Photo Friday: Big and Small

Big Lake and Small Girl

Friday Favorite!

Yeah, I am big on the alliteration; so sue me... Today's topic is my favorite summer recipe, and while this is more of a whole meal, I'll include the recipes for everything, and you'll get more than just one! ^-^

First off is what my family always called Pepper Steak. We never had it any other way; so there was no confusion until the Chinese Buffets started growing in popularity around here; and their pepper steak features, of course, green peppers. So now we call it by the whole recipe name:

Chuck Wagon Pepper Steak

• 1 round bone arm chuck roast or boneless arm roast, cut 2-inches thick (about 3 pounds)
• 2 teaspoon(s) unseasoned tenderizer
• 2 tablespoon(s) instant minced onion
• 2 teaspoon(s) thyme
• 1 teaspoon(s) marjoram
• 1 bay leaf, crushed
• 1 cup(s) wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup(s) olive oil or salad oil
• 3 tablespoon(s) lemon juice
• 1/4 cup(s) peppercorns, coarsely crushed or 2 tbsp cracked pepper

1. Sprinkle meat on both sides, no salt, with tenderizer; pierce both sides with fork, place in shallow baking pan.
2. Mix other ingredients in a small bowl.
3. Pour over and around meat, let stand at room temperature for 1-2 hours, turning every half-hour.
4. When ready to grill, remove meat, pound half-crushed peppercorns into each side.
5. Cook 15 minutes each side or less.

The rest of the meal is also cookout fare, at least for us: Corn on the cob and salt potatoes. I understand, that outside of our area, salt potatoes are something of a rarity, so I'll get real specific with this recipe; although here we can just buy a bag complete with the perfect potatoes and portioned salt.

Salt Potatoes

• 4 pounds new potatoes (find the smallest potatoes you can, the smaller the better IMHO)
• 1 1/2 cups salt (should be about a pound, some people say rock salt, some say fine salt, some say sea salt, I say it doesn't matter, but the water should be saturated with it)
• 8 tablespoons butter, melted (more or less to your preference)

1. Wash the potatoes and set aside. Fill a large pot with water and set over heat; stir in salt until it no longer dissolves and settles on the bottom. Place potatoes in the pot and continue to bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender but firm, about 15 minutes. Drain; cover to keep hot.
2. While the potatoes are cooking, melt the butter in a small pan over medium high heat, or in microwave. Serve immediately poured over potatoes. (If you're going to eat the potatoes hot this step is unnecessary as the butter will melt right away anyway.)
NOTE: These are even better cold out of the fridge the next day, and they make AWESOME fried potatoes!

Grilled Corn on the Cob

• Corn on the cob
• water
• salt & pepper to taste

1. Clean up your ears a bit; take the dryer leaves off an some of the silk, just for appearance sake. Then soak in water overnight. We usually fill the sink and soak them there if you don't have a big enough pot.
2. Get your coals or grill hot, then place the ears - husk and all - over the fire. Some put them right on the coals, others on the grill like the steak, it's your preference.
3. Turn the ears occasionally until the husks are blackened all around, about 15 - 20 minutes.
4. Remove from the grill and let sit for 5 minutes. Be careful when removing husks and silk not to burn yourself!
5. Add butter, salt & pepper, and enjoy!

TiLT: Things I Love Thursday

♥ Portucula and weathered bunnies ♥


♥ This sleepy-eyed smile ♥


♥ Fluffy tea parties in the garden ♥


♥ Geeks in Pink and Guys in Drag ♥


♥ That new show, "Cooking with Lia" ♥


♥ Sun Storms and rainbows ♥


♥ This Miracle Car ♥


♥ Honorable Mention: Slumdog Millionaire, The Bucket List, Under the Tuscan Sun, The Unsinkable Molly Brown - wow, yeah, it's been a movie kinda week...

Things I Love Thursday is brought to you by Gala Darling...

Holidays!

In addition to today being Canada Day - *tips hat to all my Canadian friends* - today is also Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day; so naturally when I saw Turkey Hill's Movie Night ice cream, I had to buy it! Part of their Dynamic Duos line, it comes with one side popcorn flavored with popcorn and praline peanuts and the other vanilla flavored with caramel. I cannot wait to try it!

Maybe we can come up with a creative Canadian-themed flavor... Maple bacon? Meh, been there, done that... Poutine ice cream? Um... I think not. Any ideas?

Oh, interested in trying your own popcorn flavored ice cream? Here are some recipes:

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/24894289@N08/3290552684/in/photostream/


• http://hungryliketheduck.blogspot.com/2008/07/popcorn-ice-cream.html


• http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=686153

ETA: The popcorn ice cream is *so* GOOD! Creamy, buttery, slightly salty... Oh so fabu!

