Mother's Day visitor

I just wanted to post this photo of my mother (left) and her friend, Gudrun, who visited her on Mother's Day. She took my mom out for a ride and my mom enjoyed the little outing. I'm glad she has someone who visits her on a regular basis since I'm so far away. My mom lives in Bavaria, Germany. I think she looks pretty cute for 83, but if she had her hair done or wore a wig or a hat with some make-up, she'd be a knock-out - what do you think?

My dear blogging friends

Just a little FYI that I am aware of my absenteeism from bloggerland lately. If I have not visited, it's not that I don't love you anymor, because I do - I'm just in a rut and kind of preoccupied with my life (for a change) that I've not been in the mood to sit here and type. BUT, have no fear! Summer is coming and then I'll be stuck inside with the AC on and can type my lil' ole' heart out and visit you all on a regular basis!

(one of my little heart shaped picture frames I crocheted)

Have a blessed day! Thanks for being so sweet and understanding!

p.s. my new (used) car is insured, licensed and tagged ... Gizzy and I drove to the Vet yesterday for his itchies, a 40 mile round trip, and the A/C ran nice and cool for us. I'm very happy with my purchase! It's nice and cool outside, so we're off to Bank's Lake! (or not! - he's still asleep LOL)

Rainy morning and an excellent flick!

I was watching a great animated movie while it was raining this morning and I highly recommend it:



I never knew an owl movie could be that exciting - fun to watch, even without children!

Here are some photos of the sunflowers I raised from seed:

Wishing you a great weekend and please excuse my absenteeism. I've been spending time outside and not have had much time for blogging, but will resume once summer sets in and the heat won't allow me to be outside as much. Thanks for understanding. I appreciate all of you, my dear blogging buddies!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there - whether you are mothering people or animals, we are all nurturers.

Here's a most recent photo of my mother taken in January 2011. She lives in a convalescent home in Bavaria, Germany. She is 83 and I will call her tomorrow, as I do every weekend.

I hope she received the music box and the hat I crocheted for her.

~Magickal Graphics~

Gardening Never Tasted So Good

It's time for the Honey Feast Recipe Newsletter from the National Honey Board with some tasty recipes just in time for Mother's Day!

May, 2011

It’s May, and no matter where you live, it’s time to start thinking about your vegetable garden (if you’re planting one, of course). Have you thought about bee-friendly plant and flower options? Have you hardened off those cooler-weather vegetable seedlings? Are you eagerly awaiting a free weekend so you can plant those little seedlings in the ground?

Or maybe you’re not a gardener at all. Maybe your passion lies in eating the fruits of someone else’s labor – literally! Well, never fear. We’ve picked out some delicious vegetable dishes that will make you appreciate the earth in which it was grown (no matter who did the growing!).

We eat with our eyes first, and vegetables come in such a wide array of colors and flavors that it would be difficult not to have a beautiful plate. And honey adds the perfect sweet note to balance and enhance the other natural flavors of the dishes. So butter up your gardening neighbor and get in on the “goods” – this is going to be one heck of a harvest!

Spring Vegetable Salad with Truffle Whipped Honey
(makes 8 servings)

• 3 lbs. fresh beets, trimmed, rinsed and dried
• 2 cups sherry vinegar, enough to partially cover beets, plus 2 Tbsp
• 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2/3 lb. white jumbo asparagus, cleaned and trimmed
• 2/3 lb. green jumbo asparagus, cleaned and trimmed
• 2/3 lb. large carrots, cleaned and trimmed
• 10 oz. honey
• 2 Tablespoons white truffle oil
• 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• Small herbs, for garnish, chopped
• 2 pints (4 cups) whole-milk ricotta

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a roasting pan, cover beets two thirds with a mixture of 2 parts water, 1 part sherry vinegar and butter. (If using multiple colored beets, roast lighter beets in separate pans so colors don’t bleed) Salt the mixture liberally. Cover with foil and roast until beets can be easily pierced with a fork. Remove from oven and cool in the liquid, in the refrigerator. When cooled, peel and slice the beets thin. Reserve. Using a vegetable peeler or mandoline, shave the asparagus and carrots as thinly as possible (to the consistency of linguine) and transfer to ice water. Reserve in water for up to 24 hours. Using a hand-held immersion blender, process the honey in a tight container for 2 to 3 minutes. Move the hand blender in an up and down motion until the honey lightens in color; continue for 1 minute. Add the truffle oil and continue the up and down motion until fully incorporated and light in color. Reserve (can be re-whipped if necessary). PER ORDER On a chilled plate, arrange beet slices in a circle. Drain the carrot and asparagus mixture and add to a bowl with olive oil, fresh herbs, and 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar. Add salt and pepper to taste. Arrange a handful of shaved vegetables in the center of the plate and garnish with additional herbs if desired. Drizzle with the truffle whipped honey. Spoon 4 teaspoons of whole milk ricotta around salad and serve.

