Covered up

Yesterday they were happily smiling. But guess what tomorrow it is going to be 60 degrees again. Already this afternoon the snow has melted some and the daffodils are looking OK. Should we trust Mother Nature?? Do we have a choice? 

Saving Daffodils from Snow

This has been the strangest weather week . Friday was 75 degrees
and today it is snowing. My poor confused daffodils were hanging their heads in confusion. I decided to go out into the snow and pick the drooping blooms and give them love by passing them on to my friends. I think it was a win win for all! I love sharing my daffodils!!!





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Collard Greens

So I was not raised in the south, but I love all the greens. I have not had much experience growing Collards. So I spent all summer trying to harvest this cabbage???? But I let it go. Look at it now, it is not cabbage but collards and after our warm winter it is perfect!!

I am cooking a great recipe for collards. Since I had chicken wings from my Sunday afternoon chicken and some reserved Ham Hocks,I have made some green collards for dinner. This is an adaption from a recipe from Paula Dean.

I put 1/2 lb ham hocks and bone and scrapes from my chicken on Sunday. wings.
1tablespoon seasoned salt
1tablespoon hot red pepper sauce
1 large bunch chopped collard greens


In a large pot I brought 2 quarts chicken broth and 1 quart water to a broil and added the meat, seasoned salt and coarse salt and pepper and hot sauce. 1 Tablespoon of each seasoning. Reduce the heat to medium and let it cook for an hour. Add the sliced prepared fresh collard greens and cook for an hour.
Stirring occasionally and season at the end.

Hey Dad

Today is the day Dad ..... The first daffodil bloomed. I think it is about a month early. I love you Dad. Thanks for giving me the love of nature. I have marked it in the book!!!!

Saturday Cooking

Since yesterday was too cold for outdoor gardening activities, I opted to do my next favorite activity....cooking. I spend hours scouring magazines and the Internet for recipes. My husband claims I never make the same thing twice. I am trying hard to not only keep track of good recipes but also use the foot high stack of torn out recipes from magazines. In fact, I have been compiling weekly menus and grocery list from this hugh stack.

At Kroger, the Organic whole chickens were on sale and calling to me. The thing is I hate taking the meat off a whole chicken, so a quick call to my sous chef (i.e my husband) gave the promise of help.

I roasted the bird in a 350 degree oven for about 2 hours. It weighed about 6 lbs. I did stuff it with lime slices and fresh thyme. Thus using up left over limes and helping me with my commitment to use more herbs.

I rubbed the outside of the bird with olive oil and coarse sea salt. When the internal temperature reached 190 degrees we pulled the golden brown chicken out and let it rest.

Meanwhile, my husband had been researching carving a chicken, he is ready to go with the carving.The result was a four star success. This was by far one of the most flavorful chickens we have had in a very long time.

Plus, it was fun engaging Randy!!! So he wins....I will make this again.



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Happy Anniversary