Crazy Quilting,Watertown Farmers Market & A Crock Pot Sausage Medley,Zucchini Bread,Soft Shell Crabs AND A Special Buy at Joanns

Hi Friends !

Just wanted to share what I've been up to lately.

I have been working on some Crazy Quilted Blocks for the  Eastern States Fair in September.

I didn't want to drive myself ummm ... well crazy so decided to relax and just create.

I have always wanted to enter items in a state fair so my kids would be proud to see their Mom's stuff there.

Once ~ a Quilt I made ended up being judged quite by accident.

It's a wonderful story I will share sometime soon.

Anyway......

I think the first block will be a pouch.....

....... and this one a pillow but I never quite know until I finish the block!

Much of the hand dyed silk ribbon I used is from Pat Winter ~ visit her artfire shop for some of your very own ~

Pat Winter's ArtFire Shop

To the left you see a bit of dyed trim from Pam Kellogg.

You must take a look at her beautiful creations ~ just click her name below!

Pam Kellogg

Frank and I along with our baby boy our dog Teddi paid a visit to the Watertown Farmers Market the other day.

The flavored Olive Oil from "My Whimsical Kitchen" are so yummy and just $5.00 a bottle!

Pared with a fresh Italian Bread ~ YUMMMMMM!

Many of the Markets  this year are featuring live local music and artists of all kinds.

These little critters were looking Right at me until I pointed the camera at them ~

then... just as if they were on cue .... they turned their faces!

Since Jake passed away ~ we have been bringing Teddi with us more often.

He loves being with his Daddy!

Here Frank is trying to tell him he can't go near the farm animals at the market ~

sooo over protective.....Teddi and I just rolled our eyes ;)

When we got home I made this Yummy dish ~

Everything was purchased at the Market except for the sausage and tomatoes ~ they came from my garden.

 Farmers Market Crock Pot Medley

1 package Smart Chicken Hot Italian Sausage  (trust me this stuff is AWESOME!!!)

2 Onions diced, 3 peppers sliced (I used the Hungarian kind ~ light green and long in shape)

a large zucchini (about 2 cups or more sliced thick), 6 tomatoes cubed, 2 cups chicken broth, 4 potatoes diced

Brown sausage,onion and pepper in a bit of oil until nicely browned.

Place in crock pot on high setting ~ cook 4 hours.

Cover all of above with the rest of the ingredients except the zucchini.

Add pepper to taste.

The last hour ~ add zucchini.

Serve over Wide Egg Noodles. I used the homemade ones from Amish Country.

This has a fresh wholesome taste with a bit of a hot bite. Use your own favorite spices to change up the flavor

and serve with a fresh from the garden salad.

My son brought over a VERY LARGE zucchini ~ knowing his Mama would not waste anytime

making some Chocolate Zucchini Bread!

Franky has a wonderful veggie garden and brings over all his bounty !

This recipe was so moist ~ especially the next day!

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

3 cups flour, 1 teas. salt, 1 teas. baking soda, 1 tsp. baking powder, 4 teas. cinnamon, 3 eggs

1 cup oil (I used BAKING olive oil), 2 1/4 cup sugar, 3 teas. vanilla extract, 3 cups grated zucchini, 1 cup choc.chips

1.Grease and flour baking pans. Preheat oven to 325'

2. Sift dry ingredients together.

3. Beat eggs,oil,vanilla and sugar in large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture and mix well.Stir in zucchini and chocolate chips.

4. Bake about 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

note ~ use the smaller sized chocolate chips ...the large ones will sit at the bottom of the pan because the batter is very thin.

By the way ~ my 1960's Tupperware Grater is one of my favorite kitchen tools.

I like grating by hand verses a food processor.

My mind never fails to wander to days gone by when I am using this grater!

Very random I know ~ but if you get your hands on some Maryland Soft Shell Crabs......

Here's the only way I will ever cook them ~ 

Rinse your crabs in cold water and place in a frying pan where

 butter is sauteing at medium high heat (no,no,no breading or coating crabs in flour)

Coat with Old Bay Seasoning as they cook  ~ about 5 minutes then turn and coat the other side with Old Bay.

Another 5 minutes and they should be done.

I always pull a leg off and test it to be sure the meat is white.

Marylanders like to eat it between saltine crackers but we eat our right on the dish as is.

In the Garden ~ the  Dahlias are still blazing....

..... placed in one of my favorite Hobnail glass vases you only need one or two to make a statement.

READY , SET ........ RUN

to your local Joann's Fabric for these awesome planters.

They are approx. 8 inches tall and heavy (not plastic!) for the amazing clearance price of $2.98 each!!!

