With these ingredients...

I can make just about anything! These are the staples that I use in just about all summer dishes. From fresh green beans to cherry tomatoes, no veggie is safe!

On today's menu is broiled cherry tomatoes slathered in olive oil and balsamic vinegar, sprinkled with licorice basil, feta and parmesan cheese. Who cares that I burned the brats!

Bon Appetit!

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We've been waiting for this....

It can be a challenge to find a food we ALL like. We are five different people with very different tastes. The eldest prefers meat, specifically steak to any other item out there. He would eat steak for breakfast if he had a mother that would get up to grill it that early for him. He's crossing over to the "hot side" as his father is a huge influence in the spice department. That spice isn't referring to romance, we're talking jalapenos and hot peppers. Pecos loves peppers. He's been watching the ones in the garden and has a plan to nab them before I do. I know how this boy thinks.

Then there's Sparky. He is a fruit-aholic. I don't think that is a bad thing except when we splurge on cherries or pineapple and he eats the entire bowl. He would have fruit and fruit only if he could get away with it. He also likes carrots. He once made the rest of us shake our heads in awe when he refused the m n m cookie ice cream bars and asked for the baby carrots we'd just bought instead. Huh?! Stange kid! His father blamed that one on me, saying "He sounds like you!" Really? If only I could turn down ice cream for a vegetable as a natural inclination, and not something forced from guilt. Sigh. He really does set a good example, the rest of us don't follow it often, but its there!

And then we have Blue Sparkle, the child who refuses anything other than sugar! Sugar, in her book, is a necessary part of the food groups. It really should be the ONLY one. She's addicted. If she has veggies  you can bet they will be adequately dipped in a sweet sauce, usually Famous Dave's Sweet and Zesty. If it is something I've made, her nose turns up, she flicks her hair and says, "Humm, I guess I'm not hungry. You can have it though!" Nice. Thanks.

Chad is not the least beat picky. This happens when you are no longer the cook. You are so darn glad to be released from the gathering, preparation and the horrid clean-up that you don't really care what you are served. He'll eat nearly anything, save my favorites lobster, clam, crab and shrimp. If I lived closer to the ocean, I feast on an array of shellfish daily. Yes, I would.

Pecos refuses cheese and dairy, (he will eat pizza so this usually isn't tolerated.) Sparky thinks the devil himself invented soup. He despises anything close to potato soup. He goes on an immediate hunger strike, retreating to his room. He's been made to sit at the table all night. He was even tempted with fabulous dessert. Since he is not a dessert fan, it didn't work. He was hungry the next morning and never once complained about breakfast, but there sat the 'ol potato soup. If BS could have grilled cheese and tomoato soup every day, her world would be so joyful. She on the other hand, LOVES soup. How did we manage to create/grow such diverse children? Who knows? Recessive genes must about in these bodies!

The one food we all LOVe is fresh, sweet corn, plucked right from the garden. We haven't had store bought corn in years. We either try to raise our own or find friends who have a suprlus and pluck theirs. In our books, there's just nothing better! I prefer home cooking to eating out. I strive for healthy, balanced meals and sometimes I get darn frustrated because it is nearly impossible to cook something at every meal that everyone likes..........except in the summer time..........usually around August we all eat in peace. WE ALL LOVE SWEET CORN. From the first crunch we relax into a joyful chorus of crunching, slobbering, and devouring that would make pigs blush. Its must sound terrible. The dogs look at us as if we've all gone mad. We have. We do this when we have something so deliciously good, cheap and FREE. We avoid buying any from other farmer's though this wouldn't be a sin! We just like the anticipation of waiting for our own delicious shucks to pop up and award us with this creamy, sweet goodness. We're all just a little happier in August. We've waited an entire year for this veggie and..........its been so worth the wait!  We picked six precious ears. I could have gone for a few more but hey, there's more where that came from!
I also want to extend a big THANKS to my wonderful friends Shari and Steve for being my "medicine people". I deeply appreciate your help in doctoring and healing my "ballerina wound". What can I say, I'm a "tree" and we trees move faster sometimes than our brains can think! You two rock! Thanks for the love and support!

Here's to abundance of delicious corn and sweet friends~

All In A Day's Work

Yesterday I wrote about how un-gracefull I am. I forgot to include on that list that I am also determined and self-reliant. I didn't quit until the last can was boiling.....I went to sleep at 1:30 am. A quitter I am not.

I had a WONDERFUL client session this morning, cooked a down-home meal for my (surprised) family and spent the afternoon puttering and picking in the garden. The basil, dill, sage and lemon balm are bursting! Oh how I LOVE herbs!

I've been meaning to tackle a couple of disaster zones in the house but thanks to the abundance of my garden, I'm focusing on canning dill beans this afternoon.

As far as I can calculate, my knight in shining armor isn't going to mind the mess, when he comes to sweep me off my feet and rescue me from this messy house that has kept me hostage all summer. I've sent out distress signals, applied to Calgon commercials and yet.....here I remain. Grounded. In my kitchen. Ready for another round of "sweat my a*# off"! Bring it!

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I'd Make A Horrible Ballerina!

