Watermelon Granita

recipe & instructions from foodnetwork.com

1/2 seedless watermelon
1/2 cup white sugar
juice of 1 lemon

Cut up watermelon flesh into chunks and then puree in a blender. If your watermelon isn't seedless, make sure to remove the seeds first before putting in the blender or you'll get mashed up seeds which may taste bitter.

Combine the watermelon juice with the sugar and lemon and mix well.

**I poured mine into my ice cream maker and let it run until it was done-I then put it into a tray and put it into the freezer to set**
You can also...

Pour it all into a shallow wide pan and freeze for 1 hour. When the mixture is frozen, remove from the freezer and rake with a fork all the way through. Return to the freezer for another hour and then rake again. Return to the freezer for one more hour. Rake again with fork then serve. Add a sprig of mint to up the coolness factor!

Ratatouille at my house...

"FOODIE FRIDAY"

hosted by our very gracious friend at
Designs by Gollum.
Please visit her delightful blog after your visit here,

to feast your eyes on whatever she and the other participants are cooking up for today's event!

The basic components that define my ratatouille are:

plum tomatoes
zucchini
eggplant
garlic
onions

scallions
herbs
These ingredients are traditionally sauteed in olive oil and can be served over rice or potatoes, preferably with a crusty French bread (and a glass of wine for the chef.)

Recipe for my simple ratatouille
Ingredients:

1 medium sized onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced

3 diced scallions
2 medium eggplant, diced
3 plum tomatoes diced
2 medium zucchini diced into large chunks

add herbs as desired (I used basil)
olive oil (enough to sauté veggies)
salt and pepper to taste

I add a splash of balsamic vinegar

Directions:

Sauté the onion and garlic and scallions until tender
Add eggplant and zuchinni

then and tomatoes, bring to a very light simmer

Simmer, covered for 15 minutes

Simmer for 10-15 more minutes with the cover off until the vegetables are suitably soft
Remove from heat
Stir in the herbs, splash of balsamic and season to taste.

Bon appetit!

Pico De Gallo

Now I have to admit- I don't have a recipe...
I sort of put this together based on a friends recipe.

5 plum tomatoes diced tiny
half of a red onion tiny dice
half of a red sweet pepper tiny dice
5 slices of jalapeno pepper diced
cilantro
salt to taste

Thank you Justin it came delicious- we ate it with crackers and we also used it as a topping for
our Rib Eye steaks....yum!

Update on the MYSTERY plant

Here are a few new pictures of the mystery plant.
If anyone has a clue as to what this is - I would love to know.
It is odd and the blossoms are tiny - but they are really gorgeous!

Bloomin Tuesday

Today is Blooming Tuesday at Mrs. Green Thumb Jean's blog.

A few flowers that are bloomin in my yard today...












A few weeks ago I posted a picture of an odd sort of plant growing in my flower bed...one that I never planted. I asked for some help ID'ing it....well I guess no one knew what it was and I still don't either ,but take a look at the flowers that this weird plant made. They are absolutely gorgeous and there are many of them on each stem. Anyone have a clue now?




Now Im asking for a little more help- this little fellow was on my deck today
and I really dont know what he is...do you?

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

We went to NYC to pick our son up at the airport...
as we drove I kept noticing yellow cabs everywhere...
All I kept thinking about was Mellow Yellow Monday-
so Im sharing my cabs with you!

Go on over to Mellow Yellow Monday to find other participants.

Happy 4th of July

Outdoor Wednesday

It's Outdoor Wednesday time..

Hosted by the Sweetest Georgia Gal at

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer

Click on the Button below and join us for some outdoor fun!

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

Go on over to Mellow Yellow Monday to find other participants.

Park Seeds New Contest -

Tempting Tomatoes Photo Contest!

Just how tempting are your tomatoes? Are they healthy and juicy and just bursting with scrumptious flavor and rich, eye-catching color? If they are, we'd like you to prove it! Enter our Tempting Tomatoes Photo Contest and let us see just what a perfectly gorgeous tomato you've grown.

The photos will be judged on more than the simple awesomeness of the tomato; we'll also be looking at photo quality, which includes composition, color, etc. So, start studying those beautifully delicious fruits (they're probably beginning to ripen about now!) and break out the camera! We'll choose 1 Grand-prize winner, who will receive a $50 Park Seed Gift Certificate, and 3 runners-up, who will each be given a $15 Gift Certificate. The winners will have their names and photos published in an upcoming issue of Park News!

When entering, please include your name, hometown and state, and email address. Also, please be sure to tell us the variety of Tomato you are photographing. You have until July 28 to get your pictures in. More info on how to enter can be found on ParkSeed.com. Good luck!

Outdoor Wednesday

We really need to thank Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for hosting Outdoor Wednesday. She gives us a reason to get outdoors and explore nature!

Canadian Steel Head Trout

Picked up some Canadian Steel Head Trout ...I absolutely love this fish.
It is tender,delicate and not as fatty as traditional salmon.

I really didnt do much to it. Lemon,Parsley,Old Bay and a little black pepper.
It came perfect.

I also made what I call a vegetable medley rice .

I saluted onion,shallot,scallion,carrot,celery and sweet red pepper.
Then I add the rice and saute.
Add the water and salt and bring to a boil.
Once it reaches a boil I turn down the heat to the lowest setting and I let the rice simmer...never lift the top until its done and never ever stir the rice. Just let it be!

I also saluted onion,shallot,garlic and some mushrooms...once translucent I added diced yellow squash.

I let it cook slowly. It came perfect! Not mushy- firm yet still tender.

Did I mention I made a loaf of bread...It was all very yummy!

Bloomin Tuesday

Today is Blooming Tuesday at Mrs. Green Thumb Jean's blog.