Fun Filled "BUSY" Week!!!

It was not only the first week of school but a lot more was going on this week. Why is it you can go for weeks with nothing going on and others there is something almost every day?

This is Mary from West Virginia University doing a presentation at the Veterans Square on Ergonomic Tools. Showing us how to get back into our gardens if you have any joint problems. I wrote a grant this spring for the Green Thumbs Grant and the Marion County Master Gardner's received $1,000.00 to be used in the raised beds at the Veterans Square, $200.00 went to the tools to be used there.. Here we are trying out some of the tools and deciding what ones we want for our gardens!

Next was the Tomato Tasting Festival at High Gate on Sunday. This demo was all about worms and how to have your own worm farm to make your own compost. Of course my husband was real excited at this demo! We are the proud owners of 1 lb. of worms and as we speak he is in the garage getting his worm farm going... There he is in the back in green...

This is a local Chef doing his demo on tomato's, he always comes up with great recipes for us each year!!! He is a real crowd pleaser...

The butterfly farm came with a tent full of butterfly's for the kids to go into and enjoy. My neighbors granddaughter Kyra loved it and took lots of great pictures...

They were just beautiful!!!

Lots and Lots of them...

This is Todd from WVU doing his demo on the Ergonomic Tools... The crowd seemed to have lots of questions for him and the tools were great!

Here's our worm farm booth with all the instructions on how to make your own at home...

There were 62 plates of tomatoes to taste and boy were they great, lots of different varieties to choose from and be judged for flavor...

They are always presented beautifully and the community loves tasting them all...

One of our Master Gardner's dug up a whole tomato plant with a Tomato Hornworm, with Wasp Larvae laid on it, and brought it to the festival for everyone to see. It was really cool, click on the link and check it out, it is really interesting...

I went to my neighbors garden to swipe some of his Heirloom Tomatoes and he was lucky enough to win Third Place. He was so excited when I took him his ribbon!!!

Here is his tomato on the winners table, it is the one in the back.... This tomato seed was given to him 35 years ago by his son and he had no idea what kind of tomato it was. He calls it Pleasant Valley Delight and the judges were delighted with it too...

The winners table...

Music was played by this lovely lady all day, I just love to listen to her!

Some of our happy Master Gardner's standing out front greeting everyone as they came in...

Our newest members to my back yard, just born last weekend. Their eyes aren't even opened in this picture. I looked at them on Friday and they are really growing. They are Chipping Sparrows...

Last Friday night we went with friends to Pricketts Fort to a concert, this was intermission and Tom was visiting, there were so many people there we knew.

Good Old Mountain Music, these women put on a great show!

Here's a little clip of some of the music, hope you enjoy....




Have a Great Weekend!!!

Lynn

The Big Surprise!!!

You've got to love the husband that calls home and says "Call Kyra I am bringing her home a surprise. Than doesn't even tell me what it is! Because he knows I will yell... LOL Well Kyra is the neighbors Granddaughter and she loves all creatures.... So I just knew it had to be something alive...
He pulled into the driveway with that big grin on his face and a baggie in his hand... Inside are two really tiny Black Snakes... It was a rescue he said... They were all tangled up in a Spider Web at our daughters house in the driveway... He saved them from sure death!!!

Kyra had no trouble putting her hands out to hold them right away...

Aren't they cute "TWINS".... Not any bigger than an earthworm... She took them right over to the house and got on the computer to see exactly what kind they were and how to take care of such babies... You can find out anything "just Google it" LOL

Her Grandma and I weren't too thrilled but the guys and her were thrilled to death!!!

School starts on Monday I bet no one else will have this kind of show and tell!!!

I guess it could have been worse, they could have been fully grown...

Have a Good One,

Lynn

Wordless Wednesday...

Have A Good One,

Lynn

So My Mom is Famous!

