Newcastle Werewolf!

As most of you know, we enjoy import beers at our house. We like trying new ones as they become available and we add the caps to the growing collection on my refrigerator.
Scott found a new version of Newcastle at the store called Werewolf. From what I was able to find online, this is part of a limited edition series of beers available at select times of the year.

Spring - Founder's Ale
Summer - Summer Ale
Fall - Werewolf
Winter - Winter IPA

I found a few beer blogs and websites you might find interesting while I was searching for information. 

Brewbound

All About Beer Magazine

New Belgium Brewing publishes Tour de Fat book

Fear No Beer

This last one may appeal to my brother-in-law in WA state. This guy lives in Olympia, WA and tells about things like Portland Beer Day (which was this past Thursday, July 28).

Well, now that I have your taste buds awake, it's time for a cold one! Hope you have one in the fridge - cause today is Sunday (I know...that was cruel, right?) 

Until next time - Happy Beer Hunting and have a great week!

Good eats after fixing my "beats"

Hot 'n' Cheesy Chicken Casserole

It's been quite a while since I had a subscription to Better Homes and Gardens. I usually find myself sitting in the doctor's/dentist's office enthralled in the (close to) newest edition, hoping they don't call my name until I'm finished with a certain article. (Is it just me? Please tell me I'm not the only one!)

Recently, they sent me an offer I couldn't refuse. A full year for under 7 bucks!! I quickly made my purchase online and then waited impatiently for the first copy to arrive. I was starting to get pretty antsy about it and then guess what happened today? Scott goes out to check the mail (using the front door - which we normally hardly open) and my copy of BHG is sitting on the porch. My neighbor two doors down wrote a note on my "invoice" envelop explaining it was in her mailbox. (I guess that explains the time lag).

While I would have LOVED to open it immediately and fall into the pages, I was "fixing" my iTunes library. It took a bit of time, but now I finally have all my songs on the appropriate albums. If you use iTunes and haven't had this problem...count yourself lucky. I finally got tired of having to track down songs and went searching for a solution! Turns out I found a great answer in Yahoo! Answers (UK & Ireland...go figure). Here's a link with the answer to the burning question - Why won't iTunes put all songs from an album together? Don't get me wrong. I'm not tech-challenged, but iTunes can get pretty picky about how it wants things "labeled" in its library. I hope this answer helps someone other than me : P

I finally got around to opening the plastic on my magazine (which also came with an All-Time Favorites 2011 Cookbook). The supplemental cookbook reminds me I have no idea what I'm making for dinner - except it will have something to do with chicken. So, I flip through the cookbook, find something tasty (the Hot 'n' Cheesy Chicken Casserole), finish my grocery list and take off to the store. I returned from the store and started making dinner. I was worried my daughter might not like it (she's not a picky eater - just weird about food at times). To my surprise, she was asking if I would make it again after only a few bites. SCORE!!

One of the cool homepage pics on the DIG Gardens website.

When I did get a chance to look through the actual magazine, I wasn't disappointed. So many ideas for home decor, cooking, gardening and art! The most exciting thing I found in this edition is "living art". The combination of 2 of my favorite things. Cara and Will Meyers are owners of the trendy DIG Gardens in California. Go visit their beautiful website and drool over all the succulents in the shop. You can purchase a succulent orb form made from sphagnum moss - ready for you to add clippings and hang by the metal hook attached. People had questions about this orb and they've included more information in their blog.

While I love the orb idea, I absolutely adore these vintage frames with "living art" in them. Fortunately for me, BHG.com posted a How-To tutorial for making this project. I will be trying this very soon! I hope the rest of you will join me.
I guess you could say my $7 subscription to BHG has already paid off for me today. Not only did I find a good recipe for dinner - I found a new project to do. And let's not forget all the other fabulous recipes I didn't even begin to mention. You might be hearing about a few of them in the near future.

Until next time - Happy Gardening, Cooking or whatever it is that gives you joy and never underestimate the power of a magazine (or the written word).

Photos courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens/DIG Gardens

I'm seeing orange!

