Friday, July 31, 2020

Sun Tea

2 Irish Breakfast Tea teabags
2 quarts Water
Lemon Slices

Place 2 teabags in a clean, glass, 2 quart (64 fluid ounces) Mason jar. Fill jar with cold water. Close with clean lid. Place in sun for 4 to 5 hours. Remove teabags from jar and discard the teabags. Fill glasses with ice. Pour tea over ice. Garnish each glass with one slice of lemon.

Serves 6 people.

Notes: This is a refreshing beverage especially on hot summer days.


Saturday, July 18, 2020

Gnocchi with Lavender and Parsley

Approximately 1 pound (500 grams) gnocchi
3 Tablespoons salted butter
2 – 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
1/2 half tomato, chopped
2 Tablespoons diced fresh lavender
3 – 4 sprigs fresh parsley leaves, chopped
4 Tablespoons goat cheese

Place butter in frying pan on medium heat. Add chopped garlic; add gnocchi; add tomato; add lavender; add parsley. Sauté or fry until gnocchi and garlic are golden brown. Place in serving bowls and top with crumbled goat cheese.

Serves 3 people as an entree and serves 6 to 8 people as a side dish.

Notes: With the generous amount of butter, this recipe is both decadent and fast.

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

No Bake Cookies

1 1/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup cream
1/4 pound butter (1 stick)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup smooth, salted peanut butter (creamy)
3 cups oatmeal, raw

Melt butter in pan. Add sugar, cocoa and milk. Stir and bring to a boil. Turn off heat and cool for one minute. Add vanilla, peanut butter and oatmeal, stirring well after each addition. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto two dinner plates or wax paper.

Yields: 2 dozen cookies.

Notes: This is a quick and easy recipe.

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Avocado Tacos

1 Avocado, firm but not rock hard
1 Jalapeno
1 Tomato
Corn Tortillas
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Lavender Salt

Wash and dry the jalapeno. Roast on stove top on medium heat. Use tongs to turn and char but not burn each side evenly. Place charred jalapeno on a cutting board and cover with a dish for five minutes.

In the meantime, wash and dry the tomato; then chop and place in a bowl. Wash the avocado well and then dry. Slice open and remove the pit. Wash and dry the knife and then cut the interior flesh into a grid. Use a spoon to scoop out the avocado and place the chunks in a bowl with the tomato.
Rinse the charred jalapeno under water and remove the skin. Place the jalapeno on a cutting board and cut off the stem end. Slice open the jalapeno and remove the seeds and veins. Chop the remaining jalapeno and add to the tomato avocado mixture. Toss.

Heat olive oil in a heavy skillet. Dip corn tortillas in oil and heat. Drain on a paper towel lined plate.
To assemble tacos, grind one or two sprinkles of lavender salt on each tortilla. Top with a spoonful of avocado, tomato and jalapeno mixture.

Yields:  8 small tacos.

Notes: A friend Wanda, gave a lavender salt and pepper mix, from Western Colorado, to me.  I have altered many recipes using these flavorful condiments.

Lavender salt may be found at A Pinch of Lavender at https://www.nielsenvillage.com/.


Saturday, June 6, 2020

Book Review Guitar Genius: How Les Paul Engineered the Solid Body Guitar and Rocked the World


GUITAR GENIUS: How Les Paul Engineered the Solid Body Electric Guitar and Rocked the World


Kim Tomsic writes a delightful story about childhood learning, play, invention, perseverance and success. Music strums through the pages along with disassembly and reassembly of household electronics such as telephones and radios. Illustrator Brett Helquist evokes the early days of jazz and musicians such as Nat Cole with whom Les Paul performed. Guitar Hero is a fun read for all ages and Ms. Tomsic includes notes and a bibliography which will help those parents educating at home.
Parents may wish to have a separate box of older electronics for their children to take apart and reassemble.

Learn more about Kim Tomsic:  http://kimtomsic.com/books/
Learn more about Brett Helquist: http://bretthelquist.com/
Learn more about Les Paul:  http://lespaulfoundation.org/
Support your local bookstore:  https://www.tatteredcover.com/

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