Fresh&Vintage

Summer Zucchini & Chocolate Paradise

I always know we're in the height of summer, when a neighbor drops off a bagful of MEGA-ZUCCHINI on my front porch. Any of you had this happen lately? You know the kind of zucchini I'm talking about--the ones that are like the size of a little tykes baseball bat...so big  you're not entirely sure what to do with them.

Whenever I see zucchini like these, I'm aways whisked back to childhood memories of the yummy zucchini breads and deliciously moist chocolate zucchini cake my mom used to make for us when I was a kid. After a friend gave me a batch of king-size zucchini from her parents' garden, I happened to notice this darling little roadside stand along a country road on my way to work the other day.
In other words, it seemed everywhere I turned last week I saw one thing:
ZUCCHINI!

   

Last night while we were enjoying a Sunday evening at home, my sweet husband was craving something yummy so I decided it was finally time to pull out the grater and the old family recipe and make a bit of chocolate paradise.  Kids and veggie-haters alike will fall in love with this cake. The hint of spice in this treat is like a transitional backdrop that somehow prepares both the pallet and the heart for  fall traditions that are looming right around the corner.

Feel free to bump up the spices (I added an extra 1/2 tsp cinnamon) and/or the cocoa (I used 3/4 c) a bit if you'd like a more intense flavor in the cake.  I was a little short on all-purpose flour so I used cake flour instead and the cake I baked last night turned out extra moist and fluffy.
I hope you enjoy~~eva

Ps. I'm not sure how my mom did it but she actually used to make the most amazing zucchini bread and then can it in wide-mouth Mason Jars. That way, the cupboard was stocked for months to come with a ready-made preservative free after school snack for us kids.  It's recalling memories like this that make me realize just how hard my mom worked to make life sweet when I was a child. Thanks Mom!

Ooooooohhhh-thinking of the canned zucchini bread made me do a google search for a recipe and I just found this. I'll ask Mom to compare her recipe (if she still has it) to this one and let you know if I try it out. Anyone have any other good ideas for cooking up these mega squash??

"Taking one for the team...TEAM MARIE that is!"

My friend Marie is a person who brightens the whole room when she enters.
She has a contagious smile and equally infectious laugh. 
Marie is kind, caring, and beautiful.

Over the past few months, my friend Marie has been faced with one of those life-altering things that no one ever wants to go through: divorce.
I don't care how you slice it, divorce is a difficult trial. Think about it, how many times have you heard a story told, whether in real life or in a book or movie, when the protagonist says something along the lines of
...."I had just gone through a difficult divorce..." 
Yet, you never hear anyone talk about their "easy divorce."
When you love a friend the way I do Marie, you want to be able to help to do something, anything...when life gets tough. In many instances, helping a friend through a hard time has come fairly easy for me, but with something as painful and all-encompassing as divorce I've  found myself faced with a different kind of challenge. I have been very blessed in my life when it comes to marriages making it through the rough and tumble of life's challenges. My parents are celebrating their 45th anniversary (today actually-wtg Mom & Dad-I love you both so much!) and my in-laws are in their 43rd year right now.  These marriages have brought great comfort and stability to my life--that's not to say nor imply that they've never had problems--it's the fact that they do both have problems and trials yet somehow continue to love and work on their marriages that brings the stability, and I am grateful for that. Life's not always like that though and once I knew Marie's divorce was inevitable, I really struggled to know exactly how I could help...I knew I loved her and wanted to be a supportive friend...but I also knew I had no experience to offer.

A group of my close friends (the ones who introduced me to Marie) felt largely the same way as I did. For the most part, none of us have much experience with divorce but we do have a lot of experience with unconditional love, compassion, and lending a listening ear. A collective desire to rally around our friend and offer support (emotionally and financially...uggghhhh divorce is expensive) somehow organically led to the formation of TEAM MARIE!

We made shirts for the team and all showed up at GNO a few months ago wearing our new team logo and then donned Marie with her own shirt that proudly states "I AM MARIE!"  Of all the things we wanted to do, we wanted to remind Marie that she needs to remain proud of WHO she is: a strong, loving, wonderful person who will survive this trial in her life with loving friends surrounding her through the rough spots in the journey. TEAM MARIE immediately started planning a rummage sale, a bake sale...anything we could think of to raise money to help with the additional expenses of divorce and life as a newly single mom.

We also told Marie we'd be in our TEAM MARIE gear and ready to help pack boxes once she found a new home. That's exactly what we did too...and it felt so good. I saw the expressions on Marie's face when she'd stop to glance at her friends  all sporting black with bold white letters screaming TEAM MARIE. Even though she was feeling vulnerable and weak on the inside, she knew she could keep going and be strong with the reinforcements offered from loving support all around her. I'm not even sure who's brain child TEAM MARIE was originally but I'm so proud that we followed through, and even more proud that Marie is doing so well, in spite of this trial she never thought she'd be going through.

