My husband purchased these recently because our normal 'select-a-size' white paper towels were out of stock. These have a retro-ish design and the ubiquitous 'Live-Love-Laugh' motto sprinkled over each sheet.
Are they supposed to be inspirational? To provide you with a subliminal wake-up call whenever you wipe up a spill? You know, you're thinking about whether that red wine will stain the floor and suddenly you see the word 'Live' and think, "Today is the first day of the rest of my life . . . and, gosh-darnit, I'm gonna make the most of it!" Or maybe other people find these cheery without taking the message to heart?
My pantry isn't stocked with lots of canned items and I bet yours isn't either, but sometimes even the best cook needs a can of beans or crushed tomatoes or (as was the case recently when I made Russian Salad) canned pineapple. And canned fish may also be in your larder - either tuna, or some smaller, smellier fish like the ones being canned below in 1915.
As a side note - I'm going to think of this woman the next time I have a tedious job to do. Imagine having to arrange little fish in little cans all day! When you think of the pop-top can in this light, it seems a small thing, but the point is, until recently most cans were can opener ready. And while some, like the pineapple, can be opened with a can opener on the other end, many cannot. Take tuna - the opposite end is rounded so you're forced to use the pull-tab which (for me, anyway) guarantees a little blob of tuna flying across the counter. It's not like there's a shortage of can openers - they're widely available and cheap. And, as the ad below (from 1902) says, a sure method to avoid blood poisoning!
This is my message to you people who make canned food - stop putting pull-tabs on your cans! Go back to the standard can and let us use our trusty openers. After all, that's what Napoleon had in mind when he prepared for the Russian campaign by stocking up on canned food! And we all know how well things ended for him . . .
Toffee Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
Isn't this a great advertisement for the Ford Zephyr? I'm not sure which is more fascinating - the undergarments that give her that Fifties shape or the shotgun. I wonder if readers at the time paid any attention to the car? So, as you sweat through another July week (or maybe that's just me . . . you may be a 'glistener'), think ahead to cool, crisp October days . . . and keep this ad in mind when you're planning your fall wardrobe!
Roast at 400 for 30-40 minutes. Let potatoes and onions cool on the pan. Prepare the dressing: EVOO, lime juice, one clove minced garlic, several dashes of hot sauce or cayenne pepper or chopped chili/pepper. (Use your own judgment for amounts - roughly the juice of two limes and twice that much oil. Refer to the original recipe for detailed instructions on the dressing.)
Toss roasted vegetables with 2 cups cooked black beans (or 1 can rinsed/drained black beans) and other vegetables of your choice. I always use red and/or yellow pepper and sometimes fresh corn (cooked, of course). Toss with dressing and lots of chopped cilantro. Season as needed.
This is an easy salad that is perfect with Tex-Mex meals or grilled chicken - or as a meal by itself. And it's perfect if you have a surplus of cilantro . . .
Are you a lucky gardener? By lucky I don't mean a gardener with a green thumb or a moderate climate - I mean one with a proper Potting Shed! My dream garden has a cozy, shady nook where an adorable potting shed awaits with a brick floor, a big farm sink, shelves laden with pots and lovely garden tools, and maybe a tiny area for making tea. Here are some sheds I'd be happy to call my gardening home:
Okay, even in my dream garden, the potting shed isn't as nice as the one above. But, wouldn't it be great to relax on the little porch after completing some grueling garden tasks? Or would you prefer the more rustic setting below? I love the heart-shaped details on the chimney.
And think of all the seedlings you could start in this lovely shed:
I love the pavers surrounding this one. Isn't it just like a doll house?
The next one is a hybrid of the previous two - lots of adjustable glass panels with a cottage-y appeal. And the pink bike is a must!
And what about the interior? Would you opt for a traditional potting bench like this?
Shelves and crates?
A rustic sink and shelf?
Or, would you create a real room like this homeowner featured in Southern Living? 
Of course, not every guest would be happy spending the night in the shed, but it might be the perfect spot for a post-weeding nap! And the great thing about not (yet!) having a potting shed is that I can spend lots of time thinking about the perfect one - where to put it, what style, etc. . . . and that's a great thing when you're doing those summer garden tasks. It even makes deadheading more fun!
I can't remember the last time I had a coconut macaroon, maybe it's time to whip up a batch. I've never made them, but they're very simple. Martha Stewart has a yummy recipe (seen in the photo above), as does Ina Garten. But, coconut macaroons are not our topic; these are:
The French macaroon - much more delicate and very, very popular. I like the idea of these macaroons - beautiful colors, creamy fillings, the just-right size, a name that's fun-to-say (you're trying it now, aren't you? ma-ca-roooooon). But, that's where the love ends . . . I don't really like the taste. I don't dislike it; they just seem more pretty than yummy. Am I the only one who doesn't 'get' macaroons?
A visit to the Saturday morning FM (where I was feeling quite superior because I usually don't get out and about before 8am on Saturday!) followed by an unexpected gift of produce from a gardening friend brought lots of blueberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, and snap beans. And the white in this case is heavy cream from a local dairy . . . I mean, what's a holiday without real whipped cream? So our menu over the past few days has been heavy on the red, green, and blue with a dollop of white.
Yes, the very-cheery goldfinches! This is the first year we've seen them at our feeders and they are stopping by each day . . . and, don't miss their drab friend hiding below. It's a comical dove who walks the whole length of the wall to reach the feeder - he lands on the opposite end of the wall and promenades to the feeder, sort of like an Italian stroll before a nice meal. For some reason he reminds me of the pigeon in Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Not to worry, though, we don't have a bus so his wheedling can't get us into trouble . . .
