Green Thumb-date

It’s about time right? Our seedlings hit the ground, literally, back in March (see here) and I want to show you how life in the garden has been.  The Mr. and I have had so much fun tending to our new yard and especially the gardens.  I knew when we bought this house we were in for some fun adventures and this has definitely been one of them.  We truly look forward to lawn work on the weekends: there is something about getting dirty and creating something with your hands that is so rewarding. We are loving it! Ok I’m going to stop being a sapling (Ha! Sorry, I’m done with the corny vegetation puns), and show you our progress.

When we first churned the garden and planted everything this is what it looked like:

With only 2 months time, this is what it now looks like:

Crazy, right? lol

Here are the plants that have taken off in the raised garden.

I have been using the herbs in all of my cooking and totally loved it!

When I prune the herbs I’ve started preserving them for the fall and Houston “winter”. 

It’s weird to start thinking about preserving the herbs when it’s only May, but I guess that is the reality of seasons, right?

You may be wondering about the net in the back left corner.  Our neighbors warned us about the squirrels stealing fruit from their gardens, so we decided to build something to prevent them from getting our fruit while still allowing us to maintain the garden.  Individual cages seemed like too much work to get to each plant.  Instead we purchased some netting and poles and built a little house around the tomato plants using a staple gun to attach it to the fence.  We also put a door on it so that we could enter (well so I can go inside since the Mr. is too tall) to glean the fruit and maintain the garden. So far,

Hawley-1, squirrels- 0

:-)

Any bets on how long this will last?

Just this week the jalapenos and cherry tomatoes have started coming in. 

We are looking forward to some homemade salsa!Do see that spinach?!  This is the Mr.’s favorite plant right now.  I think it's really pretty lol

It’s about ready to be planted next to the lattice.

I can’t wait for a delicious spinach salad!The birds of paradise (left) have such a striking orange color.
For Easter we went away for the weekend (see here), but before we left we had several strawberries that were almost red.  But when we got back they were all gone :-( Since we still have yet to sample our strawberries we’re really hoping this next batch of blooms produces fruit (top right).   I love using fresh parsley (bottom right) in my cooking these days!

The apples (left) have gotten so large the that tree is starting to bend over, especially with all of the rain lately in Houston.  We’ve put up some cages for the branches to lean on.  The oranges (top right) and lemons (bottom right) are coming in, but very few have ripened yet.  I mentioned on Wednesday though how excited I am to start cooking with the lemons :-)To be honest, I really didn’t think the black berries, blue berries, or grapes would work. I have been pleasantly surprised.  They’re growing, and now I’m wondering how they will taste when they ripen.And of course, here are my gardening buddies,

both big and small :-)

Do you have a summer garden growing this year? What have you been growing? Hope y'all have a fabulous weekend!

What I’m Lovin’ Wednesday- Lemons

Remember when I told y’all about planting my lemon tree?  Well the lemons are starting to arrive and I’m so excited!!!!! But I think I’m already getting a little tired of lemonade, so I decided to scroll through what the internet has to offer for lemon recipes.  You know me: I like variety :-)

check ‘em out!

Mason Jar Lemon Meringue Pie // Lemon Meringue Pie S’mores

Lemon Soufflé // Lemon Butter Bundt Cake

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes // Lemon Sugar Cookies with Lemon Buttercream Frosting

Lemon Buttermilk Raspberry Tart // Lemon Rhapsody Cake

 Lemon Crisps // Lemon Cream Roulade

Lemon Bars // Frozen Meyer Lemon Mousse

Meyer Lemon Pudding with Blueberries // Lemon Buttermilk Pancakes

Lemon Pancakes with Lemon Syrup // No-bake Lemon Berry Tarlets

Have you made these before?

What other lemon recipes can you recommend to me?

I can't wait to get cookin'!!!!

CUP-cakes

I’ve got a BIG sweet tooth.  I would definitely consider myself a choco-holic.  Anyone else?
When I get those chocolate cravings, I’ve just got to address them.  If not they get OOC.
However, if I bake something, it’s probable that I might eat the entire baked-good over the next couple days. Not good.
So, instead I’ve found a way to satisfy my occasional sweet tooth without tempting myself with an entire chocolate cake.  This is my sweet tooth compromise :-)
Ingredients
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
pinch of salt
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips, plus extra to sprinkle on top
powdered sugar for sprinkling on top.
*This recipe makes 2 CUP-cakes.
Directions

1. Mix together flour, sugar, cocoa, & salt.
2. Add in milk, melted butter, lightly beaten eggs, & vanilla. Then fold in the chocolate chips.
3. Pour the batter evenly into 2 coffee mugs.  This may seem obvious, but make sure the mugs are microwave safe.  Then sprinkle a few more chocolate chips right on top of the batter.  Remember, the more the merrier ;-)
4. Microwave both cups at the same time for 2 minutes on high.  Each microwave strength is different so make sure you monitor your mugs.  As you watch it in the microwave the batter will rise but will fall back down.  The cakes will be completely cooked but will also have a nice ooey gooey bottom.
5. As the cakes are cooling sprinkle them with some powdered sugar.  The longer the cakes cool that firmer they will be.
6. Go curl up on the couch with your sweetie and your sweet treat.

Have a SWEET weekend friends!!!!!

What I’m Lovin’ Wednesday: The Clean Feeling

If you’re like me, sometimes life gets too busy to do a deep clean around the house.  BUT this doesn’t mean that I don’t like things clean and orderly.  In fact sometimes I can get distracted & frustrated when things are dirty or out of line; it prevents me from focusing on what I really need to be doing.  So here are a few things you can do everyday to keep you feeling clean and tidy when you don’t have enough time to do everything.

