Pimiento Cheese Spread

I'm a big fan of homemade cheese spread - as a child my mom would make her own version with grated cheddar, mayo, and bacon instead of pimiento.  While that was very delicious, I wanted to make the southern version of pimiento cheese.  So, recently I made it for dinner using a recipe from Martha Stewart and making slight changes.

It was creamy and sweet and cheesy and so good on ciabatta rolls!  An easy dinner and everyone loved it.

Pimiento Cheese Spread
1 1/2 c. grated sharp cheddar
1 1/2 c. grated monterrey jack
1/2 real mayo
1 tiny jar of pimientos, undrained
freshly grated black pepper, salt
Mix all together and chill.  Serve on bread, rolls, toast, celery sticks...

There's nothing like fresh grated cheese.  I used to buy the big bags of pre-shredded cheese, but what I found was that we ended up eating too much cheese and it didn't melt or taste quite the same - fresh is best.  Still, I made this a couple of hours in advance of dinner, and the next day it was even better!

Gina

Shared with

Cozy Little House 
and
Yesterfood

Giftie pots for Mother's Day

I wanted to make a sweet little something for my co-workers for Mother's Day. It was time to get creative!

I did some last minute scouting around while out doing my Friday errands.  I bought bright pottery pots, M&M's, cute magnet list pads and scented markers,  and some herb pods to plant.  I also printed an M&M themed label from here.  

Do you ever use those magnetized lists?  I make lists all the time.  Seriously.  I am a big fan of my notebook planner, but sticky notes with lists follow me everywhere!

 I tucked the goodies in the ceramic pot with some tissue and tied with gardener's twine.

Happy Mother's Day!

 

Gina

5 thing Friday - room prep, the view, scalped, lunch out, carpooling fun

Today the plan is to clear out the Lounge in advance of The Girl coming to stay until her move to Houston.  The futon, sewing table, and ironing board all have to find a new home.  As does the exercise equipment tucked over by the window.  Plus, I need to make her some space in the closet. 

It will be good to de-crapify in here. 

A recent storm knocked the screen off this window in our master bedroom.  (there it is, laying against the bottom of the window) Now that our backyard tree is well-established, I kind of like the view.  I discovered that I liked it in the kitchen, too, so I simply raised the blinds and left them that way.  We might as well enjoy the pretty trees!

I should have taken a "before" shot of these shrubs.  They were out of control.  It had gotten to where we had a narrower area of front step and I had developed a bad habit of leaning on them as I was learning to navigate the step.  And to think, I counseled my mother about doing the very same thing!

 It will only take a month or so for them to fill in.  For now they look scalped and woody.  But all of the landscaping has been doing great with this rainy spring.  Less than a month after Bubbie and I trimmed and cleaned out the lantana, it is blooming and filling in nicely.

 

 I took Scout and The Girl to Chuy's for lunch on a random weekday.

I wish The Girl would have let me take a pic of her pretty new adult working woman haircut.

The front of Hubby's office,  just because I was sitting there waiting to pick him up from work, then head across town to get Bubbie from driver's ed.   His car was in the shop this week, and we have more work to do on it next week.  Good thing we don't work the same hours.

Gina

5 thing Friday - freezer, veggies, lamp, Easter basket, books

This is a good problem to have, I realize.  But it's silly for our freezer to be this full and still go grocery shopping.

 Instead of buying groceries last week, I made meals from what was in there already and it worked out great!

 I love the fresh pre-cut veggies at Trader Joe's.  And butternut squash is my favorite!  I added a leftover piece of chicken and it was lunch!

I am working on sprucing up my desk area.  Got me a cute vintage-y looking lamp at Target and a shade at Wal-Mart.  Next stop: JoAnn Fabrics for some new fabric for the chair pad and the liner for the basket under the desk.

Another phone pic, this one of the Easter basket my peeps surprised me with for my first day back at work!  It was full of Russell Stover chocolates, bubble bath, and muscle rub. I'm sure they are all relieved that The Great Knee Incident of 2014 is over.

Books from the library.  Considering that the last time I went to the library I had a cane and a kid to lean on, this was another mini victory.  And reading?  You can't beat a good book and your feet up with a cup of tea at the end of the day.  It's been my favorite stress reliever so far.

Gina

Me versus the shredder

I didn't start out trying to make an unholy mess on my newly mopped floors.  I was only trying to catch up on shredding documents.  I've had a basket of them sitting in the garage for five months.  

Exhibit A:  The shredder that says it will take up to 12 sheets of paper, but it will not.  It's our second shredder - we tend to kill appliances.  Shredders are a good thing to have, but going paperless would be an even better thing.  We still have documents and old bills that will need shredding in the future.  

 Exhibit B:  The mess created from me taking the darn thing apart and unplugging the paper jam.  Yes, I used a skinny wooden ruler to assist.  Yes, I broke the ruler.  And  plastic fork.  Ditto a plastic knife.

Two more clean-outs and two and half bags later, I had gotten a chunk of paper so wedged in there it wouldn't budge and I knew I was finished shredding indefinitely.  I got the bulk of it done, so after thirty minutes of troubleshooting, I officially gave up.  Rather than give Hubby yet another thing to fix I think I will set this out on the next Big Trash Day.  Executive decision: go quietly to Wal-mart and purchase a new one.

Gina

5 thing Friday - yardwork, E Bunny, changing habits, Spring, these people

Just a few short weeks ago, this is what it looked like in my yard.  I know it isn't the greatest pic but, there is dead and scraggly looking lantana, leaves choking up the grass, weeds and baby trees sprouted in the Wandering Jew bed.  I was itching to get out there and get it whipped into shape.

 

 Fast forward to the last weekend of March and after four hours of yard work, three of us called it quits.  But we managed to rake and scoop 13 bags of leaves and yard waste:

 

 I still have a bunch to do, but it was a great start.

Hubby mowed the rest in.  Just in time, too, cause the next day all of the oaks in the neighborhood went berserk and everything is covered in pollen and those crackly things,  Yuck.  No more leaving the windows open either, cause that pollen settles on everything inside, too.

 Easter sussies for my peeps.

Last slammer meal for a while.  {Oh, how I love them}  I read that losing 1 pound is like losing four pounds of pressure off your knee.  Since the doc and PT advised I keep moving and lose some weight, I set up a basket for my lunch items, similar to what Hubby does. 

He keeps packets of tuna or salmon, canned sardines and oysters, protein drinks, peanut butter, almonds, granola bars, etc.  I will keep these baskets stocked with pantry items we can grab to boost lunches at work.  No more eating in the cafeteria or ordering out.  It's too expensive, too much food, and takes away from time you can sit with feet up at lunchtime.  

Scout has been taking lovely photos lately.  It doesn't hurt that it's spring and there's so much to photograph.  Have I mentioned before I am happy winter is over?  Also, did you know that ladybugs bite?  Seriously.  My mother told me that, but not until very recently.  I don't think I've every had that happen to me and I caught dozens of them as a child.

I ordered a magnet for my locker at work of this happy couple.  

Right before all heck broke loose last Fall.  We need to get busy planning what to do for our 30th.

Gina

Spring thrifting 2015

I stopped by my favorite thrift shop after my frustrating run in with Occ Health last week.  I needed a couple books to read and Bubbie and I were a few days away from our library jaunt.  It was fun to walk around (and good exercise) and I found a few things I can actually use.  No bringing home things I don't have a purpose for - that's my new motto.

 I spent a whopping $11.  Two books for a buck each.  I found them on Amazon here and here.  I think I did pretty good, considering. No shipping to pay! The book selection at this thrift store is pretty paltry, but I was happy to score these. 

 I also found a Rubbermaid butter saver (retail $10) for 1.50.  I never buy anything but real butter so this will keep an open stick from tasting like the fridge. This Fiskars mat is in mint condition (retail $20) for $2.25.  I love my rotary cutter, so this will be put to good use.

 

Lastly, this accent mirror was $5.25.  I have a spot to hang it, but I'm thinking I might spray paint it.  Tomorrow I start back at work.  Which doesn't mean I won't have time during the week anymore to thrift shop, in fact, it may be just what the doctor ordered.  What about you?  Done any thrifting lately, or are you mainly trying to purge for Spring cleaning?

Gina