Best Bean Dip Ever

I think Sarah over at Clover Lane may have just posted the BEST black bean dip recipe! Must make this immediately, then head over to check out her other recipes!

Cilantro, Black Bean and Corn Salsa
1 can of yellow corn drained
1 can of white corn drained
2 cans of black beans drained and rinsed
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 bunch of chopped fresh cilantro
5 green onions, sliced
1 small red onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 avocados, diced
1 TBS minced garlic
1/4 cup lime juice
3 TBS olive oil
3 TBS honey
Mix them all together and YUM.

College Cookbook

I saw a great idea over at Your Home Base Mom. I am totally going to steal this idea from her in a few years!!

Create a cookbook of family recipes for a child going off to college.... LeeAnn's looks like it is in a binder, but I am wondering if you could use Snapfish or Picasa to create a small hardbound book...
this is giving me some ideas for five years from now.

In the meantime I would love a copy of this cookbook! Lee Ann has the best recipes. I am hoping her Cafe Rio Pork is in there..and maybe even some PW recipes.. it was through Lee Ann I discovered Pioneer Woman with Crash Hot Potatoes. Her breads cupcakes and yummy salads are all so good. I wonder how she chose!

Lee Ann is giving away a copy of her cookbook today, so stop over and see her!

Lemon Love

Chicken in Lemon Cream Sauce

1/2 stick butter
8 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 T white wine
1/2 t grated lemon zest
2 T lemon juice
1/4 t salt
1/8 t white pepper
1 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese
1 cup sliced mushrooms

Heat butter in skillet over med heat till melted. Add Chicken. Cook for 10 min or until chicken is brown and tender, turning once. Place chicken in broiler/ovenproof serving dish. Discard butter from skillet. Combine wine, zest and juice in skillet. Cook for 1 min over med heat, stir constantly. Stir in salt, pepper. Pour in cream gradually, stir constantly. Cook until hot. Do not boil. Stir constantly. Pour over chicken. Sprinkle with the cheese and mushrooms. Broil 6 inches from heat source until light brown.

May be garnished with Red Grapes and Lemon Peel. Serve over angel hair pasta.

Desiderata

-- written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s --

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Favorite Project of 2008

Rhoda at Southern Hospitality is having a party.. so I thought I would join!! I am hoping 2009 will have more than 6 posts for me.. (at the rate I am going I post once every two months!!!) Here's hoping I have more to say in 2009!

Bringing my 1995 kitchen into the new millennium:

Before:


And after:


Ben Moore Clinton Brown Paint: 80
New Knobs: 100
New pendents 120
New chandy 80

Total about 380

Still need to add a punch of color, but I do love the results.. and you can hardly notice that forest green stripe in the Crown molding !!

Evolution of a Room

Okay, I know the family room is not done, and I don't know why I abandoned it, but I did, to move on to the 'Front' room


I am trying to decorate on an extreme budget.. reuse recycle repurpose, etc... I would love any and all comments..

Here is my living room:

It was like that for TWELVE years, until I inherited this furniture from my 94 year old aunt:

I had slipcovers made since I was not crazy about the fabric, and couldn't afford much. I used painter's dropcloths as the fabric:

I found the lamps at a thrift store, but did buy the shades.. they can be returned (not the bases, but they were not expensive... ) I found needle point pillow covers.. (very muted) at a thrift store,(for the chairs) and they are at the drycleaners.. the pillows on the coach are from TJ Maxx. Tags are still on, since I am incapable of making a decision!! Oh, and I have a plain sea grass rug on backorder from Ballards, so I brought the small patterned one down from my bedroom to see.. I may move that to the foyer, cause I kinda like it!

I would love opinions on what works and what doesn't and also any suggestions for the finishing touches.

Thanks a million for any advice! You all make this look so easy! It is so NOT easy for me. The "decorating" still needs to be done.

Two Months??

How can that happen? How can two months go by so quickly.. Unbelievable...

I have made a tiny bit of progress on the family room... added my mistreatments, took the doors off the fireplace to paint.. and oh.. I bought a print I love from Ballard Designs.. you have to tell me if it is too much 'Brick'. We will be painting the brick.. but not till after Christmas..

so.. here it is:

(oh and pay no attention to the boy home sick from school! or the messy table or the wimpy plants)

Love to see comments!