They were hiding in the floral section.

On Sunday It will be our 28th Wedding Anniversary.

I thought it was our 27th but did the math and WOW!

It hasn't always been an easy road but we both plan on a strong finish......

and Pray often for the Lord to fill in all the blanks.

Have a WONDERFUL week-end ~ Feel as SPECIAL as you are!

Love One Another and you'll be Happy.

It's as Simple and as Difficult as that.

M. Leunig

Farmers Market LOVE and Recipes, A Paula Deen Book Review and A Crazy Heart

I feel like the best Momma and wife in the world when I shop at the

Farmers Market!

It's like gathering all the ingredients for a special medicine that will cure all that is ailing them.

My family will love these beets ~ cooked in time for tonight's dinner and the rest pickled ~

if there are any leftovers!

Pickled Beets

4 cups beet juice, 2 cups vinegar, 1 Tbsp sea salt, 4 cups sugar, a few pinches of cloves

Cook beets and slice. Mix liquid and boil. (Use beet juice and add water to make 4 cups)

Place beets in a large glass jar and pour liquid to the top of the jar. 

Store in the fridge.

The Red potatoes were picked yesterday and they will melt in our mouth ~ boiled till tender.

Frank will eat all six (okay 5 ~ I ate one) of these Apple-Cider donuts ~ still warm when they put them in the bag.

Even homemade treats for Teddi !

You get to use your favorite Market bag at the farmers Market ~ I love this one from TJ Maxx!

A fresh baguette ~ that comes in VERY handy when your stuck in a traffic jam on the ride home.

Soap for Frank ~ he will Love these!

As I came in the door with my treasures ~ I noticed one of my Dahlias had bloomed in the front yard!

We have truly entered into the Sweet Spot of summer!

Cilantro from the garden goes perfectly with fresh corn off the cob.

Terri's Black Bean Salad

1 large can of Black Beans (rinse well)

1 red onion ~ chopped fine

2 stalks of celery ~ chopped fine

As much cilantro as you can pull from your garden - I used the fluffy fennel looking pieces on the stems as mine had gone to seed and the leaves were gone.

5 ears of corn ~ cut off the cob and blanched

(to do that I simply boil a few cups of water and pour over corn ~ then let it sit for about 10 minutes)

Sea salt and pepper to taste

Mix together with olive oil and a bit of  vinegar ~ I use rice vinegar.

I found myself sick in bed a few days this week and was able to read Paula Deen's memoir ~

It Ain't All About The Cookin'

She is Full of spunk and reminds me so much of my Aunt Shirley ~who talks just like Paula!

I enjoyed the book and her candor. She is completely honest about how she got where she is.

Here is Paula's Blueberry Muffin recipe. Frank LOVED them!

They aren't super sweet and need a yummy homemade jam to complete them in my opinion.

Paula calls them ~

The Best Damn Blueberry Muffins You'll Ever Eat

2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking flour,1/2 cup sugar, 1 stick butter ( melted)

1 egg (slightly beaten), 3/4 cup milk, 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries (I doubled that)

1/2 cup brown OR white sugar (this will be used during baking for the top)

1.Pre heat oven to 350'. Grease and flour 12 muffin cups.

2.In a bowl, combine flour,baking powder, and thew 1/2 cup sugar. In another bowl, combine the butter,egg,and milk.

Pour the wet stuff into the flour mixture and stir until just combined.DO NOT over beat ~ it's okay if there are lumps.

Gently fold in blueberries.

3. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups. Bake for 10 minutes and remove from oven. Sprinkle the tops of the muffins with sugar and return muffins to oven for 10 or 20 more minutes, until tops are golden brown.Cool for 10 minutes in the pan before turning muffins out.

I will add to that ~ these taste better then next day!

 

My project this week has been this little heart.

Someones Mom at the church that I attend passed away and I felt inspired to make this for them.

It had loads of lavender inside ~ and love.

This is another one of those projects where I depend on the Lord's leading for colors etc as I don't know the recipient.

God Always lets me feel His love for the person as I am creating.

Please remember God's Greatest work is done NOT at church but by YOU 

in your home,

 in the market place,

 in the way you do what you love,

the flowers that you grow,

the smile you pass on to a waitress.

YOU are a living breathing instrument of the Creator of Our Beautiful World ~

Designed with His Own Hands.

You are Special , Beloved of God.

We don't need to reach some kind of perfection to be used by God.

He uses us all.

In my life ~ SO OFTEN ~ he has used YOU ~ the readers of this blog

to soothe my soul and make me feel A Okay.

I LOVE you guys ..............