Still on the road...

My dear blog friends if I could ever recommend a way to see this beautiful country of ours it would be to do so via automobile with country music blasting (I was never a fan but when you drive across the U.S. It's just a must!) 

Disclaimer... I only had one of my 5 kids with me so it does make a difference( I would not have done it with more than 2!!)

We drove across to Utah from New Hersey to visit my baby brother and his family. Come see some of the sights below...

Good stuff am I right??? So here is the breakdown.

It took us three days to get there (we were on a schedule)...

Once you get past Pennsylvania  EVERYONE is soooo nice (no judgment here we East Coasters are just a wee bit hard nosed in a good way)...

Missouri's billboards crack me up, fireworks, boots, adult stores, guns and then in between that a spiritual one...

I fell in love with Nebraska yes I said Nebraska...

In Wyoming I saw a cowboy sipping a frapuccino in a Starbucks with enough firearms and ammo strapped to him that he could of taken out the town... My son asked if a Zombie apocalypse was coming ... I asked my brother if it was normal his answer was " Welcome to the Wild West" 

I loved the west ....

You don't go to Utah and not go to a quilt store and a Hobby Lobby... You just don't... Nuff' said ....

We went to Subdance... Robert Redford you done good!!! We saw Don Johnson, he looks amazing!! (Miami Vice soundtrack was going through my head the whole time)... Sundance is a must must see...(best brunch I've ever had!)...

My brother took me hiking somewhere off  

Cottonwood Canyon and picked me wildflowers...sweetest moment...

I finished my Rose City Rollers socks...I love this pattern and think it's a great one for beginners...the instructions are great...

We stopped at a Starbucks whenever we could to collect the "You are here mugs" it was a great way to keep the little guy entertained during the long car rides... Kind of like a scavenger hunt...we got 

11... I can't wait to do a road trip next next summer! 

And of course it was a great visit with my brother and his family. It really was such an amazing experience and blessing <3 

Be Well!

Ming 

 

Summer Road trip

We are bitting the bullet and driving across country from the east coast to Utah to visit family. We have always wanted to do this...yes I'm a bit nervous with an active 8 year old in a car for 3 days..yikes! But so far so good 3 hours in and one Starbucks visit under our belt. 

I will blog via mobile the next few days as my project bag is chick full of goodies! 

On deck first is this gorgeous Madeline Tosh "Free Range Eggs" in Tosh sock for my "Rose City Rollers" 

I thought it was fitting as we are starting out in Farm Country near Lancaster Pennsylvania. 

I'll keep you posted,

Ming 

Summer Veggie Lasagna...

Two things I love about summer...fresh herbs and summer squash.I could eat summer squash almost everyday, seriously I could. So you would of thought I won the the lottery when I found my first summer squash ready in my garden. I don't  know where it came from to tell  you the truth because my other plants aren't showing much yet but, this beauty was there.

It was a stormy day yesterday so I felt it was a good day to make lasagna. I grabbed some Basil and French Tarragon for my sauce and got started.

Now when it comes to my sauce I am a purest. I wanted a very light sauce for this summer dish...Onion, Basil, S&P a touch of sugar, Olive Oil, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese..The fewest ingredients as possible. I added some French Tarragon this time (why you ask??? because I had it growing ;-))  and let's just say I won"t leave home without it again!

I added some other summer veggies I had in the fridge which included zucchini and sweet peppers. I had some broccoli that needed using so I threw that in.as well. I was told last night that this was Rock Star worthy. So I give it to you now...let's face it we all want to be a rock star at some point and I can't sing a lick so I  will do it through food!

Summer Veggie Lasagna

• 1 yellow squash mine was large so you may need two depending on size.
• 2 Zucchini
• 2 Sweet Red Pepper
• 2 cups Broccoli florets cut small
• 1 box Lasagna noodles
• 1 large container ...I used the biggest the store had ... of good quality Ricotta cheese
• Fresh Mozzarella cubed, 1 large log or ball
• Grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese 1/2 cup 
• 1 cup shredded Mozzarella for topping

For the Summer sauce 

• 2 Cans Chunky tomatoes sauce 
• 1 large Sweet Onion
• a bunch of French Tarragon 
• a bunch of fresh Basil
• S&P
• Sugar in the Raw
• Olive Oil

In a pot heat your olive oil,about 3 TBS and add diced sweet onion. When it starts to sweat add the Tarragon. Saute for about 5 min. Add your tomatoes, S&P, sugar. Now cook at a good simmer for about 25 minutes. Add some grated cheese and at last minute before finishing cooking add the Basil last. Turn off heat.

Cook your noodles, drain and set aside..make sure they are Al Dente so they don't get too mushy when you bake the lasagna. Slice your squashes very thin and as well as other veggies so they cook rather quickly while baking.

Now spread some sauce in the bottom of your lasagna pan...now we start the layers.

1. Noodles
2. Sauce
3. Ricotta cheese 
4. Veggies
5. Fresh Mozzarella
6. S&P
7. Repeat 

Top with shredded Mozzarella cheese and bake covered at 375 degrees Fahrenheit till bubbling about 40 minutes and another 5 uncovered. 

Enjoy!!

