Tis the Season for Patios and Summertime Salads

What is Summer without patios and summertime salads?!?!

My inspiring recipe was Broccoli Salad from my good friend, Minne-sot-da, which she so kindly provided me at my bridal shower a couple of years ago  :)

Side Note:  This was such a GREAT idea, I have to share it!!  My sister in law, and later my bff/bridesmaid,  provided blank recipe cards to shower guests.  Each guest was asked to share a recipe with us, the soon to be Mr. and Mrs.  The initial contributors were sisters, grandmothers, aunts, cousins and good friends.


Among the generous wedding gifts, this was perhaps one of my favorite items at the end of the day...Hubs and I had the start of a wonderful family recipe box!  

Since then I have continued to add to this box, noting on cards where recipes first premiered or were received.  When I look through it now I have happy and fond memories of the person and/or event behind the recipe...and I know it will be a lasting memory and wonderful tradition for our children.  

Being the planner and daydreamer I am, each time I add a new recipe I take a moment to ponder what it will be like to share with my children the story behind each one  :)  

OK, now back to Broccoli Salad...YUM!

I had not had this salad in YEARS!!!

It's something about the combo that makes this such a satisfying summer salad...

Cool crunchy broccoli, sweetened mayo, dried cranberries, crisp/salty bacon and savory red onion.  

HOLY HEAVEN!

I also decided to try this Roasted Edamame Salad...I think the recipe came from foodnetwork.com

Pretty simple, but quite refreshing.

Roasted edamame and corn, tossed with fresh tomatoes, onion and basil...dressed with olive oil, vinegar and salt/pepper.

It's a keeper and will be made again...with the potential of being added to the family recipe box under the index of 'Salads' ;)

The Little Ms. Homemaker Part of Things

When I first began this blog I was on a quest...

This was my journey to learn, as a 20-something, how to make delicious food and try new things. 

My motivation?   Practice makes perfect. 

In my mind, if I practiced recipes and cooking techniques now, I would be able to produce delicious meals in a snap for my 'family' later

Now I present to you, The Cheese Sandwich.

Yup, it's as simple as it looks and sounds - 12 Grain Bread, VT Cheddar Cheese, Pickle, Lettuce, Tomato, Sweet Onion and Mayo.

I'd also like to share this beautiful fruit salad.

Which is representative of my recent fruit mania.

Why the flash back to my purpose?  And why the heck am I sharing of these two meals...or rather cravings??

That's right folks, we have a 'bun in the oven' and I am on verge of becoming a bona fide Little Ms. Homemaker!

We're 16 weeks along now, with 24 to go  :o)

Family First

Hi all. My apologies for being away so long.

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Initially the break from the blog was due to my planned vacation to the Cape for a sort of the college years reunion. I did go and it was a blast.

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Since then life has reached one of those crazy points again...

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You might be wondering why I have so many pictures of this lone tomato...

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Well this tomato came from Grandpa GreenThumbs' Garden.

Perfect isn't it? Deserves all the attention I am giving it!

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My love and focus on this tomato represents the way I am feeling for my Grandpa. Last week he was admitted to the hospital and ultimately given the diagnosis of Leukemia :( Stuck in bed, Grandpa GreenThumb has been fighting and fighting hard.

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We are fortunate enough to be one of those families that understands no matter what family comes first. Each of his children are taking turns being with him so that he is never alone. We grandchildren are visiting as often as possible or needed. Then of course there is his loving wife of over 55 years, my Grammy, who has been by his side everyday.

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What the future holds we are not sure, but all are staying positive. Grandpa is an old timer VT Farmer, which makes him tough, a fighter by nature.

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This tomato was so perfect looking I knew it was not worth cooking it. It would be a shame to overburden the fresh and pure flavor with too many other ingredients...so I kept it simple to allow it's natural deliciousness to be enjoyed.

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Perfectly ripe, I sliced the tomato with a serrated knife.

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The knife choice was to prevent the squashing/bruising that often occurs when a dull knife meets a soft, supple fruit such as this.
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I dressed the slices with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper...
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Then added fresh basil chiffonade from my garden.

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Beautiful!
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Packaged up for work, I enjoyed this for lunch. Each bite I took, I savored and I thought of Grandpa. I wish he could have been the one to enjoy this delicious tomato, the fruits of his labor in the garden.
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Truth be told, I have not had time to cook. Balancing family, work and other responsibilities right now is all consuming. I am not sure the next time I will have the time to cook, which I am sorry for...but family comes first. As soon as I can get back to the kitchen, you all will be the first to know.

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In the meantime if you can, please keep Grandpa GreenThumb in your thoughts and prayers...

A Thief in our Midsts!

Initially I thought it might be the birds...mostly because I happen to see one fly off with a big ripe raspberry in it's beak.

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Then I thought it might be the squirrels...I saw them too hanging around my raspberries.

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But then I saw this...

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and this...

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...which led me to creep up to catch this!
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HAHA, that's right! The Pups is one of my many raspberry thieves!!
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Grandpa GreenThumb's Rockin' Raspberries

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I have actually had more than enough raspberries for myself. What began as 6 inch sprigs I relocated from my Grandfather's amazing property last June, have grown into a fruitful bounty.

