R&R, Recipe Review & NYC

It was a loooonnnggg week and some R&R was in order for the weekend... I took in some sights around the house on Saturday and sat on the deck, tried a new recipe (below) ans Sunday was a trip to NYC and walked the High Line Park. Come take a look...

We really needed a weekend to just breath and take in some sights. I walked around my yard on Saturday and got some great shots. I do love this season of butterflies and hummingbirds. I tried this new recipe from Martha Stewart's Everday Food. We all loved it. But, don't mix in the Ricotta cheese just add dollops of it, I mixed it in while the pasta was hot and I think I drowned out some of the flavor. Super easy and quick. i also tired baking with Coconut palm sugar ( it is supposed to be a healthier sugar alternative) not a fan for baking with it. It made my Banana muffins a bit spongey.
If you get a chance I highly recommend the NYC High Line Park. It was just gorgeous and a really cool perspective of the city. Beautiful gardens, great food carts and my favorite people watching! How about that mural of the famous WWII photo. My favorite photo I think is of the red door by the fire escape. I don't know why it just spoke to me. We had our youngest with us so we had to dangle a carrot in front of him to get him to walk almost the whole city with us! So of course we ended up at the Lego store in Rockefeller Plaza. Yes, some one was in heaven! As he fell asleep last night he looked at me with eyes half closed and asked me "what are we going to do tomorrow?" I said "just staying home and resting" he replies " I think I'm just going to build a lot of Legos tomorrow" and with that he passed out! Pretty good way to fall asleep don't you think? We took the ferry from Liberty State Park in Nj (another great view of the city too). It was amazing to visually see and imagine at the same time how much the water rose during Hurricane Sandy last summer. You could still see some of the effects in Jersey City.
Well, its back to work today. I have a lot of projects to get going on and I have been working hard on this project for the My Sisters Knitter KAL/CAL. I'm eager to get onto my next finishing project and of course I got another crocheting inspiration last night. Like I need another one!!!

I hope your weekend was filled with some beautiful sights, whether at home or out and about,
Ming

I adore Hugh Jackman and his coffee "Laughing Man Coffee"... can he get any more wonderful! check it out!

Summer Storms, Recipe & Winners

Stormy morning...this is what my house looked like at 8:30 am

We got 5 inches an hour I think. leaks everywhere and a tornado nearby too. we are supposed to get another round in a hour. I am starting to feel water logged! I was running around the house with  towels this morning mopping up leaks! The pictures show how dark it was I hope. My little beast kept asking me if it was still nighttime when he woke up. He now has a storm anxiety obsession cause the past 3 years we have been it harder than ever with late summer storms and Hurricanes.

On to real business...I have adapted a recipe for a lighter Zucchini Banana muffin (below), a new yarn for a new baby booty that will be up on Etsy and a new beading project. It's a Mala (a meditation tool) and its the first one I have ever made myself  and I love the process. The colors hear I have Moon Stone, Chrysocolla  and Agate from here

We also have a winners for the giveaway..Adrienne and Cindy thanks so much for visiting and commenting. Email me your info and I will get your goodies right out to you! Let  me know what your plans are for the fabric too!

Zucchini Banana Muffin

• 1 medium sized zucchini about a cup,cup in a half shredded
• 1 banana
• 1 cup sugar divided
• 1/2cup butter softened
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg... I use freshly grated
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup Greek non fat yogurt...I use Fage 

Combine shredded zucchini, mashed banana and 1/2 cup sugar and set aside. Beat butter,sugar, and vanilla together until well blended on medium speed. Add zucchini/banana mixture and beat well. Whisk together dry ingredients. Add alternately with yogurt, mix after each addition. Place into muffin cups ( I sometimes make it in a small cake pan too). Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. You can frost these or even add some chocolate chips. I usually use a cream cheese frosting. These are a bit lighter and not as dense as regular zucchini muffins.

Try the recipe and let me know what you think?? We have a busy week this week. Birthdays and some off to school over seas. I fill you in on the next post...I'll be typing all day and I want to get off before te next round of storms hit!

Peace & Love

Ming

Carpe diem & A Giveaway

 Well I was supposed to post yesterday for the giveaway but the weather was gorgeous and the ocean was calling. Carpe diem!! We jumped in the car me, hubby, little guy and my goddaughter. We saw dolphins and the Staten Island Ferry being tugged. We went to Long Beach Island Nj which is only about forty minutes away. It w as gorgeous !!

 We should of probably stayed home being we just had returned from our trip to My hubbies hometown Cobleskill NY and our annual visit to the Schoarie Co. Sunshine Fair. Our little guy love the trains and hanging with his older cousin ( you'll see them walking with their hands in their pockets below..my little guy mimicking his older cousin's idol's every move. So sweet.) If you notice, I forgot my camera AGAIN so i used my phone. So here are some images the best I could do. My favorites, well they are all my favorites, are the ones of the Farmer cuddling his cow ( have you ever seen anything so adorable ..now that's love!) and my dear friend Sharon of Lighthouse Weavers. Her work is just amazing and it always so much fun to visit her homestead and see her barn full of new and antique looms. Here she is at her spinning wheel spinning Buffalo from her neighbors herd. She is at the Fair every year with her looms demonstrating her art.

We also went to the first annual Wee Wheels Car show in Sharon Springs NY. It was really cool.

So now we get to the good stuff..the giveaway!!! It was supposed to be Christmas in July but, I think we can all agree that July just whizzed by us all!

 Ok so to make up for my tardiness and lack of discipline ....but hey the beach was calling and we rarely get a warm non-humid day here in NJ. I will pick two winners just leave me a comment and tell me what your best distraction that got you out of the house this summer and seized the day!! You will each get a half yard each of these awesome Christmas fabrics by Anna Griffin and a package of the gold Christmas tinsel.

 Looking forward to hearing your comments! I will announce winner on Monday August 12 . Good luck!
Ming


I just learned that Helen Mirren likes to sew...now she is even higher on the pedestal!