Let them eat cake!

Joining the Pinterest Party hosted by Mindee over at Our Front Door today. I'm sharing a simple and delicious recipe I've made hundreds of times and while I know that's not exactly playing by the rules wouldn't you rather me post a recipe I know is tasty as opposed to one that is just a maybe?

I thought so.

Actually this recipe pops up on Pinterest quite often but I'm pretty certain the credit should go to Bisquick.

Strawberry Shortcake

If you don't have a shortcake recipe you already love then I recommend you give this one a try. It's super easy, delicious, and I think, foolproof.

The recipe says to sprinkle your berries with a little sugar. I like to cut mine up several hours ahead of serving so they have plenty of juice. Don't skip the sugar because you want the juice it creates.

These shortcake biscuits are rustic and not overly sweet.

Slice them in half and put a layer of berries in the middle. Pop the top back on and then add more berries, and of course a big dollop of real whipped cream. Yes, it must be real whipped cream. I loathe artificial whipped toppings.

I made this for Memorial Day and tossed a few blueberries on the side too.

Happy Summer!

Saluting the Wednesday Hodgepodge-Vol 79

Do these short weeks throw anybody else off track? Somehow it's already Wednesday which means the Hodgepodge is rolling around here again. I'm glad you joined the fun today...be sure to add your link to the bottom of my post and include a link back here on your blog so everyone can play along. Here are my answers-

1. What can the average citizen do to honor a military veteran and/or those currently serving?

Fly your flag, say thank you to a veteran, support projects that aid the wounded, vote, and most especially-don't bad mouth America...be proud of America and grateful for the freedoms men and women have died protecting.

2. Besides a flag, what is something you own that is red, white, and blue?

I have a bathing suit that's red white and blue, more nautical than patriotic. I have a pillow with a Union Jack background so that's red, white and blue. There's more I'm sure but those are the two that popped into my head today.

3. Does love really conquer all?

Not as simple as the question seemed at first glance. God's love conquers all...there is nothing too big for Him. Human love on the other hand, is complicated. Love makes us want to commit to another person and I think love is what helps us get over and through the challenges life throws our way. Maybe it would be better to say love and commitment conquer all.

4. Strawberry shortcake or blueberry pie?

These are two of my favorite desserts. I have a really delicious recipe for blueberry pie but shortcake just screams sunshine and summertime. I'd probably pick shortcake.

5. Do you share personal stuff with your hairdresser?

To a degree. I talk a lot and my hairdresser is a captive audience. I took daughter2 for a haircut when she was home recently and I noticed she kept up a running commentary the whole time my stylist was working on her hair. Afterwards my stylist said, 'She's just like you.'

Hmmm....I'm going to take that as a compliment.

6. Does money lead to selfishness?

Sometimes. Other times it leads to great generosity.

7. What piece of furniture in your home most needs replacing or refinishing?

The chair my pup claimed as her own the minute she was big enough to hop up in it. She isn't allowed on the furniture except for that one piece.

It needs recovering in the worst way but there's no point doing that while we have her with us. That chair is her happy place and if I recovered it now I know I wouldn't want her on it.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

The humidity is ridiculous.

Questions for the Wednesday Hodgepodge-Vol 79

I hope you enjoyed the long holiday weekend and are ready for a new edition of the Hodgepodge. If you live outside the USA I hope your weekend was good too. Come back tomorrow to link answers with your friends and neighbors-

1. What can the average citizen do to honor a military veteran and/or those currently serving?

2. Besides a flag what is something you own that is red, white and blue?

3. Does love really conquer all?

4. Strawberry shortcake or blueberry pie?

5. Do you share personal stuff with your hairdresser?

6. Does money lead to selfishness?

7. What piece of furniture in your home most needs replacing or refinishing?

8. Insert your own random here.

Weekend Ramblings

My mom has been staying with me for the past week and will be here for one more before she moves on to my sister's house for a few days. She had knee surgery a couple of weeks ago and needs some tlc before she's back in her own house. My mom is a very independent woman...she might be turning 82 this summer but she's leaving some of her fellow p.t. patients in the dust.

I think it rained every day last week which was fine because she isn't supposed to be out and about anyway. We kept the weekend low key too although hubs and I did make it out to our tinytown parade and water ski show on Monday. My mom stayed home with her Drill Sergeant physical therapist which I'm sure was a lot of fun too. Ha.

I love a small town parade...they don't seem to vary too awfully much from place to place. Small towns all across America line up fire trucks, scout troops, the high school band, and of course veterans, for a march down Main Street. Now for a small rant-do the groups marching in your parade toss candy to the kids in the crowd? They do in ours and I'm almost to the point where I wish they wouldn't.

As a truckload of veterans rolled by the gang of kids pushing and shoving in front of us didn't even notice...they were too busy scrambling for candy. They even bring bags to the parades now and leave with a pile of loot that for some rivals their Halloween haul. I'm sure I sound like an old fogey but it seems like we've lost a little perspective here.

Stepping off my soap box...

Our little town is built around a lake and has a water ski team that's pretty impressive. Memorial Day is their first show of the season so they've only had two days of practice in the (super cold) water.

By Labor Day their show is just about perfect.

Its fun to watch but it causes my hubs to sigh a lot. Water skiing is one of his favorite things in all the world and I've told him he should join the team.

They have adults skiing too-

Hubs doesn't have time and of course would never make the practices but he would surely love to be out there doing this-barefoot skiing.

Some say crazy...

...and some say crazy fun.

