Sunday, July 31, 2011

I love ratatouille in the summer.

Summer is the time to make big pots of ratatouille, when the veggies are fresh from the vines. I visited our cute little farmer's market on Friday night and picked up some tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, and eggplant--all of which are used in ratatouille. If you don't know what ratatouille is, I describe it as an Italian vegetable stew. Here's the recipe I use to make it:


Ratatouille

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse



Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup olive oil, plus more as needed
  • 1 1/2 cups small diced yellow onion
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 2 cups medium diced eggplant, skin on
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 cup diced green bell peppers
  • 1 cup diced red bell peppers
  • 1 cup diced zucchini squash
  • 1 cup diced yellow squash
  • 1 1/2 cups peeled, seeded and chopped tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Set a large 12-inch saute pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, add the onions andgarlic to the pan. Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, until they are wilted and lightly caramelized, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the eggplant and thyme to the pan and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the eggplant is partially cooked, about 5 minutes. Add the green and red peppers,zucchini, and squash and continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, and salt and pepper, to taste, and cook for a final 5 minutes. Stir well to blend and serve either hot or at room temperature.

I hope you try ratatouille one day. It's delicious and full of nutrients to counteract all of the junk we usually call food.

On a different note, I was reading an article where a woman was threatened with fines and a possible jail term for growing a vegetable garden in her front yard. That's an extreme reaction from the city. I don't why she decided that her front yard was the best place for her vegetable garden (instead of the back or side yards). But, to serve jail time for this choice seems rather heavy handed. What do you think?

Monday, July 25, 2011

Trying some of Ms. Werner's designs

I was inspired by several of Kristina Werner's YouTube tutorials on cards. Here are the results.

This scrap ribbon card was inspired by this video.


This get well card was inspired by this video.


And, finally this card was inspired by this video.

I hope you like them.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

August and September 2011 calendar pages

I just finished creating my August and September calendar pages. I hoped to have the whole year completed by now. But, that's not the case. At least these are done and ready to use.





Sunday, July 10, 2011

Looking for something cool to spend $ on?

Well, check these inventions out. I have a lot of favorites on this page. However, the Condometric, night light, and dog drinking dish just made me laugh.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Are the Cylons coming?

This is so weird, scary, and yet fascinating. Scientists are able to create an electronic-organic brain-like thing. Is this the beginning of the birth of a Cylon? Sooo scary.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

There are giant squids living in our oceans.

Some Florida fishermen found a dying 25' squid floating in the coastal water. There are so many creatures we hardly ever see.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Mini scrapbook idea

I think i may do something like this



Mini Book Standing Open



for next year's vacation Bible school. This is soooo cute. It uses one sheet of 12" x 12" cardstock. Check it out on about.com.

Monday, July 4, 2011

A nice mix of colors, textures, and flow (scrapbook page)

I like Laura Vegas' style. This two-page spread is an interesting way to mix colors and textures. I like how Laura uses flowers here. I have a ton of flowers that are waiting to be used.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Super cute baby scrapbook page.

This page was on Laura Vegas blog.

LittleEmily

I hope I die empty too.

Here is an excerpt from the article "I Hope to Die Empty", ,,, a South African friend asked, “Do you know what the most valuable land in the world is?” ... our friend replied, “it’s the graveyard, because with all of those people are buried unfulfilled dreams, unwritten novels, masterpieces not created, businesses not started, relationships not reconciled. THAT is the most valuable land in the world.”


WOW.

The new Stampin' Up! catalog is now here.

Come check it out.