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These berries are amazing. I've gotten over 3 quarts from the bush already this year and while the harvest is beginning to slow down, I've still been able to pick enough each morning to enjoy for breakfast :O)

When pigs fly...

It's real Spanish pig and the city!!!

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Over Memorial Day weekend I attended a Beantown wedding and made the adventure with my foodie favs B&A. All in all it was a fun weekend between a wedding celebration and the taking in of a Sox game. However one of my most favorite parts of the weekend was our arrival lunch.

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B&A had the most amazing menu packed in a cooler for our pre-game session before the wedding.

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Homemade roasted red peppers.

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Homemade 'experimental sandwich bread.'

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B is trying to create the perfect sandwich bread...sort of a cross between focaccia and a baguette. While he was not 100% happy with this batch, I thought it was pretty fantastic!

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Homemade pickles from their veggie harvest last summer.

*Freshly picked lettuce mix from their garden this season.

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And now for the Serrano ham...straight from Spain.

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Two kinds of this very special ham successfully made it's way carefully hidden in a suitcase of one their a good friends.

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The incredible flavor, texture and sight made it one of my favorite parts to the weekend...being ahead of my nostalgic Fenway Frank, it was quite frankly the best thing I ate on the whole trip!

*Pretty amazing spread right? Well B&A take it up another notch, yet again wow'ing me with their preparedness...a travel size bread knife. Who knew these existed haha!!

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With a spread of herb'd goat cheese all of the delicious components to this sandwich were layered on.

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It was absolutely delicious!! Salty, piggy, sweet, herbed deliciousness!!!

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B&A are amazing friends...so kind hearted, fascinating and just flat out great people to be around :-) Not to mention 99% of the time I am with them, we are enjoying some pretty awesome food...it's a wonderful match haha!!

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This week they are off on a European vacation and I can't wait to hear about their experiences when they get back!

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Cheers B&A for a fun, safe and food packed trip abroad!!!!

Post St Patty's Deal

Missing Hubs a ton, so much so that I have lost my blogging groove. I am desperately trying to get it back...

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While Hubs has officially hit the road on his ever-so important adventure, I am here...I am in this place we call 'home.' How strange that 'home' does not feel like 'home' without him. There is an emptiness, a stillness...a silence that makes the heart heavy and eyes watery. So as I said in the last post...'this is what it is going to be like.'
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I've left his used coffee spoon balancing just on the edge of the kitchen sink and the pile of comfy sweats by the couch. I explain to inquiring folks that it makes me feel better. It tricks me into believing that he is still here. One BFF so thoughtfully supported my need for these things and said I should feel free to leave those marks of Hubs until I am good and ready to move them...which is exactly what I plan to do.
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A planner by nature, I've realized this is actually one of my problems at the moment. In this first week I've realized that planning and pondering the days, months, and seasons ahead are not helping my 'grieving.' I've turned over a newish leaf. I'm now a person who is attempting to take it 'one thing at a time.'
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As part of my dealing I have been creating a routine of distractions for myself and the Pups. Trying to keep them positive activities, Pups and I are walking 2-3 x a day, I'm drinking herbal teas (rather than copious amounts of alcohol), and taking time each day to get lost in a book. Not to mention our extensive group of family, friends and even blogging friends have been great supports and always around! Thank you all!!!
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While having taken some days off from cooking, I did dabble a bit - 1) accompaniments for a delightful Hockey Chili Party and 2) for an omelet one night. Nothing major yet, as it has been hard to find the energy and desire to cook. My hope is that this will all change beginning today.
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Today is the day I begin my annual house sitting duties, which includes access to the most amazing kitchen I've ever had the pleasure of cooking in. I just cannot wait to show you all!!!!
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Hubs & Ms. Homemaker's

2010 Post St. Patty's Day Feast

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Just after St. Patty's Day I buy the Manager's Special...corned beef.

Like how so many who eat Boiled Dinners for the Irish Holiday, Hubs and I wait until Post St. Patty's Day for our enjoyment of the feast.
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Peppercorns (fancy ones courtesy of B&A and their trip out west!) and bay leaves.

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Corned Beef, water and spices are added to a LARGE pot. Next year, I think I will attempt to brine my own. In fact that sounds like a great technique to practice while Hubs is gone...to brine meat!
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Cabbage, potatoes and some onion.

Our Boiled Dinner...yum!
* The corned beef is great...the cabbage and other components for the boiled dinner are just as gosh darn awesome!!

We tend to keep it simple. The final dish is served up with spicy mustard.

There never seems to be as many leftovers as I would like. At Thanksgiving you end up eating turkey for a week. Me...well I'd love to have enough leftover corned beef to eat for that for a week! Instead we made do with two days worth...but boy is it all worth it :O)

I will have to look through the library of pics, but I do think this is it for Hubs-happy meals...at least for the time being. I hope to find my groove in the coming days when faced with access to one of the most amazing kitchens I've spent time in. In addition to the commercial size burners, double ovens, top of the line tools, pans etc...did I mention they have a huge subzero fridge/freezer AND pantry always fully stocked!?!?!

Fingers crossed this will be a little slice of heaven as we transition into this new routine! Not to mention it is the season ending hockey tournament this weekend!! Some quality time with my team and good old competitive exercise should also hit the spot!!!