tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15439730934737568092024-02-06T20:53:26.731-06:00The Martha InitiativeWhat one ordinary woman can do with Martha aspirations and inspirations.Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.comBlogger663125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-91005243918746479012012-07-26T11:08:00.001-05:002012-07-26T11:08:52.799-05:00Tried and trueYou might recall that <a href="http://www.themarthainitiative.blogspot.com/2012/01/manda-monday-i-hereby-resolve.html" target="_blank">my New Year's Resolutions</a> were to try new recipes, make more crafts and be more frugal. <br />
<br />Have I become more frugal? <em>I think so.</em> <br />
<br />Have I done more crafting? <em>Ummm...no. But I am relatively caught up on laundry, so I think it evens out.</em> <br />
<br />Have I tried new recipes? <em>Yes!</em> While I've made a point to blog about the new Martha Stewart and <em>Everyday Food</em> recipes I've tried, I've had great experiences with meals and desserts from other bloggers and websites. Also,<em> </em><a href="http://pinterest.com/amandajgrant/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> has become a great source of new recipes for me. I have boards for <a href="http://pinterest.com/amandajgrant/recipes-to-try/" target="_blank">general recipes</a>, <a href="http://pinterest.com/amandajgrant/dessert-time/" target="_blank">desserts</a> and <a href="http://pinterest.com/amandajgrant/veggie-tales/" target="_blank">vegetable dishes</a>, and I am trying something new as often as possible. <br />
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Here's what I've tried, along with the links and my reviews.<br />
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<a href="http://thecheesepusher.tumblr.com/post/2719857351/creamy-garlic-pasta" target="_blank">Creamy Garlic Pasta</a> by the Cheese Pusher: OMG this stuff is amazing. I love this recipe. I've made it as a side dish and seeing how it was inhaled by my family, I made it again. The second time around, I added diced cooked chicken to make it the main course. Yum!<br />
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<a href="http://luluthebaker.blogspot.com/2011/09/cheesy-vegetable-chowder.html" target="_blank">Cheesy Vegetable Chowder</a> by Lulu the Baker: this is another great recipe. I foresee creating a crockpot version of this for cool fall nights. <br />
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<a href="http://www.mamalovesfood.com/2009/06/baked-potato-soup-slow-cooker-style.html" target="_blank">Baked Potato Soup</a> by Mama Loves Food: this was okay. I think I experimented a bit with the amounts of ingredients and technique here (and we all know <a href="http://www.themarthainitiative.blogspot.com/2012/07/martha-monday-skillet-shrimp-and-orzo.html" target="_blank">how that usually turns out for me!</a>) so it wasn't as tasty as I had hoped. I'll try this again in the fall, and next time I'll be sure to follow the instructions. <br />
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<a href="http://redsie05.blogspot.com/2010/10/ww-crock-pot-chicken-taco-chili.html" target="_blank">Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili</a> by Reds: this is pretty good (and a good break from regular chili), and as far as cooking/prep go, it's a breeze! I like to combine any leftovers with rice to make my <a href="http://themarthainitiative.blogspot.com/2009/01/fast-and-easy-dinner-tex-mex-chicken.html" target="_blank">Tex Mex Chicken Casserole</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://low-cholesterol.food.com/recipe/gingery-chickpeas-in-spicy-tomato-sauce-351925" target="_blank">Chickpeas in Spicy Tomato Sauce</a> by Food.com: this was okay. I didn't make the recipe as spicy as it could have been, but this was a hearty (and different!) dish. Serve with rice!<br />
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<a href="http://www.alexandracooks.com/2011/06/29/buttermilk-blueberry-breakfast-cake/" target="_blank">Blueberry Breakfast Cake</a> from Alexandra's Kitchen: this is so, so, so delicious! It's so cake-like that I feel guilty for eating it as breakfast instead of dessert. Word to the wise, however...Alexandra mentions in the instructions that the cake <em>might</em> need 10 minutes or so longer in the oven...my experience is that it<em> most definitely</em> needs longer time in the over. Just so you know. <br />
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<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/317420/baked-sweet-potato-chips" target="_blank">Baked Sweet Potato Chips</a> (shown above) from Martha Stewart: these are amazing. I could eat them all day long! Keep in mind that I had a sheet of these burn, so at the halfway mark you'll want to keep a close eye on these and probably decrease the baking time. <br />
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<a href="http://lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com/2010/09/summer-and-autumn.html" target="_blank">No Bake Cookies</a> from Lick the Bowl Good: these cookies were a favorite when I was a kid, and I still love them just as much. I increase the amount of oats by one cup when I use this recipe. <br />
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<a href="http://asoutherngrace.blogspot.com/2008/12/saltines-have-never-had-it-so-good.html" target="_blank">Terribly Terrific Toffee</a> from A Southern Grace: NOM NOM NOM I've made this recipe three times in less than a week now, and I might do another batch or two this weekend. This toffee, based with plain old saltine crackers, is easy to make and even easier to eat. Give it a try!<br />
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In fact, give all these recipes a try! And if you have a recipe I might like, or that you'd like to see featured on <em>The Martha Initiative</em>, be sure to let me know. Happy cooking!Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-22854978053015796062012-07-24T15:22:00.001-05:002012-07-24T15:22:18.307-05:00Blondkopfchen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Since my <a href="http://www.seedsavers.org/Details.aspx?itemNo=1228(OG)" target="_blank">Blondkopfchen tomato</a> seedlings were started way back in February at <a href="http://www.themarthainitiative.blogspot.com/2012/02/more-farm-birthday-fun.html" target="_blank">Little Miss' birthday party</a>, it makes sense that these are the first tomatoes to ripen in our garden. In fact, I believe the first grape tomatoes turned yellow-orange at the end of June. </div>
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And of course, we ate them immediately. And by "we," I mean the kids. <br />
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Little Guy assured me they were quite tasty.<br />
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Little Miss kept asking for more, and I had to stop her several times from picking the unripe tomatoes.<br />
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And now, Little Miss is absolutely hooked on fresh Blondkopfchen tomatoes. Every other day, we check the vines to see if any are ripe, and end up eating them right then and there.<br />
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A week or so ago there were almost 20 ripe at once. I convinced Little Miss to wait until dinner to eat them. <br />
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At least, I thought I had convinced her to wait. <br />
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But these little tomatoes are just too tempting for Little Miss. <br />
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As it turned out, we didn't have any tomatoes to go with dinner. <br />
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<em>I am totally okay with that.</em>Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-73596069601955034292012-07-23T13:51:00.001-05:002012-07-23T13:51:38.661-05:00Martha Monday--Mojitos and a sandwichIn the July/August issue of <u>Everyday Food</u>, I marked ten recipes as must-do's for this month. Of the ten, six of them are for cocktails. <em>Go figure.</em><br />
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Last week I made the <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/907435/watermelon-mojitos" target="_blank">Watermelon Mojitos</a> on page 94. They weren't bad!<br />
