Pasta Recipe and shop talk......

Here is the Roasted Broccoli and Goat Cheese Pasta recipe I promised.   I just love this and I hope you do too.  This is from PBS foods which I follow on Pinterest. 
 

Linguine with Roasted Broccoli, Pine Nuts and Goat Cheese

You will love the way the roasted broccoli plays with a creamy goat cheese sauce. Food blogger Jenna Weber shares why she loves to roast her broccoli in a full post on the Fresh Tastes blog.

Ingredients

·         8 oz dry linguine pasta

·         12 oz broccoli florets (about 4 cups)

·         5 oz soft goat cheese

·         ¼ cup toasted pine nuts

·         2 garlic cloves, minced

·         1 ½ tbsp olive oil, divided

·         salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1.     Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with tin foil and place the broccoli florets on top. Drizzle with a half tablespoon of olive oil and toss to coat. Roast broccoli for about 25 minutes, tossing occasionally.

2.     Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a big pinch of salt and the linguine. Cook until pasta is al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta cooking water.

3.     In a large skillet, heat up the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant and toasty. Add the goat cheese and stir to melt, drizzling in some pasta water to create a smooth sauce. Add the hot linguine and roasted garlic. Toss well, adding more pasta water if dish seems dry. Season with salt and pepper and scatter pine nuts on top.

4.     Enjoy immediately.

Yield: 4 servings

 
I can't get goat cheese around here so I use feta instead and you could replace the pine nuts with walnuts or another nut I'm sure although I haven't tried that yet.

Remember my bathroom I was working on?  Well, I took all the hardware down and spray painted it after I saw the cost of replacing it, lol!
This is a "before" picture....I should've taken  more but you know how that goes...you're half way through the project when you remember to do it.

Here's the "after" ........

This is the paint I used and this nifty gripper/sprayer attachment that fits on any spray paint can and is worth every penny (I got it at Walmart but it is also on Amazon...I think it's called "Sure Grip")!  I used Krylon's Satin Nickle and it went on very nicely with about 3 very thin coats so it wouldn't "run" or have drip marks. It dries in about an hour.  I also used a piece of styrofoam to push the screws into so they would stand up and then I sprayed the tops of them.

I also removed my faucets so I could give them a good cleaning........

I also removed the light switch plates and took a "slightly" damp toothbrush to them so I wouldn't electrocute myself......

I washed the plates themselves and they're back up and looking much better.  You'd be amazed at what a difference that makes although I know you can't really see it here.  I'm sure they hadn't been removed or cleaned since the house was built 40 or so years ago...maybe 50 now.
 One of the best tools around!  An old toothbrush.

 Looking for a GREAT Father's Day present for someone?  Look no "father"!  LOL!  This is the best household screwdriver around......

All the tips are enclosed so they never get lost and are always available......you pull up and there they all are.............

You turn until the red marker sits below the tip you want, push it back into the handle and VOILA!  The screwdriver is ready to go.....straight and Phillips head are included.  I have had this for several years now and love it.

 I gave one to my son-in-law and he's a "tool guy" and he loved it and had never see one.  He was telling everyone about it.  I felt pretty "puffed" about that.....it's so nice when you give a gift that someone really loves.
I forgot to show you this the other day with my rummage sale stuff.....a gorgeous, super soft pale yellow (my favorite color) blanket.  It is so soft I almost thought it was cashmere but I washed it and dried it and it didn't shrink so I have a really nice, new to me, blanket for next Winter.  I think it might have been $1.00?  The binding is all on.  It might need replacing down the road as you can see it is starting to wear in places but that's a cheap fix compared to the cost of a brand new blanket. 

Well, I'd better get going as "I have miles to go before I sleep".   HappyTrails!

Muggy and Meatless Monday

I cannot imagine how hot and humid it is going to be when all this rain moves out and the sun appears.  Whoa Nellie....get ready to suffocate! LOL!  Meanwhile, I've been frantically busily working on giraffe #1 and I made some more progress today............

 The ears and lining got made......

 and sewed together...........

 and sewed on the giraffe!  YAY!

 I made a broccoli, garlic and feta pasta dish for supper.  I roasted the broccoli...........

 and used whole wheat pasta............

 I'll post the recipe tomorrow.  This is the second time I've made it and it is delicious, healthy, fairly easy, and budget friendly.  I'm trying "meatless Monday" and eating more vegan dishes.
Oh, yesterday, even though my Sunday's are RnR days, I did clean my Keurig and wow what a difference it made!  I used to clean my Mr. Coffee monthly but hadn't cleaned my Keurig since I got it last year.  It was starting to get real sluggish.  I had pinned instructions on Pinterest and it's on my cleaning board if anyone wants it.  I had about 3 but only kept the best one.  I did have to run the water through twice though which on mine was 2 fill ups of the water reservoir.  Just an F.Y.I in case you have a Keurig and you haven't cleaned yours either.  It's well worth it.....it's like having a brand new Keurig! 

Lots to blog about..........

On my walk the other day I found this dead in the middle of the street about a block from my house....

I'm thinking it was a diamond back rattlesnake.  I did a lot of 'cropping" so I didn't gross anyone out as it had been run over several times.  The city has been mowing parkways and I think it stirred them up.  I've been here 10 years and it's the first time I've seen one.  I know there are a lot of snakes in Arkansas but usually if they hear you coming they get out of your way.
On a brighter note, storms rolled through yesterday and washed it all away....it was totally gone today.  The storms were pretty severe but no damage here that I could see other than tree limbs.

  It was pretty humid this morning on our walk and there are more storms coming....

I got treasures in the mail too.....these are books that have been on my list all year for next year's Year of Projects 2014/15 which starts in July!  So, project planning is in the works and the supplies will need to be ordered also. 
I pretty much want to make everything in this book..........

The blanket on the cover of this book is a definite project............

This book has the pattern "Lacy Blocks" which you have probably seen in some of my photos....it's a yellow crocheted blanket that looks like it is blocks but it is really all one piece.
 It is a wonderful blanket and the best t.v. watching project ever!  I've made several and never tire of making them but I lost my pattern thus I had to order the book.

I also ordered this little pamphlet as it contains a pattern for a baby size "Lacy Blocks".

And last but not least...........I've wanted this one for ages now........

This is a story book AND it contains the knitting patterns for Spud (the lamb) and Chloe (the girl) and more farm accessories and animals.  Aren't they just the cutest?  Have any of you made Susan B. Anderson's toys?  I'm making her giraffe and also her sock pattern and taking a craftsy class from her about the giraffe.  She has a website, Susan B. Anderson that is such a great blog with lots of drawings and links to other great sites.  If you're a knitter or a spinner you should really check her out!  She's talented, very nice and she has podcasts.
I got all these books used except for the Mollie Makes book so it wasn't as costly as it looks...thank goodness!
The thunder is starting to rumble so I better get off of here!  Happy Trails!

My bi-annual trip to Mountain Home and I won the lottery!

I wish I could've taken pictures on the way because it is beautiful and they have a huge lake with a huge bridge across it that I white-knuckle every time.  But alas, I am alone, so I keep both hands on the wheel!  I had to have lab work done and see the rheumatologist or insurance won't pay for my prescriptions.  I'm happy  to say I am in fine health and while I was there I won the lottery!

Not the Arkansas lottery but I was able to "try" the new "auto-gen" delivery method for Enbrel, the RA drug I've taken for years now.  These are worth about $500.00 per shot....so that was $500.00 worth right there and then they gave me 3 more to take home!  That is $2000.00 worth of medicine I got for free!  So, now you see why I felt like I won the lottery?  I am SO blessed!

I also got to visit The Truck Patch, my favorite natural and organic food store.  I was able to pick up some items I've been wanting for awhile now like my favorite shampoo and soap.

I also picked up some local honey........

I stopped at a fabric store and got some fabric to make my project bags that I've been talking about...

and I also got this rug kit.  I need new rugs so why not learn how to make them myself?  Unfortunately when I opened it up at home there were no instructions in it so I called them today and they're mailing them to me.  It comes "pre-started" for you evidently to give you a leg up.  It has a wooden needle that is threaded with the fabric and all the fabric you need already pre-cut.  I love the red.  I'll let you know how it goes when I get the instructions.

 I had an absolutely wonderful day and the weather was perfect.  It's a beautiful drive but a long one and on the way home I stopped at a Sonic for supper.  I never eat out but I had nothing cooked at home and I knew I was too tired to make anything once I got there.  Since my health report was so good I splurged....I had a double bacon cheeseburger, fries and a salted caramel shake.  YUMMO!  I ate it all and I was stuffed but what a treat that meal was!  I hope your week is going great.  Happy Trails!

YOP Sunday

Springtime is wonderful but there is so much to do around here not counting the fact that I need to walk daily....which I did this morning.......

This might be a "stink"  bush blooming...not sure.  I didn't get close enough to take a whiff

 

We've had quite a bit of rain so I have to get outside and get work done before it becomes a jungle....it might be too late....I did get some flowers planted

I got the front door washed and windows cleaned and I made a wreath out of what I had here in the house....I'm proud of myself because I'm don't consider myself very creative... I had the grape vine wreath and the garland and the watermelon is actually a votive holder.  I was inspired by Connie's Spring wreath that she made over at Far Side of Fifty  Thanks for the inspiration, Connie!

I waxed the door good after washing it because I had painted it with chalk paint and never got around to waxing/sealing it.

I put another bucket of flowers by the front door

  The perennials are coming up gangbusters but they all look a little bedraggled because of the rain we've had.

I also planted a couple of tomato plants in containers, of course.  It's about the only way you can garden down here....it's a jungle!

Oh, I bet you'd like to see some YOP pictures....yes, I did get some of that done too but I know I have lots of work to do to finish up some of these by July!  It's only a month away!

I'm making good progress on the blanket which was NOT part of this years YOP but next years.  It was my first KAL though at the yarn shop so I just  have to work on it.  I know now why people do KAL's......they're very motivating!

I am now on block #14 of 55 and do you see the new color?  It's oatmeal and that is the last color to be added.

You're not going to believe this but I FINALLY got my grandson's quilt, pin basted...that's the good news.  The bad news is that right after I finished pinning it I found a great tutorial about how to do it the correct way.  Will I start over and redo it?  Tune in next week to find out!

I actually finished the bottom of one of the 2 giraffes I am making for the other 2 grandboys.....they are all July babies and my daughter is too so it's a busy month for presents.  

It may not look like a giraffe yet but if you look at Susan B. Anderson's Itty-Bitty Toy book or patterns on Ravelry you'll see the resemblance.  The rest of the body parts are knitted separately.  I'm on to do the head next so hopefully you'll see more progress on this soon.

I'll be by later to see what ya'll have been up to this week for your YOP's.  I need to update my list....I'm almost afraid to look at it.  Plus, I have "supplies" to order for next year's list which isn't complete yet but I'm so excited!  I can't wait to share it all with you next month.  

Happy Trails!