AAM Monday: Project Life Week 29

Because there are some photos blurred out for privacy sake, these are not the usual quality images. Sorry about that but that's how it goes.  Other peoples' stories that are important to me...

Wordless Wednesday: Perfecto

as seen on Instagram

Five on Tuesday : July is coming...get ready!

Ok, July will be here soon and July means summer, July means hot and July means easy easy food. Light and refreshing food.

1. Quinoa, egg, avocado jar salad...oh yes!

click for recipe

2. Then there's breakfast. I often just have iced tea til about 9am but when it feels like a sauna outside, then then a peach (or mango) lassi is perfect. I don't add any honey etc but depending on the ripeness of your fruit you might want a bit more sweetness. I use a blender since I can just blend it clean afterwards too. btw, I use plain club soda and then it seems like I'm in an Indian restaurant!

click for recipe

3. Some days you want meat for dinner but don't want to cook. That's what a crock pot is for. Almost like having your own cook. Try this one!

click for recipe 

4. Then we have a dish that can be breakfast (ok a weekend one or a holiday one) or a dessert.  For the latter, you can even prep it the night before and pop it in the oven as dinner starts. Believe me roasting peaches in any form is delightful.  But try this peach galette. I wish we'd get ripe peaches round here...soonest!

click for recipe

5, Now you many not want to make this but just watching it is pure food porn. A good pistachio gelato may suffice though.



VERT by Carte Noire : Tiramisu pistache au café sucré from ))) datafone on Vimeo.

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5 on Friday: July 24, 2015

Boy  we've had some hot days! There were several days I didn't even leave the house. Walking out to get the newspaper in the morning was enough of a taste of the heat and humidity for me. So what went on? Not much.

1. I like chocolate; I like coconut; and I've learned to like iced coffee way too much.  This drink, found on Pinterest, is on my to do list.

Chocolate Coconut Coffee Seltzer

2. I had my first peaches! they were from South Carolina and 99¢ a pound! It took another day or so after buying to get them fully ripe but they were good!

3. On one of the sweltering mornings, I finally got my summer plants all planted and my planting table cleaned off. It was only bothering me and telling someone (telling a husband) where and how to plant would have been more of an effort. That's just how it goes... Let me tell you, it feels good to have it all done and see it done. Worth the sweat.

4. With the air conditioning running all day downstairs, I actually did a slight bit of cooking - even using the oven once. I made a banana bread that turned out to be a not so good banana cake. It did use up those bananas that were quickly going south.

5. Finally got my iPhone6 filled with my music and backed up to my computer. Now if I could only get rid of all those Backup to the Cloud messages. No, I don't want to buy Cloud storage tyvm,

Not So Good Tuesday

Still back from retreat with almost a mini flu. It came and went yesterday and fortunately it hasn't included bathroom issues. But my ears ache, my throat is sore and the headache comes and goes. I'm sleeping a LOT. The body knows. It seems like the old sinus problems which I haven't had for years. That beautiful site down on the Potomac river also has a lot of vegetation and I did go out and sit a bit on Sunday. Perhaps that was my mistake.

Whatever.  Today I plan to start the sewing of my book cover for the SEWN class.  Then I can clean up a bunch of what's on the dining room table.  We don't eat on that often but I do like to keep it free and clear of clutter ...normally.  Perhaps I'll also sort through some artsy papers today.  Whatever.  It's going to be a stay-at-home day.

It isn't all bad. Fresh peaches for breakfast? oh yes, there are good points all the time. I just have to keep that in mind.

Five on Friday: July 5, 2013

There have been a lot of things that tickled my fancy this week. Some were things I saw while driving hither and yon. Others were things I ate. Then again, sometimes is was a person who made my heart smile.

1. I saw a sign on a church I pass periodically - If you can read this sign, you're close enough to come in.  Nice.

2. Peaches have arrived. I bought a dozen that I thought were still a bit hard only to find that my husband ate one immediately. They are ripe & luscious and we're down to 4.

3. I had an opportunity to speak to some women who really want to change their lives. Such a welcome contrast to some others. Plus,the receptionist at the site shared some of her Old Bay Potato Chips with me. Oh that's a dangerous slope!

4. I'm painting and playing with color and paper and letting the hand just ...move.

5.After a lot of rain recently, we had sun yesterday and it looks like sun today. I bet the farmers are  really happy! I am.

How's your weekend starting?

Love Friday

Right now because I'm home and not traveling. As delightful and fun as trips can be, I do like my own home, and I like to happily putter at what I want to do. Admittedly my weekdays are rather like other peoples' weekends but what the h. It's the mood still.



Tonight? I plan to meet with other crafty people in my Artist Way group which I've sorely missed this summer. Saturday, a nice little celebration with a friend, maybe a trip to Virginia for a Middle-Eastern festival at one of the churches. I also have a good bunch of collage books from the library to give me a boost of inspiration, and ...there might even be a movie rental...just for me. Dinners will be easy, perhaps some peach cooking, and if the weather continues cool, a switch from iced tea to a pot of hot tea in the afternoon.

I love this transition into almost-fall!!! (Guess who's a September baby!!)

So what is giving you Friday love today??? This lass started this meme and it sounds as if she could use a dose of huggy love today.

Peaches or why I love to can

I do love peaches and without a doubt they are my all time favorite fruit. This year we have gone thru over 20 lb +. While at the Farmers' Market they were still going for $4.50 for a box of about 5 peaches, they are now being sold in the grocery store for 88cents or 99cents a lb - when on sale. Peaches from up I-95 in New Jersey.

I will be getting another 20lb tomorrow. And then again, the same amount later in the week. Why??? Well this was what happened another year...



l-->r Peach Preserves for a Cold Morning, Peach Chutney, Peach Conserve and my favorite, African Pickled Peaches

Peach Preserves for Cold Mornings

3 pounds ripe peaches, peeled and quartered
l/2 medium-size orange, quartered and seeded
2 Red Savina habaneros, (seeds and all)
4 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
3/4 Cup honey (the lightest, mildest you can find)

Combine peaches, sugar, and honey in a Dutch oven; stir well. Cover and let stand 45 minutes. Place knife blade attachment in food processor bowl; add orange quarters and habanero chiles. Process until finely chopped, stopping once to scrape down sides.
Place orange, habanero chiles, and an equal amount of water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until orange rind is tender.

Bring peach mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium-high, and cook, uncovered, 15 minutes, stirring often. Add orange mixture. Bring to a boil; cook, uncovered, 20 to 25 minutes or until candy thermometer registers 221, stirring often. Remove from heat; stir in almond extract. Skim off foam with a metal spoon. Quickly pour hot mixture into hot, sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch head space; wipe jar rims. Cover at once with metal lids, and screw on bands. Process jars in boiling-water bath 10 minutes. Yield: 6 half-pints.

(If you don't have peaches available, this can be made with mangoes also.)