Recipe Share: Garlic Mayonnaise & Herb Lemonade

Remember a while back that I shared a recipe for mayo. It didn't go over really well in our how because we used olive oil and it came out bitter. I have since learned that if you want to use EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil for those of you who never watch Rachael Ray), you must treat it with care and not use a blender or it will always turn bitter.

Anyway, I found this recipe in a book called "Lost Arts." You can see this book on my Shelfari down on the right. It sounds really yummy with the addition of garlic. I love garlic!

Garlic Mayonnaise

1 TBSP white wine or tarragon vinegar
1 large egg
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
4 or more (could use 6-7) clove of garlic
1 1/2 cups oil

1.Place vinegar, egg, mustard, salt, pepper, and garlic cloves in a food processor. Mush 'em up.

2. With macine runninh slowly, drizzle oil in through feed tube. Correct seasonings.

Makes about 2 cups.

Here's another recipe I found in that book:

Herb Lemonade

Herb Simple Syrup
2 cups white sugar
2 cups water
2 cups tightly packed fresh herbs
Bring sugar and water to a boil, stirring until suagar is dissoved. Reduce heat and add the fresh herbs. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Cover and allow to cool. (This will help to keep the aromatic oils from.) Steep overnight in the refrigerator. Strain and use as needed.

Lemonade
2/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup herb simple syrup
4 cups good water
Several sprigs of fresh herbs

Simply mix your ingredients, add ice and a few sprig of fresh herbs and serve.
Makes about 6 cups.


Enjoy!

Light & Shadow

In everyone's life there's a bit of light as well as shadow.
I have a lot on my plate right now with a couple of good sized projects I am working on for church. On is slides for a memorial service and the other is a 100 page photo book for the Photos of Faith contest the church sponsors.

So, I guess what I am saying is that there is too much on my brain come up with a coherant blog entry, so I thought I would merely share this photo. I love the play of light and dark within it.
Enjoy!

Ogden-isms

Ogden Nash...
Who is he? You may know him for his famous
"Candy is dandy,
But liquor is quicker"
lines. He has written tons of other poetry, too. Most of them are kind of silly. One of my faves is:

THE DUCK
Behold the duck.
It does not cluck.
A cluck it lacks.
It quacks.
It is especially fond
Of a puddle or pond.
When it dines or sups,
It bottoms ups.

I recently found "The Best of Ogden Nash" at the library and brought it home to share with the kids. I have to say that I am disappointed that they didn't fully appreciate the humor of Ogden Nash. They just groaned when I read:

PEDIATRIC REFLECTION
Many an infant that screams like a calliope
Could be soothed by a little attention to its diope.

and

REQUIEM
There was a young belle of old Natchez
Whose garments were always in patchez.
When comments arose
On the state of her clothes,
She drawled, When Ah itchez, Ah scratchez

No accounting for taste, I guess! They just don't have appreciation for a fine turn of verse. [wink]

I will share one more with you all:

LITTLE FEET
Oh, who would live in a silent house,
As still as a waltz left unwritten by Strauss,
As undisturbed as a virgin dewdrop
And quiet enough to hear a shoe drop?
Who would dwell
In a vacuum cell,
In a home as mute as a clapperless bell?
Oh, a home as mute as a bell that's clapperless
Is forlorn as an Indian in Indianapolis.

Then ho! for the patter of little feet,
And the childish chatter of voices sweet,
For the ringing laughter and prancing capers
That soothe your ear as you read the papers,
For trumpets that blow and the balls that bounce
As you struggle to balance your old accounts,
For the chubby arms that encircle your neck,
And the chubby behinds that your lap bedeck,
And sirens who save their wiliest wooing
For the critical spot in whatever you're doing.

Shakespeare's, I'm sure, was a silent house,
And that of Good King Wenceslaus,
And Napoleon's dwelling, and Alexander's,
And whoever that wrote The Dog of Flanders.
Yes, Shelley and Keats
And other elites,
They missed that patter of little feets,
For he who sits and listens to pattering
Will never accomplish more than a smattering.

