Cooking For Two!

Funny how when you can't eat…it's all you think about! Why is that I wonder?

We always want what we can't have I guess!

My sweet son can't eat all day today because of a test he's having tomorrow so of course I've been thinking about food all day long! And so has he, bless his heart! So, to satisfy that craving of mine I thought I would share this post with you on my first attempt to begin cooking for two since I will be doing this next fall anyway!

 ( I hope this doesn't seem cruel!)

Anyway, when we returned home from vacation in Hilton Head my green beans were hanging off the vines like crazy! That's the way I like to see them growing! I wish all of my veggies were doing that! My green bean recipe is exactly what my mother has always done and you just can't beat it! Of course, we didn't eat all of these…I froze ALOT of them which will be nice later!

Fresh Green Beans

click here and then scroll down to the fresh green beans!

Squash Casserole
click here and scroll down to the Old Fashioned Squash Casserole

 I made the squash casserole by trial and error! How many squash does one cook for a casserole for two? I sure didn't know! So I just made my normal recipe but only put some in this small casserole dish for the two of us and saved the rest for later! I don't like reheated squash casserole so I thought this was the best idea. You can find the squash casserole recipe here. I did the good old fashioned kind for this meal and not the Soul Food Squash Casserole that is also very yummy! You can find it here.

Cornbread

 As for the cornbread…I simply made a normal recipe which can be found here and did it in a cast iron skillet..I've done it before in muffin tins which would actually be more practical for two people! I'm learning as we go! We will eat what we want and freeze the rest for later! I have a feeling I will be using my seal a matic freezer gadget a lot next year when Miller heads to Auburn in the fall! 

Cooking for two is not nearly as much fun as cooking for a crowd but I'm sure I will get the hang of it before too long!

Then comes the Blackened Tilapia!

 Now this was pretty darn easy and incredibly good if I do say so myself! We've been having it a lot lately and it's very easy to adjust this recipe for two people! 

I hope you enjoy it and if I have any leftovers I feel certain my son will gobble them up tomorrow when all is said and done!  

Blackened Grilled Tilapia

INGREDIENTS

• 4-6 Tilapia
• 2 Tbls. Paprika
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp lemon pepper
• 1.5 tsp garlic powder
• 1.5 tsp ground red pepper
• 1.5 tsp dried, crushed basil
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• !/2-1  cup unsalted butter, melted

Heat grill on high 5 minutes. Mix all seasonings in a bowl. Dip fillets in melted butter and coat with seasonings. Place filets in a fish basket or in a cast iron skillet like I did. Make sure your skillet is hot and place prepared fish down for about 3 minutes on each side or until done and flaky. If grilling it will take a bit longer but it's just as good! I also did mine on the burner on my grill outside to avoid the smell in the house! I'm funny about that!


We like to serve this fish with homemade cocktail sauce and tartar sauce. I don't always make the tartar sauce though so that's when I buy the Old Bay brand…it's really good!
I hope you will at least try this fish! Talk about quick and easy! 
Especially for two!

The Sweetest Things Sunday…Family

I've been trying to think of something "spectacular" to write about this Sunday…like I think everyone else is sitting around waiting for this blog post! A bit self indulgent I would say! Anyway, I've spent a lot of time on my other blog because I've felt it was necessary. Business is slow right now and it's discouraging…however, everyone I talk to says the same thing so I know I'm not alone! All of that to say…it's become easier for me to talk about design elements, pretty pictures, etc…instead of writing something from my heart! I've learned that if you get too deep…no one wants to read it! Atleast not the people that don't really "know" you! Can you blame them? I certainly can't! We read blogs to have fun…to maybe find a new recipe, etc…On my other blog we read blog posts to learn about the design world and what's going on in the world of retail, or who's buying what and who's going to market, etc….but we've also become friends…it takes awhile…trust me, but I've met a lot of wonderful people through my other blog and I've really enjoyed it! What I don't want to happen is to find myself appealing to what I think other people want to hear and not writing about the things that truly matter in my "real", everyday life!

If only this was really an "everyday" event!

So…while thinking about this since I went to bed friday night…and when I stepped OUT of bed Saturday morning…I began to wonder if I would have anything to post about "The Sweetest Things Sunday" aspect of this blog. 

Once Layton arrived to swim today…I knew I definitely had something to write about!

Layton in the back yard of the house we rented in Hilton Head Island

 Once I was floating on a raft in my own pool at home with my husband and Miller and Sarah…and heard that precious voice call out "Nonnie…I'm here!" as she opened the gate to come in… I knew!

Once Jim returned home from playing tennis with Mitch…I knew! 

Once Layton swam several laps across the pool thanks to swimming lessons this week…I knew!

Once Miller and Sarah took Layton to a movie this afternoon…I knew!

Once Holly called to plan our time next week in New Orleans…I knew! 

Once Andrea called to see if we could come to Will's birthday dinner…I knew!
These are the sweetest things God could bless me with! Family...

I could go on and on with examples of what touched my heart in small ways today…the ways that God showed me how much He loves me just through the simple, seemingly trivial things that I got to experience today!

One of the things I'm most thankful for and something that is definitely worth blogging about is the fact that our family just went to Hilton Head together! The memories we created…the laughs we shared…all helped to create a closeness in our family that I've truly felt has been lacking lately. I'm so glad that Mitch called his dad to play tennis…we never play anymore and it's something we used to love as an entire family! I grew up playing…my parents had a tennis court and it was so much fun to just stop by and play on a Saturday or a Sunday afternoon. These are the kinds of things that I want to be a lasting effect from our vacation together. Now, even Miller wants to play and I think he and Jim are supposed to play tomorrow…Sunday! Now, that's Sweet!

