Saturday, March 24, 2012

This Week's Blog Post

My week was quite uneventful, much better than last week when I broke one of my favorite wine glasses, the coffee carafe (this was super bad) and a handheld mirror (like I needed more bad luck)! For as long as I can remember I have had a problem with dropping things, hence I never purchase expensive dishes or drinkware. It must be some freak sensory disorder.

On top of that, I have purchased 2 coffee makers since then. One worked for 6 uses and the next one makes coffee that tastes like coffee flavored water. I like my morning cup to be seriously strong and flavorful! Ugh!!!!

Eyeglass Chain Request
One of my customers requested an autumn jasper and a fancy jasper eyeglass chain with no metal beads.

I am now pondering if I should make more like this, sans metal beads! It gives the chain an understated look which would be more appealing to some wearers.

Hyacinth Bloom
My hyacinth is showing itself super early! It has such a cool look before the vibrant purple flowers show themselves!

Luckily my baby eastern redbud and kousa dogwood trees survived our strange winter and incredibly dry earth. They are not ready to bloom yet but there are some buds on them! Both are spawns of mature trees on my parent’s property so it will be nice to see them survive.

Vegetable Strata
I made a strata many years ago and loved it, but have not made one since.

So I ventured over to allrecipes.com for ideas. After printing 2 recipes and pulling the aspects of each that we like here is the recipe Jim and I created:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
8 ounce package of mushrooms
5 whole wheat English muffins split and toasted
½ cup feta cheese
¼ cup parmesan
2 cups shredded cheddar
½ lb asparagus cut into 1 inch pieces
1 large zucchini, quartered
1 cup chopped peppers (any color of choice, we used sweet red, yellow and orange)
8 eggs
2 cups milk
Salt and pepper to taste

1. First sauté the mushroom and zucchini for approximately 10 minutes in the oil to evaporate their moisture.
2. Then grease a 9 x 13 inch pan and preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cover the bottom of the pan with the toasted muffins, cut side up. Tear up the remainder of the muffins to fill in the empty spaces.

Cover this with 1 cup of cheddar and 1/4 cup feta. Then toss in the mushroom, zucchini, asparagus and pepper.
3. Whisk the eggs, parmesan and milk. Add salt and pepper if desired. Then pour this over the vegetables. Top with remaining cheddar and feta.

4. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until ready. Test using a knife in the center and when this comes out clean, it is done.
5. Enjoy!

This is packed with protein and vitamins! The only unhealthy aspect to this is the high cholesterol count. It is super delicious and also cuts up beautifully the next day making it a great leftover dish for any meal of the day!!!!

Posing With A Car
My mail made me laugh this week! So purchased my car back in September and the salesman talked me into posing with my car. Don’t only bikini models do this? I felt ridiculous!!!!

Should I have laid on the hood of the car? Well this picture finally arrived….6 months later and is the cover of a lovely 2012 calendar! I knew having this pic taken was going to make me laugh and it certainly did!

New Nail Polish
This is my newest nail color. It is Vintage from Revlon.

It is a beautiful raspberry like tone! I am only showing my pinky because I am self conscious of my fingers. My knuckles are really big and embarrassing! I am also not the best self manicurist!

Thank you for stopping by! Have a marvelous week! I am quite excited for it since Mad Men is finally coming back. More Don Draper...Woohooo!!!!

24 comments:

  1. the strata looks delicious! and simple! will have to try that. and love the pic with the car ... modeling as a side gig?

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  2. The chains are beautiful, the colours are just perfect :)

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  3. Hi Val,
    Love Jasper in any color it come in, those are nice eyeglass holders. I'm going to have to try the Strata it sounds yummy. I don't know why the affordable coffee makers these day can not make a good cup of coffee.
    Enjoy the weekend,
    Therese

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  4. Hi Val,

    It's a cute picture of you with your new car.

    Dee

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  5. You've been published! Congratulations on being a calendar girl. :-) And that vegetable strata looks soooo good!