Then ho! for the patter of little feet!
Some find these footfalls doubly sweet,
Subjecting them to the twofold use
Of paternal pride and good excuse.
You say, for instance, my modest chanteys
Are not so fine as Pope's or Dante's?
My deeds do not compare with those
Of Nelson, or Michelangelo'?
Well, my life is perpetual Children's Hour,
Or boy! would immortal genius flower!

I love this one! I guess it is because it hits pretty close to home. Some days I get frustrated by the difficulties of life with a houseful, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I guess I will just enjoy the ride and console myself that I have an excuse for my lack of greatness. [teehee]

Wise Words

"God has given talents and abilities to everyone. Although people
may not be equal in abilities, training, social advantage, or economic
privilege, every man and woman has been given a talent of time. God
has given to each one the talent of time to till, cultivate, plant, redeem,
and improve, like the hard working farmer. We are given the
opportunity to use our time to the maximum to bring forth the greatest
profit for the purposes of God. When we waste our time, we rob God
of His glory and ourselves of our happiness, and hinder to the point of
defeating God's purposes for our lives.
Therefore it is of utmost importance that the management and use
of our time be one of the greatest of our concerns because upon
our stewardship of it hangs our destiny."

-Rose Weiner from
"The Key to Regaining Intellectual Superiority"

Swing Joy!

There are days I just want to live with abandon like my little girl here. What pure joy! Not a worry or care, just swinging in the moment and loving it. Instead, here I sit thinking about my day's to do list and wondering how it is all going to get done. [sigh] Maybe I need a swingset ;-)

Today the plan is to go to the Z-O-O. Shhhh! Don't say it out loud or the kids will go crazy with excitement. The weather is looking kinda iffy this morning although the forecast says partly sunny and 65 degrees. I hope the sky clears up. This is our first trip since it opened for the season and the kids have been talking about going for months. I better remember to clear off the camera's memory card - another thing for the to do list. Ü
Hope y'all have a great day!

Dandelion Dreams

Believe it or not, this is what our yard looked like last week. Of course, now, its not quite so pretty as all of these lovely dandelion flowers have gone to seed and I am looking at a weedy mess. I love dandelions. If only they would stay looking like they do here. My children think they are glorious. Someday after I no longer have to put so much effort into getting grass to actually grow everywhere in my 4 acre yard, we will probably spray to get rid of all the dandelions and clover. I'm sure the yard will look better overall, but I will miss photo opportunities like this one.

For the Birds

For the Birds
Originally uploaded by Rich Hearts

My daughters were harassing me that I don't post enough stuff on my blog, so here's a little something just for them. This is a favorite picture that I have taken recently. I love this little garden ornament and the bleedin hearts blooming in the background.

Play Acting, Dancing & Busy-ness

Just checking in. Last week was crazy busy because my kids were in two plays and the performances were Friday and Sunday. So last week was full of extra rehearsals along with all the other stuff we have going and hubby was out of town. By Sunday I was pooped. But this week our schedule is just a bit lighter and I am thankful for that.

This top scrapbook page is from a dress rehearsal for my kids' 4-H group skit. They did "Ma & Pa Kettle Try 4-H." It was amazing. These kids have been coached well and did a fantastic job. It was such a great job that they got 1st place in in an area competition that included 4 counties. Credits for this page can be found here.



This next page included photos from my daughters' litergical dance group performing during church. For several years my two oldest daughters and I have been dancing with this group at church. When we started, the group was pretty small and we all danced together. Since then, more kids have joined and we have split into two groups, adults and kids. This particular performance was from back in February. Sadly, it is my oldest daughters last time dancing with the group because she has decided to step down. She just was not enjoying it anymore and felt very self-conscious doing it. I can respect that, although I love to watch both of my girls dance. Credits for this page can be found here.

My 11 year old daughter, Anna, however, is continuing to dance and she has just been blossoming. Perhaps it is because she doesn't have the distraction of annoying her big sister during practice or maybe she is just maturing, but she is dancing beautifully! She shows such wonderful expression while she dances. I know that I am a proud mother, but I have had many other people make a point to come up to me and tell me how much they enjoy watching her dance. I took a few pictures during the church service when they performed a couple of weeks ago. I will have to post them soon.