The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ March 23, 2009

FOR TODAY, Monday, March 23, 2009...

Outside my window... 2 copper colored hummingbirds at the feeders, bright blue skies and huge white clouds

I am thinking... about how much I love spring

I am thankful for... for having enough.

From the kitchen... Blueberry Streusel Muffins

I am wearing... Robin's Egg Blue hoodie and matching sweat pants

I am creating... new seat cushions for some vintage outdoor chairs.

I am going... to the nursery for more pansies and primrose

I am reading... "The Shack"

I am hoping... for a long spring, and a mild summer

I am hearing... Tree swallows "talking" to each other, deciding which birdhouse is best.

Around the house... making Spring vignettes here and there.

One of my favorite things... a productive day, spent in the garden

A few plans for the rest of the week: Adding compost to the veggie garden, planting annuals, sprucing up the outdoor furniture.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Please visit The Simple Woman's Daybook to learn more,

and to visit other participant's blogs.

Spring Party ~ Hosted by Cielo at The House in the Roses

Welcome to my Garden.

It's the newest garden on the property, and to welcome Spring ~

we're having tea on the terrace!

With Great Thanks to delightful Cielo at The House in the Roses Blog

for hosting the Chocolate Cookies Spring Party!

The daffodils are just blooming now, the rose arches are filling in with new growth; I'm anticipating lots of blooms a little later this year.

I thought a mix of pink dishes (some old, some new), on a vintage tablecloth

would go well for our tea today.

Would you care for some lemon for your tea?

I made some buttery Chocolate Cookies with Droste Cocoa, and Kaluha

with White and Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips ~

I hope you like them; they are almost addictive.

I'm always happy to share recipes ~ you can CLICK HERE

to go to the recipe on my recipe blog.

I hope you'll enjoy your little tour on the pathways of this garden, only the very earliest of the season Daffodils are blooming right now.

More will be emerging in the coming days~

And I'll be posting more photo as those come forth.

I think the rear view is just as endearing.

You are invited to come back a little later in the season when the other daffodils, and the tulip blooms are bursting and the garden is full of color.

I know some of you are collectors, like me ~ so I wanted to share one of my favorite vintage, hand-painted trays.

I love this one because it's huge, about 30-inches long ~ and can serve as a butler's tray on a collapsible wooden butler's stand that I have. I love things that can serve multi-purposes, don't you?

Thank you so much for coming ~ I hope you enjoyed your visit!

It's a Spring Party!

Come Celebrate Spring !

Sunday, March 22nd

Hosted by Cielo, at her beautiful "House in the Roses" blog:

Click on Cielo's House in the Roses link, above ~ for all the details.

~ See you here tomorrow at my party ~

Thank you for stopping by!

Tuna Noodle Casserole ~ A Retro Updated

No apologies, this has been a comfort food in our families for years. I don't make many casseroles anymore ~ but once in a while I crave one like this.

My Foodie Friday choice for our sweet host

Designs by Gollum

Fair warning... If you're not a child of the 50's or 60's you may not appreciate this simple casserole. :)

I do it a little differently than our (my and dh's) mother's did while we were growing up (I skip the Campbell's Soup) and make a simple white sauce (flavored with sauteed minced onion and lots of finely sliced celery) instead.

Everything else is about the same. I use best quality albacore, solid pack tuna, packed in oil (I drain the oil), or if Italian canned tuna is reasonably priced, I'll use that.

Good quality tuna makes all the difference; and I always double or triple the amount of tuna.

Wide Egg Noodles ~ cooked al dente...

I add more veggies (any that you like) ~ I like mine with even more celery.

If you want to take another short-cut you can use mixed-frozen vegetables instead of prepping & sauteing your own.

I add some diced fresh red bell pepper, and always stir some petite frozen peas in mine, too ~

but add or omit whatever you please.

I like to bake mine in a low, wide baking dish until hot and bubbly.

Secret ingredient.... I also add some Best Foods/Hellman's mayo to the mix before putting in into the baking dish (check the consistency and thin with milk or table cream /half & half if you like.)

And yes! I top with a generous sprinkle of crushed potato chips, just like the old-fashioned original. Baked in a 350-degree oven (F) until heated through.

p>

Some like a spot of tomato ketchup drizzled over, or as a side on the serving plate, for a flavor contrast

(and nostalgia's sake!) :)

Leftovers are terrific, even cold... right from the fridge.

(No need to ask me how I know!)

*grin*

Thanks for taking this walk down memory lane with me. Many of our mothers, of a certain age, are smiling, I know. :)

Postcard ~ Tulips!

Do you enjoy planting flowering bulbs in the fall?

I do.

I truly enjoy the anticipation of beautiful surprises in spring.

This photo is actually from last spring, as tulips here in my Oregon garden will not bloom until May,

A full month or two behind my California gardens to which I'm much more accustomed ... but it is a fun gardening challenge here.

I always can use a cheerful image to remind me

of the promise of SPRING!

. . .

And by now you've probably guessed that I spent the day in the garden;

Weeding, trimming and enjoying the return of the song birds.

(And I have nothing to share from my kitchen today.)

But I will... SOON.

Thank you for stopping by, I truly appreciate your comments ~

I hope you have a lovely day, too!

Happy St. Patrick's Day ~ with the Darling Bakers!

Please come in to a sweet little Irish Cottage!

Welcome to the Darling Bakers St. Patrick's Day Celebration!

St. Patrick's Day has always been a fun celebration as far as I'm concerned

(I'm half Irish.)

Such a pretty kitchen window...

We're having a bit of a ~ feast !

A Saint Patrick's Day LUNCH and..

TWO seatings for Dinner this evening.

But first ~ a light lunch of soup, and a little dessert ~

Hot Cock~a~Leekie Soup to warm the soul

On a damp, chill day.

Darina Allen's Freshest Spring Salad ~

Loaded with so many fresh and healthful things~

Then some sweet fairy cakes with tea~

To tide us over until supper~

And some Sweets for the road ~

Perhaps a little hike through the forest ~

for leprechaun sitings?

You must be quick to spot these faerie folk!

Look! Evidence. :)

Can you see him?

A Ha!

Perhaps a Nap to sleep off the Guinness?!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Feeling refreshed, it's time to eat again!

Supper ~ ~The First Seating:

More soup! This time every fresh green vegetable and herb available~

With crisp Shamrock pastry croutons.

.

.

.

.

Look! Our friendly visitor~

Salad a la Mme. Monique ~

A stuffed Caprese. Fresh mozzarella in Vine ripened tomatoes

and an Herb Vinagrette.

~

The entree for the first seating ~

Beef Filet & Mushroom Skewers

with a deep, rich Mushroom & Guinness gravy finish.

For our second seating this evening ~

My Family's Favorite Shepherd's Pie ~

Organic Lamb and Veggies with Mashed Potato 'Wreath'

Comforting food on a damp, chilly evening...

With lots of other good things; carrots, tiny peas, pearl onions, celery...

with a mildly flavored base, seasoned with thyme

Buttery mashed potatoes, piped on so they develop a delicate light brown finish

I can never finish the entire little pot ~ but leftovers heat beautifully for the next day!

I don't know about you ~ but I'm STUFFED...

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

How about a bit of a hike before dessert?

Please come back later today for the sweets!