Summer Recipe Swap

wilson farm  gardens

red_polkadotKathy from Kathy's Cottage is having a Summer Recipe Swap today. So please stop by Kathy's Cottage to visit all of the people swapping summer recipes today.

One of my favorite markets is called Wilson Farms located in Lexington, Massachusetts. The market is filled with beautiful produce, gorgeous flowers, baked goods and meat. I have many cookbooks but my favorite cook book is from Wilson Farm.



I chose a seasonal recipe for asparagus



ASPARAGUS OVEN FRITTATA

Blanch in boiling, salted water for 5 to 8 minutes
2 cups aspargus cut into 3/4 inch lengths
Drain well
Cook until soft 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion in 1 tablespoon butter

Beat together
6 eggs
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Add onions and butter

Melt over medium-low heat in 10" shallow ovenproof pan 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons butter
Pour in egg mixture
Cook on burner until eggs begin to set 3-4 minutes
Arrange asparus in single layer over eggs

Bake at 425 about 5 minutes until almost done
Cover with 1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded muenster cheese
Return to oven. Cook 5 to 10 munites longer until eggs are puffed and the cheese is melted
Serve immediately.

Serves 6



How about a Watermelon Salad

1/2 watermelon cut into cubes
1 log goat cheese
1 bunch basil, thinly sliced (reserve some sprigs for garnish)
1 bunch scallions, chopped

Mix watermelon, basil, and scallions, then place in a bowl.
Sprinkle with goat cheese (add what you like, but I like lots)
Garnish with basil sprigs.

Serves 4

The Wilson Farm Country Cookbook is by Lynne C. Wilson and everything is good in the book. Mine is stained on all my favorite recipe pages, so I thought I would include my favorite recipe here too for Pumpkin Muffins. Although it isn't exactly seasonal, I always use canned pumpkin and these muffins are sooo good I make them all year 'round.


Super Oven

Pumpkin (Winter Squash) Muffins

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon clove
1 egg, beaten
4 tablespoons butter or margarine melted and cooled
1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup pumpkin or squash, cooked and mashed

Sift the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove into a large mixing blow. In another bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients. When thouroughly mixed, stir the milk mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir only until the dry ingredients are moistened. Do not beat. Spoon into well greased muffin pan.

Makes 8 large muffins.



Now please stop by Kathy's Cottage to collect all the wonderful recipes being shared today.

My creation

The song for this post is Give Me The Simple Life.

Mad Tea Party & Pink Saturday


My creation, originally uploaded by bluebirdsandteapots.






a fanciful twistYou are invited to Miss Vanessa's A Fanciful Twist Mad Tea Party, celebrating her 200th post. It is not just your ordinary party, but a Mad Tea Party, what fun. You are all welcome to visit all the guests and have a bite to eat as you romp through Blogland on an Adventure of a looking glass kind...



So there I was painting the roses red all week and looking for just the right cake for Miss Vanessa’s Mad Hatter Tea Party to celebrate her 200th post.


I’m late, I’m late for a very important date...and I was planning all sorts of things, but running terribly behind not sure of what sort of dress I shall wear...and then it happened. Suddenly Miss Vanessa said just one word (or two, I can’t recall) but she said that we could come to her party any old age we wanted.

DSC02962Don’t you just love it when one of the creatives that live in Blogland inspire you like that? A simple word, a tweak of an image and you are off to an imaginary place creating all kinds of things. There are absolutely no rules at all, you can drink imaginary tea, dress up like when you were in Kindergarten or tell a story. Oh, that’s what I will do, I will come to Miss Vanessa’s party being the little girl that Blogland makes me feel like. Oh and yes, I will tell a story about this little girl and this Adventure in Blogland.

Well, the Mad Hatter would approve and so would little mouse in the sugar bowl. Hmmm, which age shall it be? Why yes of course I would come to the party at the age of seven. Seven is a very good number you know, Tweedle Dee Dee and Tweedle Dee Dumb told me this and...



the roses came out nicelyThe Red Queen commanded, “It doesn’t matter what age child, it is much to do about nothing, get back to painting the roses red. ” After all, my old dress and pinafore is a bit snug these days, but it fits perfectly when I am seven years old you know. So, I took my slippers and stockings out of the drawer, and found my perfectly blue dress out of the closet, swept my hair back with a proper headband and tah dah the Adventures of Karen in Blogland was inspired.

My creation
Yes, so seven it is, seven is the way I feel when I am in Blogland none-the-less, playing dress-up, attending virtual parties and speaking with so many people who inspire the child within. Let’s go and find our guests, shall we?




I took out my books about Alice Through The Looking Glass and the Adventures, and opened them up with a thud. I needed reference to my old friends inside. The illustrations reminded me of all my old friends. You know, they haven’t aged at all, as a matter of fact they are exactly the same age as I remember when I was just seven.

My creationSo it all fits perfectly together, you see. Oh, you must think me Mad...but isn’t that what we are here for, the party you see. I was very careful to not get my dress dirty, and my headband kept my hair very tidy.



Traveling through Blogland I was quite content to walk slowly and just meander on my chess board...

My creation

When all at once the Black Queen said come let's' run to the party..."Faster, Faster" squealed the Queen.

My creation

"Well, there it is child, over there, over there, walk through the gate and it's over there!" I asked "Whatever do you mean?" "It's over there!" So, I did as I was told, you know you never want to get one of these Queens angry or it's "off with your head."