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There are five cocktails featured on the "Instant Party" spread--everything from a Singapore Sling to a Painkiller. Once I've made my way through them all, I'll let you know my favorite. ;)<br />
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After the mojitos, I made the Pesto Chicken Burgers from page 13. I didn't have any ground chicken on hand, so I simply used cubed breast meat. The ciabatta rolls, pesto, chicken, melted cheese and tomato slice was a terrific combination--what a great sandwich!<br />
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I'm not entirely sold on the watermelon mojito (a regular mojito is more my thing) but I am smitten with these pesto chicken burgers. I'll be making them again. Need something different for dinner? Give these pesto chicken burgers a try!<br />
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<strong>Happy Monday, everyone!</strong>Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-68798454159809608262012-07-10T19:57:00.000-05:002012-07-11T10:52:46.535-05:00PW's perfect iced coffeeLast summer, I had a strict morning routine. Get up, get ready for work, get the kids ready for their day, leave the house, stop at a coffee shop drive-thru for an iced coffee, and proceed to work. I did this every day. Without fail. <br />
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<em>I am like the tides.</em> And I like my iced coffee, okay? Scratch that, I <em>need</em> my iced coffee. Daily.<br />
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However, that daily iced coffee routine was cutting into my summer fun (read: yard sales) budget in a big way, and I'm sure it wasn't helping my waistline either. This summer, in order to have both my daily iced coffee and money for yard sale purchases, I decided to make my own iced coffee rather than dropping $5.00 at Dunkin' Donuts each morning. Enter <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/06/perfect-iced-coffee/" target="_blank">The Pioneer Woman's perfect iced coffee</a> recipe. <br />
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I gave it a try, and I <em>love love love</em> it! It has saved my mornings and my budget. All you need to make it is coffee grounds and water, and then whatever accompaniments you demand of your caffeine serving. I like half-and-half along with a splash of caramel flavor in my iced coffee. <br />
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See?<br />
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After I took the above picture, I realized that some of the ingredients are hard to see. So I rearranged everything on another countertop and took another picture: </div>
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You can see the ingredients and final product, but everything is blurry. When it comes to photography, I am certainly not <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/" target="_blank">The Pioneer Woman</a>. Though it might help if I drank the iced coffee <em>before</em> I started snapping pictures in the morning. </div>
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<em>Note to self: caffeine intake first, taking pictures second.</em> </div>
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I am really happy with this iced coffee recipe. Not only does it taste exactly like what I used to buy at the drive-thru each morning, but it costs a LOT less. Seriously, the savings is amazing! Last summer, I spent $20-25 each week just on iced coffee. This year, I spent just $20 on ingredients to make iced coffee all summer long. You do the math!</div>
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Really, math isn't my thing. <em>You</em> do it. </div>
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And give PW's perfect iced coffee recipe a try. You'll be glad you did!</div>Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-40142461461152473992012-07-09T16:30:00.000-05:002012-07-09T16:30:21.065-05:00Martha Monday--Skillet shrimp and orzoIn the May 2012 issue of Everyday Food, there is an amazing one-pot recipe of<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/900196/skillet-shrimp-and-orzo" target="_blank"> skillet shrimp and orzo</a>:<br />
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<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/imagecache/img_l/ecl/everyday_food-hires/2012/04_may/one_pot/shrimp-orzo-med108373_vert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/imagecache/img_l/ecl/everyday_food-hires/2012/04_may/one_pot/shrimp-orzo-med108373_vert.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The ingredients are fairly simple, as is the process, and I just had to make it. The recipe calls for 3/4 pound of orzo, but as you might know, most boxes of orzo are a full pound. Rather than deal with the math, I put in all the orzo and two full cans of chicken broth. And, since I used canned tomatoes, I added all of the juice. The orzo turned out just fine. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxdpyr6DfC3x6Po817-08734VYep37DdPQ4iMZ8hrqEXooWCLjS0zVDlVeM6Ibdt55ncX6cLUFqo6hCFP95HsnZ5tXZdBvRHrcJy8bnNYNNgIDZ8bI82n6VUH7TINPyZa9LgAh7imbTFx/s1600/DSC07684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxdpyr6DfC3x6Po817-08734VYep37DdPQ4iMZ8hrqEXooWCLjS0zVDlVeM6Ibdt55ncX6cLUFqo6hCFP95HsnZ5tXZdBvRHrcJy8bnNYNNgIDZ8bI82n6VUH7TINPyZa9LgAh7imbTFx/s640/DSC07684.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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However, I got the crazy idea to GRILL OUT the accompanying shrimp (along with some chicken). As you can see, <em>that did not turn out just fine.</em> Grilling simply isn't my thing. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitP2C_cps2cHFa18y04PJ5vhOHvZcpT2Si7nXHAcSzJhRccEfyAMAozgSFm3MgZzVqp5O7TRErwjvTUCB3g4ZyvEbGlORt6EmXE8gdzCxRVSbqfxjD8lt-Umhyr118uE5bVy_UsF4qmRyj/s1600/DSC07687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitP2C_cps2cHFa18y04PJ5vhOHvZcpT2Si7nXHAcSzJhRccEfyAMAozgSFm3MgZzVqp5O7TRErwjvTUCB3g4ZyvEbGlORt6EmXE8gdzCxRVSbqfxjD8lt-Umhyr118uE5bVy_UsF4qmRyj/s640/DSC07687.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then, to add insult to injury, I wasn't watching the orzo closely enough during the cooking process and a small layer was burned to the bottom of the pan. <em>Not fine.</em> I'd say cooking isn't my thing, but I will not let this one mishap diminish my quest to become Aurora's version of Martha Stewart. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklRHDc9GQsTU-w8pEQZhN6naq5sPnUBr27sIsxAos6VXrnkUdau9r2pL84LNSbD1HkiY4fa7EmP99tbBSxS2Vi1lrtvpx4p2M5ieH345RlKsjdy4ZXmlPTqMcTN7JyVd2V5hKmvzCeo4w/s1600/DSC07689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklRHDc9GQsTU-w8pEQZhN6naq5sPnUBr27sIsxAos6VXrnkUdau9r2pL84LNSbD1HkiY4fa7EmP99tbBSxS2Vi1lrtvpx4p2M5ieH345RlKsjdy4ZXmlPTqMcTN7JyVd2V5hKmvzCeo4w/s640/DSC07689.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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COOKING IS STILL MY THING.<br />
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And because it is summer, watermelon is also my thing. A thing which, when following dinner, totally makes up for blackened shrimp and chicken and burned orzo at the bottom of the pan. Which is just fine with me. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7hhs2CFinn2aZEqdpUgNub3G33iprOn__NKElHhKiN69gavPkCzMcqmt7Qk9Bf3OVmDkHVtdCjmiw6p9sZXWzjEr-lM_dGQVmRiKSG5SnL-f2P0h0Edfh5vpt_gtWEwq16CC-sZprOP_/s1600/DSC07691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7hhs2CFinn2aZEqdpUgNub3G33iprOn__NKElHhKiN69gavPkCzMcqmt7Qk9Bf3OVmDkHVtdCjmiw6p9sZXWzjEr-lM_dGQVmRiKSG5SnL-f2P0h0Edfh5vpt_gtWEwq16CC-sZprOP_/s640/DSC07691.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I will be trying this recipe again. The orzo was delicious, and I can only imagine that by following directions and cooking the shrimp in the skillet that the entire dish would be amazing. Give this recipe a try today, but please learn from my mistakes and follow the instruction. Just in case, keep some watermelon on hand and you'll be just fine. <br />
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<em>A note to Tenney in Hawaii: your emails always brighten my day. Aloha!</em><br />