Asparagus with Honey Garlic Sauce
(makes 4 servings)

• 1 lb. fresh asparagus
• 1/2 cup Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup dark ale or dark beer
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed dried thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Add asparagus to boiling, salted water (about 1-inch) and cook, covered, about 2 minutes or until barely tender. Drain. Combine mustard, ale, honey, garlic, thyme and salt; mix well. Pour over cooked asparagus.

Sweet and Hot Marinated Mushrooms
(makes 6 servings)

• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 chopped green onion
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
• 1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 lb. fresh small button mushrooms
• Parsley sprigs or orange wedges, for garnish

Combine all ingredients except mushrooms and garnish in saucepan. Cook and stir over low heat until mixture is well-blended. Place mushrooms in heat-proof bowl; pour hot marinade over mushrooms. Cover and marinate 2 hours at room temperature, stirring occasionally. Arrange mushrooms in serving dish, garnish and serve.

Creamy Honey Sesame Dip for Vegetables
(makes 1-1/3 cups)

• 3/4 cup nonfat mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 3 Tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
• 1 Tablespoon grated fresh ginger root
• 1 small garlic, minced
• 3/4 teaspoon oriental sesame oil
• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• Salt, to taste

Whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar and honey in small bowl. Add remaining ingredients; mix thoroughly. Dip may be stored tightly covered in refrigerator up to 1 week.
I hope you will try some of these recipes - or maybe even spoil mom with one this Sunday!

I love Mexican Food!

Today is Sinco de Mayo and this always reminds me of my brief, close encounter with the Mexican culture.

You see, my name used to be Figueroa (back in 1969 to 1974.) I can hear you going "What?" but, nobody believed me back then and thought I was pulling their leg when I said that my name was Figueroa. Having just come from Germany, speaking very little English and no Spanish at all, I was married to a handsome young man with olive skin and almond shaped eyes (sigh!) who was born in California, but his mother was Hopi Indian and his daddy was from Mexico. That was a very interesting and educational part of my life and I always remember it fondly. I traveled to Mexico several times for family festivities and got to mingle with ordinary people and be part of their every day lives. I became a Godmother and the party included homemade tortillas and meat from a goat and pig that were buried underground in hot coal for the day...it was the most tender meat I ever ate. The people were of limited means, but their hearts where big and open. I am so glad I had the chance to experience that.

Living in California for 33 years, I had the opportunity to eat a lot of Mexican food and never had any better than there, unless I made it myself. My Hopi Indian ex-MIL taught me how to cook Tamales, Enchiladas, Spanish Rice, Mole and all sorts of other delicious meals...and on the weekends, if I wanted Mexican breakfast, I'd just drive to Santa Ana and get fresh Carnitas or Menudo and there were several Cantinas that made homemade Tamales all the time:

(during Christmas, they offered the sweet ones with nuts and raisins in them)

When I discovered Cilantro I became addicted to it and still love to make burritos even though I quit eating meat. The Mexican sweet breads are so good with coffee in the morning...or afternoons:

I finally discovered a place here that sells them fresh from the bakery and now that I have wheels, I can go get some once in a while.

I also enjoy some of the Mexican candy, especially candied yam and cactus. We actually have a small Mexican grocery store in town now that sells a few of those things.

Anyway, just thought I'd say Happy Cinco de Mayo and remind you that tonight might be a good time to go out for Mexican - Ole!

Listen to the sound of Mariachi music and enjoy the big, flowing colorful skirts:

Click here for some more fine Mariachi fiddling!

I am a very colorful person and miss the Mexian flair I saw so much in Southern California! If I were there today, I'd drive to Los Angeles to visit Olvera Street to get a good dose of Mexian culture!

Here is a little serape and sombrero I crocheted for a hot sauce bottle that fits thoday's theme:

I've listened to many a Mariachi bands over the years and every time I hear that music I want to have chips and salsa. I was so glad when I discovered that a Mexican family opened a restaurant right here in town called El Carrisal. I have been sampling their food and found it to be very authentic tasting.  I will probably get some for my dinner tonight.

Enjoy!

She sings!

Gizzy and I have a new (used) car (1993 Nissan Maxima) with good air conditioning to get around in:

And it even has a sun roof (that works!)

It's mechanically sound AND Gizzy approved. The owner applied, and paid for a replacement title so that I can complete the registration process. I will continue saving for something better eventually, but for now this will do and hopefully last me a couple of years. Next month, I'll take it back to the mechanic(who checked it) for a tune up and oil change.

So, here we go - are you ready?

(I think I did ok for a mere $1,000)