And what are they eating? The leaves on our catalpa trees.
Catalpas are beautiful and strange. They have broad, heart-shaped leaves, lots of white blooms in spring, and in early summer these long beans (9"+) begin to grow. They're a bit like giant green bean trees at this stage.
And around July 1 each year, the catalpa sphinx caterpillar invades and begins defoliating. Within a week or two the leaves will be totally gone - leaving the bean and bare leaf 'skeletons'. Then the leaves begin to grow back and the whole process repeats.
The caterpillars are prized as fishing worms, and, consequently, catalpas have been planted since the 1870s just for the "worms" - click here if you're the kind of person who likes details about creepy crawlies or here if you'd like to start your own worm farm. Despite the worms, catalpas are wonderful trees and you might like one in your own garden - one word of caution though, the bean pods turn brown and drop so be prepared for a bit of raking!
Bronte was born in 1918, the middle of the three Bronte sisters. She is best remembered for her brilliant novel, Wuthering Heights. It's been quite a few years since I've read WH or watched the classic film version with the unforgettable Laurence Olivier, but I think it's time to revisit one or both! If you've seen the movie, but not read the novel - or vice versa - be warned, the endings are quite different. And what would Emily think of the Hollywood ending? Possibly not much!
Fifteen years after Emily's death, Henry Ford was born just outside Detroit, Michigan. He became a household name with the introduction of the Model T in 1908. Just ten years later, half of all cars in America were Model T's. My husband and I spotted this antique Ford last winter. It's not a Model T, but it's certainly from Henry's era.
Thanks to the great folks at CSN for sponsoring this fun giveaway! And thanks to all who entered. I enjoyed reading the many ways you would use the Le Creuset bakers! And for those who didn't win - remember you can still purchase these at CSN's cookware.com. 
I'm thinking about planting more 'whites' next year!
Hope you had a great weekend!
Fast forward to today . . . we know the result of the Constitutional Convention and much has been written about the convention itself. Additionally, many details are available online. Wikipedia has an excellent timeline, for those who like to see history in an organized way. And we can also access a day-by-day record of the convention. Madison's notes on the debates are available online at the Yale Law Library. Click here to see what happened on a particular date.
It looks like all will end well this year, however, as the happy couple now have five eggs and are eagerly awaiting the arrivals. The Bird Watcher
In Wall Street once a potent power,
And now a multi-millionaire
Alone within a shady bower
In clothes his valet would not wear,
He watches bird wings bright the air.
The man who mighty mergers planned,
And oil and coal kinglike controlled,
With field-glasses in failing hand
Spies downy nestlings five days old,
With joy he could not buy for gold.
Aye, even childlike is his glee;
But how he crisps with hate and dread
And shakes a clawlike fist to see
A kestrel hover overhead:
Though he would never shoot it dead.
Although his cook afar doth forage
For food to woo his appetite,
The old man lives on milk and porridge
And now it is his last delight
At eve if one lone linnet lingers.
To pick crushed almonds from his fingers.
And it's not too late to add one to your summer garden . . . so check them out the next time you're at your local garden shop! I'd love to know your favorite plant this summer . . . perhaps it's a mandevilla of another color?
No, it's not the Drive-in Liquor store that interests me - it's the customers. Today I had to shoo away three deer who had nudged through my kitchen garden barriers and were leisurely munching. Actually shoo away is not exactly accurate; I spotted them while brushing my teeth and ran onto the upstairs porch - toothbrush in hand - to throw a pair of flip-flops at them. Not my most graceful, dignified moment! 
A set of Le Creuset stoneware baking dishes! The larger dish is 10.5" x 7" and the smaller is 7" x 5" - perfect for summer meals. I'm imagining the larger one piled high with grilled corn on the cob!
These are available in many of Le Creuset's yummy colors: Caribbean, Dijon, Cobalt, White, Cherry, Kiwi . . . etc. Check out their site to find your perfect color!
I'm adding this to my list of foods that are really tricky to photograph; Jell-O has nudged soup from the top of the list! But, you can get an idea of how colorful this salad is - and also don't miss my grandmother's Fire King bowl - what better dish for a congealed salad?
The really funny thing about this salad is its name: Russian Salad. Of course, calling this a salad is a stretch - it's not a salad in the fresh, crispy, lightly prepared sense. But, it is a salad in the 'wouldn't be perfect as a main course' sense. Actually, we like it as a cool, summer dessert. And why is it called Russian Salad? Who knows? The Cold War apparently held a fascination with cooks - just look at the recipes from the '50s and '60s that have nothing to do with real Russian food: Russian Dressing, Russian Tea (of course this is made with space-age Tang!), and this salad.
How cute are these Gin & Titonic ice cubes? The tray makes one iceberg for each ship, so no guest will feel left out . . . or, as bartender, you can mix them up any way you like. Would you prefer three icebergs or two ships in your White Russian?
And how about these ice kabobs? I'd love to find one of these in a tall glass of lemonade or iced tea!
And an ice bucket! How about this lovely monogrammed one from Williams-Sonoma?
So don't underestimate the importance of ice in your summer drinks! And remember, Aristotle and Sir Francis Bacon believed warm water freezes faster than cold. Were they right? Click here to find out before you fill that ice tray!
Sharon has a long and interesting history, too; she's the inspiration for poems and novels and songs. She's rather modest though, so if you want to know more, check out her Wikipedia page. And finally, she's quite photogenic as you can see. I snapped this photo of her this morning and think it captures her loveliness. What do you think?