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<em>A note to everyone: As always, thanks for reading. Have a wonderful week!</em>Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-21047993832178124082012-07-03T10:44:00.000-05:002012-07-03T10:44:06.356-05:00Pesto with kaleNeed a fun side dish for tomorrow's festivities? By fun, I mean 'easy', and of course I'm referring to my favorite summer side Pasta with Pesto. YUM!!!!<br />
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But, now that I am a <em>bona fide</em> gardener, I'm putting a bit of kale in with my usual pesto ingredients (basil, olive oil, pine nuts and garlic). Kale is a superfood so expect to be able to fly or have x-ray vision after you eat it.*<br />
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<em>*This statement is probably mostly not true. Maybe.</em><br />
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Also, the addition of kale helps the pesto keep that awesome green color. If you give this a try, <em>and you really should I INSIST</em>, be sure to keep the kale/basil ratio at 1:2. That's one part kale to two (or more) parts of basil. I think. Really I'm not sure how to express that in mathematical terms, so just read the word parts and do what that says. <br />
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Have a wonderful (and safe) Independence Day!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxExJcYxczEwWavGMGQASitmeI2SXimN21OCZv9k6-nqUSas2ge8Tf840-GYUbcLNTEqjbysgOLOtmWsWc5icXrv_wrh4kw45gFKn7zboFQ2BXSTrwBzQOdXo5ks9w6G1ew4s-ALGS5vn/s1600/DSC07545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxExJcYxczEwWavGMGQASitmeI2SXimN21OCZv9k6-nqUSas2ge8Tf840-GYUbcLNTEqjbysgOLOtmWsWc5icXrv_wrh4kw45gFKn7zboFQ2BXSTrwBzQOdXo5ks9w6G1ew4s-ALGS5vn/s640/DSC07545.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-79117786586009617522012-07-02T10:26:00.002-05:002012-07-02T10:26:51.977-05:00Martha Monday--Fourth of July dessertsIndependence Day is almost here...time for grilling out, parades and fireworks! With the heat wave here in the Midwest, I am looking forward to cool desserts to follow the bbq. And naturally, Martha has a <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/275196/red-white-and-blue-desserts/@center/276964/60-days-summer#/852382" target="_blank">bunch of ideas on her site</a>. <br />
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Since it's too hot to turn on the oven, these <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/318346/firecracker-ice-pops?center=276964&gallery=275196&slide=318346" target="_blank">Firecracker Ice Pops</a> are worth a try:<br />
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<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/imagecache/img_l/ecl/images/content/pub/everyday_food/2010Q3/med105744_0710_firecracker_vert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/imagecache/img_l/ecl/images/content/pub/everyday_food/2010Q3/med105744_0710_firecracker_vert.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/318422/mixed-berry-salad-with-mint?center=276964&gallery=275196&slide=261557" target="_blank">Mixed Berry Salad with Mint</a> also looks refreshing:<br />
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<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/imagecache/img_l/ecl/images/content/pub/everyday_food/2008Q3/med103901d_0708_berry_salad_vert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/imagecache/img_l/ecl/images/content/pub/everyday_food/2008Q3/med103901d_0708_berry_salad_vert.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But if your dessert needs to contain chocolate, then these super-easy <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/265330/pretzel-sparklers?center=276964&gallery=275196&slide=265330" target="_blank">Pretzel Sparklers</a> are for you:</div>
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<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/kids/2003Q1/kids_summer03_pretzels_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/kids/2003Q1/kids_summer03_pretzels_l.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Should you feel the need to take a more traditional route and actually bake despite the soaring temps outside, then I can heartily recommend these <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/356842/fireworks-cookies?center=276964&gallery=275196&slide=356842" target="_blank">Fireworks Cookies</a>:<br />
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<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/ms_living/2011Q3/gt-cookie-bty1-0711mld107324_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/ms_living/2011Q3/gt-cookie-bty1-0711mld107324_l.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I <a href="http://themarthainitiative.blogspot.com/2011/07/martha-monday-fireworks-cookies.html" target="_blank">made them last year</a> and they were a huge hit. </div>
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This <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/340202/summer-shortcake?center=276964&gallery=275196&slide=283015" target="_blank">Summer Shortcake</a> is also a real crowd-pleaser:</div>
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<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/ms_living/2007Q3/la102505_0707_plate_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/ms_living/2007Q3/la102505_0707_plate_l.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've also<a href="http://themarthainitiative.blogspot.com/2009/06/martha-monday_29.html" target="_blank"> made this before</a>, and it was delicious! <br />
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My plans for the Fourth are still up in the air, but I'm sure they will include good food, good friends and good desserts. What are your plans for the Fourth of July?Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-2146431051399476212012-06-22T14:00:00.000-05:002012-06-22T14:00:06.125-05:00Butterfly and bee gardens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
To <a href="http://themarthainitiative.blogspot.com/2011/07/xxx-pumpkins.html" target="_blank">help with pollination issues</a>, I've planted two small butterfly gardens in the backyard. The first and biggest is in the northwest corner situated under a locust tree, between the Wall of Tomatoes and the compost bins. It features sedum, asters and a few other flowers and shrubs that I just can't remember the names of. <em>Which I'm sure happens to Martha all the time.</em> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6gfZygZpCJPmQl20tEuz7bAvU9ffK9IZ9gpxH4jSU-MIGF1gtR0o1b0GN5S3uDxjRaRYTNdmcEd_UbC_j7fuCzZpEkIYSGEltrW8m3ZX4cI-r0EwkXh38AbTITTeSb2YI7mPpyH2V-IN/s1600/DSC07599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6gfZygZpCJPmQl20tEuz7bAvU9ffK9IZ9gpxH4jSU-MIGF1gtR0o1b0GN5S3uDxjRaRYTNdmcEd_UbC_j7fuCzZpEkIYSGEltrW8m3ZX4cI-r0EwkXh38AbTITTeSb2YI7mPpyH2V-IN/s640/DSC07599.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The most prominent butterfly-attractor is a large purple butterfly bush. Next to that is one lonely milkweed stalk. For those of you not in the Midwest, milkweed is essential to the Monarch butterfly. The caterpillars feed on it, and it's usually where they make their chrysalis to turn into a butterfly. <br />
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I've been told that milkweed is invasive. If so, I hope it invades the heck out of this corner of my yard. The more butterflies in my garden, the better!</div>
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Already the butterfly bush is working...see the bee collecting nectar?</div>
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There's another small gathering of flowering plants in the southwest corner of the backyard between the strawberries and the beets. This bee/butterfly garden is much smaller with one butterfly bush and two asters. There are no flowers yet, but hopefully I'll see some action soon. <br />
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<em>Have a great weekend, everyone!</em>Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-66029532925656682682012-06-21T12:00:00.000-05:002012-06-21T12:00:05.600-05:00What the...?Lots of kitchen scraps go in my compost bin: vegetable peels, seeds, apple cores, etc. Early this spring, I turned the piles to help aid the breakdown of all that organic matter. Despite my best efforts, something in the compost bin didn't decompose; instead, it's growing!<br />