 Guess what, we had another storm today ... we woke up to it this morning... but it was a good storm ...distance rumbles and a nice rain...the kind that sounds good and makes you feel very cozy. I really like a dark morning sometimes especially in the summer...it  slows the pace even more...don't you think?? The other thing that was good about it...I didn't  have to go running for cover in the basement! However, I caught a few pics outside before it started coming down so hard. I love capturing raindrops on the flowers <3

Be well,

Ming

P.S. Let me know if you achieve Rock Star status as well after you make the Lasagna ;-)

Summer so far...

It started out like this...favorite summer foods. A yoga retreat in May in the middle of the gorgeous fields below and the sweet flowers and sounds of summer...

  

It was a very busy spring cleanup after a long cold winter. All of May was graduation party after graduation party. I had everything in order to start my summer gardening. I got the veggie boxes planted...the patio planters planted...the deck all set up...the lawn never looked so good...I finished two swaps I was involved in...it had  been quite busy and WE WERE READY TO START SUMMER and we were off and running! 

Then one evening this huge line of storms came through our area and BAM. All that work was for nothing. Tornado force winds and apparently a few touchdowns came through our area like Godzilla onto Japan!! We lost 5 100 yr. old trees and bushes. The lawn was torn apart by the trees coming down. Days without power and internet... we have a generator to supply us water and a few lights. Thankfully we no one was hurt.  It was actually quite amazing! However our town and neighbors we all worked together to help everyone clean up and remove dangerous hanging branches and such. 

So we are back up and running and have had family visiting for 12 days and it is great...but I am ready to get  back to projects!! The sewing machine is calling my name and the basket of yarn is as well. I started the My Small World Quilt by VeryKerryBerry and I adore it. I haven't gotten extremely far but as you can see above, but this week I will definitely make some progress! The gnome embroidery designed by me was for the mini quilt for KidGiddygnomeswap on Instagram. I adore drawing and stitching up these patterns!

The Sandwich...Tomato, Cucumber and Cheddar with  Basil Mayo:

• Thin sliced tomato and cucumnber 
• High quality cheddar cheese sliced as well
• While grain bread...I use a fresh baked from our local Wholefoods
• 2 Tbsp.Mayo with 4 or 5 chopped Basil leaves mixed together
• Salt & Pepper

That's it ...simple quick and perfect for a hot summer day!

So whats next...working on my quilt...and a cross stitch SAL( I'll share more later) and I want to start reading the Outlander books as I was addicted to the series...and really how can you not be with this guy...

You can now wipe away your drool...;-)

Be well, Ming

Good food and good fun!

My friends say I have spoiled my family in many ways and may have ruined their future mates for life when it comes to my cooking...yes, I am bragging about myself just this once...well maybe twice! When my family sees old bananas on the counter I know whats coming..."Mom you should make Banana cake" like at 7:00 pm as I am cleaning up the dinner dishes. They are all filtering home from college and such these days so I do not want to disappoint ...however I got a bit lazy this winter with cooking so I felt I  needed to fulfill the request ( I really wanted to say are you flipping nuts its 7pm)! So I thought how can i make this as easy a possible for myself...one bowl...not much measuring (it's an Italian thing...sorry)...and delicious. Here's what happened...Banana cake with Mascarpone cheese frosting. 

 

My Dear Friends,

Do you know that happens when you take a container Mascarpone cheese add  a cup and half of              confectioners sugar, some vanilla and lemon juice and whip it at high speed? It turns into an tangy marshmallowy deliciousness that stops all time and space and Angles start to sing!! I will now call this my go to frosting forever more!

Yours Truly,

Ming

So here's what I want you to do ...

For the Banana cake:

In a mixing bowl mash...

• 3 old bananas
• 1 cup raw sugar 

Now add to mixture

• 1/4 cup safflower oil
• 2 eggs
• tsp vanilla

 mix again until  incorporated and then add

• A scant 2 cups flour...I use King Arthur
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt...I am now using mineral salt in my cooking and baking
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Now mix this and lastly add

• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt

Mix again and and pour into a 8x8 baking pan sprayed with cooking or baking spray and bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean.

For the Mascarpone Frosting:

• 4 oz. container of Mascarpone cheese
• 1 1/2 or 2 cups confectioners sugar 
• 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
• juice of a half a lemon may be more to your liking

mix together and just whip it at high speed till incorporate well and watch the Magic happen!

The possibilities are endless with this frosting and what you can add in and alter. I also added some Spanish chocolate shavings too!

Now onto other happenings...

 Gardening has started literally overnight...we went from freezing temps to everything starting to flower and sprout. Finally!! We added two new gardening beds and are going to add more. That was the heaviest dirt I ever had to shovel and move! My daughter is home now and first thing was to get my Great nephew Gavin introduced to the dirt and he loved it and took it very very seriously!

...and it was another Crazy Knitting Night and as usual the craziness and laughs were in abundance.

Our Sandra (who we swear has a small army in her basement knitting for her ... this woman busts the projects out like nobody's business!") showed off her latest finish a West Knits design and not without striking her best Stephen West pose! In February we went to the West Knits workshop at our local yarn store and it was a hoot! She is now on her second West knits design ...I have even started my first ;-(!!

I have lots of projects getting ready top show off  and now that the temps are rising I can sit at my computer and not freeze any more! 

Of course the knitting gals and I love us some Downton Abbey so this meme is just so fitting from @hey_lady_hey on instagram....How true is this!!

Have a wonderful weekend and if you have those old bananas around give the cake a go you wont be disappoint!

Be Well,

Ming