Blogcation till next Friday!

Sorry, I won't have a post up until next Friday.. it's time for a bit of R&R. No farming, no blogging. Just going to rejuvenate, relax, be inspired and create!

The other white meat...Margarita Pork Kabobs

This recipe is a family favorite anytime of the year, but especially during the hot summer months. We've been making this for years and although the name might indicate otherwise, it's all non alcoholic! I like to serve it on a bed of rice alongside a fresh green salad. If you have a rice cooker all the better, otherwise this recipe keeps the kitchen and house cool since the cooking is done outside.

Ingredients:

1	cup margarita drink mix or 1 cup lime juice, 4 teaspoons sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt
1	teaspoon ground coriander
1	clove garlic, minced
1	pound pork tenderloin, cut into 1-inch cubes
2	tablespoons butter, melted
1	tablespoon minced fresh parsley
2	teaspoons lime juice
1/8	teaspoon sugar
1	large green or red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch cubes
2	ears corn, cut into 8 pieces

For marinade, combine margarita mix, coriander and garlic in small bowl. Place pork cubes in large resealable plastic food storage bag; pour marinade over pork. Close bag securely; turn to coat. Marinate for at least 30 minutes. Combine butter, parsley, lime juice and sugar in small bowl; set aside. Thread pork cubes onto four skewers, alternating with pieces of bell pepper and corn. (If using bamboo skewers, soak in water 20 to 30 minutes before using to prevent them from burning.) Grill over hot coals for 15 to 20 minutes or until barely pink in center, basting with margarine mixture and turning frequently.

Optional: we like to add the small cooking onions to the kabobs.. try it some time, you will love it I'm sure.

Image and recipe compliments the National Pork Board.

Illuminating ideas

I love these mesquite "stalks". I've had them for some time now. They are firmly planted into some quick setting concrete and then 'planted' into the planter box. In our previous home, they filled a corner inside and had either regular green foliage or fir branch foliage on them depending on the season. This home has no such spot, so I re-purposed them! Wrapped them in white Christmas lights and am letting the ivy runners grow up the stalks. It's such a nice way of bridging the indoors and the outdoors and gives a lot of festive lighting when we entertain outdoors.


I fell in love with these Mexican stars when first I saw them! In Santa Fe and at 1/4 the cost of the ones I'd found on line.


My dear, sweet, loving husband took the time to wire the lights for me. The cages open to make it easy to add a bulb and appropriate hardware. Ever in Santa Fe? Visit Guadalupano Imports, 111 East Water Street (just down from Cafe Pasqual's), or call (505)984-8177. He doesn't have a website - bummer for all y'all. But let me know and I'll pick some up...no problem.


See how it illuminates the corner with the birdbath? I love that it's a bit brighter than the colored Christmas lights dear, sweet, accommodating husband put up last year. Oh - but we are changing from 40 watt bulbs to 25's. Can't overpower those Christmas lights now can we!


Even Mr Ironman, the lizard is inching closer to see what the bright light could possibly be. One thing we learned in the process - no white bulbs, make sure you choose the clear bulbs! If you use white bulbs, all you see is a white round thing in the middle of the star - not quite the effect you want.

One last close up.. I love how intricate the metal is cut out!


Three stars up, I have 4 more to go. Two of which have a designated spot. The other two will be fashioned with tea lights and be placed along the back fence. This will give the yard more depth.

I've had this clay "bell" shape for years. It hung at our cabin over the dining room table for years. Now, it has a special place over the potting table turned serving bar.

See how much light it puts out. Perfect direct light over food.

We are still looking for some solar lights for the lower level (near the ground) for our yard. I have yet to find any that I would recommend. Anyone have some that work well, and are not tiny fireflies in the night? Just leave a post here - and thanks - I love your comments. Next week, I'll share with you some lower level lighting, stay tuned!

I'm linking this post up to Beneath Naps on the Porch. Be sure to check her page out for more ideas...

Winner! Winner! Winner!

Last Friday, I announced a giveaway on the blog. Click here to read the whole story! Today was the day I let Random.org choose the winner:

The 7th post was:

Debbie, Please click the link about and email me your address and I'll get the book on it's way to you Monday! Thanks to all who participated and all who come to visit my little corner of cyberspace. XOXO

Le Petit Dejeuner du Dimanche.

