A Look Back! For Our Friend Ron!

In the evening of Friday, our family had the saddest news. Last year, a family member (age 41) had gotten married (we attended of course) and his wife got pregnant shortly after (6 months pregnant now). On Friday evening, he was mowing the lawn and had a massive heart attack and died. We are all devestated and so sad. Ron and Nadias first wedding anniversary is next weekend. The funeral will be held this Thursday at the same place that just under a year now we all celebrated their wedding.

I had been thinking about him alllllllllll Saturday - thinking back to all the times we spent together and on Sunday decided to take a look back - albeit with Art. Ron was a beautiful artist (and Radio Announcer) and todays blog is dedicated to our friend Ron. This wall art was not done by Ron but know he would have loved them. There are so many pics to look at and if you click on them you can see them larger.

Always in our hearts! xxxooo

This weeks recipe

CHICKEN AND PESTO LASAGNA IN CROCKPOT

1 T OIL
1 MED ONION CHOPPED
2 GARLIC CLOVES MINCED
1 LB. GROUND CHICKEN
1 PACKAGE FROZEN CHOPPED SPINACH, THAWED AND SQUEEZED DRY
1/4 CPESTO E.G. BUITONI
1/4 t BLACK PEPPER
1 C PART-SKIM RICOTTA
3/4 C ITALIAN BLEND SHREDDED CHEESE
10 LASAGNA NOODLES, BROKEN IN HALF

1. HEAT OIL IN LARGE NONSTICK SKILLET OVER MED HEAT.
ADD ONION AND GARLIC AND COOK FOR 3 MINUTES.
ADD CHICKEN TO SKILLET, COOK, STIR FREQUENTLY, APPROX 4 MINUTES, TILL NO LONGER PINK.
ADD SPINACH,PESTO. PEPPER, AND BLEND WELL.
SET ASIDE.
2. iN A SMALL BOWL, COMBINE RICOTTA AND 1/2 C SHREDDED CHEESE.

3. COAT SLOWCOOKER BOWL WITH NONSTICK COOKING SPRAY.
LAYER IN 1/3 OF UNCOOKED NOODLES , OVERLAPPING AS NECESSARY.
SPREAD 1/3 OF CHICKEN MIXTURE OVER NOODLES, AND TOP WITH 1/4 C WATER.
PUT 1/3 OF RICOTTA MIXTURE OVER TOP.
CONTINUE LAYERING WITH REMAINING NOODLES, MEAT, AN ADDITIONAL 1/4 C WATER AND RICOTTA MIXTURE.
4. COVER AND COOK ON HIGH FOR 3 HOURS OR ON LOW FOR 5 1/2 HOURS.
SPRINKLE REMAINING 1/4 C OF ITALIAN CHEESE ON TOP FOR LAST 15 MINUTES OF COOK TIME,OR UNTIL MELTED.
BON APPETIT.

THANKS RIV-KA!

A Gift and Todays Research

I am making a surprise apron for a friend and just googled some aprons and found some that I sure would like for me. My friend really does not suit POOF, but I sure liked these. Anyway, will be starting her fun apron at the end of the week and will post - Stay Tuned.

I just finished my CITY SKIRT and I am pleased. Have to iron and then get a digital pic and will post soon.

Preparations for This Winters Project

We have bluejays, cardinals and smaller birds like wrens, sparrows and even hummingbirds visiting our backyard. I finally found the perfect smaller bird, birdhouse which we will make nine. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfullness and Self-Control and paint differently but with the same design and put up along the south garden next April. This is a great idea for those that want to put up birdhouses without the expense of separate poles - but just to put on one elongated extension. So in that, Love will be focused on the colour red with the word LOVE wrapped around the top of the hole with other embellishments. Its good to have a vision! (Thank you to those that posted these on their blogs)

THIS WEEKS RECIPE

A friend is away in Yellowknife for the summer and has been sending me recipes. They look so good that I have decided to have a weekly recipe post on TDOT.

CASHEW RICE

1/4 C SALTED, ROASTED CASHEWS
1 T OIL
1 ONION CHOPPED (1 C)
2 CLOVES GARLIC MINCED
1 C UNCOOKED RICE
1 CAN, 14.5 OZ LOW SODIUM CHICKEN BROTH
1 SCALLION, THINLY CLICED
2 T CHOPPED RESH CILANTRO OR YOU CAN USE PARSLEY

1. HEAT LARGE NONSTICK SKILLET OVER MED HEAT.
ADD CASHEWS; COOK STIRRING TILL LIGHTLY BROWN, 1-2 MINUTES.
REMOVE FROM SKILLET.
2. IN SAME SKILLET, HEAT OIL OVER MED HEAT. ADD ONION, GARLIC, A PINCH OF SALT.
COOK, STIRRING, TILL JUST SOFT, 2-3 MINUTES.
STIR IN RICE TILL COATED.
ADD BROTH, AND 1/4 C WATER, BRING TO BOIL.
3. COVER POT, COOK TILL WATER IS ABSORBED, ABOUT 20 MINUTES.
STIR IN SCALLION AND CILANTRO.
TRANSFER TO SERVING BOWL AND SPRINKLE WITH CASHEWS.

BON APPETIT - Thanks RIV-KA

Today's Retro Find

Retro glass party plates with 3 dividers for condiments. I would put a sandwich in the larger area and then some grapes and then cheese in the smaller areas. There is no markings on the back so not even sure what to research to find out something more about them.

GOTTA FIND IT.....

.......and I did. Were making my fav food today - Greek. I wanted a squeeze bottle to put Tzatziki into so you just have to squeeze what you want to put it on. Found this Classic Diner Style set from Charcoal Companion:

NEW KITCHEN KITCH

I chose LIZA Brushing Beauty:

















Here are other ones:

AUGUST 1ST PICS

Wow, I have not been on here since the earthquake. July went by so fast and now we are in the dog days of summer known as August. Hope all who view this blog are having a great summer.