READY FOR BAKING

I am feeling happy and spoiled this week

as I just got new kitchen appliances.  Last
summer we got the counters and sink replaced.

When we moved into our house three

years ago, the appliances were less

than desirable.  The stove in particular

was "on it's last leg".  Now I have my
first ever convection oven.  Everything
came in handy last week for company.
My husband's friend helped him put up the
"fake" tin accents too and we really like them.

Our home is casual - not formal.

My refrigerator was a major upgrade too
and having a nice dishwasher.
For the last 3 years I have had none but me.

So I am celebrating because I
love to bake and cook but doesn't something
that actually works properly help us much.  
I appreciate the convection oven and Bosch
dishwasher that actually gets things clean!

CRAB STUFFED MUSHROOMS

Last week I had company and made all
sorts of things so I thought I'd bring this
recipe forward from 10 years back
as it was one of the items I served:

Here is your recipe which will make
 delicious mushroom appetizers:

Purchase 36 medium white or 18 large
 portabello mushrooms. I did only 18 
medium so I froze 1/2 of my "stuffing" 
after I made it!

You will also need:

 1 12 oz package lump crab meat, 1/2 cup fine breadcrumbs, 2 shallots or cut up 2 green

 onions, 1/2 of a diced green pepper, 1/2 of

 a diced red pepper, 2 eggs, pinch of black

 pepper, 1/2 tsp garlic salt, 1/4 cup Parmesan, 

1/4 cup Romano, and mixed together: 1/4 cup

 lemon juice and 1/4 cup of melted butter 

which will be poured over the tops at the end.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees......in a medium
 bowl place clean diced crab meat, add peppers, onions, bread crumbs, pepper, garlic salt, eggs and Parmesan and Romano cheese. After stuffing mushroom caps by hand, pour lemon juice and butter over all. I like to finish with a cup of shredded Mozzarella and Colby cheese. Bake in oven for 20 minutes.

You've had them in restaurants....make them at home!

SATURDAY IN THE GARDEN

After days of rain and rain

 we finally

see sunshine again:

I do have some Queen Anne's Lace in my

front yard and I hope to "manage" it.

So far, our weather hasn't been as

hot as usual for June but we have had

 a lot of rain.

This morning it poured so I hope

the ground will dry out and I will

try to do a "Tea In The Garden"

photo shoot this next week.  If I

see any others I will include 

a link to them.

The fences have a lot of

bittersweet growing on them.

This fall the berries will turn

colors and be pretty for fall!

Have a lovely weekend.

SISTERS TEA HOUSE

Yesterday we took friends to Sisters Tea House 

in Fenton, Missouri.  We had never been

there and it was near a very large antique

mall so we thought it would be fun to take

our company there.
  We enjoy going to
tea rooms.

My friend and I had their Afternoon 

Tea which they called "High Tea".  It

included 4 savories and 4 sweets and 

scones and soup and quiche.  The

men ordered off the menu which was

sandwiches, soups, salads, etc.

The tea house uses a dumbwaiter as

the kitchen is in the basement:

The house is a very old historic hotel:

This old church was right next door.

This is south of St. Louis, Missouri.

THE JOYS OF JUNE

We have been enjoying a very

mild June in Missouri and rain,

as many of you know.  I do feel

badly for those who have experienced

the terrible flooding of the Mississippi

and Missouri Rivers.

This year I have actually had to "remove"

plants from my garden which is fine with

me rather than not having enough.  

I am slowly learning to get plants in

the right places with the right amount 

of sunshine or shade.  I have always
adored Queen Anne's Lace even if
it is called a weed.  Yes, this is right
in my front yard and I did have to remove
some of the huge plants but left enough
to enjoy their beauty.  They are a 2 year
project to get to the bloom point so you
have to sow the seeds for several years
to get it going.  (like other biennials)