Thursday, June 30, 2011

Hurd Orchards

Twelve of us went to Hurd Orchards today.  It was a beautiful day, although it was so windy that they needed to close the doors of the barn near our table so we wouldn't get blown away during lunch.  Before lunch there was the requisite shopping.  How can you not buy some of their breads when you can smell them baking as soon as you get out of your car in the parking lot? 
I got a strawberry bread and a rhubarb bread.  I would have gotten the cherry bread too but I remembered that Larry doesn't like cherries and he's the one who has to eat them - such torture I inflict upon the man.

The theme for our lunch was Juneberry Jam and Watercress Soup



We started with wild grape leaves stuffed with bourin
cheese.  The cheese was homemade and very creamy.
No wonder it didn't taste like what I buy at Wegmans.


The tea was cherry and rose petal

This is the watercress soup with a dollop of sour cream.
All the plates, bowls, etc are lovely and different.
We were served honey oatmeal bread, blueberry
muffins and juneberry and strawberry jams

Here we are
(click on a picture to see it larger)
I'm in the picture below that I took from Audrey's Facebook photos.

Thanks Audrey!!

The main course consisted of a salad with the most delicious chive
blossom vinegar dressing and a ham puff pastry that had parmesan,
gruyere and creme fraiche and a side dish of fresh cherries.
Dessert was Williamsburg pound cake with fresh
strawberries, blueberries, a mound of delicious

whipped cream and topped off with a cherry and mint sprig.


It was a lovely afternoon with a group of wonderful ladies. We are all lucky to be neighbors. And it was Sandy's birthday, what a nice birthday lunch for all of us.  We missed those that couldn't make it but we're planning on doing it again.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

5x7 Folded Card

Picture In Landscape 5x7 folded card
Create cute birthday cards, valentines and more at Shutterfly.com.
View the entire collection of cards.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Seasonings

I've made a few different seasoning blends but I bought an Herbes de Provence that I have never used and the container didn't itemize out what was in it so I looked it up.
I'm going to include all my recipes right here for future use.  I found it very handy to tape the ingredients for each mixture on the jar when I make it so I never have to wonder where I put the recipe but this will be a handy spot too.

Emeril's Herbes de Provence
2 tablespoons dried savory

2 tablespoons dried
2 tablespoons dried thyme
2 tablespoons dried2 tablespoons dried basil
2 tablespoons dried
2 tablespoons dried fennel seed
In a small mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients together. Store in an air-tight container. 

Blackened Seasoning
2 tablespoons ground paprika
1 tablespoon ground cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon dfied basil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

Mix all ingredients together and store in air-tight container.

Emeril's Essence
5 tablespoons sweet paprika
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup garlic powder
2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons dried thyme
Combine all ingredients in a small mixing bowl and blend well.  Store in an airtight container in your spice cabinet for up to 3 months.


Italian Seasoning
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoon rosemary
1 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Combine all ingredients and store in airtight container.

Strawberries

I keep buying strawberries because they taste so delicious and the 2# package is such a good deal but I'm running out of things to do with them that aren't fattening.  So we eat a bunch, then I cook up a bunch to use on oatmeal or pancakes and slice some for over cereal.  When I'm at a total loss I just freeze them for use later in smoothies or for cooking.  
I came upon these two recipes when looking at the Driscoll site that both look really good, even though I wouldn't consider them dietetic they would be great to make for company so I'm posting them here as a reminder.

Grilled Berry Pizza with Goat Cheese

Goat Cheese and Strawberry Bruschetta

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Off to OG

I left Nadine's around noon on Friday after we skyped with Gerry.  It was such a great visit, can't wait to do it again.  It was Nadine's birthday and I can't remember when we last spent any time together on her birthday, probably not since she was 12 or 13.  

Now I was going to Greta's and Laura was arriving about the same time.  Needless to say, this was a very different type of visit than the one I just had with Nadine.  From laid back and lazy to on the go every minute.  I got there before Beverly got home with the boys.  Myles was at a playdate and Hunter was supposed to have a Kindergarten event at the beach at 4:00 but just a few minutes before that the skies opened up and the rains came.  Laura arrived during the downpour and after Greta got home we did have a lazy evening.  


On Saturday it was entirely different.  In one day we went out on the boat











and then went to Myles piano recital and this is one of the three pieces he did
and then to the Bloomberg Summer Picnic











In my next life I want to work at Bloomberg in NYC.  Not only do they take over all of Randalls Island for their family summer picnic, but an employee gets 2 to 4 terminals on their desk in a beautiful building in New York City, at least in the areas I've seen.




Friday, June 17, 2011

Meeting Luke

Today Nadine and I hung around at home until it was time to go to Emily's.  We were supposed to Skype with Gerry but he forgot that we had a 3 hour time difference since he was in California, so we're going to do it tomorrow.

Nadine on the far side of the pond
Max and goldfish
It was pretty cloudy most of the day and also a lot cooler than yesterday.  We left at 2:00 and Nadine was going to show me her office at Harcum but by the time we got there, Em was already there to pick up Luke from Day Care so we went there instead.  
I don't think I had ever been to a baby day care before where there were all these cribs.  It was nap time and almost everyone was sleeping.  It was so cute to see all these babies.  Em woke up Luke and then we headed to her house.
The house she and Jon have used to be a barn and still has barn wood inside for the beams and in other areas.  They just had their kitchen redone and have a faucet for their kitchen sink that you can just tap and the water turns on and then tap again and it shuts off.  It's very English cottagy from the outside.
Luke opened his presents and we played with him downstairs and upstairs.  He is such a good, happy little boy and didn't have any kind of meltdown the whole time we were together.  When Jon came home we all left to go have dinner at Peace of PizzaI had a slice of Mediterranean Salad Pizza. "A bed of fresh spinach topped with diced tomatoes, artichokes, red onions, feta cheese, roasted red peppers, kalamata olives, oil and vinegar dressing and seasonings"
and then Nadine and I shared a piece of white pizza which is what Luke and Emily were having.
Way over the top as far as richness. "A harmony of crème fraiche, ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses seasoned with garlic"
Next it was cookies from Hope's Cookies which is in the same building as the Peace A Pizza and enjoying the sun which finally came out now that it was only a couple of hours until sunset.
Once we got home it was rest time.
Murdock and the back of Max
 Gerry and Max watching TV