St Augustine '08

aren't they cute! 'Uncle Jean-Charles'

Ponte Vedra Beach

Pizza- again....

Pizza night! Anth misses this for sure- so he was soooooooo happy to have it!

He is always cold!

Okay he is laying up to the heat register-to try to get warm.

He loves cuddling up with everyone!

Rocco jumped in the warm basket of clothes-he is something else! What is going on with me? I would never put up with a dog on 'clean' clothes-he was just 'too' cute!

My Grand Dog!

This is our new Grand Dog! No name yet....Anth can't decide(big surprise) probably between Rocco or Louis(Louey) He is an Italian Greyhound-super sweet & cute-such a lover to everyone.

Rio Grande

Crabmeat Nachos

One of our favorites.. from a restaurant that is so sadly closed now.. we decided to try to make this since we loved it so much. C T makes the crab- we load it up on top of the chips, with langostinos, black olives or whatever topping you love. You could add shrimp or crawfish. The toppings are endless. We add a colby/monterey jack cheese on top & then stick it in the oven til melted. It doesn't sound like a typical nacho combonation- but it is SUPER good!!!

CT

My first Crimson Watermelon from my garden. Ct loved it! I can't tell you how sweet and delicious it is.. because I don't eat watermelon. But, I got such a thrill from growing my own!
CT LOVES having dinner on the boat! I think he would eat out there every night if he could. Escaping on the lake after ATL traffic, is something he looks forward to A LOT!!!!

love of FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!

AS I AM INCREASING MY WORKOUT... TO OVERCOME THIS PLATEAU I AM AT WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS. IT WAS KINDA COOL TO CALCULATE. MY GOAL NOW IS TO TRY AND BURN AT LEAST HALF OF MY CALORIC INTAKE FOR THE DAY IF NOT 3/4...IT ISN'T EASY BECUZ I AM FINDING THAT I AM WORKING OUT SUPER HARD TO DO THAT. REMINDS ME OF WHEN I WOULD WORK OUT FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME I WOULD WATCH TV..MAKES YOU THINK TWICE HOW MUCH YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO WATCH. OH WELL... HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL HELP BUILD MUSCLE MASS, AND INCREASE MY BONE DENSITY AT THE SAME TIME DECREASE MY PERCENTAGE OF BODY FAT.
FOOD FOR ME IS ONE OF THE FEW PLEASURES I FIND MYSELF ENJOYING MORE AND MORE. DON'T GET ME WRONG.. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A LOVE AFFAIR WITH PLEASING MY PALETTE. CHRIS LIKES COOKING A LITTLE NOW-WE ARE SPENDING TIME TOGETHER IN THE KITCHEN, SOMETHING WE RARELY DID WHEN THE KIDS WERE YOUNG.(I DIDN'T LET HIM IN THERE...THEN...) LIFE HAS TAKEN ON SO MANY CHANGES...WHAT SEEMED TO TAKE HOURS TO GET THE MEAL ON THE TABLE WHEN THE KIDS WERE LITTLE.. NOW ALMOST SEEMS EFFORTLESS AT TIMES. AS WE EXPLORE OUR KITCHEN ADVENTURES TOGETHER IT ISN'T JUST HAVING GREAT FOOD.. IT IS A TIME FOR US TO BE TOGETHER..TALK & SHARE....HAVING FUN...LIGHT THE CANDLE & SIT DOWN TO OUR CREATION FOR THAT EVENING.. EVEN WHEN IT IS SIMPLE.. THAT IS THE BEST REALLY. SO IT IS QUITE EASY TO INDULGE IN DELICIOUS MEAL A LOT..............WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY FIRST POINT..........I HAVE TO KEEP MOVING IF I WANT TO KEEP EATING. (WHICH SEEMS TO BE WHAT WE ARE TRULY ENJOYING NOW)

So all that to say.. i went to this site to see how much calories i really needed(not what i wanted-lol)
http://weightloss.about.com/od/eatsmart/a/blcalintake.htm

Calorie counter

I have thought about how to count calories burned for the many activities, so glad when I found this calorie counter for all kinds of excercise and everyday activities. I am on a new fitness challenge- to change things up and keep motivated. It is one of those personal challenges, to stay focused & rejuvenated. Mainly we are our own motivator- no one else will do it for you! Find some activities you can enjoy with someone else. Chris just bought a new bike and we have enjoyed going riding together now that we have some cooler temps! We LOVE the Silver Comet Trail.. just beautiful. (finally got CT to get his heart pumping!)

http://primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/jumpsite/calculat.htm

This is my dahlia's and they are doing phenemonal. I love having these all summer in a vase on my kitchen table. The beautiful dark purple ornamental plant is one of my favorites. It is tradescantia pallida. It is amazing to have a splash of purple all around my landscaping. It is technically not a perennial in my zone in GA, but comes back every year. It has beautiful pinkish/purple flowers that will bloom around August. I have transplanted this successfully from cuttings with and w/out rooting hormones. Just snip it and put in the soil! I am also bringing it in as a houseplant. Without full sun it will lose some of the purple and turn more green. It stands out so beautifully against the lush green grass and many assortment of flowers, especially YELLOW!

Photos old & new

http://community.webshots.com/user/Dani1969

This is my site for photos... if you want to check it out.

Spectacular Sunflowers

They are gorgeous. I have many different birds who LOVE them, so if I can beat them to it I will let them go to seed & use them for next year. I use them in the house in my bouquets. The blooms are spectacular.

Passion Flower is one of the most beautiful I have in my garden this year. It comes back every year and can be invasive. You have to keep it under control. You can trellis it or train it to climb where you want it to go. Mine have produced fruit every year. They are fragrant and gorgeous. It will seed itself.. so you will find many new plants starting the next year. You can transplant them anywhere you want and they will take off.

Cheesecake

Delicious Cheesecake

1 lb ricotta cheese(whole milk)

1 lb cream cheese

1 1/2 cups sugar

4 eggs @ room tempature

1 T lemon juice

1 t vanilla ( I add more- I have also added dissarrno or amaretto-2 or more Tbs)

3 T cornstarch

3 T flour

1/4 lb melted butter(cooled off)

1 pint sour cream

electric beater: add cream cheese w/ricotta in bowl & mix, add sugar gradually & beat until smooth. Add egs, lemon uice, vanilla, cornstarch, flour & melted butter; beat until completely smooth. Blend in sour cream. Pour into a springform pan(not greased) Bake @ 320 for 1 hour 15 min. Shut off oven and leave for 2 hours. Then refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.

For the crust I crush graham crackers with melted butter until mixed together well, and press in bottom of springform pan, bake @ 350 for 10 minutes or so, until set. I don't really measure, if I had to guess.. 1/3 of a package of graham crackers with a 1/2 stick of melted butter.

You can do anything you want for the crust, use chocoalte wafers or any crust you prefer.

This recipe is from my mother-in-love, Francoise. She got the recipe from an old friend from Germany, years ago when they lived in NYC. She has made this for years, always a favorite.. so now I am keeping the tradition alive too... Hope you LOVE it too!!!!

Cicada Killers

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-Homesteading/Cicada-Killer-Wasps.aspx

This is a question I submitted to Mother Earth News. They chose my question on their website. I was hoping for more of a way I could rid my yard of this problem, but they gave me much needed information!

Japanese( Ichiban) Eggplant

My japanese eggplant.. they are delicious. I think these are much tastier than black beauty. This one grew perfect, size & color..ready for eggplant parmagiana!!!

Are you an eggplant lover?
If you ever have a chance to buy or grow them, you will love them!

Marinated Lambchops with vegetable couscous

Marinate lambchops with olive oil, fresh rosemary, garlic, coarse sea salt, cracked black pepper, and a little cajun seasoning. Grill for 5 min on each side, or until done. (how you prefer it)

Couscous with vegetables
olive oil
3 cloves, garlic chopped fine
1 medium onion
2 japanese eggplant, peeled & cut into strips or cubes
1 medium zucchini, chopped
4 tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 medium red pepper
any herbs you desire, to taste. I add fresh parsley, thyme, & marjoram.

sautee garlic & onion with olive oil until carmelized.( add fresh herbs now) Then add red pepper, cook for a few minutes over low heat, then add zucchini and eggplant. Cooking for 2 minutes, then add tomatoes. Just cook vegetables until soft & tender. Cook couscous according to package. Add to the vegetables. I use a whole 10 oz box. You can use any vegetables you desire. Sometimes, I double the amount of vegetables. You can design this the way you like it. Couscous is so versatile. Fun to experiment with many different variations!!!!
Garnish with a sprig of rosemary or sprinkle with chopped fresh herbs.

Arugula Beet & Egg Salad

This is one of my creations.

Fresh beets on a bed of arugula from the garden. Hard boiled eggs, a little bacon and onion on top.. with a drizzle of dijon vinaigrette. Delish!

My onions this year came out as sweet as ever!

Rose Garden

Rose's Garden...
I have fond memories of my gram opening her heart and table to anyone & everyone. Watching her prepare her harvest making delicious meals and then touching hearts giving them food that feeds the soul...God's word. They say the way to a man's heart is thru his stomach.. I guess my Italian heritage is rooted in this. So, as I go out to tend my garden I can't help think of my gram.. and how her hands worked the soil, put the seeds in the ground. Watching and waiting for life to spring forth. She had such an amazing satisfaction from something so simple. (as I do) She protected her harvest no matter what the cost... the many seeds sown still live on today, as her granddaughter i am greatful that she showed me and many others a better way. Thanks, gram...