I walked and I walked until I reached the gate...and well, I squealed myself, The Mad Hatter Tea party has begun. I was not disappointed. There was the party and as I approached from behind the host's chair I saw a party extraordinaire!!



My creation

Well, what rational unbirthday, cheshire cat, mouse in the sugar bowl, Mad Hatter Tea Party would it be without a proper pink flamingo chandelier accessory?

My creation

DSC02958

A cake on a platter with sugar bowl mouse on top, cookies on my chess board and pretty pastel accessories.

DSC02958What perfectly Mad affair would it be after all without stacks of teacups and teapots filled to the brim with all kinds of tasty tea? So many questions and such yummy answers to the riddle.

DSC02959

I do hope that you enjoyed the Mad tea Party and had enough tea and sweets.

My creation

DSC02939Now please be very careful if you nibble on that “Eat Me” cookie over there, it promises to make you ever so small, so that you can fit down the rabbit hole so we can all visit Miss Vanessa. Pleeeeeease be careful upon returning when you pour your "drink me" tea into your little teacup, this will help you to return to normal size.

My creation


My creationSo here we are on our way to visit the many adventures we will find today in Blogland. I can only imagine what magic will be inspired by the lovely Miss Vanessa’s party.

So, please do visit A Fanciful Twist and see the many guests at her Mad Hatter Party.

My creationCheshire cat will lead you, as Rabbit has wandered off again in such a rush.


My creationI do hope you enjoyed your tea and cake and please take home a freshly painted red rose, I painted them myself.

My creation
Oh, and Miss Vanessa thank you, thank you for all the inspiration. You will never know how very much I needed an imaginary magical place to go this week. To surrender my cares and be asked to share in your always inspirational, always so clever Fanciful Twisting Adventures. This one takes the cake...oh and please do take a piece of cake. Congratulations on your 200th post, and I cannot wait to follow the road through your links to visit all of your guests.


eat me drink meSo down the rabbit hole we go to Vanessa's to continue our adventure at A Fanciful Twist Mad Hatter Party.

The music for this part of the post is Painting The Roses Red, and I'm Late. Not too late for Pink Saturday though...
My creation
My creation

DSC02946Did I mention that it is Pink Saturday and Bev from How Sweet The Sound is hosting her Pink Saturday celebration. In honor of today I would love to share my friend Judy's pink creations for the pinkest cause in the universe...celebrating a tribute to women who have won the battle with breast cancer and those who are on their way to recovery.

So, without further delay, here is my friend Judy...The Color of Hope is Pink

gift bag jujuz beads



Pink is Power Buttons and Baubles Judy and I have been friends for over twenty years. She helped me get a job at her company years ago, when I was temping there. She was there when I got engaged, she was at my wedding, my baby shower and of course when my daughters were born.

pink perfectionPink Perfection
We shared many times together, and even when I moved all the way to the other side of the world, I was greeted by her Fax, at our hotel welcoming us to Hong Kong. We managed a long distance friendship for ten years and when I returned to the States we found new ways to share all the things we have in common.

PINK IS POWERI am so proud of my friend Judy. Judy is a breast cancer survivor. I watched her face the challenge head on without whining and with lots of strength and such a positive attitude.

Pink Pizazz 2Pink Pizazz
I remember when she first found out and she called me. She said “Well, if I have to do Chemo than I am going to find the best darn wig I can.” And she did find the best darn wig you have ever seen!

PINK PIZAZZI never heard her complain, the doctors were amazed at her great attitude. To her there was no choice but to win the fight, and she did.

pink pizazz too 2Pink Pizazz Too

PINK PIZAZZ TOONot only did Judy become stronger than ever during her battle, but she discovered the creative that lived within. Judy creates many things, but truly loves to design jewelry.

pink is for girls 2Pink is for Girls
She has recently added a new line of bracelets as a tribute, she writes:

“A tribute to women who are thriving after breast cancer and to those on the journey to wellness."



pink is power 2PINK IS POWER
"I stumbled into a new local bead shop about 2 years ago and was amazed at the array of beads and classes they had to offer. I signed up for a beginners class and was immediately hooked. I never imagined that I could be crafty but this medium was just what I needed. I swear that chemo therapy (I'm a three year breast cancer thriver/survivor!)released some inner creativity in me for which I am grateful. See, there is a silver lining to chemo therapy, in addition to wellness!

pink is poer buttons and baubles 2Pink is Power Buttons and Baubles
I can't tell you how much I enjoy making these items. I can't wait for the end of the work day to get up in my work room and get busy. I certainly hope that feeling comes through in the finished product.

pink perfection 2Pink Perfection
I have created some new items in tribute to all women who are thriving after breast cancer and all those on the journey to wellness. I am offering them at a discounted price with free shipping. "


gift bag jujuz beadsEvery purchase comes in an adorable taffeta/satin pouch

My creationI hope that you visit Judy's wonderful Etsy shop called
JuJuz Beads
and find these lovely bracelets. The perfect gift to give someone you love, to celebrate their recovery or give them inspiration and hope for their journey to wellnesss....The color of hope is surely the color Pink.




The song for this part of my post is Only Hope sung by Mandy Moore.

Please stop by Bev's How Sweet The Sound and see the many many pink posts today.
- DESIGNED BY ECLAIR DESIGNS -