On top of that, my precious hubby and I shared a nice date night last night at Bottega…our favorite!

 We had a fabulous dessert…even though I said we didn't need it! Of course, I helped eat it and it was divine! I've been searching for a recipe that looks similar…I hope this is it!
Give it a try and let me know how it is! Or better yet…go to Bottega Cafe and order it for yourself! It's incredible!

Blueberry Tiramisu

4 cups berries ( blueberries) 1 cup sugar 1 tbsp lemon juice 2 tsps cornstarch 1 12 cups all-purpose flour 1 18 cups sugar (divided) 2 tsps baking powder 1/2  tsp salt

4 eggs (separated) 12 cup water 13 cup vegetable oil 8 ozs cream cheese (softened) 12 cup confectioners' sugar 2 cups whipping cream (whipped)

1	In a bowl, combine berries, sugar and lemon juice. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Gently press berries; drain, reserving juice. Set berries aside. In a large saucepan, combine cornstarch and reserved juice until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Cool completely.
2	In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk egg yolks, water and oil; add to dry ingredients, beating until smooth. In another mixing bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining sugar, beating on high until stiff peaks form; fold into batter. Spread into an ungreased 9-in. springform pan. Bake at 325 degrees F for 30-38 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.
3	In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Fold in whipped cream. Split cake into three layers; place one layer on a serving plate. Spread with a third of the filling; top with a third of the berries and drizzle with 1/4 cup berry syrup. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

I hope you have the best Sunday ever! And I hope I can always remember to enjoy the sweetest things in my life…everyday! 

One last thought…a dear friend and very special person to so many people left this earthly home last night to be with her Heavenly Father in her Eternal Home…we will all miss her so very much, especially her husband, children and family…I will never forget the time I saw where she said to someone who was complaining about getting older and she simply said, "Be glad you ARE growing older". That struck a chord in me like no other! I will never complain or take that for granted ever again and if I do I know that I will quickly remember the impact Laura Black had on my life! She definitely was a sweet, sweet spirit!

The Sweetest Things Sunday...Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all of the dad's today that have given so much of themselves, their time and their talents! We love you and appreciate you very much!

I loved this poem I found on Pinterest and I think it pretty much sums up all that we feel about the men in our lives that we love so much!

Whether it be your own father, the father to your children or the father of your grandchildren... or a grandfather you feel close to…I hope today you take a little time to hug their necks and tell them how much you appreciate all that they do for you!

After spending an entire week in Hilton Head with our children Jim says he feels extremely blessed as a father! I'm so glad he enjoyed that time with them!

And just to add a bit of extra sweetness to this Sunday's post…

how about the Peach Cobbler my mom is making for tonight! 

Yummy!!

Have a wonderful week and I hope your Father's Day celebrations were all wonderful!

Here is a recipe for an easy peach cobbler that I found on Pinterest as well! Can you tell I'm tired from being gone for a week?! I promise next week will be recipes from scratch but I just couldn't pass this one up because it looks so good to me! I will share my mom's recipe as well hopefully later tonight or tomorrow!

Peach Cobbler

Peel, halve, and pit the peaches. Slice each half into 3 or 4 wedges.

Combine the peaches, ¼ cup of the sugar, and the cornstarch in a large mixing bowl. Let the fruit stand, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves, 5 to 7 minutes.

Make the dough: Cream together the butter and remaining ½ cup sugar in a medium mixing bowl with a wooden spoon or an electric mixer until smooth. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and lemon zest until the batter is smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice as necessary.

Add the flour, baking powder, and salt and stir until just combined.

Transfer the peaches to an 8-inch square-baking pan. Drop the dough in rounded tablespoonfuls over the fruit.

Bake until the fruit is bubbling and the crust is golden, 50 to 55 minutes. Let the cobbler cool slightly and serve it warm.

• 2 pounds Ripe Peaches
• ¾ cups Sugar, Divided
• 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
• ½ cups Butter, Softened
• 1 whole Egg
• ½ teaspoons Vanilla Extract
• 1 teaspoon Grated Lemon Zest
• ¾ cups Flour
• ¼ teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1 pinch Salt

The Sweetest Things Sunday…

The Sweetest Things This Sunday…are the little details that make up the big picture!

The minute we pulled into the driveway after a long 8 hours….and I do mean long!

I knew it had definitely been worth the drive!

 It wasn't just the look on everyone's faces of pure joy and excitement...

Or the beautiful surroundings….

It was that moment when I looked at the beach and saw all of my precious children enjoying just being together!

We always hear people say, "Its the little things in life that make us the happiest!"

And I do believe that's true!

Seeing them run down to the beach after about 30 minutes of unloading the car...

 And just enjoy trying to be a "kid" again!

Feeling the wonderful, cool breeze on our faces

 And loving the fact that Miller was so happy with his choice of a place for our family to spend together for his senior trip!

Watching all of the different ages enjoying time together!

 It's all of those little details that help to make up the big picture!

Priceless moments…

 Precious faces...

 Glorious, extra surprises we never dreamed we'd find in our very own backyard!

Every one of these details is making for a sweet, sweet Sunday…

 I'm very excited to see what the rest of the week will bring!

 I'm not sure it could get much sweeter than it already is!

But you never know! Layton and I made popsicles last night….wonder how they will turn out? I'm ready to experiment with some grown up versions! Hope they are as good as they look!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Homemade Popsicles