Thank you. Such simple words seem silly for the sacrifice that was and is still being made for our freedom.
For love of country…
Weekending
It is a quiet holiday weekend here at Cove Creek. I somehow managed to obtain four glorious days off, following so closely behind a much need vacation. I am enjoying every second.
The weekend started off with a busy Friday; filled with the unpleasantries of errands, bill paying, laundry, and grocery-getting. I love to get these tasks accomplished quickly and early so that the rest of my free time can be enjoyed to the fullest.
I spent much time chopping vegetables for Mom’s potato salad. And although it didn’t turn out quite like Mom’s {does anything ever, really?} it was fresh, delicious, and a perfect side for black bean veggie burgers with homemade burger buns{which didn’t turn out quite as expected either, but were good none the less}.
On Saturday, Thom and I ventured out to a flea market we’d heard about. It was disappointingly full of really awful terrible junk. I did find a couple of Ball jars I love to use around the house for storage. And, at $1 a piece, they were quite the steal.
Now, when normally I’d be winding down and preparing for the week ahead, I am sitting back and enjoying a quiet, warm, sunny Sunday. I’ll prepare, instead, for another lazy day and the unofficial beginning of summer. I hope that, where ever you are…and whatever you are doing, that you are well and enjoying your time as well.
Show me the fudge!
The thing I miss most about living in {Michigan} is most definitely: Family! My immediate family for sure, but also, the ladies of the fam as well. I grew up with a diverse group of ladies as role models. They are funny, witty, shopaholics, smart, giving, hilarious, FUN, and best of all {in my mind} great cooks.
Girl’s Nights were an excellent excuse to show off those skills, as the food was high up on the priority list for what to bring to the events {along with a change of undies and adult beverages}. These were nights where we threw diets out the window, threw caution to the wind, and splurged on savories and sweets!
One of my most favorite Girl’s Night treats were cousin Lois’ Peanut Butter Fudge and during my last trip home I was able to {finally!} wrangle the recipe from her. Make a batch for the favorite ladies in your life!
Lois’ Peanut Butter Fudge
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup margarine or butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil. Let it boil for 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, take off heat and stir in the following:
2 cups marshmallow cream
1 1/4 cups peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
Stir until thoroughly combined and pour into an 8 x 8 pan. Cool, cut, and serve.
**Notes:
I lined my pan with parchment. This made for easy removal and cutting. No need to butter the parchment.
…Back to the grind
It’s been a little over a week since I’ve been back home in Arkansas {is it weird that I, suddenly, feel guilty about calling Arkansas “home”}. I missed my beloved {Michigan} something fierce, as it’s been what seems like months and months since I’d been back to the Mitten. I was home {Michigan home} for ten whole days.
As excited and relieved to be home as I was, I was also saddened. Spring had arrived here in Arkansas ages ago; trees fully leaved, flowers blooming, and my tomato plants about to fruit. Michigan, on the other hand, was weeks behind. Buds were just sprouting on trees and the weather was cool {dry! but cool}. I was saddened to see once bright, busy shopping centers fallen victim to the dwindling economy, store fronts boarded up and businesses closed. It was a sharp contrast to what has become familiar down here in Ark; a newer up-and-coming area in which I work, super-busy shopping centers, new businesses, stores, restaurants opening every other day. I know that living down here is easier on the wallet, but i can’t help feeling as if I’ve abandoned Michigan and contributed to it’s downfall. {sigh}
The highlights, though, were spending some really good, meaningful time with my family. Shopping for hours on end with Mom {before her back procedure}, playing hours upon hours of Monopoly with my nephew, and playing at the park with my adorable niece. Priceless moments that I will treasure always.
I had a harder-than-normal time packing up and returning to Ark this time. Maybe it was because Mom was in so much pain from her procedure. Maybe it was the extra time I got to spend at home. Maybe it was JoAnn’s scrap booking paper sale {ha!}.
I did have something to look forward to upon my return: small green tomatoes on the vine. Early Girls making their appearance. It’s almost silly how excited I am about these lovely, fruity globes. I’m half contemplating picking them just before they ripen to try my hand at Fried Green Tomatoes!
So, friends. What are you looking forward to??
Recipe Review: Strawberry Cream Pie
Hey, Friends! While I’ve missed my little space here on the web these last couple of weeks…I am absolutely excited to be blogging from home. And by home, I mean my {Michigan} home. I can’t even begin to explain how much I’ve needed this trip. I am absolutely sure that we all need to return to our roots to freshen out psyches once in a while. So, I am enjoying spending time with the fam, my nephew, and doing other important psyche-renewing activities like visiting JoAnn’s and stocking up on scrapping essentials.
So, last week before we left, we enjoyed a sweet Strawberry Cream Pie I found on Sweet Fine Day. {another Pinterest find-surprise!}
As Jenna states in here notes: It really is very important to use the best berries you can find. The entire pie depends on their sweetness.
I made this exactly as written by Jenna, and Thom found it not nearly sweet enough. I thought it was perfect.
The graham cracker crust was supurb! Seriously one of the best I’ve ever made. I think the addition of the flour made it stay soft while baking. And the flavor: lovely.
This is definitely a “make again” sweet pie!
Find the recipe at Sweet Fine Day, along with many other sweet delights from this Whimsey & Spice blog!