-06:00

This would be a great recipe to put in the crock pot the night before and turn on "low" in the morning before you leave for work. You need to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. The cool part is that this is really good for you but low in calories! 1 Cup = 190 Calories. The recipe makes 8 servings.

    * 24 oz (1 1/2) lbs chicken breast
    * 14.4 oz can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies
    * 15 oz can black beans (drained)
    * 8 oz frozen corn
    * 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
    * 14.4 oz can fat free chicken broth
    * 3 scallions, chopped
    * 1 tsp garlic powder
    * 1 tsp onion powder
    * 1 tsp cumin
    * 1 tsp cayenne pepper (to taste)
    * salt to taste
Combine chicken broth, beans, corn, tomatoes, cilantro, scallions, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cayenne pepper and salt in the crock pot. Season chicken breast with salt and lay on top. Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours. Half hour before serving, remove chicken and shred. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in. Adjust salt and seasoning
Serve over rice

Lemon Pepper Shrimp w/ Linguine

2011-03-10T10:14:00.001-06:00

Lemon Pepper Shrimp W/ Linguine

1 (8 ounce) package linguine pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup white wine
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
salt to taste
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 pound fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 cup butter
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add linguine, and cook for 9 to 13 minutes or until al dente; drain.
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, and saute garlic about 1 minute. Mix in chicken broth, wine, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat, and simmer until liquid is reduced by about 1/2.
Mix shrimp, butter, parsley, and basil into the saucepan. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, until shrimp is opaque. Stir in the cooked linguine, and continue cooking 2 minutes, until well coated.

Tip of the Day: Another Use For Your Clothes Basket

2011-02-28T20:46:00.003-06:00

Today I did some grocery shopping. Before I left, I neglected to make sure that I had an essential item in the trunk of my car. I didn't realize this until I opened my trunk to load the groceries from my shopping cart. UGH!!!!
For quite some time I have kept a clothes basket in my trunk. It really makes unloading groceries from my car so much easier, especially with all those plastic bags!
There are quite a few "trunk organizers" out there. The only problem is that are they expensive and they don't really help with getting the groceries (or other items) from the car to the house!
Clothes baskets will also help keep things like back packs, sports supplies etc. all stay in one spot. It also makes a great place to put all of the items we need handy such as paper towels, a couple of trash bags (those empty plastic grocery bags), kleenx, wet wipes, umbrellas etc.
Overall, it's just a practical and SIMPLE idea to make your day just a little easier! Just remember to put the laundry basket back in the car once you've emptied it! :)

Sue

Tip of tThe Day: 7 Uses for Cola (Other Than Drinking It!)

2011-02-25T07:00:00.001-06:00

So, you know Cola is for drinking but did you know it has several other handy uses as well? Here are a few.

1. Moisten a baked ham with Coke. Pour Coca-Cola into the bottom of a baking pan then insert a ham wrapped in aluminum foil. About 30 minutes before the ham is cooked, remove the foil and empty the juices into the bottom of the pan, allowing them to mix with the Coke. This will create a moist ham and wonderful gravy.

2. Remove grease from clothing. When you begin washing a load of greasy clothes, empty a can of Coke into the washer. The cola will loosen grease stains.

3. Loosen a bolt that has rusted. Soak a cloth in the Coke and place over the rusted bolt for several minutes.

4. Clean corrosion from the battery terminals by pouring a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals. The corrosion will be swept away. Also try this when the car won't start because the battery isn't connecting; the worst thing that will happen is you waste a can of Coke.

5. Brighten up a dirty toilet. Pour a can of Coke into the toilet bowl and let it sit for an hour. Brush and flush.

6. Remove stains from vitreous china. The citric acid in the Coke will remove the stains.

7. Rub a slightly rusted bumper with a wadded piece of tinfoil soaked in Coca-Cola to help remove rust spots.

So, if you are like me you are thinking, "Hmmm...if it can remove rust... what is it doing to my stomach?

Sue

5 Easy Herbs To Grow At Home

2011-02-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

Spring is right around the corner and that has me thinking about getting some herb "babies" started. Here are a few easy ones to start from seed.
Basil: Basil is an annual that comes in over 40 varieties, although you will normally only see a few at your local garden center. The most popular variety is Sweet Basil. Basil has a spicy flavor with licorice undertones and a touch of pepper. Used widely in Italian cooking, it is great with any dish, either cooked or sprinkled on top as a garnish. Sweet basil grows one to two feet tall, and prefers a good fertile soil with abundant moisture and full sun. Perfect for containers or in the garden bed. Basil can be started easily from seed indoors, although it is cold sensitive, so be sure not to put it out too early. Basil also benefits from pruning, so don't be afraid to harvest a lot of basil. The more often you harvest, the bushier your plants will become.

