365 ~ 121 ~ Cuke Twins

No, I didn't mean "cute"... I meant "cuke".... :)  In my friend Kim's garden...

365 ~ 118 ~ Beans N' Bokeh

Where is Jack when you need him? 

365 ~ 117 ~ Egg rolls anyone?

My first cabbage of spring...this one was shredded for Baked Egg Rolls - one of my families favorite dishes.  The second harvested cabbage was "bartered" with my best friend for green onions and cucumbers from her garden.  :)

365 ~ 106 ~ Stir Fry

While I won't pretend to know much about photography in general, I DO know that food seems to photograph best in natural light. I usually take food outside just out of direct sunlight to get a good shot. 

(here's an example from my Feb. 13th post)

However, it isn't usually sunny at dinnertime, and often I want photos of what I made.

Last night was a good example...  I made a beef stir fry.  This is an example of what a flash can do to an otherwise tasty looking dish...makes it look like dog food basically.  Ewwwww.

The light was pretty low in the dining room, but I took a shot anyway and worked with the exposure a bit on Picnik.

365 ~ 103 ~ Birth of a Bean...

This will be a sweet, crispy green bean one day...

365 ~ 97 ~ Soup's On!

It rained the other day... I wanted soup.  I wanted potato soup...and broccoli cheese soup...so I meshed two recipes together and came up with... "Roasted Garlic, Potato, Broccoli and Cheese Soup"... long name...luschious soup!

365 ~ 94 ~ Ready to Roast

Roasted Garlic is so incredibly delicious!  Mash it into mashed potatoes, spread it on toast, put it in guacamole, use it to make roasted garlic soup!  Oh Yum.

365 ~ 87-92 ~ Birthday Fun!

Yup.... I had a birthday...it just keeps happening...every year, another year older, hee hee. :)


This year for my birthday, we went with out bestest friends to Maggianos for dinner (YUM!), and afterward we headed to Old Town in Kissimmee, FL so that my best girlfriend, Kim and I could be flung 400 feet into the air in a slingshot...doesn't that sound fun??? :)  It was!


87, 88 and 89 - Maggiano's!!! YUM.

Bruschetta and Ceaser Salad for starters...

Chicken Francese with Pasta ...enough for two LARGE meals...(we brought a cooler to take home goodies)...

This is supposed to be Tiramisu...by I have no idea what happened to it! Hee hee hee

I did not take this photo, I couldn't...but I wanted to share it.

90 ~ The Slingshot...

The next day we went for a long motorcycle ride, which included Blackpoint Wildlife reserve...this is what we saw...  YIKES!  He's big...see his tail, how it curls around?  He was on the bank and then began to slink into the water and down the canal where we could not see him.  It's never a good thing to be on the opposite bank of a canal that contains a 13 foot gator that you canNOT see... we left after this shot was taken. :)

91 ~ Gator

Here we are at the river in Titusville.  Our official...my wife is 43 photo shoot, lol.

92 ~ Us. :)

AND, just for fun...if you care to see how goofy and strange I really am... you may watch the video below of me and my bestest girlfriend being slung into the air.  If you're really feeling adventurous, you can watch the second one too.  Yup, we couldn't just ride once! :)

365 ~ 80 ~ Herbs in Macro V

Parsley

Parsley is widely used in Middle Eastern, European, and American cooking.  Green parsley is often used as a garnish, with potato dishes (boiled buttered potatoes or mashed potato), with rice dishes (risotto or pilaf), with fish, fried chicken, lamb or goose, steaks, meat or vegetable stews (like beef bourguignon, goulash or chicken paprikash).


In southern and central Europe, parsley is part of bouquet garni, a bundle of fresh herbs used as an ingredient in stocks, soups, and sauces. Freshly chopped green parsley is used as a topping for soups like chicken soup, green salads or salads.

Intersting Note:  Parsley tea is used to lower blood pressure.

365 ~ 79 ~ Herbs in Macro IV

Thyme

Thyme is a good source of iron and is widely used in cooking in French,Italian, Greek and many other types of foods.  It is great to use in meats, soups, and omlets. It is a common ingredient of the bouquet garni, and of herbes de Provence.

