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

Thawing out...

Sorry for the month long hiatus!! I need a new laptop and my desktop is in a part of the house that has been just too cold this winter. So I just kept close to the fire and kept stitching! Lots of projects going on and I am being very good at finishing...must cut down on my WIPS!!

I designed this bag yesterday for my La Passacalglia quilt from Millefiori Quilts by Willyne Hammerstein. It's an  English paper peicing project. I found this cute fabric at Jo Ann's. 

It's got a built in needle book and pockets for your supplies...I have more that I want to add too...this is like a "sketch" of what I have in my minds eye. So this is still a work in progress. I need to decide on some quilting.

I also crocheted a pillow cover this is the start of it...

I made some of my Easter bread last week...

I designed another "Spirit Animal" pillow for my nephew Sebastian's second birthday... These will be able to purchase for custom order on Etsy. I am now working on a bear cub! 

Crocheted some hot pads...

Made this adorable mug rug from Amy Sinabaldi's new book Sweetly Stitched Handmades... It is such a beautiful book and the projects are so well written.

And working in my Knitting Fever Noro Heart blanket Kal...

Yes, these are all iPhone 6 photos...I have better photos but again that would require leaving the fire!!! That's just how cold it's been and still is...come on spring really?!

I will expand on these projects more and if I am brave enough I may write up a tutorial for my sewing bag...yikes! 

I am also totally into Instagram these days so if you want to find me that's where I am! 

I am off this weekend to Florida for a few days... Of course it's like in the 90's!!! So we are going from freezing and rainy to sweltering...hey anything for a date with a mouse ;-)! Yes... we are headed to Walt Disney World...we are very excited and I am actually looking forward to some sunshine!

I hope you all had a great holiday week...and the weather is warming up for you!

Be well!

Ming 

. 

How do you survive winter?

Here is how I have been surviving winter...

Lots of creating ...lots of Instagram...and a sunny grapefruit and olive oil cake with dark chocolate. This cake is a must for winter. You zest two grapefruits a and massage it into sugar in the raw...Ahhhhh the smell was to die for especially in a cold winters day. Not too sweet and not heavy. Perfect with tea! Don't forget to try some Chicken Paprikash, a new venture for me. I used a recipe from Food 52. A new favorite sight of mine. I would add some mushrooms and cauliflower next time or even omit the chicken for a vegetarian version.  

I usually wouldn't admit this but I am longing for spring right about now. This winter is feeling a bit claustrophobic this year for some reason... This is odd for me as I adore winter. I must be getting old or just tired of loading wood into the stove! 

I will have the crochet hearts pattern written out for you soon. I know I'm late or consider it really early for next year. 

Blogging lately has been a bit hard as we are in desperate need of a new computer. It takes hours to upload photos. So today I decided to phone blog! 

At present moment we are on our way to visit family in upstate NY where temps are -4...my best friend is in Puerto Rico leaving for a cruise... I think I'm going to do it her way next year! 

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day and stay warm wherever you are! I'll be back sooner than later with some new creations to share. 

Be well,

Ming