Friday, June 19, 2015

Veggie Lunch


For one serving, you will need -

fresh green beans
grape tomatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
1-2 garlic gloves, minced
juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste


Cook beans until tender.
Meanwhile, sauté onion and garlic in oil.
Add lemon juice, cooked beans, tomatoes, cheese, and seasonings.
Toss to coat and enjoy!

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce


you will need -

1/2 cup olive oil
1 onion, diced
3 garlic gloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning  
1 28 ounce can muir glen organic fire roasted crushed tomatoes
1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes
1 15 ounce can tomato sauce

Saute onion, garlic, and seasonings in oil.
Add tomatoes and simmer for several hours, uncovered, as sauce thickens.

Enjoy over your favorite pasta!

makes 8 servings

Ranch Date


Mr. H. and I have a favorite tradition during the summer to take one night for a ranch date
during the week that our kids are away at church camp.


No one had been out to our ranch since all the Texas rains and flooding had occurred in May. 
We weren't sure what we'd find.  
First up, was a fallen tree across the road that we use on our neighbors property to get to our gate.
We had to off road it a bit through the pasture,
but we made it to the gate. 


We hadn't seen the grass so tall and green in many years.


We were anxious to feed the cows and then get down to the pond and see how it looked.
The cows sure didn't seem as eager as they usually are to get at their sweet feed.
They all looked fat and happy.  I guess from all that green grass that is so prevalent right now!


The pond looked so great!  It looked bigger than it has in 20 years!



Parts that hadn't held water in years, were now full.





When our kids were little, they called this area 
"Camp Camo."  Camp has some water in it now. :-)


Part of the road to the shooting range area of the ranch had eroded away due to all the water.


After we did a lot of looking around, 
we enjoyed being serenaded by the frogs and the crickets,


and just enjoying the peacefulness of sitting out by the pond. 


When we got home and I looked at my pictures, these two of the pond confused me
until I looked closer at the time I took them.
I realized that the last picture I had taken Friday evening was at 8:07 pm,


and the first picture I had taken on Saturday morning,
was at 8:07 am.  And I was standing in the exact same spot by the pond!  


On our way home, I told Mr. H. that I wanted to figure out what all the red wildflowers were on the side of the road that I had been seeing the last few weeks. 


Turns out they're just Indian Blankets,
but without much yellow on the edge like they usually have.



From the road they look completely red.


So pretty!

Graduation Celebration AND 18th Birthday Party!


My daughter graduated from high school and turned 18 in the same week.
Recently, we celebrated both milestones together 
with a come and go afternoon party for family and friends.  
She loves the color yellow and sunflowers, so I went with that for the theme.  


I ordered her birthday cake and cupcakes from Sam's Club.
The day that I picked them up,
they had graduation cookies available in the same colors as her cake.
I just couldn't resist. :-)
I made a good choice - they were yummy!







I served water, lemonade and coffee to our guests to go with the sweet treats.




I used my daughter's beautiful senior portraits to decorate with.


And I made several banners using this fabulous website.


We are hoping all her wishes come true! :-)

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

S'mores Dip!


How fun and easy!
Perfect for camping.
Or just at home, when you wish you were camping. ;-)


Place 16 Hershey snack size candy bars in the bottom of a cast iron skillet.
Cut 18 large marshmallows in half with kitchen shears.
Place marshmallows on top of chocolate.
Bake at 450 for 5 minutes.
Turn broiler on and toast tops of marshmallow for a few minutes until browned,
watching closely.


Serve with graham crackers for dipping
and enjoy!


Saturday, June 13, 2015

~energy bites~



combine
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-2 tablespoons of water

stir in
1 1/2 cups oats
1/2 cup flax seed
1/4 cup chocolate chips

chill until mixture easily rolls into balls

store in fridge

makes 18 bites



Menu Plan

Supper Menus
June 13th - 19th

Saturday
out for supper

Sunday
sandwiches

Monday
grilled chicken, grilled corn on the cob, roasted potatoes and onions, fresh green beans, sliced tomatoes

Tuesday
grilled burgers, baked beans, potato chips, s'mores dip

Wednesday
angel hair with homemade marinara sauce, caesar salad, garlic bread

Thursday
soft tacos, spanish rice, refried beans

Friday
blackened tilapia, rice, sautéed vegetables

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Menu Plan

Supper Menus
June 6th -12th 

Saturday
grilled steaks, grilled corn on the cob, roasted new potatoes and onions, lettuce and tomato salad with home made ranch dressing, french bread

Sunday
leftovers 

Monday
out for supper 

Tuesday 
asian salmon, asian quinoa, brocoli

Wednesday
cream peas, roasted squash, new potatoes, onions and green beans, fresh sliced tomatoes, sliced bread

Thursday
leftovers

Friday
out for supper 

Friday, May 22, 2015

Menu Plan

Supper Menus
May 23rd - 29th 

Saturday
schezwan stir fry

Sunday
sub sandwiches, chips and dip

Monday
grilled burgers, potato salad, baked beans

Tuesday
grilled chicken, corn on the cob, fresh green beans, roasted new potatoes and onions

Wednesday
party sandwiches, chips, dips and veggies

Thursday
spicy romano chicken, olive garden salad, garlic knots

Friday
out for pizza

Friday, May 15, 2015

Menu Plan

Supper Menus
May 16th - 22nd

Saturday
grilled chicken, fresh green beans, homemade creamed corn, oven roasted red potatoes, biscuits

Sunday
sub sandwiches, chips

Monday
lasagna, garlic knots, salad

Tuesday
red beans and rice, grilled venison sausage, cornbread

Wednesday
leftovers

Thursday
soft tacos, spanish rice, refried beans, chips and guacamole 

Friday
leftovers

Friday, May 8, 2015

She's graduating!

Not quite sure how we got here...


but here we are!







Photos taken by Rustic Roots Photography.