Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
♥ Tea on Tuesday: Mango-Macadamia Upside Down Cake ♥
Ingredients:* 1 medium mango, peeled and thinly sliced
* 1 tablespoon lemon juice
* 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
* 1 tablespoon butter, melted
* 2 tablespoons macadamia nuts, chopped
CAKE BATTER:
* 2 tablespoons butter, softened
* 1/4 cup sugar
* 1 egg, lightly beaten
* 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 cup 2% milk
* Finely chopped crystallized ginger, optional
Directions:
* In a small bowl, combine mango and lemon juice. Line a 6-in. round baking pan with parchment paper; coat with cooking spray. Combine brown sugar and butter; spread evenly into prepared pan. Top with mango mixture; sprinkle with nuts. Set aside.
* In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg. Combine the flour, baking powder, ginger and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Spoon batter over nuts.
* Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate; remove parchment paper. Sprinkle with candied ginger if desired. Serve warm.
Yield: 4 servings.
~~yummy recipe and photo from: Cooking for 2 Spring 2009~~
Friday, June 24, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
♥ Friday Flickr Inspiration: Handmade Owls ♥
I'm not sure what it is about owls that I love so much. I think maybe because my father loved owls, both real and the collectible kind. I don't collect them myself, but I love anything with owls on them. Maybe I'm hoping they will make me wiser. ;)
nancydarling: Owl Embroidery
lauwil243: Owl necklace wood and brass
Sewchristine: Beas Owl dress
vsroses.com: Christmas owls
nancydarling: Owl Embroidery
lauwil243: Owl necklace wood and brass
Sewchristine: Beas Owl dress
vsroses.com: Christmas owls
tj4heels: Quilled Owl
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
♥ Tea on Tuesday: Frosty Lemon Squares ♥
Ingredients:* 1/4 cup butter, softened
* 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup cornstarch
* 1/2 cup ground pecans
CREAM CHEESE LAYER:
* 1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese
* 1 package (8 ounces) fat-free cream cheese
* 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
* 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen reduced-fat whipped topping, thawed
LEMON LAYER:
* 1-1/4 cups sugar
* 6 tablespoons cornstarch
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1-1/4 cups water
* 3/4 cup lemon juice
* 2 tablespoons butter
* 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
* 3 to 4 drops yellow food coloring, optional
TOPPING:
* 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
* 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen reduced-fat whipped topping, thawed
Directions:
* In a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour and cornstarch (mixture will be crumbly). Stir in pecans. Press into a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 14-16 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
* In a large bowl, beat cream cheeses and confectioners' sugar until fluffy. Fold in whipped topping. Spread over crust. Cover and freeze for 1 hour.
* Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, salt and water until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in the lemon juice, butter, lemon peel and food coloring if desired. Transfer to a bowl; refrigerate for 1 hour.
* Spread lemon mixture over cream cheese layer. Cover and freeze for 1 hour. Fold lemon peel into whipped topping; spread over lemon layer. Cover and freeze for up to 1 month. Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before serving.
Yield: 20 servings.
Nutrition Facts: 1 piece equals 240 calories, 10 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 18 mg cholesterol, 164 mg sodium, 35 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 3 g protein.
~~yummy recipe and photo from: Healthy Cooking June/July 2011~~
Friday, June 10, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
♥ Tea Wreath Tutorial ♥
I was looking on flickr and stumbled across this picture! And YES!! there is a link to the tutorial on how to make this tea wreath. I just had to share it!! It's on Kojo Designs blog. (click HERE for the link.) Wouldn't this look great in your kitchen?
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
♥ Tea on Tuesday: Frosted Mocha Cake ♥
Ingredients:* 3/4 cup sugar blend
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 2 eggs
* 1/4 cup canola oil
* 1 container (2-1/2 ounces) prune baby food
* 3 teaspoons white vinegar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 cup fat-free milk
* 1 cup cold strong brewed coffee
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/3 cup baking cocoa
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
FROSTING:
* 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
* 1 teaspoon hot water
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 cups whipped topping
Directions:
* In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients; beat until well blended. In a small bowl, combine milk and coffee. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into egg mixture alternately with milk mixture.
* Pour into a 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
* In a small bowl, dissolve coffee granules in hot water. Stir in vanilla. Place whipped topping in a large bowl; gently fold in coffee mixture. Frost cake. Store in the refrigerator.
Yield: 24 servings.
Editor's Note: This recipe was tested with Splenda sugar blend.
Nutrition Facts: 1 piece equals 151 calories, 4 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 18 mg cholesterol, 214 mg sodium, 25 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 3 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 1 fat.