Interesting Note:  The essential oil of common thyme 20-54% thymol, an antiseptic, and the main active ingredient in Listerine mouthwash.  Before modern antibiotics were invented, it was used to medicate bandages.  It is also effective against toenail fungus, and is the active ingredient in all-natural, alcohol-free hand sanitizers.


A tea made by steeping Thyme in water can be used for cough and bronchitis.  It cna be used treat respiratory infections in the form of a tincture, tisane, salve, syrup or by steam inhalation.


I use Thyme in my hubby's favorite dish... Chicken n' Dumplin's.  I'm quite certain that this flavorful herb is what make this dish so amazingly delicious! :)

365 ~ 78 ~ Herbs in Macro III

Mexican Tarragon

Also called: Mexican marigold, Spanish tarragon, or Texas tarragon.  Commonly used as a substitute for tarragon. The leaves have a tarragon-like flavor, with hints of anise (or a licorice type flavor).  In late summer or early fall, the plant bears large clusters of golden yellow florets.
Interesting note:  In one study, methanolic extract from the flower inhibited growth of Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and Candida albicans cultures—an effect that was enhanced with exposure to ultraviolet light. The roots, stems, and leaves also had the same effect when irradiated with UV light.... not quite sure if that means we should eat it and then go lay in the sun, or what??? lol



I use this herb in a soup I created that my husband just LOVES.... I call it... Kathy's Kickin' Chicken Soup.

365 ~ 77 ~ Herbs in Macro II

Rosemary

A popular herb in Mediterranean cooking, used both fresh and dried.  The leaves have a very strong scent and a slightly bitter taste, complimenting many foods.  

Intersting note:  Rosemary is extremely high in iron, calcium, and Vitamin B6.  Rosemary extract has been shown to improve the shelf life and heat stability of omega-3 rich oils, which are prone to going rancid.


Here are some ways to use Rosemary...for more, just go to The Wooden Spoon, and type Rosemary into the search box.

Olive Oil and Rosemary Bread

Seasoning a Turkey

365 ~ 76 ~ Herbs in Macro I

Oregano

Oregano is a very popular cooking herb, often more flavorful when it's leaves are dried and crushed.  It is a staple in Italian/American cuisine, but is also used in Turkish, Greek and Latin foods as well as many others. 

Interesting note:  It became popular in the US when World War II soldiers brought it back with them, calling it the “pizza herb”.  Not only used for pizza, in Southern Italy, it has long been with roasted, fried or grilled vegetables, meat and fish. Oregano combines well with spicy foods, which are popular in southern Italy.  It is less commonly used in the north of the country, where marjoram tends to replace it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are some recipes from my cooking blog that call for Oregano...for more, just go to The Wooden Spoon, and type Oregano in to the search box.

Off the Cuff Mexican Lasagne

Broccoli and Bacon Stuffed Shells

Pasta e Fagioli Soup

365 ~ 75 ~ Fondant Preggo

I can't believe I forgot to post this.  I had teased you a few weeks back as I was preparing to make a pregnant woman out of fondant for a friends baby shower.  I promised to show off the final product...well, here she is!

If you click on the link below the photo, you can see the whole photo album and how I made her, etc...

The Photo Album..

35 ~ 74 ~ Cupcake

I was recently asked to make some cupcakes for a baby shower.  I loved that they wanted Chocolate on chocolate!  My kind of shower!!!

365 ~ 72 ~ Spring IV

Almost muffins.... :)  I can't wait!  This is my first time growing blueberries...I'm looking forward to fresh berries in  my oatmeal and popping inside of warm muffins...oh YUM!

365 ~ 71 ~ Spring III

Green cabbage sits next to a set of purple cabbage..the tiny little heads are just beginning to form...hope  they hurry, the heat is coming!!

365* ~ 70 ~ Spring II

365* ~ 69 ~ Spring

My first tomato...

365 ~ 65 ~ Don't-nut

Just sayin'... if you only knew how much grease and sugar this contained...you wouldn't even think about it! LOL

I don't eat donuts, they don't really appeal to me that much....except for those powdered ones with the frothy chocolate filling...oh, yum! ... and jelly filled, those are pretty tasty too....oh, and, um, I do like glazed donuts I guess.... you know,... is an apple fritter a donut?  'Cause those are pretty good too... do you see why I don't eat donuts?  LOL

Valkaria Airshow