So my mom is becoming quite famous in our little town. The newspaper office called her last Tuesday and said "We want to do an article about you, and how you love to cook. Can you have something ready for us on Friday, we are coming to your house? But we want you to use only recipes with 4 ingredients or less, what can you do?" So mom thought for a while.
We thought she would come up with one or two dished, but that would not be my mother. She came up with 7, yea I said 7. Everything from a drink to appetizers then on to the main course and dessert. Not only does she cook great but everything has to look pretty too. She made Minted Iced Tea Coolers, Bloomin Onion Dip, Baked Zucchini Fries, Italian Turkey Sausage with Zucchini and Tomatoes, Pepper Jack Crescents, Round Steak with Potatoes and Green Beans and for dessert a Pineapple Angel Food Cake and Cool Whip. I have had most of these things and let me tell you they are yummy! The onion dip is a staple at all family functions and the pineapple cake is a great light and fluffy treat in the summer.The article was the entire back page of the paper. She doesn't know I am writing this but I am sure she will add pictures of all the food with recipes on here soon. Sorry if I made your mouths water.

Have a great day,
Colleen :o)~


Ok when I checked my blog this morning something just wasn't right... I had not written a blog yesterday, but there was one on here to my surprise...
Note to self: Don't give your daughter your password!!! LOL

So I guess I had to add to this blog and give you the recipes...

As Colleen told you the newspaper called on Tue. evening and ask if I could come up with a few recipes with 4 ingredients or less and they would be stopping by on Friday afternoon to see what I had come up with... I am always up for a challenge! But 4 ingredients.... After thinking about it for a while I came up with a quick lunch for four... with leftovers for my parents and the neighbor!!! LOL I just can't cook a little bit of anything...


Ok the table was set really early on Friday morning, while all the food was cooking. I had prepared the desert the night before so it was out of the way... The appetizer was coming out of the oven just about the time they arrived...

Bloomin' Onion Dip

1 cup vadalia onion chopped

1 cup Miracle Whip or Mayo

1 cup Cheddar Cheese shredded

paprika
Combine onion,miracle whip and cheddar cheese: Put in non greased pie plate.Sprinkle paprika generously on top.Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes.Serve with your favorite dipping crackers.Yields: 6-8
This is a staple for all parties in our house...

Drinks were served...

Minted Iced Tea Cooler

3 peppermint-flavored tea bags

7 cups boiling water

1 cup cranberry juice

3/4 cup pink lemonade concentrate

Steep tea bags in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Discard tea bags. Pour tea into a pitcher or large bowl; stir in cranberry juice and lemonade concentrate. Cover and refrigerate overnight.Serve over ice, Opt. add a lemon slice,cranberries and a sprig of mint.

Yields 8 servings

Come and get it!!

From the left:

*Round Steak with potatoes and green beans

*Turkey Sausage,zucchini,tomatoes and rice

*Zucchini Fries

*Pepper Jack Cheese Crescents

*Bloomin Onion Dip & Crackers

Round Steak

1 round steak; cut into six pieces

1- 3 pound can green beans with potatoes

1- Family Size (26oz.) Cream of Chicken Soup

Milk; about 1/2 of the soup can

salt and pepper to taste

Place round steak in bottom of a 11x13 baking pan.Drain green beans and potatoes; pour on top of steak.Mix soup and milk together; pour over steak, green beans and potatoes.Bake covered 350 degrees for 2 hours.

Yields: 6

This was a recipe given to me by a dear friend when she brought it to the house the week after Colleen was born. So I have been making this for 31 years. Of course you can change things around, I have put broccoli instead of green beans. Cream of Mushroom soup instead of Chicken. You can cut up your own potatoes and put on one side of the meat and green beans on the other side. It is just quick and easy to make and just plain good...




Coffee anyone? It's time for desert...

A light and refreshing summer desert...

