Basic Pesto Recipe

Basic Pesto Recipe

4 cups basil leaves
½ cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
3 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
salt & pepper to taste

It's super quick to make with a food processor, although you can grind it with a mortar and pestle and it makes for a wonderful chunky finish. Mince the leaves, nuts & garlic and then drizzle in the olive oil, mixing or processing all the while, until it is incorporated. Mix through the cheese and then season to taste.

**Notes: Instead of basil leaves, I used Italian Parsley. Also, instead of the pine nuts, I used Sunflower Seeds and used regular Parmesan Cheese that was already grated.

I haven't tried it yet but made it for an Italian Pesto Chicken Ciabatta Sandwich :)

From pesto

Continue reading...

Hmmm...

Hey all....I need to get in here and do some updating so look for some updates soon :)

Thanks
Natalie

Continue reading...

Fun Day, June 20, 2009

So, we had some fun in the sun on June 20, 2009. Started our day with the Lewis' Petting Farm in New Era, then to Summit Park (Lake Michigan) for a picnic and so the kiddos could swim in the cold water, then back to the camp ground for swimming, dinner, and a bon fire :)

Continue reading...

Tribute to my cat Midnight aka Tinker aka Sisser

RIP Sisser 1995-June 20, 2009

I received Midnight as a gift from a co-worker from the county building. She was a barn kitten with an attitude. She has brought me so much love, joy, and companionship throughout her 14 years with me. She held many secrets from me and friends throughout the years (if she would go by my friends I should say). She might not have been the friendliest cat to most people but she loved me and was my baby!

I am so saddened about the death of my cat. I just feel so lonely without her even though I have Sassy Frassy and Scooby Doo with me! My mom said that Sassy Frassy came into my life for a reason and this must have been it.

Sassy and Sisser would play in the house even though Sisser was a lot bigger than him until Sisser got sick. I am not sure what happened but my mom thinks she might have had a stroke. I was hand feeding her and taking care of her until she gave up on that and would be mad at me for feeding her. She would try to eat or drink but she would get sick and she lost 1/2 of her body weight. I talked to Sisser June 18, 2009, and took her collar off and told her that if she is ready to pass then she can and that I loved her and I kissed her and loved her up! I just didn't expect her to be gone when I came home on June 20, 2009...and I was devastated and had to call my mom to have her come over to help me with her!

Scooby Doo loved Sisser even though Sisser didn't really like him cleaning her ears. They both would lay with me and even lay by each other.

Sisser's favorite things to do: sit on the back of the couch looking out the window, her head scratched, hiding from people except for mommy, sneaking out of the house to eat some grass, eating her canned food, taking naps and being by mommy.

Survived by: Mommy, Scooby Doo, and Sassy Frassy

Burial: July 21, 2009 and flowers planted in her honor

Mommy loves you Sisser and I am so sorry that you are no longer here--RIP my little baby!!

From Cats waiting for Spring!

March 2009

Continue reading...

Tribute to my Uncle Harry

My Uncle Harry passed away on June 1, 2009. Uncle Harry was my mom's baby brother! Throat Cancer would be the culprit to cut his 50 years on this earth short :( He was diagnosed about 8 months ago and given up to a couple of years to live. My mom and grandma spent many hours over the 8 months with my uncle driving him back and forth to chemo and doctor appointments. He is no longer suffering and is at peace ... Jesus by his side and the rest of the family who we have lost in the past! Rest in Peace Uncle Harry! I love you!!!

POEM OF LIFE

Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road,
to sweet eternity.
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
but never meant to stay...

Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know.
For some the journey's quicker,
For some the journey's slow.
And when the journey finally ends,
We'll claim a great reward,
And find an everlasting peace,
Together with the lord

- Author Unknown

Harry O. Weaver III, of Hesperia, passed away Monday, June 1, 2009 in Muskegon. He was born Nov. 8, 1958 in Shelby to Harry O. Weaver, Jr. and Rosalie (Skinner). Harry was a graduate of Shelby High School and was employed at Weaver Brothers Saw Mill with his father and his brother. He also worked later at Gray and Company in Hart.
He married Cindy Gil June 9, 1979. Harry enjoyed camping, fishing and hunting. He is survived by his wife, Cindy; his children, Harry Ottes Weaver IV, of Farmington Hills, and Rebecca Weaver, of Hesperia; his mother, Rosalie Rock, of Fremont; granddaughter, Elayna Weaver, of Farmington Hills; brother, Larry (Lora) Weaver of Hesperia; sisters, Val (Ray) Conklin, of Bitely, Joyce Cyphers, of Grant, Lorann (Bob) Jahr, of Fremont, Carol Thomas, of Florida, and Cindy (Darwin) Wahr, of Freesoil; brother-in-law, Peter Gil, of Newaygo; sister-in-law, Vicky (Steve) Hitchcock, of Shelby; aunt and uncles; several nieces and nephews; special friends, Roger Fessenden, of Rothbury, and Dave DeHaan, of St. Clair Shores; and Harry’s dog, Buck.
He was preceded in death by his father, Harry O. Weaver, Jr., and stepmother, Opal Weaver; brother, Ralph Weaver; grandparents, Otto and Lauretta Skinner, Edith Croff Skinner, and Harry and Nora Weaver; and stepbrother, Bobby Thompson.
Funeral service for Harry was Wednesday, June 3, 3 p.m. at Harris Funeral Home in Shelby with Pastor Richard Morrison officiating. Visitation was one hour before the funeral service. Interment: Ferry Township Cemetery. Memorials to Hackley VNS Hospice or Ferry United Methodist Church are appreciated. You may leave a message of condolence for the family at www.harrisfhome.com.

