Simple Girl

Summer up North means going to the cabin.  If you don't own a cabin, you probably know someone that does. Your parents, your brother, an uncle, some good friends, a really nice neighbor.....  Eventually, you'll get invited.  This week we are hanging out with my in-laws.  Seventeen of us.  (Some of them couldn't come.)  My brother-in-law has a habit of picking out remote locations.  Locations without cell phone reception.  Or Wi-Fi.  Communication may be spotty.  Which is why I brought muffins.  Well, muffin batter, to be exact.  This is the perfect recipe for bringing to the cabin.  You make it in advance in a gallon ice cream bucket and it stays good in the fridge for at least a week.   What I really like about this recipe, besides the fact that the muffins are delicious, is that it uses up key ingredients.  Like a whole quart of buttermilk.  And an entire box of Raisin Bran. Just bake a fresh batch as needed!  Like after a long mor

Do you know what Maple Bacon Cupcakes taste like?  Breakfast.  There's just no getting around the fact that when you put two cups of real Maple syrup into cupcake batter, it just brings you back to stacks of pancakes at the cabin. And do you know what stacks of pancakes at the cabin remind me of?  My grandpa.  When he was a young man, he worked as a lumberjack and the fuel of choice was stacks and stacks of pancakes.  And what goes with pancakes? Bacon. It's the perfect garnish for these breakfast-y tasting treats. I'm still baking my way through Martha Stewart's Cupcakes  book!  Despite my concern about putting a full two cups of maple syrup in the batter, I was not disappointed.  The cupcakes have a delicious, but not overpowering maple flavor.  Rather than Martha's Maple Buttercream (which involved egg yolks and candy thermometers), I made a maple cream cheese frosting because cream cheese frosting goes with everything and I'm in love with it.

So maybe this is a bit too easy to be blog-worthy, but I love ideas that are sweet, simple and to the point!  I'm hosting 20 of my favorite in-laws for Father's Day tomorrow and needed to set up three tables.  I've seen edible centerpieces.  Why not drinkable ones? Dad's Root Beer needs no explanation or further ornamentation for the Father's Day theme and I love the fact that they still come in these cute old-fashioned bottles!  These inexpensive centerpieces will do double duty.  After dinner, we'll have Root Beer (Or Orange Cream) Floats for dessert!  Don't forget these cute paper napkins and paper straws from Target! To change things up a bit, put small glass jars inside the cardboard carrier and fill them with wild flowers. I'm also displaying these framed 8 x 10 posters which you can down load HERE and HERE ! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Whenever my mother-in-law comes to visit, she always brings me a little something.  She's thoughtful like that. Recently she arrived with a beautiful wildflower arrangement.  Even more than the flowers (they were beautiful), I just loved the vases! Three little bottles inside a chicken wire basket. I refilled them with some lilacs from our yard.  I will definitely be using these all summer.  I always find that the tricky thing about wild flowers is getting enough of them to make a statement.    By filling little bottles contained in a basket, the flowers create a presence suitable for any table!  My entire kitchen now smells like lilacs.  Ahhh...... Spring! THIS POST MAY BE LINKED TO:  MONDAYS :    MADE BY YOU MONDAY ,   FLOUR ME WITH LOVE ,  MANIC MONDAY ,  TUESDAYS :  TALENT SHOW TUESDAYS , TRICK OR TREAT TUESDAY  , GET YOUR CRAFT ON ,     MANDY'S RECIPE BOX    WEDNESDAYS :   WORKS FOR ME WEDNESDAY ,   GINGER SNAP CRAFTS ,     THURSDAYS : ,  STRUT YOUR STUFF ,   F

My SIL, Rita, came over for dinner recently and brought this amazingly fresh and summery Strawberry Salsa.  Of course, being the good blogger that I am, I immediately took a picture of it and asked her for the recipe! Bits of jalapeno and red onion balance out the sweetness of the strawberries and a cream cheese base gives it a rich and tangy edge.  Serve it with Lime Tortilla Chips for a delightful, summery appetizer! Rita's Fresh Strawberry Salsa 1 pound strawberries, diced 9 Tbsp uncooked red onion(s) – ( ½ Large red onion) 9 Tbsp cilantro, fresh, chopped – ( 1/3 bunch) 3 Tbsp jalapeno pepper(s), minced – ( 1 large seeded jalapeno) 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice 1 tsp lime zest, finely grated – ( I grated ¾ lime) ½ tsp kosher salt  ½ tsp ground cumin Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Enjoy! Optional version – spread 1 tub light whipped cream cheese on a platter then top with salsa and garnish, ***The recipe states to serve i

I just love it when I run across a mom that is creative, inspiring and thinks outside the box. Case in point, this adorable Scandinavian inspired birthday party! When Violet turned eight,  her mom invited all the second grade girls to a Scandinavian brunch,  complete with traditional Dala Horses . Second grade girls are definitely big enough to use real silverware and drink from goblets. Avoiding paper products is eco-friendly and definitely Scandinavian! So much nicer, too, don't you think? Brunch consisted of Swedish Pancakes with fresh berries, Lingonberry Butter and bacon.   A squeeze of lemon is also very Scandinavian. A traditional celebration cake was a show-stopper with layers of cake, fresh whipped cream, fresh berries and mint. Oh, so delicious! Beautifully wrapped party favors awaited guests. Inside, a useful Dala Horse Cookie Cutter! Can't wait to use ours! Happy Birthday, Violet!