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I really don't know what this plant is, just that it's growing noticeably bigger with each passing day. Already it has filled up the middle compost bin and is spilling over into the adjacent bins. Seriously, this thing is growing 10x faster than anything else in my garden. <em>A testament to the power of compost, perhaps?</em><br />
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Based on the vining, leaves and blossoms, I'm guessing this is some sort of cucumber or squash. Already a little <em>something</em> is growing. <br />
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This mystery vegetable is really quite exciting. I just hope it isn't some sort of cannibalistic alien a la <em>Little Shop of Horrors.</em> If it says to me "Feed me, Amanda!" then I'll know we have a problem. <br />
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Just don't blame it on the compost.Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-67806877152215954512012-06-20T09:56:00.000-05:002012-06-20T09:56:01.995-05:00New garden spaceYesterday, I shared <a href="http://themarthainitiative.blogspot.com/2012/06/perimeter-garden.html" target="_blank">my perimeter garden</a>. In the spring, as I was starting a gazillion seeds in my dining room, it became apparent that I had more sprouts and seeds than I had space to plant them. Whereas some people might cull their collection of seedlings and seed packets at that point, I simply decided to carve out some more garden space. <br />
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<em>It's what Martha would do.</em> <br />
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Here are my two brand-new garden beds on the west side of the backyard:<br />
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Each bed is 4'x16'. The first bed contains cauliflower, carrots and peppers.<br />
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The second new space contains winter squash (acorn, butternut and two other varieties), blue corn and summer squash (zucchini, patty pan and one other variety). This bed in particular is flourishing. I expect to be eating patty pan squashes in the next week or so, with zucchini ready shortly after that.<br />
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And because even after creating two new garden beds I still needed more room, here is the flower-bed-turned-corn-field area on the south side of the house. <br />
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I have four planting of corn there, all planted ten days apart. My hope is that even if each section only gives me 10 ears or so, there will be time to eat and enjoy it before the next batch is ready for harvest. <br />
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So there you have it...my <em>2012 Garden Extravaganza</em>! Math is not my thing, but I put my garden's area at 368 square feet. I weeded everything over the weekend, and that task took me a full two hours. All things considered that's not bad, though I'd rather have spent that time reading a book and eating bonbons.<br />
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I'll weed again in another month or so. In the meantime, I am ready for some strawberries and summer squash. <strong><em>Happy first day of summer!</em></strong>Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-24774485985249980982012-06-19T12:41:00.002-05:002012-06-19T12:41:17.333-05:00Perimeter gardenLast year, I made garden beds around the perimeter of the backyard but severely underutilized the space. I was new to the gardening game, and I didn't want to get in over my head. Last year I enjoyed a good harvest from nearly everything I planted. This year, I was determined to get the most use out of my garden space. <br />
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<em>I may have gotten in over my head.</em> <br />
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Along the north fence with the pear and peach trees is the <em>Wall of Tomatoes</em>. I believe there are 25 or so tomato plants along that fence, though I've lost track of the exact number. There's a pepper or two nestled amongst the tomatoes, and two basil patches thrown in for good measure. This area gets a decent amount of sunlight which hopefully lead to bushels and bushels of tomatoes.<br />
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Along the west side of the fence, I have two sections of potatoes. This is my first time growing potatoes so I have no idea what to expect. So far, not a lot is happening. <br />
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Moving south along the west side of the backyard, you'll find the broccoli. As with the potatoes, this is my first time growing broccoli and I really don't know what's going on here. The broccoli is green and the leaves get bigger each week, so I'm taking that as a good sign. <br />
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I planted four varieties of eggplant: Epic, Fairy Tale, Gretal and Hansel. In that order. Which is alphabetical, you might have noticed. Which gives me a great deal of satisfaction. <br />
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I have two strawberry patches along the west fence. All Star is a June-bearing strawberry, and Ozark Beauty is an ever-bearing variety. Strawberry plants can take a full year to get established, but once they are the plants will last for several years. While I won't get nearly enough berries for freezing or jam, there have been a few to nibble on. Yum!<br />
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Turning the corner to the south side of the yard (same side as the apple trees), you'll find my beet patch. I first tasted fresh beets at Uncle Rich's house last November. They were delicious, and I was compelled to plant some of my own this year. <br />
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To the left of the beets is the kale patch. I've been collecting kale <a href="http://pinterest.com/amandajgrant/recipes-to-try/" target="_blank">recipes on Pinterest</a> for quite some time...now I just need to pick this stuff and start cooking!</div>
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Next are the peas and carrots flanked by two more tomato plants. The trellis is actually a broken baby gate I found by the side of the road. Peas don't grow very high, so I thought this support would be sufficient.<br />
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Pole beans are next. The seeds I used were from last year, and so far only half of them have sprouted. At this point, I think that's all I'm going to get. Soon, I'll get some trellis' up for the beans.<br />
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Trellis' are already in place for the cucumbers. For some reason, my cucumbers are not getting off to a great start. Maybe they aren't getting enough sun? Though last year, I did have one cucumber vine along this fence and it did just fine. Maybe they're just slow to get started. I planted three varieties this year, and if I have a large enough yield I'll try my hand at making homemade pickles. <br />
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Finally, this last section is a mish-mash of the peppers and tomatoes I couldn't fit anywhere else. I'm not complaining, though...there is no such thing as too many peppers or tomatoes. Overall, I think I have 20 or so pepper plants (I'll share those pictures tomorrow) and 30 or so tomato plants. I lost count.<br />
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So that's my perimeter garden, which accounts for almost 3/4 of my total garden space. I'll share the rest of it with you tomorrow. <br />
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Have a great day!<br />Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-22203541911159187142012-06-18T10:50:00.000-05:002012-06-18T10:50:01.934-05:00Martha Monday--Garden watchingMartha Stewart has some amazing gardens. Her gardens, combined with her expansive property and animals, actually resemble more of a farm. In fact, that is how she refers to her property (named "Cantitoe Corners") in Bedford, New York. <br />
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<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/274823/cantitoe-corners-marthas-vegetable-garde/@center/276999/home-tours#/221905" target="_blank">Martha's amazing vegetable garden</a> is....<em>amazing</em>:<br />
