Frozen Delight!

WATER MELON GRANITA

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup sugar
* 3 tbsp water
* 1/4 tsp salt
* 8 cups coarsely chopped seedless watermelon
* 2 tsp finely grated lime or lemon peel (optional

Tasted this wonderful concoction a couple of weeks ago at Bible Study. Looking for something fairly easy,yet incredibly refreshing? (and I fear, incredibly addictive) Give this ice, cool and pretty desert a try tonight!

(makes approx 5 cups)

1. Combine sugar, water and salt in a small saucepan and set over medium heat. Stir frequently until mixture starts to bubble and sugar is dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
2. Place half the watermelon cubes in a blender or food processor. Whirl until no chunks remain. Pour into a 9x13-inch (3-L) baking dish. Pour sugar mixture into food processor and add remaining watermelon. Whirl until no chunks remain. Pour into baking dish. Add peel. Stir to evenly mix. Cover pan with plastic wrap.
3. Freeze until ice crystals form at edges in pan, about 40 minutes. Using a fork, scrape and stir to evenly distribute ice crystals. Repeat every 40 minutes until frozen, about 2 1/2 to 3 more hours. Using a fork or spoon, scrape granita down length of pan, forming icy flakes. Spoon into bowls and serve. Granita will keep well, covered and frozen, up to 5 days.

My friend, Judy, who served this delicious stuff served it over vanilla ice cream. Everyone there was just crazy about it. I'm here to tell you---its FAB all by itself too!

HAPPY MONDAY!
REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS AGAIN I SAY REJOICE!

YUMMMM!

First let me say... I scored as a momma!!!

My kids like to cook and so do their husbands. YES YES YES
I cook but can't say i love to cook...after all time could be better spent at my sewing machine!

BUT...i do love to eat!!

Holly & Paul fixed this tasty grilled pizza for us this weekend. Hope you enjoy the recipe. They tweaked the recipe here and there and added lots of freshness from their garden. It was delicious!!!


Ingredients

* 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
* 1 cup warm water
* 1 pinch white sugar
* 2 teaspoons kosher salt
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
* 1/2 cup olive oil
* 1 teaspoon minced garlic
* 1/4 cup tomato sauce
* 1 cup chopped tomatoes
* 1/4 cup sliced black olives
* 1/4 cup roasted red peppers
* 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
* 4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Directions

1. In a bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water, and mix in sugar. Proof for ten minutes, or until frothy. Mix in the salt, olive oil, and flour until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth, about 8 minutes. Place dough in a well oiled bowl, and cover with a damp cloth. Set aside to rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch down, and knead in garlic and basil. Set aside to rise for 1 more hour, or until doubled again.
2. Preheat grill for high heat. Heat olive oil with garlic for 30 seconds in the microwave. Set aside. Punch down dough, and divide in half. Form each half into an oblong shape 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick.
3. Brush grill grate with garlic flavored olive oil. Carefully place one piece of dough on hot grill. The dough will begin to puff almost immediately. When the bottom crust has lightly browned, turn the dough over using two spatulas. Working quickly, brush oil over crust, and then brush with 2 tablespoons tomato sauce. Arrange 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes, 1/8 cup sliced black olives, and 1/8 cup roasted red peppers over crust. Sprinkle with 1 cup cheese and 2 tablespoons basil. Close the lid, and cook until the cheese melts. Remove from grill, and set aside to cool for a few minutes while you prepare the second pizza.

SHELIA VERSION...buy premade crust in a bag. (Get whole wheat if your feeling really healthy) A little sauce...a little fresh basil,tomato,mushroom,onion...yum...

NOW IM Hungry...gonna go find a lunch date! Have a wonderful and delicious day :)

Shelia

Purse & keepin it clean

A new project ready to go in the mail today! This purse was designed for a swapping partner in Pennsylvania. According to her bio she likes all things vintage. I scoured the local antique store and came up with a really pretty pillow case. Used her favorite colors in the purse main fabric and viola! What do you think?

To add to yesterday cleaning supplies...here is recipes for the laundry! The second recipe is for HE washers. I've used both and like both!

Ingredients
1 bar bath soap, grated (your favorite brand, fels naptha is great)
1 cup arm & hammer super washing soda laundry detergent (a laundry booster)
1/2 cup borax
hot water
Directions
Place grated soap in a pot.
Cover with water and simmer over medium heat until all soap is melted, stirring occasionally.
Pour into 5 gallon bucket.
Add washing soda and borax.
Add enough hot water to fill the bucket.
Stir (I use a long measuring stick, but any long stick will work).
Let sit overnight to gel.
Use 1 cup per load.
(You can pour this into old detergent containers or leave in the bucket. (make sure its covered to keep out the critters and little ones. (same difference i guess :)

For HE machines (this recipe from UNLESS THE LORD)
1 bar Fels Naptha Soap, grated
1 c. Borax
1c. Super Washing Soda (not Baking Soda)
1/2 c oxy-clean

Mix all together, and use 2 tablespoons per load

Tracey @ UNLESS THE LORD also suggest mixing half and half, liquid softener and vinegar if your having trouble with static cling. I haven't had any trouble using just straight vinegar. And NO your laundry does NOT smell like vinegar :)
Have a great day!

Time for Spring Cleaning

Or maybe time just to write about it!
I guess when you like to create things...you like creating ALL kinds of things. On the Dugger show (you know the family with 18+ kids) they were making clothes detergent and that sparked my interest. So i zoomed around blog land and have compiled and tweaked some recipes for those of you who like to clean with healthy, cheaper cleansers or those of you who just like to make things (that would be me).

A great blog to check out to clean your home and for encouragement in things of the heart is http://tkcdeanna.blogspot.com/. The following couple of recipes are from her blog.

All Purpose Cleaner

2T.white vinegar (only distilled white vinegar)
1 t Borax
Hot water
a few drops of a mild dish detergent
5 drops of essential oil, optional
In a 16 spray bottle put vinegar, borax and hot water. Swish around until borax has dissolved. Add the drops of dish detergent and fill the rest of the bottle with water. Add the essential oil (I like using orange or lavender).

Homemade Window Cleaner
½ t mild dish detergent
3T. white vinegar
2 cups water
Put all these ingredients into a spray bottle. Shake this up some and use it just like the commercial variety. Wash the windows when the sun is not shining on them and they will not streak.

I love using distilled white vinegar for cleaning and there are so many ways it can be used . See the link below. A little bit of essential oils will cut the vinegar smell but I don't use the oils when cleaning windows.http://www.vinegartips.com/cleaning/

Soft Scrub Cleanser
For homemade soft scrub cleanser, mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with enough liquid detergent to make a cleansing liquid. You can apply the cleanser and scrub with a sponge to clean. This works very well in sinks or the bathtubs. Simply rinse it off when you are done cleaning and it washes off easily and will not leave any grit behind.

Also-try tipnut. Lots of good recipes
http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/

As for the dishwasher:
1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Borax

Mix thoroughly and store in a plastic container, use approximately 2 TBS per load.
Use vinegar in the rinse compartment as a rinse agent to help prevent residue
Try adding 2-3 drops essential oil

Things i've learned along the way:

Buy vinegar in the LARGEST container possible. It seems to be great for everything.
In fact my daughter who had suffered from acid reflux has been basically cured using vinegar. She is not using distilled vinegar but organic apple vinegar. Really worth a try..a takes a teaspoon every morning and pain GONE!(orginally i got this idea from the book THE MAKERS DIET by Jordan Rubin.

All this talk about cleaning...well its kind of inspiring. You know...throw open the windows, get the clean rags and get going. On the other hand...kind of makes me feel like i already did my share --writing all this :) Just kidding. On to cleaning! I love the way the house smells when your finished. And since I'm making my own cleansers...everything is going to be smelling like LAVENDER. Its lavender love!!!!!

Recipe Box Swap

Over at http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/, Randi is having a great recipe swap. Here is mine to add to the box! Easy as can be, delicious and good for you..

Bean Soup
Equal amount of salsa,corn (Traders Joe's brand rocks)& blackbeans (right out of the can)
Heat together! ((exhaused from ALL this cooking?)
Garnish with a dab of sour cream, maybe a little cheddar cheese and a sprig of cilantro. Company ready!

Check out ALL the other great recipes @ I HAVE TO SAY...(link under my blog list)
Have a great weekend friends!
blessings...shelia

Cassidy Harper at Harper's Ferry

YES!!!
This is where i would like to be today. In fact i MIGHT even want to be biking. Days like this just make me want to get out there...get active...feel the wind on my face...muscles flexing...oh my goodness.........I'm tired already! :0

I want to share with you the QUEEN's popcorn recipe.
If you eat enough of this you don't need to work out. Weight melts off, you look MUCH younger and you begin to look like my twin, Angelina Jolie! Yes I've found the secret...and I'm sticking with it.

Queens Popcorn
• Cook organic popcorn in iron skillet with canola oil, I often use coconut oil
• Add nutritional yeast and Spike! Easy & fabulous!

Have a wonderful weekend.
All my baby chicks are going to be home in the nest! I am blessed.

p.s. Fabulous new art work by Karin Scott. She is so talented.
Thanks Karin!