A Summer Antique Trip

Nicole and I headed to a new town to look for old treasures this summer.  That is where I photographed the succulent planter. : )

We were quite happy with the trip, lots of store, and lots of good stuff! 
Certainly a town we would check out again!

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was one store there that was SO LOVELY! And of course, it was one of the most expensive stores we went to.  Nothing was bought, but it was fun to walk around all the classy- white- vintage- lovely-ness and snap a few shots! : )

 

 

 

 

There were fresh flowers tucked all around, my kind of store! I really wanted one of these large jars on the bottom of the rack, we saw them in a few stores, but they were $$$ and I didn't have a place in mind for it.

 

 

 

 

Nicole got a nice old dresser to use as a tv stand and I scored an amazing find, but I'll have to tell you about it another time, since it is all packaged up and I don't have any photos of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was also lots of flowers around town! yay!

 

 

 

 

 

I had eyed up this mirror, but it was way too much money to even considering buying, even though Colin told me to buy everything turquoise I saw!   A dangerous suggestion, even for a joke! ; )

Too bad this sign wasn't turquoise! Ha! (Just kidding, Colin can cook!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a cute town and a good time!  Yay Antique Lady Trips!

Harvest Chili

There was a whole chili section in Better Homes and Gardens last year, and one of the recipes was Harvest Chili.  All the flavors of fall in one pot! Yum!!! I made it last year, and I just made it again, although this time a half batch only. 

 

The squash and apples does tend to get a little mushy (think babyfood) so if you are sensitive to textures, you might not like this one, but I think it is great change of pace for a good fall lunch! : )

(Although I might over cook it, since I like all the flavors to blend together, the picture in the magazine looks less cooked, and you can see the individual ingredients better.
To each their own!)

 

Harvest Chili

from Better Homes & Gardens Magazine 2001

 

 

Ingredients:

2  tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2 pounds cooked chicken-apple sausage links, cut in 1-inch pieces

(I have used what you can find in shoprite, but this time I got the local made sausage from the farmer's market since it is so much fresher and yummier!)

2 large red onions, chopped (3 cups)

(I just use the sweet vidalia onion since that is what I had)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut in 3/4-inch chunks (about 6 cups)

2 teaspoons chili powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut in 3/4-inch slices

(I just used whatever type I had at home)

1 15 - 16 ounce can pinto beans, rinsed, drained, and slightly mashed

1 tablespoons nipped fresh sage or tiny sage leaves

1 Golden Delicious or other apple, sliced in rings

(I did not garnish since I just made this for work lunches!)

 

Directions:

1. In a large Dutch oven, (or large pot) heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat. Add the sausage; cook for 5 to 6 minutes, until browned, stirring occasionally. Remove sausage with a slotted spoon.

 

2. In the same pan, cook onion and garlic for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until nearly tender. Add the squash; cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the chili powder, salt, and cayenne; cook for 1 minute. Return the sausage to pan. Add broth; bring to boiling, then reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 8 minutes.
 

 

3. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. Cook apple slices in hot oil for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until light brown. Transfer apples along with beans to chili. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, until apples are tender. Top servings of chili with sage and apple rings.

 

  

(Sorry my pictures aren't that great, we have terrible lighting in our kitchen and I was also cooking at night!)

Hello Fall

Please enjoy some sights of the season! : )
 

 

 

Look how lovely this bark is!

 

 

Some flower still hanging in there.....

 

 

The lovely fall combo of Sedum and Beautyberry!

 

 

I really wanted to buy one of these, but I decided taking a picture would be cheaper! : )

 

 

And some pumpkins to put as my phone background. Yay Fall!

 

Fall Farmer's Market

Although I have not been posting about the Farmer's Market, we have been going.  And now that there are only a few weeks left, I want to make sure we get there a little more often!  Today it was overcast and not too crowded so I snapped away!  Enjoy!  I got veggies to make a veggie lasagna for the week! yum!

It feels like fall...

Just a quick hello!  If you like to check the blogs I have linked to mine, I just wanted to let you know I added a few more.  I noticed people update their blogs less, so I decided I needed some new ones to look at! : ) 

(just since I don't update my blog much, doesn't mean other people can do the same, what am I supposed to do on my lunch break!!! come on stranger blog ladies! get with it!) ha!

