Smooth Like Buttuh

"On our toast or on a muffin, 

Butter's what we spread.

It can go on popcorn too,

Or vegetables instead."

 ~Barney

Yes folks, I quoted Barney. Let's move along. What's better than butter? It goes in practically everything and Paula Deen even fries it. But, since the real stuff is not that great for your arteries, I try to stay away from it and use olive oil when cooking instead. But, sometimes yah just ghotta have some buttuh. So, to compromise, I use Smart Balance. I like it. So that works. I present, "healthy" herbed butter. Easy as pie and almost as good :)

All you need is: 

Butter (or a healthy butter option of your choice)

Freshly Chopped Herbs

Butter Jar

I took fresh cuts of Rosemary and Thyme from my garden and finely chopped them. You could use any combination you would like. I almost added garlic chives but decided just to keep it simple since Rosemary and Thyme are so potent anyway. After you chop the herbs churn together with the butter to make it nice and whipped. Put it in your jar or container and you are good to go! You can spread it on just about anything. Mr. Lucas and I spread it on the steaks we cooked tonight for a nice kick in flavor. Spread it on your toast or biscuit in the morning for breakfast, cook with it, add it to your favorite cut of meat or even tofu (with a vegan butter). Possibilities are endless.

Cheers!

Garlic Grillin'

I love roasted garlic. Yum. The smell of it roasting and the yummy sweet savory taste when it is roasted to perfection, oh man. Since I have my trusty new grill...I decided to grill it. Worked perfect. 

Materials:

Whole Garlic

Olive Oil

Sea Salt

Foil

Cut the top of the garlic off. Drizzle with EVOO and drizzle with salt. Wrap up in foil. Grill for about 30-40 minutes depending on how hot your grill gets. There you have it. Grilled garlic. Bam!

Cheers! 

Potting Plants In Paint Pails

I really need to give my outdoor decor a lift. Disappointed that my cucumbers did not grow this year put me into a gardening depression so I started to ignore my back yard. But, I do have some ideas on how to give it a little face lift so I can enjoy it a bit more. So, I started with a little creative potting. I love succulents, can't get enough of them. Plus, you don't have to water them everyday and they are very heat tolerant which I appreciate living in Texas.  There is a succulent/sedum nursery in town I just found. I plan to drag Mr. Lucas there next weekend. I want to plant one of those HUGE Agave Americana plants, my neighbor has one and I am jealous. I figure digging hers up in the middle of the night would be inappropriate. But...enough of my love for cacti. Here is my very simple and cute little project.

Materials Needed:

*Empty Paint Pail-you can find them at your local hardware store for about $5.00

*Soil

*Succulents/Cacti-several to arrange in your pail

*Hammer

*Large Nail

*Tongs-to handle those pesky cacti!

First, you will need to make holes in the bottom of the pail so when you water the soil it will drain. Take the hammer and nail and make several holes.

Fill your pail about 3/4 of the way (or a little less). Arrange your succulents and then fill to the top with soil so the plants are well secure.

Give it a little water and tah-dah, your done! You can make it your centerpiece for your backyard table or hang it like I did.

Happy potting. Cheers! 

Happy 4th!

How are you spending your 4th of July today? I am fortunate to be off of work. I slept in, drank several cups of coffee watching Bravo (my shameless addiction), and went shopping for supplies for a little project I will post very soon! We are going to a friends house for a fiesta later this afternoon. But, here is a little refreshing drink recipe to help you celebrate the holiday!

Watermelon Cucumber Granita:

Its so very simple. Since the watermelon and cucumber naturally have a lot of moisture in them, you won't need to add water AND...since they both have naturally great flavors you won't need to add sugar either! So, this is one guiltless pleasure of a beverage!

You will need:  

One small seedless watermelon-cut into small pieces

One cucumber, seeded, and skinned-cut into small pieces

The zest of one lemon

Lemon juice to taste

In a blender put your chopped watermelon, cucumber, lemon juice (about 2 tablespoons of the pre-squeezed kind) and lemon zest. Blend until liquid.

Pour in a baking dish that is safe for the freezer and place in the freezer for about 3 hours or until completely frozen. About every 45 minutes or so scrape with a fork so you don't have one solid block. 

When it is completely frozen and nice and fluffy pour into a glass and enjoy!! If you want to jazz it up to make a refreshing cocktail you can add a shot of rum or your choice of liquor.

You can make many different variations. My sister and I messed around with a recipe on my visit. We made Watermelon Basil Granita and it was delish! If you want to be festive you could half the watermelon, scoop out the contents to leave the watermelon shell and pour it back in when its frozen. Tons of ideas!

Cheers and Happy 4th! 

Spinning! (That's Meant To Be In The Tune Of Winning!)

I cannot believe it has been a year since I have spun yarn. Yes, a year. The same yarn I was spinning in Santa Fe last year is still on my spindle and is collecting dust. It's not that I'm not passionate about it anymore. Frankly, I'm not really certain what happened. Maybe there was just too much going on last year, my lovely little family did go through a lot. I love spinning. The sound of the wheel is comforting, the motion of spinning is calming, and the art of creating something is so very satisfying. Maybe I am just mourning not being in New Mexico! My poor little wheel has just been sitting, waiting for me to do something...anything. I have so much roving that still needs to be spun. I have so much wool that still needs to be carded (thank you so much Taos Sunflower!). I am excited about it. I am excited about spinning again, carding again, and even learning to dye wool...the proper way. I think sometimes it is easy to get in a slump. Not that you have lost passion...but just a plain ol' slump. However, I have come out of that slump and I plan to spin, card, dye, and learn as many new things about spinning and wool that I possibly can!

Cheers!