Another Irish saying

Here is another Irish saying...

It’s no use carrying an umbrella
if your shoes are leaking.

I think that means buy New Shoes!

Don't y'all just love those Irish sayings?
Sandi

Blessings~

Irish saying:
Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away.
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day.

We had a new baby in the office~ which in My office is a funny thing to say. Because we have new babies everyday!
Maybe this little sweater will keep her warm and snuggley.

Blessings y'all~ Sandi

Are you Irish too?

St Patty's Day is around the corner. We always celebrate!

Who is not a little Irish on St Patrick's Day? I have found a fun site for Irish sayings. I'll try to post a new one every day. Y'all can help me with the meanings...

Every branch blossoms

according to the root from which it sprung.

I may just use these yellow bells as my centerpiece this month.

Y'all have beautiful day!

Sandi

A Recipe a Day?

My friend Sandi at Holding Patterns has suggested that I post a recipe everyday in March~ that is madness! To do that I would have to cook (really cook!) everyday. Believe it or not... this kitchen is sometimes closed.

I wanted to point out that you can always find a recipe at the WhistleStop Cafe! On the side bar (look left <~ ) there is a link to every recipe I have ever posted.

Start Your Engines is the list of appetizers.

Soups On! are all our soups, including a recipe for a good southern roux.

Mac & Cheese is a Veggie is the place to find your veggie side dish.

Supper Time lists entrees, sandwiches and 'main' dishes.

Gimmie Some Sugar is the spot to look for a yummy dessert.

If you are looking for cornbread or dough look under Our Daily Bread.

Wet Your Whistle has a few drink recipes... I may need to post more of those with St Patrick's Day around the corner.

We also have cookbooks A Pinch of Dis, a Pinch of Dat, our Country Store. No excuses Sandi!

I also want to thank Diva Julie for my pretty fabric, I am looking for some matching colors to whip up a new apron. Yesterday I got a package in the mail from Australia. Rob at Creative Spirit sent me a beautiful crystal bracelet. Rob has recently had eye surgery and is slowly recovering. I hope the creativity will continue!

So thanks to all y'all~

Sandi

March Madness

I have been challenged by some of my Slow Travel friends to join in on 'March Madness'. The Madness this month is that we will post everyday.

There is a list of the other players on my sidebar. Many of these bloggers are friends, some new some old... I have found recently that there are many definitions of 'friend'. It seems that word is more complicated then I ever knew.

Suffice it to say that I am happy to be a part of the Slow Travel community, and proud of friends I have made. We all have a love and passion for travel and like to share in our successes.

So... on with the madness!

I just hope I have something to say~
Y'all enjoy!
Sandi

Warm your tummy

One day it feels like spring, the next day winter is blowing through again.

Make up your mind!

I have a new pair of spring shoes that I am dying to wear~ in the mean time I will bundle up and make a pot of soup. I have some leftover broccoli that will be perfect.

Cream of Broccoli Soup

2 cups broccoli

1 onion diced

3 Tbs butter

1/4 cup fresh parsley

1/4 cup flour

2 cup chicken broth

2 cups half& half

juice from 1/2 lemon

salt & pepper

1/2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning

pinch nutmeg

Cook broccoli (fresh or frozen) until tender. In a skillet, saute onion in butter, add flour and stir together. Brown the flour lightly. Place all the veggies into a blender and pulse until they are coarsely chopped. Add 1 cup of broth into the blender. Combine until thick and smooth.

Return broccoli puree to sauce pan and add remaining broth, cream, lemon juice and spices. Cook soup over low heat until heated through.

Serve with a topping of grated sharp cheddar cheese for a yummy soup.

That'll warm your tummy don't you know!

Y'all enjoy~

Sandi

Theirs...

Have you ever thought about this?

The + IRS = theirs

Now that it is March, I guess it is about time to start the process. How much do you get to keep?

The new one dollar coins are out. Have you seen the email going around that says 'Don't use them because they don't say In God We Trust' ...Wrong!

Y'all can spend it just the same.

Sandi

In like a lamb

Today I can feel spring in the air. What is it they say about March...in like a lamb out like a lion?

I am thinking about a big pot of Etouffee~ Yum!

Etouffee

3 pounds shrimp

or crawfish

1 onion, diced

1 green pepper, diced

3 stalks celery, diced

1/2 cup butter

1 Tbs cornstarch

1 cup water

4 green onions

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Salt & pepper

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Peel and clean raw shrimp and set aside. Saute onion, pepper, and celery in butter until tender. Dissolve cornstarch in water, add water to onions. Simmer and stir until well blended. Add salt & pepper and cayenne to taste. Add shrimp and simmer covered until shrimp are pink and done- about 10 minutes. Add green onion and parsley and cook for another 5 minutes. To serve scoop a spoon full of white rice into a bowl, ladle the ettouffee on top of the rice. Sprinkle with a few green onion slices if desired.

First we have to get out and trim those Crepe Myrtles, we are only about two weeks late! I bet Bill will come running when he hears me crank up that chain saw.

Y'all have a blessed Sunday!

Sandi

Leapastic!

It's Leap Day!
February 29th only comes in leap year and I am full of Leapenvy for those who celebrate their birthday on Leap Day.... known as Leapers. You can Shop Here for some great leapified stuff.


Since this is such a special day the Leapers suggest you use this extra day for something leapworthy. You know this is the day that a lady can ask a man to marry her. Maybe you would rather loan someone money~ to be paid back on February 29th.

In fact I could use a loan like that!

Leapio Y'all!
Sandi

Centerpiece of the Month~ February

February was a great month for centerpieces. Something about Valentine's Day and Springtime flowers had everyone in the mood! I am posting a little earlier than usual~ while we are still in February.

