It had been awhile since I went on a thrift store bender, and when I saw this amazing deal on Country Fare pottery mugs and saucers I knew it was time. I bought 5 and gave one to my Jana. They are gorgeous! They usually go for between $10 and $20 a piece. Did I…
~sel de rose caramels~ Well, it’s not quite time for the roses to bloom yet and I am a tiny bit impatient to make my rose miel (honey) for scones. In the mean time, I decided to cook up a little something with this beautiful rose salt, sel de rose, that my friend Jana gave…
Apple trees line the entire street where I take my daily walk. And the lilac blossoms are starting to bloom on McSorley. The scent nearly makes me swoon every time I walk out the front door. Have I mentioned how much I love this time of year? The earth is carpeted in pure magic… What…
~maple iced tea~ serves 6 A refreshing, slightly sweet tea with the surprising flavor of maple. A yummy tea to serve at picnics and garden parties. I have doubled, tripled and quadrupled this recipe for big family gatherings. I just pour everything into my big Robinson Ransbottom stoneware crock cooler and it keeps the tea…
~pizza pico~ In Mexican cuisine pico de gallo is a fresh, uncooked condiment made from chopped tomato and onion. Sometimes other ingredients are added, such as chili peppers, cilantro, citrus juice and even mango, but tomatoes and onion are always the base ingredients. Pico also contains less liquid than traditional salsa fresca. Yesterday while we…
Ever since we moved to Red Wing, almost 12 years ago, Jeff and the girls have made my mother’s day flowers a tradition. We head out to Sargent’s Nursery to get the annuals, herbs, a few perennials, tomatoes, peppers and some bulbs. The weather in Minnesota has been riDONKulous this year and we just got…
~mushroom risotto with fried egg~ A wonderful brunch entree that’s actually easy to put together thanks to this fantastic boxed risotto, Lundberg Risotto (porcini,) that Jeff picked up at The Wedge the last time he was there. There are instructions on the box for making risotto in the microwave! It works! And it tastes good.…
~honey lavender chicken provence~ “Throughout the hillsides of Provence, especially in the departement called called the Drome, lavender grows in purple swatches, popping into vision between green valleys to emulate a patchwork quilt. Mostly used in beauty products and cleaning aids–washing the floor with lavender water keeps the scorpions away–it also appears as a seasoning.…
~Tasting~ ~rosewater lemonade~ 2 Tablespoons rosewater in a half gallon of pink lemonade elegant and refreshing! ~Seeing~ This movie for our date night… watch the TRAILER here ~Hearing~ this pretty music… by The Honey Trees To Be With You Moon River Edelweiss Orchard ~Smelling~ fresh air coming in from the open windows and doors and…
Here’s a list of entertaining tips I’ve been compiling since I wrote the last entertaining tips entry. I hope these little ideas inspire you and help keep your next gathering fun and stress free! ~ use frozen grapes and berries to chill cocktails instead of ice cubes ~ freeze edible flower blossoms and petals into…