Summer has arrived!

Happy Memorial Day and a big thank you to all of our veterans who have served our country throughout the years.  As we enjoy this three day weekend, we should pause to remember their sacrifices which has ensured our freedom.

I don't know about you, but it has been really H~O~T here!  It has already been in the low 90's and the humidity is at 100%.  It makes for a most uncomfortable morning and evening walk!

I've been working in my garden doing the usual weeding and cutting back some of my plants that have grown so large they are taking over the garden.  I spent the better part of yesterday washing the front porch down while husband edged around our flower garden (we like a natural edge and that means that at least once a month we have to show the weeds who's boss LOL).  While husband was edging,  I took a tumble off the ladder and ended up in my flower garden.  Thankfully, I was  lucky and escaped with only a few minor scratches and bruises on my arm.  The fact that I didn't break any bones is amazing to me!  LOL  I did have to remove some damaged stalks from my flowers though which made me extremely unhappy!  :-(.

I do have an exciting new website to share with all of you.  For all of you who love to cook and are interested in new and different recipes as well as in quirky and helpful kitchen tools Provisions 52 is wonderful!  This link is specifically for their shop   Food 52  and this one  Food 52 Recipes  for recipes.  You can send in your recipes to share and they have contests for the best recipes.  I recently tried one of their recipes for Cheddar & Black Pepper Cornbread by Vera Obias and it was wonderful.  You can find the recipe here:  Vera Obias' Cheddar and Black Pepper Cornbread.  It has a sweet and yet salty taste which complements the cornbread.  Sugar is added to the batter and sea salt and pepper sprinkled on top of the batter which has been brushed with heavy cream.  This is not a lo-cal recipe  LOL!

You can find the recipe here'
Vera Obis' Cheddar & Black Pepper Cornbread

I also found many great kitchen items in their shop and hope you enjoy the peek I offer through these images.

A wooden biscuit cutter that comes in different sizes

Beautiful Stoneware vases

Who doesn't love white linen napkins?

Great for adding your own hand soap and to give your kitchen a vintage look.

Salt and Pepper cellars ( I love the anchors inside)

Cake toppings for holidays

I purchased this print taken from a image that is over 100 years old.  It is dated 1890 and is attributed to the Cafe' Anglais in Versailles, France.  Among  the dishes offered on the menu, is Poulet Marengo, a chicken dish created in 1880 for Napoleon when he defeated the Austrians on the battle field at Marengo in Italy.   The Emperor of France then considered it his "lucky dish". 

Here it is framed and hanging in my kitchen.

If you have a chance, do check out this website, I found the recipe website full of interesting and different recipes, something a bit different than the usual fare.