Uncle Harry is the one with the blue hat on...this is Christmas 2008 with Grandma Rosalie and all her kids.

Uncle Harry & Aunt Cindy...Christmas 2008 at Grandma Rosalie's.

Continue reading...

SS Badger Mini Cruise, May 22, 2009

My college friend Cindy and I decided that we wanted to "sail into summer" on opening day of the SS Badger. Tickets were only $35 for a round trip "mini cruise" for the day!

Much to our surprise, Ludington has a parade to send people off on the first voyage of the season. People also line up along the channel waving good bye and the fire station has water flowing too :)

We went from Ludington, MI to Manitowoc, WI, which is 60 miles by Lake Michigan or approx 4 hours. We had to be there at 8am to start loading. We started leaving Ludington approx. 9:10 am and it was sprinkling out with the sun soon to come :) Got to Manitowoc about 1:20pm and had about 1-1/2 hours to walk around downtown.

Upon our walk downtown, we found many things to take pictures of and even found an antique shop where Cindy was in heaven and then I ended up finding a vintage shop where I found a hat that suits me perfectly :)

Departed Manitowoc, WI, approx 3:20pm and Cin and I had the perfect seats sitting in the sun on the way back (of course we got sun burns).

SS Badger docked back in Ludington, MI, approx 7:15pm. From there, we departed our separate ways and went to our homes.

What an awesome day with a great friend!

Continue reading...

Cindy's White Bread Recipe for Bread Maker

I love Cindy's homemade rolls and asked her for her recipe so I could make white bread in the bread maker. It turned out great and the bread is awesome even better as toast! Great Recipe!

Cindy’s White Bread Recipe
For Bread Maker

2 Tablespoon Shortening or butter or margarine (I used margarine)
1 ¼ Cup Warm Water
3 Cup Flour
2 Tablespoon Sugar
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 ¼ Teaspoon Yeast

In a liquid measuring cup, add shortening. Fill water to the level stated above. Add to bread pan. Then put ingredients in the order above in the bread pan. Select cycle. Start. Cindy's takes 3 hours, 40 minutes. Mine takes 2 hours, 20 minutes :)

This is for a 1# loaf.............

From bread

From bread

Continue reading...

Chocolate Cake in the Bread Maker

Another attempt at cooking with chocolate :) It tastes pretty good but I should have left it in there for about another 15-30 minutes. There's always a next time on this recipe!!

Chocolate Cake

1 1/4 c. milk (2% or whole)
1 stick of butter, melted
2 large eggs

Add all of these ingredients into the bread pan as listed, making sure that the melted butter, if hot, does not touch the raw eggs as it could scramble them.

1 tsp. vanilla
1 TBS baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c. cocoa powder

(the cocoa powder is an additional ingredient that has been added. At this time, you could also add a 2 TBS of raisins and omit the cocoa, or an additional 2 TBS chocolate chips. I have made it with blueberries, dried cranbrries, changed up the vanilla for banana extract and put bits of banana...the possibilites are ENDLESS)

1 c. white sugar
2 c. all purpose flour

Place the pan into the bread machine & set it on Batter Bread. I set mine on the one pound loaf normal setting for 2 hours 20 minutes but I am going to bake it an extra 15-30 minutes next time.

Press start & close the lid.

The machine does all the work for you. It mixes the batter and then bakes it too.

Remove the pan from the machine and place on a cooling rack for apx. 10 minutes.
Then, turn upside down and the cake should "pop" right out.

Allow the cake to cool completely, or serve warm.
The kids like it served with a dollup of fresh whipped cream or powdered sugar.

*(it can be cooked in a loaf pan in the oven too, on 350 for 20 minutes. Then , if it isn't cooked through, just add additional 5 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean)

From Drop Box

Recipe from another blogger (Debi)

Continue reading...

Chocolate Bread & Chocolate Butter

So, I have been trying to be a little more domestic lately. I found a recipe for "Chocolate Bread". After 20 hours of preparing and rising of the bread, it was ready to bake. It looked awesome! But, once I tried it...it just was not good at all!!

From Drop Box

So, onto my next loaf of "Chocolate Bread" ... this time in the bread maker. This one turned out great and was very sweet. Also, made some Chocolate Butter to go with it. Gave this loaf of bread and chocolate butter to my mom!!

Chocolate Bread with Chocolate Butter

1 cup warm milk
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
3 cups white bread flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

1. Place ingredients in the bread machine pan in the order suggested by the manufacturer.
2. Select Basic or Sweet bread cycle and start machine.

Makes one (2 pound) loaf.

Chocolate Butter

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled

1. Cream butter with electric mixer, beat in cooled chocolate until well mixed. Spoon into serving container with lid and chill until firm.
2. Serve with warm Chocolate Bread or other breads such as brioche or croissants.

Makes 3/4 cup.

From Drop Box

Continue reading...

Sassy Frassy in the tree, 4-28-09

Sassy Frassy likes to go outside but sometimes he doesn't want to come back in! He got outside and decided to run up the tree like a Koala Bear!

When he decides he wants back in, he will scratch on the front door...lol :)

Continue reading...