I see myself as energetic, willing to change and try new things. I can be daring and even take risks. I like funky, quirky, authentic and unique styles. I honor creativity and adore handmade!

I think I am a hard worker, sometimes a "wanna-be over-achiever" and usually a pathetic perfectionist. I am a lot of things but one thing I am NOT.....is graceful. Nope. Not even close. I miss that mark by miles, even when I'm not trying!

I would love to "float" through the kitchen, delicately cut vegetables, cook in an organized fashion and follow daintily in Martha S's footsteps. Whatever! I'm convinced its not going to happen in this lifetime.
How do I know this? Easy. I just fsizzled my skin when I lifted the lid off of the pressure canner. Like a firearm, they are only dangerous if the user doesn't know what the crap he/she is doing....or if the user is careless, in a hurry, tired, etc.

I had not realized the lid was sealed when I went to lift it off. Steam shot out instantly. OUCH! Yes, I should have known better. The proper action would have been to turn the heat down, wait and then, calmly and gently lift off the lid later. Why didn't I? Who knows! I like the feel of scalded skin?!

I knew it was bad. So as soon as I caught my breath I headed to the medicine cabinet for some outdated "silvadine" the best dang stuff for burns ever invented. I'm sure it will heal. It's been two hours and I feel like my skin is as hot as the sun.
So, I'm not going to win any Julia Child's cooking award. However, I share this because maybe, just maybe, you were doubting your cooking abilities. Don't! Anyone can run a kitchen, it takes a super-talented, non-graceful, impatient, muli-tasker to really make canning exciting! Have you hugged your pressure cooker lately?

More Beans

In my great wisdom I sent the boys out to pick beans. I incorrectly thought that they jad picked them all. Not. Even. Close.

I have been in the garden all morning and I'm not yet making a dent. I came in to empty my dish pan. I am blessed with an abundance of beans!

The only thing about canning beans that I dislike is picking them. That is why I tried to pawn the duty off on my offspring. Lesson learned. I guess this one really did need my expertise, or just extra hands. It was pretty hot yesterday. I'm sure that is probably why so many beans were missed. Yes, that's it!

so while I really would love to be doing other things I have to remember it is garden season. All those fabulous craft projects are now officially on the back burner. I did have an inspiration as I was picking my life away; I believe this fall I'd like to host one craft/creativity playshop a month. I'm going to open our home to those interested in working on creative projects or crafts in the company of others. we can knit, sew, quilt, scrapbook, whatever! I think it would be fun and inspiring to come together in this way and maybe, just maybe, I'd be accountable and HAVE to sit down and do something FUN!

Break is over, back to the garden I go!

Rodeo's Aftermath

If you haven't already figured it out, I'll just say this.....I am not a fan of endless piles of laundry. I don't know a lot of people who are. last weeks was more than taxing; I did the brunt of the chores, garden and other errands that are typically shared by the family. I was ready for extra hands by week's end.

This week, I am most content to have children and Chad closer to home. What I forgot about was that during their gallyvanting (is that a word?) across the country, no Mama was there to do their laundry. Being the thoughtful boys they are, they brought it ALL home to me. Thanks boys, thanks so much!

I've torn into the two-mile pile with gusto at 8 am. In the midst of whipping up ice cream, washing beans, cleaning floors,cleaning the bathroom doing dishes and other household tasks, necessary but too boring to mention, I shared the task of hanging these babies up to dry with their owner. Spark was happy to help. In all the complaining I do, I have to say I'm very thankful to have a son who genuinely loves to help. He does so with a smile on his face, happy to be of service. He actually sets a positive example for his mother!

I'm thinking we'll use this week to clean and reorganize. It amazes me how far behind I can get in relatively short blocks of time. Its time to can beans again and soon, I hope the tomatoes will come on. They are slow to ripen, probably thanks to the lovely "goat munchings" that took place in May. We also need to work on the water system. They aren't getting enough water and the rains seem to be missing us. It's hot and humid, perfect weather for tomatoes, don't you think?!

This looks like a fairly quiet week, which I am welcoming with open arms. I have a few developments to report but I'll wait until tomorrow to share when I know more! It involves a car and.....a trip. We have somr thinking and planning to do. Things could not look more different this summer from what I was thinking in May. Somedays I really have to wonder if I hit a wrong button somewhere! Its not bad, just different and nothing has gone according to plan. I guess its time to make a new path. The old one just hasn't been very smooth.

Oh well, there's always golf, right when I need it most, to give me something different to think about!

Have a great evening, wherever you are sweating your tail off tonight!

He looks.....thrilled?!

My family is now getting iused to me snapping pics with my phone and camera right and left. The second she hears the click BS will ask, "Mom is that going on your blog?"

So, tonight, ever so NOT amused I captured a pic of my cowboy husband who stood just long enough to take this shot. I see now, where my children get their smart a#* attitude from. All this time, I thought it was me! *gasp* I don't think so now......!

So being the supportive wife I am, I'm sitting in the trailer, in the ac and waiting until steer wrestling to go watch! It's probably time. I'm reading a "Old Jules Country" and its hard to put down. Duty calls.....

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