Coffee and Vegetable Plants

Did you know you can fertilize your vegetable garden with your coffee grounds? After enjoying your coffee, spoon the grounds into a container. Lightly scratch them into the soil of your garden once a week.  Take care not to have the grounds pile up as this can create a water barrier preventing watering reaching the roots. The nitrogen from the coffee grounds will feed and nourish the plants. I have been using this method on my lettuce and tomatoes. I have several large tomatoes on the vines. Once we are of the rain pattern we're in past several days, the summer sun will help ripen these beauties. I have been cutting the lettuce and using to make delicious heathy salads for our meals. 

Do you have any gardening tips to share? Happy Gardening!

Planning for Cinco De Mayo

May 5th is Cinco de Mayo and here are a few ideas if you plan of celebrating with friends and family to get a jump start on the festivities. Serve your food buffet style and let everyone help themselves.  

Scroll to the bottom of the page for an easy Corona Margarita recipe that everyone will enjoy.  

Easy Mexican salad you can throw together in no time.  Chopped Romaine lettuce, can of drained and rinsed black beans and corn, peeled and diced avocado, crushed tortilla chips, grape tomatoes, and an offering of an easy dressing made of 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons honey, pinch of fresh garlic (if desired) and tablespoons fresh minced cilantro.  Easy method is place all the dressing ingredients in a small jar, put on the lid, shake and serve. 

I like to serve steak fajitas, and always have an offering of flour tortillas and/or corn.  The corn is preferred and used if you are on a Gluten-Free restricted diet. 

Serve up your favorite salsa, Pico de Gallo, sour cream, taco sauce, shredded lettuce and grated cheese, black beans, and guacamole.

Don't forget to serve cut up limes!

~Corona Margarita~

Dampen the rim of the margarita glass and dip it into salt.  Pour the following ingredients into a blender and blend well.  Serve it with a lime wedge garnish.

6 ounces white or blanco tequila

12 ounce Corona

6 ounces frozen limeade concentrate

Ice cubes

Fat Tuesday

Tuesday is the beginning of Mardi Gras and also known as Fat Tuesday. It's the day we indulge on fried sweet foods. Doughnuts, King Cake and Paczkis are popular fare on Fat Tuesday. These are available for purchase from your local bakery. I recommend pre ordering several days in advance because these items sell out quickly.  

Paczkis are boxed doughnuts filled with your favorite fruit preserves and then rolled in powdered sugar.  The difference between a paczki and a doughnut is the dough. The paczki is made with a sweet yeast and is full of over the top deliciousness. I wait for them all year long and they're worth the wait. 

What's your favorite Fat Tuesday indulgence?

Easy Like Sunday Morning

Happy weekend friends! It's a snowy one here in the Midwest. Winter so far has been on the warm side with very little snow. Until today that is. On snow days, I'm happy being in the kitchen creating comfort dishes. I wanted to share a simple and delicious recipe I've been making for scrambled eggs. The fun part is tossing all of the ingredients into the blender to blend before adding to the pan. They are creamy, fluffy and honestly delicious. 

Give it a try this weekend. Great for "brinner" too if you need a dinner quick and easy.

Ingredients:

12 large cracked eggs

1 cup half and half

6 ounces softened and cubed cream cheese

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Toss everything in a blender, and blend until it's frothy.

Spray a large skillet with non stick spray and heat 1/4 stick butter.

Add egg mixture and turn heat to medium/low. Let is cook until the bottom begins to set.

Using a spatula, stir gently until eggs are thickened and cooked through.

Serve it with your favorite side. Bacon, sausage, toast, english muffin, bagel, fresh fruit and enjoy. 

Crockpot Lemon Chicken

~Easy Lemon Chicken~ 

When the calendar turns the page to a new year, we begin to list our resolutions. At the top of our list is healthier eating. This recipe is a favorite of mine. 

The aroma in the house as it cooks is such a comfort on these winter days. Here's all you need to make this delicious recipe for dinner this week. 

1 fresh chicken of your choice, rinsed.

1 sliced yellow onion.

Lemon sliced.

Garlic or garlic paste.

Stick of butter.

 Salt and pepper.

Fresh rosemary.

Place a couple of slices of sliced lemon inside the chicken and put in your slow cooker. Spread a tablespoon of either garlic paste or garlic on top of the chicken. Place sliced lemons, sliced butter pats, rosemary, and onion on top of the chicken. Salt and pepper and pour 1/2 cup of water into the bottom of the slow cooker. Cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 8-10 hours. It's that easy!

 Enjoy with fresh vegetables and in our house, mashed potatoes. Tonight I'm using a short cut to save time and I bought mashed potatoes found in the refrigerated section of your favorite grocery store.  Spoon the potatoes into a casserole dish, dot with pepper, sprinkle lightly with pepper and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. I promise you will love them!

Merry Christmas

Finding a moment for yourself is the best gift you can give yourself for the holidays,

I look forward to everything about the holiday season all year long.  The sounds of Christmas music, the smell of cookies being baked, the roast and ham in the oven, the pine scent of freshly cut trees.  It's difficult to enjoy it all when you're in a constant state of frenzy.  

One way is waking up before everyone in the morning and brewing yourself a hot cup of tea or your favorite coffee. Serve it in your favorite mug. Turn on the tree and let yourself take in the gentle beautiful colors. Give yourself permission to breathe. Breathe in slowly, breathe out and have faith that everything will get done.  

And if it doesn't get done, will anyone really notice? 

Have a Merry Christmas and a safe and healthy holiday season. Holiday hugs from me to you💚

Easy Last Minute Gift Ideas

If your over scheduled and don't have time to hit the mall to shop, or the cut off has come and gone for home delivery for online shopping, here are a couple of ideas that are simple to put together and make special gifts.  

I ordered these on Etsy but sites like Personalization Mall may still do overnight delivery.

Personalize this hot chocolate basket with favorites from your grocery store.  Mini marshmallows, hot chocolate, Bailey's Irish Cream, cinnamon sticks, peppermint sticks, and cookies. Craft shops like Hobby Lobby carry a great selection of baskets. 

Do you need a gift for a tea lover?  Cute mugs and festive tea assortment make a great gift to be appreciated all year long.  I bought this tea assortment at Peets Coffee and Tea.

Make a copy of your favorite cookies recipe.  This is a cookie my Mom made every year and now it's passed on to me. It's simple, delicious and smells delightful when baking. Bake a batch and present as a gift on a holiday plate. These can be picked up most anywhere. Stores have holiday items marked on clearance now so it  is the perfect time to pick up a couple of these plates to keep on hand for next year.

This toffee bar recipe looks festive sprinkled with red and green sugars right out of the oven.

May you and yours have a Merry and Blessed Christmas. I appreciate you reading my blog♥