31 Monday Aug 2015
Posted in Cooking
As a kid, I longed for June and July mornings when I could eat fresh-picked blueberries and cream for breakfast (and dessert). Come August, my family also ate peaches and cream for breakfast.
Today, I decided to marry the two for a delicious summer breakfast treat.
Peaches, Blueberries & Cream ♥ Young Wifey’s Blog
XOXO,
Young Wifey
23 Sunday Aug 2015
Posted in Gardening
Movin’ to the country, Gonna eat a lot of peaches, Movin’ to the country, Gonna eat me a lot of peaches…
I really love your peaches, Want to shake your tree…
My brain keeps shifting back and forth between lyrics from two songs: The Presidents of United States of America’s Peaches and The Steve Miller Band’s Joker. Maybe it’s because the Hale Haven Semi-Dwarf Peach Tree in our mini orchard has produced a bumper crop for it’s first year! Today, I picked over 30 peaches with even more left on the tree (and 5 pits mysteriously on the ground…).
It’s Peach Festival Time ♥ Young Wifey’s Blog
Even though we had fresh Georgia peaches (picked and shipped that morning) in our wedding cake, I’ve never actually been a peach fan. <GASP!> I know! Then, I took my first bite of our homegrown Hale-Haven peaches, and I’m sold!
The last week of August was always the Peach Festival at my childhood church. Now, I’m dreaming of my own peach festival…
Millions of peaches…
Wanna shake your tree…
Well, I got to run… This was short, but it’s time to eat another peach!
XOXO,
Young Wifey
07 Sunday Jun 2015
Posted in Gardening
Tags
My Summer Heaven ♥ Young Wifey’s Blog
The first Sunday of my summer break…
Lazy marshmallow clouds are masking the azure sky and bright June sun. The rustling leaves and cheerful birds creating a calming chorus. The nearby horses are talkative today. Under an oak leaf canopy, I’m sitting in my blue Adirondack chair listening and watching the world around me. Ants tickling my toes, and butterflies fluttering across the clover blossoms. Belle is resting beside me while Rory and Opal watch from inside the house. I cannot recall when was my last relaxing day…
The air is cooler than usual for this time of year. Our mini orchard is producing fruits, and I’m thrilled at the promise of fresh pick home-grown taste.
Young Wifey’s Mini Orchard Update 2015 ♥ Young Wifey’s Blog
There are branches that need trimming, weeds that need pulling, and grass that needs mowing. But, not today. Today, I sit and listen to the world around me…
XOXO,
Young Wifey
23 Tuesday Jul 2013
We’re amidst another heat wave. Between the heat waves, there’s rain that lasts for weeks, it’s like Mother Nature doesn’t want us to spend much time outdoors this summer. On hot summer days, there’s nothing more refreshing than frozen grapes. In my house, they’re actually preferred over ice-cream (yes, Hubster too!).
Delicious Snack of Frozen Grapes
15 Reasons Why I Love Frozen Grapes…
1) Two summers ago, Pumpkin wanted me to write down my frozen grape “recipe” so he could ensure that others could make it too.
2) Grapes are the only fruit I like to eat frozen (unless in a smoothie).
3) Frozen grapes are incredibly kid friendly. The preparation is easy enough for little hands and short attention spans.
4) We had frozen grapes on skewers served on silver trays at our wedding (perfect for a hot July outdoor wedding). Each skewer had 2 black, 2 red, and 2 green grapes.
5) Frozen grapes are perfect for keeping wine, champagne, or sparkling water chilled.
6) Even if you don’t like grapes, you will probably like frozen grapes.
7) Frozen grapes make a fantastic healthy snack or dessert, so you don’t have to feel guilty for feeding them to your kid (or eating them yourself) everyday!
8) Almost anyone who visits us during the summer, knows they will find and help themselves to frozen grapes.
9) When you have a bowl full of two or three varieties, they’re just as appeasing to the eye as the mouth.
10) Eating them helps keep you hydrated.
11) Frozen grapes make a fantastic spa day snack!
12) Grapes have amazing health benefits, good for curing indigestion, lowering cholesterol, anti-cancer properties, etc…
13) They are an incredibly satisfying post-workout snack.
14) Frozen grapes are a fairly inexpensive snack as long as you buy the grapes in season. Since grapes freeze and last well, you can much on them well past season.
15) There is almost no prep!
Directions (if you really need them):
Use only seedless grapes. Wash grapes and pull off stem. Blot grapes dry with paper towel. Pour into a gallon size freezer bag and place in freezer. Allow to freeze for a few hours before eating.
Some people like to sprinkle with sugar or unprepared flavored gelatin. This is a big no-no in my household, but try it if it appeals to you.
What’s your favorite cool-down treat?
XOXO,
Young Wifey
04 Monday Jun 2012
Posted in Cooking
Fruit Salsa has been all over the foodie blog world recently. In the past I’ve made fruit salsa to put on top of grilled chicken and pork. A friend brought a yummy fruit salsa to a picnic last year, but it was more like a diced fruit salad. Then I stumbled upon a recipe serving fruit salsa with cinnamon tortilla chips. I tried the recipe, and it was really good, but not exactly what I wanted. I adapted the recipe to please my taste buds, and I thought I had nailed it. Just to be sure I tested on my family at our Mother’s Day BBQ. Everyone loved it, but I didn’t photograph it before it was demolished… Now, my sister is visiting from Scotland and I decided to make it for our family get together yesterday. Devoured instantly!
Fruit Salsa & Cinnamon Tortilla Chips
Fruit Salsa Ingredients:
1 lb. strawberries, 1 1/2 c. raspberries, 1 golden delicious apple, 1 Anjou pear, 2 lemons, 3 Tbsp. raspberries preserves, 1 Tbsp. dark brown sugar
Fruit Salsa Directions:
Mix together preserves and sugar, set aside. Zest and juice lemons. Hull strawberries and cut into small pieces. Core apples and pears into small pieces and soak them in the lemon juice for a few minutes. Cut raspberries into quarters. Mix all ingredients, except the lemon juice together. Let sit for 5 hours before serving.
Cinnamon Tortilla Chip Ingredients:
10 flour tortillas, 1/2 c. sugar, 1 Tbsp. dark brown sugar, 2 Tbsp. cinnamon, 3 Tbsp. softened butter
Cinnamon Tortilla Chip Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix together cinnamon and sugars. Lightly rub tops of tortillas with butter and then sprinkle with cinnamon mixture. Use a pizza cutter to slice the tortilla into triangular chips. Bake for about 10 minutes or until crispy. Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack. Store in a plastic zip top bag until ready to serve.
If you want to prepare this ahead of time I suggest to chop the fruit and mix the coating the day before and toss the fruit together the morning before serving.
I also make a great berry salsa and tropical fruit salsa.
How was your weekend?
14 Tuesday Jun 2011
19 Saturday Feb 2011
Tags
brunch, candy making, chocolate, dark chocolate, dessert, food, foodie, fruit, postaday2011, strawberry, Valentine's Day
I love chocolate covered strawberries… I know they’re very cliché around Valentine’s Day, but with the berries on sale and dark chocolate at home, who can resist? So Hubster, Pumpkin & I indulged in this perfect ending to our day.
The Cliché Chocolate Covered Strawberries
I like my chocolate covered strawberries simple & classic; no sprinkles or multiple types of chocolate drizzled overtop. The photo isn’t the best, but I didn’t have time to retake it before hands were getting in the way.
What cliché food items do you still indulge in?
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