Seeds...Glorious Seeds

What's this?

A present? For meeeeee? hehe

Yes yes it is...

All my wonderful heirloom seeds 

It was almost as nice as Christmas. I have been waiting for 2 weeks for this package! 

Now to set up the seed stations. YAY!

Foodie Frugal Friday #4

Welcome to Foodie Frugal Friday #4! Fridays are my "day off" from my blog. Every Friday I will feature some recipes from across the web and blog-land.

The weather is still playing fickle. Monday we had a dusting of snow. Wednesday we had beautiful blue skies, sunshine and was sweater free 63°F. Thursday was rain, rain rain but 55°F.  Spring is formally around the corner (March 20th y'all!) So I declare Spring has Sprung! What is more spring than a brunch/ garden party? And if I ever get around to hosting my ladies garden party luncheon these are some of the yummy foods I am gonna serve!

One of the first foods I always think of for a Spring menu is the ever versatile Fritatta. You can make a fritatta to serve all seasons, all reasons and any appetite. I didn't have a picture of the fritatta that I make so I had to find one from the web. Oh boo!

source

Here's what you need:

6 eggs 

1/4 c. fine shred cheese (I use an Italian blend)

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp.ground  red pepper

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

1/8 tsp dry mustard powder

1 tbs Olive Oil 

1 bunch of spinach washed and stemmed

8  cherry tomatoes quartered  

(scale ingredients depending on the number of servings required)

Step 1

In med sized bowl whisk together eggs, cheese and spices. Set this aside to cook the spinach.

Step 2

Heat oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat until hot. (water droplets should sizzle and dance across the skillet). Add the spinach to skillet and saute until the spinach wilts (about 2 minutes). Stir occasionally to avoid the spinach burning.  Add the tomatoes and cook for additional minute, stirring occasionally.

Step 3

Add the egg, cheese spice mixture to the skillet. Cover and let cook until the eggs are set (12 minutes).  Remove from heat and let stand 3-5 minutes. Invert semi cooled fritatta to a platter carefully. Cut into wedges and serve.

A good accompaniment is a Prosciutto, Pepper and Mozzarella Panini. Rachel Ray has an awesome recipe! Looks soooo good!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/panini-with-prosciutto-roasted-pepper-and-mozzarella-recipe/index.html

 And you need a little green to go with the Paninni and Fritatta. How about a tasty Radicchio, Fennel and Pear Salad.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/2668

The finishing touch is this Melon-Berry dessert. Just the right amount of sweet for a lovely Spring luncheon.

http://busycooks.about.com/od/sidefruitsalads/r/strawberrysalad.-8zv.htm

Be sure to have a variety of beverages on hand. Tea (hot and iced), Coffee, sparkling water, and for the adult beverages a nice white wine or class it up with Bellini's. A nice tray of almond biscotti and Anise tea cookies will be appreciated for the nibbles.

Are you hungry yet? 

Can you just picture the table dressed in crisp white linen and a floral centerpiece of daffodils, tulips, crocus and hyacinth perfuming the air?

frugalflower.com

Each place setting a will be collection of mismatched china of family heirlooms and filled in with similar pieces from yard sales and thrift stores

flickr.com

It sounds simply divine, does it not? Makes me feel downright sociable. Good weather, good food, good friends (and maybe a little drinky-tinky) are all you need.

Happy weekend y'all!

Out to the floral show (Sneek peek)

This blog is temporarily interrupted because my daughter took me to the Spring Floral Show at the Krohn Conservatory for my birthday. I will post more pics later. My daughter has an awesome new camera and she has some AH-MAZE-ING shots. I can't wait to load them. 

 Best. Birthday. Present. Ever!

Main entry

Butterfly chair

Koi

Tulips in bloom

Lilies smelled divine!

 Cacti  and Succulent room (Not a fan of cacti--ouch! But I like the succulents)

  

Orchid Room

Bonsai Room-Some of the Bonsai have been training for 40 years. Wow!

Bridge

Waterfall

Powder Puff Tree (Seriously--that's the name)

Wasn't that a lovely little respite from Winter? yes I think it was!

Technicolor daydreams

The weather has been gray, overcast, cold, dreary and drizzly. It is winter in the Midwest afterall. Everything is wet, muddy and gross. Sooo I decided to brighten my perspective and look towards Spring!

Besides counting down the days until Spring here are the 2012 Color Trends! I mean how can you be sad  when you see colors like this?

You know what's awesome? I already have Margarita PANTONE 14-0116, Solar Power PANTONE 13-0759, Cockatoo PANTONE 14-5420, Starfish PANTONE 16-1120 and Driftwood PANTONE 18-1210 incorporated in my house. Woo-hoo I am ahead of the design curve!

The mustard yellow, minty-green, aqua and  taupe are in my living room via art and accessories. These colors are carried into my dining room and there even maybe a smidge of orange in some of the art. 

If you look at the color chart (above) you have bright saturated colors (purple and fuchsia), the pastel sherbet colors (green and lilac), beach inspired colors (aqua-blue and driftwood) classic jewel-tone (royal blue) and earth tones (orange and starfish). There is something for everyone. I am not sure I want to see the room all the colors are displayed (sort of like a big-top in blender, eh?) But can envision how some of these combinations could work together?

The mustardy-yellow has been predominantly featured for the last year (paired with grey) as shown here

apartmenttherapy.com

But what happens when you pair it with a classic traditional navy blue? Something completely unexpected. What was once staid and boring is now vibrant and fresh.

aphrochic.blogspot.com

This little girl room in aqua and mustard yellow is a sophisticated combination. I love the modern lines of the lamp and headboard. The bamboo screen really warms the space up and is a nice texture.

designindulgences.com

Here is a Navy blue and lilac living room. I think it is still feminine but the blue really brings the room down from being over the top sugary-sweet.

nate-berkus-anne-coyle-elle-decor.jpg

Here is a living room which combines the deep purple, lilac and taupe. Although not my taste it is very well done.

http://interiorly.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/the-color-purple/  

Now what if you wanted to combine aqua and orange? (stop making the crinkle nose icky face) How cute is this boys room? Notice the color isn't overwhelming because the room is grounded with black, charcoal and wood tones.

fabricshopperonline.com

Okay- big finish. Fuchsia--looks great on roses. And little baby girls. And for a brief moment in the 80's it was lipstick, spandex clothing and hair color. (Hey--I said it was the 80's).  

Modern and retro at the same time. Very cool vibe!

2modern.blogs.com

Think Fuchsia can't be sexy and glamorous? It's like a dark chocolate covered raspberry.  This room is sexy and sophisticated. Love this!

youngshow.org

Me personally, I like to keep my furniture and walls neutral and bring in pillows, curtains  and accessories for pops of color. It is much more cost effective and well we know I am all about the cheap frugal.  And while I don't typically follow all the fads and trends for color and prints the designers push every year, it is still nice to know that I am not so out of touch. Although my house is antique my design sensibility is not (or so I like to think). Hopefully these colors have awakened your dormant winter brain and has given you something to consider.

I don't plan on having all these colors in my house, but look around my gardens when they are in glorious bloom and all those colors will be there in some form. Siiigh, I really want spring to be here. At least I have the nifty little widget to count the days for me. Happy technicolor daydreams!