Zucchini...It's What's For DINNER!

Well, a couple months ago...tt started with a few seeds, and grew into this plant...

 that created many more zucchini than we could ever care to eat in a week! So......then, this mama has to GET CREATIVE!

Every day this week, I've been making something with Zucchini IN IT! From breakfast, lunch, dinner and now, to DESSERT...it has become a staple in our house this month!

This was a 'Zucchini-Carrot Cake' that I made and used this recipe...

http://realmomkitchen.com/7878/carrot-and-zucchini-bars-with-lemon-cream-cheese-frosting/

One night...we decided to make something fun with the kiddos in mind..."mexican-italian"! Lol!

"Pepperoni & Cheese Zucchini Quesedillas"...from start to finish, it was a fresh lil' dinner that we'll definitely be repeating before this summer is over!

Start with your zucchini...slice it with a potato peeler (or cheese grater), so it's nice and thin! Next, get the rest of your ingredients around for this recipes' quick and easy assembly as your grill gets nice and hot...

 either way you decide to slice it up...make sure it's nice and thin...like cheese (they won't know the difference here, as long as you remove the rind!)

Since I didn't have any pizza sauce, I took some of my own homemade spagetti sauce (or you can use your favorite store bought brand) and a can of tomato paste...added it to a sauce pan, stirring constantly with about 1/2 cup of your sauce...and in just a few short minutes you have some thick 'pizza sauce' on hand to use! Yippy...I'm all about makin' it if you can...then, you get the consistency you're lookin' for to make that recipe of yours...even better! Then, set it aside, off the heat...you don't want it to burn after it's all done cooking...you can spoon on your flour tortilla when you're ready to start assembling...any leftovers, you can easily store in an airtight jar/container in the fridge for future use.

Now, you're ready to start compiling all the other ingredients to your soft flour tortillas...I like to quickly oil em' first...either side with a little salt, pepper and garlic mixed into your oil for easy prep before placing on the hot grill...gives em' a nice flavor at the end!

Then, start pilin' on the goodies...sauce, pepperoni, cheese (I used a pizza mix here; mozzerella/colby) and then added the shaved zucchini and some other herbs, like my favorite... 'Onion-Onion' from "Tastefully Simple"'! Whatever you have on hand is fine...you can just add your own favorite herbs...like basil, oregano, garlic and some salt/pepper to name a few. It's your quesedilla...so, you decide!

...either way, you just keep layerin' em' up and add a little more cheese to the top, and put on your last 'oiled' flour tortilla and then, begin grilling!

 I used my stove top grill, but you can take em' out on your regular outdoor grill as well!

Once they're nice and hot, flip it over for the finishing grill time needed to cook it through, and then simply flip on top of your cutting board for easy cutting and serving to your hungry crew, patiently waiting at the table!

Whichever you decide to serve with it, have fun...make it colorful and festive! And remember, it's summer and it's hot...make a quick salad to go along with it and add some fresh cut cantaloupe for some juicy fun at the table....we love finger foods...just make sure the napkins are handy...for the slurppers in your bunch!

This is Grade A...good food, here, mamas! Packed full of fun, nutrition....no kid can resist...not even my finicky two!

Tomorrow....we're lookin' to make some zucchini jam...they say it tastes like strawberries! We'll see...check back in for 'Zucchini Week, Part 2"!

Small space gardening, with big ideas!

Good afternoon all! Thought we could get cozy in the garden this week...hope you don't mind getting better aquainted! I've never been much of a 'green thumb', even though my maiden name was Green for the first 24 years of my life...and now I'm a Potter, LOL! Guess God really wants me to dig into dirt, eh?!

How 'bout you? Ever get a hankerin' for some cool dirt to be underneath your toes, plantin' a few pretties you picked up on sale...and then, hope for the best?! Then, sweetie...we have alot more in common than you think! What I don't know, I make up for in reading, surfin' the net, and simply askin' lots of questions to perfect strangers that look at me funny! I'm kind of quirky that way, ya know....it makes life much more interesting I think! I'm okay with the fact that not everyone's going to like me...as long as I like me...that's all that counts!

Now, gardening....like I said, I like pretty things and I love to decorate...so, contatiner gardening is really my speed of gorgeous, if I do say so myself! I just need to remember to water it every so often...like when it's wilting, then I run for the water hose! It gives me a little more exercise in my day...and that's a good thing!

In my search today, I found some great ideas that I wanted to share with ya'll....starting with this great website to get ya started...all made with reycled materials in small spaces...anyone can do this; including ME!

http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2010/03/17/good-things-in-small-boxes-urban-garden-tiny-footprint/

Got an old dresser you can't use anymore? Oh my goodness...what a great new use for it!

