In the Kitchen Pt.1

Hello again dear blog, how is everyone doing this Monday? I hope all is good in blogland as well as real life with all of my readers! Anyways, I decided that around once or twice a month I am going to do a post on different dishes I make, and or find pretty. So today, having in mind that I wanted to do this post, I decided to make a fresh garden salad for lunch after I watched this show, and saw a delicious looking fresh and light dressing. I just love her show, whenever I find time to catch it I always feel like inviting people over and making some delicious Italian dinner. I myself love to entertain, and I believe I received that "gene" from my grandmother, who is an amazing cook as well as a lovely entertainer.
...duh.... I almost forgot, sorry for this quick topic change, but I just remembered how I was going to tell you about the graduation party on Saturday. It was hectic, like I had said, but everyone enjoyed themselves, and enjoyed the food. I myself only had to prepare the chicken, which I browned about 50 pieces in a pan with some white wine, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper as well as EVOO, and then put it in pans to bake in the oven. It turned out delicious, and while that was cooking, I assembled the fruit kabobs, which had watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, pineapples, and grapes. I also had time to make my hazelnut blondies, which were also a hit, and whose picture you can see at the end of the post. Okay, now back to my salad which I named L'Insalata di Estate semplice (Simple Summer Salad in Italian.) I started with a few leaves of basil, some EVOO, salt, pepper, thyme, Dijon mustard, and lemon peel for the dressing which I blended and put in the fridge. I then cut up a head of romaine, green peppers, onions, and tomatoes and added some pre-grilled chicken. Finally I assembled it all in a really pretty white bowl I have, chilled the salad for a few minutes as well as the dressing & then enjoyed it with a nice cup of cherry selzter. Yummmo!!! It was so light and delicious, that I highly recommend you try it! It’s very simple too, and easy to clean up, so even if you can’t cook (which I am sure you can!!) it will turn out beautifully! Okay, just wanted to do a quick post today, I'll tell you more about the party on Wednesday or Thursday. Until next time, wishing you some enjoyable time whipping up L'Insalata di Estate semplice!

Lemon Basil Dressing


Preparing the Salad


Hazelnut Blondies

Spring ehem.. Summer Cleaning

Hello again dear blog, its been a while hasn't it? Well anyhoo, Today I have some interesting things to share with you about my hectic past week. So, this Saturday is my cousin's Graduation party.. Wow I cant believe she has graduated Highschool already.. The years pass by soo quickly!! So, as is usual, a graduation party entails, and my Aunt and I have been planning the whole entire thing for the past month and a half. We have had to do alot of planning with the food since most of my big Italian family is going to be there, and we are going to need ALOT of food!! My Aunt decided to not have it catered, so myself and my Aunt (who is not a very talented cook) are going to be preparing and cooking EVERYTHING, other then some baked ziti, cookies, and of course, the cake. I have no idea what I am going to be stuck with, I say that even though I do enjoy cooking! There are so many dishes I cannot even name them without writing a book! And of course not only cooking is involved in parties, setting up is going to be a nightmare, ughhh, tomorrow I am going to be stressin' out!! Not to worry, I do well under pressure ;)
I already know that I am going to be making some Hazelnut Blondies from this magazine, and since they include hazelnuts and Nutella, I am sure that my family is going to adore them!! I cannot wait to see everyone, since I usually only see them during our church's feast in August, where we have a big party at a cousins house. We used to have a family reunion, but thats a whole other post! Back to the whole party, this past week can be summed up into shopping, preparing, and cleaning. Since I live next to my Aunt, yes isn't that a coincidence, and our driveways connect, I also had to make sure my house was spick and span, including the outdoors. So that is why you will see the paint "can" above, with the white paint for the side of the garage. I also did some major cleaning of my veggie garden, which I call it that, even though it hasn't seen a veggie planted in it for years since it was soo overgrown. Hey, atleast now I might be able to get those raised beds I've been dreaming of!! Yesterday I tackled the kitchen, and today the living room and dining room. Right now my house looks perfect, I just hope it can stay that way for the next few days!! As I was cleaning, my pretty garden angel which is actually made of plastic was pushed off of its table by a curtain rod and it broke into tons of pieces. I took a picture of it, so that I didn't feel so bad throwing it out, and to show you how pretty it was! As for the last photo, its of some picture frames hanging in my kitchen which I revamped by adding some new paper. As for now, thats all I can write, in a little bit I'm off to go running at the track with my sister, and who knows what else I have to do with the party. I'm thinking for the next post something to do with cooking, since I am going to be cooking up a storm this weekend, and maybe a few pictures from the party? Okay, well until next time, Wishing you a clean and tidy house, and some good time cooking in the kitchen!

Back to the Stone Age...

Hello again dear blog, sorry for the long departure, but I could not find my camera ANYWHERE until today when I found it shoved in a couch cushion.. Isn't that where things always end up? Its like every couch has a "couch monster" who secretly "eats" all of the things sitting on the couch at night and the next morning when your rushing around looking for the keys or your phone, a lightbulb appears over your head and you go "oh yeah!" thats where they'll be! Anyhoo, you really havent missed much this week or the last since I have not been doing much other then gardening and shopping. Yes, more shopping, at the mall, at the bookstore and of course at Michaels!
This week I was deprived of my television shows that I record on DVR since my cable box "broke" and I had to take it back to Comcast to get another one, which also did not work. I was so angry when I found out it was just the wires, and that I didn't need to return my old box (which had all of my recorded programs)to Comcast. My Martha, Brando, Guys and Dolls, Gardening shows, Thats Clever's!, oh how upset I was! But, I realized that it did have a postive effect, and since I did not spend 2 hours in front of the TV watching my recorded shows for the day, I was able to go outside and get things done. Over the three days, I planted some more seeds, cleaned up my potting table, cleaned the house, my bedroom, as well as some of the garden beds which desperatley needed some attention. As for TV, I have decided that I no longer need it. Although it does provide inspiration and entertainment along with some educational information at times, it takes away precious time that I have to do other things, like enjoying the sunny weather, or the smell of the new lavender buds which are blooming. As for the pictures of todays post, the first is of some hosta leaves which I made a pretty little arrangment to fill the empty space in which my peonies once filled, and the second one is of some gardening books which I found time to read over my "TV free" period :) And the last is of a cute "Antique" sign I picked up at Michaels on SALE for a really great price. I plan on hanging it in my kitchen! As for today my friends, thats it, but until next time I wish you time to enjoy the outdoors as well as some good old fashioned silent time, with no TV or computer!! (lets see how long that lasts! ;)