A Hurricane, A Wedding, Canadian Family Visiting,Fresh Flowers & Blanching Butter Beans in October!

We certainly have had quite some weather in South Carolina, a hurricane and it has been unseasonably warm.  I'm not complaining about the warmth mind you because I love it! We have mosquitoes here that seem the size of dragon flies!
More importantly my youngest married, we have had wonderful visits with family from Canada and those here that we haven't seen in awhile. I just can't believe that I'm cutting fresh flowers and it is the end of October. I found some delicious fresh green butter beans (lima beans) at McLeod Farms. We are awaiting repairs on the house as well.  We are still so much more blessed than some who have suffered much more.  I will be glad however to be able to move the cooking pots and buckets out of the room that has a massive leaky roof...well that and my closet...

I Won a Month's Worth of Meals From PeachDish & Joseph Joseph!

Can you tell I was excited to win this?  This is such a luxury for me!  You know I cook simply with easy recipes from staples that I generally keep in the home anyway. This will be a treat! 

I received my first shipment this week! I will share today the first meal cooked and how I personally would rate it! Join me won't you as I tell you all about it just in case you aren't familiar with PeachDish!

Beefy Mushroom Pasta in Cream Sauce

This simple recipe is a good hearty rich recipe that will make any meal satisfying.  People kid me about not eating simply from box meals like oh say Hamburger Helper.  I guess you could say this is my Homemade version of that box meal.

South Carolina Strong!

some photos for the collage credit Nikki Haley Facebook

Hello out there!  I say that because we here in South Carolina have been through quite a time recently with the weather. Hurricane Matthew came slow rolling on through with lots and lots of rain. I'm glad it is over! 

We're so blessed that we tend to take so much for granted. Times like this remind us of what is most important. Praying for others that are still having such troubles in other states and Haiti as well.  

Join me as I talk a little about our experience and how proud I am of our home state.

Asparagus and Mushrooms in Cream Sauce

Do you like asparagus?  I really do and most of the time we steam or bake it in the oven sprinkled with some coarse salt and drizzled with a great olive oil. It is so delicious cooked simply in that manner, but sometimes I like it cooked in another way.  This asparagus was not in the best of shape was beginning to be a little old, well frankly it was a little limp when I purchased it but I couldn't resist it that day. What does one do when it isn't looking it's best well buy two bundles!  How crazy am I? To remedy that make a delicious rich casserole that will disguise the less than crisp vegetable.  When using the best ingredients to make this creamy rich casserole you can't go wrong.

Drying Flowers with Borax Cornmeal Mixture

I do enjoy growing flowers and hydrangeas are one of my favorites. This comes from being a child and visiting my grandma's house. She had some of the most beautiful blue old fashioned ones growing at the front of her porch. I remember just standing and looking at those beautiful flowers and the Crepe Myrtle trees that stood close by. 

For years I've cut and brought them inside to dry naturally for a touch of color during the winter months. This year I decided to dry some in this mixture and well I'll tell you more about it in this post.