MEXICAN TRAIN FLAN WITH KAHLUA

Hola, amigas!
We are having company for dinner... a Mexican themed dinner... and a muy competitivo  game of Mexican Train dominoes!

 To end the meal, I have a very yummy dessert planned.  Muy delicioso... creamy custard, caramel and Kahlua...

FLAN...
 Mexican Train Flan With Kahlua

TUTORIAL TIPS AND TIDBITS #11

Last week TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS  almost hit 100 participants and it is only 10 weeks old! While that is great... and I so appreciate everyone who shares...what I love the most is all the things you can learn to do from these creative people who share their how-to's, tips and tidbits!

A great example is the kitchen above... A PROGRESSION OF A KITCHEN from GOLD COUNTRY COTTAGE was the most viewed post last week. And no wonder you should see the transformation!!!! 

Here are a few more (more than usual) features from last weeks TTT bloggers...

A WIN WIN PROPOSITION!

This is how the back of my car looks these days...

NO, I am not running away from home! 

But I am giving much of the overflow in my house away! My conscience has been bothering me lately. I have SO SO MUCH STUFF!  I'm not talking about junk... I have plenty of that too...

I'm talking STUFF...STUFF others could probably use... good STUFF. It sits.... and sits.... and collects dust in my home! 

I've been rummaging through my STUFF and finding organizations that could use it.  And there are a lot of places that are so happy for good STUFF. We live in tough economic times and many people need good STUFF!

So my tip for today is a reminder... 

" GIVE IT AWAY" !

 It helps others and you!

It's a WIN WIN proposition...but you already knew that!

Please join me for TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS... share your DYT's, great tips and any little tidbit you wish to show us and show off! Link goes live Wednesdays at 8:00 pm!

SUMMER'S LAST HURRAH TABLESCAPE

As the Summer of 2012 comes to a close... I am giving summer one last hurrah here at StoneGable!

Today's tablescape pays homage to summer sun, sand and surf...

As I was setting this table I just kept thinking how pretty it would be if it were outside on a dock by the water!  Let's use our imaginations and pretend my kitchen is a sunny dock. Can you hear the lapping water?

The inspiration for this tablescape are the shell napkin rings and these beautifully made bright orange napkins I picked up on a recent getaway to the ocean.

I purchased these and other goodies at a gorgeous shop called P Francis! If you are ever in Ocean City New Jersey don't miss this wonderful shop on Asbury Street! Paul, the owner has exquisite taste!

A tablecloth, as white as a sail, is laid over the kitchen table. Orange ruffled placemats, that I bought on sale for $3.00 for all four, work with today's tablescape! (TJMaxx)

I love the crispness of navy blue complimented with bright orange!  

The square navy plates (HomeGoods) look very nautically chic to me! Rusty orange plates (Pier 1) with a raised dot edge sit on top of the navy.

A large shell bowl (HomeGoods) filled with prizes from the sea top off each place setting!

The "sand" is brown sugar. Doesn't this look like wet sand? I learned this trick from my friend Mary at HOME IS WHERE THE BOAT IS. If you have not been to Mary's blog... you will want to visit... AFTER finishing my post first... thanks!

I was so happy that I could finally use my orange flatware (HomeGoods). Who buys orange flatware... raise your hand... am I the only one with my had up in the air?

Cobalt blue drinking glasses (Pier 1) are striking against the white table. It's amazing how often I use these on a table. 

These darling little boat bowls have put down their anchors and are floating near each placesetting!

A blue and white sailboat has been marooned in the middle of the table! 

A long rectangle plate is filled with "sand" and jewels of the sea! Little tea lights dot the "harbor".

A happy little sea gull sit on top of a buoy. Watch your dinner... you know how these gulls love to steal food!

Dessert plates are ready for a sweet after dinner treat! A blue and white napkin is fashioned into a seaworthy sailboat!