I was going to stop for a few gourds and mini pumpkins so our apartment seems some-what fall-like, but the farm by my house was packed.  I'll get some fall decorative produce one day after work instead.  So here is a picture from last year to get you in the Autumn Spirit!   : )

 

Succulent Planter

They have never really struck me in the past, but lately I have really been liking Succulents.  So when I saw the planter make entirely of succulents I got pretty excited and started snapping away!  Enjoy! : )

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black and White Cookies

I wanted to make Black and White Cookies for Father's Day, but as many of you know, my baking skills could use a little work!  And this seems ambitious!

But they came out great!!!!  They were however, pretty time consuming, so not something to make that often, unless my extra special father wants them, in which case I will make them anytime, Father's Day or not! : )

 

Aimee came over to help, although my kitchen is so small, her role became just keeping me company! haha

I found this website, Anne's Eats,  off of Pinterest, and I think it will be one of my new go-to's for recipes. 
 

Black and White Cookies

from Anne's Eats

For the cookies:
4 cups (16 oz.) cake flour
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
16 tbsp. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened but still cool
1¾ cups (12¼ oz.) sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
½ tsp. vanilla extract
¼ tsp. lemon extract
1 cup milk

For the glaze:
2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped fine
¼ cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup water
5 cups (20 oz.) confectioners’ sugar
½ tsp. vanilla extract
Milk, as needed

 

Directions:
To make the cookies, preheat the oven to 375˚ F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk to combine, and set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 30 seconds. Add in the sugar gradually, increasing the speed to medium-high and beating until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Blend in the eggs, vanilla and lemon extracts at medium speed until combined, about 30 seconds. With the mixer on low speed, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, alternately add the flour mixture in four additions and the milk in 3 additions just until combined.

I don't have a mixer, stand or hand, so I just whisked and mixed and stirred and stirred, and the cookies still came out pretty good. : )

 

Using a ¼-cup measuring cup and a spoon, place six ¼-cup mounds of dough a generous 2 inches apart on each baking sheet.  With moistened fingers, gently press each mound of dough into a disk 2½ inches wide and ¾ inch thick. Bake until the centers of the cookies are firm and the edges are just beginning to brown, about 20 minutes, rotating the baking pans halfway through the baking time.

Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 2 minutes. Use a wide spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire rack. Repeat with the remaining dough. Let cookies cool completely before icing.

 

To make the icing, melt the chocolate in a medium bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Remove from the heat and set aside. In a medium saucepan, combine the corn syrup and water and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and whisk in the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla until combined. Transfer ¾ cup of the vanilla icing to the bowl with the melted chocolate and stir to combine. 

To glaze the cookies, place the cookies on wire racks set over waxed paper or foil. Use a small offset spatula to spread about 2 tablespoons of the vanilla icing on half the flat side (bottom) of each cookie. Tilt the cookie and run the spatula around the edge to scrape off excess icing. Allow to harden slightly, about 15 minutes.

 She said milk can be added if the icing gets to thick, but when I thinned the vanilla out, it made the icing too transparent and you could see through it which isn't the look you want it on the cookie. : (

Using the offset spatula, spread the chocolate icing over the other half of each cookie, scraping away excess icing from the edge. Allow the glaze to set at least 1 hour before serving. The cookies can be stored in an airtight container layered between sheets of parchment paper for up to 3 days.

 

 

 

 

YAY   YAY   YAY!!!  Perhaps these should be a father's day tradition. 

(Although as good as they were, I am not sure if they compare to a real bakery one! )

 

 

A trip to the C-I-T-Y

 

Back in April Colin and I headed to the C-I-T-Y for his birthday.  It was nice to be in the sunshine and see bulbs and signs of spring life! Funny to think about that now after multiple 100 degree days, but back in April, green was a welcome site!!!!

 

 

 

 

We went to see Spiderman on Broadway!

 

 

 

After Spiderman we headed to Bryant Park which is one of my favorite spots in the Big Apple.  It is such a lovely example of Landscape Architecture! 

 

 And I KNOW you all love fine examples of Landscape Architecture!  : )