Random Post

I haven't written a random post for a bit so today I shall remedy that void.

I'm sure everyone has been waiting for just this day.

*The Hut is up and open.  Our gazebo had to be replaced this year, the old one had a lot of sun damage.  I was ready to use the umbrella and call it good but Hubby didn't think the girls would like that so we dropped everything on Friday and went to town.  My, don't those girls have the power!

The bed is made and ready for napping.

 I had picked up some wicker plant stands and a tray at Carrie's barn sale. I spray painted them navy blue.  New navy sheets and pillows for the bed, shopped my house and boom it's a change.
In the midst of a project overload it just feels so good to spray paint something and get a project completed.

* Sam and Angela were coming for chicken and ribs on Sunday evening, I called Mark and Karen and they joined us.  I made raspberry pie for dessert.  If the hut is up and there's raspberry pie it is summer at our house.

 *Tomorrow I am leaving for my first Sisters On The Fly (SOTF) camping trip.  It's the PNG 2016 Saddle Up Sisters in Cle Elum.  I feel good about driving forward, it's iffy on the backing up.  I can hitch up, unhitch and get her level so I guess Annie and I are off on an adventure.

*A basket of books to read, I'll probably be so busy I won't open a book.  But as you know my favorite word is poolside.  And there is a pool for me.

 *I read the fine print today and noticed there is a swap meet so I threw some goodies together in case I want to be a seller.

 *Sarah posted the meme.  Yep, I have some over packing going on.  

 *Possibly over packing shoes too. The fun part of packing for this trip has been throwing in the shoes.  No airline baggage restrictions and Hubby isn't asking why I need all of those flip flops.  

Guilt free shoe packing! It's real and it's fun.

I don't own the flamingo boots but I stalk them online hoping for a sale.

 *I didn't sign up for a lot of the activities which I may regret.

It's my first trip and it seems a lot like going to camp.  I haven't been to summer camp since I was thirteen years old.  I went to a church Calvinette camp for girls when I was young and the only thing I didn't like were the nonstop activities.  I'm a loud, shy, introvert and I need a little down time.  It drove me crazy when I was ten years old and so I didn't want to take a chance now that I know I am a loud, shy introvert.

Hubby pointed out to me that at a camp for kids they have to keep everyone busy so they don't get into trouble.  And that I could have signed up and then if I needed a break I could just not go to that activity.  Why didn't I think of that?

Anywhoo, I am super excited, over packed, and almost ready to have more fun than anyone else.

Continuing with the random:

*Retirement is going well.  I have been to the dump, to the TV and computer recyling center and to the thrift store to bring a donation.  It is baby steps.  I am planning a garage sale but haven't picked a date as I am busy camping and having fun this summer.

*The dining table gets cleared and then fills up again.

*I'm having fun cooking.  It just feels more fun when I have more time. I used my mini crockpot, mini casserole dish and my 5 inch pie plate last week.  Cute dinner!

*My peeve this week is pictures of older women doing the cheer pose.  I am not picking on cheerleaders so calm down.  That cheer pose is overused and overrated.  So just stop it.  You look ridiculous.

*That's all of the random for today.  Happy trails!

Love Weekend 2015

 It was a lovely Love Week at the Stone House and all of the other places we went to celebrate.

On Friday evening we had old and new friends over for a traditional Valentine's dinner.  The only consistent menu item is the heart shaped meatloaf.  I did make a different recipe this year.  Though no two meatloaves have ever been the same at our house. I don't usually follow a recipe.  I just add whatever I want to add and it usually turns out just fine.  This year though I followed the following recipe.  Well, as best I can, I always change recipes just a bit.

 

Stove Top Meatloaf

2 lb. lean ground beef ***I use one pound of Jimmy Dean Hot Sausage and 1 pound of ground beef

1 pkg. (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Chicken

1 cup water

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup KRAFT Original Barbecue Sauce, divided *** I used ketchup and I don't top with ketchup.

Heat oven to 375°F. Place meat, stuffing mix, water, eggs and 1/4 cup barbecue sauce in bowl.

Mix just until blended.

Shape into loaf in 13x9-inch baking dish. *** I shape it as a heart.

Top with remaining barbecue sauce. Bake 1 hour or until done (160ºF). 

My former high school Spanish teacher and our dear friend, Senorita Adelene, joined us for dinner.  New friends, Les and Marlene joined us and we had a delightful evening getting to know them.



 On Valentine's evening we had dinner at Mark and Karen's house.  She fussed, he grilled and we felt spoiled and loved.  Vern and Shelly were there too.  Many of my readers will be happy to know that it was decided to bring back the Garden Party in 2015.  After a two year break we are going to try to find a date for August.

 Karen made Coeur à la Crème for dessert.  Mark's Mom made it when he was growing up and gave Karen the ceramic pan that is necessary for the recipe so that she could make it for Mark too.  Ohmyheavenlycreamygoodness!

It was served with a raspberry sauce.  Karen baked shortbread cookies, had an assortment of chocolates and a tawny port to serve with the Coeur à la Crème.

Diets, clean eating, eat less, move more were not spoken of or thought of for one evening.

 

Hubby and I are very thankful to celebrate 27 years of marriage and Valentine's Day in the same week.  It's a lovely week and this year was no exception.

 

I am a little behind on my blog posts so look for more coming up this week.

 

Happy President's Day-

A Shower for a Dear Blushing Bride

Michelle and Bryce are getting married in October.  Shelly and I planned a shower for Michelle.  The SherylShellyDoreenTami group and their girls and brave, sweet Mother of the Groom, Kathy gathered on the patio for cocktails on Monday evening.  It is still nice enough in the evening to enjoy some patio time before it cools down. 