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My vegetable garden is not quite there, but I am working on it. Also, I'm working on getting a staff of 40 to do all the work my house and ginourmous garden will require. I'll keep you posted.<br />
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Martha does fancy things in her garden like <a href="http://www.themarthablog.com/2012/05/my-farm-in-mid-may-2.html" target="_blank">install time-lapse cameras</a> so she can monitor the progress of the peas:<br />
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I'm not into monitoring my own peas (at this point I am just crossing my fingers that I'll harvest some), but I have been keeping on eye on my neighbors' gardens. Next door neighbors Sara and Yogita are doing a great job growing veggies in their backyards. Both ladies have some great gardens coming up with everything from herbs to eggplants to tomatoes. <br />
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This is Sara's garden just next door:<br />
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That's Little Miss taking a peek inside. Sara has cilantro, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant and a few other things in there. Everything is growing at such a rapid pace! My tomatoes are not this big and lush yet.<em> I can only assume Sara is sneaking into my garden at night and sabotaging my tomatoes' progress.</em><br />
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Yogita also has a wonderful garden growing. This year, she doubled the space so she could grow more tomatoes, herbs, spinach, everything! Yogi's garden is beautiful and looks like a miniature version of Martha Stewart's. Behold:<br />
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And just like in Sara's garden, Yogita's plants are so much more lush and full than my own at this point. <em>Maybe they are both sabotaging me!</em> Of course, a more likely explanation is that they both water their gardens regularly. <br />
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That, and the fact that they are better gardeners than I am is probably the real reason for their success. <em>No matter, I'll just steal their tomatoes while they are sleeping.</em> <br />
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Don't worry Sara and Yogi, I am <em>totally kidding</em> about stealing tomatoes. Though I will be willing to trade them for Ice Pops. Let me know!<br />
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Happy Monday, everyone!Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-27279209205998422992012-06-14T14:28:00.001-05:002012-06-14T14:28:31.185-05:00Summer reading, gladiator-styleThe Aurora Public Library, like many libraries, has a summer reading program for kids. You know how this goes, right? Kids read a certain number of books (or in the case of non-readers, kids are read to for a certain number of hours) and they receive a prize when they meet the reading requirement. <br />
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Last year, I signed the Little Guy up for this and we had a good time. Prizes included pencils, bookmarks and coupons for free dinner items at local restaurants. It was nice. <br />
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This year, I learned that the APL also has a <em>summer reading program for adults</em>. Adults have to read six books for an entry into a Grand Prize drawing, and there's something in there about receiving a free book. Each person can enter the Grand Prize drawing up to four times. <br />
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Now, I don't know what the Grand Prize is nor do I care. I do know that the adult summer reading program gives me the chance to read (which I like to do anyways) on a competitive level. Competitive reading...isn't that awesome?<br />
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<em>Finally, a sport at which I can excel.</em><br />
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The contest, er...<em>reading program</em>, started on June 4 so I am a little behind. Here's my first stack:<br />
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First up is Jenny Lawson's <em>Let's Pretend This Never Happened</em>. Jenny Lawson is <a href="http://thebloggess.com/" target="_blank">The Bloggess</a>, and if you don't read her blog I suggest you start immediately. <br />
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The Aurora Public Library is having a book discussion for <em>The Zookeeper's Wife</em> in mid-July. I am thinking of going not to discuss the book, but to check out my competition. I'm hoping to intimidate my fellow reading gladiators by convincing them that not only am I a better/faster/more awesome reader, but that I will win this competition OR ELSE. My intimidation plan so far includes bringing a huge stack of books to the discussion group, opening them all and reading a bit from each before switching over to another. I will occasionally, randomly and dramatically slam one shut and scream at my competitors "Another book bites the dust. IN YOUR FACE!"<br />
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That sounds intimidating, right? <em>I just don't want to be too over the top</em> and scare someone out of the competition. When I win, I want my victory to be over thousands of fellow area readers, not just a few people who didn't attend the discussion that day and weren't able to witness my gladiator-level reading skills. Please let me know if this intimidation plan seems like too much. <br />
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<em>Candy Construction</em>, while on my reading list, will not be used in my intimidation plan. Can you imagine how embarrassing it would be to be screaming "IN YOUR FACE" and then someone would be all "But you're reading about candy construction!?" <br />
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How can I intimidate competitors with a book featuring edible crafts including this totally adorable rice krispie treat pirate ship (which is perfect for the <a href="http://pinterest.com/amandajgrant/arg-a-pirate-party/" target="_blank">Little Guy's 5th birthday</a>, by the way)? <em>The answer: I can't.</em> And that's why <em>Candy Construction</em> will be read in the privacy of my own home. <br />
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So that's my Phase One reading for the <em>Adult Reading Program: Literate Gladiator</em> competition. Though I have yet to log a book, I feel really confident in my ability to kick ass in this contest. Wish me luck, dear readers!<br />
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<em>Unless you are a competitor, in which case....IN YOUR FACE!</em><br />
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Have a book suggestion for me? I'd love to know what's on your summer reading list! Let me know in the comments. Happy reading!Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-16062647819453637572012-06-12T11:41:00.000-05:002012-06-12T11:41:08.823-05:00(Belated) Martha Monday--Father's DayFather's Day is just around the corner, and I found some <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/274269/fathers-day-gifts-and-crafts/@center/307033/spring-holidays" target="_blank">super-cute ideas on MarthaStewart.com</a>. These handmade gifts would be perfect for new fathers, old fathers, grandfathers, uncles and general dad-type people. <br />
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<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/272480/retro-fathers-day-clip-art-labels?center=307033&gallery=274269&slide=193072" target="_blank">Remake Dad's favorite foods with fun labels:</a> <br />
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Give Dad a <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/271224/fathers-day-coupons?center=307033&gallery=274629&slide=271224" target="_blank">booklet of fun coupons</a>:<br />
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If handmaking gifts is not your thing, this <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/271631/dads-car-travel-kit" target="_blank">car care travel kit</a> would be easy enough to assemble: <br />
