It has been quite some time since I have posted anything, but I have been told I need to start again do to all my DIY projects :) Since I have posted last I have purchased a home and done some improvements myself. I wish I had started this at the beginning of my process so I could post step by step instructions on what was done. Moving forward I will try and post anything else that I do as I still have a long way to go! I will post a few before shots as well so you can see how far it has come!

I am also prepping my yard for my garden this spring and I plan to post on those activities as well! I look forward to getting back involved and happy ALMOST Spring!!

The Old and Beautiful

I love photography, and I search the web for it often. I have recently come across this picture of an old house below. This picture was found at the website below the photograph. I think you can find so much inspiration is everything. I find this old house to be extremely beautiful and romantic in its own way. To most people this old building looks run down, and some may even call it an eye sore. I on the other hand find it so beautiful, because of the mystery that it has. When I look at this house it makes me wonder who might have lived there, and the kind of people they were. I can almost imagine the men building it, and the proud looks they had on their faces once it was complete. There is also a beautiful vision of children playing in the garden, and even one day a beautiful wedding on the grounds. When you see a building like this next time think of everything it once was and stood for. Pictures like that really make you want to take the time to appreciate the beauty in everything around you.

This Old House Photograph by See Me Beautiful Photography

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/this-old-house-see-me-beautiful-photography.html

New Year-New Way of Eating!!!!

It's the beginning of a new year and what better way to start out than to find a new and healthy way of eating. Eating healthy doesn't have to be plain and non flavourful! There are so many options these days. I have had trouble in the past sticking to a new way of eating because all the "diet" food didn't have a good flavor, and it made me miss my old way of eating. I always would fall back into the old bad habits of eating food that wasn't good for me. Below I have attached a recipe that is good for you, and to go along with it you can make a great salad and make it a meal!

Grilled Rosmary Garlic Shrimp

Picture and recipe from www.perriconerecipes.com



Ingredients

• 1/4 cup finely chopped garlic, mashed to a paste with 1 teaspoon coarse
• salt
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves finely chopped plus sprigs for garnish
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil plus oil for brushing shrimp
• Juice of one large lemon
• Freshly grated black pepper to taste
• 16 jumbo shrimp (about 10 per pound)
• four 12-inch bamboo skewers
• organic lemon wedges

Preparation
In a large bowl stir together garlic, finely chopped rosemary, lemon juice and 3 tablespoons oil and add shrimp. Marinate shrimp, covered and chilled, at least 4 hours or overnight.
Soak skewers in water to cover 30 minutes and prepare grill.
To grill, thread 4 shrimp on each skewer and brush with additional oil. Grill shrimp on an oiled rack, set about 5 inches over glowing coals, 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until just cooked through. Do not overcook.
If you do not have a grill, simply brush shrimp with additional oil and grill in a hot well-season ridged grill pan, covered, over moderately high heat 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until cooked through.
Garnish shrimp with rosemary sprigs and serve with lemon wedges.

If you need to you can modify as needed. There are many grocery stores that have sales come on with one bag of large shrimp get one free, so it doesn't have to be expensive! Give me feedback and let me know how you like it!! Happy Cooking!!!!

Great Clothes in Wonderful condition!!

On Ebay we have for sale a lot of great items!! We have great new things come in all the time, and they cost a fraction of what they would if you went out and bought them brand new!! Take a look!!

http://shop.ebay.com/gosustu/m.html

Happy Shopping!!!!

Great Beef Dish!

This is such a wonderful dish! It is so good, and you can change little things here and there to make it your own. If you don't like the onion or mushroom in it, you can remove one. Or if you want double of one that works too. It's really all about what you like. This is a great dish to make when you have company over. Puff Pastry is such a fun ingredient to work with that adds so much to a dish. If you make it let me know of it turns out!

All Recipes.com Canada

 

 

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 pounds beef tenderloin
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 (17.5 ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 1 egg yolk, beaten
• 1 (10.5 ounce) can beef broth
• 2 tablespoons red wine

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Place beef in a small baking dish, and spread with 2 tablespoons softened butter. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until browned. Remove from pan, and allow to cool completely. Reserve pan juices.
2. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion and mushrooms in butter for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and let cool.
3. Mix together 2 tablespoons softened butter, and season with salt and pepper. Top with onion and mushroom mixture. (Or just one depending on what you like)
4. Roll out the puff pastry dough, and place beef in the center. Fold up, and seal all the edges, making sure the seams are not too thick. Place beef in a 9x13 inch baking dish, cut a few slits in the top of the dough, and brush with egg yolk.
5. Bake at 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 10 to 15 more minutes, or until pastry is a rich, golden brown. Set aside, and keep warm.
6. Place all reserved juices in a small saucepan over high heat. Stir in beef stock and red wine; boil for 10 to 15 minutes, or until slightly reduced. Strain, and serve with beef.

All Recipes.com Canada

Pumpkin Pancakes with Orange Syrup!!

This dish is perfect for the upcoming season!! If you love pumpkin flavored foods, you don't just have to wait for pumpkin pie anymore. I have found a recipe for pumpkin pancakes with orange syrup!! It looks delicious! Let me know if you try it, and if you like it!

Picture and pancake recipe. Kitchen Daily.com

Ingredients (serves 8)

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

• 1-1/2 cups fat-free milk

• 1 cup canned pumpkin

• 1/2 cup refrigerated or frozen egg product, thawed

• 2 tablespoons cooking oil

• Nonstick cooking spray

• 1 recipe Orange Syrup (I have found and attached one below)

• 1 orange, peeled and sectioned (optional)

  Directions

In a medium bowl stir together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Make a well in the center of flour mixture.

In another medium bowl combine the milk, pumpkin, egg product, and oil. Add the milk mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy).

Lightly coat a nonstick griddle or heavy skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. For each pancake, pour about 1/4 cup batter onto the hot griddle or skillet. Cook over medium heat about 2 minutes or until pancakes have bubbly surfaces and edges are slightly dry. Turn pancakes; cook about 2 minutes more or until golden brown. Serve warm with Orange Syrup and, if desired, orange sections. Makes 8 servings.

Orange Syrup: In a small saucepan stir together 1 cup orange juice, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Serve warm. Makes about 1 cup.

Orange Syrup Recipe

Ingredients (Makes 1 3/4 cup)

·         1  cup  sugar

·         2  teaspoons  grated orange rind

·         1/2  cup  orange juice

·         1  tablespoon  lemon juice

·         1  tablespoon  corn syrup

·         1/2  teaspoon  vanilla extract

·         2  tablespoons  orange liqueur (optional)

Preparation

Combine first 6 ingredients and, if desired, orange liqueur in a heavy saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until sugar dissolved.

(Syrup Recipe, My Recipes.com from Southern Living)

Photography

I love finding beauty in so many things, but one thing I love is photography. There is something so beautiful about a picture. It captures a moment in time you will never get back. It captures a laugh, or a smile. It captures love and life and so much more, but above all it capture beauty. Below is a picture I took at the beach. The ocean is such an amazing thing, this picture to me is a place of peace.