Artichokes with a Tangy Lemon Sauce

I got this recipe from Mommie Cooks blog

Click here for the recipe

I love steamed artichokes, but I have never steamed them myself

For some reason, it just always seemed very intimidating

Using a sharp knife, cut 3/4ths off the top

trim the tail (stem) 

remove the outer layer of leaves

Then squeeze some fresh lemon all over

Placed in the dutch oven with lid to steam

put water in the pan - do not let it evaporate

add the lemons and garlic

They turned out beautifully

Especially the Tangy Lemon Sauce

This is a super easy to do

Not sure why I was so scared

Fish en Papillote

I first posted this recipe back in May 2010.

I'm heading to Whole Foods this time
to pick up all the ingredients
Then, it's out to my dad's
to prepare this
fabulous (and healthy)
feast

 This fish en papillote recipe

was inspired by watching

"Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian"

I bought  halibut @ Central Market

Following Melissa's recipe - I placed it on the parchment paper

Aren't these cute?

...and these too...

I promise, there is fish under there

I was very skeptical about pouring 1/4 cup of white wine

on top of everything that is only on parchment paper

...but...

but it worked...

They turned out fabulous!

A couple lessons learned...

1) Julienne the carrots and zucchini

2) Halibut is more hearty than the fish Melissa recommended (and more expensive)

so it needed just a tad more seasoning

(might try the Tangy Lemon Sauce from the artichoke recipe)

Lemon-Cucumber-Mint Water

If you love Pinterest

as much as I do,

you may have seen recipes

 for Detox Water

There are alot of varieties

but

I liked this one best from

A Sweet Simple Life

She calls it Sassy Water

She uses a mason jar

&

it gave me the

perfect excuse

to buy

this BIG one @ Target

for $16.99

Clean and slice one whole lemon
Clean and slice 1/2 cucumber
Add 10-12 Mint leaves
3 quarts water

Put in the refrigerator overnight or at least 8 hours



Pretty Yummy Water

&

if it detoxes me

gives me pretty skin

helps me lose weight

even better

World Market Cake Carrier - Let Them Eat Cake



Let Them Eat Cake

Check out my new cake carrier

from World Market 

I absolutely love it!

It was only $24.99

I made an

 Apricot - Lemon Cake

last week

&

Everyone commented 

"Is that vintage?"

"Is that your grandmother's?"

"Where did you get that?"

DIY - Update Patio Furniture

 I bought 3 of these

Better Home and Garden outdoor ottomon's

about 5 years ago at Walmart

As you can see, 

this one (as well as the others)

have seen better days

I was ready to sell them

in a garage sale

 (that hasn't been planned yet)

I had painted one black a couple years ago,

but never really found the right cushions

until this weekend

I was at Target on Saturday

and

found these REI cushions

for $12.99

They fit perfectly

 &

inspired a new look

for the back patio

Trader Joe's Mini Cheddar Chipotle Potato Bites

Trader Joe's Mini Cheddar Chipotle Potato Bites



Have you tried these?

They are

Ah-ma-ZING!!!

I promise!

Christmas Tree

This year, I wanted to get a white christmas tree, but decided to wait until next year.

I already have a 6 1/2 ft artificial tree that I've had for about 8 years now

My Christmas decorations match the decor in my house

- whimsy traditional -

purples & golds

with a splash

of shimmer & silver

So...

investing in a white tree means investing in all new decor

This year I decided to jazz up this tree

since all my lights from last year were on the blink.. .(hee hee )

I strung the pearl lights & the C7 lights

in the center of the tree...

I framed the outside of the tree with the

mini clear "twinkling" lights 

It's like I have a party in my house..

it's very bright & festive!!!



Christmas Tree 2012





White Pearl Lights



C7 Lights

Clear Mini Lights - Twinkling

Fall in Texas

 It is so very rare to see trees in Texas

with pretty orange and red colors

When we do get them

It's only for a brief minute

Then before you know it

they are gone

The 2 top pictures are from my dad's

This is down the street from my house

It almost looks like a painting

Thanksgiving Wine Labels

Thanksgiving Cabernet Sauvignon

Free Thanksgiving Wine Labels

from Better Homes and Gardens

I used these a couple of years ago

They are still the best I could find on the internet

I bought "two buck chuck"

(actually, it's $2.99 here in Texas)

from Trader Joe's

&

Slapped these labels on them

You can also find $2.99 wine

@

Central Market

&

Whole Foods

I buy several more expensive varietals to server with the meal

These get opened after the good stuff is gone

I used the Fall Landscape label (above) 

on the darker bottles

(Cabernet Sauvignon & Chardonnay)

&

I used the Sunny Fall Landscape

on the lighter bottles

such as

(Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Grigio)

You do not have to buy these"full sheet" labels

You can print them out on plain copy paper

&

then you have to glue them on

You also have to remove the existing wine label

If you use the above labels, you can just put it

on top of the existing

if you are in a hurry like me

The wine labels print one per page

It's not perfect - mine cut off the "s"

but it still looks good

good luck

let me know if you try it

Thanksgiving 2012

How are you spending Thanksgiving this year?

I've been blogging since 2008. 

I haven't posted about Thanksgiving since 2009.

We do the same thing every year

Cook several turkeys in an underground pit

(doesn't everyone do this?)

&

I know everyone transports their turkeys

using a golf cart from the oven to the table

We serve it up buffet style

with about 20-30

of our closest family and friends

Well, stay tuned...

I plan on keeping ya "posted" on our 2012 festivities

Roasted Okra

Okra is not one of my favorite vegetables, but I can eat it  

Most people prefer it fried (like my son), but I do not fry foods at home

I had roasted okra at a restaurant here in Dallas called Si tapas

It inspired me to make my own



Fresh Okra



 from Patina Green Home and Market in McKinney

Slice it length wise

Toss with extra virgin olive oil

I used Texas Olive Ranch Roasted Olive Oil 

that I purchased from my friend,

Barbara at White Rock Local Market

sprinkle with sea salt

Yum.

My son even liked them.