Let's take one last big breath of the summer sea air... Ready to eat? The sand and sun always makes me so hungry!

The Menu...

Easy Shrimp Bisque (upcoming Foodie Friday)

Summer Garden Salad With Parmesan Peppercorn Dressing

Corn And Crab Fritters

Homemade Tartar Sauce

Oven Fries

Peach Dumplings

LET'S DISH at Cuisine Kathleen
Savvy Southern Style
CRAZY CUTE
BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH
CENTERPIECE WEDNESDAY

Please join me for TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS... share your DYT's, great tips and any little tidbit you wish to show us and show off! Link goes live Wednesdays at 8:00 pm!

ON THE MENU MONDAY~ Week Of August 27, 2012

Before we begin... a great BIG thank you to everyone who left a comment on my blog last week. I had eye surgery and  was recovering...I did not visit or comment much! I appreciate every sweet comment and every one who participated in ON THE MENU MONDAY and TUTORIAL TIPS AND TIDBITS! I'm much better and can see great... back to normal...ready to visit... thanks everyone for your prayers and good thoughts!

Are you capturing the last ounce of summer? Even though I can't wait for fall... I am giving summer it's last hurrah by hosting a Labor Day family weekend... so we will be celebrating the remains of summer in a big way...

Lot's of family... lots of food... lots of fun!

 I am looking forward to our big croquet tournament on the side lawn!!!! Everyone is to wear white and bring their most civil manners ( do you hear me boys?). I'm planning a great spread on the side lawn, old fashioned libations and prizes!  We are a rather competitive group, so this should be a blast!

When I say goodbye to everyone on Monday evening... I will also say a fond farewell to summer. The first sign of fall at StoneGable will be the big seasonal wreath I 'll be hanging on the front door!

Have a blessed, safe and fun LABOR DAY!

Now here's what's ON THE MENU...

MONDAY~ CHRIS IS COMING HOME

Fresh Tomato Grilled Flatbread
Marinaded Artichoke Hearts

TUESDAY
Crab Stuffed Crepes
Garden Salad With Champagne Vinaigrette

WEDNESDAY
Heirloom Tomato Tart
Cucumber Salad


source~ My Carolina Kitchen

THURSDAY
Asian Grilled Salmon
Leek And Potato Galette
Roasted Broccoli With Garlic Oil

FRIDAY~ COMPANY'S COMING
TACO NIGHT AND MEXICAN TRAIN DOMINOES
Fresh Salsa And Nachos
Slow Cooker Pulled Beef Tacos
Black Bean Salad
Mexican Flan

SATURDAY~ LABOR DAY FAMILY PICNIC
Smoked Beef Brisket Barbecue
Corn On The Cob
It's Not Rocket Science Slow Cooker Baked Beans
Panzanella Salad
Peach Cobbler With Vanilla Ice Cream
(look for recipe on an upcoming foodie friday)
Old Fashioned Spiked Lemonade Punch
StoneGable Iced Tea

SUNDAY~ FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT
Leek And Potato Soup
Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Parmesan Bisque
Crusty Bread
Assorted Cheeses
New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies

StoneGable Recipes

Fresh Tomato Grilled Flatbread
Cucumber Salad
Asian Grilled Samon
Fresh Salsa
Slow Cooker Pulled Beef Tacos
Black Bean Salad
Chicken Radcliff
It's Not Rocket Science Slow Cooker Baked Beans
Leek And Potato Soup

StoneGable Culinary Tutorials
StoneGable Salad Dressing
Panzanella Salad
Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Parmesan Bisque

Great Recipes From Other Sources
The Easiest Crepes You'll Ever Make
Heirloom Tomato Tart
Leek And Potato Galette
Mexican Flan
New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies

MARVELOUS MONDAY at This Gal  Cooks

FULL PLATE THURSDAY at Miz Helen's Country Cottage

FOODIE FRIDAY

Here are some great dishes from last week's ON THE MENU MONDAY...