Gifts from the Sea

My little family of four spent just a few days at the beach right after daughter 2's graduation. I haven't posted any pictures or written any words about those few days because to be honest it was a confusing and difficult time and I wasn't sure I wanted to write anything at all.

As I've thought about that week I recognize in the midst of life's greatest sorrow, we were given a gift. A reminder that in our darkest moments God cares for us.

We were together. All of us in the same place at the same time. I don't believe it was happenstance.

In my family we all love the sea.

Its the place we go to reconnect with ourselves and with each other.

Salt water rolls in with the tide and the tears.

When I am face to face with the sea I remember that God is big.

He knows the end from the beginning.

I stand atop a thousand million tiny seashells resting in the sand and am in awe of a Creator who knows precisely how many lie under my feet.

The birds of the air...

...the fish of the sea...

His eye is on the sparrow and I know it watches me.

On May 8th, 2012 this was our sky-

We sat together and watched as it was painted a thousand shades of pinky golden orange.

Life changed that day in ways we haven't even begun to realize, but this one thing remains constant. God loves us with a love that is wider than the widest sea, deeper than the deepest ocean and more beautiful than the most vivid sunset.

For a moment peace was not elusive, it was there for the claiming.

The sunset felt like it was made just for us.

Perhaps it was.

"How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand..." Psalm 139:17-18 (NLT)

Totally Tubular Hodgepodge Vol 78

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Everyone is invited to play along. Answer the questions on your own blog and then add your link at the bottom of my post. Here are my answers-

1. What's something you miss about the 80's? If you're too young to miss the 80's how about the 90's?

I am definitely not to young to remember the 80's. Ha.

What do I miss? The ability to eat anything I wanted anytime I wanted, college friends, summers as a camp counselor, my hometown church and the people there, scratch n' sniff stickers (hey, I used a lot of them when I worked in public schools), the early John Hughes films that captured the sweet-funny angst of teenage life, videos on MTV, the blissful naivete of life as a newlywed, my first taste of motherhood and an infant in the house, better manners, less political correctness, M*A*S*H, Ronald Reagan, the absence of cell phones in restaurants and everywhere you go, and most especially my dad.

2. Do you have a library card? If so, how often do you visit?

I do have a library card...I've always had a library card I think. I still love libraries but don't visit as often as I did pre-kindle. I read quite a few books electronically now, but I still need to hold a real book in my hand on a regular basis. I'm probably in the library once or twice a month.

3. What's the secret to success?

Philippians 4:11-13 "...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances....I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength."

4. This is National Backyard Games week...what's your favorite backyard game?

Croquet.

We played quite a bit when we lived in England because our backyard was kinda perfect for the game.

It was kinda perfect for lots of things. We have a nice flat side yard here, but those girls went and grew up and got their own apartments.

The Hodgepodge has been quite the stroll down memory lane for me today.

5. If I dropped by today what would I find on your coffee table?

A short stack of four coffee table books from guess where, a couple of magazines, and of course-fingerprints. Who thought glass was a good idea?

6. Do you own a bicycle? When was the last time you rode a bicycle? Is that something you enjoy?

We have bikes here somewhere. Actually I know where they are but I haven't ridden mine since we moved back to NJ. Just getting out of my neighborhood would be a feat...it's hard enough to do it on foot. Gently rolling hills are okay but it's steep here and there aren't shoulders. I love to ride but I'm not hardcore.

7. What's your favorite cheese?

I've yet to meet a cheese I don't love but if I have to pick a favorite I'm going with a nice soft Brie. Preferably bought and eaten here-

... en France. Avec des amis. This little fondue restaurant in Strasbourg supposedly has the biggest cheese board in the world.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Monday morning at my house-

Always an adventure getting the rubbish bin to the curb here in the wilds of NJ.

Let's talk Chicken

Joining the Pinterest party link up today over at Our Front Door. It's where we actually try what we've pinned. If you're here for the questions to this week's Hodgepodge read on...they're just behind this post.

Sunday evening we gave the Grilled Island Chicken a try. I'm always on the lookout for a new way to prepare chicken and I love island flavors. More on the 'island flavors' in a minute, first I need to discuss chicken.

Remember when chicken was a relatively inexpensive dinner option? And why are the boneless pieces of white meat so unappetizingly huge? What in the world are these chickens eating? I rarely buy them anymore because you have to cook them so long to insure doneness and then they're tough. I almost always go with tenders if I'm cooking chicken in the oven or the bone in pieces for the grill.

For this recipe I did use the boneless and hoped the marinade would make them tender. The recipe said there was enough marinade for 2-4 pieces and my two pieces were actually the size of four. Whyyyy?

I love a recipe with just a few ingredients and this one used items I always have on hand. I marinated the chicken in a zip lock bag which means no pan to wash so bonus points for that. I threw these few simple ingredients together in a bowl and whisked away.

There is something very satisfying about whisking don't you think? Pour over the chicken and leave in the frig all day.

Hubs grilled ours but there are oven directions too. btw-that's a half a piece of chicken on the plate pictured below-

The end result? It was just okay. I I think you can get similar flavors using a bottle of store bought Italian dressing as a marinade. The taste was fine and the chicken was moist but neither hubs nor I got the island connection. We both agreed it needed some sort of chutney or fruity salsa on top.

It was simple to make and like I said, I generally have the ingredients on hand so I might make it again but would definitely zhuzh it up by adding a mango or pineapple salsa on top.

So, who has a great grilled chicken recipe?