Tuesday Garden Party #4

Linking up again to Jami's Tuesday Garden Party at An Oregon Cottage. 

There has been A LOT of growth in my garden the past 2 weeks.  Just look....

This is the largest of my green tomaotes.  I have about 8 more that are tiny and at least 20 more blooms.  Can't wait for that first ripe tomato. 

See those tiny white buds? Those are potato blooms and they are on EVERY ONE of my potato plants.  That means that under the ground I have little potatoes growing, just getting bigger and bigger, waiting for me to eat them.  Since potatoes were an experiment for me this year, I am particulary excited about this gardening milestone.

Here is my first head of broccoli.  It looks great and so far no unwelcome critters.  The sad part -- I am leaving town for about 10 days and this little beauty will be ready to eat while I am gone.  My husband is not a huge broccoli fan and will probably let it rot on the plant.  I think I am going to offer it to my neighbor if she will make sure my husband waters my other babies while I am gone.  The good news -- the other 8 plants have teeny tiny heads just started that I will be able to enjoy after I get back from my trip.

And finally, my peas.  Love that in each pod you can see the small peas starting to form.  Hopefully these will be ready when my new potatoes are.  Can't wait to make creamed potates and peas just like my Granny. 

Have a garden?  Jump over the An Oregon Cottage and share your progress. 

Silky Corn Casserole

When the first Florida corn appears in the grocery store in May I always make this recipe.  The first corn is typically not good on the cob, but is fantastic prepared this way. 

Silky Corn Casserole

originally from Cooking Light 1993

1 T margarine/butter

1/2 c sliced green onions ( I used chives this time)

2 1/4 c 1% milk

1 T plus 1 t sugar

1/2 t salt

1/4 t red pepper

1/3 c plus 1 T all purpose flour

2 eggs plus 3 egg whites, lightly beaten

3 1/2 c cut from the cob corn (about 7 ears) use only fresh, not frozen or canned

Melt margarine in a sauce pan over medium heat.  Add green onions, saute 1 minute.  Add milk and next 3 ingredients; cook 3 minutes or until hot (do not boil).  Remove from heat, and set aside. 

Combine flour and eggs in a bowl;  beat at medium speed of an electric mixer until well blended.  Gradually stir in 1/2 c hot mixture;  gradually stir in remaining hot milk mixture.  Stir in corn; pour into a shallow 2 qt. casserole coated with cooking spray.  Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Linked to Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

                  Mouthwatering Monday at A Southern Fairy Tale

                  Tuesday Tastes at Crazy Daisy

Meal Plan Monday 5/24/10

Our favorite recipes from last week were Greek Chicken Roll Ups from Southern Living and Hoosier Homemade's Twix Bars.  Both have been added to my Family Favorite Cookbook. 

This week's menu is a bit simpler than last as it is the last week of school and there is lots of work to be done to wrap everything up.

Sunday

Shrimp and Grits

Monday

Crockpot Ham  This will be the first time I have tried this.  Hope it turns out!

Corn Casserole

Mashed Potatoes

Baked Beans

Salad 

Fruit

Tuesday 

Stomboli

Chips 

Fruit

Wednesday

Cheesy Ham and Pasta Bake using left over ham from Monday

Peas 

Salad

Thursday 

Party with School Friends

Pizza for kids and DH

Friday 

Bubba's Pick since he is graduating from 5th grade, he will get to pick 

the menu tonight.  If I had to guess it will be dinner at his favorite

Italian restaurant or homemade lasagna. 

Saturday 

Shrimp Quesadillas

Chips and Salas

Salad

Weekend Discoveries

Just a few discoveries from the weekend I plan to try. 

Oatmeal Breakfast Bars from Cooking During Stolen Moments

Easy Homemade Maple Syrup from the Frugal Girls

Corn Salad from A Southern Life

Can't wait to add these to our weekly menus.

Tuesday Garden Party #3

Linking up again to Jamie's Tuesday Garden Party hosted at An Oregon Cottage. 

This is my first hydrangea of the year.  This is the official sign for me that summer is here!   Our rich, acidic Georgia red clay makes these beauties a gorgeous pale blue.  Probably my favorite summer flower.  I have 4 HUGE plants, just bursting with buds.  Can't wait to show y'all how beautiful they are in full bloom. 

Meal Plan Monday 5/17/2010

Last week's meal plan was in my head... that did not work out so well for us.  We ended up picking up take out a couple of times and that is really just not in the budget.  This week is even crazier than last week, so I am planning ahead, which means making a good meal plan.

Sunday -

Lacrosse End of Season Party

I made cupcakes and homemade salsa to take

Monday -

Bourbon and Brown Sugar Flank Steak

with Garlic-Chive Mashed Potatoes

Corn Souffle

Lima Beans

Fresh Pineapple and Strawberries

Tuesday -

Greek Chicken Roll-Ups

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Carrots, Celery and Cucumber Slices

Potato Chips

Fresh Pineapple and Strawberries

This is a busy night for us, I am going to grill the chicken on Monday with the flank steak and reheat on Tuesday before making wraps.

Wednesday -

Lunch at school -

Tomato Pasta Salad

Breadsticks

Twix Bars

Dinner -

Flank Steak or  Greek Chicken Salad

Corn Souffle

Fresh Fruit

Thursday -

Kindergarten Picnic

Me - Pasta Salad and Fruit

Boo-Boo - Chicken Salad Wrap and Fruit

Cupcakes

Dinner

Spinach Ravioli Lasagna

French Bread

Fresh Fruit is there is any left.

Friday -

Supper Club - Date Night!

Saturday -

I'm thinking we will have some friends over for cocktails on the back porch.

Everyone will bring something terribly yummy to share.  Can't wait! 

I think I will make Pimento Cheese and West Indies Salad. 

West Indies Salad

1 med. onion, chopped

1 pound fresh lump crabmeat

4 oz. Wesson oil

3 oz. cider vinegar

4 oz. ice cold water

1.  Spread 1/2 onions on bottow of a glass bowl.

2.  Cover with separated crab lumps.

3.  Top with remaining onion.

4.  Salt adn pepper to taste.

5.  Pour oil, vinegar and ice water over all.

6.  Cover and marinate 2 - 12 hours.

7.  Toss lightly before serving.  Serve with crackers (we like Club Crackers with this). 

Sunday -

Book Club -
Pesto Foccaccia Sandwich

Southern Living Cookbook Collection

My favorite magazine is Southern Living.  I anxiously await each issue, eager to discover a new recipe, flower or decorating idea.  Consequently my love of all things Southern Living has taken over my cookbook collection.  I have almost every Annual Recipe collection since we got married in 1995.  Whenever I need a new recipe, this collection is the first place I turn.  What I like most about these cookbooks is they are organized by month.  For example, I can turn to the section for May and find a plethora of recipes targeted to May celebrations and festivities as well as what is in season. 

I have been in a cooking rut lately, depending on my old standbys to get us through the busy months of April and May.   This morning over a couple of leisurely cups of coffee I selected several May recipes I plan to make during the month.  Be on the look out for....

Baked Fish

Southwestern Pork Chops

Butter Brickle Loaf Cakes

Sicilian Artichoke Flatbread

Thyme Potato Bake

Pineapple Mint Dessert

Basil Cheese Pasta

Greek Chicken Roll Ups

Pesto Focaccia Sandwich

I don't know if I will get around to making all of these in the remaining days of May, but it is nice to have some new options to spice up our dinner menus.