summer kitchen

I hope my next house is a barn... just a barn.  I want to park the Winnie next an old wood barn, and set up shop inside. My sewing area, the photo area, the make and paint area....the rustic kitchen, and hang a lot of white lace and burlap.
A few fruit trees outside and a big big garden full of all the heirlooms I've grown since childhood......white tomatoes, white carrots, gold beans,  red potatoes...... all the good stuff.

Rustic is the theme here.... old wood, white paint and stacks of crates....


white kitchen
simple, lots of white paint and industrial light...
 

blue kitchen
with a ceiling that slants down to meet a tile treatment....
 

and a white dining room with old school light fixtures...a built-in banquette with side chairs...

old wood, white paint and quirky lighting.....

rustic whitewashed wood, big green glass bottle and curly branches...  

rustic drawers covered in old wood wine crates....

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 White nectarine Sorbet. Now is the time...summer fruit and it could not be simpler. I made this last summer... and oh my goodnesssss.... Here is a recipe from Sunset Magazine. 

this pic is from....

the ingredient list  is easy and simple.... 

• About 1 1/2 pounds ripe white nectarines, chilled 
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice 
• 2 to 3 tablespoons sugar $
• 1 tablespoon orange-flavor liqueur (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup sour cream or crème fraîche 

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Here's a pic from Justina Blakeney....her yellow vintage plant pot with a snake plant........looks like she's been checking out funkomavintage!

and .... Here's my vintage yellow Bauer pot with a .......snake plant ;-)

Pumpkin Muffins...with coffee in the morning....

from Smitten Kitchen..


Pumpkin Muffins
Adapted from the American club, in Kohler, Wisconsin via Gourmet Magazine
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin (from a 15 ounce can)
1/2 cup vegetable oil, 2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice
1  cups plus 1 tablespoon sugar
 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
!!!
heat oven to 350°F. Put liners in muffin cups. Whisk together pumpkin, oil, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, 1 1/4 cups sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl until smooth, then whisk in flour mixture until just combined.
Stir together cinnamon and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in another bowl.
Divide batter among muffin cups (each should be about three-fourths full), then sprinkle tops with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Bake until puffed and golden brown and wooden pick or skewer inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.
Cool in pan on a rack five minutes, then transfer muffins from pan to rack and cool to warm or room temperature.

I Like it Fast and Easy

One Pan Lasagne. Really.
hey, let's eat. I do like to eat. but....I don't really like to cook. I do like to bake. This is one of my favorite recipes for One Pan Lasagne. Oh sure, you say. No wait ! This is ONE PAN. Not a big pot, and a colander, and  a baking pan...Oh no no no. One pan. Put in oven. Bake. Eat.
....back in the olde days I took great pride in my ability to get dinner on the table by 6 ish. I was so organized! with 3 kids and an ex that thought feeding the family was as easy as calling out for pizza delivery, I had to stay organized, and collect fast, easy and cheap, and oh yeah, mostly vegetarian and super-healthy recipes.
These days, I do make a good dinner, and we eat well, but .....let's just say, I love the microwave and the toaster oven.
One Pan Lasagne. Really.
Measuring cup, a spoon or 2, grated or sliced cheeses (about a pound or less, use less if you want to use some cottage or ricotta cheese, or some cream cheese), a jar of spaghetti sauce (or make a quart of your own), a bottle of tomato juice, some water, oil, a box of lasagne noodles (those long ones),  foil, an oven, and one lonely little 13" x 9" baking pan.
Here we go........ Turn the oven on to 350 degrees to pre-heat.
First, Pour into the baking pan about a Tablespoon of oil and a 1/2 Cup of water.
Start to lay down a layer of DRY lasagne noodles, pour on about 1/3 of the spaghetti sauce, and over that spread 1/3 of your cheese(s). (here's where I added that spinach)
Repeat this 2 or 3 times.
Finish up with some sprinkles of grated cheese.
Here's the big secret: Pour 1 cup of tomato juice down the sides of the pan that is now full of raw lasagne goodness. Really. See pictures below. Cover this amazing goodness with foil, 
put it in your hot 350 degree oven for a half hour, then take off the foil, and continue baking for 15 minutes more. Turn off the oven, and let the lasagne rest for 15 minutes or so, before enjoying!

So, here's what I used.....a jar of Artichoke Okie dokie spaghetti sauce, a can of spinach, some sour cream ( I forgot to buy ricotta!), some Parmesan, a chunk of cheddar, and a box of lasagne noodles.
You have my permission to add olives or whatever. Personally, I think olives are great, but they are really best when put on your fingertips while pretending you are Mickey Mouse.
That doesn't make much sense, but that's what we did as kids, before they invented video tapes.

 Here we go....layering layering layering.........

Instead of boring old tomato juice......I used V8. "I could have had a V8!"

 Now I am pouring the V8 on the sides.......Really!

Then I covered it with foil......use your imagination, and popped it in the oven and set the timer.......
And since I had the V8 juice already out........and I had extra in my measuring cup....Oh what the hell! Let's get out the vodka!!!
and make a Kitchen Bloody Mary, with Don't Forgetta the Mezzetta !
plop in a few chunks of the Mezzetta veggie goodness and Vodka !

Mezzetta Italian Mix Giardiniera vegetables......
Yes, another thing from my hometown!

 Is the lasagne cool? yes. well, then ....
Oh My Gosh !! Yum Yum Yum.......yum yum yum ....yum......
 That's it. I swear. Be sure to let it cool, and then eat it.
You can make this ahead, like in the morning.... and bake later, or bake it and save it!
I'd also like to remind you ....I did this without a staff....no stylist, no photo editor,  and just a point and shoot camera.
That's how I roll......or layer, whatev'.

Food....

Funnest food stuff...in crochet...and just below, is one of my favorite yummy vegetarian meals...quick easy and you won't believe how good it is!
I love the crochet banana !! On etsy, KTBdesigns invents the cutest cleverest things to make...perfect for the kids...or for the Klutz in the Kitchen!



This is often called Bisquick Quiche, Crustless Quiche (not an appetizing title!)...but trust me..if you like quiche...and bread..and using one Bowl....I think you'll love this!



Mix together in a glass 9" pie plate or a 2 quart bowl:

3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. melted butter
1/8 tsp. each pepper and onion salt, or a tablespoon or so of chopped onion.
1/2 c. Bisquick

Make sure it's pretty lump-free. Then sprinkle on:

1 1/2 c. shredded cheese (any kind)
2 c. cooked chopped broccoli, zucchini, mixed vegetables, chopped spinach or even left-over salad!
Microwave for about 13 to 18 mins depending on the wattage of your micro. Turn it around every 5 mins, or just let the turntable do the work.
Let it sit for another 3 to 5 mins to set, and cool.
EAT !!

The milk, cheese, & eggs can be replaced with non-animal substitutes too. Just reduce any liquids by about 1/3.


the picture is from Taste of Home, and they have more micro recipes.