Summer Scenery.....

Our  family's personal piece of the planet is small , but we do our best to bring a little beauty to it.  Enjoy the show ! 

Strawberry Fruit Salsa a la Jeanne.....

Strawberries are in an abundance right now at our house.  Saturday afternoon we made a visit to the local strawberry farm. The fields were filled with families picking basket after basket of berries that were so sweet and juicy,  we went back for seconds on Sunday.   Here is a delicious strawberry recipe that my sister-in-law Jeanne gave me many years ago. 

• 2 Kiwi peeled and diced
• 2 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored and diced
• 8 oz. raspberries 
• 1 lb. strawberries diced
• 1 cup blueberries
• 3 Tbsp. strawberry preserves
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 pkg. flour tortillas, cut into triangles
• butter cooking spray
• cinnamon sugar

The first thing I do is dice the apples then squirt lemon juice over them. Then I  gently mix in the remaining fruit.  Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes while the cinnamon tortillas are baking.  Here is how I do that.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Lay tortillas in a single row on a sheet pan.  Spray generously with the butter spray, sprinkle all over with cinnamon sugar then spray again.  Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.  Serve with the Strawberry and Mixed Fruit salsa.

Celebrate Strawberries With Strawberry Scones

Did you know the first strawberry festival was held in my home state of Massachusetts in the year 1858.  Now a days strawberry season is celebrated all over America.  Here is a delicious strawberry scone recipe that I'm sure would be delicious in any century.

• 2  cups all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 6 tbsp. cold butter, cut unto small pieces
• grated lemon rind from one medium lemon
• 1 cup native fresh strawberries
• 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp. milk or cream
• 1 tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 3 to 4 tbsp. confectionery sugar

1. preheat oven to 425 degrees F
2. In the bowl of a food processor, put in the dry ingredients. Whirl until combined.  Next cut in butter and process until mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
3. Stir in strawberries, yogurt, and lemon rind.
4. Turn onto a floured board and knead until just combined.  Do not over work or the scones will be tough.
5. Press into a circle about 1 inch thick.  Cut with a biscuit cutter.  Makes about 10 good size  scones.
6. Place on a greased sheet pan and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Mix glaze and brush on the warm scones.

 

 So Good!

A New Dream Is Born....

For the life of me I can't understand why my husband didn't purchase this ocean front fixer upper for our 25th Wedding Anniversary.  Come on,  aren't I worth  it.  What's a few million dollars between two people who have shared half a life time together.

Please gaze out over the jagged rocks for just a moment and take a look at this gorgeous view.  Now close your eyes, take a deep breath, relax and let the cool ocean breeze blow all your troubles away.
  

The quaint seacoast town of Rye  located in neighboring New Hampshire is where I would land if I could.  Less than a hour away and you are transported into that elevated state of mind that only living near the ocean can provide.

Never again would there be a need to buy a gift or bring home a bouquet of flowers. The gift itself would be the spectacular view of the sea.
I've also come to the conclusion that I need to dream about something. Dreaming is fun and it keeps my mind occupied while my children are preparing ever so slowly to leave the nest. Now friends, wouldn't  you agree that my dream of having a chicken coop would have been a whole lot cheaper.

My Visit To Camelot

The closer we got to the King Arthur Flour The Baker's Store in Norwich Vermont the heavier my foot got on the gas pedal.  Mary Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes,  my sister Ann and I made the one hour and forty-five minute drive this past Saturday.  We had a ball.  I bought three loaves of bread.  Mmmm delicious, a honey wheat, whole wheat and a baguette.

There were shelves upon shelves of everything you could use for baking, dough making and decorating cakes and cookies.

I couldn't wait to purchase the pure citrus oils. A few drops in frosting and cake batters brings the flavor of your baked goods to a whole other level.

As soon as school is out I am going to make my grilled pizza with this specialty pizza dough.  Just a little teaspoon or two of the pizza dough flavor in the dough gives the pizza an authentic pizzeria flavor.

I hope I have enough sanding sugar.

Both the honey wheat and whole wheat made excellent toast.  We dipped the baguette immediately in extra virgin olive oil and herbs when I got home.  Slurp, drip, all gone.   Some other things I bought but didn't post about are Boiled Cider, Dutch Cocoa, Cappuccino Chips, Fiori di Sicilia, and a gigantic cooling rack for my cakes and cookies.  We  decided to go back in the fall when the foliage turns.  Woo Hoo, I can't wait!!!