strawberry transformation

How does one transform a strawberry

you ask?

Better question:

Why would one want to?

Answer:

When one's husband is following 

(or should be) a strict diet which

includes no pop/soda or alcohol...

well, a good wife

tries to make creative alternatives

available.

Wow...

all that to introduce

Homemade Strawberry Soda

I searched around
trying to find a recipe for what
I was imagining.
The closest I got was at
Food Wishes with Chef John.
With that as a general guide
I devised my own recipe
to create a soda
for those who need to watch their
sugar intake.
Basically, all of us.

Before we begin, might I recommend
preparation listenings:
Blackwing Butterfly
Across The Borderline: More Lies
BettySoo & Doug Cox

First,
clean and hull
one pound of ripe strawberries
roughly chop and put
in a sauce pan.

Add 1 and a half cups 

filtered water...

and bring to a boil

over high heat.

Reduce to a simmer

for 15 minutes

to release all that strawberry

goodness.

Put a strainer above another pot

and pour the strawberry mixture

into it to separate

the juice from the pulp.

Press down gently to get 

all the juices.

Compost those strawberries.

To the juice

add 2/3 cup agave nectar.

(or your preferred sweetener)

and bring to a boil.

Reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes.

and let cool.

Pour into a storage jar.

What you have now

is actually

Strawberry Concentrate.

This is much like a syrup that can be

drizzled on ice cream

added to lemonade

or iced tea...

a margarita for those...ahem...that enjoy that

kinda thing.

But for my purposes today

lest I forget...

Homemade Strawberry Soda.

So easy.

You're in the homestretch now...

Fill a glass with ice

fill that glass almost half-way

with the concentrate

and then top-it-off

with sparkling water.

Give it a stir.

Enjoy!

And that's how a strawberry

can be transformed.

Now I'm thinking blueberries...

blackberries...

raspberries...

so many berries

so little time.

Make a drink for those you love...

one worth toasting with!

Salute!

(Italian style for "to your health")

thinking transformation

This is a quick

little post told in

a visual

way.

Follow with your 
imagination...

Because I'm not the

only one

fluffing my nest.

ottoman transformation

I will never out-grow 

the desire for a 

new Easter dress.

My child's eye remembers

having a new dress

every year.

(now new may have been

new to me hand-me-downs

or freshly-cleaned

last year's summer wear...

there were 7 of us

after all!)

But I know there are pictures to

prove that mom

got us scrubbed clean

and sparkly

all at the same time...

Easter Sunday.

I haven't bought my boys 

a new shirt...yet!

I haven't picked out a new dress...

yet!

But my ottoman is all set for

the big day.

This was such fun...

and if you are anything like me

you'll truly enjoy 

this project.

I have always wanted

to make slipcovers

but for some reason it felt

so overwhelming

and I would quickly talk myself

right out of the idea.

Then my sister Mary

told me about a site

Miss Mustard Seed

"Move Mountains in Your Home"

I just love that.

She has a really great 

tutorial series dedicated to

making custom slipcovers.

Her relaxed attitude

toward sewing

had me saying

I can do this!

I gathered all my supplies

per her instructions

and got busy.

She recommended starting

with a simpler project

oh...how I wanted to dive right into the

matching chair

but...I decided to take her advice

and get a feel for the

whole process.

I took to it like 

that fish to water

because Miss Mustard Seed spoke my language...

no exact measuring

no precise patterning

you use the piece as your guide

and you jump in
feet first!

Her tip for using painter's

drop cloths

is the BEST.

Love the color...

great weight...

plus you can tear the seams

in straight lines

rather than cut...

Oh, what loud, rip-roaring fun I had!

(that night)

All dressed-up

and ready for 

Easter.

I gotta share this little story with you...

my hubby was watching this process

and said...with ambivalence...

It has a cottage look.

To which I replied,

Thank you!

He added,

But our house isn't a cottage house.

To which I said,

Yet!

(the next morning)

Thanks for stopping by.

I gotta run.

I have some shopping to do.

lamp transformation

This Pottery Barn lamp
served as my inspiration.
That
and the sticker price...
over a hundred
not including shade!
Well...
with two old brass lamps
standing at the ready
I headed to the nearest Lowe's
for a can of
espresso spray paint.

Weather got balmy here

(mid-forties)

so with a cardboard box for

over spray

I sent James
(who was begging me)
out to do the honors.

