Pickles Y'alllll

So I got super domestic this weekend and decided to pickle some cucumbers.  It is super easy and really delicious.  Here's what I used:

1 thoroughly sanitized mason jar (1 qt size)
A few pickling cucumbers from the garden
3 cloves of garlic
6 sprigs of fresh dill
1 tbsp of coriander seed
1 tbsp of sugar
1 1/2 tsp of kosher salt
2/3 cup of white vinegar
1 cup of water
1 small white onion
Pinch of red pepper flake

Step 1:  Thoroughly clean and sanitize mason jar and lid
Step 2:  Slice cucumbers to your desired size along with some fresh onion (to taste)
Step 3:  Place cucumber slices, onion, garlic cloves and dill in dry mason jar
Step 4:  Gently boil water, vinegar, coriander, sugar, salt and red pepper flake until sugar and salt dissolve
Step 5:  Poor brine mixture over cucumbers in jar, gently tap to get any excess air out.
Step 6:  Cover and once cool enough, place in the frig for at least 24 hours before enjoying.

Berry Cake

So my oh so wonderful friend, Melissa, dropped off some fresh picked strawberries and blueberries yesterday and I couldn't resist the urge to use them in some baked deliciousness.   I whipped up a quick little dessert adapted from the recipe I found here.  What berry desserts do you all like?

This what you will need:
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons of butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar, plus 1 tablespoon
1 large egg
1/2 cup of milk
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 teaspoons of lemon zest, divided
Approximately 1 pound of berries (more or less to taste, I quartered the strawberries and left the blueberries as is)

This is what you do:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prep pie or tart pan (approximately 10 inch dish).  Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in bowl then set to the side.  In an electric mixer blend butter and sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.  Mix in egg, milk, vanilla and 1 teaspoon of lemon zest.  Add in flour mixture, combine thoroughly but don't over mix.  Spread batter into prepared dish and then arrange berries cut side down into top of the batter, press gently.  Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of sugar and bake for approximately 45 minutes or until golden brown and knife inserted to the cake comes clean.  Cool and sprinkle remaining lemon zest just prior to serving.  Enjoy!!!

Happy Mother's Day

To all the mommas out there....Happy Mother's Day.  Please enjoy this pic of these pretty peonies and delicious smelling gardenias.  I just love this time of year.

Terrarium

So, it's pretty evident that I have a thing for succulents.  I love everything about them, hence I've already posted about them here.  Well, last weekend I was perusing a local nursery (the plant kind, not the children kind) and found these little cuties and for only $1.99 a pop.  So, obviously I had to pick up a few and figure out where they would live later. 

I decided to make a terrarium of sorts from an old glass candle jar, some soil and pea gravel.  It was super easy and I'm pretty happy with the results.  Now, let's just hope they like their home.  I took care of this over the weekend along with a TV Stand Re-do which I will show you all later this week.  

Quench your thirst....

So it was extremely warm this weekend, and I loved every minute of it.  With the warmer weather my mood instantly changes, it makes me soo happy.  I think I become Vitamin D deficient in the winter.  Any who, I was in need of a refreshing and tasty drink to quench the thirst and help rehydrate after the St. Patty's day festivities.

I whipped up a pitcher of this water and it's soooo good and good for you :)

Slice a couple of lemons and use the juice of about 2 more.  Obviously, more or less to taste.

Peel and slice a small cucumber and add fresh picked mint.  (I used orange mint but any type would do the trick, also fresh basil may be very delicious as well).

Super easy, very refreshing and a little like being at a fancy spa.