 We moved Grandma's chairs to the patio because their fabric is the perfect shades of blush and gold.  

 Shelly and I had everything ready but no guests yet so we snapped some selfies.  Hubby made us a G & T to help us cool down calm down.  We were a little giddy to have the girls come and enjoy the party.

 Here comes the bride... Michelle's dress was a gorgeous blush color with beading.  She sparkled!  Especially when she talks about her groom.  So in love and so pretty.

We served feta and caramelized onion tarts, prawns and water chestnuts wrapped in bacon, and rosemary raisin crackers topped with honeyed chevre and fresh blackberries and then drizzled with more honey.  All served with a blush wine or pink lemonade on ice.

 I love this mother and daughter picture of Sheryl and Michelle.  Bryce and Michelle are moving to Montana so I plan on Mama Sheryl crying into her wine at my house a lot this Fall.

 Michelle with her sisters and her mamas.  That dress!  Sweet fancy Moses it is pretty!

 After cocktails we went inside for dinner.  When you put two dish crazy friends in charge of a bridal shower this happens:

Shelly had the gold and I had the blush.

Since we think of Michelle as our little princess, the crowns were a perfect touch.

I found the velvet leaves in Seattle at Nancy's Sewing Basket.  I love velvet leaves.  I think we should bring them back for corsages.  Corsages with velvet leaves for everyone!

 Shelly and I went to the Heeringa's dahlia farm in the morning to pick the freshest flowers.

 For dinner we served an autumn chop salad with Heidi's Chicken and Rice.  I had shared this recipe with my friends and I knew that the girls love it.

 For dessert we served coffee and ice cream sandwiches.  Toasted coconut cookies with strawberry ice cream, triple ginger cookies with blood orange sorbet and chocolate chip cookies with coffee ice cream.  Small enough so that one of each wasn't too much.

 I don't have a group picture but I did get some small group ones.

And oh my, did we have fun.  And laughed and laughed.  Talked all at the same time and got so excited for the wedding and for Bryce and Michelle.

And that was just Shelly and I setting up and cooking for the shower.

Then the girls showed up and the party really got started.

I'm so blessed to have childhood friends that have shared their daughters with me.  Ooh, it was a good time.

I cannot wait for the wedding day.

Best Wishes, Bryce and Michelle!

Berry Delicious

It's strawberry season in Lynden, a magical two weeks in June.  The very best berries are the Hood variety and they are at their peak this week.  Hubby wants fresh berries everyday during their short season.  I can do that.

 Fresh strawberry margaritas on the patio, yes please!

 Strawberries on Grandma Dykstra's waffles.  Yes please!

Fresh strawberry pie?  Yes, please!  There is no photo, sometimes desserts get shared with friends and go too fast for a photo.  Trust me, it was delicious!  I use my raspberry pie recipe with fresh strawberries and substitute the 2 T. raspberry jello for strawberry jello.

I love the berries sliced with an Activia vanilla yogurt for lunch.  And I still need to make a Strawberry Pizza.

Oh, and the shortbread biscuits from the Lynden Dutch Bakery, got to have those with berries and whipped cream.  June is Dairy Month, and we celebrate with lots of whipped cream on our berries.

How about our Christmas favorite, Snow Salad with fresh strawberries?  Yum!

What is your favorite strawberry recipe?

Jam and Brie Tarts And A Book Review

The holidays are coming and along with them come many parties.  Today I'm sharing an easy 3 ingredient recipe made with items that you can purchase now and have in the house through the season.

Jam and Brie Tarts

1 box of puff pastry

Brie cheese

Jam

Thaw your puff pastry for 40 minutes, then unroll it onto a lightly floured surface.

 Cut into 12 pieces per sheet for a total of 24 squares.

 Trim and cut 24 cubes of Brie, approximately 1/2 inch squares.  I think Costco has the best price for Brie and this one will carry you through several parties.

 Spray your mini muffin tin with Pam.  Tuck the pastry into each muffin space, I lightly mold them.  Add  the Brie to each one and then top with a scant teaspoon of jam.

 The original recipe I made for Garden Party, called for fig jam, since I am almost out of fig jam (I know! Already!  Next year I'll make more fig jam).  I used my peach jam, blueberry jam, some mango chutney and some raspberry jam.  I had some sugar free raspberry jam in the fridge, I used it because I thought there would be someone at the party that couldn't have sugar.  Don't do it!  The sugar free was disgusting once it baked.  I took one at the party, bit into it and was mortified!  

Use your homemade raspberry jam.  I know I will next time.

Bake at 350 degrees.  The original recipe is for 15 minutes, which isn't nearly long enough.  I set my timer for 15, then add 5 and then keep checking every two minutes.  The pastry needs to get lightly browned.

Serve warm.

I recently read The  Sharper  Your  Knife,  The  Less  You  Cry  by Kathleen Flinn.  It's a memoir of her time while studying at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.  I enjoyed reading this book.  I have many techniques to learn and it was interesting to read about her struggles and then victories over the techniques.  There is a recipe at the end of each chapter.  I love reading cookbooks.  

Then Hubby and I started watching reruns of Julia Child's cooking show from the early 1960's.  Honestly, I think I may have to take on puff pastry.  It can be used for so many recipes and with practice I think I can possibly master it, however; not during the holidays.

 I'm Julia Childs, Tami.

Bon Appetit.