Lemon Lavender Muffins #MuffinMonday #CooktheBooks #LitHappens

I've been waiting a long time to share these marvelous muffins with you. The tender, lemony muffins with a hint of soothing lavender was inspired by the novel Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown.

One of the very last recipes to be shared were these muffins and I knew I was going to combine this book review with our monthly Muffin Monday post.

Crock Pot Apple Butter #OurFamilyTable

 Making Apple Butter doesn't get much easier than this.  Actual hands on time is about half an hour and that includes processing in a water bath for preservation.  

The From Our Dinner Table Group are celebrating Apples today.......

Starting with Leftovers: Pork and Stuffing Casserole and The Weekly Menu

Herbed croutons tossed with onions, celery and apples make the bottom layer of this casserole that is then topped with roast pork loin slices and smothered with gravy.  A delicious way to use up that leftover pork roast from Sunday Supper.

Chocolate Frogs ala Harry Potter #FoodnFlix

 Delight your Harry Potter fan or just your chocolate lover with these fun frogs that I was inspired to make after watching, for the umpteenth time, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

A Wonderful Birthday Celebration

So much to celebrate this past weekend.  Frank is doing amazingly well.  Each day the progress is astounding. God is so good.  

On Friday his sister and brother in law came by to see him, bringing us a delicious pot of Chicken Noodle Soup.  We had that for dinner along with some garlic breadsticks.

Saturday afternoon, Nicole and Pierre came by.  They brought carry out lunch from a nearby deli.  They were loaded with get well gifts for Frank, birthday gifts for me and a dozen bars of soap.  While they were still here, Amy and Doug arrived with all the fixings for my birthday dinner.  Shortly afterwards Jessica, Julien and the Angel Face arrived bearing not only birthday gifts but a birthday cake as well.

The Little Miss proudly handed me my birthday gift that she had wrapped all by herself in Christmas paper.  I opened it and inside found all of these treasures......

Cucumber Cashew Salad #OurFamilyTable

This tasty salad is filled with Asian flavors and a great way to use up some of those cucumbers piling up on your counter this time of year.

The From Our Dinner Table Group is sharing Cookbook Recipes today........

Mexican Shrimp Casserole #FishFridayFoodies

 This casserole is chock full of all the Mexican flavors that your family loves and goes together quickly and easily for a great Fish Friday or Mexican Monday meal.

The Fish Friday Foodies are visiting Mexico today........

Let's Talk about Miracles and an extended Weekly Menu

 Well, it has been quite the week.  My regular readers may have noted that there was no Weekly Menu posted last weekend.  I was a little too busy to worry about food.

A week ago last Tuesday on August 11th the Angel Face and her folks joined us for dinner.  After dinner we went to the field so Frank could give our girl a ride in the powered parachute.  Here they are making sure that she is all strapped in securely.

Earl Grey and Blueberry Tea Cakes #CakeSliceBakers

These little blueberry tea cakes make a perfect breakfast with your morning coffee or a great snack with your afternoon tea.  

Welcome to the Cake Slice Bakers.................

Strawberry Shortcake Bundt #BundtBakers

 Oh my....this wonderful bundt cake may start off with a boxed mix but then it is transformed into an amazing delight when saturated with fresh strawberry puree and drizzled with cream cheese glaze.

We are celebrating Berries this month over at Bundt Bakers........

Zucchini Chips (Dehydrator) #MultiCookerMonday

 Wondering what to do with all of those zucchini sitting on your counter?  How about turning them into chips?  You will not believe how delicious they are.

It's time for Multi Cooker Monday.........

Enjoying Summer Food with Chinon Wine and a Fun Book #Winophiles

 Life changes very quickly.  When I wrote the title for this post I was enjoying lying around the pool with my book, having my cabana boy aka Frank bring me cocktails.

I finished a novel called Daisy Jones and the Six.  It inspired me to make this delicious Hickory Burger. I asked Frank to open a bottle of Marc Bredif Chinon 2018 that I had bought for this months Winophile event celebrating the wines of Loire Valley.

Cherry Lime Rickey #ImprovCookingChallenge

 Fresh cherries muddled with sugar and lime and topped with gin served over ice.  This cocktail is a wonderful summer refresher.

It is time to create with Cherries and Lime for this month's Improv Cooking Challenge......

Yogurt and Cilantro Marinated Grilled Chicken #EattheWorld

 Chicken legs and thighs marinated in yogurt, cilantro and peppers and then grilled to a delicious, juicy, tender goodness.

We are heading to Bangladesh this month with our Eat the World challenge.....

French Breakfast Puffs #BakingBloggers

Tender buttery cake baked into muffins, dipped in additional butter and coated with cinnamon sugar.  This is definitely not diet food but it is certainly delicious food.

The Baking Bloggers are visiting France today........

Frozen S''more Treats #OurFamilyTable

 OH MY YUM!!!  Who says Smore's are only for Fall around a campfire?  These wonderful Frozen S'more Treats are the perfect summertime dessert or snack.

The From Our Dinner Group is serving up Scrumptious S'more Recipes today......

COVID Concerns and the Weekly Menu

We are still undecided here about how school is going to look in the fall.  Originally Michigan had the students returning early, going back this month.  That has now been changed to school start date of mid September.

The schools don't know if they will be operating in person, virtually, or both....it all depends on which phase of the pandemic we are in.  As of right now it looks like both options will be available to the students.  We are leaning toward virtual studies, at least for the first semester when, hopefully this will all be under control.

Ratatouille #FarmersMarketWeek

This delicious, colorful and flavorful vegetable stew makes a perfect side dish or main course meatless meal.  It is vegetarian and vegan friendly.

This is a great dish to take advantage of all the summer bounty available right now at your local Farmer's Market.

Tomato Poached Cod with Chile Oil and Mint paired with Vinho Verde #WinePW

This flaky, delightful cod is poached in a fresh tomato sauce and then topped with crispy shallots and garlic before being drizzled with chile oil and sprinkled with mint.  Serve over rice for a complete one bowl meal.

I paired this delicious dish with a wonderful bottle of Broadbent Vinho Verdi for our Wine Pairing Weekend Group......

Farmer's Market Tortellini #FarmersMarketWeek

Looking for a quick, easy and delicious way to use up some of those fresh seasonal vegetables?  Try this pasta dish made with fresh or frozen cheese tortellini. 

It is day 3 of Farmer's Market Week.......

Hungarian Wax Pepper Jam #FarmersMarketWeek

This pepper jelly is made using Hungarian Wax Peppers.  It is great mixed with cream cheese and served with crackers.  An easy and delicious snack or appetizer.

Welcome to Day 2 of Farmer's Market Week.......

Peach and Strawberry Salad #FarmersMarketWeek

This beautiful, colorful salad is a great addition to your socially distanced summer gatherings and al fresco dining.  

Today is the first day of Farmer's Market Week........

Grilled Cheese Panini with Egg #OurFamilyTable

Four different kinds of cheese melted in a Ciabatta Roll and topped with a sunny side up egg....Breakfast has never been so delicious.

This is definitely a fork and knife kind of sandwich.........