Happy Father's Day...cookies!!!

 Dark Chocolate Coconut Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

I always follow the recipe of the back of the chip bag, and tweak it to my ingredient likes that week!

Ingredients

2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate Chips or HERSHEY'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375°F. (I did 350*)
   2 Stir together flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Add eggs; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating well. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if desired. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.
   3 Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 5 dozen cookies.
   I added a cup of sweetened coconut flakes, 1/2 cup of oatmeal (all I had), 1 cup of dried cranberries and used coconut oil in place of butter.

 I've made these before with half butter and half coconut oil and I like the consistency better the last time. Cookies need butter! 

Needless to say, these are still really, really good! They are heartier than just chocolate chips, but for gifts for the Daddy in our house and the Grand-Daddy across the way, heartier is perfect! 

 I guess we are in the fake or intensely forced smile stage!! Adrian helped me crack the eggs, put ingredients in the mixer and turn it on! 

He's a self proclaimed "good cooker like you, Mommy!"

 Yum, Yum, Yum

Happy Father's Day! 

I'm joining

the Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

Stone Gable for On the Menu Monday

Smiling Sally for Blue Mondays

Picnic Style Dinner

 It's so, so hot here...as in it got up to 103 the other day, and has lingered around 98. ugh. So our Summer Picnic Dinner is taking place inside where it's a cool 74 degrees!

I used some Melamine plates I got years ago from World Market with a birthday coupon. I used mix and match Mexican Cobalt glasses and added the straws since my boys were eating this meal:)

A knife and fork to cut the grilled sausages and a tan floral napkin to compliment the colors in the runner. The napkins are one of my clearance Target purchases. 

I used my rattan chargers from Walmart and my Tested By Fire handmade pottery serving dishes. I love mixing things since I don't have the full set. 

The centerpiece is a beautiful bowl (World Market) of garden fresh vegetables.

We ate 

Grilled Sausages 

Summer Salad

Grilled Corn

Watermelon

Fresh Salsa & Chips 

 The Perfect Summer Salad

Since not everyone loves tomatoes and cucumbers and feta, 

I separate them.

Just squeeze a half a lime, salt and pepper and enjoy! 

 Fresh Garden Salsa

Tomatoes

Serranos and Jalapenos

5 Garlic gloves

parsley

salt 

pepper

Juice of 4-5 limes

Put everything in your food processor and pulse. To make one large mason jar, I used about 8 Roma tomatoes and 4 peppers. Eat within a week. 

 I'm joining

Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish

BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday

Miz Helen for Full Plate Thursday

RattleBridge Farm for Foodie Friday

Homemade Pancakes and a garden update

 These were so, so good! Just when I start to feel better, my poor boys got sick again last week, and I am a Mommy first, so no, I didn't set a fancy table or post any recipes:)

  Most likely, it was a fever virus. My poor 2 1/2 year got up to 104.5, but that only lasted an hour or so, for most of the 48 hours it was around 101.  Then just when he got better, big brother came down stairs to eat and said what every Mommy doesn't want to hear after she just took care of one sickie and cleaned and cloroxed everything...Mommy, I don't feel well.  

So instead of getting to go play at the gym, (mommy work out time!), play at a friend's house (mommy adult interaction time!) and go to Sea World, we stayed home, bought a couple new DVDs--Curious George and Thomas the Train, of course. We made homemade ice cream, fresh from the garden Roasted Serrano Chipotle Salsa and slept alot. I didn't mind the three hour naps, for sure, but I HATE seeing my babies sick. Hate it.


 So when everyone felt better and wanted to eat again, I made pancakes. I usually buy Pioneer Brand Pancake Mix from my HEB. The Pioneer Mill is here in downtown San Antonio and it's good and cheap, but I didn't have any so I checked online and had all the ingredients for these. I love how fluffy they were. And pancakes or anything, for that matter, always look pretty on my JB Indies Blue china!

 Good Old Fashioned Pancakes

My garden is doing well. I pick tomatoes almost everyday because if I don't, the pesky squirrels will snatch them. I had a few large tomatoes stolen the other day. The squirrels are so heavy and climb up on the the tomatoes and broke several limbs...ergh. I hope it bounces back. I have since put up some netting to keep them out!  My cherries and juliets (grape tomatoes) are doing well.

These cucumbers are from my mom's garden. She has already made 4 batches of pickles! My eggplant won't be ready for a month, but my mom gave me this one yesterday. I can't wait to make baba ganoushi.

Do yourself a favor, if you garden, 

display your bounty in a pretty bowl on your table. 

It makes a beautiful centerpiece and let's the produce ripen naturally!

I'm joining

Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish

Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday

Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday

enjoy!

House guests buffet and fruit pizza recipe

 Last weekend we hosted 4 college students who were on their way back to New Mexico from a conference in Florida. They came in late Saturday night, took showers, slept and ate breakfast with us Sunday morning before going to church with us.

