Ina's Capellini with Tomatoes and Basil

It seems as though this time of year gets hectic for most of us. There are sporting events, end-of-school functions, weddings, summer planning and who knows what. As much as I loooove cooking, I am all about simple dinners with minimal ingredients. Here is a great dinner that needs no adjustments. It is perfect just the way it is and it will only take you as much time to prep as it does to boil water for your noodles!


Capellini with Tomatoes and Basil
Ina Garten


Kosher salt

½ cup good olive oil, plus extra for the pasta pot

2 tablespoons minced garlic (6 cloves)

4 pints small cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes

18 large basil leaves, julienned

2 tablespoons chopped fresh curly parsley

2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

¾ pound dried capellini or angel hair pasta

1½ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Extra chopped basil and grated Parmesan for serving

1 Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add two tablespoons of salt and a splash of oil to the pot.

2 Meanwhile, heat the ½ cup of olive oil in a large (12-inch) sauté pan. Add the garlic to the oil and cook over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, thyme, two teaspoons salt, the pepper, and red pepper flakes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for five to seven minutes, tossing occasionally, until the tomatoes begin to soften but don't break up.

3 While the tomatoes are cooking, add the capellini to the pot of boiling water and cook for two minutes, or according to the directions on the package. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the pasta water.

4 Place the pasta in a large serving bowl, add the tomatoes and Parmesan, and toss well. Add some of the pasta water if the pasta seems too dry. Serve large bowls of pasta with extra basil sprinkled on top and a big bowl of extra Parmesan on the side.



*I heated shrimp to go along with this.

*Serve with a green salad and bread...and don't forget the LEMONADE


Shared with:  Stone Gable

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Frugal Find: A White Table Runner

For years my Father-in-Law has given me such a hard time for wanting everything in my home to be white. Not only is it such a fresh look, but when you are newly married and you have everybody's furniture that goodwill wouldn't even take, you make do with what you have and make it look beautiful with WHITE PAINT. We painted baskets, flower pots, coffee tables, baby cribs and cradles, chest-of-drawers and SOLID oak cabinets. It all looked so pretty.

Anyhoo, over time, it has become super easy to throw a party on a whim, because everything is white and it just takes a bit of ribbon, colored napkins, flowers and a bit of paper to pull it all together without having to store different styles and colors of partyware.




SOOOOO, this is my very favorite frugal find. I found a white table runner for less than $5.00 and the best thing about it is this: you can customize it to go with every party, special occasion, or just change it out for the seasons if you would like.

Just plug in the glue gun and add ric rac, ball fringe, ribbon or fabric...whatever you like. After you are done, simply peel off the glue or embellishment and you will be ready for the next occasion. EASY PEASY! Another great benefit if you are trying to keep cluttter at bay is that you will have a lot less to store!

I think this table runner is the perfect creative and whimsical party staple!

I keep one just for parties so that if for some reason the glue doesn't come of all the way OR it goes through the wash and dryer with glue {AHEM!} it will just be covered up with the next batch of hot glue and ball fringe.

What do you consider a party staple in your home?




Shared with: raising homemakers, tidy mom, at the picket fence

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Garden Row Cupcakes

This is still one of my very favorite recipes. I am not sure if it is because of the actual taste, the creativity of it, or the fact that they are so easy and fun to make. Anyhoo, the idea is from an old {VINTAGE} Better Homes&Gardens cookbokk that my mom had as we were growing up. I loved flipping through the pages and feeling like I really wanted to make everything in the book, but alwayscame back to these adorable cupcakes.

Since I didn't have everything on hand, I improvised:

Here is all you need:

clean, unglazed, sterilized flower pots or deep bowls {that is what I had}

cupcakes {I had frozen minis in the freezer}

frosting

coconut and food coloring

old-fashioned hard candy sticks {nope, didn't have those either, so I used paper straws}

chocolate sprinkles {I put a few chocolate chips through the blender}

To assemble:

*Frost frozen cupcakes...they are much easier to frost!

*Roll in colored coconut

*Store in freezer with straws inserted

*THIS IS THE BEST PART: Pre-scoop dishes with ice cream and sprinkle with "dirt" chocolate.

Before serving, add straws and hand out!


OKAY...if you have no time AT ALL, whatsoever, had a bad day and hardly have time to chomp on your kiddies leftover toast crusts...prescoop the ice cream when things have settled down and add a punched tag with whatever message you would like.




For a luncheon you may want to add "THANK YOU", for a baby shower you could add the baby's initial, a birthday child's name etc. it is easy to make these look special by hot-gluing ball fringe or ribbon to the dish. Don't worry, it will peel right off.

Last tip o' the day: to make it even easier, you may want to use the disposble white paper ice cream containers from CASH AND CARRY/Garnish.

Sorry these posts have been old posts and "rushed", but this time of year is CRAZY!

Happy Tuesday!




Shared with: women living well, simple country life, raising homemakers, pink saturday

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Grandma's Prayer Board

 

According to Sir Merriam-Webster, heirloom is defined as "something of special value handed on from one generation to another." That is EXACTLY what my Grandma's Prayer Board is. It is a treasured heirloom, but more than that, it is the memories that go along with it.

Have you ever been given a family heirloom that is extra special, simply because of the memories that go along with it? It could be something that is plain as plain can be, but when you take into consideration the sentimental value, it becomes priceless~ {I think maybe I have watched one too many VISA commercials and/or Antiques Road Show episodes!}.

When we were little, my Grandma came to live with us. Every night, she would climb into bed with her long flannel nightgown and cold cream on her face and would read to us for hours at a time. She read us books like Little House on the Prairie, The Five Little Peppers, and literary textbooks from when she was a teacher. We would always end the evening by saying the 23rd Psalm out loud and praying.

Since my bedroom was next to hers, it was not unusual for me to fall asleep listening to my Grandma praying out loud. If she thought about somebody or something that needed prayer, she would pray.

As I was thinking about the word heirloom, I instantly thought, “What am I passing down to my children? What are they are going to have that is left of me when I am gone?” Is it going to be my Christmas dishes, Old photographs, Grandma’s bright-colored linens, my vintage German sled with the frayed rope? While I hope they appreciate those things and don't haul them off to Goodwill, I want them to know that we have a very rich heritage in having a relationship with Jesus Christ. I want them to know that God has been faithful to their Grandparents, to us and to them. Nothing...and I mean NOTHING is impossible with God.

"The story of the parting of the Red Sea was a memory that every Israelite would recall and cherish because it reminded them of God's power, protection and love for them as a nation. Memories of God's miracles and faithfulness often sustained Israel through their difficulties, reminding them that God was capable and trustworthy." (One Year Through the Bible)

All this to say if I had one heirloom to choose it would have to be the one that has no worth to most people. It is an old piece of cardboard from who knows where. It has some brittle tape on it along with names. (Lots of names!) It is my Grandma C.'s Prayer Board. It is not a fancy prayer journal...it doesn't even have lines. It certainly is not of archival quality, either. However, it’s a reminder that we were taught at a very young age that God is faithful and that we can come to Him for anything and everything. It spurs me on to pray all the time...no matter how insignificant the request may seem, because if it matters to me, it matters to Him. I want my children to know that God is trustworthy. I am thankful for that old piece of cardboard that was stuffed between the wall and my Grandma's bed and that all these years later we have something tangible to look at and to see God's miracles and faithfulness even when things are difficult... and that is why, above all other heirlooms, my Grandma’s Prayer Board is so dear to my heart.



Shared with: titus 2sday, women living well

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Lemonade Stand Banana Cream Trifle {in a jar}

Lemonade Stand Banana Cream Trifle {in a jar}
Lisa Pearson

Make pink lemonade cake

Make vanilla pudding:

3 eggs

½ cup organic sugar

3 Tbsp. cornstarch

¼ tsp.sea salt

2 ½ cups whole milk

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into chunks

1 ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract

Directions:
In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar cornstarch and salt.
In a medium saucepan, bring milk to a boil.
Remove from heat.
Whisk in about ½ cup of hot milk into egg mixture.
Whisk egg mixture into saucepan with hot milk.
Place over medium-high heat and bring to a gentle boil, whisking constantly until thickened…about 1 minute.
Remove from heat and add butter.
Add vanilla.
Stir and strain.
Cool in bowl over ice. Continue to stir occasionally.
Chill overnight. {two hours minimum}

Make whipping cream and add 2 Tbsp. clear jel to 1 pint cream.
This will keep it stiff and not runny.
Add vanilla sugar to taste.

