Ah, Summer Salad!

Hello, dear readers!

I do hope that you are having the best weekend!

I kicked off the weekend by preparing my favorite salad last night...

(And enjoyed it while watching a scary movie with my sweetheart, on tv).

I was craving fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, and cilantro, from our garden.

So, out I went...

With my country basket in hand.

Oh! I picked a honeydew melon as well!

Yum.

We have cucumbers and tomatoes galore. I do wish that I could share them with you.

The corn isn't quite ready yet...

But oh, how we love sweet corn on the cob. Soon, I think. Soon.

So, my favorite salad deserved a place in my art journal.

I did not go into great detail with the recipe because I like to mix it up at times. Sometimes I add black olives, sometimes green olives... Even Greek olives.

If I don't have fruit handy, I substitute the apple slices with dried cranberries...

Or not.

I always keep Feta cheese in the fridge!

I make this salad at least three times a week during the Summer months.

Today we went shopping and I found some wonderful, tiny canvases to paint on! I bought several of them and plan to dive into some art soon! I want to stock my etsy shop, truly, I do. I just find it difficult when working a full time job, leaving me very little free time to keep my shop filled with newly listed items. I thought that I could make it happen this Summer...

But with the wedding and the travels, it just did not happen.

I have decided to keep plugging away with my creations, as time permits. Once I feel that I have enough offerings to make my etsy shop appealing to others, I will stock!!!

In the meantime,

If you do see something that you wish to purchase, please, talk to me via comment or email! Most everything that I create, is indeed, for sale (with the exception of my art journal entries, of course)!

I am a perfectionist and am just waiting for the right time to fill my shop with sooooooo many treasures.... Page after page of viewing and shopping!

A big thank you to those who have purchased from me...

Just by asking! I appreciate your support. My greatest passion is creating, and sharing with others!

Now, I think it is time for another salad! How about you?

Enjoy!

XO

 

Rambling...and a Recipe!

Hello, friends!

How is your day? Your week?

Mine, pleasantly well. I have spent most of today, doing nothing, but sitting on the patio and enjoying the Summer breeze. You see, ever since we returned home from our honeymoon, I have felt the need to work around the house, keep up the laundry, cook, go through photos and decide which ones to send off for developing. Cleaning, dusting. Today I asked myself, "when will you ever get around to creativity and doing other fulfilling things.... That you so longed to do over Summer break"?

Is it because I am a new wife,that I suddenly feel as though I must constantly be doing "wifely" things?

Why do we put such expectations on ourselves? I certainly don't feel pressure from my new husband.

My mind is full again...

Things that I should do, things that I desire to do, and of course...

I so enjoyed being here-

On the beach. Possibly I'm still coming down from all of the bliss!

I can't seem to find my creative path at this time, and it's oh, so frustrating!

 

Yesterday I ordered 8"x10" prints of some of the pretty boats and beaches that we saw while on our honeymoon. I'm going to frame them and hang in our home. I loved this abandoned boat... And couldn't help wondering just why it was left here, all alone to rust. The color is my favorite! Blues. So tranquil.

My sweetheart has had a busy work week. Possibly, I feel some guilt for being at home...

Still on vacation.

I'm sure that he too, thinks about all of the wonderful places that we visited.

I reminded him that tomorrow is Friday!

And then...

It occurred to me that Saturday is the Mad Hatter tea party! Oh my!

I grabbed my tea party recipe book and began flipping through the pages for some yummy ideas!

 

Have you seen this book?

"The Afternoon Tea Collection"?

It's quite lovely. A nice size too! I do not like large recipe books!

Maybe you would like to try a recipe from the book?

This one sounds good!

"Coffee Almond Biscuits"

Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

1 tablespoon instant coffee granules

3 teaspoons hot water

3 cups (360g) ground almonds

1 cup (220g) caster (superfine) sugar

2 tablespoons coffee-flavored liqueur

3 egg whites, beaten lightly

24 coffee beans

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C/ 350 degrees F.

1. Grease oven trays, line with baking paper.

2. Dissolve coffee in the hot water in a large bowl. Stir in ground almonds, sugar, liqueur and egg whites until mixture forms a paste.

3. Roll level tablespoons of mixture into balls; place on trays 1 1/4 inches apart; flatten with hand. Press coffee beans into tops of biscuits.

4. Bake biscuits for about 15 minutes.

Cool on trays.

Prep plus cook time- 30 minutes

Makes 24

I love all things coffee so I will be trying this recipe soon! Please, let me know if you try it before I, and how it was!

Enjoy your day!