Mary at HOME IS WHERE THE BOAT IS made these fabulous SKILLET APPLE DUMPLINGS! Don't you want to reach into the computer screen and pull one out! YUMMY! I just bought a small cast iron pan to make these!





Wouldn't these LAVENDER SHORTBREAD COOKIES be perfect with a cup of hot tea or tucked away as a treat in a lunchbox? You can find these beautiful cookies at COASTAL COTTAGE DREAMS... thanks Kelly!





I have heard so much about KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE lately. Nicki at POSED PERFECTLY has a great culinary tutorial for it! This is on my must-try list!





The recession is hitting everyone... and Sherry at THE CHARM OF HOME has a very informative AND yummy post on RECESSION ERA COOKING helping us stretch our already skimpy food dollars! Great post and good food!!!





Look at this GRANOLA! I always keep a big canister full of homemade granola out on my counter!  Run over to Creative Ideas for this touch-of-fall recipe!





Go visit Jo at LOBLOLLY LANE (cute name!) She has an adorable blog... and a recipe for adorable CORNBREAD SOUFFLE! So so easy and very impressive!




QUICK CHICKEN AND OLIVE PASTA SALAD is on my menu next week... it is amazing!!! I can always count on great recipes from Lisa at SIMPLY... THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER! I want to make everything she posts!




This weeks featured MENU PLAN comes from Alison at UNDER THE BIG OAK TREE. She has some delicious recipes and great foodie photos! Look at these mini barbecue meatloaves!





NOW WHAT'S ON YOUR MENU...

Thanks, for joining us and sharing!

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SUNDAY SCRIPTURE~ WEEK OF AUGUST 26, 2012

Everyone has a story... what is yours?

Maybe the better question is... what do you want your story to BE?

My son, Christopher, is a youth pastor at Otterbein Church in Waynesboro Pa.

He has quite a story for a young 25 year old pastor. 

Last week Christopher preached before the whole congregation... being part of a series call "STORIES". To see his message... click HERE... find the sermon AUTHENTIC CHRISTIANITY... A LOOK AT THE LIFE OF PETER, and click WATCH.

The service starts with a brief story by a brave young woman who shares HER  story.

I pray that your story be a real page turner!

MIRROR MIRROR... A makeover fairy tale!

This is the story of an Ugly Duckling mirror.. Goldilocks mirror...Snow White mirror... and maybe a little Cinderella thrown in too...

Anyway, it is a fairy tale... Comfy? Good.... let's begin...

ONCE UPON A TIME...

TOMATO BASIL PARMESAN BISQUE~ Slow Cooker Soup

My garden is bursting with tomatoes... the Roma tomatoes are literally dripping off off the vine.  And I'm grateful for that... many of my veggies did not do well this year!

I'm saving the bulk of the Romas to freeze and make into sauce, but when I saw this fabulous recipe for a grown up tomato soup... some of those ripe summer tomatoes were destined for Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup.

This is a beautiful and flavorful soup!  Especially perfect with fresh garden tomatoes!

  

I made a double batch hoping to freeze some, but my family wanted to eat it for lunch the following day!

Because it is so easy, I'm making another slow cooker full tomorrow and THAT will go in the freezer!

I made a Gruyere herbed crouton to mimic tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches... my adult version!

The original recipe can be found on Today's Mama... I think I found this on Pinterest. I tweaked this recipe... less half and half... more basil and fresh tomatoes, and changed the cooking techniques.

