August 25, 2011

A GIVEAWAY and a Roadside Stand Dinner

Have you ever made what I call a Roadside Stand Dinner? No meat just vegetables from my local Roadside Stand. I have been doing that a lot this summer. Right now there are so many wonderful tomatoes to choose from.



I am so proud to announce that the fine folks at Girard's Salad Dressings have asked me to be one of their Epicurean Experts. I love to cook and have been doing so since I could stand on a chair at the kitchen counter. I am honored and want to share with you all the goodies they sent me in preparation for more and more great meals and recipes from my kitchen.



Look at this load of goodies. I was so thrilled. The apron and the bamboo utensils are awesome.


There were a few new recipe cards included too.


The best were the 4 bottles of Girard's new dressings for me to try. The wonderful folks at Girard's have generously agreed to give away a set of their 4 new dressings to one of my readers! I am so happy to be able to share with you their tasty dressings.


Would you like to win?


The winner will get 4 of Girard's new salad dressings.


All you have to do to enter the drawing is to Follow My Blog and leave a comment and tell me. If you are already a follower just let me know in your comment.


This is a recipe that we love and it's loaded with lots of fresh juicy tomatoes. No set measure for this one just add a little or a lot of what you like.


TOMATO AND BREAD SALAD


Use any kind of crusty bread that you like and cube it into about 3/4 inch chunks. Toss it in a big bowl, I used my huge yellowware bowl, with olive oil that has a few cloves of garlic minced into it. I used about 1/2 cup of olive oil and 6 garlic cloves. I had lots of bread! I toss it with my hands then spread it on a cookie sheet and toast it in the oven. Be sure to stir the cubes often till browned all over. I use my broiler.



While my bread is browning I chop a few tomatoes into the same big bowl I used to mix the bread and olive oil. Then I slice some onion on top. I like to use vadalia and red onion.


Add Basil to your taste. I used 3 different varieties.


I adore this bowl. I have had it so long I can't remember where I got it.


Then toss it all together.
You can also add grated cheese if you like.



I tossed mine with Girard's Olde Venice Italian Dressing.


It was amazing!


Looks wonderful doesn't it?



So yummy and good for you.


We had a friend stop over unexpectedly around dinner time so we asked him to join us. He couldn't get over raving about this simple salad. "Best he has ever had" He said.

For many years I made my own salad dressings but with a dressing the quality of Girard's at hand no need to mix it up myself anymore.

Each of these varieties has less sodium than before and the White Balsamic Vinaigrette and the Greek Feta Vinaigrette varieties contain no high fructose corn syrup if that is important to you.

I am linking to:











Good Luck to all of you who enter the GIVEAWAY!

Chat with you again soon.

~ ~Ahrisha~ ~


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June 22, 2011

Feeling Sentimental

~ ~~Hello Friends~ ~ ~



Picked a few white grape leaf hydrangea this morning


and put them in this ruby vase.


So pretty! Love red and white.



Wanting to share with you a few pieces of cut glass


that belonged to my Great Grandmother.



I put a few things out on the dining room table

for you to see.
I recently hung the glittery Paris sign

on the chandy.

Sort of like it there, for now.

The stems are from the local Goodwill but they are so

thin and delicate and old. I just love them.

Sad that there were only three.

The four desert plates are my new love

green transferware. The pattern is Lyndon.

I'm having a little trouble finding pieces to match.

If you see any around in your travels

Please let me know!


Is lace a sickness? Gotta have it.


This little cut glass compote was my GG Mothers.
I love the feel of the cut glass,
the roughness of the edges.
Do you love cut glass too?



This small dish was hers too.
The light just sparkles through it.



I am finding it difficult to get good pictures of this
glass. Does anyone have any hints to share?



Ahhh, the spoons!


They are so pretty and they belonged to my
Fathers Mother.
The other pieces were my Mom's family.
I only have 6 spoons and that was
probably all the silver she had.
Given to me by my Aunt Mary.

She was a poor woman who immigrated from the Ukraine with her 3 children. I never knew her as she died before I was born. I often think of her and the strength she must have had to come across the ocean on a ship with 3 children early in the 1900's. I don't know the whole story and never will as all concerned are now gone.

These little lovelies were a recent purchase.
French Milk Glass.


The French Painted their milk glass.
I love the fleur de leis on this one.



Most times almost all the paint is rubbed off.

These are nice examples.

Still some paint left.


