One of my favorite greens … that of moss.
Author Archives: Laurie
Travel Theme: Wild
Wild is this week’s Travel Theme from Where’s My Backpack.
The photo below is of Rudbeckia Triloba (Brown-Eyed Susans) which I planted years ago and have allowed to naturalize in the easement out by the street in front of the Bed & Breakfast. I like just a touch of wildness in that garden. (I thought that the little ant crawling up one of the flowers added a nice touch for the wild theme.) This is such a sunny and cheerful flower, and it will keep blooming into early autumn.
Watermelon Dinner Salad
The other day I came across a recipe for a watermelon, tomato and red onion salad which was the inspiration for my Watermelon Dinner Salad. The flavors of watermelon and tomato blend surprising well and the cranberries add a little tang. This is a refreshing dish for summer and can be served as a light meal or as a first course.
Watermelon Dinner Salad
serves 6
For the Dressing:
1/3 c. Raspberry-infused White Balsamic Vinegar (or any similar fruity vinegar)
3 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 T. honey
1/2 t. salt
For the Salad:
5 c. seedless watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes
4 c. sliced ripe tomatoes
1 1/4 c. sliced, peeled cucumbers
8 oz. fresh mozzarella, cut into slices then torn into small pieces
1 – 1/2 heads romaine lettuce
Garnishes:
1/4 c. fresh basil leaves
1/3 c. dried cranberries
freshly ground pepper (I use a green and pink peppercorn blend)
honey
Directions:
1. Combine the dressing ingredients in a jar. Screw the lid on and shake until ingredients are well-blended.
2. In a large bowl, gently toss together the watermelon, tomatoes, cucumbers, mozzarella and dressing. Chill for about 1 hour before serving.
3. Just before serving, wash and dry lettuce and basil. Divide lettuce between plates. Top with salad. Garnish with basil leaves, dried cranberries and freshly ground pepper. Drizzle with a little extra honey. Enjoy!
Travel Theme: Sweet
Thank you to Where’s My Backpack for this week’s Sweet challenge!. This challenge is just to my taste. Enjoy!
Fiesta Cookies*
Makes about 36 medium size cookies.
Soft, piped cookies lightly flavored with chocolate and spices, decorated with icing and nonpareils.
1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t. ground nutmeg
1/8 t. salt
1/2 c. unsalted butter
3/4 c. + 2 T. confectioner’s sugar
1 lg. egg
1 t. almond or vanilla extract
1 1/2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, melted
Icing of your choice
Nonpareils
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Whisk together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat together butter and confectioner’s sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg and extract. On lowest mixer speed, beat in dry ingredients and then chocolate.
- Using a heavy duty pastry bag fitted with a star tip, pipe cookie dough onto baking sheets, spacing cookies 1 1/2” apart. Cookies will not rise, spread or change shape while they bake.
- Bake for about 5 to 7 minutes or until set. Place baking sheets on wire racks and allow cookies to cool before decorating.
- Once cookies have cooled, decorate with icing and nonpareils.
Suggested shapes for piping: thick bars, stars, hearts, and wreaths.
* Recipe from my cookbook, Confectionately Yours: A Collection of Cookies, Candies & Yummy Confections.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Fresh #1
Back Home
Having been back in town for a few days now, I am beginning to get caught up on my work and on my gardening. Here are a few pictures that I took this morning. By the way, that’s not a smudge on the top photo … it is a cluster of Russian Sage which can be seen in more detail at the far left in the bottom photo. Ok, so now it is back to work for me! Have a great day everyone!
A Word A Week Challenge: Unexpected
Thank you to A Word In Your Ear for issuing this week’s A Word A Week Challenge …Unexpected.
When visiting the Adirondacks recently, I was surprised to see how high the water was at the lake on which my relatives live – 3 feet above normal for this time of year. This photo is of a neighbor’s dock, or rather, where the neighbor’s dock should be; the dock itself is submerged under water.
Views from Gore Mountain
I just returned from my annual trip to the Adirondacks to visit family. One evening we went to Gore Mountain for to see a local theater production – which was very fun, by the way – and to enjoy the views. I didn’t want to disturb the actors by taking pictures inside the tent, but here are a couple of pictures from near the top of the mountain.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Nostalgic
This is a house down the road from where I spent the summers of my childhood – as did my parents and aunts and uncles. It was old even when I was a little girl and old, I imagine, when my grandparents built their camps. It is built against a hillside and sits on the lakefront, a stone wall separating its front yard from the water. A paved road sits behind the house. I have walked down that road and passed this house countless times, wondering what it was like to live there when it was built. I know that there weren’t many houses around then – there weren’t many when I was a girl. Most of the houses there now – many bigger and all more modern – have been built in my lifetime. I think that is why this house captures my imagination so still. Amongst all the changes I have seen, it has always been there – a reminder of my past, all those walks, so many summers, so many memories, of people long gone and of how things used to be. More on this week’s photo challenge.
Daily Prompt: Nature
Somehow I missed this prompt a few days ago. Pardon me for posting late! Have a nice day!
A Taste of Morning 