Gave it a full twenty-four

before I started 

distressing at

key spots to give it a

"I was naturally born with it"
look.

I need to back up here

to add that I found two shades

while perusing the aisles

that gave me 

the Pottery Barn look I was hoping for.

Natural burlap

adds texture and an earthiness

to its surroundings
not to mention

it's everywhere right now.

Not that I'm a trend follower

but it was nice to find

exactly what I was looking for

at Lowe's.

Here's a day shot
with a flash...
because normally there isn't a sheen
on the shade.

I got both lamps
painted and shaded
for the cost of
one Pottery Barn shade!

Not to mention 

the fun of a DIY 

(and with those you love)

project.

Now I feel compelled to be completely

honest and say

I'm not sure I love the new look.

I think they turned out great

but they might be a bit

heavy for this room.

A living room that is slowly

going through a

transformation
as well.

If I don't use them here

they will be perfect in the

family room.

I'm definitely NOT missing the brass...

even if it is making

a comeback!

Stay tuned
for a full week of
transformations.

~this moment~

a still life

capturing memories past

stopping the clock on now

planning future

 events

Life in still.

Have a Wonderful weekend.

stout, biscuits & tips

A late St. Patrick's Day 

Dinner

From the kitchen of

Isa Chandra Moskowitz

of 

Post Punk Kitchen

(I've added her to my sidebar

since she's a regular mention)

Mushroom Stout Pie With

Potato Biscuits

Recommended Listening

while preparing:

Gillian Welch

One More Dollar

Recommended Viewing

While Eating:

The Quiet Man

Actually Watched:

Big Bang Theory

Okay...

so I wouldn't be posting if it

weren't

fantabulous!

Boys drawn to the kitchen

during gaming

to see what

smelled so darn good!

Joe asking for seconds

with a

"Thanks, Mom!"

Ahh...priceless I tell ya.

Quick confession after yesterday's post...

I kinda hinted at the fact

that gathering at the table is as frequent

as a Spring Equinox...

well, maybe not that rare...but...

our meals are most often

enjoyed while...

dare I say it...

watching television!

Yeah...it's true,

we're one of those families!

So I've decided to post movies

I think would pair delightfully

with your meal.

Believe and trust me here.

I have VAST experience in this area.

Basically what I'm saying is

don't question me...

just do it.

With that over with

I had to share this picture

I was so thrilled with the

outcome...

picture perfect.

I never made anything like this before

so I was very impressed 

with myself.

Those potato biscuits were so

flaky and moist...

I have many plans to incorporate them

in my upcoming meals.

Now for the tip.

You know when you have

a recipe that calls for 

1 Tablespoon of Tomato Paste?

You go to that little can

in the pantry...open it...scoop out what you need

and...

refrigerate what's left so you can

toss it in a month when it

has turned a shade of

Spring Green?

Nah...

you've never done that!

Well, I have.

So I decided to be smart and freeze

the leftovers...frugal me.

Not so smart though

cuz...when I went to use it...well...duh...

it was frozen in a nice
hard brick I had to thaw.

Plan B:

A Genius Little Plan.

Measure the leftovers in

1 Tablespoon scoops

place on wax paper and an old Corelle plate

Flash Freeze

and then...

store in the freezer

in a small Ball Jar and you're all set

for that next pot o'

Stout Pie.

Accolades accepted.

I came upon this idea with my

own wee brain.

So if some of you have been doing this

for years...why didn't you tell me?!

And, yes...I have heard about the paste in tubes

but there aint no way I'm paying

3 bucks for what I can get for 59 cents.

Dems the facts o' life.

Music and Making.

Movies and Meals.

Musings and Masterminds!

Happy St. Patrick's Week!

Happy Spring!

Alleluia Chorus!

coming together

It doesn't happen often

but, oh...

when it does.

Like a final fare-thee-well

to winter

(unplanned but special none the less)

celebration

we prepared the food...

 James grilling the pork chops

while I created

Creamy Cauliflower & Broccoli Casserole

which stood as the main 

for me.

Table set.

Candle lit.

Family called to gather

'round.

Saying a prayer

 as fast as we can

and 

"digging in."

Talking.

Laughing.

Sharing.

M-m-m's.

Breaking the bread.
together.

Tripping upon the perfect pairing
as they dip their cutlets
in the creamy
sauce.

Going for seconds.

One minute wanting winter

to end...

the next holding these

meals

cloaked in darkness

so close to my

heart.