My Bhut Jolokia are starting to "blush"

It's been a while since I posted about my pepper plants and I'm happy to report things are going well. On Friday, we had a heat index of 106 degrees. The rest of the weekend has been pretty hot as well. As you've seen in earlier posts...a sudden (or expected) heat wave is always appreciated by these peppers. In fact, it seems like that's when I have the most "action" to report.

The progress of color after one day!

I noticed yesterday afternoon the peppers were starting to turn orange (above). Then, I went to check on them this morning and they are even darker (left). At this rate, I may have red peppers by this time next weekend. Although, I must admit, I'm not sure I want it to stay this hot.
I spent a lovely afternoon with my best friend at her brother-in-law's house yesterday. We were under an umbrella by the pool - and I even periodically put my feet in the water - and it was unbearable. Next time, no matter what...I'm getting in the pool!

New peppers on same plant.

The heat also caused some of the flowers to die away and push out a couple of new peppers. I have tons of flowers on the other plant, but no peppers are showing yet. I guess I should be more patient - considering it didn't even have a flower on it until recently. The experts say the peppers only get as hot as the climate they are produced in. If this summer is any indication of what we can expect...then Scott will be a very happy man!
 

A beautiful mosaic of color in this bed of sedum.

I want to share another quick item before I go. I noticed a nice feature on the HGTV.com site talking about container gardens. I thought some of you may find inspiration in the combination of plants used. There are some beautiful photos available and you can follow the link here. I love the colorful bed of sedum. The blues, greens and chartreuses are a great combo together. Take a moment to watch a few "how to" videos if you need to and then go get your hands dirty!



Until next time - Happy Gardening and if you are in the South...take care of yourself, your pets and the elderly in this heat.

Getting older...

Recently on Facebook, there's been a lot of talk of my 20th high school reunion. I've been added to the "group" by my best friend Loretta. Not a day goes by without me looking at a face I haven't seen in 20 years. It might take a moment to recognize some people, but we all resemble our former selves...only 20 years older. Living our separate lives, raising kids and "running the rat race".

As cool as it is to reminisce about old times and hijinks from high school - I really didn't have the best high school experience. I wasn't a "popular kid" or a "nerd" - I guess I fit somewhere nicely in the middle. I didn't go to the prom. I wasn't in math club or on the basketball team. Hell, I didn't even graduate with everyone else. (I had to go to summer school for English - ironically).

I'm really starting to wonder what kind of conversation I'm suppose to have with these people. I know there will be the stories about "Remember Mr/Mrs. Such and Such?" and that will be a good laugh. But, I know most of us will be right back where we started...in a clique with our normal crowd. Hanging with the people we feel most comfortable with. Sadly, it will be JUST like being back in high school.

Some people will always have the best of things, "born with silver spoons" as they say. I would like to think the rest of us have worked hard and made the best life we could. I know even though things aren't exactly the way I would like for them to be...I am pretty happy and content where I am in my life. Could I have done things better? Of course. Could I have went to college sooner? Of course. But sometimes things work out the way they should and we end up right where we are suppose to be.

So, I guess next year, I will be there beside my best friend of 20+ years, smiling and saying..."Can you believe we are this old?" And "some people never change". But I'm hoping someone surprises me and makes the effort to venture into a different "crowd" of people and says "Hello! Can you believe it's been 20 years?" Maybe that person should be me! I guess we'll see what happens. Let's hope for the best! : )

Until next time - Happy Reminiscing! Remember the good times, learn from the past and dream for the future!

It's a beautiful thing!

First buds on my second Bhut Jolokia pepper plant.

Detail of first buds.

And I don't mean the heat! Although, the heat is exactly what has caused my great news. The second bhut jolokia plant has started to bud (and I might even have a flower "pop" before day's end).
Yesterday was extremely humid and today is almost the same. The temps are high, but the humidity is making things unbearable. I went outside to water the plants earlier today. Don't ask me why - but I decided a plant needed to be re-potted while I was out there. (I know - the heat went to my head). I came back into the house and had to shower again.
As I stated in a previous blog, the pepper plants love the hot and humid weather. I really didn't think I was going to have any peppers on the second plant. Now, I have buds on it and the first plant has more buds too! These buds are very fragile however. I am trying to contain my excitement and hope for tamer weather. High winds and heavy rains took their toll on the first plant (leaving me with 4 peppers)!

