Catching up on a Monday :)

Good Monday morning friends! I hope this new week finds you well.   We had a nice weekend here in New England.  Saturday was rainy which we desperately needed and Sunday the sun came out! Spring is always a mixed bag around here.  You never know what can happen.  One thing always remains....

...and that's coffee ♥

Last week seemed to have gotten away from me.  It was a week, let me tell you!

  Within just a few days my coffee pot died, my beloved George Foreman Grill that I've had for 21 years finally gave out, and I dropped the cover to my favorite frying pan and cracked the handle.  I felt like I was walking around with black cloud over me for most of the week.  Luckily I still had a stash of Easter candy that helped me get through it! That candy is now gone! LOL  

I replaced my coffee pot ASAP and yesterday I picked up a new grill, so I'm feeling better.  I use my grill at least once a week and I didn't want to be without one. I think I can repair the frying pan handle which it on my to do list for the week.  

Hopefully things are looking up now!

Can't wait to christen this baby tonight!! :)  

All of my mom tulips out front are about to burst open and that makes me very happy to see.  The buckets of rain we've had has turned everything outside from brown to green and I hear birds chirping every morning which takes me back to my old house. We had a family of birds that would build a nest on our deck every spring.  I loved to watch them and hear them sing.  I have been wondering if they are still there and if the new owner has noticed.  The things I think about...I know, I'm crazy!  : )  

But I digress...

Yesterday morning I watched a darling movie on Hallmark.  For all my Hallmark lovers out there, have you seen this one yet?

It takes place in Ireland and totally sucked me in with it's beautiful LUSH scenery and charming Irish brogues.  I loved it!!!  Yup, that's Alan Leach from Downton Abbey, who is just as adorable in this as he is in Downton.  This movie made my morning. I think it's on again this weekend so if you want to escape reality for a few hours, give it a watch ♥

In other news, I made quiche! I wanted jazz up our Friday night breakfast dinners so I made quiche instead of scrambled eggs.  The best thing about quiche is you can use anything you have on hand for the filling.  For mine I added chopped onion, cubed ham, and cheese.  It was yummy!

This is a crustless quiche recipe that I've made several times and it always comes out great! 

 

Here's how to make it if you want to give it a try:

1/2 cup ham cubes

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

1/3 cup finely chopped onion

2 cups milk

1/2 cup Bisquick

4 eggs

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

Sprinkle ham, cheese, and onion evenly in lightly greased 9" or 10 " pie plate.  Place remaining ingredients in a bowl and beat on high for 1 minute.  Pour into pie plate (over ham, cheese, and onion).

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 - 45 minutes until golden brown and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

Easy peasy! 

I had the last piece for breakfast this morning.  It was just a good.  Leftovers always taste better for some reason : ) 

Also I have to share with you a tip I saw on Instagram. 

If you have hydrangeas that are wilted (and that's so disappointing, isn't it?!)... well, here's what to do:

Snip the bottoms of the stems and put them in scalding hot water.  

Wait about an hour...

 

Viola!   

They spring back to life!!  

Yaaaay! It actually worked! 

I wish I knew this a long time ago, but I'm sure it will come in handy this summer! ♥

And that's all I have for you today friends.  For the rest of the morning I'll be busy working and enjoy my new candle I got a Target.  It's Tangerine Ginger and is so wonderful! 

Wishing you all a happy new week! I hope I have better luck! Fingers crossed! 

Byeeee! xo 

Sunday with Friends : )

Hello!  First off I would like to thank you all so much for all of your lovely comments concerning my last post. My mother and I had a wonderful time on our day trip to Cohasset and the Windsor Tea Room, and I'm so glad that you all enjoyed coming along with us.  It's given me the idea that I must do more day trips.  I've already started a list of towns and destinations around New England that I'll be visiting and photographing.  Little corners of my world filled with antique stores, tea shops, vintage clothing stores, old front porches, white picket fences, sandy Cape Cod beaches, and (my favorite of the bunch) bakeries!  It's going to be a great summer : )

My Hubbie and son are fast asleep in dreamland and I just finished watching Bridget Jones Diary.  Do you all love this movie as much as I do?  This movie is the reason I fell for Colin Firth a little bit, and also the reason why I will never give up my diary.  I'm waiting for that last scene to happen to me.  A new diary and a kiss in the snow.  Love that ending.  Could be one of the best movie endings ever.

I can't sleep now, so I thought I would tell you about a wonderful day we had on Sunday....

This past Sunday we had some friends over for brunch.  There was no special occasion, we were just in the mood to celebrate.  The husband and I are very lucky to have such wonderful friends.  Busy schedules make get togethers more difficult than they used to be, so when we are all lucky enough to have an opening we take advantage of it.  A plus for me is that I love to cook and any reason to do so makes me happy...... and they all love to eat : )   We are perfect for each other. 

Breakfast anyone?

I got this recipe for quiche from my cousin Helen (Helen if you are reading this, thank you! : ) 

Helen's version is ham and cheese. 

Here's how to make it:

1/2 cup ham cubes

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

1/3 cup finely chopped onion

2 cups milk

1/2 cup Bisquick

4 eggs

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

Sprinkle ham, cheese, and onion evenly in lightly greased 9" or 10 " pie plate.  Place remaining ingredients in a bowl and beat on high for 1 minute.  Pour into pie plate (over ham, cheese, and onion).

I varied Helen's recipe a bit and made a spinach and cheese quiche by substituting the ham cubes for 1/2 cup chopped spinach.

I also made a plain cheese by just omitting the meat. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 - 45 minutes until golden brown and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

We also had baked french toast, bacon, sausage, and beans (requested by the Hubbie).  Our friends brought wonderful fruit salad and coffee cakes.  (*my recipe for french toast is on the side bar*)

Getting ready....

Almost done...

I cut forsythia from the yard for our table. Perfect for this time of year.
I cheated and used paper plates.  Looking back at my table I feel bad.  It didn't look as pretty as I would have liked, but the clean up was OH-SO- Easy!

I didn't cheat on these, however.  Coffee has to be served in china cups (tea too : )

Friendly faces : )

The fruit balanced out what came next...dessert!

When my mother found out I was having a party the first thing she did was offer to make something.  She offered one of her famous trifles.  Who am I to say No?!   For this one she soaked Anise Toast in DiSaronno (amaretto) and layered them with chocolate pudding, vanilla pudding, and whip cream.  For a finishing touch she sprinkled Health Bar on the the top.  It was delicious!!!

I also made carrot cake muffins which most of us were too full to eat.  We've been picking on them all week!

For background music we listened to this.  The name sounds very "Lawrence Welk", but I assure you it's not.   This CD was recommended to me by Susan Branch - a story I will tell you on another day.  But let's just say I love this CD.  It's a perfect background for a dinner party.  Also wonderful music to cook by ~

We are so grateful to have special friends to spend our days with.  Thanks so much for coming over and let's do it again soon! xo

So what's on the agenda for this weekend, you ask?  Well, I have Easter decorating to do (I know, I'm late!!) and I promised someone (who's little and cute) a trip to the library/playground so let's hope the weather is nice.  I went food shopping tonight and bought us a big, fat, roast beef, sweet potatoes, and asparagus for Sunday dinner.   I'll make a loaf of crusty bread in my bread machine and something yummy for desert, not sure what yet...still thinking....  I'm also itching to start some type of craft project.  I think a trip to Michael's might be in order. 



By the way, before I go (can you tell I'm not sleepy) I have to tell you about something that I have recently discovered - podcasts.  Did you know that you can download podcasts through ITunes on to your IPod for free?  They are available on almost any subject you can imagine - comedy, travel, literature, arts, TV/Film, etc. 

I could not get through the day without my IPod and now not only do I enjoy great music, but I also pass the time listening to interesting programs.  I have some favorite radio comedies from the BBC that I have been enjoying, and most recently I have discovered Rick Steves.  If you want to be transported far and away download some of his travel podcasts.  Today I took a guided tour through Paris at night and also through some of the most beautiful gardens in England.  You don't need to see it with your eyes.  His descriptions are enough.  (Just thought I would share that : ) 

Have a lovely weekend everyone!  The clock is ticking...off to bed I go....


Danielle xo