Wednesday August 14th

Todays Mood..

Courtesy of  Little Tufty

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Tuesday August 13th

Just when I thought the zucchini plants had finished...

I went out this morning and found fresh growth and new flowers..

Maybe I was being a bit hasty!

What isnt coming to an end tho are the cherry tomatoes...

everyday there are dozens to be picked

What I dont use in our salads are frozen to use in cooking at a later date

And I must say its lovely to find the occasional "big" tomato growing..

Tho I don't know how long it will stay

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Monday August 12th

Well the dirty rats may have eaten all the big tomatoes.. but we still have tons of cherry tomatoes.. green bell peppers.. jalapeños.. shishito peppers.. and I found an untouched cucumber

It’s been a disappointing year.. but what we can still harvest is a blessing 

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Sunday August 11th

 Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Saturday August 10th

Now the hedge has been taken down...

MrD has decised to paint the front of the house..

So first he is pressure washing the old flaking paintwork off the walls

a wet and dirty job which may leave him needing to be pressure washed too!

I myself am pursuing a more gentle task...

adding three more hearts to my Etsy shop

and I wont have to take a bath afterwards....

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Thursday August 8th

The weather is so hot Im trying to avoid using the oven unless necessary. But sometimes we need a change to salads and cold cuts...so out comes the trusty crockpot. 

This is a favourite recipe of MrD.. and its so easy to throw together... and I add to the recipe any veg I need to use up..eg green peppers, carrots or mushrooms

Crockpot meals are not just for Winter..

1 pound of chicken cubed
1 small red onion diced (about 1/2 cup)

1/3 pound red potatoes cubed
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 15 oz. can pinto beans rinsed and drained
1 15 oz. can kidney beans rinsed and drained
1 18 oz. bottle of BBQ sauce*
Garnishes: Shredded cheddar cheese, cilantro, sour cream, etc

• Place chicken on bottom of the crock-pot.
• Add remaining ingredients and mix well to combine.
• Cover and set timer for 3 hours on high heat or 6 hours on low heat.
• Serve topped with garnishes

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Wednesday August 7th

 Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Tuesday August 6th

My poor garden has been a bit of a disappointment this year. The squirrel problem we had turned out to be rats that came from a neighbors shed.. and despite our best efforts.. have decimated our tomato crop.. Every large tomato has been chewed.. but for now they have left most of the cherry ones.

Luckily.. they don’t seem to like peppers or squash so it hasn’t been a total loss.. but for next year we need to come up with a good plan..

Or buy a lot of traps!!

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Sunday August 4th

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Saturday August 3rd

Stuffing Time...

How are you spending your Saturday??

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Friday August 2nd

When hubby says he’s just going out to trim the front hedge...

Seriously.. I can’t leave him alone for five minutes ……

Mind you... it does make a big difference...

Good?? or Bad??

What do you think?

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Thursday August 1st

Welcome to August....

With the weather very hot... I decided to make something cool and light.... so opted for "Strawberry Whip from my 1940s collection. This Summer dessert comes from the Better Homes and Gardens Magazine July 1944. The same recipe appeared in June 1942 under the title "Strawberry Crown Whip" and again in June 1949 as "Bavarian Strawberry Cream"

To be honest its the first time I have ever made anything with the unflavored gelatine and I was a bit dubious... but it turned out very well... not quite as high as the magazine picture as my mould was quite shallow. With the main ingredient strawberries... the flavour was a wow...although maybe just a little sweet

As the recipe says... save a few whole strawberries for garnish....

"Strawberry Whip will quiver enticingly in individual molds or in squares from shallow pan."

I will definitely be making it again

Strawberry Whip

1 tablespoon (1 envelope) unflavored gelatine (I used Knox)
¼ cup cold water.
½ cup hot water
¼ cup orange juice
2 tablespoons lemon juice
½ cup sugar
Dash of salt
1 pint strawberries
1 stiff-beaten egg white

• Soften gelatine in cold water
• Dissolve in hot water.
• Add fruit juices, sugar, and salt; chill until partially set.
• Beat til frothy.
• Crush 1/2 cups strawberries; add to gelatine mixture.
• Fold in egg white.
• Chill in oiled mold until set.
• Unmold and garnish with remaining whole berries and meringue swirl.
• Serve with chilled custard sauce.

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x