~~yummy recipe and photo from: Light & Tasty August/September 2007~~
Monday, June 6, 2011
♥ The New River Gorge National River: Sandstone Falls ♥
So I am only a week late posting these pictures! That's an improvement for me, you know. ;)
We decided on Memorial Day, we need to escape the house! We are tired of looking at boxes, boxes, and MORE boxes to unpack, and decided rather than the traditional "grilling out", we would just run away for a few hours. We are within an hour of West Virginia, so it seemed natural to go that direction since there's so many unexplored roads for us there. So with no real direction in mind, except "West", we went!
"The largest waterfall on the New River, Sandstone Falls spans the river where it is 1500 feet wide. Divided by a series of islands, the river drops 10 to 25 feet.
Sandstone Falls is located on the north-flowing New River, 8.5 miles north of Hinton, WV. Take River Road (Rt. 26) from the west end of the Rt. 20 bridge in Hinton. drive slowly as much of River Road is one lane.
At Sandstone falls, an accessible boardwalk crosses two bridges leading to islands and observation decks offering views below the falls.
Sandstone Falls is a popular fishing spot for smallmouth bass and catfish: a West Virginia fishing licience is required. The river around Sandstone Falls has been the site of several drownings - always wear a lifejacket when in or near the water."
Yes! I love it when we stumble across something that is handicap accessible!
Great day for fishing I see.
Nice little boardwalk with plenty of places to stop and rest. It was a really humid day and the mosquitoes were having quite a lunch on me. The air was so damp and moist around the river and it smelled all woodsy and full of honeysuckle.
The side view of this bridge reminds me of Monet's japanese foot-bridges he loved to paint.
Hey! Wait for me!!
View from the bridge...
And the other side....amazing what a difference.
Beautiful Sandstone Falls
Rapids below the Falls
We went scootering a bit down the road to get a better view of my ducks, and I spied this little guy. I had to get a real close-up view of him since he was only a bit bigger than a silver half-dollar-piece.
My ducks!! :)
Yes, I'm pouting...I wanted to take a duck home. There had to be a hundred or more of them standing above the Falls in the shallow water, just waiting for dinner to come to them. Smart ducks!
We decided on Memorial Day, we need to escape the house! We are tired of looking at boxes, boxes, and MORE boxes to unpack, and decided rather than the traditional "grilling out", we would just run away for a few hours. We are within an hour of West Virginia, so it seemed natural to go that direction since there's so many unexplored roads for us there. So with no real direction in mind, except "West", we went!
"The largest waterfall on the New River, Sandstone Falls spans the river where it is 1500 feet wide. Divided by a series of islands, the river drops 10 to 25 feet.
Sandstone Falls is located on the north-flowing New River, 8.5 miles north of Hinton, WV. Take River Road (Rt. 26) from the west end of the Rt. 20 bridge in Hinton. drive slowly as much of River Road is one lane.At Sandstone falls, an accessible boardwalk crosses two bridges leading to islands and observation decks offering views below the falls.
Sandstone Falls is a popular fishing spot for smallmouth bass and catfish: a West Virginia fishing licience is required. The river around Sandstone Falls has been the site of several drownings - always wear a lifejacket when in or near the water."
Ducks! Oh my! You know how I LOVE ducks!
Hmmm...why, did we find a place to scooter?
Hmmm...why, did we find a place to scooter?
Yes! I love it when we stumble across something that is handicap accessible!
Great day for fishing I see.
Nice little boardwalk with plenty of places to stop and rest. It was a really humid day and the mosquitoes were having quite a lunch on me. The air was so damp and moist around the river and it smelled all woodsy and full of honeysuckle.
The side view of this bridge reminds me of Monet's japanese foot-bridges he loved to paint.
Hey! Wait for me!!
View from the bridge...
And the other side....amazing what a difference.
So I'm on my way to the end of the boardwalk to see the Falls, and this Lizard-Thing decides it's HIS boardwalk. I think it's one of the many salamanders that are around this particular area. He was not backing down despite the size of my scooter! Of course, Jeff was behind me beeping the whole time and yes, I was holding up a line. :) But I personally have issues with "wildlife" and "nature" and being a bit creeped out, I wasn't about to drive over this guy. You know me, I had the image of him catching a free ride under my scooter and I wouldn't know until he jumped out a few hours later while we're driving down the road. Yeah....that's how my imagination goes. ;)
Beautiful Sandstone Falls
Rapids below the Falls
We went scootering a bit down the road to get a better view of my ducks, and I spied this little guy. I had to get a real close-up view of him since he was only a bit bigger than a silver half-dollar-piece.
My ducks!! :)
Yes, I'm pouting...I wanted to take a duck home. There had to be a hundred or more of them standing above the Falls in the shallow water, just waiting for dinner to come to them. Smart ducks! Friday, June 3, 2011
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