Cannellini Salad

Ok, so since I am single and I eat simple when cooking for one, here is one of my favorites. Cannellini Salad. There are several different variations of this salad that I make or swap out the beans for another, like chick peas. Start with a can of Cannellini beans (white kidney beans) and drain them well. I usually drain and rinse mine in a strainer to remove the starchy liquid.

Next I add a can of artichoke hearts which are already halved. I slice them in half again, so now they are quartered. These ones are packed in water but will often use the marinated artichoke hearts.

Then one of my favorites-OLIVES! Today I used Kalamata, but feel free to swap these with your favorite or black is always a good choice.

Mmmm, then I add fresh mozzarella. Ciliegine! I love these from Trader Joe's because they are small and round. I usually slice them in half so they are more bite size.

Next is to dice up a fresh tomato like this beauty below. This tomato was grown by my good friend James. I better get some gardening tips from him so my tomatoes will look like this next year!

Today I choose to add some basil I was growing. Usually I use fresh flat leaf parsley but didn't have any on had so basil was the winner. After washing the leaves, I gently stack the leaves together. Then roll them up into a tight little wrap and slice thinly.

Lastly is to season with Salt & Pepper and drizzle generously with EVOO. As an alternative you can use a good quality Italian dressing or your own favorite vinaigrette. The possibilities are endless. I think that is why I like to cook more than bake! Baking is precise measuring and not too much flexibility with the ingredients. With cooking, you rarely need to follow a recipe to a T!

Gently toss all ingredients together. Then grab a cute little bowl to enjoy your salad in!

Enjoy!

A Lazy Milo Sunday

As I am being productive in the office organizing "things" and filing bills and other paperwork, I took a break to get a beverage. In passing the living room I look over and see my kitten taking the day off. Like he doesn't have any other day off. This picture unfortunately shows the lovely size of his fuzzy wuzzy lean belly! I can just hear him now-"do you mind?" What are you looking at?.....

Stretch.......

Ricotta Pancakes

Sunday breakfast was HEAVEN! Homemade ricotta pancakes topped with fresh berries, pure maple syrup and a side of bacon! OMG, these pancakes are so light and fluffy and lightly crisped on the edges because they are cooked in butter. One good thing is that they are mainly protein with only a little flour so they are not a heavy carbohydrate for breakfast. Highly recommend trying these. I think the recipe also allows for variations or different flavors or zests added to the batter. Enjoy!

Ricotta Pancakes

1/2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 pinch salt

3 eggs, separated

2/3 c. milk

1/2 lb. ricotta

Blend above ingredients until well combined and smooth batter excluding the egg whites. In a separate bowl, whip egg whites until they form soft peaks. Gently fold in whipped egg whites into batter. Pour batter a ladle at a time into a buttered skillet and cook until lightly browned on both sides. Serve with fresh berries and/or pure maple syrup.

~Enjoy~

~Lemon Curd with Blueberries~

Here is a quick dessert that has huge flavors going on. My mother~Barb~is visiting and made home made lemon curd with Meyer lemons which is sooooo yummy. We served the lemon curd over pound cake and topped it with fresh blueberries! Simple and yummy!

Mmmmmm........

Look at that smile.......must be good!!

Lemon Curd

from Ina Garden

3 lemons

1 1/2 c sugar

1/4 lb butter

4 eggs

1/2 c lemon juice (3-4 lemons)

1/8 tsp salt

Zest 3 lemons and place in food processor with the sugar and pulse until finely minced.

Cream the butter and add in the lemon & sugar mixture.

Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time.

Then add in the lemon juice and salt.

Mix until combined.

Pour mixture into a sauce pot and stir constantly until thickened over low heat.

Remove from heat and refrigerate until chilled.

Garden Before & After

Thought I would give a quick update on the progress of my garden this year. Here is the before of my heirloom tomatoes. They sure did take a while to start growing this year. Here they are now. I am much more relaxed to see the plants growing now. Can't wait to see the first sight of an actual tomato!

Below is the before picture of my garden box. Exciting huh?

And now!....I have a ton of spring lettuce mix growing, radishes that look like they inhaled miracle grow and baby carrots starting.

Now I know why they say zucchini plants grow like weeds. They do! I was amazed by the size of the leaves on my plant this year. They are like elephant ears!

Radishes!

Look at the size of these radishes! Couldn't believe how large they grew this year. Here they are with hair cuts and all washed up looking good!

Apparently, Milo kitten also thought they were looking good! He also thought NOBODY was watching.

I didn't do it!!! Caught in action but got the "who me" look!

Yeah you! Bad kitten......

Cute Photo

I thought this photo was so cute. This is kitten Tule who must always be in the window! I just love this photo because look at the size of the rose and look at the size of Tule's face. The rose is huge! Beautiful rose and cute kitten! Tule and I are good communicators. We talk to one another all the time. I have learned to speak his language after much practice but don't know what it means and Tule seems to understand my language but can't speak it. It all works out in the end!