Surprise dinner and Caramelized peaches

Happy Sunday!

This weekend has been full of work and papers and a (little) bit of baking.

Matt surprised me with a deliciously tasty shrimp pasta. Mmm.

 And, to thank him, I made dessert…for myself. Oops. Easiest dessert ever.

 1 very ripe peach, sliced
1 1/2 TB margarine/butter
1 1/2 TB brown sugar
Dash of cinnamon

In a saute pan, add margarine, cinnamon and brown sugar. Stir until melted. Add in peaches and cook on a lower heat for 3 minutes. Cover (with lid propped open slightly) and let simmer for 8 minutes or so. Eat!

Serve by themselves or over yogurt or vanilla ice cream. Enjoy.

 On a random note, after 24 years, I have stopped biting my nails. I just had to document it! Okay, enough of that. Go eat the peaches.

Happy eating! Laurel

~Laurel~

Coconut Tropics Salad

Over the next couple of months, you’ll see quite a few salads, both savory and sweet. Here’s another, with toasted coconut and fruits that you probably already have in your produce drawer.

Coconut Tropics Salad
*8 servings*
1/2 cup sweetened coconut
2 red apples
1 green apple
1 lime
1 pear
1 banana
1 mango
2 navel oranges
1/4 cup sliced toasted almonds (optional)

Sprinkle coconut and almonds on a small baking sheet and put in oven or toaster at 300 degrees F for 7 minutes.
Get out a large bowl. Chop the apples into small bites and toss into bowl. Squeeze half of lime over apples and toss, to prevent browning later.
Next, chop pears and bananas. Toss into bowl with juice of other half of lime. Toss gently.

Then chop mango and oranges, as well as any other fruits you have on hand. Gently toss with other fruits and top with toasted coconut and almonds. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

~Laurel~

Jeweled Fruit

Who doesn’t love a good, refreshing fruit salad? It’s a healthy dessert that you feel energized about. Although I do love the giant cupcakes in the bakery shop displays, their lovely decor and colorful frosting does not last once I realize how much butter, white sugar, and oil I have just consumed.

Here is an old standard that is fresh and not so boring.

Melon Mint Salad
Serves 10 (or 1 for 4 lunches)
*Wash and pat dry the non-peeled fruits*


1 cantaloupe, from the fridge, sliced into bite-sized pieces

Bunch of red grapes
Pint of strawberries, sliced into quarters/halves (depending on size of berry)
3 TB fresh chopped mint


Combine all ingredients together and serve now or later. The mint flavor infuses in the fruit the more you wait, BUT it’s delicious immediately after making, too. Enjoy! Quick and easy.


 Serve with apple bran muffin, tea sandwiches, pitas, and with a little citrus water.
 
Citrus Water
2 quarts filtered water
1 orange, sliced circular
1 lemon, sliced circular 

Simply combine fruit with water and chill in fridge for 3+ hours. Serve over ice. This is a great way to drink water for those of us who struggle to get 8 (or even 4) glasses in a day! 

Now for a little bling-bling…


My mom and I started going through my grandmother’s costume jewelry. You would not believe what a woman who lived 89 years would own! It was fabulous!

 Yes, she organized her jewelry by color…

Some funky finds

 My grandmother was one of the most caring people I’ve ever had the honor of knowing. She was not shallow in any way, but there were a few belongings that she cherished (and organized so well)…her china, cookbooks, and her costume jewelry collection. As her youngest granddaughter who came over to her house often, sometimes she would let me marvel at the colors and the shine, even take a few pieces home as my high school play and musical costumes called for. Wearing a 60 year old pair of earrings or a bangle reminds me of her and makes me miss her a tiny bit less. What a wonderful lady…



Happy Wednesday to you and yours.



 

~Laurel~

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