Eggplant Parmesan

By Stephanie

I am SO glad my kidos aren’t picky.  Most of the time.  My darling friend Jami make this for our ladies lunch.  It was SO good.  I didn’t know if my kidos would eat it, but just like her Skillet Lasagna Recipe, it was a HUGE hit.  I had to fight them to leave some for dad..

This recipe easily doubles.  And you can freeze the other recipe before adding cheese and sauce in a big freezer bag for a later date. 

Eggplant Parmesan

serves 6

Two Large eggplants sliced into 1/2” slices (I didn’t peel mine, but you can if you want to)

1 tsp salt

2 cups breadcrumbs

1 cup shredded parmesan cheese

4 eggs (beaten well)

1 cup flour

Sprinkle salt over cut eggplant.  Turn over and do other side.  Let sit for 15-30 minutes to draw out moisture.  Then take paper towel and blot off.  Add breadcrumbs into parmesan and put into shallow pan or plate.  Put flour and eggs into separate shallow pans or plates.  One at a time dip eggplant into flour, egg and then breadcrumbs.  Put into well greased cookie sheet.  (I actually put mine into a wire rack on a cookie sheet).  Bake at 425 degrees for 12 minutes and then flip them and cook about another 5 minutes.  (Since I cooked mine on wire rack, no need to flip them). 

Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and your favorite sauce (mine is Hunts Spaghetti Sauce). 

Building a Potting Bench

So, I have not so secretly coveted a friend's potting bench at her home.  One time, I asked her where she got it and she replied that she had rescued it from a dumpster.  Apparently, the garden shop where she worked at the time decided they didn't want it anymore, but she saw the beauty in the chippy, weathered look of the bench and took it home, where it is just outside her door and can be seen every time she goes to her garden.

I have had some boards that I rescued from the stairs leading to our backyard before we added on to our house.

My poor husband, I'm sure, was convinced that I was saving them only to be taken to the trash at a later date, but I didn't! 

My only sadness is that I didn't have enough old wood to make the legs, so I had to paint it.  I tried to weather the finish, but only time does the real good work! In a few years, it will look exactly like I want it.

But in the meantime, I have made myself a potting bench!  I am very proud and love that it can grace my backyard for years to come. I'm already using it as a staging place for some other projects I am working on, that you will see soon!

I've linked up to:

Strawberry and Peach Shortcakes

By Stephanie

Doesn’t this just look summery and delish?  It is really easy.  You DO have to turn your oven on.  So if you are lucky enough to have temps in the 90’s you may want to wait to make this.  If you are like us, and not even in the 80’s…bake away. 
Strawberry and Peach Shortcakes
serves 8
for shortcakes:
2 cups flour
3 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
8 Tbsp butter, cut up into 1/2” cubes
2/3 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
Mix flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.  Whisk or mix in food processor pulsing a few times to mix.  Scatter butter on top and pulse a few times or cut in with pastry cutter until looks like coarse cornmeal.  Blend egg and milk together.   Pour into flour mixture and pulse a few more times or mix until flour is incorporated.  But don’t over mix.  Dump onto floured counter top and knead three or four times.  Pat into rectangle about 1” thick.  Using 2 3/4” round cutter (I used a floured large cup) cut out six biscuits.  Take left over dough and form into two more.  Put on baking sheet.  Sprinkle with a bit more sugar.  Bake at 425 for 12-14 minutes.  Until golden brown.  Let cool.
While shortcakes are cooling take 2 lbs fresh strawberries and 4-5 fresh ripe peaches.  Cut (and peel) into slices.    Take 2 Tbsp sugar and sprinkle over top.  Let sit and macerate (lets out juices). 
Whipped Cream topping:  1 Cup heavy whipping cream, whip to stiff peaks with 1 tsp. vanilla, 1/4 cup powdered sugar.  Fold in 1 cup sour cream. 
To assemble.  Split cooled shortcake in 1/2.  Lay cut side up.  Spoon over generous helping of fruit and whipped cream topping.  ENJOY!!

Free Chips and Queso

Who doesn't love free chips and queso?
Click below for your coupon.

Elvis Chocolate Pie

By Stephanie
This is a chocolate, peanut butter and banana pie.  I know, I know…SUPER rich!  But totally worth it!   And I know my pic isn’t the best, but we ate it before I could get another one!  My family loved it!!  And at 4000 calories a slice, who wouldn’t love it.  (yes I exaggerate a bit, really just a bit though).   Make this on a day you will be able to get at least two hours of cardio in….

Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Pie
Serves 10-12
Crust
2 cups graham cracker crumbs (I used chocolate graham crackers)
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup melted butter
Mix together and press into a 9” pie plate.  Bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes.  Let cook completely.  Slice one large or two small bananas into coins into the bottom of the cooled crust.  Make 1 small box chocolate pudding mix using pie filling instructions or use 2 cups of my Chocolate soup recipe (make sure it is completely cooled) and pour over bananas.  Then top with another sliced banana (or two).  Then top that with Peanut Butter Cream (see below) layer and then top it all off with a layer of 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream whipped and sweetened with 1/4 cup powdered sugar.  Chill for at least 6 hours or overnight to set.  Cut and serve.

Peanut Butter Cream:
4 oz cream cheese-softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter (whatever kind you like)
2/3 cup heavy cream-whipped
Beat everything but whipping cream until  smooth.  Gently fold in whipping cream.   

Fireworks

By Stephanie
I hope you had a great Fourth of July.  Sorry it’s been a few days since posting, but we had friends come up from Utah. 
First, it is finally sunny here.  As I say that I am knocking on wood since we have only had a handful of sunny days over 70 degrees since we moved here.  I am hoping the sunny trend continues since it IS July for heavens sake.  But I guess even those that have lived here forever say it’s been a cold spring.  Spring?  I usually refer to June as summer, but that is just me. 
Anyway, we took our friends to Deception Pass.  It really is incredible. You can see one of the bridges in this pic.  There are actually two.  You can walk across and go down to the beach you see way in the distance.   It’s pretty cool.

But on Monday we had the most AMAZING fireworks experience ever.  We went to our friend's sister’s house and had awesome ribs, done in a smoker, over-the-top cake with strawberries (yes I will make and post recipe later) and a fireworks show I have NEVER seen anything close.  Seriously.  The finale was 398 fireworks!   That just gives you a small taste of what we saw.  It was better than any show or city production.  And all in their back yard. 
Thanks Abby and Ken for a 4th we will never forget!!

Projects!

So, we've had our fair share of health scares in the family.  We're really grateful for good news about the brain tumor that maybe isn't a tumor in my niece and we're so glad that there are really good doctors working on it. My spring hasn't been very great either, with a diagnosis of cancer, also. It was very scary and not a little overwhelming, but thanks to some great doctors and a whole lot of blessings from God, the cancer was caught early and I am feeling just about 100%!
I knew I was back to feeling myself again when I looked around my home and yard and saw all the projects that I needed and wanted to work on. It has been several months since I have wanted to work on anything around my home.  It's fabulous to feel like I'm myself again!
So, my summer outdoor projects include:

Getting our sprinkler system fixed that was destroyed during our house renovation 2 years ago.
Make a headboard bench
Make a potting bench
Finish the picket fence around the garden
Decorate our patio
Make a fairy garden
Organize the garage
Build a bike shelter

I also want to make a headboard for my bedroom and update the room. I haven't updated it for several years and it is the room that didn't get any changes during our renovation.

Hopefully, I will be good at blogging and can keep you updated on my progress and you can see the finished projects as I go!