Monday Musings

1. My Mom had a birthday this weekend. I had everyone over to celebrate. Just a mere 3 hours prior to them showing up, this happened...

oh! what's that? that's where the plumber stepped through my ceiling into my kitchen. Thank God he did not get hurt. Once I found out he was okay I think I laughed out loud, not at him, but at the situation, because this is getting pretty funny. Really.

2. This http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/04/roasted-strawberry-brie-chocolate-grilled-cheeeeeeeese/ needs to get in my belly. Right now.

3. Is there anyone else who's read The Hunger Games and hasn't seen the movie? No? just me?

4.  I'm kind of stoked for the new Avengers movie. Having boys will change you. You get excited over super heroes and fighting. Well it totally doesn't hurt when the super heroes look like this


and this

doesn't hurt AT ALL.

5. The mister has got me hooked on Amos Lee if you've not heard his music check it out. He's like a male Norah Jones. It's our chill music.

6. My beautiful mom turned 58 years young this weekend. She is awesome and amazing and funny. Sadly I didn't pick up my camera until the party was almost over. Most of the party took place of the deck where it I had lights, and candles and flowers. My brother played grill master to all of our personal pizzas we made. Then the rain forced us all inside.

And I realized it didn't matter about the gaping hole in my ceiling above us. None of that "stuff" matters. We had each other. That's what's most important.

Pasta with Prosciutto and Peas

This is one of my favorite quick meals (like 20 minutes, quick) to prepare during the Spring and Summer.

Recipe by Everyday Food

12 ounces Fettuccine
1 Tbsp butter
1 shallot finely chopped
2/3 heavy cream
1 10 ounce pkg frozen peas, thawed
8 slice (4 ounces) prosciutto cut into strips
1 Tbsp grated lemon zest
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese plus for for serving (optional)

In a large pot of salted boiling water cook the noodles until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain pasta and set aside.

Meanwhile in a large skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat, add shallot and cook until softened
about 5 minutes. Add cream, peas and prosciutto, bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Simmer until peas are heated through, about 3-4 minutes. Add cheese.

Stir in lemon zest, juice add enough of the pasta liquid to thin the sauce as desired. Season generously with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over pasta and combine, (I use tongs for this) Add additional parm cheese if desired.

Be jealous.

Just in case you were thinking of me today, wondering "Oh, I wonder how Michelle's bathroom renovations are going. I bet she is soaking in her claw foot tub holding a glass of wine, while staring at her chandy. Or MAYBE she's in her much larger subway tiled shower for the 3rd time today just because she can!" Yes, just in case these thoughts were going through your heads because you have absolutely nothing better to do but be jealous of me and my new bathroom. Well I thought I would show you what it is I have been staring at for going on 2 weeks.

 So this is where our new vanity should be...Don't you just love the message the mister wrote on the wall the last time we stripped wallpaper and painted this room? He is so classy! And a good speller. BTW no wonder I could never sleep in here that yellow is like the color of the SUN!

 One day a bath will be here.

 what once was my shower...

 This currently is where all 5 of us are showering. The wall was wallpaper that we painted bright orange many, many, many years ago. Every time the mister gets out of the shower he peels a little bit off, sometimes a lot bit. Oh, did you notice the shower curtain rod? Yes, it's been bent like that for over a year! I'm letting it all hang out people. My rascals were swinging on the curtain because they think they're monkeys. I never replaced it. My theory with 3 boys is why replace it when they're just gonna break it again anyway!

 Seriously? will you ever talk to me again? My mother is mortified right now. Actually no I take that back she's saying"Why would I be mortified? It's not MY bathroom!" Love you mom..I refuse to clean this bathroom because as soon as they are finished ours they will move onto gutting and redoing this one. What is the point. At least that's what my lazy self says.

 This is my dining room, that has now become the storage room AKA since it's already messy lets throw all the crap we don't feel like putting away in here room.

Things happen, always....they take longer then you expect and cost more then you expect. On a side note the sun finally came out today, I can rejoice in that.

Happy Hump Day!

Strawberry Scones with Lemon Glaze

Because my cup runneth over with strawberries I am researching recipes, I whipped these up Sunday morning, literally... it took minutes to throw together. Oh my they were so good. The mister loves all things scones, sticky buns, cinnamon rolls, he's a coffee and sweet treat kind of man. He loved these. It's a keeper, I guess I'll keep him too. These are best eaten the day they are made.

Recipe (slightly adapted) by Tyler Florence

2 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp sugar
5 Tbsp unsalted butter, cold, cut into chunks
1 cup fresh strawberries, diced
1 cup heavy cream, plus more for brushing the scones

Lemon Glaze
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 Tbsp or more heavy cream
1 lemon, zested

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Sift the dry ingredients; the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Using 2 forks or a pastry blender, cut in the butter to coat the pieces with the flour. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs. Fold the strawberries into the batter. Take care not to mash or bruise the strawberries. Make a well in the center and pour in the heavy cream. Fold everything together just to incorporate; do not overwork the dough.

