Fresh Strawberries

Last April, I went to my favorite Pick-Your-Own farm, Jones Orchard, and picked strawberries.  I have never been successful at growing them at home.  But this is even better, because you can pick the best ones! 

This is a fantastic recipe for using fresh strawberries.

Fresh Strawberry Yogurt Cake














The great thing about strawberries is that they freeze well.  I even threw the frozen strawberries in the blender and had fresh strawberry smoothies! 

I can't wait until the strawberries are ready for picking this year! Pin It

A Quick and Easy Holiday Table Centerpiece

 

 

This simple centerpiece is great to keep on the table throughout the holiday season.  You start with a plan piece of greenery and 2 candlesticks.  We added some (fake) spruce for interest, but you could just use the greenery.   Next, add in some fresh magnolia leaves, cut from the yard, to give it life.  Magnolia leaves hold up great and can be sprayed with a floral spray to extend their life.  Nestle in some glass ornaments and accent with ribbon, and you have a natural simple centerpiece.

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What to Make with Fresh Pears?

After I picked all these pears (see last post), I had to do something with them.  The apples were pretty easy, but the pears were a bit more challenging.  I picked a variety of pear called the Keiffer, which is a crisp pear that is good for baking. So here is what I have done with them.

I made Pear Bread,which is really a quick bread only made in a bundt pan.
A few notes: I diced my pears rather than grate them and used pecans rather than walnuts.  I only ended up needing 2 pears to make 2 cups. I did use butter, not oil, and cooked it for 60 minutes.  If I had let it go any longer, it would have burned.
This made a great breakfast bread.

I also made a Pear Crisp from the Pioneer Woman. Sorry I didn't get a picture. 

And lastly, I canned Ginger Pear Preserves.  I got the recipe straight from the Ball jar makers themselves.

These would make great gifts as well.  I added a tag and some ribbon.

I hope I have given you a few ideas for fresh pears.

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Apples and Pears

As you can tell by now, I love to go to the Pick-your-own local farm for fresh fruit.  And fall is apple and pear season.  So, I decided to pick both.

The type of apple I picked is the Arkansas Black apple, which I found is a great baking apple and derived from the Winesap.  Since it is so great for baking, I tried this Apple Dumpling recipe from the Pioneer Woman.  Soo good and easy too!  Click on the link for the recipe.

I am planning on canning some apple pie filling and peach preserves.  So I will post that as soon as I do.

I really love the experience of picking your own.  And I like that in the process I am helping local farms and being green.  Oh, and not to mention you have to make something with all that yummy fresh produce! 


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Organizing Gift Card Balances

If you are like me, you get a lot of gift cards as gifts.  You then have to call on the balances each time before you use them, so you know how much you have left.  Or you wrap the receipt around the gift card, but with fading ink, soon can't read it.  Here is what I have found works for me.

 I write down the balance and the date on the sticky part of a post-it note, cut it out, and attach it to each card.  It doesn't fall off or get in the way of scanning.  I then update it as the balance changes.  Now I know how much I have left to spend.  Pin It

Peanut Butter Surprise Brownie Cookie

So, you know those recipes you save and say to yourself, "Someday I'm gonna make that."?  And then you wait for the right time or occasion...and it never comes.  Well, this was one of those recipes.  But why not just make it as a treat for ourselves and to share?  Which is precisely what I did.

And they were yummy! Making me wonder why I waited so long to try them :)

Here is the link to the recipe, courtesy of Pillsbury
http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/peanut-butter-brownie-cookies/78d2e747-151c-48d1-838b-fdde7d1e3e37/

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Update Your Existing Vanity With Molding

The great thing about being self-employed is that I don't HAVE to sell cabinetry.  It's nice to be able to help everyone make their space better.  This is one of those examples.  Sorry I don't have a before picture, but it looked like most every "builder" vanity from the 80's with an oak cabinet and a cultured marble top.  She didn't want to go to the expense of a new floor and cabinet, but still wanted to update the powder room.  We added some unfinished oak molding to raise the short vanity to a more updated height. The entire cabinet was painted black and received new hardware.

To complete the look, I chose a new paint color for the room, added a granite remnant top, new faucet, mirror, vanity light (not shown), and a new throw rug.  Now she has a bathroom she's proud of.

  

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