HOW TO PUT TOGETHER A VEGGIE TRAY

I'm not a new-bie at putting veggie trays together, but this time I decided to try my hand at decorating with parsely. It really added that extra "ooomph" for which I was looking.

If you've never tried your hand at making a veggie tray - I highly recommend that you give it a shot. You'll save yourself a bit of money if you do it yourself, and I'm pretty sure you'll have fun doing it, too.

"Go ahead . . . Make a tray!" 

 

 1. Purchase a variety of your favorite veggies.

2. Wash and dry the veggies - checking and removing any damaged parts.

3. Slice the veggies into sticks, circles, or just leave them whole.

4. Arrange neatly on a vegetable tray. Try to mix up the colors a bit.

5. Mix up your favorite dip. [I use a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch dip and 16oz. sour cream.]

6. Place the bowl of dip in the center of the tray.

7. Place parsely in between the veggies, around the dip bowl, and on the outer edge of the tray.

8. Carefully seal down the plastic cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

9. Don't forget a serving spoon for the dip.

10. It's always a good idea to make two batches of dip, and to have some extra veggies in resealable bags that are "ready-to-go" for when you start to run low. This allows you to refill the tray in a pinch.

Some good veggies for trays are:

cherry tomatoes

bell peppers (in all colors)

celery

carrots

cucumbers

squash

zucchini

cauliflower

broccoli

mushrooms

string beans

radishes

just to name a few. 

I love these trays! I purchase mine from our local Walmart Deli department. They cost about $2.00, and the cover is included.



•♫♪ RAIN, RAIN COME OUR WAY ♪♫•

Yesterday we received some much coveted rain. It was a beautiful sight! The Lord is so good to us.

The first inkling of the rainfall to come clung to our dining room window in dewy drops.

The wind picked up outside our back door and it was then that I saw the rain falling from the roof. It was just a drizzle at first . . .

. . . soon it had begun to pick up speed, and the drops grew bigger.

 

In less than 10 seconds the spray from our summer shower had me and my camera running for cover. We were getting wet, wet, WET!

Below is a short video I took just so I could "hear" the melodious sound of our much needed rainfall.

This was the sight I saw later yesterday evening. My picture does not do the sunset justice, but I couldn't resist taking this snapshot.

IN HONOUR OF MY MOM

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM!
"Mom, I am so thankful to have you as my mother. Thank you for wanting me, for keeping me, and for loving me. I will always be here for you. I miss you very much."

Me and Mom - 1996 Glamour Shots

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.            

~Elizabeth Stone

As I Look Back...

As I look back on my life

I find myself wondering...

Did I remember to thank you

for all that you have done for me?

For all of the times you were by my side

to help me celebrate my successes

and accept my defeats?

Or for teaching me the value of hard work,

good judgement, courage, and honesty?

I wonder if I've ever thanked you

for the simple things...

The laughter, smiles, and quiet times we've shared?

If I have forgotten to express my gratitude

For any of these things,

I am thanking you now...

and I am hoping that you've known all along,

how very much you are loved and appreciated.

(Author Unknown)

♪♫• AT THE KEYBOARD - WHAT A HOOT! ♪♫•

♫♪ We caught little man messing around on the keyboard. ♪♫ He shakes his booty, and really starts to "feel" the music. ♪♫  Ah, the innocence of a child. Gotta love it. ♫♪

GREEN FRIED TOMATOES

Here's how my Momma taught me to make Green Fried Tomatoes:

Make sure your tomatoes are GREEN.

WASH your toms, and then SLICE 'em (Careful! Not too thin - not too thick).

BATHE 'em in an egg bath.

 

FLOUR 'em up. (Some folks like to dip 'em in CORNMEAL instead.)



FRY 'em!



DRAIN 'em on a wire cooling rack. (You could also just use paper towels.)

 

SALT 'em, and EAT 'em!!!

PIANO LESSONS

"Beauty" and her Piano Teacher

We are so excited for our oldest daughter to begin taking piano lessons.  The first lesson went very well. She just wanted to go home and continue practicing "for the next three hours." :)

 

HE'S JUST TOO COOL, FOLKS

Here he is. The one. The only . . . Little Man!
 

And he is just way too cool in his shades. :)

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SHOES

"Cutie's" shoes
See how tiny his feet were?

 

O'Man's shoes
I love his expression. It's like he's saying, "I can't help myself. I see a pair of shoes, and I gotta wear 'em. So sue me." 

Momma's shoes
Striking a pose. T-shirt by Carters, jeans by Wrangler, shoes by Nike.

Daddy's shoes
Could he be thinking, "Alright, already. Enough with the pictures, Mom. Gimme dat camera!"

"Beauty's" shoes
Look at his little fists. Is he thinking, "I saw 'em first. Now back away from these shoes!"
He's pretty dangerous in a diaper.

Little man just likes wearing shoes. He really likes BIG shoes as you can see from this collection of snapshots. It's hilarious to watch him "clomp-clomp-clomping" around the house.

I LOVE GERANIUMS

These are my two hot pink geraniums. One of my favorite flowering plants. O'Man planted them in this lovely green planter. He fertilizes them once a week with Miracle Grow, and "Cutie" waters them once a day.
They are simply gorgeous, and they are surviving!

