four fanciful things pampered chef style

Don't be cornfused!  This IS four fanciful things, I just couldn't settle on four things.  I'm not sure how I settled on five actually!  If you've ever been to a Pampered Chef party you are bound to have some gadgets or cookware or maybe even more.  I have picked five of the things I use in my kitchen quite often.  So the next time you are invited to a PC party and can't decide what to buy, you have my utmost recommendations on these items!

 

 

 I have two of the Measure-All Cups and one little one.  I use the two big ones to measure out Crisco or peanut butter... things like that.

 

I lurve my Easy Opener.  It is magnetic and stays on the side of my fridge to easily open anything from canning jars to Smirnoff Ice :)

 

The Quick-Stir Pitcher we use every day.  I make sweet tea with ease.  We actually own two of these and I will say Please don't ever put the lid on the bottom rack of you dishwasher... it will dis-figure.  It's a top rack only item.

 

My beloved Mix 'N Scrapers.  I own eight of these.  Two large, four regular size and two small ones and believe me, after a Sunday of cooking and baking, they are ALL in the dishwasher at the same time!

 

My Zester I could not do without.  Together we have made Limoncello, Chess Pies, Margaritas,  lemon cakes, and even my version of Lemon Satin Cremes... aaaah. 

 

If you don't know what Pampered Chef is... or have never been to a party, there is probably an Associates or Sellers page on their website to find one in your area.  They cook for you friends and everything, PLUS you get free stuff.  I am going to sit here and talk myself right into a party.

 

The Saddest Post Ever

You know, I usually try and keep this bloggy hobby of mine an upbeat and happy place for you to visit.  But today I would like to share what eight and a half inches of rain over three days has done to our garden.  Brace yourself.  This ain't pretty.  I would seriously like to cry but I have hope inside for the life of some of our plants.  I am so afraid that there won't be any salsa made or green beans canned.  It's like on A Christmas Story when the dogs ran through kitchen and ate the Christmas turkey... "no turkey ala king, no turkey hash!"

 

 

I feel like Kathy Bates in Fried Green Tomatoes... "Look at my Stove Top"

 

Poor eggplant

Rocks appearing everywhere.  Haven't found any arrowheads yet but I'm looking.

 

Cleome apparently loved it.

As well as the zinnias.

Parsley..not so much.

Hang in there rosemary.

 

Ugh... the heat has returned to cook the plants at their roots inside the soggy mud.  So sad.

Sorry if I brought you down.  I swear from now on I will provide more positive affirmations and post-ations.  And.. even though it's sad... I love the eggplant picture... deranged I know.



Checked Out: Martha's Favorite Family Dinners



Ok, not really checked out so much as I bought it at the book sale at the library.  Had I known how much I would come to treasure these videos, I would have checked it out long ago.  It was total book sale fate.  This dvd of my sister Martha's (not really so much in reality... her being my sister and all) is fantastico!  It is full of quick cook meals and side dishes and pasta dinners and chicken and meat and fish dinners.  You will love it. 

 

Funny story, I was making Lemon Chicken Cutlets in a perfect lemon sauce with capers and Shaun came in the kitchen asking if he could help me do anything... aaawww... I turned and said "not really... hold up... pause the tv... now unpause.... pause.... unpause."  This went on pretty much until i was finished and Shaun got to help make supper to boot!

 

I so far have made (bear with me on the names, I left the dvd at home and am blogging during nap time) Lemon Chicken Cutlets, Squash Casserole (with guest, master chef from Belle Meade Plantation) Spicy Flank Steak, Crusty Mustard Chicken.  But each of them require minimal ingredients and you end up with minimal clean up and a dish ready in about 15 minutes.  I love it and tonight... Chicken and Dumplings!

 

Here is the amazon link MARTHA

Nashville Library still has it if you'd like to rent it.

I'd lend you mine but I can't bear to part with it until I've made everything!

 

 

 

Checked Out Rating 10!

 

The Dirty Dirty: Drink Wear Style

Does that even make sense... drink wear style?  It's really just showing where I cleaned out my glasses in hopes to inspire other to declutter where you can.  I really don't even call the "drink wear" I call them glasses, cups and coffee cups.  I gotta try and fancy it up.

 

So I took an hour one Saturday and removed all the "drink wear" from my cabinet.  If you are anything like me, you should have a huge mish-mosh scattered on the counter top.  If not.. lucky you.  I then went through and pulled out all but four mason jars.  When I empty jars of canned food, it just so happens that I am lazy and won't take the time to run one or two jars to the basement.  So they get stuck here and there.  I also removed several glasses that I know neither one of us use, ever, and made a yard sale box.  Did I mention I am saving for my own yard sale next Spring?  Well, I am.

 

I matched up all my state glasses that I love so much and made room for my new striped tumblers and juice glasses.  I made sure to keep what we use the most on the bottom two shelves.  

 

 It's the little bits of organization here and there that make home feel better.

 

Mish-Mosh.

This must have been one of those days where I couldn't take a straight picture to save my life.

Ahh muey bien!

 

I just realized that I mostly use the ones on the bottom.  I don't use ice in my tea so who needs a big glass?  Shaun is taller anyway so it's ok that his glasses are higher, right?