Hello Sunshine!

As I turned on my garden sprinkler (just 10 minutes ago), I noticed (for the first time) these little beauties!!!
Ta-Da!!!

I knew that there had been blossoms on my tomato plants a couple weeks ago, but it seemed like nothing was happening. I was wrong! Granted, they are tiny... BUT, they exist. Period! I am curious to see if they do well or not (aren't tomatoes like the single hardest thing to grow?).

PS: Yes, yes, yes, I know. My pictures stink. Real bad. But you see... My cord that connects camera to computer is lost. Forever. And so I am stuck using my dinky phone for all photos. Lame-o. My apologies.

I think I just died...

...and went to heaven!

You MUST go check out this recipe from "How Sweet it is" 

 ---- it looks TOO DIE FOR ---

literally

Personal Pan Fruit Pizzas

Chicken, Cheese & a Carter!

Yay! We have our FIRST guest blogger here at the Emerald Gardens! Let me introduce you to 

Mrs. Kelli {Carter} Meyer

 

I know Kelli as a Carter, so its hard for me to remember the Meyer at the end! Kelli and I grew up together and have always been good gal pals. Specifically when I think of Kelli, I think of showing steers. She and I were always county fair buddies and did lots of 4-H/FFA stuff together. The Carter family women are great cooks (who love spicy food!) and Kelli's mom makes the best fudge to be found :) Kelli is now forever away, living in Missouri, doing great things with her life: husband in vet school while wife in nursing school - you guys rock!).

Kelli sent me a few recipes. Today I am sharing a chicken dish. Sadly I couldn't make it for dinner because I don't have Stovetop on hand (...and the grocery store in 80 miles away...). However, I am grocery shopping on Thursday and Stovetop will be at the top of my list! Once I've made it, I'll give my review :)

Bruschetta Chicken Bake

Everyday Food

That sounds like my exact goal. I want 'everyday food.' Ingredients that I have on hand. A recipe that doesn't take eternity. And NOT a sinkful of 1000000 dirty dishes.

I signed up for the Everyday Food Blog weekly newsletter (thanks, Martha). It is supposed to come every Tuesday and give me some fun ideas. I will update you once I get my first couple newsletters and let you know whether its worth the 'inbox-clutter."

(Even though I love to watch Martha on TV, sometimes her recipes really aren't practical, and that's why I'm a little spectical about this newsletter. Hopefully the old gal proves me wrong!)

Rachael Ray v. Mom

The other day I was watching Rachael Ray and she made this Tex-Mex BBQ Turkey Tamale Pie which I thought looked SO good. I spent the rest of the day wishing I had polenta on hand so that I could try this new recipe out. Well, somewhere during that day, I realized that I grew up eating a recipe that is almost identical. Ok, identical might be pushing it. But similar? Yes Very very similar. They are in the 'family.' So, here is the Mom version (aka easier, cheaper, and more likely that you have the ingredients on hand version) of Rachael's fancy skillet dinner.

Cornmeal Topped Sausage Pie

1 lb sausage
1 1/2 c green pepper, chopped
1 chopped onion
1 can navy beans (I used pinto!)
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 can tomato paste (I was out of this as well, so I substituted tomato sauce and cut back on the water)
1/2 c water
1 t sugar

Sharing is Caring

I have a love/hate relationship with the creation of meals. I mean, I love to eat. I love to provide my husband with a good dinner. I love being domestic. I even love wearing an apron.

But I hate choosing what to cook everyday. I hate grocery shopping. I hate dishes. I hate dishes. I hate dishes.

And I have a sneaking suspicion that some of you out there feel the same way. Anyone?

King Me, Please

Remember my fun red chair?

I finally got around to the table and in the process, came up with my

BEST IDEA EVER

Really. For reals. Best one. E.v.e.r

So the table is black and the chairs are red. And it sits on a picturesque 'Mayberry' porch. Any ideas?

~~~~ Drumroll ~~~~

Knee High by the... 14th of July?

My mom always used the adage 

"Knee High by the 4th of July"

for a gauge of whether the corn was doing well or not. 

Well, my corn stalks weren't quite knee high on Independence Day, but they are DEFINITELY knee-high now! Check these guys out! I am so pleased with this corn patch!!! (Notice that my beans are not doing so well...)

Apple Goodness

I haven't posted a recipe in eons. Okay, okay, I haven't posted ANYTHING in eons. Nonetheless, here is one of my all-time favorite muffin recipes. In fact, I made them just yesterday! Super moist, tasty and even healthy!

(Another Mom classic...)
Lemony Apple Oat Muffins
1 1/4 c flour
1/2 c brown sugar
1 1/2 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
1/4 t ground nutmeg
1 egg
1/2 c evaporated milk
1/4 c oil
2 T lemon juice
3/4 c quick-cook oats
1 c finely chopped oats
1/2 c chopped nuts