 Okay, who doesn't have one of these layin' around in the closet or on the back of your door, not being used to its fullest potential? I do! And this is what I'm going to do with mine! HERBS anyone? Or how bout' some cherry tomatoes?! Whoop, whoop! I just can't wait to get it planted...and you?!

This is incredibly simple...gutters! OMGosh...would've never given it a thought....I mean, WOW! This could be put anywhere...on the side of anything; cut to length, screw to the wall and plant your seeds...and let God do the rest!

Now, these are some pretty neat ideas, don't ya think?! I'm excited to go try at least one, maybe more! I found some cute old pallet ideas, along with old tin cans...if you can recycle it...why not REUSE IT?!

You might want to try some Haute-Urban Gardening..."it's sexy and you know it"! I love the Black Eye Peas...so much fun, you can't help but join in! And that's how I feel when I get into this article on small space gardening: http://ecosalon.com/10-ideas-for-sexy-urban-gardens/

 

Doesn't this look easy, and fun? Something you could definitely do with the kids, right?! That's what I was thinkin to! You could use any size can that you're recycling...you just need some dirt and flowers, and you're set! Apartment dwelling, condo porch, deck or window farming...it's all doable!

Well then, hope I gave you something to look forward to makin' in your little space, you call "HOME"! I'm going out to start workin' on mine right now! Can't wait to see what I can come up with after all this research...a few up & coming rummage sales might be in the 'forecast'! Ya think?!

Happy Day to ya'll...and remember, if you're not thinkin' outside the box here, you're definitely, NOT LIVING in your space!

Create and grow, my friend...that's what God engineered us to do. In fact, Jesus so instructed us to do exactly that...in John 6:12, He speaks volumes in the matter of 'waste not, want not', that I believe we should all be following in EVERYTHING we do...not just what WE THINK we should be doing with what we have!

"When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples,

'Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted'."

Treasure Hunting!

Hey all! Hope your having a wonderful PRE-MOTHER'S DAY! I decided to take the day off, and do a little 'Goodwill Hunting', along with some garden/flower shopping today. And shop, I DID!


Wow...what an exciting trip I had this morning, too! I went in search of containers for the garden...and I came away with soooooo much more than I bargained for! I swear, you can't ever salvage enough...it's great for the community, too! Everyone WINS! I love that part the most...because, someone can always benefit from someone elses' junk...or as I love to say, "TREASURE"!

 I had the cart full, from top to bottom before I left today!

 From old plates, different size baskets to fill up with some good ol' dirt and plants, to some crafting supplies...it was a well rounded trip!

 This mans tie compliments this one of a kind placemat...along with a few more dishes...couple more baskets, some star and flower doilies, and a glass jar decanter that's sloped in the front! Oh...and get a load of my chicken head...it was a whoppin' 39 cents...and I got 50 % off that yet! Who can beat a deal that good?!

 This cute lil' jean jacket is the perfect chair back cover, if I do say so myself! And the glass block...99 cents! Plus, this book is loaded with good stuff...from crocheting, knitting, sewing, and other types of needlecrafting! Again...99 cents! Seriously...you gotta start shopping at your local refuge center...you never know what your going to get, or who your going to be helping, either!

 I know...more plates, baskets and cool vintage planter material! I'm just so psyched...I went right over to the plant store after I left here, just to get what I needed, to come back home and quickly start planting! LOL!  There's no time...like the PRESENT, to act on our passion...right?! So...I urge you...get in your cupboards...stop at a rummage sale...don't let that unused, unloved stuff go to waste! Make it work for you...inside or out! Your world is your oyster...make it anything you want! I'm making mine....."Treasurable"!

 

Aren't these georgously, mystifying?! What a story they have to tell! Can't wait to get them up on my wall....they're just so captivating!

 

 I like to take the kids "treasure hunting" too, because it teaches them that you don't have to buy everything brand new, and that it's okay to give as much as you recieve...like with their donatables, too! It's easier to get them to part with stuff they don't play with any longer, because they know it's going to a good cause. I try to use every trip like a lesson plan, for a rainy day...like more pennies in your pocket to do other things with...or the commitment to practice community service, like the workers at the thrift store where we like to shop...that they 'volunteer' their time...and give back in other ways to their communities. There's always a teachable moment...when we'thre paying attention, don't you think? 

This summer is only just begun girls...it's not even Mother's Day yet...don't just smell the flowers...get out there and create a new living scenery that you just can't wait to share with your family and friends! Treasures are what you make of them...and they don't even have to cost you a penny! You might already have what you're lookin' for and don't even know it! Look at everything as if it were the first time you've ever seen it...with inspiration and awe!

You could take your mom to a flea market for breakfast this weekend...and find some treasures together, while making it a Happy Mother's Day to remember!