our table

MONDAY

(this is from last Friday...Danny went on a campout...so the girls and i went to Cafe Rio)

veggie springrolls *

(won ton wrappers filled with broccoli slaw, chopped onion, edamame, a smidgen of tofu)

basmatti rice

fresh fruit

*We have made these before...they are EASY and the girls LOVE putting them together.  We usually use the square small wrappers and fold them in triangles.  It seems like you get more veggies that way...but I am not sure.

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TUESDAY

asparagus and fresh tomato homemade pizza

with the 5 min. a day rustic bread dough, this sauce, fresh mozzarella

salad de maison

(greens, fresh grated parmesan, sliced grape tomatoes, almonds and a lemon/olive oil/garlic dressing)

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WEDNESDAY

lemon pasta
i am going to try this recipe
 steamed broccoli
strawberry ice cream

this is always my first choice for ice cream...actually this is my first choice

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THURSDAY

black bean enchiladas with red sauce
green salad
fresh oranges

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FRIDAY

5 cheese tortellini & pesto

 spinach
rustic bread
 this for dessert

ummmmm Kate....

chocolate chip cookies

I have tried a lot of different recipes...but this one remains at the TOP of my list.

In fact I choose it 9 times out of 10 over any cookie.  The recipe is only very slightly modified from Holly's wonderful Chewy Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.  Here it goes!

3 1/4 c. all purpose flour

1c. cake flour (this makes them chewy)

1 t. baking powder

1 t. baking soda

3/4 - 1 t. salt (her recipe calls for 1/2 t.)

1 1/2 c. butter (real butter!  I like salted....she likes unsalted)

1 1/4 c. brown sugar

1 1/4 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 T. real vanilla (yes. T-ablespoon)

1 c. oatmeal ground in blender or food processor

1 pkg. milk chocolate chips (Ghiradelli are my favorite)

1 c. pecans very finely chopped (no chunks...but perfect flavor)

(optional:  a handful of grated coconut or heath bar pieces)

Cream butter and sugar then add eggs and vanilla.  In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients and then add to creamed mixture.  Mix well and then add chips and nuts.  Use a large mounding table spoon to form cookies.  Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes at 350 degrees.  I like my cookies soft so I take them out as soon as I see any golden color.  They usually look a bit underdone.  I leave them at least 10 minutes out of the oven on the cookie sheet and they are DELICIOUS!!!  Thank you Holly for my FAVORITE recipe.

light lessons

Light lessons is a blog I have--- just photos and facts.  (A link and icon are also found on the right.)  I am frequently asked about settings used to create specific images and also lenses and equipment.  On light lessons I post the [ aperture, iso & shutterspeed ] under each image (unless it was taken with my phone & aperture isn't included when I use the lensbaby).  I label each post by the equipment I use for the image (lens, camera, extension tube, etc...)  You can click on one of the lenses labeled (50mm for instance) and have a mini review of how the lens functions.  I am also trying to take and share an image everyday...whew...it is tough!  If photography is your thing....the blog might interest you.  Stop by and say "HI!"

Thank you...thank you to all of you who have purchased my {CREATE} flashcards!!!!  I have sent them all over!!!  I love going to the post office...and shipping the book to a place I've never been...wishing I could tag along and visit too!  It is so fun for me to share photography and share my passion for this art form with people of all ages and different places.  Thank you again for your wonderful response!!!!

Are you going to pick up your camera today????

peace & love

chase, carin, ellie, danny, kate, sharon, and the very tip top of sophie

Approximately 9 hours into our road trip to AZ!  Usually after a long drive I am left with a strong feeling---I will never do that again.  Not this trip.  We LOVED it !!!  (Although I could have done with out the speeding ticket and the officer telling me he would let me off by not taking me to jail and then handing me a ticket...lol)  I could go back next month!  We are sure to go back every winter!!!!  I will share pictures soon!

on our table

We have been out of town so it will be a short week for dinner in our home.  Eating out is one of my favorite things to do...but after vacation, I love my kitchen and home cooking!

What are you serving on your table lately???
Are there any online recipe resources or food blogs you love!??
Please share!
I would love the inspiration!!!!!!!!

What we are doing this week----

WEDNESDAY

cream of tomato soup

I am going to try this recipe replacing the chicken base with vegetable and the sherry with wine because I don't want to go to the store for just sherry...lazy.

grilled cheese sandwiches

sourdough bread, cheddar & havarti with light mayo inside and a touch of mustard mixed with butter for grilling
carrot sticks & sugar snap peas 

the soup was delicious!  i tripled the cream...and i think next time i will use crushed instead of diced tomatoes for my girls...and maybe reduce the wine/sherry by 1/4 c.

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THURSDAY

(I will be out so something easy)

cheese pizza

salad

ice cream

yep....DiGiornos four cheese self rising frozen pizza was a big fat hit.  it almost hurt my feelings ;)
p.s.  no salad...frozen green beans were faster.

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FRIDAY

veggie springrolls *

(won ton wrappers filled with broccoli slaw, chopped onion, edamame, a smidgen of tofu)

basmatti rice

fresh fruit

*We have made these before...they are EASY and the girls LOVE putting them together.  We usually use the square small wrappers and fold them in triangles.  It seems like you get more veggies that way...but I am not sure.

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i want to paint my house....

Am I crazy?

I want to paint the interior of my house white.

Like 100% white.

I have 3 children.

and a dog.

They are messy.

What if the furniture isn't white?

Am I still crazy?

I want more light in my house.

A lot more light.

I have plenty of windows.

But it isn't enough.

Maybe a few pictures might solidify my case....

 above images were found @ Bliss and originated here

(I am not surprised that this is a photographer's home.)

aaaaaaaaaah....
clean.
fresh.
light.
spring.
ocean breeze.
that's where it takes me.

Do you still think I am crazy?

I have been working on Danny for over two years.

A year ago he softly suggested it was trendy and he was going to wait it out.

I pleaded my case of light. photos. light. and light.

We were going to wait it out.

We still need to have the money for new base boards, wood floors (at least on the main floor) and doors before we paint.

and then...

I think it's a GO!

All of those things do need to be done regardless of paint color.

I really want white.

Are you horrified by the white walls of decades past?

Are you worried about whether I can keep it clean?

Am I crazy?

Is light THAT important?

more white eye candy...and other beautiful images here!