I snitched this one~ but I don't think Palma will mind. Palma Bella's Passions posted some poppies from her yard in southern California. Can you believe she grew these?

Nature Girl sent in a pretty arrangement in a wine glass~ so simple! Yet so perfect

Pam and her Sidewalk Shoes is my adopted blogger. She shared her Lenten roses. She got these right out of her yard as well.

Myriam at Once Upon a Tart always sends a beautiful arrangement. This one was inspired by the first signs of spring. She'll show you how to do it yourself... check it out.

At Cherry Hill Cottage there is a perky percolator full of carnations. These will put a smile on your face for a while!

Dust Bunny Hostage is hot, hot, hot. I admit that I had to talk her out of this one.

Pat at Back Porch Musings had an unbelievable Valentine's table. Sandi McBride may not be posting centerpieces~ but she knows where to find them! Thank you Sandi~ and Pat!

What's For Lunch Honey sent us a unique Valentine's bouquet. No flashy red and pink, just the pureness of white. Meeta used creamy roses and ranunculus with silver threads, and then took a perfect picture.At The Bunnies Bungalow

the table was set with doilies, ribbons, flowers and a key to her heart.
I wonder who her lucky Valentine was??

We had so many entries that I don't need to post mine~ but I will say that I had some beautiful roses on my kitchen table. (for those of you who may have been worried for me.)

Thank all of you for taking the time to send in your centerpieces. I can't wait to see what's in store for March!

What have y'all got on your table?

Sandi

Awards

The Oscars was not the only award show in town!

Mandy at Pearl Maple was nice enough to pass on an award to me. She is so sweet~ and so talented. You have to check out her blog.

So here I am in my favorite little red dress~~~~~ Use your imagination!

"I would like to thank Mandy in Australia for this little E. I'd also like to give a shout out to all-y'all who stop in and comment on our little blog. Y'all have made me feel so special. "

Back to the kitchen~ it's dinner time!

Sandi

Pizza Saturday

It is a pizza Saturday!
I've already got my dough made. This evening we will roll it out into a yummy tomato-basil pizza. Pizza Dough
3 1/2 cups flour
1 cup hot water
2 Tbs yeast
1 Tbs honey
1/4 cup olive oil
pinch salt
In a large bowl combine water that is very warn to the touch with yeast. Allow to sit for about 5 minutes. Add honey and olive oil. Slowly add flour, mixing until well blended. Dough should easily fold into a ball. Add water or flour as needed to get the right consistency. Place dough on a lightly floured surface to kneed for about a minute. Return to the bowl and cover with a cloth. Allow to sit until you are ready to make the pizza. Dough will double in size in about 45 minutes, punch down and allow to rise again.

To roll out the dough into a pizza crust use a lightly floured surface. Spinning like they do at Pasquale's makes the dough round and even. It takes practice. A little corn meal on the pizza stone will keep it from sticking.

I like to sprinkle my dough with fresh basil or rosemary before covering with a sauce. I use a thin coat of the bruschetta topping and lots of fresh tomatoes and basil. Bill likes lots of grated cheese.

Bake in a hot oven @ 400 until done, about 15 minutes.

Y'all enjoy!

Sandi

Spinach Lasagna

This is a recipe for an easy spinach lasagna. It isn't purely vegetarian... Bill would be asking 'Where's the Beef?' I like using fresh spinach and a whole wheat pasta. A little left over spaghetti sauce makes it really easy.

Spinach Lasagna
3 cups spaghetti sauce
2 cups fresh spinach leaves
2 cups shredded mozzarella
2 cups ricotta cheese
1/4 cup parmesean
1 egg
1/2 box lasagna noodles
In a large pot of boiling water cook noodles until tender. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with a non stick spray. Combine ricotta and parmesean cheeses with an egg. Begin with a layer of noodles, layer sauce, spread ricotta, layer spinach, sprinkle with mozzarella. Repeat layers of noodles, sauce, cheeses, and spinach.

Cover with tented aluminum foil. Bake at 350° for 1 hour. Allow to sit 15 minutes before slicing.

Sometimes I do this in a 9x13 dish, and sometimes I use 2 smaller pans. One to bake and one to freeze for later.

Y'all enjoy!

Sandi

What a Day

Guess who is 40 today?

Kari you are a classic!

Stop by for the birthday blog party!

If that doesn't make today special enough...

We are going to have a lunar eclipse tonight. It won't happen again until 2010.

I hope I can stay awake and get a better picture of the man in the moon.

Sandi

Gail's Great Escapes

My dear friend Gail is a bit of a 'celeb' today. There is an article about her in the Sunday edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The article is Why I Love My Job ~ and who wouldn't when your job is leading groups to Italy?

Her business is called Gail's Great Escapes . She and her husband John invite small groups to stay in a villa in Tuscany.

"She leads weeklong, small-group tours to a villa in a mountain village in Tuscany, the part of central Italy near Florence. She is the hostess for up to 16 people who can tour the region, visit wineries and restaurants, taste local wine and cheese, take art and cooking classes, relax with yoga and meditation instruction, or just sit back and enjoy the countryside."

Gail and John do this with a touch of southern hospitality- in Montisi.

It is the perfect blend; the security of a tour, with the freedom to do what ever and where ever your heart leads. Meals in the evening at the villa, art lessons, cooking lessons, tours of wineries, or just relaxing under a Tuscan sunset.

We are lucky enough to already have our room reserved!

If y'all have ever wanted to see Italy~ check out Gail's Great Escapes.

Ciao y'all,

Sandi