Peppers in foreground and branches with new buds in background.

Detail of buds from the plant above.

The peppers are doing well and starting to get the "menacing look". I told Scott earlier, they are getting wrinkly - like a Shar Pei dog. 
With any luck, I should yield more than 4 peppers this year! Then, after summer ends its research time. I need to know how to grow these plants from seed. From all the research and forums I've read, I can "officially" consider myself obsessed (just like all the other pepper growers). Whether it's a pepper plant, a flowering plant or a houseplant - I'm ready to learn and become a better gardener. 
  

The Sheffield in bloom.

A much happier Sheffield daisy.

The plant I decided to re-pot is called a Sheffield Daisy. It will bloom in summer and last through the fall. When I first purchased it, it was small and I placed it into a cute little pot. While it was doing well and continuing to grow, it wasn't flourishing like some of the other plants. So, this is what lead me to pick it up and re-pot it in 90+ degree heat! (Warning! Obsession can lead to stupidity). The plant was severely root bound and it took me about 10 minutes to remove it from the pot. But, now it is in an extremely bigger pot with plenty of room to branch out and start to flower. (Note: The white pot to the left - that's the previous pot). I plan to clip some from the top to keep it from getting too tall (and to make it thicker). I will make sure to snap a few photos when this beauty starts to bloom.

Until next time - Happy Gardening and watch out for the heat and humidity.

Nature's Design School

Heat Proof Flowers (photo courtesy of Design Sponge)

I recently came across an article on the Design Sponge blog that caught my attention. It was about succulents/cacti and how to incorporate them into your design plans. I have always loved the massive variety of cacti that exists in the world. So many colors, textures and leaf patterns - it's like design school in nature.

I've owned several varieties of cacti over the years (and sadly don't have most of them anymore). It's tricky living in the Southeastern United States. We have scorching summers (that often start in Spring) and winter is unpredictable. A frost over night can ruin the best made plans of any typical gardener - not to mention the crops of local farmers. Having a cactus garden has always been a dream of mine. Possibly having a greenhouse will make the dream a reality.

I'm always intrigued to see how other people display their plants. Some are placed in typical clay pots, letting the plant garner all of the attention, while others are in placed complimentary pots.
A few years ago I found a book at a local book sale entitled, "Hip Houseplants". The author is a former florist who now styles flowers/plants for top clients. The book was published in 2001 but I was able to find it listed on the Amazon and Barnes & Noble sites. I was lucky enough to get this gem for a mere 50 cents or a dollar. I suggest looking for a pre-owned copy and save a few bucks. (I never pay full price for anything.) It's one of my favorite books and I highly recommend it. It's full of helpful hints, ideas and care of plants in only 144 pages (including the table of contents).

Next time you're in a home improvement store, take a trip into the garden section and look at the selection of succulents and cactus they have on display. If you have a sunny spot in your home, a cactus might be interesting to you. They are low maintenance and super cool.

Until next time - Happy Plant Hunting and as always, contact me with any questions.

Happy Fourth of July!

 Photo courtesy of Beverly & Pack

I hope everyone is having a great Fourth of July weekend and Monday. We enjoyed a Saturday with family, friends and scorching temperatures at Scott's brother's house. The day was full of food, drinks and an occasional hurt child. But, all is well and we made it home safely.

Our little Fourth of July get together on Sunday went well. The Jalapeno Popper Dip was fabulous (and there was no mention of the Chili Cheese Dip) as expected. I encourage everyone to give it a try!
The Wave Your Flag cake and the potato salad were also a hit. (see previous blog for the recipes and links). The potato salad was well received (and you know how hard it is to make people happy about potato salad) and the cake was light and summer-like after a heavy meal.

Scott decided to cook ribs. They were slow roasted in the oven for approximately 5 hours and then placed on the grill with barbecue sauce for about 30 minutes. They turned out great. He's in pursuit of the perfect fall-off-of-the-bone ribs. So, even though they were delicious, he wasn't 100% happy. Seems like everyone else was happy though.