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You can find more<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/274269/fathers-day-gifts-and-crafts/@center/307033/spring-holidays" target="_blank"> handmade gift ideas here</a>, or go <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/898709/fathers-day-gift-guide/@center/307033/spring-holidays" target="_blank">here for a fun Father's Day gift guide</a>. Have a great week!Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-60114368928204960942012-06-07T10:38:00.000-05:002012-06-07T10:38:30.072-05:00A sweet harvestMy overachieving garden has already started to produce! Take a look at what I picked earlier this week: <br />
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Four strawberries! These are Allstar strawberries I ordered from <a href="http://www.starkbros.com/products/berry-plants/strawberry-plants/allstar-strawberry" target="_blank">Stark Bros</a>. Allstar is a June-bearer, so hopefully I'll get some more berries from these plants before their season is over. <br />
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I have to say, as far as firsts harvests go, this one could not have been sweeter. The berries were delicious! Now....time to get all the other fruit and veggie plants on board. Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-19465355964811490032012-06-05T14:13:00.001-05:002012-06-05T14:13:58.132-05:00Back from the 2012 Wilton Tent SaleSome friends and I hit the Wilton Tent Sale on Sunday. We got there in the late afternoon and were pleased to find plenty of parking and shopping carts, and not a large crowd. Unfortunately, many of the cookware bins were empty, but that's a gamble we took by going at the end of the day rather than at the beginning. <br />
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As I've stated before, <a href="http://www.themarthainitiative.blogspot.com/2012/05/wilton-tent-sale-2012.html" target="_blank">each year the merchandise changes</a>. This year, the sale was heavy on frosting and fondant stuff. There were some crafts kits, scrapbooking materials and a bit of Copco brand stuff, but the majority of the sale offerings were Wilton. Here's the small stretch of sale dedicated to Martha Stewart Crafts:<br />
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And here's what I bought: <br />
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For the most part, I stuck to my list. Last year I purchased a Copco knife and I really like it, so picking up another of the same brand was a no-brainer. <br />
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I replenished my supply of candy melts: <br />
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And I had a few smaller purchases:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYc8hdbAVHU-P5BRx1X9ecyNR_hN4AiMFAH66w2WHRt6Dg2or6ekrXypLzW2sgAgY0Vtmklu16-0YthHMH6o4tYN3UmLY75oAiqPeXOumAbkcErETnAisyp3tq8bwxwu9_gTGajeiVooum/s1600/DSC07481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYc8hdbAVHU-P5BRx1X9ecyNR_hN4AiMFAH66w2WHRt6Dg2or6ekrXypLzW2sgAgY0Vtmklu16-0YthHMH6o4tYN3UmLY75oAiqPeXOumAbkcErETnAisyp3tq8bwxwu9_gTGajeiVooum/s640/DSC07481.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Though I had a lot of pirate-themed stuff on my list for <a href="http://pinterest.com/amandajgrant/arg-a-pirate-party/" target="_blank">Little Guy's fifth birthday party</a>, all I could find were these fun picks. Cute, but not the boatload of pirate-themed stuff I was hoping for. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ubzih2tFi-StB0kd4p5ixoTUXk1jYkW5jCjooQvfWtvTViujJxNP2Nw75W2JvqQv3fKrho8UPvYZnmfXsieRjJnQHQiaKUYeApcpgEUSsRNtRQ0UnUkIzKxFCrcQ1t4bXMjU1plc019E/s1600/DSC07482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ubzih2tFi-StB0kd4p5ixoTUXk1jYkW5jCjooQvfWtvTViujJxNP2Nw75W2JvqQv3fKrho8UPvYZnmfXsieRjJnQHQiaKUYeApcpgEUSsRNtRQ0UnUkIzKxFCrcQ1t4bXMjU1plc019E/s640/DSC07482.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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The only deviation from my list is this super-fun Linzer Cutter. I've always wanted to try linzer cookies, and this kit makes it look easy: <br />
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It comes with seven designs for the hole in the top cookie. Fun!</div>
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The <a href="http://www.wilton.com/events/index.cfm" target="_blank">2012 Wilton Tent Sale</a> is going on now through June 19. If you are in the area and into parties, cakes, cookies and candy, you'll want to check it out. Happy shopping!Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-15481600466956051262012-06-04T15:25:00.001-05:002012-06-04T15:25:11.609-05:00Martha Monday--SkylandsMartha's <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/274581/skylands-maine-summer-home/@center/276999/home-tours#/228110" target="_blank">summer home Skylands</a> (once Edsel Ford's estate) is located in beautiful Seal Harbor, Maine. Just feast your eyes on all this gorgeousness: <br />
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<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/ms_living/2000Q3/a98361_0900_cntrsprd_xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/ms_living/2000Q3/a98361_0900_cntrsprd_xl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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At this point in my life, I can't imagine having a "summer home" so incredible that it deserves its own name, let alone one once owned by an American icon. Or having a summer home at all. I own a tent, but that's just not the same as this: <br />
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At this point, I'd like to appeal to Martha...<br />
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<em>Dearest Martha, my idol, my inspiration, </em><br />
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<em>Skylands is a beautiful estate, and I do so enjoy looking at all the </em><a href="http://www.themarthablog.com/2010/04/scouting-at-skylands-my-home-in-maine.html" target="_blank"><em>pictures you post on your blog</em></a><em>. Should you have a shortage of interesting and fun guests at Skylands this summer, please consider adding me, and my two little cherubs, to the guest list. My children are well-behaved, I make a mean coffee cake, and we desperately need a vacation.</em><br />
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<em>Sincerely yours, </em><br />
<em>Amanda Grant (mini-Martha)</em><br />
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<em>PS. We could even stay in the </em><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/274517/skylands-guesthouse/@center/276999/home-tours#/208178" target="_blank"><em>guest house</em></a><em>:</em> <br />
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For now, I'll just get back to pitching the tent in my backyard. Happy Monday, everyone!Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-4928794680771501412012-05-29T10:46:00.000-05:002012-05-29T10:46:48.516-05:00Sum- sum- summertime!No matter what the calender says, Memorial Day weekend is the start of summer for me. I love summer...there is just so much to see and do! It's hard to fit in everything before Labor Day (the end of summer in my mind), but we sure are going to try this year. To keep us on track, I made a (Pinterest-inspired) kid-friendly summer fun list to keep track of our goals and plans. <br />
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The list includes visits to three zoos, three festivals, two theme parks, several area attractions and one water park. I also listed stuff to do, such as watch a movie in a theater, make snow cones, go for a bike ride, and more. There's 25 things to do and places to go on that list. Summertime fun will be ours!</div>
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The kids' summer to-do list was so fun to make that I made a to-do list for me in the same style. While most people might find their summer fun hampered by to-do's, accomplishing big projects gives me such a great feeling that I had to plan some for the summer. My list includes painting rooms and furniture, tackling huge projects like the garage and basement workroom, and catching up on the kids' scrapbooks and photo albums. My list isn't as long as the first one, but I'm sure as some projects are checked off, other ones will be added. </div>
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With the start of summer, we already got to cross one thing off of the summertime fun to-do list...we watched the Memorial Day parade. My Little Guy was more than happy to mark the occasion. </div>
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Then Little Miss kicked off summer in her own way by putting her purse on her head. <br />
