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Showing posts with label entry ways. Show all posts
Showing posts with label entry ways. Show all posts

This Is NOT A Food Blog

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

I do not like to cook often at all. I much prefer going out to eat but we only go out twice a week for dinner and at least once a week for lunch. But I am a terrific cook. I can say this with modesty because I'm not much good at anything else, except listening to friends problems and listening well and giving good advice.

Anyway, this is definitely not a food blog. But a recipe I've developed myself and recently taken in to friends in our ward who are sick and have absolutely raved about it. To me it's just a simple recipe for my favorite food pasta but I'm going to share the recipe.

I fly by the seat of my pants usually in creating a new recipe. I'm also picky, picky, picky about food. I use the best ingredients and do NOT economize on essentials. I believe this makes a world of difference in taste.

Pasta Primavera, which translates to Pasta Spring, meaning fresh vegetables. I love pasta. I use rigate penne for this dish.

For two people:

If you want chicken in it, take one chicken breast, sprinkle it with black pepper and Mrs. Dash seasoning and roast it in the oven just until it starts to darken in its juices. That will be the best time to pull it out. It will have a sweet roasted flavor. I may sometimes spread a tiny bit of butter over it but there's no need. Let it cool before cutting it into small bite-size pieces. Then set it aside while preparing the other stuff. I have never, ever boiled a chicken. I can't imagine doing it because of the gross smell. I've always roasted chicken breasts in the oven with Mrs. Dash, which makes all the difference in the world for a piece of chicken breast.

2 cups of penne pasta, salted lightly in pan. Cook until al dente. Set aside for a few minutes.

Topping:
Sliced red onion
Sliced yellow bell pepper
I toss in some California veggies—broccoli, carrots and cauliflower, just one or two handfuls
Chicken you've set aside
Fresh cut up tomato, one roma does it for 2 or 4 people
Peas, a handful of frozen

I throw all the stuff for the topping in a sautè pan with 1/2 stick of butter or more if needed.

This is what the vegetables will look like sautèing in butter.


Closer view. See how some are browning a bit. Just be careful not to burn. Keep tossing until the vegetables carmalize in the butter. This makes a tremendous difference.


And what they look like when ready to serve. Now you'll take the penne pasta and drain it, put it in a pan adding one whole cube of butter, some heavy whipping cream and Parmesan cheese. I don't measure anything because as you start adding the whipping cream and stir it in you'll see how it looks. Just enough to cover the pasta but enough to not let it be dry. Put some on plates and then spoon the sauteed vegetables/chicken, if you want chicken, over each plate of pasta and serve. It's a wonderful meal and so incredibly simple. I can throw it together in 15-20 minutes. Friends and family will love it and it quite impressive to see on a plate. French bread if you want also. Just remember to saute in the butter to carmalize the vegetables and they just start turning brown. The sweeter they'll be, I promise.
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Isn't this a beautiful shot of the sky through a beautiful umbrella?


This is gorgeous! I really do like stripes.


A pretty bracelet.


Squeeeeal!!! How tiny can things get? Adorable!


A caravan or camper with all the accoutrements needed. Well, except for maybe a chef to cook all the meals. ;-)


Loved this photo of the table setting.


I have no idea where this is or even WHAT it is but it looks like some sort of living quarters.


Adorable entry. This is one I'd like to have.


We took some old windows out of a storage shed we had once and I saved them. Imagine my surprise when Love Bunny burned them in a wood pile! I was NOT happy, trust me.


A beautiful shot of a sky, castle and private beach.


Gorgeous vine/climbing roses.


One of my top favorite flowers.
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Useless Information:
First year sales of famous products, proving you shouldn't give up if you've come up with an idea:
VW Beetle: 330
Wite-Out: 1,200 bottles
Cuisinart food processor: 8
Remington typewriter: 8
Scrabble: 532
Coca-Cola: 25 bottles
~*~

Ramblings 10/27/2012

Friday, October 26, 2012

Ramblings today.

Finger-tight has a whole new meaning when you're married to Love Bunny. Now, he is the strongest man I know. He and my oldest grandson have no idea of their strength. They just don't have a clue. When being hugged by our oldest grandson, who is 28, it actually hurts. He always apologizes, but at 6'4" his hugs get my upper back just under the arm pits and it hurts so bad I always have to tell him to back off. Hubs doesn't do that to me, but if he grips my ankle to apply lotion to my feet or puts my socks on my feet (I know; I'm spoiled!) I have to tell him to stop. He just doesn't realize how strong he is.

