Saturday, June 20, 2009

Camera Critters



Do you want to join the Weekend Meme all about animal/critter photos? Clicking on the post header graphic will take you to the blog where you can sign in if you have made a post, and you can visit other Camera-Critters Captures. Or, clicking HERE will take you to the rules.

Sausage and Peppers/Green Beans and Potatoes

I made a quick sausage and pepper dinner tonight.
I found these small adorable sweet peppers at BJ's and they
made me want to make this dish.



I also steamed some fresh green beans and then some pink and white baby new potatoes.
I then tossed the two with olive oil and a bit of salt.
Oh it was really heavenly!


I threw in a fresh loaf of bread that I baked this morning and a salad and we were set.
Sorry I forgot to take a picture of the bread before we all devoured it.

Buon Appetito!

Happy Fathers Day Papa


Life Lessons

You may have thought I didn't see,
Or that I hadn't heard,
Life lessons that you taught to me,
But I got every word.
Perhaps you thought I missed it all,
And that we'd grow apart,
But Dad, I picked up everything,
It's written on my heart.
Without you, Dad, I wouldn't be
The woman I am today;
You built a strong foundation
No one can take away.
I've grown up with your values,
And I'm very glad I did;
So here's to you, dear father,
From your forever grateful kid.




By Joanna Fuchs


With all my love always...
your Susanna

Friday, June 19, 2009

Fridays Update/and the Mystery Stuff

A quick glance at the radishes...they look good- Im just a little
worried because we have had so much rain and more is in the forecast!
The lettuce seems to be very happy- cooler weather and rain...
I have been picking for dinner every night!

We finally got the tomatoes tied up...they have grown so much with all the rain and they were spread out all over. Now we just need a little sun and they should do great.

The zucchini will be growing upward soon...
The trellises are complete... we will be adding the second level
tomorrow if its not raining!


Now here is a question ...if anyone has any ideas please let me know.

Something has been laying or leaving these little orange things under my eggplant. Not under any other plant in the entire garden.
I have no clue what it is...anyone know?
Click the picture to make it larger.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Garden Bloggers Death Day



Hurry over to Gardening Without Skills and join Kate for her very own Meme Garden Bloggers Death Day

These are this weeks disasters in my garden.We have had so much rain and there is more coming...
My husband made this box for the strawberries that survived last years" deer attack".



We carefully transplanted them but 2 of them just bit the dust!




The Slugs are having a field day on our beans...




They have also attacked the Broccoli Rabe...



Now there are some good things happening in our garden...
Take a look at the flowers on our hot pepper plants!


The tomatoes are growing like weeds and we have to hurry and finish those trellises.


Eggplant,cucumbers and Swiss Chard are doing fairly well.


I was able to pick a wonderful salad for dinner tonight.
So all in all - we are doing ok!


Now if the rain would stop and the sun would come out- we would be in business.


Monday, June 15, 2009

Macro Monday


click photo for a better view...

Head on over to Lisa's Chaos to see other Macro Monday participants.

Fresh Strawberry Tart With Mascarpone Cheese


This was yesterdays Birthday dessert for my Mother and Brother- along with a chocolate cake!
It was delicate and rich...what a wonderful dessert!
We are making this one again!


Prep: 15 min., Bake: 12 min., Cool: 15 min.


2 (8-oz.) packages mascarpone cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 (15-oz.) package refrigerated pie crusts
Fresh Whole Strawberries
1/4 cup apricot jam*

1. Preheat oven to 450°. Whisk together mascarpone cheese and next 3 ingredients in a medium bowl. Cover and chill.

2. Meanwhile, fit pie crust into a 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom; press into fluted edges. Fold any excess dough over outside of pan, and pinch to secure to pan. (This will keep pie crust from sliding down pan as it bakes.) Line crust with aluminum foil, and fill with pie weights or dried beans.

3. Bake at 450° for 8 minutes. Remove weights and foil, and bake 3 to 4 more minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven to a wire rack, and cool completely (about 15 minutes). Gently tap excess crust from sides of pan, using a rolling pin.

4. Spoon mascarpone mixture into cooled tart shell, spreading to edges. Arrange fruit in tart.

5. Combine apricot jam and 1 Tbsp. water in a small microwave-safe glass dish. Microwave at HIGH 25 seconds. Stir until well blended. Pour apricot mixture through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a bowl; discard solids. Brush fruit in tart with apricot mixture. Serve immediately.

*Apple jelly may be substituted. Decrease water to 2 tsp. in Step 5 and do not strain jelly mixture after heating.


Yield: Makes 6 to 8 servings


*** I wanted to post the dinner I made.
Shell fish over Linguine- but we were so hungry that we ate first and I remembered too late to take pictures!
Sorry- we are doing a rerun of the seafood dinner... in 2 weeks for my Mother in Laws birthday...I will try to get pictures then!



This is the chocolate cake I made with chocolate whipped cream icing.
Its always a big hit!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Blue Monday

It's time for Blue Monday .
A big thank you to Sally for hosting such a wonderful event.
Please feel free to pay a visit to Sally at
Smiling Sally for more Blue Monday's posts.


Mellow Yellow Monday

Happy Sunday

Last night it rained again-steady and strong.
I woke up this morning expecting doom and look what I found!

Birds singing and the sun trying to shine.















The Morning Glories ( that I can never seem to grow ) are thriving.
I suppose at this point I should be thinning them out - but I am afraid to touch them!
















The Heirloom Hollyhocks that my dear friend Gaye sent me from Canada
seem to be happy so far (knock on wood)!
















The Eggplant has little buds popping out...
















Our tomatoes have blossoms too- now that is one pretty sight.
All in all a glorious Sunday.

I have lots to do today-Fish dinner to celebrate my Mother and my Brothers birthdays.
Seafood over Linguine...Homemade Bread and Salad...
Chocolate Cake and a Strawberry Tart for dessert!
I will take some pictures and share the feast!

Hope you all have a Glorious Sunday!

By the way today is my 1 year Blogiversary.
I never knew how much I would enjoy this.
Thank you to all my friends...you make this so much fun!