Christmas in July

I cut the cheese into snowmen and the sandwich into a tree, had enough of a corner to make a little snowman for my little guy.

The ornament picks are from Target a few years ago and the snowmen were from Dollar Tree. 

 I saw a couple posts last week about Christmas in July and thought, Why Not?

To prove it's July, the boys and I went to my uncle's house and picked tomatoes and peppers. It was actually a nice cloudy breezy morning, then by noon it was back in the 90s and higher, but the hot Texas sun makes some beautiful produce! Several types of tomatoes and jalapenos, Serranos, bells and pablanos! This salsa maker is going to have a lot of fun! 

 I'm joining Muffin Tin Mom! 

Used in this post

Fig jam tablescape

 I set a table for one, while my boys were eating and getting ready for swim lessons. 

Toast with fig jam. 

I used my favorites

Runner from World Market

Rattan Charger from Walmart

JB Denmark Blue plate

Wallace Antique Bead Stainless

my grandmother's silver butter knife

water glass from Target

PB Wine stem for juice

Napkin from Target clearance

napkin ring from my mom's stash

Fig preserves are just figs cooked down with sugar and canned. It's an easy process with amazing results. For half my batch, I added two fresh jalapenos to the food processor. It's so good and I have Christmas and teacher gifts already in my pantry!

Here's my garden...I live in South Texas, so it's hot. I've been asked how my garden grows so well...grow native. Most of my plants are Texas natives and drought resistant.  

 Purple Grass

 Texas Sage 

 Autumn Sage

And if you have a garden, plant herbs!!!

My mint is flowering

Basil

 Chives, Lavender, Thyme, Parsley

I'm joining 

Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish

BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday

Roasted Figs with Goat Cheese & Bacon

 What's not to love? Fresh Figs, Goat cheese and Bacon!

I made these for a potluck the other day. My uncle came over with a bucket (!) of figs. I made 15 jars of jam...I'll post that next week, gave some to friends and roasted these. 

Easy and delicious!

 Cut figs in half, top with Goat cheese and roast in a 375* oven til golden. Top with bacon.

I'm linking up to 

StoneGable's

On the Menu Monday

enjoy!

Muffin Tin Monday-Breakfast

 I haven't posted a muffin tin meal in a long time. And I love this idea. It works so well to get my boys to try things and eat healthy portions. 

Here is our muffin tin breakfast...

Colby Jack Ducks, Bacon, banana, cranberries, scrambled eggs and OJ. 

It's a mason jar with a muffin paper cup under the lid...poke a hole and put your straw in! How fun is that?

I saw this idea here Nest of Posies

These cups are from my HEB and the picks are from Japan via eBay. The mini fork is from Target Dollar Spot. They has sets of 24 last year for a buck! 

 Sweet Boys enjoying a muffin tin breakfast! 

I'm joining Muffin Tin Mom!

French blue & white linens

My parents just returned from France and my mom gifted me with these beautiful blue and white quilted linens. The napkin rings tie in a bow on the underside and...they are reversible!

 I've reused my JB Indies Blue with the teapot, cups and saucers (actually coffee cups and bread plates!) and the cream and sugar. My standard rattan chargers from Walmart and PB swirled cobalt glasses are here this week too. I love how the swirl in the glasses reiterates the swirl in the china!

the other side! 

 For those who commented on the Triple Berry Pie Bar recipe...this is it...half of it. I made 2 pans! It was so good with vanilla ice cream! I think I'm making it again this weekend for our church Bar-B-Que!

 I'm joining

Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish

BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday

Happy 4th of July!!!

 

 I set my table for seven 4th of July guests. I'm using blue and white plates, but  two different sets because I have 4 of the JB Blue Denmark from last week and 6 of the Blue Willow...

I used Libby Gilbralter Iced Tea and PB Blue Swirl Wine Stems, Wallace Stainless Antique Bead, Red and Blue Cloth napkins in wired rings from Pier One.  

  I went to check on my mom's garden this morning (they're in France!) and cut this beautiful basil for my centerpiece. Basil is so pretty when it begins to seed.

Same WM runner and a few red candles.

  

 My mom gave me a bag of homegrown potatoes and I pulled a handful of onions today to make this salad. The potatoes are baked instead of boiled!

Baked Potato Salad

8 small red potatoes cut in chunks

Green onions chopped

Salt & Pepper

Garlic powder

Olive Oil

Dill

Parsley

Duke's Mayonnaise 

1 T Mustard (I used horseradish mustard, but whole grain would be great)

Put potatoes on a baking sheet with oil, S&P, garlic and parsley. Toss to coat. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 or til knife tender.  Put in a bowl, add dill and onions, mayo and mustard and toss til you like the consistency.

I also made pesto the other day with fresh basil, so I made a Pesto Pasta salad with homegrown tomatoes to serve along side our menu of

Grilled Chicken and Sausages

Tomatoes and Cucumber Salad

Baked Beans

Grilled Corn on the cob

Chips and homemade salsa

Flag Cake

Triple Berry Pie Bars

I'm joining

Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish

BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday

Miz Helen for Full Plate Thursday

Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday