NancyCreative

May 22, 2012

I Think I Saw a Baby Eagle

Imagine my surprise when I went for a walk in a quiet wooded area recently and saw this sweet little creature! It looked like a baby bird, but it was so big…probably at least a foot tall. I took some pictures with my i-Phone…

I thought it might be either a baby hawk or an eagle–I’ve seen eagles flying in the area before–and those feet really looked like eagle feet to me. The baby didn’t look or seem injured in any way. I didn’t know if it had fallen from a nest or why it was there. Hopefully the mama was close by. The closest I got to the baby bird was about five feet. Later on, I googled “baby eagle photos” and found a variety of different–looking baby eagles…some had yellow beaks, but some had beaks like this one…and the same coloring.

The baby bird wasn’t there when I checked back. Hopefully the baby is with mama bird.

So what do you think–could this be a baby eagle? Do any of you know anything about eagles?

8 Comments

Filed under Nature, Original Photography, Slice of Life

Tagged as Baby Eagle, Beak, Bird, Eagle

May 18, 2012

Honey-Sweetened Cucumber Salad

If you are growing cucumbers in your garden this summer, this is a great side dish to use them in! I found a recipe at Our Best Bites that I modified a little…I used honey instead of sugar as a sweetener, used a little less salt, and used white wine vinegar instead of rice vinegar. I thought using honey in this cucumber salad worked out great! I’m trying to use honey instead of granulated sugar when I can because it’s healthier, and this seemed like a great recipe to try it in.

The honey gives this salad a yummy sweetness, and there’s a little zing and spice from some diced red onion and red pepper flakes. Sweet and spicy…I love that combination in this salad! If you don’t want much spiciness, add a little less of the red pepper flakes and it should be just fine! This recipe makes about 4-6 servings, depending on how big your servings are. If you’re making this for a larger group, you’ll probably want to double the recipe.

HONEY-SWEETENED CUCUMBER SALAD (adapted from Our Best Bites)

Makes 4 to 6 servings

1 1/2 pounds cucumbers (about 3 medium), peeled, halved lengthwise, and thinly sliced
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup white wine vinegar (or substitute rice vinegar)
1/2 cup water
3 Tablespoons honey (or substitute same amount of granulated sugar)
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 Tablespoons finely diced red onion

Place cucumber slices in a colander sitting over a bowl. Sprinkle with salt and toss well. Let cucumber slices sit in your refrigerator for 1 hour, tossing them several times as they are draining.

Prepare marinade while cucumber slices are draining in the refrigerator: Combine vinegar, water, honey, and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until liquid is reduced to about 1/3 cup (if you end up with less than 1/3 cup, add some water to bring the mixture to 1/3 cup). Remove mixture from heat and mix in the diced red onion. Let mixture cool to room temperature.

When cucumber slices are ready to remove from the refrigerator, dry them a little more by patting with some paper towels and then combine with the vinegar marinade mixture, blending well. Refrigerate until well chilled and then serve (you can serve it without chilling, but it tastes best chilled!).

Cucumbers are great in summer salads and side dishes! Do you have a favorite recipe you like to make with cucumbers?

10 Comments

Filed under Food and Recipes, Healthy Eating, Salads and Dressings, Side Dishes

Tagged as cucumber, Everyday, Red onion, salad, vinegar

May 14, 2012

Savory Zucchini Pie from Farm Fresh Southern Cooking

Our local farmers’ market opened a few weeks ago, so it was great to receive a review copy of Farm Fresh Southern Cooking: Straight from the Garden to Your Dinner Table. Author Tammy Algood, popular food personality and columnist, has put together a wonderful collection of recipes you can make with ingredients fresh from the farmers’ market, local produce stands, or your own garden.

This cookbook includes recipes for appetizers, soups, salads, sides, breads, entrees, desserts, and breakfast or brunch. There’s also a section with canning instructions at the end of the book.

You’ll find recipes like Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Triangles, Spiced Peach Chutney, Roasted Sweet Potato Soup, Eggplant and Sweet Onion Salad, The Best Southern Hash Browns, Blue Cheese and Bacon Coleslaw, Basil Biscuits, Fresh Chive Spoon Bread, Open-Faced Cajun Shrimp Sandwiches, Fresh Orange Pound Cake, and Southern Breeze Cantaloupe Limeade. There are full-color photos throughout the book, too.

I decided to try the Savory Zucchini Pie and was really happy with how it turned out! It’s an easy recipe that’s perfect for breakfast or brunch, and I always seem to have lots of zucchini around during farmers’ market season. This pie also has onions, cheddar cheese, and herbs to give it a great flavor. It’s made with baking mix, too, and I used a whole grain mix by Hodgson Mill® called Insta-Bake Whole Wheat Variety Baking Mix with Buttermilk. I really like the mix and the fact that it’s made with whole wheat.

I hope you get a chance to try this recipe out…it’s really good!

SAVORY ZUCCHINI PIE from Farm Fresh Southern Cooking

No need to worry about a crust with this pie. It forms its own, which means this is a quick company dish that can go from brunch to dinner. The zucchini can be shredded ahead of time to make stirring it together simple.

Makes 8 servings

2 cups shredded zucchini

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 white onion, peeled and chopped

3/4 cup all-purpose baking mix (I used Hodgson Mill® Insta-Bake)

3/4 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

1/4 cup vegetable oil (I used canola oil)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon dried sage

1/4 teaspoon paprika

Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Lightly grease a 9-inch pie plate and set aside.

In a mixing bowl, combine the zucchini, eggs, onions, baking mix, cheese, oil, salt, pepper, sage, and paprika. Blend well. Transfer to the prepared pie plate.

Bake 45 minutes or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes on a wire rack before slicing and serving.

I love to buy fresh produce from the farmers’ market…especially tomatoes! What kinds of local produce do you like to buy?

4 Comments

Filed under Breakfast/Brunch, Cookbooks, Food and Recipes, Reviews

Tagged as breakfast, brunch, Canola, cheddar cheese, Farm Fresh, Farmers Market, Onion, zucchini

May 12, 2012

The Sweetest Sounds

The sweetest sounds to mortals given

Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven.

WILLIAM GOLDSMITH BROWN

American editor and writer (1812–1906)

Wishing you a blessed and beautiful Mother’s Day!

1 Comment

Filed under Inspirational Thoughts, Original Photography

Tagged as Mother, Mother's Day, quote, William Goldsmith Brown

May 11, 2012

IKEA Inspiration

When I was on vacation recently, I had the chance to stop in at one of my favorite stores–IKEA! They have all kinds of home decor and kitchen items, wonderfully designed and so reasonably priced! I can’t walk into an IKEA store without buying anything, so it’s probably good that I don’t live close to one! When I do get a chance to shop there, though, it’s a real treat.

After I got back home, I browsed a little more on their website, IKEA.com. I wish I had seen the tumbler pictured above when I was at the store…I definitely would have bought that! Here are some other great things I found…guess I’ll have to add these to my wish list for my next visit!

A fun, graphic rug…

A cool teapot (only $12.99!)…

A nifty serving bowl–I think this was just $2.99…

Colorful potato peelers…

A great chandelier…

A white chairbed…perfect for smaller living spaces…

Cupcake liners…I can always use those!…

And last but not least, ice pop makers…perfect for summer!

Hope you enjoyed this little glimpse of the kinds of things you can find at IKEA!

Do you shop at IKEA? What types of things do you buy there?

10 Comments

Filed under Creative Inspiration, Decorating Ideas, Entertaining

Tagged as decorating, IKEA

May 6, 2012

Loaded Sweet Potato Muffins

I came up with this recipe when I couldn’t find quite what I was looking for anywhere else. I had to make several batches of these muffins before they came out the way I wanted, but it was worth it! These are really yummy muffins made with canned sweet potatoes and “loaded” with dried cranberries, mini chocolate chips, and finely chopped pecans. They’re a real treat for breakfast, brunch, or snack time.

These Loaded Sweet Potato Muffins are great to make all year round, but I’m going to keep these in mind for Thanksgiving time, too…since I usually make alot of things with sweet potatoes and cranberries that time of year.

You’ll end up with 19-20 muffins when you make this…about 1 1/2 dozen. Here’s the recipe…enjoy!

LOADED SWEET POTATO MUFFINS by NancyCreative

Makes 19-20 muffins

1 (15-ounce) can sweet potatoes, drained and mashed (about 1 1/4 cups)
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup butter, softened
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup dried cranberries (or substitute raisins)
1/2 to 2/3 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 muffin tins with paper liners (the second tin will only need 7 or 8 liners).

In large bowl, add mashed sweet potatoes, brown sugar, and softened butter; blend until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla and blend well.

In medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg, blending well. Add these dry ingredients to the sweet potato mixture in the large bowl.

Add milk to sweet potato and flour mixture, stirring until blended (don’t overmix), then fold in the cranberries, mini chocolate chips, and chopped pecans.

Fill the lined muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm.

Enjoy these muffins loaded with lots of yummy things inside!

Do you like making muffins? What’s your favorite flavor?

9 Comments

Filed under Autumn/Thanksgiving, Food and Recipes, Muffins, Biscuits, Scones, Seasonal

Tagged as baking, brunch, Chocolate chip, Everyday, muffin, Sweet potato

May 5, 2012

Rest

“Come to Me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Accept My teachings and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives.”

MATTHEW 11:28–29 (NCV)