Saturday, June 19, 2010

Father's Day Dinner

I'm thinking that our menu is turning out to be fabulous!

Here's what on the agenda:

BBQ pork chops with homemade BBQ sauce (I'll post the recipe)
grilled veggies, whatever looks good at the farmer's market this weekend - Although my dad LOVES Asparagus, so we might go with that.  If we do then I'll be making another veggie, because I don't like Asparagus (Mom doesn't either.)
I'm considering making some Tabule, because I love it and I've been thinking obsessing about it ever since a co-worker made a big batch at brought it for lunch almost all week last week :-)
My mom is bringing some fruit, which will probably include some of the strawberries we are going to pick on Saturday.
I'll also do some bread, I've got a french loaf of take-n-bake bread in my freezer, which is easy to throw in the oven and bake.
I am making my mom Strawberry Tart, which is super yummy and topped with the fresh strawberries we are picking on Saturday.

It should be yummy!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Mom's Strawberry Tart

Here's the promised recipe for my Mom's Strawberry Tart.



Crust:
1/2 c Butter
1 c Flour
2 Tbsp Sugar
2 oz almonds (I like slivered or sliced)

Filling:
2 Eggs, beaten
1 tsp Almond Extract
8 oz Cream Cheese
1 c Sugar

Mix crust and pat into 10" pie plate or spring form pan.
Mix filling in food processor or with mixer. Pour over crust.
Bake 15-20 min at 350.

Refridgerate before serving.

Top with whole fresh strawberries and glaze lightly.

For glaze you can use pre-made strawberry glaze, a light frosting glaze or melted chocolate (above I used both white and dark chocolate to glaze)

Enjoy!

Sweet Find!

While we were in the process of buying our house, we stored somethings in my parents garage. Ok we stored ourselves in the house too :-) But, when we were moving some of our stuff out of the garage...I found this!


I'm not digging the black color, but that's fixable. I am digging the distressed-ness of this little table. And I love love love the tiny drawer with vintage-y drawer pulls.

And I can't figure out where to put it, it's too deep for our entry way, which is where we really need something like this, so I just keep moving it around the living room and dining room trying to find a great place for it, so far nothing. But I'm sensing a total re-arrange of the living room furniture :-)

I'm also trying to decide on paint colors, what color do I really want this to be? Brown to match/coordinate with our other wood furniture? A fun color, because we need some fun color? What do you think?

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

What's for Dinner Wednesday

Here's a tasty little recipe that's quick and easy, I've no one has ever told me they hate it ;-)

My mom used to make these when we were kids...Oven Pancakes.  Ever since my brother brought it up a couple of weeks ago at a family dinner, I've been just waiting for the perfect time to make one.  I used a Betty Crocker Recipe that I don't think was quite as good, or filling as the recipe that my mom uses.  I'll have to get hers and post it for you all.  My hubby had never had an Oven Pancake before and he liked it so much that we made two that night for supper.  I made a few changes to the recipe based on what I had on-hand, but it turned out well over all.  So here's what I did....

Puffy Oven Pancake
2 Tbs Butter or Margarine (I used spray)
2 large eggs
1/2 c. all purpose flour
1/2 c. milk (I used plain soy milk)
1/4 tsp salt
Lemon juice and powdered sugar or cut up fruit

1) Heat Oven to 400.  Melt butter/Margarine and brush on to bottom and sides of 9" pie plate, I cheated and used a canola spray, because I'm lazy
2) Beat eggs slightly in a medium bowl with a wire whisk.  Beat in flour, milk (I used plain soy milk, because it's what I had on hand, we don't keep real milk in the house as hubby is lactose intolerant) and salt.  Beat just until mixed.  Don't beat it too long or the pancake won't puff up. Pour into pie plate.
3) Bake 25-30 minutes or until puffy and golden brown. Serve immediately, sprinkled with lemon juice and powdered sugar or topped with fruit.  (I serve mine with cut up fruit).

So thanks to Betty Crocker for the recipe and this picture of what it should look like when finished from BettyCrocker.com.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Father's Day Gifts

Father's Day is right around the corner...just a couple of weeks away!  I'm already starting to pick out gifts for my dad, cuz he is tough to shop for!  He's the kinda guy who when ever he see something that he likes, he just buys it - which makes gift giving occasions VERY difficult!  But I've got a few tricks up my sleeve this year.

My hubby is big into grilling and recently we purchase one of these grill trays:
He was telling my mom about it, who waited until Dad left the room and whispered, "Dad would like one of those for Father's Day." Ok Mom - DONE!

Then Hubby was telling Mom about some kabob baskets he saw and was thinking about getting.  Mom says, "Get your dad some of those too."  Got it Bossy!

And because I'm fond of a surprise or two, I've got a couple of DIY projects up my sleeve too...starting with...the..Pocket Protector!  My dad is a huge nerd and we love him for it, and as much as I hate to encourage it, the man needs a pocket protector.  So, I've ordered some fabric and vinyl and I'm going to make some :-)  It's kinda a joke and I don't really expect him to use them, but I did order some cool fabric :-)
Tools and Bicycles - perfect for my dad.  I also found some Iowa State fabric and some awesome recycle print fabric at Hancock Fabrics.  I can't wait to whip up the Pocket Protectors and some other cool stuff!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

How I'm Spending My Weekend....

Teaching CPR and First Aid for the camp staff of the system of camps I work for.  I am teaching two days, Friday and Saturday..so it's should be super-dee-duper fun.

On the upside, I will have lots of time to knit while my students are watching the great videos the Red Cross puts out.  So, Good Luck to all my students, you'll do fine AND here's a sneak peak at what I'm knitting.