To make dessert jars:

Take wide-mouth 8 oz. canning jars and
Layer:

Pink lemonade cake pieces

Slices of bananas dipped in lemon juice and placed on paper towel

Whipped cream

No time to be domestic today…or ever?

Buy instant vanilla pudding and whipped cream in a can!

Skip your shower and make the cake!

****I make these with leftover pink lemonade cake******








Happy Monday!

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Pink Lemonade Cake

Looking for the perfect shower cake? Here is one that is sure to be a new favorite.

Not only is it a beautiful blush pink, but it is so moist and just a bit tangy...perfect for spring and summer entertaining.

I can never leave a recipe alone...but by the third try, it was perfect! Boy.oh.boy. is this a keeper!


Pink Lemonade Cake
Adapted from Southern Lady


Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temp

1 ¼ cups sugar

½ cup COUNTRY TIME PINK LEMONADE DRINK MIX

3 eggs, room temp

1 tsp. pure lemon extract

4 cups cake flour

1 Tbsp. soy flour

4 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. sea salt

2 ½ cups buttermilk


Directions:

*Preheat oven to 350*.

* Spray 3{9-inch} round cake pans with baking spray with flour. {I made 12 individual mini cakes in my Demarle flexi tray}

*Beat butter, sugar and dry drink mix at medium speed until fluffy.

*Add eggs and lemon extract.

*In a separate bowl: Combine cake flour, soy flour, baking powder, and salt.

*Add dry mix with butter mix. Mix. Add buttermilk.

*Spoon batter into prepared pans.

*Bake for 24 to 30 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

*Let cool in pans for 10 minutes.

* Remove from pans and let cool. Wrap in Saran Wrap and freeze.
Frost with your favorite buttercream frosting while frozen. Serve and enjoy!


I put some fresh Oregon berries and whipping cream on it to see how it would taste! OH.MY!

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HOSPITALITY IS...a welcome sign

I have to admit, the outside of our home has NOT been on the top of our priority list. We live in Oregon and it seems that we have way more inside days than outside days and since we do alot of entertaining, the inside is where we spend our time and that is what gets maintained before the outside!

On our recent vacation, though, I was reminded of how simple it is to make your guests feel welcome before they even knock. It doesn't have to be a beautiful cobblestone path trimmed with flowers and a babbling fountain...freshly-painted shutters and flower baskets...a porch with white wicker rocking chairs and matching pillows garnished with ball fringe.

It can be as easy as sweeping out around the front door, washing down the outside of the front door, maybe purchasing a new front mat, a potted plant and a sign.

How nice is it to see a "welcome" sign? I think it is the first glimpse of HOSPITALITY you are extending to your guests.


SOOOO...since spring and summer are around the corner {only because it still feels like winter around here!} I thought it may be fun to make a welcome sign.

We had tons of molding left from home improvements around here, and when my hubby was getting ready to send it to the curb, I begged him to save it for a project! I am so thankful he doesn't mind storing all the junk from past projects!


Here is the how to:

1. Get a small piece of molding



2. Using your computer, switch the setting to landscape for a longer sign. Choose a font and size and make sure it will fit on your piece of wood. Print it off and center it on your sign.



3. Use a piece of carbon paper under your paper and using a pencil, trace over the printed piece of paper. It will be pretty light, so be sure your lighting is good.



4. Use a fine point SHARPIE and trace over the word that was traced. Usually I use paint, but I wanted a clean, simple sign that I can use for showers, birthday parties etc.



5. Plug in your glue gun {you know you have one!} and attach ribbon to the sign. That is it!



***I had my hubby drill holes for the ribbon because I wanted the little posies to add to the sign. All you need to do is change out the ribbon for different parties or occasions. I was experimenting and thought it would make a cute baby shower gift...I am sure you could come up with lots of fun ideas. Can you imagine how nice this would be for a friend coming home from the hospital? Just a thought!

Happy Crafting! {with a purpose}

Shared with: simply homemaking, raising homemakers, inspiration friday

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