Parsley: Commonly seen as a garnish on restaurant dishes, parsley actually is a wonderful tasting herb. There are two types: Italian (or curly) and flat leaf. The flat leaf parsley has a bit of a stronger taste than the Italian. Parsley is an annual that will reseed itself freely, so be on the look out the following year after planting. You may never have to purchase another parsley plant again! Parsley is extremely easy to grow. Either from seed directly sown, or started indoors. Ordinary soil suits the parsley plant just fine. Some shade is good, so plant in a mostly sunny location, rather than direct sun all day.
Thyme: Thyme is also extremely easy to grow. There are dozens of varieties of thyme, and you will find a good selection at any nursery. Thyme will grow to a maximum of twelve inches, depending on the variety, but most are of a creeping variety. Thyme works well in rock gardens, or in containers. Some people have actually replaced their lawns with creeping thyme, as you only have to mow it several times over the course of the summer! Thyme is best started by either cuttings or purchasing a potted plant at the nursery. Starting thyme from seed is time consuming. Thyme also does not care much about the soil type you plant it in, but does prefer full sun.

Mint: Mint plants are perennials. Mint can be used in sweet or savory dishes, or as garnish. Mint is not particular about the soil it is planted in, and is a low growing perennial. However, mint spreads like wildfire, so either only plant it in patio containers or sink the entire contained plant into the ground. Once it escapes the container, it will be difficult to control. Mint can grow in partial shade to full sun. Keep your plants well watered and do not let them dry out.
Oregano: The Greek variety of oregano is easiest to grow; however all oregano requires six to eight hours of sunlight per day, so a well-lit window—particularly one with southwestern sun exposure—is best.

If you've never tried growing your own herbs why not try it this spring?!

Sue

Tip Of The Day: 12 Uses for Baking Soda

2011-02-21T07:00:00.004-06:00

1.To make your own baking powder, stir and sift together 2 parts of Cream of Tartar to 1 part baking soda and 1 part cornstarch.

2.For silver pieces without raised patterns or cemented-on handles: place the silver on aluminum foil in an enamel pot. Add boiling water and 4 tbsp. baking soda. Let stand, rinse and dry.

3.Clean your bathroom with dry soda on a moist sponge - sink, tub, tiles, shower stall, etc.

4.Rub stainless steel and chrome with a moist cloth and dry baking soda to shine it up. Rinse and dry. On stainless steel, scrub in the direction of the grain.

5. Clean vegetables and fruit with baking soda. Sprinkle in water, soak and rise the produce.

6. Putting 2 tbsp. of baking soda in your baby's bath water will help relieve diaper rash irritations.

7. Apply soda directly to insect bites, rashes and poison ivy to relieve discomfort. Make a paste with water.

8.To relieve sunburn: use a paste of baking soda and water.

9. Add to water to soak dried beans to make them more digestible. (prevent gas)

10. To remove sour smell from dish cloths and sponges soak in 1/2 C. baking soda to 1 qt. water.

11. For a badly-burned pan with a thick layer of burned-on food: pour a thick layer of soda directly onto the bottom of the pan, then sprinkle on just enough water so as to moisten the soda. Leave the pot overnight, then scrub it clean next day.

12. To freshen drains pour 1/2 C. baking soda and follow with 1/2 C. white vinegar.

Sue

Simply Home: The Amazing Possabilities of Vinegar!

2011-02-20T14:08:00.000-06:00

Simply Home: The Amazing Possabilities of Vinegar!: "OK, so some of you may consider this to be a weird second post but stick with me here. I was just working in the kitchen and couldn't find ..."

(Yes, I'm a Yankee) Candles!

2011-02-17T10:30:00.003-06:00

Ok... do my girls know me or what? I got a text from Rachel, our oldest a little bit ago which read, "Hey Mom, Yankee Candle is doing a sale on all their small candles!"
Now understand, being from New England I'm sorta partial to the title... "Yankee", (Even though I've been out of New England longer than I lived there!) and then I'm really, REALLY partial to candles! You will rarely ever NOT find an candle burning somewhere in my home. Over the years I have tried so many different brands of candles and yet, I still return to my "Yankee" candles. My favorite scent, by far, is the Home Sweet Home but I switch out regularly depending on the time of the year. In the spring I like the fresh scent of Clean Linen. In the fall the Pumpkin Spice and Harvest are wonderful. During the Holidays I love the Christmas Wreath and Sugar Cookie candles. I'm not crazy at all about the floral scents and lean more toward the spicey, clean smells. Pier One has a very exotic smelling candle that I love as well. It's called Asian Spice.
The bottom line is; candles just add that warm, cozy "something" to your environment. Whether it's the flame, or the scent or even the design of the candle and/or it's container it's hard to find someone who doesn't love and appreciate a wonderful candle. Why not go get a new one for yourself or a friend! You'll both love it! :)
Here is the Yankee Candle website so you can get a few on sale!
www.yankeecandle.com

And here is a way to get an even bigger discount on them! :)
www.retailmenot.com/view/yankeecandle.com

Sue