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  6. Sorry about the coffee makers and dropping things!
    I love the chains for the eye glasses! Very nice ;o)
    Your flower picture is beautiful! I am watching my trees! I hope they all made it through too ;o)
    That recipe looks so yummy! You have great recipes!
    Love the nail color and you look so cute infront of the car! Excellent being in a calendar! Wow!
    Take Care ;o)

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  7. The eyeglass chains w/out metal are nice and a great idea. You could channel Vanna White for the car pose ;0 Nice color car by the way. I'd love to try more meat free meals and your strata looks good. Have a great week. Our warm weather is fading and we will be back to cooler temps soon. It was nice while it lasted.

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  8. i know what you mean about coffee!

    thanks for visiting my blog and left me a comment! :) and thx so much for following me!

    the STYLE Fringe BLOG
    http://the-stylefringe.blogspot.com

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  9. Lol ~ if you could see my big knuckles and short stubby fingers you would probably appreciate your own better. ;) Love the car photo, how funny to find yourself smiling back from a calendar! Perhaps next time a bikini... ;)

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  10. Hi Val,

    your recipes always look so delicious and as always, thanks for sharing, I think I would really like to try this one.

    I do by the way, love seeing you with you car, you look so happy. I remember when you bought it, you were so excited.

    Sounds like a mess this week, don't put any good china in your hands....I hope the upcoming week holds a lot less breakage for you.

    ruth

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  11. It's great that you made it to the cover of a calendar, you look great and very happy on that photo even if you didn't lay on the car's hood ;)

    I like that nail color but I am also very conscious of my hands, I hardly wear color on my nails It thinks it makes my fingers look chubby! But then that's me.

    Oh and your garden it starts looking beautiful. Have a great week.

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  12. I like your eye glass chains. Jasper is such a lovely stone, they look great all by themselves. Your hyacinth are beautiful it looks like the color is going to be amazing. I have not had a strata in years, you recipe sounds easy and tasty. I may have to give it a try. Love the red nails.
    Valerie
    Everyday Inspired

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  13. The vegetable strata looks delicious. I will have to try making it sometime. And I like that nail polish. Lovely colour

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  14. so funny (well, not really!), I broke my coffee pot too! Had to order a new one as it's one of those cone shaped ones and I couldn't find it at the store! UGH

    You and the car look awesome!!!!

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  15. Love the eyeglass chains, and the nail polish.

    The strata looks amazingly yummy.

    BUT...nothing, but nothing can top the car shot! I LOVE it Val!!

    Have a great week ahead!

    xo.

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  16. Looks like you've had a great week Val!! Love those nails and that recipe looks divine!

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  17. i love the necklaces!
    in summer i love mixing that type ones of different colors and they look awsome!

    www.meryswardrobe.blogspot.com

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  18. Oh my goodness - you really are breaking all kinds of things. That seems to happen in our house to. I won't drop anything for months sometimes, then for 2 or 3 days I can't hold onto anything. I'm a total Butter Fingers. We only have 2 champagne glasses left in our house. One from our wedding set and a crusty free one from The Melting Pot. I refuse to buy more.

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  19. Hi lovely, the vegetable strata looks delicious!!! and the chains are beautiful!!
    Have a good week!!

    Besos, desde España, Marcela♥

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  20. Love the car/calendar photo :) I bet that was an interesting mail day...LOL :)
    Love your new nail polish!
    And it's so great to see all the flowers blooming!

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  21. So sorry about your coffee pot... I tend to knock things off the counter with an elbow, so I have gotten to where I always have a spare coffee maker tucked away some where.

    I like your new eyeglass chains. Very subtle color. I have friends that complain that they can't wear necklaces with eye glass chains becuase they compete too much, but with your new ones, that definitely won't be a problem!

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  22. Wonderful jewelry ! You are so creative. I love jasper. Kind regards, Synnöve

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  23. Dear Val,

    I love the pic (calender) with you posing with your car! Great outfit too! And I also love your new berry red nail polish :)
    Must try the veggie strata! It looks delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
    Have a lovely day,
    Duni

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  24. Dear Val,

    Thanks for your sweet comments on my video. I adore your new raspberry nail polish. I need to paint my nails.

    Dee

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Thank you for stopping by! I love reading visitor comments! ~Val