Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Basil Pesto....

It has been a good summer for basil, hot and dry.  Basil does not like "wet feet, so the heat and dry weather is perfect!  Try not to let the flowers bloom as that will obstruct the leaves from growing, so pinch back the plant often.


I have cut the basil down to the bottom leaves a few times this summer.  I dried some, froze some and made some pesto.  Imagine my surprise when a few weeks later I had this:


So, once again, I cut it down, washed it....


...and let it dry overnight.


I gathered my supplies to make pesto...


...added leaves and pine nuts to my food processor...


...and pulsed it...


...added the cheese...


...and garlic and oil...


...and my special ingredients: Florida Seasoned Pepper and JalapeƱo Salt (from Hey Rose):


I use pesto in my homemade sauce, on garlic toast and in salad dressings.


I freeze it in ice cube trays, or small containers so it defrosts quickly!


Basil Pesto

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed 
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano cheese (about 2 ounces)
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts 
  • 2 lg garlic cloves, minced 
  • Jalapeno Salt and Florida Seasoned Pepper


My house smells so good right now!

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Saturday, August 25, 2018

Have a cocktail on me....


If you want it real frothy, you can add a raw egg in the blender.  Raw eggs do have all the same benefits as cooked eggs. However, protein absorption is lower from raw eggs, and the uptake of biotin may be prevented. Most concerning is the small risk of raw eggs contaminated with bacteria leading to Salmonella infection. Buying pasteurized eggs will lower your risk of infection.


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Saturday, August 18, 2018

How to paint a buffalo checked pumpkin.....

Painting buffalo checks are quite easy.  


Here is a step-by-step tutorial:

I spray painted a cheap foam pumpkin white....


....and purchased 2 grey paints.  You can choose any color, as long as one is lighter than the other. 


Paint the middle of each section of the pumpkin, leaving same distance of white in the crevices between each grey stripe:


It certainly doesn't have to be perfect or measured....


...then paint a stripe across in the same color, I painted 4 across....


...where each stripe crosses over the other, paint a check in the darker grey paint...


....spray the pumpkin with a matte finish...


...I lightly spray painted some artificial fall leaves and a pinecone in white and grey spray paint...


...and glued all of these onto the top of the pumpkin...


...and added a polka dot bow...


I spray painted an old candlestick grey...


...and glued the pumpkin on top!


 It's ready to be sold!!




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Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Coconut tequila infused strawberries, drizzled with chocolate....

Last year I made vodka infused strawberries and this year I made coconut tequila infused strawberries to bring to a party.

These are quick and easy to make:

Wash and dry strawberries and remove greens.....


...pull out the tequila....


...and the mini infusers....


....lay the strawberries on a tray....


.......fill the infusers with tequila and insert into berries...


...drizzle with chocolate...


....and chill for a few hours.

To see Citron vodka infused strawberries with drizzled white chocolate go HERE


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