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<em>That's just how she rolls, I guess.</em><br />
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What do you have planned for this summer? Do you plan or do you just go with the flow? Whatever your plans may be, I hope you have a fun (and safe) time. <br />
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<strong>Happy planning and happy summer!</strong>Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-30121316796456113092012-05-25T11:00:00.000-05:002012-05-25T11:00:03.691-05:00Wilton Tent Sale 2012This year's <a href="http://www.wilton.com/events/index.cfm" target="_blank">Wilton Tent Sale</a> starts in one week. As my regular readers know, this event is like a mini-version of Christmas for me. I just can't wait to get my hands on all that great, discounted cake/candy/crafting <em>stuff</em>!<br />
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For those not familiar with the company, <a href="http://www.wilton.com/" target="_blank">Wilton</a> is famous for their cake-decorating and candy-making supplies. But did you also know <a href="http://www.wilton.com/about/corporate.cfm" target="_blank">they are the makers</a> of all things <a href="http://www.copco.com/" target="_blank">Copco</a>, the Mario Batali Italian Kitchen line, EK Success products and....<a href="http://www.eksuccessbrands.com/marthastewartcrafts/" target="_blank">MARTHA STEWART CRAFTS</a>?!!!<br />
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And during their once-a-year Tent Sale in Woodridge, Illinois, many of the items they make are sold at a substantial discount. While the selection varies from year to year (some years there have been more craft items, some years it's more about the cake decorating supplies), all items are 40-75% off regular retail prices. <br />
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Here's what I bought in: <a href="http://themarthainitiative.blogspot.com/2011/06/wilton-tent-sale-2011.html" target="_blank">2011</a>, <a href="http://themarthainitiative.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-purchases-so-far.html" target="_blank">2010</a> and <a href="http://themarthainitiative.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-i-bought.html" target="_blank">2009</a>. Substantial hauls, each and every one! This year, I'm on the hunt for <a href="http://www.wilton.com/store/site/department.cfm?id=69399DFA-1E0B-C910-EA8BEE75EE445498&fid=69399E0A-1E0B-C910-EAAF14D3619C19C4" target="_blank">all things pirate</a>, since that will be the theme for <a href="http://pinterest.com/amandajgrant/arg-a-pirate-party/" target="_blank">Little Guy's 5th birthday</a>. These <a href="http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=69405BDE-1E0B-C910-EAD4C3EBB77DD0E5&fid=69405BEE-1E0B-C910-EA1A268579177B46" target="_blank">pirate cupcake liners</a> and <a href="http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=1E26F64B-1E0B-C910-EA95C108A7B263D0&fid=1E2AA181-1E0B-C910-EAA61F3F1B594DA6" target="_blank">candy picks</a> are on my "must have" list:<br />
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The Tent Sale runs from June 1-19. On June 1, the sale is open 1-8pm. After that, it is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 8pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 6pm. Read all about the Tent Sale <a href="http://www.wilton.com/events/index.cfm" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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My plan is to be there on June 3. See you there!Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-52651891517644296392012-05-23T09:30:00.000-05:002012-05-23T09:30:03.549-05:00We Grow DreamsLast year I heard (can't remember how) about a great greenhouse/nursery in the Western Suburbs whose mission was to give folks with developmental disabilities training and work experience while providing high-quality plants and seedlings to the public. I was intrigued, but never had the time to go. Finally, this spring I made it there. <br />
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<a href="http://www.wegrowdreams.org/" target="_blank">We Grow Dreams</a> is a great source for beautiful flowers and vegetable seedlings. I took the kids on Mother's Day, and purchased some eggplant, summer squash and winter squash seedlings for the vegetable garden. <br />
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We had a great time wandering in and out of the greenhouses admiring all the plants. <br />
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<em>In an unrelated note: thanks for the Thing 2 shirt, Shannon!</em><br />
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The good folks at We Grow Dreams have an extensive aquaponic vegetable garden. <br />
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Of course, while I was marveling at the entire system, Little Guy and Little Miss were fascinated with the fish... <br />
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...which the folks at WGD were kind enough to let them feed. It made their day!<br />
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If you are in the western suburbs, be sure to check out <a href="http://www.wegrowdreams.org/" target="_blank">We Grow Dreams</a> in West Chicago. <em>Happy shopping!</em><br />
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<em>***Disclaimer: We Grow Dreams has no idea who I am. But I was VERY impressed with their seedlings, and their mission, and I just had to share this organization with you!</em>Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-28427852328105209162012-05-21T09:00:00.000-05:002012-05-21T09:00:09.492-05:00Manda Monday--Now at Wheaton Park District!Happy Monday, everyone!<br />
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I'm thrilled to announce that in addition to my <a href="http://www.themarthainitiative.blogspot.com/2012/04/manda-monday-summer-courses-at.html" target="_blank">summer classes at Waubonsee Community College</a>, I'm now also at <a href="http://www.wheatonparkdistrict.com/index.html" target="_blank">Wheaton Park District</a>! I hope you can join me for one, or all, of my classes there. <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.wheatonparkdistrict.com/pdfs/Summer%20Adult%20Interior_final_LINKED.pdf" target="_blank">Coupon Royalty<o:p></o:p></a></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Coupon
queens (and kings!) are able to cut their grocery and drug store bills in half
and obtain products for free, and so can you! Become “coupon royalty” by making
coupons work for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learn the rules
for spotting the best deals in stores; pairing coupons with sales, rebates, and
customer loyalty programs; and using the best coupon web sites. Join Coupon
Princess Amanda Grant (that's me!) in pursuit of the perfect balance of efficient and
ethical couponing techniques.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<em>Mondays, June 11-25, 7-8:30pm, Cost: $31 for residents, $39 for non-residents</em><br />
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<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><a href="http://www.wheatonparkdistrict.com/pdfs/Summer%20Adult%20Interior_final_LINKED.pdf" target="_blank">The Ultimate Roadtrip: How to Survive (and enjoy!) a Family Vacation</a></strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Summer vacations are a great time to create
memories with your family. Make sure those memories are happy ones with
surefire strategies that make “getting there” half the fun! Learn fun games
suitable for all ages, techniques to get the best behavior from your travel
buddies, and ways for each family member to participate in decision-making.
Tips for travelling on a budget with kids are included. Happy
travels!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><em>Tuesday, June 12, 7-9pm, Cost: $29 for residents, $36 for non-residents</em></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><a href="http://www.wheatonparkdistrict.com/pdfs/Summer%20Adult%20Interior_final_LINKED.pdf" target="_blank">Saved by the Bell: Getting Your Family Organized in Time for School</a></strong></span><br />
<br />
The school bell will ring in a few weeks…is
your family ready to make the transition from summer fun to school readiness?