Last Sunday, while the air conditioner was still out and it was actually still pleasant outside, I set the table. By the time Sleepy awoke, this is what he saw.
Quilted and embroidered place mats over a blue linen table cloth (Williams Sonoma). Our everyday kitchen dishes, stainless and eggs boiled to perfection. Here's a link to an older post using the entire embroidered set.
I lugged this rooster home from the Cracker Barrel in Oklahoma City. You know the one, right there by OESD, very close to where I-40 and I-44 intersect. I've brought stranger and more aromatic things home too, like Krispy Kreme donuts for my American Airlines staff! I saw him, I loved him, I bought him, I brought him home, check the computer, carry-on the rooster. He is actually a pitcher but has never been used as such ;-).
Real butter served wrapped up in Vietri cabbage leaves.
Brought home these French hand-blown goblets from a wonderful store in Santa Fe. Too bad it's not there anymore. Sleepy is glad they are not, we still have a nest egg!
Sterling salt and peppers found at an estate sale some time ago.
Oneida stainless. Good. Heavy. Sturdy. Perfect for everyday.
Boiled eggs. Whites done. Yolks runny. Remind me of my grandmother, who could cook them perfectly every single time. She used a timer. Tiny spoons with which to scoop out the deliciousness. How many minutes with the steeping method - 7 1/2!
Noritake Summer Estate. Sadly out of production but still available from Replacements.com. If you have never been to one of their sales.. it should be on your bucket list. It's that good.
Don't you love the colors? I just love how the green and blue look, especially when coupled with the brighter colors of the rooster.

I was inspired to search for tall clay pots when I saw some in a window at a cute little local place. They looked so "French". I finally found some that were tall, not square like the originals, but these fit perfectly on my kitchen window. In the winter time, the red blooms on the geraniums sure beat the winter-time blues away.
Kikeriki.. Cocorico. Cock-a-doodle-doo. Did you know that animals have different sounds in foreign languages?
Purchased the quilted place mats some time ago. Used the Bernina binder attachment #84 with binder foot #94 to finish the edges anew once I removed the binding that was in place. I love the addition of the Moda bound edge. I believe this was part of the Provence collection.
As a crowning finish, I embroidered two roosters on each place mat. This one can be found here.
Here's the link to this fine feathered fowl.

Hope you enjoyed our Sunday morning together. Come back soon and we'll do it again. Oh Sleepy was so impressed, he hurried into the kitchen and made some bacon, biscuits and fresh coffee!

Hey, there is a giveaway going on till the 11th - you need to leave a post on this blog post - click here! It's a lovely hand embroidery book... I'll be drawing on Friday!

And I'm sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch! Go check out the rest of the wonderful set ups for more ideas.

June QK Club project - club date has changed!! June 12th now.

It's the rick-rack season! QuicKutz came out with a new 6" die set consisting of zigzag outlines, circles and zigzag edged circles. I fell in love with this set when I spotted it hanging on the shelf in the store Love it. Can you spell L O V E??
So I paired with with rick-rack and voila! a pretty cool combo if I say so myself. We are going to lean to make some NO SEW rick-rack flowers. Why do I emphasize the no-sew??? Because traditionally these are made with a needle and thread. But I figured out how to make them without those two little tools.. wooo hooo.

Supplies:
Designer Paper as shown (My Mind's Eye)
1 yd mini green rick-rack
1 yd blue rick-rack
1 yd pink rick-rack
1" circle punch
1/2" circle punch
Tweezers
2 straight pins
Baby Blue Liquid Pearls
Color box cats eye ink pads: robins egg, lime pastel and olive
4 mini brads and brad setting tools
1/4" Terrifically Tacky tape (this is a must this time!!)
Glue dots
Adhesive of choice
removable tape

QuicKutz dies:
Nesting rick rack circles
popup leaves

See you June 12th, 10am!

Hey there is a giveaway going on till the 11th - you need to leave a post on this blog post - click here! It's a lovely hand embroidery book... I'll be drawing on Friday!

Hotter than hot calls for very cold food.

Ceviche. Cold. Perfect for a very hot day.

Although today a tiny bit cooler than yesterday, it was more humid. Ugly combination for those of us who aren’t used to it. And the compressor went out on the air conditioner Saturday evening a bit after 6:30pm. Of course tightwad won’t call the service guy until Monday morning. Let’s just say I have a new respect for those who lived a long time ago without air conditioning AND wore layers of clothes from their necks to their toes…

So today, I made Ceviche. Ceviche basically is seafood that is cooked in something acidic instead of using heat. Being quite the adventurous eater, I have no problems with this concept. However, tightwad does. So to appease him, it’s possible to precook the seafood for just a skosh and then mix it with the remainder of the ingredients. Be very careful to not overcook as the acid in the recipe will continue to cook the seafood.

Shrimp Ceviche

~~from 1000 Mexican Recipes cookbook

1 pound (16 to 20) large shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 medium tomato, chopped

¼ medium white onion, finely chopped

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and deveined and finely chopped (or use I jarred pickled jalapeno chile, seeded and deveined)

½ cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro

¼ cup fresh lime juice

½ teaspoon salt or to taste

¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper, or to taste

1 large avocado cut into ½ inch dice

2 teaspoons olive oil

Bring a medium pan of water to a boil. Cut the shrimp crosswise into thirds (I leave mine whole). Drop the shrimp into the boiling water until they just turn pink, about 45 seconds. Drain immediately and cool under running water. Put the shrimp in a glass or stainless steel bowl. Add the tomato, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper. Stir. Cover and refrigerate 3 to 4 hours. Shortly before serving, gently stir in the avocado and olive oil. Serve in small bowls or cocktail glasses.