Chili-Lime Dipping Sauce

This Chili-Lime Dipping Sauce makes a refreshing glaze for the barbecue grilling season upon us.  Chicken, steak, pork or seafood ; we have tried all of above with this glaze. Chili Lime Dipping Sauce is fantastic for dipping kabobs and makes a yummy sauce for dipping chicken wings in for a change from the traditional blue cheese dip.

Chili -Lime Glaze / Dip.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 table spoon olive oil

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic

2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice

*optional 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes if you like a "kick"

Combine all ingredients in a pan, except lime juice, over medium heat, bring to a boil.  Stir constantly and boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lime juice.  Your Chili-Lime Sauce for your Glaze / Dip is ready!

Tonight's dinner is a quick shrimp over rice with the Chili Lime Sauce as our glaze.

Start the saute pan off with thin slivers of green pepper, minced garlic and green onions.  Lightly saute until translucent.  Add shrimp and some Chili Lime Sauce, continue to cook until shrimp done.  Serve over rice.

Dinner is ready!

Well Said Abe

The approach of the birth of our country brings out my red, white and blue. I was inspired to make this subway art by Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address made on November 19, 1863. The speech echoed the principles of human equality embraced by the Declaration of Independence signed on July 4th, 1776.

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Well said Abe.

Red Velvet Brownies

Some days, nothing but a brownie will do.  When that happens, I go with the feeling.  You do too?  Shortcuts are allowed and recommended when that happens I have heard : )

One box of Red Velvet Cake Mix, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 eggs and 1/2 cup melted butter into the mixer.
Mix until ingredients are blended, don't over blend.  Into a 9x9 greased pan.  Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes.  Allow to cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar.

 

Mmmm...no words needed at this moment.



Out Darn Spot

Geez, I hate laundry disasters. Without naming names, a load of new shirts was put into the washer and the dryer without checking pockets. The ink pen damage was discovered while folding this load of clothing. Out Darn Spot research commenced. Okay, make that larger than a "spot",see evidence photos.

 Enter miracle. 

 I purchased the stronger rubbing alcohol version of 91%.  Dab a cotton ball with alcohol undiluted directly on clothing item and dab ink up with paper towel. Repeat procedure as necessary. Put another paper towel behind stain to prevent bleed through of ink.

Yipee-I-Yahoo!!  Out Darn Spot success : )

 Launder as usual.

*For my experiment this worked without harming color or the clothing item.  Proceed at your own risk : )  *see disclaimer at the bottom of this blog.  I don't want to be held responsible for ruining Grandma's vintage apron or Auntie Em's favorite blouse : )  Got that Aunt Em?

Rustic Herb Basket

The aroma of the mixed herb basket as it soaks up sunshine spells summer for me.  I have baskets and planters on the deck filled with various herbs, herbs in the garden and even more herbs by the front entrance to our home.  Inhale the aroma of basil basking in the warmth of the sun as you step through the door...makes me smile every time. 

Gotta love the scraps of wood, wire, hardware cloth that make all the quaint Rustic Herb Baskets. For this post, I am using Hardware Cloth, Twine, Twigs, Coconut Planter Liners and : ) Herbs. Chicken Wire makes cute baskets also.

hardware cloth, twigs and snips or scissors.  Cut off a piece of hardware cloth to make your basket.

Wear gloves to protect your hands.  Turn sharp edges over.

Cut slits in hardware cloth equal distance.  Here, I went with 20 squares over and 20 squares up in the hardware cloth for each corner.

Fold hardware cloth into shape and use twine or wire to secure each flap.

Add coconut liner and twig branches as handles.  Always put your hand under to support basket as the twig branch handles are mostly decorative.

Select herbs and plant!

Sweet little Rustic Herb Basket soaking up some summer...

For the Love of Coffee

 Ice Coffee from a French Press and cold brewed is my companion some most afternoons.  Last week I shared a printable expressing my love for coffee.  You can check it out here.  I was surprised at the number of requests for my recipe for French press cold brewed Ice Coffee this past week. So for the love of coffee I have snapped a few photos during the making of this last batch to share the process/recipe with my fellow coffee addicts enthusiasts.  So without further adieu,

I give you the the Nectar of the Gods...

 

Mexican Ice Coffee

We grind coffee in our kitchen.  For this cold brew Ice Coffee I am looking for a coarse grind in the coffee.

I/3 cup coarse ground coffee beans, 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 whole clove go into the bottom of my French Press.  Fill with cold water, cover and put in fridge overnight or for 12 hours.

Take the French Press out of fridge, plunge the plunger to press grounds to bottom.  Fill mug with ice cubes, yes I freeze leftover coffee so my Ice Coffee will not be diluted with water. 

Now we must make our sweet cream.  Combine one can of evaporated milk with one can of sweetened condensed milk.  Set the Sweet Cream mixture a side for use with future Ice Coffee Mugs.
 

Combine 1/4 cup of our just made Sweet Cream with chocolate syrup.

chocolate flavored sweet cream mix
I reduce some calories by cutting with milk mixed in after my first cup at "full" sweet cream.

Add French Brewed coffee over ice cubes to about 1/2 full of your mug.  Top with Chocolate flavored Sweet Cream you just made to fill your mug to the top.

 

Nectar of the Gods....

I WILL DRINK YOU UNDER THE TABLE

Ahhh, summer time dreaming.  Frosty endless mugs of ice coffee.  Or steaming mugs of hot coffee.  I promise you this, "I will drink you under the table."  I love coffee : )

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Give me a french press for some cold brewed iced coffee and the sunshine to justify the refreshing brew and I will drink you under the table.  Of course, the same holds true with my morning hot brew coffee from a favorite mug.  Have I told you I love coffee?