~charcuterie board~

What is a charcuterie (pronounced shahr-koo-tuh-ree) board you ask?  

Charcuterie is defined as the art of preparing cured or smoked meats such as bacon, ham and salami.  A charcuterie board is an assortment of these meats often times with cheese, fruits, nuts and breads added as well.  Basically it's a fancy name for a meat and cheese board. They have gotten very popular recently, just check out #charcuterieboard on Pinterest. :-) 

I was inspired by a co-worker to create one for Mr. H. because I just knew he would really like it.  I decided to chose Italian meats and cheeses.  I had a few things at home and I went shopping with an idea of different foods that I wanted to incorporate.   I looked over all the fancy deli items first, but purchased most items in the regular grocery aisles which cut down on cost.  

For this board I used - 

meats

peppered salami and prosciutto wrapped mozzarella (both from the deli)

pepperoni slices

cheeses

small fresh mozzarella balls (store brand)

provolone 

fruits and veggies

strawberries

grapes

grape tomatoes
(all I already had at home for this weeks lunches)

breads

small french loaf from the bakery 

(you could use crackers or melba toasts instead)

other 

small black olives

manzanilla olives

marinated artichoke hearts 

sun dried tomato bruschetta spread

pesto spread

dates 

olive oil with herbs for dipping

fig preserves (for a sweet bite)

and a bottle of San Pellegrino to share of course

We enjoyed our charcuterie board away from home so I packed up all the cold items in a little soft sided cooler and placed my boards, serving utensils, and jars in a crate.

I had pre-sliced sliced everything at home, so once we arrived at our picnic site 

I just arranged everything on the boards I brought.

I don't have a large charcuterie board, so instead I used my wooden cutting board, a wooden chip and dip tray, and a small wooden cheese board.  

I loved putting everything out prettily on the boards! 

And then we dug in!  Mr. H. loved the meal and I am already thinking of other foods to use next time.  Maybe a greek themed one with feta, naan, hummus, etc?  A breakfast one heavy on fruits, jams, breads and hardboiled eggs?  The possibilities are endless!  

We Bleed Maroon!

Gig' em Ags!

And we love #2 Johnny Football!

Fightin' Texas Aggies Class of '91 and Class of '94. :-)

Laura Ingalls Wilder's birthday :-)

In honor of today being Laura Ingalls Wilder's birthday,

I thought I'd share some pictures from when 

I got to visit Rocky Ridge Farm. :-)

Way back in April of 2006,

Mr. H. had a business trip to Missouri.

We were homeschooling at the time,

so the kids and I went along with him

as we often did. 

 On the way, we got to stop in Mansfield 

at Rocky Ridge Farm.

The farm was the home for many years of

Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of my beloved

"Little House" books. :-)

Here I am sitting on the stump of a tree that

Almanzo and Laura planted.  

It blew down during a storm and

I actually got a piece of it from the gift shop

while we were there.

We were able to tour inside the farm house

and I loved every minute of it.

It was so neat to walk through the home

where Laura had written the "Little House" books.

No pictures were allowed to be taken inside though.

Here we are on the front porch,

and on the back steps.

We also toured 

Rose Wilder Lane's

Rock House

and stopped by the cemetery in Mansfield

where the Wilder's were laid to rest.

It was a wonderful visit!

At the ranch...

Thankful for family,

that works hard!

And, plays hard!

Cousins!

Rodeo!

My birthday just happens to fall right before the 

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo each year.

So naturally, tickets to the show have become a birthday present tradition. :-)

This year I was celebrating the big 4-0 and 

my favorite band of all time was preforming on opening night of the rodeo!

ALABAMA!

I've seen Alabama in concert four times now...

each decade of my life. ;-)

Weekend at the Lease

As you probably know, Mr. H. is a hunter.  It's what he does. :-)

In years past I've always stayed home with babies when he heads off

on hunting trips or for weekends at the deer lease.

But, these days...the babies go, too!

So, I decided to tag along to the lease with the rest of the family 

for the first weekend of deer season this year!

Mr. H. is on a lease by himself this year out in west Texas.

The property has a little, hundred year old farm house on it.

Mr. H., my daughter, and my son all hunt.

But not me. :-)

I joke that I spend my days tending and nurturing animals

and they stalk them! ;-)

The lease has a lovely pecan grove on it.

Mr. H. has put several feeders and deer blinds on the lease.

Some close friends of ours are on the adjoining lease.

Bubba and Daisy came along for the ride 

and kept me company when the family was off hunting.

I enjoyed walking around the yard of the house 

during the early mornings and evenings when everyone was gone.

Just thinking about who might have lived out here long ago.

Who might have used the well, the old root cellar, and the corrals.

I might, or might not, have pretended I was a pioneer woman. ;-)