Recently I had him help me with some curtains on a rod that slips into some brackets that have a tiny screw to tighten it. I had to reposition it later in the day and couldn't get it to unscrew! I called him in to do it for me. Same with lids on jars and bottles. Always too tight! Today I was refilling the salt and pepper shakers in the kitchen and dining room. After filling, I turned to him to put the tops back on and pulled my hand with the salt shaker back and told him, "Nooooo, I'll never be able to get it off again if you do it." You have no idea how many times I have to go outside or to another room to find him to get a lid off of something he's put back into the refrigerator. While it's frustrating, I never have to worry about someone attacking me because he'd have broken limbs before I could even shout for hubs to help me!
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Have you ever had someone you know come to "just drop off" something? I actually hate that. They usually won't come in and there are times I'd love to chat with that person. It's always when they're on their way to something with kids. I think that's becoming the norm in the world. I have only one or two friends who'll come over to just sit and chat. It's much needed in society today. So when you have a chance, visit with that person; don't just "drop off" something.
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Do you miss the old-fashioned dust mops? I do. I have a Dyson vacuum cleaner, a Swiffer for dry floors and a Swiffer for mopping floors. I told Love Bunny about this recently—missing the old dust mops—and he said to go buy one. Well, we did. Now, they aren't the triangular ones with yarn for dusting, but the long oval one I bought does a nice job of getting the dust bunnies from under cabinets, something my Dyson can't do due to its height. I love dust mops. Makes me feel like I'm a real woman! LOL
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Do you remember when ice cream used to come in little squares or rectangles wrapped in cardboard? Hubs brought this up recently and I had forgotten. We have so many memories that kids today will never know or have the sweet memories or experiences we had as kids. I feel sorry for them, actually.
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Have you ever seen such a pretty colorful patio?


More beautiful bowls, thermoses, cups and vintage, rustic scales.


Bowls filled with spools of lace, a candle in a champagne class, lace and a rose in a milk bottle. Darling!


Pretty table centerpiece of roses.


Love this lamp shade!


A pretty entry way.


This just reminded me of an old house we used to live in. This is quite cute though.


Lovely garden shed.


Just some pink and red eye candy I found adorable.


A cute place to sit in a back yard. Look at the "pool"! I may try to duplicate something like this next year in a shady corner of our back yard. I love this.


Now, this could be a place for sleepovers for a teen or it could be 3 sisters in a room of their own, but it certainly has a lot of pizzazz.


A play area for a little munchkin.


I should think this is somewhere in another country from the looks of the stove.


A peaceful bedroom.


No, you'll probably never have a home like this but it's fun to look inside something this beautiful. I think this hallway is about the size of my entire house! ;-)
~*~

Living Rooms

Sunday, August 12, 2012

I've come up with some living rooms while searching for ideas for a new sofa. Just some thoughts today.

Slipcovers are fine and I love them but I'm wanting a formal, classical look, which my living room is right now. I'll always love the classical look.


I'm really in a dilemma deciding on loose back cushions or tight tucked back.


I love this arrangement of a living room but mine isn't conducive to this layout. It is so much easier to converse with people instead of having everything facing a television. I used to visit a woman that had 2 sofas and a recliner lined up almost side by side in her living room. By the time I left there my neck hurt so bad from trying to talk with her I never wanted to go back. She had every seat in that room directed towards the television. We don't have that problem since we don't have a TV but I sure wish people would take heed how tiresome that is and how bad an arrangement that is in a room.


This is a darling sofa but would that fabric last a long time for us is another question.


While charming and cute, I doubt hubs would like it in our living room. I don't think I'd go for it in there either. Too busy. I do kind of like it though.


A rest from all the sofas!


Egg photos seem to be in this year.


I'm not sure where one thing begins and ends in this room. But that much wallpaper would send me over the edge.


Cute cubbies for small things.


Aaaahhhh, sereneness. ;-)


Cute area on a back porch.


Lovin' this desk and the froufrou around it.


Oh, yeah, I could live with this in my backyard for sure.


I don't know where this coast line is but I've never seen so many pink flowers blooming anywhere.


A clean, crisp beautiful white entry.
~*~
 

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