If you have a friend going through divorce (or any difficult trial, for that matter) never underestimate how much your support can help them.  And...if like Marie...you are going through a divorce right now...TEAM MARIE is here for you. Feel free to tell your friends they'd  better make t-shirts that say TEAM YOUR NAME on them and help you make it through this nasty mess. On the other side of  the tears and anguish of this trial sits the rest of your life, waiting for you to embrace it with a big Marie-like smile.

For my parents who have made it through an amazing 45 years together, thank you so much for teaching me how to be a friend to others, even when life takes the unexpected and sometimes ugly turns. You've both always been there for me and have shown me that you don't turn away when friends and family are in trouble. I love you for that. Happy Anniversary!

It may seem strange to post about divorce while also celebrating a milestone wedding anniversary like 45 years, but the truth is... my parents' marriage and their example of how to make it through tough times and how to be a friend is part of who I am...it's part of why I can and will be here for Marie while she battles this one out.  Life is  full or beautiful ironies I suppose...and this is just another example.

To Marie and my teammates..thanks for being such good examples on how to be a real, bona fide, through and through FRIEND!
I love you all very much~E

Ps. True story here: At the TEAM MARIE rummage sale (over Memorial Day weekend), we met a woman who was shopping for a high chair and a few other baby items. Our shirts got her asking questions, and so the story unfolded.  Her response: "I want friend's like Marie's..."  Giselle (the woman we met that day) now has her own TEAM MARIE shirt and has started joining in on the fun. Spreading true friendship is contagious so create a team near you :)

Tag...I'm it!

Blogging is so much fun...it's a way to keep in touch, to learn, to vent, to journal, to share creative  projects, swap delicious recipes, find great items to buy, to make new friends and .... to play childhood games like TAG! I've been tagged before and am sorry to say I've never yet joined in.  It's not because I don't think tagging is fun...just plain and simply... I rarely have the time on my hands needed to follow through. My sweet friend (whom I met through BLOGGING btw) Jenn just tagged me though and this one was simple which is perfect for me--the biggest challenge was keeping the responses down to one word.

The Rules: Answer the questions using only one word. Then tag four others.

1. Where is your cell phone? counter
2. Your significant other? strong
3. Your hair? roots
4. Your mother? loveable
5. Your father? sentimental
6. Your favorite thing? cooking
7. Your dream last night? weird
8 Your favorite drink? soda
9. Your dream/goal? mission
10. The room you’re in? office
11. Your hobby? sewing
12. Your fear? snakes
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? secure
14. What you’re not? boring
15. Muffins? pumpkin
16. One of your wish list items? vacation
17. Where you grew up? Oregon
18. The last thing you did? scolded
19. What are you wearing? sweats
20. Favorite gadget? computer
21. Your pets? none
22. Your computer? hewlitt
23. Your mood? hungry
24. Missing someone? yes
25. Your car? reliable
26. Something you’re not wearing? socks
27. Favorite store? here!
28. Like someone? yes
29. Your favorite color? green
30. When is the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? weeks

I'm tagging: Tara, Tiffany, Sharese, Natalie 

P.s. Here's a sneak peek of recipes coming SOON!

Pss. Click this logo to find more fab recipes

Psss. RUN... do NOT walk on over to Old Red Barn Co. blog to enter to win this beautiful quilt

made in Sandi Henderson's Farmer's Market fabric.

A scone to remember...

A few years ago, my mom and I found ourselves in
the middle of a new obsession...
a hunt for recipes and techniques for creating the perfect tea scones.
If you live out west, the word scone might
conjure up thoughts of large pieces of
fried bread smothered in honey butter or blackberry syrup. ..
oh how I used to love gobbling those type up at the county fairs in Oregon and Utah when I was a kid.

Tea scones are different though and well worth being introduced to:

In the pastry lineup somewhere between a biscuit and a muffin, these
cream scones are an amalgam of crispy yet soft, sweet with a hint of savory while also providing a subtle explosion of flavors like cinnamon, cherry, and pecans all with the "comfort food"  feel of
cream lingering in the background.  Add a touch of lemon curd and you'll feel like you're having afternoon tea with the queen.

I had breakfast guests from Baltimore this past Friday and we enjoyed a spread of scones and berries out on the back porch. It was a perfect way to start a weekend.  In keeping with the cook it, blog it venture with  Patty (thanks so much for the shout out on your blog sweetie!) I really wanted to share this recipe with you.
I hope you enjoy
...oh...and thanks for all of the sweet emails and comments about the blueberry muffin recipe.
I think you'll love this one just as much-we sure do!