As I snapped this shot I thought. . .






I wonder if I could capture the smoke from the candle

if I blew it out?

Have a wonderful week My Friends.

~ ~Ahrisha~ ~



This week I am linking to these fine ladies:

Tabletop Tuesday





















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May 10, 2011

My Favorite Local Faire

Hello Friends~ ~ ~
Quaint and beautiful little house. Actually it is an 1800's tavern. It is a part of the Landis Valley Museum. If you ever get to Lancaster County, PA. be sure to visit the museum. What it is is a small village built in the 1800's by John Landis and his family. These two pictures are of the tavern.

This building is just behind the tavern. Beautiful stonework. The Pennsylvania Germans are an industrious bunch, of which I am a descendant.


Every Spring they host an Herb Faire during Mothers Day Weekend. It is my favorite faire to visit. For many years it was the only place locally to purchase heirloom vegetable plants. They really do taste better than the newer varieties. Try them if you haven't.



This Celsiana rose is one of the oldest varieties known. I was told it's first recorded appearance was in the 1500's. Three years ago I purchased this rose and it is now four feet tall with some canes growing to 8 feet and into it's neighbor a Crepe Myrtle. The fragrance is amazing.


The vendor selling these old roses is dependably at the faire every year as so many others are.



This is so much fun. It is the kitchen in the tavern. All day they demonstrate cooking.


How would you like to cook in this kitchen?





Making Bread.



How about this state of the art 1800 toaster?

I didn't notice the electric cord till I got home and looked at the pictures.



The fire for the oven is out back.

Honey, would you run outside and put another log in the fire

so I can bake the bread.



The homes in this village are beautiful.


Notice the man making and selling brooms by the fence.




Most of the homes are opened for viewing.


The building above is the General Store. It is stocked with antiques of the era.
Each home has a knowledgeable host inside to tell you the story of the home.




These next few shots are of the home of John and Elizabeth Landis founders of the village. The brick beauty above is the Landis home.


Lovely fireplace in the parlor.



The kitchen, love the colors.



One side of the home is a combo of brick and stone.




Looking down the street toward the faire.


Beautiful old shutters.



We had so much fun and I did purchase the Graham Thomas rose that I was searching for. What joy!


Hope you enjoyed the tour.


I am linking to these fun parties this week:

Foodie Friday









See you again soon.


~ ~Ahrisha~ ~
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May 2, 2011

Can You Solve This Riddle?

When is a rose not a Rose but


A Gourmet Delight?

Give up?




When It is A Julia Child.
That is the name of this delicious little rose.


Of course with my love of food and cooking


I had to buy it!

I went to the local greenhouse to purchase a Graham Thomas Rose. After seeing all the beautiful pictures in Blogland I was smitten. Alas, no Graham Thomas. GT is also a yellow rose and yellow roses are my favorites. Then I spied this beauty and when I saw the name, well, you know how it is.

This picture is the metamorphosis, the fresh young bud and the tattered old flower.


This is what the tag on the rose had to say about her.


All roses are female ~ ~ Right?




Butter Gold - Floribunda 2006

Just before our wonderful American icon left us, she selected this exceptional rose to bear her name. Julia loved the even butter color and the licorice candy fragrance. Yet it wasn't just the old-fashioned blooms that inspired the recipe. The perfectly rounded habit, super glossy leaves and great disease resistance finished off the dish. An awesome AARS award winner-a right and proper honor for a dear friend.




Isn't that lovely?


I adore roses that show their centers. Many of the tea roses do not when they open. I love the contrast between the silken petals and the wirey stamens in the center.



The rose is only about 4" across but I love the shabby ruffled look of it.

How about you. Do you prefer a perfect rose to a shabby one?



Since we are talking roses, here is a hint for you when cutting a rose or trimming your rose bushes. When you cut a stem look to see which side of the stem the next 5 leaf, not 3 leaf stem is. Always make a cut just above a 5 leaf stem. Now, since the new branch will form opposite the 5 leaf stem, will it be growing in the direction you would like to see it grow. If you want it to grow inward to fill out the bush, great. Maybe you want it to grow outward to even out and fill out that side of the bush. Not rocket science but a good tip.



Hope you enjoy this flavor of Lancaster County.


One of our many covered bridges.






I am linking up to these partys this week.


Please visit them for more great posts.












Have a Delightful week!


~ ~Ahrisha~ ~
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