I’m having a Party here tonight!

I’m having a party here tonight.

Ok. Maybe it won’t look like this tonight. But it’s a good reminder of how far this old house has come.

After buying this house, we had to gut the past bad remodeling jobs to make it livable. This scene here is now this…

I think it’s a bit of a step-up.

But, this did have that “open” feeling as well. When I’m tempted to be frustrated that the house still isn’t finished, it’s good to look back and see just how far it’s come.

And, it’s also good to remind myself of the above scenario when I begin to look for another potential property that we could buy and fix up “a little”.  Well played, old photos. Well played.

To see more pictures of this remodel, go here.
To see more finished pictures of the home, go here or here. 

Summer Drink Round-Up

With temperatures reaching 114 on a frequent basis, it’s no wonder that summer drinks are on my mind. I’ve had a lot of fun coming up with Low-Cal or No-Cal summer drinks over the past couple of months.

Here are all the recipes for my Summer Drinks in one simple post. I hope you enjoy!

Skinny Orange Julius (for step by step with pictorial instructions, go here)

This Recipe makes a Pitcher of 4-5 Servings:
4-5 Peeled Fresh Oranges
4-5 Cups of Ice
1-2 Cups of Water
1/4 tsp Vanilla Creme Stevia

This Recipe makes one serving:
1 Orange
1 Cup of Ice
1/4 Cup of Water or as Needed
2 Drops of Liquid Vanilla Creme Stevia

In a blender, combine the peeled oranges, adding 1/2 of the needed ice on top. Add the water and pulse until the ice is broken up into chunks. Add to this the other half of ice. Next, add the Stevia. Puree everything until it’s blended, but still a bit chunky. Pour in a chilled glass and enjoy!

No Calorie Sweetened Iced Coffee (for step by step with pictorial instructions, go here)

2 TBS Decaf/Caffeinated NesCafe-more or less depending on how strong you like your coffee
8 drops Liquid Stevia-more or less depending on how sweet you like it
Milk
Water

Fill a tall glass of water (heh) with the 2 TBS of NesCafe. Stir and add ice. Add the 8 drops of Liquid Stevia and milk, depending on your taste.

No Calorie Sweet Green Tea (for step by step with pictorial instructions, go here)

Tea Kettle
Glass Tea Jar
10 Green Tea Bags (I use 5 Caffeinated and 5 Decaffeinated Tea Bags)
6 + 4 Cups of Water
1/2 tsp Liquid Stevia

Using a clothespin, use the tab at the end of the string to corral your tea bags. Clip the tea bags to the side of your glass tea jar. Boil 6 cups of water in your tea kettle. After the water in the tea kettle whistles, pour the boiling water into the glass tea jar. Aim for the tea bags as you pour. Steep for 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, pull the tea bags from the liquid but still inside of the tea jar. Slowly squeeze out any remaining water from the tea bags using a wooden spoon. Add the 1/2 tsp Liquid Stevia. Add 4 Cups of cold water to the tea jar. Stir, chill for several hours and serve.

No Calorie Fresh Lime “Gritzer” (for step by step with pictorial instructions, go here)
(makes 1 Liter):
1 Liter of Diet Tonic Water (sweetened with Splenda)*
1 Lime
1/4 tsp Liquid Stevia
*here’s my disclaimer, Tonic Water contains quinine. Some people cannot consume this product. I have yet to find an alternative.

Fill a pitcher with the Diet Tonic Water. Wash one whole lime first, then cut into wedges and squeeze into pitcher. Throw the limes into the tonic water if desired. Add 1/4 tsp of Liquid Stevia (more or less depending upon your sweet needs). Stir a couple of times, pour into your favorite “fancy glass” and garnish with another lime wedge.

That’s all for now, but I’m sure I’ll come up with more. I hope you’ve enjoyed the Summer Drink Round-Up!

If these parties are up, I link to them! (Here’s my complete Linky Party Page):
Monday: Crafts Keep Me Sane, The Better Baker, Skip to My Lou, DIY Showoff, Say Not, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Etcetorize, Sew Chatty, Brassy Apple, Flour Me With Love, Creating my Way, Mad in Crafts, Our Delightful Home, Sew Can Do, It’s So Very Cheri, Craft O Maniac, Polly Want a Crafter, Tuesday: Craft Edition, Inspiration Board , New Nostalgia , Lettered Life , Coastal Charm, Tip Junkie , Ladybug Blessings, Hope Studios , Todays Creative Blog, Wednesday: Someday Crafts , Day2DayJoys, Jillify It , Junk in the Trunk, We are that Family , Frugally Sustainable, Sew Much Ado, Fine Craft Guild , The Thrifty Home, My Girlish Whims , Quick, Easy, Cheap & Healthy, Trendy Treehouse, Thursday: Somewhat Simple, No Minimalist Here , A Glimpse Inside, The Mommy Club, The 36th Avenue, Cheap Chic Home, Beyond the Picket Fence, Fireflies and Jellybeans , House of Hepworths , The Shabby Chic Cottage, Friday: My Repurposed Life, It’s a HodgePodge Life, The Shabby Nest, Just Wingin’ It, One Artsy Momma, French Country Cottage, Finding Fabulous, Passionately Artistic, Petals and Picots, Simply Designing, Little Becky Homecky, My Romantic Home, Bacon Time, Simply Living, Saturday: Polkadot Pretties, Tatertots and Jello, Create and Inspire, Be Different, Act Normal, Craft Envy, Funky Junk Interiors, Petites Passion, Sunday: Under the Table, Natural Mothers, Mopping the Floor