Much like biscuits, tea scone dough takes a bit of TLC to create perfectly so I have included lots of pictures to help you master the recipe. Helpful hints include: keeping the butter as cold as possible (I cut the butter into small pieces and place it into the freezer before mixing it into the flour) and blending the dough together as little as possible.

My favorite store-bought lemon curd comes from Trader Joe's but if you don't have a TJ's nearby,
this version by Dickinson's comes in as a very close second and is available at most grocery stores
like Kroger or Smith's next to the jams and jellies.

Leave me a comment and you just might win a gift from me including some recipe cards and something pretty sewn by me for your table.

Ps. Remember my landscaping adventure and the "dead grass dilemma"? Well...look how nicely my tender little guys are coming along now? I should have a full yard of lush new grass in another few weeks. Thanks for all of your hints for helping us along to greener grass ;)

Oh Beautiful for Spacious Skies...muffins and mentos, anyone?

To kick off our Fourth of July Holiday weekend, I started off the day yesterday by making these super yummy Blueberry Muffins. I've been needing to blog a recipe ever since agreeing to join in with my friend Patty on this fun new Cook It, Blog it! project.

Click here to join in on the blog or just to find some great recipes.  I hope you're all enjoying the holiday weekend.  Try out these muffins to sweeten up your weekend. I've made them twice in the past 2 days; once with frozen blueberries and once with fresh ones.

The fresh blueberries took "best in show" in the minds and mouths of everyone here in the Taylor homestead.  It's a good thing blueberries are in season right now and I still have another pint in the refrigerator to use for some Sunday after church treats.

So far, we've eaten muffins, enjoyed an early morning flag ceremony and breakfast with our ward at church, had a bbq and gone swimming with friends, and lamented the fact that the legalized fireworks here in Ohio are not quite as exciting as the ones in Tennessee. They're more like mini sparklers and colored smoke clouds--next year I guess we'll need to make the drive across the state line to the Fireworks Superstores where they sell fireworks that are seriously bigger than a car battery.

The kids had to get creative this year and go for some Mentos and Diet Coke eruptions to liven up the patriotic festivities.  They want to do a repeat of this tonight so I'll try to get some more pictures. Enjoy your weekend.
Lots of hugs~Eva

As Summer Blazes on by...blogging retroactive

Sheesh! I guess it's about time that I pick up where I left off after my last blog post. Ever since I returned home from my trip to Portland, the summer schedule has been jam packed. I've been dying to get back to my blog.  And, after many email jolts from lots of you and my friend even issuing "the threat" as she calls it  (to delete my link from her blog for not posting that is),  I decided it was time to dive back in.  Am I alone here, or do others of you find yourself taking loads of pictures intending to later "blog the moment" but then as life raising kids and running a business takes over, you end up with 100's of pictures to upload and not knowing which story to tell or how to even begin?! Well, that's exactly where I find myself. 
So... lucky you my dear readers,  you now get
to deal with my BLOGGING RETROACTIVE-- maybe I'll start a trend here.  I'll begin with what I've been up to the past few days and move backward over the next few posts through some of the fun things we've been up to this summer--there are plenty of pictures to share that's for sure!

Any landscapers or green thumbs out there? I've been doing yard work non-stop for the past 3 days; I think that seeing all of my mom's beautiful irises  while in Oregon inspired me to get things spiffed up in my own neck of the woods. Word to the wise though...never ever ever believe it when you read on the packaging that weed and crabgrass killer won't kill your lawn.  My poor front yard looks like it's been through some kind of chemical warfare (I guess technically it has, but still!) I've spent hours and hours painstakingly fixing yellowed grass patches and re-designing the overall landscape in our front yard--going for a more colorful, texture filled curb appeal here. Since hydration of both the plants and the planter (moi) is key while gardening, I pulled out my thermal Oregon mug to keep the ice water chilly out in the 90 degree heat.

After removing  a tree from the front yard  and tilling through all of the dead spots in the grass,  I've been adding some lush top soil and then using Patch Master to repair the lawn.  It's a good thing my sweet friend Tricia came to the rescue--her yard was a casualty to weed killer last year so she knew just how to help me. Here are some "work in progress" pictures.  I'll be sure to share photos of the landscape overhaul  once all the grasses, trees, hydrangeas, lilies, and hostas are all transplanted and looking great. I've been trying to keep the kids off the yard with my best Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite impression by referring to my seedlings as "tender little guys!"   Wish me luck--my grass seedlings should be looking nice within a week or so!  If I'm really lucky, all of these tropical grasses  that I've planted will be settling nicely into their new home as well. 

Be  back to blog  some more of June in a day or two. Hugs to all!