Start the process now with tips and techniques to get your family organized
including: strategies for getting ready for school the night before, how
to get kids to complete housework and homework with minimal complaint, creating
routines that get your family out of the door on time in the morning, and ideas
for a family communication station to handle permission slips, sports
schedules, family events and more. Make the transition from summer fun to
school adventures a happy and calm one for your family. <br />
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<em>Thursday, July 12, 7-9pm, Cost: $29 for residents, $36 for non-residents</em><br />
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For more information, or to register, <a href="http://www.wheatonparkdistrict.com/pgs/regist/instructions.html" target="_blank">go here</a>. I hope to see you this summer!<br />Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-24354279143677425952012-05-18T09:00:00.000-05:002012-05-18T09:00:10.762-05:00Desserts for BUNCOI play BUNCO once a month with a lovely, and sometimes rowdy, group of ladies. We each bring a dish and eat/gab for an hour or so before we start playing. It should come as no surprise to you that 90% of the time, I bring a dessert. <br />
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For April BUNCO, I made this amazing<a href="http://addapinch.com/cooking/2011/10/14/cookie-dough-dip-recipe/" target="_blank"> Cookie Dough Dip from Add a Pinch</a> (her photo, not mine): <br />
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I don't have any photos of my version because every time I went to take a picture, I ended up eating some. It was so rich and so, so good! If you need a quick dessert to take to a potluck or summer outing, then this is it! I served my cookie dip with plain animal crackers, chocolate animal crackers and graham crackers. I liked it on graham crackers the best, but let's be clear: the cookie is just the delivery device for the dip. The dip is the star here!<br />
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Then, for May BUNCO, I made <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/05/knock-you-naked-brownies/" target="_blank">Pioneer Woman's Knock You Naked Brownies</a> (again, her picture, not mine): <br />
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These brownies start with a boxed cake mix and turn into something so much more. These brownies are so rich, so delicious, that they really do almost knock you naked. <em>Even if it's because you eat so many that your clothes no longer fit and you have to run around naked and when you go to the store to buy new clothes you end up buying more ingredients to make more brownies.</em><br />
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<em>In unrelated news, I'm trying to make muumuus the big fashion hit of this summer. Stay tuned.</em> <br />
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PW notes that this dough is really thick, and she mentions shaping a glob for the top layer of brownie with her hands. My solution is much neater than that: flatten the glob between two sheets of waxed paper for less mess. <br />
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Finally, while PW's recipe calls for baking the bottom layer for eight minutes before adding the caramels and top brownie layer, I skipped that step and just baked the whole thing at once. It turned out just fine. <br />
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Give these two desserts a try--you'll be glad you did!Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-84976031725252206182012-05-16T11:00:00.000-05:002012-05-16T11:00:01.577-05:00$5.00 artThere's a thrift store in town that I like to frequent: <a href="http://www.thriftandollar.com/" target="_blank">Thrift & Dollar</a>. They have a variety of <em>stuff</em> from high-end antiques to everyday thrift items. Each time I shop there, I make sure to stop by the $5.00 art section to see what they have. There are nice painting (<em>for nice chunks of money</em>) throughout the store, but I've found several nice treasures in the $5.00 section. <br />
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Lots of the prints in the $5.00 art section are nicely framed and protected by glass. This reprint of "Home for Thanksgiving" by Grandma Moses is over the doorway that leads from the kitchen to the dining room. It's not the best place for picture-viewing, but it livens up the space. <br />
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This nice oil? acrylic? (whatever, I don't know anything about art) painting has a nice gold frame. It hangs in the half bathroom. Because I support art. <em>Especially in the bathroom.</em> <br />
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This painting is called "Best Friends." I put it in the hallway leading to the kids' room because, at this stage in their lives, they really are best friends.<br />
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The picture came matted, framed and covered in glass, which is a huge deal for $5.00.<br />
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Little Miss has been the beneficiary of several of my $5.00 art finds. I like her room to have a flowery/feminine feel, so these Monet-ish paintings were a perfect fit: </div>
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Though it's hard to tell in the one below, it is a scene of several Victorian-ish women lounging outside, some of them napping. I hope this inspires Little Miss to continue her naps for the next year or two. <br />
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Both of those paintings are in the corner of her room with the glider. <br />
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Finally, this last piece was a huge find, especially since it was only $5.00. I found this great gold-framed mirror and hung it at just the right height for Little Miss. <br />
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This might be the best $5.00 I've ever spent. </div>Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-7598948225184831642012-05-14T11:19:00.000-05:002012-05-14T11:19:00.473-05:00Martha Monday--AsparagusSpring is the season for asparagus. I planted two <em>bushes? shrubs? root balls?</em> of it last year and since asparagus takes three years or so to get established, I'm still waiting on the tasty spears. However, asparagus is plentiful at grocery stores, farmers markets and in roadside ditches now. Get your hands on some to make these awesome Martha recipes:<br />
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<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/318340/asparagus-gruyere-tart?center=276955&gallery=275174&slide=284861" target="_blank">Asparagus Guyere Tart</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/332266/mushroom-and-asparagus-risotto?center=276955&gallery=275174&slide=259478" target="_blank">Mushroom and Asparagus Risotto</a><br />
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Need more? You can find all of Martha's asparagus recipes <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/275174/asparagus-recipes/@center/276955/seasonal-produce-recipe-guide" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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In the meantime, I've found my asparagus. Remember a few weeks ago <a href="http://www.themarthainitiative.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-work-is-cut-out-for-me.html" target="_blank">when I mentioned</a> that I needed to weed out the area next to the compost bin, which is where I had planted my asparagus?<br />
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I finally got around to it!<br />
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And look! It's asparagus!<br />
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To help the asparagus get established, it must be allowed to grow throughout the summer season. The larger root base the plants develops, the more it will be able to produce. And since asparagus plants can last for twenty years or more, it's really in my best interest to let it grow and grow and grow. <br />
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Over the past few weeks, that small purple stalk has turned into an enormous 6-foot-long plant:<br />
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I can only hope I'm rewarded for my patience next spring with enough asparagus to make one of Martha's tasty recipes. <br />
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Do you grow/find/buy asparagus? How do you prepare it?Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1543973093473756809.post-47937883101708118422012-05-11T11:01:00.000-05:002012-05-11T11:01:00.285-05:00Summer funOkay, it's still spring, but the free and fun family activities have already begun. A few weeks ago, I took the kids to the Kane County Farm Bureau's Touch-A-Tractor event. Little Guy and Little Miss had a ton of fun (maybe too much fun--there were temper tantrums as we were leaving) and I was happy to have a free, family-friendly activity to share with the kids. <br />
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In the coming weeks, I'll be searching the web and newspapers for more fun, free family events to fill up our summer months. As I found last summer, there is plenty to see and do around here. <br />
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For tips on how to find free or low-cost events in your community, read this post on <a href="http://www.themarthainitiative.blogspot.com/2011/06/living-well-and-spending-less-in-summer.html" target="_blank">Living Well and Spending Less in the Summer</a>. Happy planning!Amanda Granthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489151969453526970noreply@blogger.com0