Pineapple Angel Food Cake

1 box Angel Food Cake Mix

1 can crushed pineapple

Cool Whip

Mix Angel Food Cake mix and pineapple with juice in a glass bowl; let set 15 minutes.Put in 9x13 cake pan "DO NOT GREASE PAN"

Bake 350 degrees for 34-37 minutes.

Serve with Cool Whip

Yields: 12



Well I guess I got excited and forgot to take pictures of everything else but I have the recipes for you...

Italian Turkey Sausage, Zucchini and Tomato Dinner

1-1/4 pounds Hot Italian Turkey Sausage

3 small zucchini, cubed

1- 28 oz. crushed tomatoes with garlic,oregano and basil (Red Pack Brand)

Hot cooked rice or pasta

Over medium heat, brown sausage until no longer pink; drain.Cut sausage into 1/4 inch slices; return to the skillet to brown completely.Add zucchini and tomatoes; cook until zucchini is tender. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes . Serve over rice or pasta.Yield: 4-6 servings.

Pepper Jack Crescents

1 tube (8oz.) refrigerated crescent rolls

3 Tbs. shredded pepper jack cheese, divided

2 Tbs. chopped fresh chives

1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon Mustard

Unroll crescent dough . Combine 2 Tbs. cheese, chives and ,mustard; spread about1 teaspoon over each triangle. Roll up from the short side. Place point side down on an ungreased baking sheet and curve into a crescent shape.Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for 11-13 minutes or until golden brown.

Yield: 8 rolls

Baked Zucchini Fries

3 medium zucchini

1 cup unseasoned bread crumbs

1 cup all purpose flour

2 eggs,beaten

salt and pepper to taste

Cut zucchini into 2 inch long strips and 1/4 inch thick pieces.Put flour into a baggie with salt and pepper; next add zucchini to coat well. Than dip fries into egg and roll into bread crumbs. Place on non stick or greased cookie sheet.Bake until fries are tender and coating is crisp, about 20-30 minutes. Let cool slightly. Can be served with salsa or nacho cheese.

Yields: 4 servings

I hope everyone enjoys all the easy 4 ingredient recipes today, and thanks for stopping by.

And for you COLLEEN DYANE USARY I will talk to you later!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

Have a good one,

Lynn

Farmers Market Tuesday!!!

I go to our local Farmers Market every Tue. evening, but tonight it was packed. I even got there early and had to wait in line. They don't open until 4:00 and they can't sell anything until 4:00. So while I waited I saw a really big cabbage that looked wonderful. The smaller ones were $3.00 but this big one was $4.00. When I said wow what a cabbage, the little girl behind the table said I grew that one! With a big smile on her face, and an even bigger smile from her Grandfather!!! Each year our county gives out cabbage plants to all the 3rd. graders and tells them to plant them and who ever has the biggest cabbage the will win money. I'm not sure how much but the kids get so excited about it! This one weighed 9 pounds, she had taken pictures and sent them in to try to win!!! My husband gave me an extra dollar and told me to go buy it!!! I told her any cabbage that big was worth at least & 5.00... That smile got even bigger, like she had just won the lottery!!! How cute she was. I wish I had taken a picture of her with it, but it was so packed I just wanted to get out of that hot sun... I also picked up some yellow squash, that will be dinner tomorrow on the grill...

Look how big this cabbage is!!! Can we say Cabbage rolls here we come!!! Yum Yum...

Hope you all have a great week, stay cool!!

Lynn

It's a WOW Chocolate Pie !!!

I just can't keep out of the kitchen this summer. I have made this pie and taken it to 4 different places the last 2 weeks... It has to be one of the best pies I have tasted in a long time and everyone seems to like it! It's like a big brownie in a pie... I love searching the Food Network, Epicurious and Tastespotting for new and different recipes. this one came from the Food Network and is courtesy of Paula Deen. So try it out but be ready for some really rich chocolate... and you MUST have ice cream with it!!! Pie Recipe (just click on Pie Recipe) AND ENJOY!!!

Have a Good One,
Lynn