Tasty Tuesday: BBQ Noodles

This past weekend, Jacqueline & I visited my mom for lunch and she made one of my favorite foods: BBQ Noodles. The recipe is super easy & versatile and so tasty!

BBQ Noodles

• 1 small pkg. elbow macaroni, boiled in salted water
• 1-1/2 lbs ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 (12-oz) bottle chili sauce (If you live near a Wegman's get a bottle of theirs)
• 2 Tbsp. vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. sugar (we have found this can be omitted)
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Brown beef with onion.
2. Add remaining ingredients.
3. Stir well and simmer about 20 minutes.

Mosaic Monday Bunday

Last week's winner was marilavado who correctly guessed the theme was the THE SUN. So how about this week, my friends, do you know the secondary theme?

Guess today's theme and win a Mosaic Monday Bunday prize!

Click any pic to see its Etsy listing!

Leave a comment with your guess, and I will be pooling the names of those who guess correctly from both my LiveJournal and BlogSpot and drawing one winner per week. Good luck!

For other Mosaic Monday posts, click here!

The Mad Tea Party!

We were so busy having fun at the party yesterday that we forgot to post the pictures after we cleaned up, and we slept so late today! So without further ado, here is how our Mad Hatter Tea Party went:

Our be-hatted hosts and hostess were from the far reaches of the globe (as were many of the guests who dropped by!): Lapaki Maka Hiamoe (Paki too those who know and love him) flew in from Hawaii, Orson came south on a cruise from the North Pole, and April hails from our very own Central NY, just north of our secret party location.

Left to Right: Paki, Orson, and April
Naturally we started with tea in the garden. A delightful blend of imagination and sparkles... "Would you like a cup?" April asked everyone with a twinkle in her eye.


"The tea is dazzling!"
For Paki, who was still on Hawaiian time (five hours earlier), it was still very early and he kept falling asleep in his tea... Just like the dormouse, only everyone was kind enough to *not* dunk him in the teapot!


"Don't fall asleep yet Paki!"
After tea, the three wandered about the garden, mingling with the guests who joined us, and searching for things of beauty and magic. Orson and April found some beautiful flowers who shimmered and giggled when Orson told them how pretty they were.


Orson flirts with the flowers
But poor sleepy Paki strayed amongst the singing roses and was soon fast asleep, carried off to Wonderland by their sweet melodies.


Paki sleeps
The rest of the afternoon was spent in quiet (to not disturb Paki) and joyful conversation and consideration of the wondrous place they were, and naturally some art was made special for giving away! (I can't believe we forgot to get pictures of it!)

We had so many guests drop by that Orson, April, and Paki decided to give away TWO door prizes (dor-prizes?) instead of just the one! So they had me go to Random.org to find out who the winners are, and indeed it is a mad and magical world because the numbers chosen are the 2 in my birth date!


Screen Capture

So, my dears, Amy and Junie, please drop me an email so I know where to send your Mad Tea Party *dor-prizes*! ^-^

P.S. If you haven't already, don't forget to stop by A Fanciful Twist to see who else was having a party!



P.P.S. Because I have been surfing the parties all day, and can see there are many more to go, I have decided to draw ANOTHER winner, so more people have a chance! On Wednesday evening, July 1st Friday afternoon, July 3rd, I will choose a winner from the comments on this post to receive another door prize from our party! So be sure to leave a comment and let me know you were here! ^-^

It's a Tea Party!

"Oh my ears and whiskers, how late it's getting!"

My goodness! We've been so busy over here with preparations; it's almost time you know... I do hope you'll join us!



Check back later for pictures, and don't forget to leave a comment; so I know you've visited and can add you to the drawing for the door prize! ^-^

Illustration Friday: Worn

My very first time...

Yes this is supposed to be slightly humorous.

TiLT: It's Been a Great Week

♥ My Daddy♥


♥ Zen Picnics by the Lake with Cheeky Chipmunks♥


♥ Radiant Girls and Trees (and in them!) ♥


♥ Rocks and Roots and Sandy Glades ♥


♥ Forest Understories and Rocky Beaches ♥


♥ Esme's Drawings ♥


♥ Dressing up and Special Rocks ♥


♥ Hanging out at Flat Rock ♥


♥ Candy Colored Sailboats on the Lake ♥


♥ Hanging out with these Beach Bums ♥


♥ Home and All Its Surprizes ♥


♥ Honorable Mentions: Hug Your Fat, the new Foamy: Fat Idols, Darwin's Survival Game, Which Scientist Should You Date? (Galileo for me, if you were wondering...), Caramelldansen! And now I can go to bed.... Zzzzzzzzz......

Things I Love Thursday is brought to you by Gala Darling...