Where Would You LOVE to Cook Today!

I found this kitchen when I googled 

"Summer Kitchens" and I ended up at:

http://www.thecabinetfactory.com/blog

Don't you just love the color. 

And I really love the tea pot on the stove 

so that help me decide where to cook today.

But its to hot to really dig into cooking so I think a salad 

sounds wonderful!

I stopped over at one of my favorite sites:

http://email.kraftfoods.com

And we are going to have:

Southwest Cobb Salad

2 pkg. (10 oz. each) mixed baby salad greens

2 pkg.  (6 oz. each) OSCAR MAYER Deli Fresh Southwestern Seasoned Chicken Breast Strips

4 hard-cooked eggs, chopped

1 can  (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed

1 cup KRAFT Mexican Style Finely Shredded Four Cheese

12 slices  OSCAR MAYER Bacon, cooked, crumbled

2 small avocados, sliced

2 cups  halved cherry tomatoes

2/3 cup KRAFT Ranch Dressing

1/3 cup  TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Salsa

Now sit back and enjoy! COVER large platter with greens.

ARRANGE next 7 ingredients in rows over greens.

MIX dressing and salsa; drizzle over salad just before serving.

I love this salad...but who doesn't like a good salad on a hot day!

Opps I almost forgot the ice tea...

So refreshing!

Where Would You LOVE to Cook Today!

I have always wanted to redo my kitchen in this color...

but never have ...

maybe someday....

or I could do it in my little dream house!

I couldn't decide which kitchen I felt like cooking in today ...

I had never thought of putting red with this color....

but it does look good!

Huuummmm now what would I cook....

Easy Tuna Casserole

INGREDIENTS:

salt
1 pound fettucini pasta
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2 cans (6 ounce size) Italian tuna in water or oil, drained
1/2 cup tender sun-dried tomatoes, thinly sliced
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup heavy cream
black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 cup fresh basil, shredded

PREPARATION:

Place pasta water on to boil. Salt water then add pasta and cook to al dente. 

While pasta cooks, heat a deep skillet over medium heat with extra-virgin olive oil. Saute garlic and onions until tender, 4-5 minutes. Add tuna and sun-dried tomatoes and stir to heat through, another 1-2 minutes. Add wine and cook it down a minute then add cream and season sauce with salt and pepper. Toss hot pasta and peas with sauce and cheese. Top with shredded basil.

I found this yummy recipe over at:

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/1076/renaissance-of-tuna-casserole143883.shtml

You will have to stop by and see all their other wonderful recipes!

Where Would You LOVE to Cook Today!

Isn't this a calming kitchen.

I found it over at:

http://www.atticmag.com/2010/12/hydrangea-colors-kitchen/

I kept going back and back to this picture because it was so calming.

I love the softness of the lavender and flowers are a 

nice touch. I always  have like the those drawer pulls too.

I was trying to decided what I wanted to make in this kitchen 

and since this was the week I did my homemade laundry soap,

 I thought what would be fun is:

Lavender Ironing Water

3 oz. 90 proof vodka

12 drops pure lavender essential oil

12 oz. purified water

Sterilize a 16 oz. bottle by boiling for 10 minutes or 

run it through the pot-scrubber cycle in your dishwasher. 

Pour the vodka into sterilized bottle, add lavender essential oil. 

Swirl vigorously to mix and let stand for at least 24 hours. 

Add the purified water.

 Pour into a spray bottle and enjoy the lavender’s refreshing scent while you iron.

 Store in the refrigerator.

 Keeps for six weeks, after which it gradually loses its scent.

Caution: Do not use this in a steam iron.

Adapted from The Clothesline,

 by Irene Rawlings and Andrea Vansteenhouse 

I love the smell of Lavender and if you have to iron ....

Why not doing with a nice calming smell. 

Where would you LOVE to cook today?

Where Would You LOVE to Cook Today?

Better Homes and Garden always have the best pictures...

Do you think this is really someone’s kitchen...

I do...

And I want to Cook here today...

I will weat a butter yellow apron,

stir with a wooden spoon,

put a wooden cutting board on the table,

and open the window for a nice breeze...

This one makes me want to do Bread....

Hummm...

How about ....

Artisan Bread

Artisan Bread

1 1/2 tablespoons yeast
1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
6 1/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour, more for dusting dough
Cornmeal
3 cups lukewarm water

1. In a large bowl or plastic container, mix yeast and salt into 3 cups lukewarm water (about 100 degrees). Stir in flour, mixing until there are no dry patches. Dough will be quite loose. Cover, but not with an airtight lid. Let dough rise at room temperature 2 hours (or up to 5 hours).

2. Bake at this point or refrigerate, covered, for as long as two weeks. When ready to bake, sprinkle a little flour on dough and cut off a grapefruit-size piece with serrated knife. Turn dough in hands to lightly stretch surface, creating a rounded top and a lumpy bottom. Put dough on pizza peel sprinkled with cornmeal; let rest 40 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough or refrigerate it.

3. Place broiler pan on bottom of oven. Place baking stone on middle rack and turn oven to 450 degrees; heat stone at that temperature for 20 minutes.

4. Dust dough with flour, slash top with serrated or very sharp knife three times. Slide onto stone. Pour one cup hot water into broiler pan and shut oven quickly to trap steam. Bake until well browned, about 30 minutes. Cool completely.

Yield: 4 loaves.

This is one of my favorite breads to make. This recipe was Adapted from “Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day,” by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoë François

Where Would You LOVE to Cook Today!

I just love this kitchen.

the apron on the wall...

dish towel on the table....

the flower prints....

This kitchen was found at:

Country Living

And doesn't it just Scream  make.....

Aunt Peggy's Potpourri

( Paula Deen's Aunt)

Sliced apples

Sliced lemons

Sliced oranges

Water

Bay leaves

Whole cloves

Cinnamon sticks

Directions

In a slow-cooker, combine fruit to preferences of smell.

 Cover in water.

Top with bay leaves,

whole cloves,

and cinnamon sticks.

 Leave slow-cooker on low.

This is so easy and you can use any amounts you want of fruit. 

Just enjoy the wonderful smells!