STONEGABLE TOMATO BASIL PARMESAN BISQUE

28 oz. plum tomatoes or other garden tomatoes OR 2 14 oz. can of diced tomatoes

1 cup finely diced onion

1 cup finely diced celery

1 cup finely diced carrots

1 TBS butter

2 TBS olive oil

1 TBS fresh oregano

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/4 cup fresh basil

2 tsp dried basil

4 cups chicken stock

1 bay leaf

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup flour

1~ 1 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated ( I use more)

1 cup half and half

1 cup whole milk

salt and pepper

Saute the onions, celery and carrots in 1 TBS butter and 2 TBS olive oil until translucent, about 5 minutes. Put the mixture in a slow cooker. Add tomatoes, oregano, basil, chicken stock and the bay leaf. Cook on low for 5-7 hours. Using a stick blender, emulsify the soup to the consistency you like. I like mine finely minced but not smooth.

At the end of the cooking time, turn the slow cooker on high.

Make a roux... Melt 1/2 cup butter in a large skillet. Add flour and whisk together. Cook for 3-4 minutes to get rid of the raw taste of the flour. Remove 1 cup the tomato soup and add to the mixture. Whisk. Add an additional 2 cups of tomato soup and whisk until smooth. Pour the roux mixture back into the soup and whisk. Add the Parmesan cheese and warmed half and half and milk. Whisk well and cook for 1/2 to 1 hours until the cheese has melted and the soup is thickened.

Garnish with extra basil and toasted crouton rounds

Printable Recipe

FOODIE FRIDAY

TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS #10

Welcome to TUTORIAL TIPS AND TIDBITS #10!  A HUGE thank you goes out to all of last weeks participants! Your tutorials, tips, tidbits and every thing you brought to show off was just fabulous and so so creative! 

What makes TTT wonderfully interesting is the wide variety of topics and range of subject mattered brought to the party!

Here are just a few inspirations from last week...

The most viewed entry from last week was GOLDEN OAK NO MORE from WILLOW WISP COTTAGE.  This gorgeous piece was once a thrift item.  It was transformed  with ASCP Duck Egg and the top was restained to reveal a real beauty!!!! This is a must see!

Are you ready for fall yet? Debra at COMMON GROUND sure is! She show us the stunning classy and tarnished way she is welcoming fall into her home with a little SEASON TWEAKING... I feel a copy cat moment coming on...

If you want a laundry soap that smells amazing, gets clothes sparkling clean and goes a long long way, visit 

BLISS RANCH for  HOMEMADE LAUNDRY SOAP.  One thing I love about blogging is sharing really great ideas! She saw this recipe for laundry soap on StoneGable and Savvy Southern Style and made it her own!!! Her pictures are gorgeous!!!

I think everyone in blogland has fallen in love with Anita's BLUE KITCHEN.  It was pure delight to visit her at FAR ABOVE RUBIES and take her kitchen tour. You will find so much inspiration and creative ideas!

Suzy at WORTHING COURT showed us an EASY WAY TO RAMP UP A BEDSKIRT. Just look at that fun pop of color! Great and easy to understand instructions. What a fun and flirty skirt!

Attention all bloggers: This great tutorial from Barb at The Everyday Home will show you how to CREATE A BLOG HEADER in 9 easy steps. Barb, this is a very well done tutorial!!!! Thanks so much!

If there is a little one in your life you will love this NO SEW DUCT TAPE CRAYON ROLL from TUTUS AND TEA PARTIES.  Aren't these the cutest things? How about using them for party favors, Halloween giveaways ( if you only get several trick-or-treaters), prizes or a little gift for the kids in your life!!!

Lauren, this is a must-do idea!

 

For all of your harvest to table lovers... this informative post about EXTENDING THE SEASON from  Black Fox Homestead gives us great tips about planting and eating garden vegetables all the way through the winter. Very interesting!!!

Do you CHIP IT?  If you don't you will want to find out about this fun way to turn any photo on the internet into an instant color palette with a click! Warning: Click It is rather addictive... and fun.

Visit me to learn how to CHIP IT.

If you have been featured at TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS please grab a "Featured" button from my sidebar.

Please visit our featured bloggers and see their creative blogs!

Now let's see what great TUTORIALS, TIPS AND TIDBITS  you have for us!

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