Oven Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

I have had bags full of tomatoes in my refrigerator. I don’t mean a couple of puny sandwich bags full. I mean at least 4 gallon-sized ziplock bags full.

And, this is after making 14 jars of salsa, canning 8 jars of whole tomatoes, eating bruschetta until we were sick of it and throwing as many as I can on every salad, every day.

Thus, the need to find new uses for aging tomatoes. I decided to try my hand at Oven Roasting Cherry Tomatoes. A slight gorge-fest happened when these puppies were pulled from the oven. Even Biceps couldn’t quit.

Here’s all that you’ll need to make Oven Roasted Cherry Tomatoes:
Prep time: 5 minutes, Cooking Time: 1-1 1/2 hrs, Skill Level: Easy
Basil
Garlic
Cherry Tomatoes
Cooking Spray
9 x 13 pan

Uses: Garnish crackers with tomatoes and “Laughing Cow-light” spreadable cheese. Top a pizza with them, eat on a salad, a sandwich or by themselves.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
Spray the 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray and pile in the cherry tomatoes. Sprinkle basil and garlic on top.

After about 30-45 minutes, when the tomatoes are becoming soft, carefully turn the tomatoes over once.

Place back in the oven for another 30-45 minutes, or until most tomatoes have turned brown on at least one side.

These are amazingly delicious and oh, so simple. It’s getting hotter, it’s a burning love, I just can’t get enough, I just can’t get enough…(thank you, Depeche Mode).

Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

If these parties are up, I link to them! (Here’s my complete Linky Party Page):
Monday: The Girl Creative, Crafts Keep Me Sane, The Better Baker, Skip to My Lou, DIY Showoff, Say Not, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, Etcetorize, Sew Chatty, Brassy Apple, Flour Me With Love, Creating my Way, Mad in Crafts, Our Delightful Home, Sew Can Do, It’s So Very Cheri, Craft O Maniac, Polly Want a Crafter, Tuesday: Craft Edition, Inspiration Board , New Nostalgia , Lettered Life , Coastal Charm, Tip Junkie , Ladybug Blessings, Hope Studios , Todays Creative Blog, Wednesday: Someday Crafts , Day2DayJoys, Jillify It , Junk in the Trunk, We are that Family , Frugally Sustainable, Sew Much Ado, Fine Craft Guild , The Thrifty Home, My Girlish Whims , Quick, Easy, Cheap & Healthy, Trendy Treehouse, Thursday: Somewhat Simple, No Minimalist Here , A Glimpse Inside, The Mommy Club, The 36th Avenue, Cheap Chic Home, Beyond the Picket Fence, Fireflies and Jellybeans , House of Hepworths , The Shabby Chic Cottage, Friday: My Repurposed Life, It’s a HodgePodge Life, The Shabby Nest, Just Wingin’ It, One Artsy Momma, French Country Cottage, Finding Fabulous, Passionately Artistic, Petals and Picots, Simply Designing, Little Becky Homecky, My Romantic Home, Bacon Time, Simply Living, Saturday: Polkadot Pretties, Tatertots and Jello, Create and Inspire, Be Different, Act Normal, Craft Envy, Funky Junk Interiors, Petites Passion, Sunday: Under the Table, Natural Mothers, Mopping the Floor

Good Morning with Food Faces

Good Morning, dear Readers! I have been working on a story about farming for my paper, therefore-food has been on the brain.

So, if it’s ok with you, I’d like to welcome you inside of my strange world where food talks to me.

“Rise and shine!”, said Mr. Over Easy.

“I’m not sure that I’m ready for the day,” said Mr. Turkey Bacon Lips.

“But it’s time for you to go to work,” said Gilbert, the produce manager.

“I think I’ll play hooky instead and go have coffee with a friend,” said Mrs. Squash.

Do what you want, little vegetables. In the end, we all know what’s going to happen to you.

Yeah, we get it, Mr. Spicy Peppers. We get it.

You just had to have the last word, didn’t you, Banana Pepper Triplets?

My food seems to have quite the attitude. I suppose they learned it from their caretaker. Hm.

At any rate, have a great morning and a good rest of the day!