Zucchini Bread

When your very kind neighbor, who grows a fabulous organic garden, knocks on your door and offers you an enormous zucchini - you accept it!

Of course I could have made a stir fry, or some healthy dinner choice for it.  However, we prefer to bake -so we made Zucchini Bread.

I made a double recipe of Paula Deen's Zucchini Bread and into the oven it went.  I LOVE to use my Pampered Chef stoneware for items like this.

And out it came... perfect!

We gifted much of it away  - and yes, my neighbor got a loaf for sharing with us.

New England Day Trip

We spent a wonderful 80-85 degree day on Cape Ann yesterday.  Cape Ann is like Cape Cod just more North.

Our favorite beach Good Harbor did not disappoint!  I believe we brought home more sand than we left behind.

 Do you have beach plans this weekend??

Hamburger Buns

Like most people I reach for the bag of hamburger buns when I am making burgers.  In fact, my favorite are Pepperidge Farm seeded buns.  However, I also know the ingredient list all too well.  I really prefer to bake my own bread during the cold seasons.  I just am not in the habit of making rolls and buns these days.

Then I saw THESE this on Creations by Kara (where her tag line is "Creating a Home...with a can of spray paint in one hand and a measuring cup in the other'' YES, I like that!!)

It was for quick easy Hamburger Buns!  Both the girls were at a neighborhood camp today and the weather was good enough to bake - and we were having hamburgers on the grill for dinner!  I dove in.

I typically use my Kitchen Aid mixer for all my mixing and kneading.  I did that today.  Given that these only have one rise - they were very fast and very easy.  I also typically heat my oven for about 5 mins on 175 degrees then shut it right off - and do my rising in there.  A mug of hot water also helps to make a nice humid environment.

Here they are just in for their rise (on my well seasoned Pampered Chef stoneware):

Getting a little bigger:

To the counter for the last 10 mins of rising (while I preheat the oven)

 Then out of the oven - all warm and golden:

The girls came home and saw them - they were so happy!  I have to say - the bun was much better than my burger! (Someone ate all the cheddar cheese and did not tell me.)  

I would DEFINITELY say try these out - even if you are not an expert bread baker - I think these were a great quick recipe to try. 

A Stool Redo

Do you have an item in your home that you walk past or sit on every day and just don't even pay attention to the fact that it simply does not match anything.

Take this light wood colored stool.  I bought it out of necessity.  I do love how it fits right under the counter here.  And it is 'my' seat.  I sit on it everyday.  But let's be honest - it does not match anything!

Keeping in mind that this is the Little Red House and my kitchen is one of the 'smaller' rooms.


Now that I am on a 'spray paint' kick I decided to get some of this:

and did this:

and NOW I love it.  It just feels right.

This is the first of small changes I am making in my little kitchen.  I will post them here and there - then give you a big reveal!

Read All About It!

This is so cool!

I entered a contest on Sewplicity where I had to try out one of her tutorials.  I chose the checkbook cover (see that post HERE).

And while I did not win (BOO)  I was mentioned (YAY).    Strange to see your items on another bloggers page. What FUN!

Check it out - mine is the Checkbook Cover with the roosters.

Chicken Stock

Remember those Roasted Chickens?  They were very good.  Time to make the stock!!  Since I started making my own stock - I get raves on my soups.  This is photo heavy but very simple.

I dump what is left of the chicken bones into a pot filled with water.  I add chopped onion, carrots & celery.

I bring it to a boil - that is when that foam starts to appear on top.  I skim it all off.  Once this is done I drop it to a simmer and let it go ALL DAY.  Yes, all day.  8 hours minimum.  Keeping the cover on reduces the evaporation I prefer to keep it on. 

Foam...yuck

Now it is time to strain, strain, and strain again.  This part is not easy - it's HOT!

I discard all of the used up bones and veggies.  The nutrients are now in the stock.

And like magic - I get the most amazing golden nutritious stock.  

LOTS of stock!

This week we decided on Chicken Soup.  It has been getting cooler at night and the kids are loving it.   MMM mmm good!  (I just wish I had some fresh baked bread and butter to go with it!!)

Home Decor: Round Tray

I needed something to put on my new round coffee table.  Something to protect it, be functional and look pretty.

The solution was to find something round!  I popped into Home Goods and went looking for a large charger plate or low profile bowl.  I just did not see what I wanted.  Then in the clearance section I tripped on this horrendously ugly metal platter:

I mean it is not pretty.  But - it was the right size, low profile and I love that it is metal.  Then I flipped it over and saw the price.  For that  price - I could play with it! 

So I picked up some of THIS in Oil Rubbed Bronze
 

and one of these (Hello!  I love you!)  

Started spraying!

Nora keeping an eye on me

I realized... I should have primed this first.  So I added a few layers of this:

 The reason I like this product:

  Now - look how pretty it is.  And the bonus is - the texture of the paint splatters created texture on the tray.

Guess What!  I bought 2!!  I have one for the coffee table and I have one for my oval dining room table too!  

I like that I have a base now for my table decor for easy change ups.  I also added some felted stick on feet to keep my table from scratching.  

The moral of this post - don't pass by ugly things that are priced right - they could be perfect!!