Spray paint addict

The "remodel" continues. I have been loving spray paint and my new friend "spray paint gun".

I just finished painting the chandelier in my kitchen.

I can't find a before picture, but it was similar to this. In fact, here is my inspiration (make sure to check out the link she provides to the soccer ball topiary...pure awesome. I will have to do this one, soon!).

I am planning on changing the mini lamp shades, or getting rid of them all together.
Here are the two colors that I am deciding between.
So far, the score is 5 for the darker green and 2 for the lighter green.
(6 of those votes are mine, 1 from my neighbor, and I am not counting Dallin's vote, "Mom, I don't want green, paint my door black!")

While I was taking pictures, I noticed that someone was (watercolor) painting as well!

Caught in the act!

Fried Green Tomatoes with Creole Dipping Sauce

Never mind that I just set fire to the parchment paper in my oven....yummy "smoky" nachos, huge flames, soot flying everywhere. Chalk one on my "kitchen disasters" list!

We had dinner at a friends house on Saturday and they made the yummiest fried green tomatoes.

Fried Green Tomatoes

4 large green tomatoes

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1 cup flour

1/2 cup cornmeal

1/2 cup bread crumbs

2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

vegetable oil for frying

Slice tomatoes 1/2 inch thick. Whisk eggs and milk together in a bowl. Scoop flour onto a plate. Mix cornmeal, bread crumbs, salt and pepper onto another plate. Dip tomatoes into flour to coat. Them dip the tomatoes into the milk and egg mixture. Dredge in breadcrumbs/cornmeal to completely coat.

In a large skillet, pour enough vegetable oil into the pan so that it is 1/2 inch deep and heat over medium heat. Place the tomatoes into the frying pan in batches of 4 or 5, depending on the size of your skillet. The tomatoes should not be crowded or touch each other. Flip the tomatoes when golden brown on one side and fry on the other side. Drain on paper towels.

Creole Dipping Sauce

(this sauce tastes exactly like the dipping sauce that comes with a bloomin' onion)

1 cup mayo

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1 Tbl minced capers

1 Tbl minced onion

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp horseradish

1 tsp paprika

4 sprigs parsley, chopped

1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Combine all ingredients and refrigerate until use.

"new" door knobs

inspiration, instructions, and advice: here and here

4 poster!

Ellie's new bed!

Paul found this little pretty for $6.50 at Goodwill.

It just needs a fresh coat of paint...and a mattress.

I love it!

homemade microwave popcorn

My family has a love for eating. They have a love for cooking. They have a love for COOKBOOKS. So naturally, my mom and sister gravitated to my cookbooks that they don't have at home. My sister picked up a fun one to browse and found Alton's (we're on a first name basis) recipe for microwave popcorn. It was delish! Good find, Katie! Homemade Microwave Popcorn

1/3 cup popcorn kernels

2-3 tblsp melted butter

salt

Parmesan cheese (optional)

brown paper lunch sack

2 staples

large mixing bowl

Pour kernels into the paper bag, fold over 1/2 inch, twice and staple. Make sure the staples are 2-3 inches apart. Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes or until popping is 5 seconds apart. Pour into bowl and toss with butter, salt and cheese.

some one's baking in my kitchen

or BANGING, rather!

BEAD BOARD!!!!!!

I am so excited! I have bead board in my kitchen!

Thanks Paul and Dad!

Now I just have to pick out a paint color for the top....bye bye yellow stripes!

15 bucks

The library had a used book sale.

$5/grocery bag filled with books.

I got 3.

This picture makes me happy.

art is in the eye of the beholder

Dallin loves projects and art. He loves more, however, to tell me how to create art. We were making flags this time around with a farm theme (D's choice, of course). Here is where we get to see my mad artistic skills:

Paul's critique: Um, honey, it's John Deere, not Dear John (so it should say Dallin Deere).

My rockin' spotted cow.
The red barn and a gigantic chicken.

Here is where my awesome skills exceed expectation:

the pond

the ducklings

and

the frog swimming in the pond

Paul's critique: Is that a bunny in the pond?

oh, and don't forget the lillypads.
Original prints are not for sale.

photos by Dallin

calling all pizza dough

We want your pizza dough recipes! In an effort to be more frugal, I am trying out pizza dough from scratch instead of using my standby Pillsbury dough in a can. I tried this one yesterday. It was quick and pretty good.

for Kali

Dallin wanted to add to the paper chain in the form of artwork for cousin Kali.

Cookies

We got home tonight to cookies on our doorstep. They were squished in a plastic bag. I laughed, picked them up, and ate one. Then Paul asked who they were from. I had no clue. Then I checked my google reader and found this. Oh, Julie! I love you and your hilarious adventures!

Skirt

If it's full of straight cuts and lines, I know I can make it!

And I can try and stretch myself on the pockets (without the button holes, that is too far beyond my level).

I have been waiting for her to put her tutorial up.

I love it!

Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Zucchini Bread

Breanne's latest post gave me a craving for the yummiest zucchini bread. I forgot that this post was in it's draft stage only when I went to look for it. I love this recipe because it calls for sour cream. Baking with sour cream is soooooo delightful!! ;)

Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Zucchini Bread

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 cup oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup sour cream

2 cups grated zucchini

3 cups flour
1 cup chocolate chips

Mix together all of the ingredients except the chocolate chips and 1 cup of the flour until well-blended. Coat the chocolate chips in the reserved flour and mix with the rest of the batter (this prevents the chocolate chips from sinking to the bottom). Pour into 2 greased loaf pans and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees (the original recipe says 1 hr 15 minutes, but mine was done at 1 hour).

Very cool

Dear Sister,

Wish I was there to borrow it....(not sure Jason would let me touch it, though)

Ambition is a good thing sometimes.

Love,
Sister

Now, I am going to go to bed. A quiet house is sometimes dangerous to my bedtime.

Night at the Drive-In