On the Front Porch

Miss Posy and I sat on the swing together during one of the less humid afternoons last week. We watched the white fluffy clouds racing across a deep blue sky...

Then Boots joined us, and I had to take a picture of his cute little feet.

He didn't stay with us long though.... Looking from the outside, inside the house was much more interesting than swinging. At least to him....;)

Dragonfly Days

Last Night's Dinner

The kids were begging me for chicken noodle soup last night, and even though the day seemed a little warm for it, I gave in.

First I simmered a chicken thigh, peeled and chunked up carrots, an onion, several stalks of celery, and a bay leaf in a big pot.



When the bones in the chicken thigh were starting to come apart, I scooped it and all of the vegetables out with a slotted spoon. Then I poured the broth through a strainer and into a big bowl before returning it to the pot. I just love the golden color of chicken broth........and it smells so good too!

While I waited for the chicken to cool off a bit, I grabbed a bag of homemade egg noodles out of the freezer (~an experiment gone right;) and started them cooking.

Then I added some dried parsley, minced garlic, sliced zucchini, and green beans (the last two were fresh from the garden). Also some salt, black pepper and just a pinch of red pepper. And of course the chicken........mmmmm.

Can you believe that Boots ate four big bowls???!!! I guess that makes it a success!

Boots' Favorite Book

This has actually been a favorite of each of our children......I'm surprised that it continues to hold up so well with all the use. -And that I continue to hold up so well.......after all, I did read it (or should I say recite? -I memorized the whole thing years ago...;) five times in a row just this morning!

A Day at Lake Michigan: Part IV

Boots was really only interested in letting the waves wash over his toes ........the water was still a little chilly.

He was mostly very contented sitting in a little hollow digging in the sand.....and making mounds that he could poke sticks into.

As the day wore on, and our supply of grapes and peanut butter sandwiches began to dwindle, we decided that it would be best to start packing up and stop somewhere for a proper dinner.

Pizza Hut was the popular choice, and mmmmmm, was that pizza good! Amazing how time spent on the beach and in the water can work up such appetites. After our dinner we were on the road home with full bellies and dozing children. The perfect end to a perfect day!

A Day at Lake Michigan: Part III

Big Brother and Miss Posy has so much fun playing in the waves that were crashing up on the beach.

A Day at Lake Michigan: Part II

At first the kids were quite contented with playing in the sand.....

......but soon found it hard to resist the call of that lovely turquoise water...

A Day at Lake Michigan: Part I

The day was perfect......

A beautiful sandy beach.....

....lovely blue sky........

.......gulls for the children to chase.....

....gorgeous dunes........ If this isn't a recipe for happiness, then I don't know what is!

Posy-sized Pizza

I gave her a small ball of dough, a few spoon fulls of tomato sauce, pepperoni, and some cheese. You can see the finished result below. She was waiting so patiently for it to finish cooling, once I removed it from the oven.

You see, I'd promised her that she could cut it herself with my mini-pizza cutter. I think she just might have had more fun slicing it than making it! And she very graciously shared a piece with me...........mmmm! It helped tide us over until the big pizza came out of the oven;)

Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

4 tsp of baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 c. granulated sugar

1/2 c. milk

2 Tbs. butter, melted

1 c. heavy cream

1/2 c. small curd cottage cheese, drained

1/4 c. confectioners' sugar

1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted

2 c. fresh strawberries, sliced

For the chocolate shortcake, or biscuit, combine flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, and sugar. Add milk and melted butter and stir just until blended (-you may have to add a tablespoon or so more of milk if you find that the consistency is too crumbly)

Pat the dough into a greased 8-inch cake pan, spreading evenly. If the dough is sticky sprinkle a bit more flour on top of the dough, or flour your hands. Bake in an oven that has been preheated to 425 degrees F. for twenty minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Remove cake from pan, and cool.*

In a bowl whip cream until it forms soft peaks. Then fold in cottage cheese and sugar.

Using a serrated bread knife, cut the cake into two thin layers. With the cut side up, spread with half of the cheese mixture and drizzle with melted chocolate. Arrange half the strawberries over the filling. Place the second layer on top and repeat cheese chocolate and berry layers, drizzling any left over melted chocolate over the very top.

*If you prefer an actual chocolate cake to the chocolate shortcake or biscuit, feel free to substitute your favorite recipe or mix...........I'm sure it will be fabulous, even though I am more of a "biscuit girl" myself. I guess it's because that's how I grew up eating my Strawberry Shortcake!

~This recipe (except for a few modification made by Yours Truly) is from the Old Tyme Chocolate Cookbook by Larry Friedlan.