Visiting family in Colorado is always such a joy. My parents yard/property is full of color and splendor, who wouldn’t want to sure it’s beauty and aesthetics?
Yes, it’s a crab apple tree that I am standing under and it’s full of crab-apples. If I knew how to make hard cider from the crap apples, I would do it!
Don’t forget to check out my eBay! Art, Scarves, postcards and more available
https://www.ebay.com/usr/apotthoff?_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l2559
New life on the farm is quite spectacular; even when it’s a fairly common occurence, it never ceases to amaze me.
Mommy kitty has been around the farm for sometime and her new litter of babies is quite stunning! Holly and I moved the mommy and her babies to a shed with coverage as the weather was going to turn nasty.
Traveling is always a job and prep work is a must in my world.
This trip, I am flying Southwest and thus, got 2 free checked bags. Being the scrupulously tidy packer, I, of course, needed 2 large suitcases for a week long trip. One, to haul Christmas gifts to my destination (to save on shipping later, of course) and the other suitcase to pack my own items (clothing, shoes, makeup, the usual) and the treats for family and friends.
Planning ahead also allows me to pick up some coffee along the way to the airport and more! Travel fun, plan ahead!
The taco salad in the photo was enjoyed at La Casita at the Denver Airport, and it was soooooo good! Allowing for a meal at the airport, especailly when traveling all day is an essentail in my book as snacks always don’t suffice.
cheese and fruit at the farmers market oil painting Signed Original framed.
Original hand-painted painting, one of a kind of a cheese and fruit dinner at farmers market Down in the traditional, American and European style of having lunch on the Café plaza, framed and ready to hang Archived quality and preserved w anti fade spray, free shipping Canvas is 16”x20” framed is a bit bigger Click here to purchase (or make me an offer!)
My neighbor moved back to Egypt (she was an international student) and gave me some odds and ends from her kitchen (versus wasting perfectly good items!) What else to do but use up the items!
I put the partial bag of flour (about 4 cups worth? ) in a a re-usable plastic dish with snap on lid) and dumped in the partial small bottles of spices-including thyme, pepper, a mixed blend of “fish fry” spices, and some salt, and other items. I dolled out about 1 cup of the mix into a paper bag (small).
I put a half of stick of butter in the bottom of a deep skillet on low heat to melt.
The four fish filets were coated in an egg washed, shaken in the paper bag of coating, and placed in the butter and pan, the heat turned up to medium, once flipped coarse chopped walnuts were added and cooked with the fish until done. I added the green beans she gave me, with Rendered Molasses and candied almonds to the pan and all warmed up; served with mandarin oranges.
This one pot wonder is great for feeding a family, making transportable meals for the sick neighbor or a shut in or dividing up for freezer/prep meals. I bought all the ingrdients at the local Aldi, which I found makes the meal very affordable (the canned goods range from $0.50-$0.79 a can, the spices $1.18 on average and the ground turkery pound was under $3.)
In one deep skillet/Mid Sized pot, brown either one pound of ground beef or ground turkey.
Once the meat is cooked all the way through, chunk chop it up and leave the juice in the bottom, making a roux with the meat and drippings.
Add in the spices, 1.5 tsp each of oregano, garlic poweder, Dried Cilantro ground cumin, Tony Satcheres Creole Seasoning, Fresh ground sea salt and pepper (to taste).
Open and add a can of Sweet Corn, Green beans, Sliced Carrots and whole new potatoes (don’t drain, add the liquid to the pot).
Stir and simmer all together for 20-25 minutes until thoroughly mixed/simmered together.
I like to served it with Corn Bread (Jiffy box mix is super easy to make along side this dish or use up leftovers! )
If you don’t have these veggies, cans of Veg-All or a bag of frozen bag of Veg-All mix works nicely too as a substitute
My Sweetheart’s Mother planted a small garden before going to visit family and asked me to help him take care of it while she is on vacation-what to do with the harvest but to eat the bounty!
Chop and simmer the following:
2 Green Bell Peppers
1 large (or 2-3 small fresh zuchinni)
2 small purple onions
4-6 toes of garlic
2-4 fresh Jalepenos
10-15 cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
Himalayan Salt, Pepper, and ground cumin
In a Seperate pan, Simmer 2-3 large chicken breast, once cooked, top with a jar of Korma Sauce (usually found in the international aisle of the supermarket), simmer until warm.
Ladel the steamed/sautched vegetables into the bottom of a bowl, top with the chicken korma mix, enjoy! Top with a bit of siracha sauce and/or feta cheese.
A friend shared some lovely garden produce, including bell peppers, jalepenos, tomatillos, tomatoes and more, so what is a girl to do? Make Fajitas with fresh made salsa!
Roughly 1 pound of Bell Peppers, assorted color, sliced up
3 small white onions chopped, split-2 for fajitas 1 for salsa
7 various size fresh jalepenos
6 small/long serano peppers1
6 large tomatoes
6 tomatillos
1/2 pint of fresh baby mushrooms
2 tablespoons of minced garlic (fresh or jarred)
1 pound of ground turkey (I got this at Aldi as it’s super tasty and inexpensive)
1/4 of beef tips or skirt steak (or any manager’s special beef cut)
1-10 ct bag of flour tortillas
Salt and Pepper (I like the self grinding bottles of black peppercorns and Himalayn salt, packs a punch!)
1 tablespoon of Garlic and Herb Mixed season
1 tablespoon of Smoked Peach Rub season (seen in photo below, I don’t know if other brands are made of this!)
Saute/Fry the Beef and ground turkey with salt and pepper in a deep skillet with a dash of oil
Chop up all the veggies, add to meat skillet when meat is 90% done, adding the Smoked peach rub, 1 tablespoon of garlic and Smoked peach rub. Simmer/Saute on medium low heat until the veggies are soft but crips and meat is fully cooked.
While the meat is cooking, get a medium sized pot and add the jalepenos, tomatoes, tomatillos, serranos and 1 tablespoon of garlic, simmer on medium until all the mix is soft but don’t let boil. Put the mix, once cooked, including water, into a blender and mix/blend until smooth (it will be a little runny).
Serve the fajita mix in a large service bowl with the tortillas warmed up on the flat top and the salsa in a bowl with a spoon (or a small pitcher for pourin). The fajita mixed is wonderful stuffed in warm tortillas and topped with homemade salsa.
If there is extra salsa, it’s great with chips or served over egges.
My Travels 