An Amazing Dinner

I really love cooking!!  There’s just something about it that completely relaxes me.  I enjoy seeing how something as simple as a meal can make someone happy.  This is probably why I enjoy entertaining so much.   
 

Cookbooks to me are like shoes to some woman. I could spend all day at Barnes & Noble pouring

over new cookbooks that I want or ones that I already have. Old ones are like family jewels. I love

my mom’s and my grandmother’s handwritten recipes. For me it takes me back to that moment or a

a funny story.

If I’m honest it does help that my husband will eat just about anything.  He ALWAYS telling me that the only foods he won’t eat are: cottage cheese because of what it looks like (brain matter), beets because it’s just not natural, grape-nuts because its squirrel food, and corn beef/cabbage- I’m not sure why, but he doesn’t like it.  Yes, I’m a lucky girl!

One of the things that I’m adamant about is that you can have a wonderful, healthy meal each

night without spending hours in the kitchen.  My goal is from the first chop to the actual sitting

down at the table that it takes no longer than 1 hour, unless it’s something really special.  And if

it’s even less time than all the better.

Well, the other night I made a new dish – which I do at least weekly – that was to us wonderful,

so I thought I’d share it with you.  Of course, I didn’t think to take a picture.  Next time

I’ll try to be more “with it”.

                Menu

• Salmon with Mustard Cream
• Nutmeg Zucchini & Squash
• Steamed Green Beans
• Steamed Brown Rice

                   Recipes

Salmon with Mustard Cream

4 - (6oz) skinless salmon fillets
Black pepper to taste
1 cup sour cream
1 ½ Tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill (I used dry)
1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
1 garlic clove, minced

Preheat broiler.  Place salmon on a broiler pan coated w/cooking spray; sprinkler w/pepper.  Broil 7-8

minutes, or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.  Place fillets on plates.  Spoon sauce

over fish.

Nutmeg Zucchini & Squash – (A nice change from steamed)

1 Tablespoon butter
3 cups shredded zucchini & squash combined (I used 2 zucchini & 1 squash)
¼ cup black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg (I used ½ of a nutmeg & it wasn’t enough for us, but we really like nutmeg)

Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add zucchini and sauté 4-5

minutes or until crisp-tender.  Stir in pepper and nutmeg.  Yields 2 servings

Oh, how I love to paint!!

It's been a few weeks from my last post and I've been reflecting on what I've been up to lately and as I look over my pictures (yes, we take pictures for everything) it's VERY obvious what I've been up to....PAINTING!!

Since April 2012 I've painted our Master bedroom, Formal Living and Dining, Master and Guest bathrooms, a Hallway into our master, a LARGE wall in our Family Room, my husband's office and some hideous bookcases that were in his office. 

Needless to say Sherman Williams has gotten to know both myself and husband very, very well over the last few months and they've probably built a new store with the amount of paint and supplies that we've purchased!!  But, I can say without hesitation that our home looks sooo much better with color finally on the walls.  (I've also painted two bedrooms upstairs over the last year and half.)

I'm one of those gals that doesn't like bare walls.  I love color!!!  When we moved into this house a few years ago none of the walls where painted and I knew it would be a large undertaking, but I was up for it.  I had painted all the walls/rooms in our other home, it took almost 5 years, but I did it and we loved it!  The issue in our new home is that our family room has double decked windows, so we get A TON of natural light all year, and our ceilings in the family room/kitchen nook are super tall.  So, unfortunately I can't paint those walls, our gifted painter will get that "fun" job.

So, our Labor Day weekend was a weekend full of Labor!! LoL  Then to top things off after painting for almost two days non-stop as I was finishing up the tops of bookcases, yep, you got it.... I had an accident!!  The chair that I was standing on both feel onto the tile entry and I landed smack on my elbow and shoulder.  Apparently, I let out a nice little scream, because my hubby who was upstairs made it downstairs in about 2 seconds.  Now, he's a fast runner, but WOW that's impressive! 

I'm fine.  I just bruised my elbow and shoulder really bad and had to wear a lovely, fashionable sling for awhile.  I still can't believe with all the painting I've done, that bookcases is what took me down.  One of my girlfriends told me, that with all the painting and projects I do, she's surprised that's it's taken me this long to have an accident.  What, where's the love?  :-)

So, I bet your wondering if I'm still painting or if I have another paint job in the making, right?  The answer is NO, or at least not for awhile. 

The good thing is that I need to get back to finishing up the nursery, so that means shopping here I come.  Which I guess if I have to I'll force myself to go shopping and continue organizing.  Two things I hate, not.  Plus, now that Fall is trying to roll into Texas that means Festivals on the weekends and bible studies during the week both for me and my mom, and let's not forget my favorite thing....Entertaining.  I'm seriously hearing a party calling out, plus we've had a few request. 

I've attached some pictures of my craziness!  Try not to laugh too hard.  Enjoy!!

Hubby's Office

Formal Living
(Still needs to be stencil behind couch wall)

Fomal Living (Curtains are up thanks to Pottery Barn)



Looking into Fomal Dining from Living

Family Room (one of many cut out's)
Our talented painter will be painting rest of walls a lighter brown

Guest Bath (brown is the same color as cut out's-not sure what
happen to the picture)

Hallway into/out of Master

Bookcases/Shelves primed and ready to go
YES, these are the ones that "took me out"

Me in all my glory!  LoL