Pesto Changeo

My basil has been growing like crazy, so I finally got around to making pesto last night.

I adapted this recipe from a few others but since I've never made it exactly like this before, I'll have to let you know how it turns out.

Pesto

• 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts (saw them toasted once on TV and since I love toasted pecans on salads....I thought I would prefer toasted pine nuts in my pesto.)
• 4 cloves garlic
• 3 cups of basil leaves (packed)
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt (I was a little more generous)
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 3/4 cup olive oil
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese

I heated a non-stick saute pan on medium until hot and then added the pine nuts.  I tossed and toasted them for 1 - 2 mintues, just until I could start to smell their aroma. I put the pine nuts and garlic into a food processor and pulsed for about 30 seconds.  I then added the basil, salt and pepper and turned the processor on low.  I slowly added the olive oil.  When compbined, I removed the top and added the parmesan cheese and processed for about 1 minute.

I then poured the pesto over two boneless chicken breasts (which I had sliced in half lengthwise, cause they were just too big.) They have been marinating in the fridge for about 24 hours.

I am grilling these tonight, so if...and this is a big if, I can remember to take a picture of the finished product, I will update this post with a new picture.

Card of the Week

Cait needs a couple birthday cards and CPS has a new card sketch up so that's what I  was working on last night.

Here is the CPS Sketch for this week:

And here are a couple of my interpretations of this sketch.  

And just so you know...my most recent card attempt (we are going to a wedding tomorrow) is currently in the trash.  It totally tanked and despite my efforts to salvage, it could not be saved.  There were some elements that were on track, I just need to "tweek" a few things. (Name the movie).  Hope to show you the new version soon.  I just didn't want you to think that all my cards work outy.  They DON'T!

Quiche of the Night

BW's been traveling for work a lot lately, so I've been basically feeding myself.  (Stinky's never home in the evening...who knows what he is eating these days.)  Consequently, I've been cooking a little different and I've been making a lot of quiches lately.  There easy and a great way to use up various leftovers in my fridge.

First off, I just use a Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust.  I roll it open and put it in a pie plate, crimping the edges with a spoon.  Pierce the bottom with a fork and then back in a 450 degree oven for 10 minutes.  Let cool.

While that is baking, I saute diced shallots and diced mushrooms in a some butter.  As it starts to brown and dry up a bit, I add a splash of Sherry.

Then I pull out the leftovers and chop them up.  Tonight I had a baked potato and broccoli.  Then I fried up about 6 pieces of bacon and diced that as well.  Put all of this in the pie crust along with the shallot and mushroom mixture.  Season with salt and pepper.

Shred up your favorite cheese.  I used Gruyere and Parmesan tonight.  Add that to the pie crust.

Crack 8 eggs into a separate bowl and whisk together with about 1/4 cup of half and half.  Pour the egg mixture into the pie crust.

Bake the quiche in a 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes.

And out comes this:

Very easy and very yummy.

Cait and I have been discussing doing a quiche with ground lamb, feta and spinach.  Maybe I'll make that version next week.

Flashback...to the Days of Decoupage

I just bought this:

And what's interesting about this is that my Dad....when he was probably about the age I am now, decided he wanted to be an "Artesian in Wood".  Now he meant Artisan...but after having 1000 cards printed up with Artesian on them...there was no going back.

He got into refinishing furniture, but mostly he made wood candlesticks.  Give him a chunk of tree and out would come a candlestick.  I remember the year he paid my brother 10 cents for every Christmas tree he dragged home. (Yes...Jeff was occasionally a bit of sucker.  I think he ended up earning a dollar.)

Dad made candlestick after candlestick after candlestick.  If you happened to stop by our house for a visit, you couldn't leave without a visit to his basement workroom to check out his latest creations.  Many guest were kind enough to shell out a few bucks taking one of his candlesticks home with them.

I actually am lucky enough to have a few of his candlesticks.  Here's my collection:

As an additional creative output, he also started to do his own version of decoupage.  (For all you youngin's that was real big back in the 70's.)  Basically, he would stain and varnish pieces of wood.  Then he would soak labels of any jar that passed through the house.  Smucker's jelly was a particular favorite.  Using his giant bottle of his favorite Mod Podge (see, I finally got around to the Mod Podge) he would glue the label onto his homemade wood frame cover it with a few coats of MP and whalla...Art.

Needless to say, his teenage children were pretty merciless about his creative genius.  To his great credit, whenever we would start teasing...he would sit and chuckle quietly (I can still see his belly shaking).

And the enormous irony, is that I have a project in mind that requires...MOD PODGE.

I only wish he had enough of his faculties so that I could share this with him.  I'm sure his belly would shake a little bit.

What a Difference a Shade Makes

I've been living in my house for over 11 years.  When I moved in, the master bedroom had pink carpet, pink walls and pink blinds.  A Pepto-Bismal nightmare.  Many years back, I painted the room a cream color, which helped a lot.   I can't afford to replace the carpeting, but for reason I can't even explain....I left the pink blinds up.

To make matters worse, over a year ago (or longer) I bought some cream colored shades at Ikea for the specific purpose of replacing the blinds.  I brought them home and conveniently stuck them behind a chair and left them there, undisturbed until....MONDAY.

I finally took down the pink blinds and put up the new shades and I am so happy with the results.

It felt so good to take down the dusty, grimy pink blinds and put up these lighter shades.  Gives the room such a bright feeling.

For reasons I can probably explain, I did not take a before picture.  (Just too disgusting to share I think.)

Christmas in July

I'm participating in a Christmas Open House in July Linky thing with Carol from The Answer is Chocolate (great blog name).  I read about it over at her blog and thought it sounded fun.





Here's a card that I made for last Christmas.  These cards were the first set and I was going to make 4 more sets of 6 cards. The plan was to give these away as gifts packs.  You probably won't be to surprised to find out that I never got the other cards made...but there's always this year.

I'm really pleased with the how well the Snowman Stamp turned out.  The pack of Christmas paper that I bought, provided a great background.  The little rhinestone just set it all off.

Can't wait to see all the other Christmas projects.  Thanks for visiting.

Also linking up to Jens Weekend Wrap Up over at Tatertots and Jello.  Make sure you check out the projects over there as well.

Luke's Blessed Day

Baby Luke was Baptized on Sunday and I thought I would share this very special moment.

And here is what Luke thought of all the whoop-dee-doo.

Summertime List

I haven't done a list in a long time and since we are in the middle of a very hot summer, I thought I do a list of me 10 favorite summertime things:

1.  Sun - All winter long, we Northerners dream...imagine the feeling of the warm sun on our faces.  When summer actually gets here, it never disappoints.

2.  Grilling hamburgers and corn on the cob - The consummate summertime food

3.  Sprinklers - Taking our walk today, I just let myself get wet in a couple of sprinklers and I can clearly remember the pure joy of running through them on a hot summer day.

4.  The Great Lakes - Go ahead and pick your favorite.  Doesn't matter...cause they are all great.  Summer in Michigan always includes a visit to one of these beauties.

5.  Sitting on the deck or porch with a glass of lemonade - Wonderful.

6.  Flip flops - I just love the sound of them.  Can't you just hear them?

7.  Golf - I've only been golfing for about 5 years, but it has quickly joined my list of favorite summertime activities.

8.  Garden Fresh Tomatoes - Seriously!

9.  A good summertime read - Maybe it's a thriller or something uber romantic.  Just spending time, sitting on a beach reading a good book is so amazing.

10.  Family - Doing all of the above with my family around...Priceless.

What's some things on your summertime list?  I'd love to collect all the best and come up with a list from all of us.  Please share.