Press the dough out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle about 12 by 2 by 1 1/4 inches. Cut the rectangle in 1/2 then cut the pieces in 1/2 again, giving you 4 (3 inch) square. Cut the squares in 1/2 on a diagonal to give you the classic triangle shape. Place the scones on an ungreased cookie sheet and brush the tops with the heavy cream. Bake 15 to 20 minutes until beautiful and brown. Let the scones cool a bit before applying the glaze.

For the glaze in a small bowl whisk everything together until it's nice and smooth, continue adding heavy cream until you get the desired consistency.

Strawberry Picking

I woke up Saturday morning with strawberries on my mind, the pick your own season around here only lasts a few weeks in April. We took a field trip to my favorite place where the strawberries are always big and juicy. 

InstaFriday

I am pretty happy today is Friday. I will not complain for there is far worse things going on in this world, but things are not going as smoothly with the renovations, and lets just say I'm not the most pleasant person to be around. Here's a glimpse into my week. I hope yours was wonderful. Happy Friday.

 Look at my potatoes! They are growing so fast. Seems like I just put them in.

 Chicken poo in my herb garden and it is thriving.

 Leon

 A trip to the library.

 I read this book in 24 hours. Go read this book now.

 I roasted cabbage for the first time I am forever changed. SO GOOD.

 We got kicked out of the farmers market... we are such rebels.

Somehow these two always end up in my bed.

Spring Risotto with Lemon, Asparagus, and Peas

Risotto takes time, it takes patience, it's best eaten right away as it gets thicker as it sits. It requires you to stand over the stove and stir constantly and WAIT. But the results are so divine. Creamy, delectable, cheesy with a slight crunch of asparagus. This dish is a burst in Spring in your mouth. I recommend pouring a glass of wine throwing on some jazz and making this dish, you will be so pleased.

Recipe by Pink of Perfection

1 Tbsp olive oil

3 small shallots, about 1/2 cup

1 1/2 cup arborio rice

6-8 cups chicken stock

1 pound asparagus

1 cup frozen spring peas

2 tsp lemon zest

2 Tbsp lemon juice (always freshly squeezed)

3/4 cup grated parmigiano cheese

In a medium sauce pan, bring your stock to a simmer. Meanwhile, dice the shallots and snap off the woody ends of asparagus. If the asparagus is quite thick, you may want to also peel them. Then chop on the diagonal into 1/2 inch pieces.

In a broad-bottomed saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook until soft. Then add the rice and stir to coat.

One ladle full at a time, add the stock to the rice and stir constantly until adsorbed before adding more stock. After about 10 minutes, add the asparagus, and continue adding stock until the rice is soft and the risotto creamy, about 25-30 minutes, adding the peas at the last minute.

Remove the risotto from the heat and stir in the zest, juice and cheese. The risotto will continue to thicken, so you should hurry to eat it :)

Poppy Seed Bread

What is it about those tiny black specs that we love so much? I have had a hankering for some lemon poppy seed bread for weeks, ever since I came across this recipe in my moms old recipe box. This isn't lemon, but it's better. Trust.Me.

3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup milk
1 1/8 cup vegetable oil
2 1/4 cup sugar
4 1/2 Tbsp poppy seeds
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp butter flavoring
1 1/2 tsp almond flavoring

Glaze

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp butter flavoring
1 1/2 tsp almond flavoring
1/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix all the bread ingredients together in a medium bowl, until just combined. Pour into 2 large or 3 small greased and floured bread pans. Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. While the loves are baking prepare glaze. Remove pans from oven and let cool slightly before turning them onto a cooling rack. Drizzle with glaze while still warm.

Monday Musings

1. I am currently in my kitchen (baking of course) while listening to destruction of my bathroom upstairs. Oh this makes me happy.

2. After more then 5 people recommended Downton Abbey, the mister and I gave it a whirl. We are hooked. we finished an entire season over the weekend. We may or may not have started speaking to each other with a British accent.

3. Just in case you were wondering....Jessica Simpson is STILL pregnant.

4. Saturday afternoon the mister (who thinks he's 15 yrs old) challenged a handful of high school and middle school boys to a game of basketball. He looked so happy to beat up on those boys. He then came in and proceeded to eat a large bowl of icecream right before dinner. He has the metabolism of a 15 year old. Is it wrong I wanted to kick him?

5. I have been daydreaming of garden parties, lazy summer days, no more homework. Almost.There.

6. Is there a Nutella anonymous? no? Just asking.

7. okay, okay, I'll try roasted chick peas again, jeez.

8. I need to go put some of my chicken's poo in my garden I heard its like gold. I'll go do that now. While I daydream of living on a farm, while I speak to myself with a british accent.

9. Happy Monday.

Tybee Island/Savannah Part 2

We planned an entire day just for Savannah, the cottage we stayed in included VIP reservations to The Lady and Son's restaurant (Paula Deen) so we booked a lunch reservation and planned on spending the day exploring Savannah. It ended up not getting out of the 50's that day it was overcast and windy. In the heart of downtown, it felt like 40's we were not prepared for the cold. We didn't pack the right clothes. It was a quick trip that day. But I loved what I saw and The mister and I will be heading back one day without the kiddos.