[Did you notice that I am no where in the above? Indeed, that is WHY they are thriving. It's nice to know our limits, eh?]

ONE OF MY FAVORITE BIRTHDAY CAKE MEMORIES

"Happy Birthday to me ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthday to me ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthday, to me ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthday to me! ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪



"Old age is a privilege denied to many."

If  you LOVE frosting be sure to get the basket weave on all sides.   ;)

Rose buds, Daisies, and Dots!

Couldn't have asked for a prettier cake ... and so tasty!

A surprise gift from a friend. She never ceases to amaze me. What a wonderful friend who pays attention to the details.  I love ya! "Crunch - Crunch"

[Below is a link to an earlier post I made. It will explain the above gift. Check it out, if your curious.]

http://beautyforashes2010.blogspot.com/2011/01/feelin-kinda-homesick.html

WE CAME FOR THE STRAWBERRIES, Y'ALL

Today I went strawberry picking with friends. What a "sweet and juicy" time we enjoyed!



Such bounty! Aren't they beautiful? So sweet, too.

Rows as far as the eye could see just waiting for hands to pluck those juicy, red berries.

Filling their buckets.

Me and little man tasting a berry . . . or two.



Official Taste Tester

I have more pictures, and definitely want to share our experience in more detail. It's been a long day, though, so I'll do my best to put the info and pics under my REVIEWS page before this weekend is over. Please check back y'all! Bye for now.  :)

YE OLE "MOM AND POP"

 

Still Smiling

 

THIS ONE'S FOR ALL THE FINE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD SUFFERING WITH ALLERGIES - "I FEEL YA!"

This is how I looked this evening after dinner. It wasn't the enchiladas. My nose just would NOT stop running! It had been driving me KraZy ALL DAY along with intermittent sneezing. At last, I could take no more. My solution? Stuff it myself.

Yes, I know I looked absolutely ridiculous. My dear hubby was quick to assure me of that fact . . . once his laughter subsided.
Hmmmm, at least my nose stopped running!

This is me happy for ten seconds without drainage. (Hey, if you can't laugh at  yourself, I would be happy to do it for  you ;)

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

Tonight we made Chicken Enchiladas. I wasn't sure if the kids would like them, and neither were they. Actually, they were so yummy, we ended up eating them all by themselves. What a pleasant surprise.  :)

They are so opposite of Beef Enchiladas . . . white sauce, creamy, and, of course, no beef. Really, the only thing that is the same is that we use corn tortillas in both recipes. Even the cheese is different. Check them out below.


Chicken Enchiladas

The recipe filled an 8x8 pan and a 9x13 pan. We even had some extra filling leftover. I realized we could have easily filled two 9x13 pans. (As always you can find this recipe in my RECIPES page at the top of this page under my Stick Family.)

WHAT HAVE YOU BELIEVED?

The motto below causes me to think about my "To Do" Lists and how much I believe I can do in any given day.  I'd have to be Superwoman to complete the things I place on most of mine.

 

Are you guilty of this mentality? I am. Boy, oh boy, am I ever guilty. I'm not sure why I do this, but I do. Here's an example of what my list might look like.

1.  Finish painting living room, dining room, and hallway trim today

2.  Purchase groceries, pay bills, return library books, and go to post office

3.  Prepare enough food for this week's meals

4.  Cut out pattern and material for girl's dresses and sew

5.  Sift compost and transplant geraniums into new pots

6.  Catch up on correspondence, phone calls, and post on my blog

 

Time for me to start believing in six POSSIBLE things each day.

How about you? What might YOUR list look like? Leave me a comment, if you please.

SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN AND CHEESECAKE

Today we enjoyed some delicious homemade Sweet and Sour Chicken and New York Style Cheesecake. Boy, oh boy, was it good!

These are better than any chicken nuggets. Eat your heart out, McDonalds! ;)



So rich. So decadent. So much Philly cream cheese...FIVE packages! It fills a lovely 9x13 pan to perfection.

[Look for my RECIPES page which can be found at the top of this page under my Stick Family for these and other recipes.]

KISS ME, YOU FOOL

He's so cute when he's comin' atcha with that kisser. :)

Little Man (aka "Hot Lips")

AZALEAS IN BLOOM

I've been keeping an eye on our azalea bushes this week. They've been full of buds, and I didn't want to miss their grand opening. When I went outside today I was greeted by a burst of color ... and pink is my favorite. :)

OUR BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN

 Just like old times.

It's nice to see the ole toothbrush cup filled up again! ;)

ELEPHANTS ARE HATS, TOO

Little Man seemed to be sweeter, more adventurous, and just plain loveable this week. I had so much fun capturing his antics in pictures and in videos. I was beginning to think I should start a new blog all about him.

In the video clip below I caught him listening to one of his musical books. He put his elephant box toy on his head and "felt the music." I had to stay behind him because if he had seen the camera, he would have immediately stopped because he's doesn't like his picture taken lately. 

When I finished recording him I did go around and take a picture, but as you can see in the photo below, he got mad and started taking off his "hat" (just as I knew he would). Glad I waited until I had the moment captured on video. Whew!



He see's the camera, and off comes the "hat."



There lands the "hat" having been thrown down violently.

One of his musical books he was listening to.

 

This is the whole set of toys. Believe me, he has tried to get every one of them on his head, but only one fits.

I just love that little purple monkey, too!