The newest addition starts to peek out of its shell (top right).

I can't end my Fourth of July post without mentioning the bhut jolokia peppers. There's been a ton of growth over the past week or so. Still no blooms on the other plant though. A friend mentioned a product to us yesterday that "shocks" the plant into blooming. We might give that a try - but it needs to be soon. The summer is only so long and we need to "get it in gear." We have a new pepper starting to come out on the plant above and the others are doing great. I'll share more pictures as we go.

Until next time - Happy Fourth of July and I hope you have had a fabulous meal over the past few days. If not, you need more friends! : )

Fourth of July Eats

Wave Your Flag Cake

I must confess...(almost) nothing makes me happier than enjoying good food and drinks with family and friends. This has been a part of my social life since I was very young. Family reunions and church outings with my mom. The exciting question of "What should we bring?"

I love to cook and make people happy with my cooking. I'm not a chef or a culinary genius - but I put love into the things that I make. Sometimes, that makes all the difference in how the food tastes. If you enjoy what you do then it shows. (That goes for all things- not just cooking). When visiting my house, no one can ever complain about the food or the hospitality.

After seeing my mom slave in the kitchen, cooking for a family of five each night, it's often strange to think I would grow up and enjoy it as much as I do. I guess I learned a few things along the way and can appreciate the time she spent over the stove. (I love you mom!) I wanted to share what's on the tentative menu at my house for the Fourth and share a few ideas you might want to steal.

We'll probably go with that standard burgers and bratwurst for main course. Scott is the grillmeister around this house, so he'll take care of the meat. I'll have the snacks, sides and dessert. Here's what I have planned for my part.

Above is the Wave Your Flag cake. I made this a few holidays ago and everyone loved it. It can also be made with cream cheese for a cheesecake version - but I'm sticking with the traditional. It's lighter and feels more like summertime to me. Here are a few other options I thought looked fabulous and are pretty simple to make.

Brownie-n-Berries Dessert Pizza

This dessert looks great and it has the added benefit of being gluten free.

Jell-O Easy Patriotic Pie

This is beautiful and super easy to make (as the name implies). Watch the video for tips on how to layer the dessert. The top layer may look tricky - but it's not.

Great American Potato Salad

For sides, I'm going with the classics. Baked beans and potato salad. This one is pretty good, but I understand the debate about potato salad. No one makes a better one than your mother, etc. So, do yourself a favor and ask for the recipe (if you don't already know it by heart).

Jalapeno Popper Dip

For a snack/appetizer, I am trying this tasty recipe I found on the blog, Closet Cooking. Originally, I found the recipe for a Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Let's just say...I'll be making this soon enough (but not for the Fourth). I was scrolling down the page and spotted this beauty. I can't wait for everyone to try this! I normally make my classic Chili Cheese Dip (recipe to follow), and some might be disappointed not to see it on the table. I almost feel like I should make it too (and I might).

Chili Cheese Dip
1 (8oz.) package of Philly cream cheese
1 can of Hormel chili (no beans)
1 package of grated sharp cheddar cheese (or grate from block)

Place the cream cheese into the casserole dish and microwave for 30 seconds. This will soften the cheese and make it easier to spread. Spread evenly across the bottom of the dish. Next, spread the chili evenly on top of the cream cheese (careful not the mix the two). Finally, shake grated cheese over the top evenly until you cover all chili. Place in a 375 degree oven for approximately 10 minutes or until you start to see the chili bubble in the corners and the cheese is thoroughly melted. Serve with tortilla chips (the Scoops variety works best and holds up to the weight).

This recipe uses a 8x8/9x9 glass casserole dish (and the recipe fills it about 3/4 full) Depending on the size of your crowd, you may need to use a bigger dish and double the recipe.

I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend. Let me know if you tried any of the recipes and share if you have good ones too. I love adding to the recipe box! Whatever you choose to do, be safe (with fireworks and the drinking). And make it your objective to find a service member and tell them you appreciate their sacrifice. We couldn't enjoy this holiday without them.

Until next time - Happy Fourth of July and remember Freedom is never free!
(All photos courtesy of Kraft, Betty Crocker and Closet Cooking websites)