Knowing they too

will change with the 

sun.

mondays

You know how certain days 

have a feel

about them?

When I looked for images of 

Monday

I was surprised by the vast

array.

This, however,

 spoke of my today.

Some look at Monday

as a return to

work

just another four-letter word

kind-of-day.

A return to schedule

after the freedom

of the weekend.

For others

it's just another day.

For me

Mondays are filled with

expectation

like little New Year's in and

of themselves.

You know...like,

Monday I will begin that

diet

(not me mind you, but I've heard of this

happenstance)

new curriculum

 (my homeschool Monday)

exercise routine

cleaning project

craft project

schedule...

Monday.

No doubt

Monday means

a fresh new start

the promise of a new beginning.

Sounds great on the screen.

But like any good resolution

that loses its momentum

by February...

Monday loses its

strength by

noon...

possibly sooner

like today when I rolled from my bed

still groggy with sleep

to another gray type 

end-(already!)-of-winter day.

A bit of snow and ice covered the drive.

I was good with that

because snow brings light...

so does that big yellow thing in the sky

that hasn't shown its face

for far too long.

Which is why my house painting

project has flowed with

the sun phases.

Energy with.

Drained without.

All this to say.

I'm okay with it.

I am fighting this Monday tendency

that threatens to 

suck all joy from my life 

and I am attempting to replace it with

a more relaxed version.

No time like right now

to begin something.

(much like the "no time like the present")

Not to be confused with

the time honored

never put off tomorrow 

blah-ditty-blah-blah.

I'm talking about those changes

you know will help

and benefit you

your loved ones

the world!

Yes!

The world.

Start today.

Well...

if it isn't gray and you really don't

want to do whatever it is anyway.

Ah...

and there lies the rub.

I have found that I do that

which I want to do

much faster and with

excitement and an insurmountable amount

 (there's a tongue twister!)

of energy

than that which I really

don't want to do in the first place.

Now

if you've made it this far in my 

ramblings

don't message me with the dangers

of this theory.

I know...I know...

every job has its mundane side

and sometimes we must just

plow through it.

To which I will say to you...

whatever!

with teenage attitude.

Because if you have made it this

far in my writing

you too must be experiencing

Monday Madness.

I'm not fooling myself here

I am completely cognizant of the fact that

this is not very compelling stuff I've got

going here...

so what's your excuse?

Get out there

and do as you say already!

Go on!

Get on with it.

As for me and my house

we will

wait for the 

sun.

(double-entendre not intended

but hey...

it works!)

Oh yeah...

and don't forget to...

~this moment~

They just don't get

any better.

Have A Moment Filled 

Weekend!

hit or miss

I've discovered a strange anomaly

in my home recently
Mixed Reviews...
where soup is involved.
Me?

I could have it with every meal.

My boys...
not so much.

 So when I joyfully shouted,

Soup's on!

and got

Ugh...not again,

in reply.

My mind's ear heard...

Lotsa leftovers for me...

yippee!

Smoky Tomato & Lentil Soup

With Spinach and Olives

(PPK)

wasn't my favorite either.

I love the kalamata but this was too...

too...

A MISS.

Moving on with our evening

and a very special evening it was.

My baby girl

Kierstin

turned four

with mama's cupcakes and family

singing along to a fast paced

rendition of Happy Birthday

provided by a musical candle.

She was all smiles.

A HIT.

Grandma Jenny's Chocolate Yogurt Bundt Cake (PPK)

was a MISS with Kierstin

(well, come on...who can compete

with mama's cupcakes)

even with strawberries and

chocolate ganache.

A HIT 

with me and James however.

We'll call that one

A TIE.

An attempt at catching family

in the act of

serenading Kierstin...

A MISS.

Kierstin took over

with the new

thinking that a four-year-old 

can do better.

A HIT.

She schooled me.

Almost.

Although the fuzzy factor does make me look

ten years younger so I will

call it
A HIT.

She turned the camera on her
 beautiful self 

for this HIT

entitled

Birthday Bliss.

Quickly followed by

Dang That Flash is Bright!
 MISS.

The camera was trying to

keep up with those fast little

fingers

when it captured

My Striped Pants and Purple Polish.

Oh come on...

that's
 a HIT.

Let's tally it up

for the official count.

Drum roll...

The HITS have it.

I do believe

Kierstin

would agree.

Happy Birthday, Light of My Life!