I made a breakfast casserole Saturday night and cinnamon rolls Sunday morning. The breakfast casserole just needed to be warmed up, so I put it on the top rack while I was baking the cinnamon rolls. I also used the serving bowl for fresh cut pineapple and strawberries. 

I set out plates, forks and paper napkins...they are college boys! I had glasses for juice or water and set up coffee cups next to the pot for easy service.

 Sunday afternoon, our community group had a potluck party for the end of the year. I made black bean salad again because it was requested:) and a fruit pizza. I used a box mix of sugar cookie dough. I would recommend two boxes...it took a lot of stretching to get this to the corners! 

I made coconut cream cheese buttercream icing.  I looked online for recipes, but tweeked it a bit.

1 stick of softened butter

1 block of softened cream cheese

1/2 cup coconut oil

Cream these together. Add powdered sugar (I used about 2 1/2 cups). Add 2 tsp vanilla and spread all over the cooled cookie. Top with fruit and refrigerate before serving. 


I left it on the cookie sheet instead of cutting them up since I was going to someone's house.

Here are some recipes I looked at

allrecipes.com

foodnetwork.com

It was heavenly. I used some of the pineapple and strawberries from breakfast and added blackberries for more color. It was a huge hit!!

Sorry, I didn't join in on the blogging parties last week. My boys and I were sick with an awful stomach bug, then I got a sore throat and a horrific allergy attack. It was the pits!!! But the boys are well and Mommy is on the mend:)

  I'm joining 

Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish

Miz Helen for Full Plate Thursday

BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday

Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday

the Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

Enjoy

Happy Mother's Day

This teapot and platter is on display in her dining room.

In honor of my mom and all the moms I know out there...

Here are some pictures that remind me of my mom. 

You've probably seen some of them. 

I have too much on my plate this week, so  I hope you enjoy!

Her floral Bavarian plates and Limoges Butterfly

 She went above and beyond with this beautiful cake for my birthday!

 My mom really exemplifies unconditional love. 

She is generous, she is kind, she is smart, she is wise, she is caring, nurturing, loving and she will always be one of my best friends.

In each of these pictures, she has gifted 

or lent me something without a return date.

I remember in high school, my brother's friends would eat dinner with us, even if he wasn't home. 
I learned how to set an inviting table from her. 
It didn't have to be fancy, but the guests should always feel welcome and special.  
My mom let me help her in the kitchen at an early age and always encouraged me to enjoy it.

 She gave me this teapot, platter and matching serving bowls when she knew I was collecting the pattern. 

 Regency White is the pattern she has from my grandmother. She gave me these spoons from her mother.  

 Her wedding crystal

 She helped me collect these wine glasses from Marshall's the first year I was married.

 She brought me this sugar bowl from Russia.

 The Mason Ironstone is on display in her china cabinet. It was my great grandmother's. 

 She gifted me with a set for 12 of Italian Countryside.

 She helped me collect these snowman plates and mugs years ago. 

 Her Spode Wickerdale belonged to my grandmother.

Thanks, Mom! I love you dearly!

I'm sharing with

Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish

BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

Happy Mother's Day to you!!!

Strawberry Balsamic Preserves

My oldest is in a 2 day a week Kids Day Out program and this week is Teacher Appreciation Week. I made Strawberry Balsamic Preserves to give to them with some homemade scones...if I can get them made tomorrow! This recipe made 2 pint jars and one tiny jar. I'll probably double the recipe the next time. The flavor was excellent. I'll let you know when we open the small jar how the consistency is.

 I found these labels here and just added balsamic to the label. It doesn't take a lot to make a really cute gift on a budget. I'm a maker. I've made most of the gifts for Adrian's teachers...Christmas sweets, Valentine cookies, and now preserves. 
I plan on making Vanilla Sugar for Christmas gifts from Foodie Friday at Rattlebridge Farm. 
A friend of mine made it for me one Christmas when I hosted a cookie exchange. I think Vanilla Sugar and a pound of great coffee or tea would be a sweet gift. You could even include a pretty mug or cup and saucer.

 I also picked some tomatoes...you can see where I have to fight with birds picking at them... My "teacher"--my boot camp instructor is a friend I've known since grade school. She has lupus and eats a strict vegan diet. I plan on giving her some homegrown tomatoes, serranos, onions, cilantro and other fresh herbs.


I'm joining 
Miz Helen for Full Plate Thursday
Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday

A birthday gift from my mom

 Yesterday was my birthday and my sweet mom had been saving this gift for me...it's a Russian shawl, but she said, "I thought it would look good on your table!" She's right. It is beautiful!

I paired it with classic blue and white...

Churchill Blue Willow atop dark rattan chargers

Blue Danube luncheon plates and cups & saucers

Churchill Blue Willow tea set

Blue rimmed wine stems & clear water goblets

my grandmother's silver

White linens in blue and white Russian napkin rings

Thanks, Mom! You know me so well!

I'm joining 

Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish

BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday