Landscaping Cleanup

It's amazing what some hard work and effort will do in improving the appearance of your foundation.

Yesterday we spent most of the day pulling weeds, trimming bushes, transplanting hostas and removing a thorny bush in preparation of putting in a sidewalk. 

Below is a before photo of the back of the house.

And an after photo all trimmed and weeded. It was a struggle removing the quackgrass from between the plants, but well worth the effort.

The quackgrass had taken over in the front of the porch and my husband got his revenge with a bottle of Roundup a few weeks ago. I pulled as much as I could from the rock (wearing a pair of gloves).

The bush on the left had lots of thorns and was painful getting near it because of them. We decided it needed to go. We had one on each side of the steps but the other had previously died.

So glad to have that bush gone! It's still up for debate whether we stick with the rock or remove it for flowers.

We took the hosta next to the bush and part of one from the other side of the steps and replanted them around the two hydrangeas we planted last spring.

The bushes were trimmed way back. Our next step is to add a sidewalk. You may already notice the old partial sidewalk removed as we began prepping for the new one.

Lots of hard work done. Lots to come. Stay tuned.

Disclosure: The Excalibur Dehydrator link under "Other Sites" is an affiliated link. If you make a purchase using this link ~ you will receive free shipping, along with other specials. I also earn a small percentage to help support my blog. Thank you, your support is appreciated!!

Zucchini Brownies

These brownies are from my spiralized zucchini. Because these brownies are made with zucchini, they will get moister after sitting a day. Recipe to follow.

Zucchini Brownies

2 eggs
2 to 2-1/2 cups spiralized zucchini
1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon
1 t. baking soda
1/4 cup cacao
2 cups flour
1 cup miniature chocolate chips

Blend the eggs, zucchini and butter in a blender. Pour mixture into a standing mixer bowl. Beat on medium speed and add the remaining ingredients as it continues to mix. Pour into 9"x13" greased and floured cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Frosting is optional.

I tried the following frosting recipe with my own variation from I Am Baker. I loved it! It was easy to make, didn't feel like it was overly sweet and definitely deelish!! The best part was that it didn't contain 3-1/2 cups of confectioner's sugar like so many of the other recipes I viewed. And, the husband approved. :)

Brownie Frosting

4 T. soft butter
3 T. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 T. 1% milk
1 T. honey
1 t. vanilla
1 cup confectioner's sugar

In a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, combine butter, sugar, cocoa, vanilla and sugar. Add milk one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is achieved. (You may need one to two tablespoons more of the milk.) Spread over brownies. Cut and enjoy!!

Disclosure: The Excalibur Dehydrator link under "Other Sites" is an affiliated link. If you make a purchase using this link ~ you will receive free shipping, along with other specials. I also earn a small percentage to help support my blog. Thank you, your support is appreciated!!

Spiralizing Zucchini

Today was a cooler day for August and I had several zucchini waiting to be used. I decided to bake some goodies using some zucchini and freeze the rest for later use.

First I brought out my spiralizer. I've only used it once before and it was so easy to prep my zucchini with it last time, so it was used again.

I had previously debated on getting a spiralizer. I didn't want another food prepping item sitting around not being used and questioned if it was just another fad item to buy.

One day while out shopping, I was up to $85.00 for items I either wanted or needed and had a coupon for getting $50.00 off by spending $100.00. Spending another $15.00 would mean less total money spent. Sounds crazy doesn't it?

I am usually annoyed with these type of coupons because I have the hardest time finding that last item to buy when I'm not looking for it in the first place. However, spending $50.00 instead of $85.00 for items I did want or need was a no-brainer.

So I went on the search for something I would actually want or use for around $15.00. I came upon the spiralizer for $20.00. I figured I would either use it or gift it, and added it to my other items to purchase.

The spiralizer box sat in my basement for about six months before I finally decided to bring it up and try it out. I am so very glad I did!!

The spiralizer was so easy to use. I just put the blade in, put the zucchini in front of the blade and turned the handle using a bit of pressure to move it forward. It goes super fast and the zucchini turns into the longest strands of spaghetti noodles you've ever seen!!

I then measured and bagged the noodles into two cups each and stored in the freezer for later.

I plan to use them in soup, cupcake, brownie and bread recipes.

Stay tuned for a great zucchini brownie recipe to come!!

Disclosure: The Excalibur Dehydrator link under "Other Sites" is an affiliated link. If you make a purchase using this link ~ you will receive free shipping, along with other specials. I also earn a small percentage to help support my blog. Thank you, your support is appreciated!!

My New Macro Lens

Close-Up of Vinny, our Morkie (Maltese/Yorkshire).

Recently, after extensive research and much consideration, I acquired a new macro lens. Because I wanted to keep the cost down and also achieve great close-up photos, I decided on the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens. I couldn't be happier with the decision. I wouldn't say the cost was cheap, as no Canon lens is; however, it was the best for my money and also for my needs at this time. The above photo is one of the first photos taken with this lens. Wouldn't you agree that this lens takes great close up photos?

Disclosure: The Excalibur Dehydrator link under "Other Sites" is an affiliated link. If you make a purchase using this link ~ you will receive free shipping, along with other specials. I also earn a small percentage to help support my blog. Thank you, your support is appreciated!!

Pecan Fat Bombs

I really like the Double Chocolate Brownie Larabar Bites and how they are made from only a few simple ingredients with no preservatives. Did you get that? No preservatives!!

A drawback ~ the high cost. Almost $5.00 for a 5.3 oz. bag.

Trying to replicate them, I found I didn't have any almonds on hand. I had walnuts and pecans. I decided to try making them with pecans only I wanted to add coconut oil as sometimes the Larabar Bites tend to be a little too dry. (Plus, I just love anything with coconut oil in it!)

My results were definitely not dry! In fact, they were quite moist. So moist that I ended up adding more pecans as I was processing them, hoping they would hold together better.

I formed them into bite-sized balls and coated them in coconut flour.

I put them in a covered container and refrigerated them.

They have a pronounced nutty pecan flavor. I will enjoy these.

Pecan Fat Bombs

1-1/2 c. pecans

3 dates, soaked in water and drained

2 T. raisins

2 T. coconut oil

1/2 T. cacao

Process in food processor until well blended. Form into bite-sized balls and coat with coconut flour. Store in refrigerator.

The great thing about these are that you can change them up a bit with each batch you make. Try using less coconut oil, or completely eliminate the raisins. Your tastes, your choice!

Disclosure: The Excalibur Dehydrator link under "Other Sites" is an affiliated link. If you make a purchase using this link ~ you will receive free shipping, along with other specials. I also earn a small percentage to help support my blog. Thank you, your support is appreciated!!

Buffalo Chicken Ranch Salad To Go

I love the taste of buffalo chicken ranch and also breaded chicken in salads, so I thought, "Why not combine the two?"

With Hidden Valley Ranch's Buffalo dressing, it was easy to do just that!

I've been wanting to do the "salads to go in a jar thing" for a long time and decided now was as good a time as any. So I pulled out a bunch of jars and lids to do just that!

I had a half head of lettuce in the refrigerator that I tore up into bite sized pieces.

I had baked some breaded chicken the day before to use in the salads and cut them into bite sized pieces. I also pulled out the crumbled blue cheese.

I squirted about a tablespoon of the Buffalo Ranch into the bottom of the jars and added a few pieces of the chicken and blue cheese.

Topped them off with the lettuce and screwed the covers on. Voila!

I did this until I used up all the ingredients. Now I have my lunch ready for several days.

Love, love, love this idea!!

Disclosure: The Excalibur Dehydrator link under "Other Sites" is an affiliated link. If you make a purchase using this link ~ you will receive free shipping, along with other specials. I also earn a small percentage to help support my blog. Thank you, your support is appreciated!!

Best. Apple. Crisp. Ever!!

Best. Apple. Crisp. Ever!!

6-8 apples, peeled, cored and sliced

1/3 c. sugar

1 t. cinnamon

2 T. flour

Mix and sprinkle over apples

Sprinkle with 1 T. lemon juice

In a bowl, add:

1 c. flour

1 c. quick oats

1 c. brown sugar

2 t. cinnamon

Mix together and add:

1-1/4 sticks butter, microwaved for 20 seconds

Slice apples and place in bottom of a 9"x13" pan. Mix remaining ingredients altogether, spread over apples, and bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes.

Comments from the fam:

R: Fantastic! Flavors all blend together. I just can't get enough!

K: Really good! How'd you tweak it?

Disclosure: The Excalibur Dehydrator link under "Other Sites" is an affiliated link. If you make a purchase using this link ~ you will receive free shipping, along with other specials. I also earn a small percentage to help support my blog. Thank you, your support is appreciated!!

Pizza Sauce Soup!!

Ever have a failed success? Well, that's what I experienced with this recipe.

I was attempting to make pizza sauce with my garden produce of tomatoes, pepper and onion; however, it didn't thicken to my liking.

I blended all the ingredients together, and then I cooked it to try and thicken it, which didn't seem to happen as much as I wanted it to.

After a while I gave up and took a small bowl up to Keisha to ask her opinion on the taste.

She tasted it, tasted it again and refused to give it back! Peter also tried it and had two bowls for his supper.

I also loved it and decided to use it as soup instead of pizza sauce. Hence, the failed success!

Pizza Sauce Soup!!

12 tomatoes

2 onion

2 whole pepper

3-1/2 T. garlic

2 T. oregano

2 T. basil

2 T. fennel seeds

1 t. sage

1 t. ground black pepper

1 t. parsley

3/4 t. salt

2 t. cornstarch

Puree tomatoes, onion and pepper in blender, adding spices. Pour into large pot and heat in medium until starts to thicken. Serve warm.

Disclosure: The Excalibur Dehydrator link under "Other Sites" is an affiliated link. If you make a purchase using this link ~ you will receive free shipping, along with other specials. I also earn a small percentage to help support my blog. Thank you, your support is appreciated!!