When DD moved into her apartment a few weeks ago, I gave her the recliner I usually use in the library. DH bought a new one for me and Zilli seems to think he bought it for her.
At least she appears to be comfy. 🙂 ~~Rhonda
Between the hot, humid weather we’ve suffered under for so long and a two-week-long head/chest cold, I have not stepped outside since August 5. Until today. The weather was beautiful. I mowed the front yard and it felt so good to get back outside.
There were more than twenty of these tiny Pearl Crescent butterflies on the horseweed.
The perennial sunflowers are blooming beautifully.
In the back yard, the beds around the Southern Oak are beginning to look like fall…a little overgrown, a little tired, ready for a rest.
We’re moving from summer to autumn. Slowly, but it’s on its way.
~~Rhonda
Monday
Ham Sandwiches
Watermelon
Tuesday
Ranchiladas The recipe site blogger calls these “Benchiladas” because her husband Ben loves them so much. With due respect to Ben, we’ll call them Ranchiladas as they contain Ranch dressing. 🙂
Toppings: Sour Cream, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Shredded Cheese, Salsa
Wednesday
Hawaiian Ribs in the Slow Cooker
Coleslaw with Craisins and Walnuts
Corn on the Cob
Melon Slices
Thursday
Chicken Pepperoni over Pasta
Parmesan Cheese Bread
Peas
Italian Chopped Salad
Friday
Quiche Lorraine
Saturday
Lunch ~ Fridge Food
Supper ~ Chicken Garlic Pizza
Sunday
Sour Cream Pork Chops
Mashed Potatoes
Broccoli
Corn
Green Salad
You’ll find more menu and recipe ideas at Menu Plan Monday.
~~Rhonda
Two years ago we raised 18 black swallowtail butterflies. We wanted to try it again this year, so Sunday DH went out to check the parsley and found five butterfly eggs.
Today, all the eggs hatched. Look at this tiny little guy.
We’re looking forward to watching them grow into beautiful butterflies.
~~Rhonda 🙂
I concocted this recipe years ago, when my four older children were in school. I was making peanut butter cookies one day and didn’t want to take a long time to cook them, so I put the whole batch on the cookie sheet and baked them. After they cooled, I thought they’d be better with frosting, so I made up the frosting mixture and spread it over the cookie bars. After making them a few times, I decided to dress them up with some chocolate drizzle and sprinkles.
They’ve been a favorite of our family since then, and a favorite everywhere we take them. While my older children were in high school, peanut butter bars were a frequent take-to-school treat. I still get the occasional request from those school families for the recipe for our peanut butter bars. And it never fails, when I take these to a social function, I am always asked for the recipe. Melissa, this is for you. And for my son Daniel, to whom I promised the recipe two weeks ago…
Peanut Butter Bars
1 cup (2 sticks) margarine, room temperature
1 c. peanut butter (any kind)
1 c. brown sugar, packed
1 c. white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. baking soda
2 1/4 c. all purpose flour
Preheat oven to 350*F. Grease a 10″ x 15″ cookie sheet with 1″ sides.
Soften the margarine, if it is not at room temperature. [I throw the fridge hard margarine into my KitchenAid and let it beat it into creamy submission…but that won’t work well with most mixers.] Cream the margarine and the peanut butter together. Beat in the two sugars till light and fluffy, then add the eggs and the vanilla. Mix well.
In a separate bowl, mix the salt, baking soda, and the flour. Add it to the first mixture, combining thoroughly.
Scrape the mixture onto the greased cookie sheet and spread the dough evenly over the pan.
Bake for 22-25 minutes. Dough will puff up during baking and then fall back as it cools. Do not over bake. The dough may look like it is not quite done, but it should not be left in the oven longer than 25 minutes.
This batch was left in the oven a minute or two too long. The top is a bit too brown. That didn’t keep the fam from cutting the edges to check for “quality control.” The cookie bars passed. 😀
Let it cool completely and frost with the following.
1 stick (1/2 cup) margarine
1/2 c. peanut butter
8 c. powdered sugar
dash of salt
1/4 c. milk
Cream the margarine and the peanut butter. Add the other ingredients and blend well. If the frosting is too thick, add milk, a little at a time, until it’s of spreading consistency. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar, a bit at a time, until you like the feel of the frosting. Mine was a shade too thick, but I let it go. Doesn’t really affect the flavor.
Frost the cookie bars and drizzle with 6 oz. melted chocolate. Garnish with sprinkles if desired.
Enjoy! ~~Rhonda 🙂
We’ve had two sick girls on our hands over the weekend. DH went to church and I stayed home, but did make a simple bouquet to send.
The Black Eyed Susans are in full bloom. Even in the heat and humidity, they look great.
I think we’re going to have a rather quiet week. With the heat and humidity as high as it is, I’m just as happy we don’t have anywhere we have to go.
Monday
Chicken and Noodles (requested by DD)
Tuesday
Hamburgers
Homemade Hamburger Buns
Veggies / Dip
Wednesday
Bourbon Chicken
Rice
Stir Fried Sugar Snap Peas with Cherry Tomatoes
Thursday
Pork Chops over Potatoes Casserole
Broccoli / Cauliflower / Carrots
Green Salad
Corn on the Cob
Friday
Tacos
Saturday
Lunch ~ Fridge Food
Supper ~ Homemade Pizza
Sunday
Apple & Onion Chicken with Rosemary
Rice
Corn
Peas
Craisin and Sugared Pecan Salad
Homemade Rolls
You’ll find more menu and recipe ideas at Menu Plan Monday.
~~Rhonda
Turned over 300,000 miles, that is. DH’s 1990 Suburban has finally made it to the 300s.
DH and DD drove it around the block a few times to catch the rollover.
The Suburban has been a great vehicle for us. It took four kids back and forth to school every day, 30 miles each way. It made it through four teenagers and various bumps and scrapes. It has hauled family, friends, boards and lumber, plumbing, plants, moving boxes, furniture, landscaping supplies, etc., etc., etc. And now it has turned over 300,000 miles. Maybe, like John Denver, we should get out and push it a mile.
~~Rhonda 🙂
The surprise lilies have been blooming for almost two weeks. Last Sunday the bouquet was made using them (pink), flowers from the ‘Royal Standard’ hostas (white), and some spirea branches for fill.
Pretty in pink.
With thanks to my honey who goes out into the garden every Sunday morning in search of bouquet blossoms. ~~Rhonda
A quiet week for a change. 🙂
Flickr’s Macro Mondays’ theme this week was “calm” and that’s the kind of week I’m having. Except for one large project, but it’s a fun one.
Monday
Turkey over Rice
Green Salad
Steamed Sugar Snap Peas
Tuesday
Chef Salad
Wednesday
Fridge Food
Thursday
Hamburgers
Homemade Buns
Veggies / Ranch Dip
Cherries
Friday
Crock Pot Pizza
Garlic Bread
Green Salad
Our son made the Crock Pot Pizza for us while he was here and it was delicious. I plan to tweak it a bit, though, and will leave out the pepperoni and will add some Asiago cheese. It should taste more like lasagna than pizza, as I will use my own homemade spaghetti sauce for the recipe.
Saturday
Lunch ~ Fridge Food
Supper ~ Homemade Pizza
Sunday
Honey Garlic Shrimp
Rice
Fresh Pineapple
Spinach/Strawberry Salad
You’ll find more menu and recipe ideas at Menu Plan Monday.
~~Rhonda