Sweep the Kitchen

I don’t know about you, but I hate the feeling of crumbs under my feet.  I want to be able to walk barefooted in my own house, but if I have to step on crumbs or dirt it just makes me feel so icky and frustrated!  Take 2 minutes to sweep the floor in the kitchen, make sure to get around the trash can, in front of the stove, and where ever you do the majority of your chopping.

Keep the Sink Empty

No body likes to do the dishes, myself included, but Mt. Everest in my kitchen sink begins to smell (I know you know what I’m talking about).  So the easiest thing to do is to load the dishwasher throughout the day and then turn it on right before bed.  In the morning when you wake up, empty the cleaned dishes and you’re ready to go for another day with an empty sink.Make Your Bed

When I was a kid I refused to make my bed because I was convinced that it would feel that exact same level of comfort when I returned if I didn’t move the covers.  Well I was wrong.  Really, making my bed in the morning just sets the tone for the rest of the day.  Whenever I make my bed I know a productive day is ahead of me.  When I return to bed in the evening crisp and folded sheets are so refreshing and I drift off to dream land faster.  So while the coffee is brewing in the morning, go make your bed.Clutter Control

Two times a day, once in the morning and once right before bed, go through the common areas and do a 10-15 minute pick-up: put things back in their place, return toys (in my case puppy toys) to the toy box, fluff the pillows, take cups back to the kitchen, etc.

Wipe Off Countertops

I have mentioned before (here and here) how I don’t like clutter on the countertops and ways to de-clutter, but don’t forget to wipe them off.  Nothing is worse than going to write something and while pressing down on the countertop jelly gets all over that thank you note you were writing (this may or may not be a true story. arg!!!!!) Just use water and sponge to wipe down the countertops.  Note that this means you will have to file all of those papers and bills that are lying around in the kitchen <—this is a good thing, and will make you feel so organized!

Laundry in the Hamper

Get the laundry off the floor and out of the reading chair in your bedroom and put it in the hamper.  This does not mean you have to do laundry, just get it off the floor and all in one place.  When you are ready to do laundry you will be ready to go.

Light a Candle

Even when you’re busy and you’re running around like a crazy person, lighting a candle has such a great power of making you feel like you’ve got it all together, like you’re not unraveling.  I personally like citrus smells just because they smell clean.  My favorite right now is Cilantro Citrus from Pier 1.

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I am stopping at 7…..because Hello!!!! You’re busy!  No need to add 8-10 just to have an even, well-rounded number!

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I do these 7 things every day to help me maintain that fresh & serene feeling at home even when I’m crazy busy.  Then when I do have time for a deep clean it’s a lot less exhausting. 

What other tips & tricks do you keep in your bag to make your home feel tidy when you don’t have time to clean?

Happy Wednesday my sweet friends!

Skillet Tamale Pie {{in 30 minutes}}

Happy belated Cinco de Mayo!  Did y’all enjoy your weekend?  I’m still going full-force working towards the end of the semester.  By the end of this week the semester will be over and I will be watching many of my students graduate.  So bittersweet!

This is a meal I cook often during the busy weeks because it is really tasty, super fast to make, and minimal clean up.  I’ve mentioned before that I have a love affair with my cast iron skillet, and it’s true!  I can make dishes with deep flavor and I don’t even have to clean it. In fact, I’m not even allowed to clean it! 

“Heaven!” ……..said every busy woman!

So in case you’ve got a crazy week ahead of you, try this recipe!

Ingredients
2 tbs vegetable oil
1 medium onion, minced
2 tbs chili powder
Salt and pepper
2 tsp garlic powder
1lb ground beef
15 oz. can black beans, rinsed
14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, drained
6.5-8.5oz package of cornbread mix (I used Martha White Sweet Yellow Cornbread or Pioneer Brand) 
1 cup cheddar cheese
2 tbs cilantro
salt and pepper
Garnish with extra cilantro and sour cream

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Heat oil in 12-inch cast iron skillet on medium to medium-high until shimmering. Add onion, chili powder, and ½ tsp salt. Cook for about 5 minutes until the onion is softened. Stir in garlic for about 30 sections. Be careful because garlic burns easily. 3. Stir in ground beef, beans, and tomatoes, and bring to a simmer for about 5 minutes. 4. While the beef is cooking, mix together the cornbread mixture according to the package.
5. Stir cheddar and cilantro into beef mixture, and season to your taste with salt and pepper (I use about 1/2 tsp of each). Pour cornbread mixture over top and spread out to cover the beef mixture in an even layer. 6. Put the skillet into the oven and bake until cornbread is cook through in the center (about 10-15 minutes). Serve with cilantro and sour cream.  If you live in Texas and have access to an HEB I also top mine with their That Green Sauce.
7. Eat and LOVE your life
Have a fabulous week my sweet friends!

Counter Command Center

Did you see all of the alliteration in that title?!?! Yes, I actually took the time to think of that lol  Once a teacher always a teacher, right?

Friends: it’s Friday!! We made it!  This week was nutso!  I have finished two courses completely with final scores submitted and everything.  I will finish the third this afternoon and the last one will be finished next Tuesday. Wahoo!  Can you feel my excitement?! I love my job but I’m really looking forward to summer!

While I’m always busy with school, my kitchen is always busy too.  (Do you sense a theme here?!)   I like to have a lot going on in my kitchen; it just makes life more fun.  Although, for as long as I can remember, I have not liked busy countertops.  I don’t know why, but I just don’t like it lol The rest of my life can be busy but, for whatever reason, the countertops are not allowed to be cluttered.  I’m such a weirdo sometimes! 

HOWEVER, there are some things that are just easier, and convenient, to have on the countertops especially if you like to cook.  Here in lies the problem.  I mentioned before about my problem (and ultimate solution) for my countertop spice rack (see here).  For everything else I have a “command center”.   In the corner of the kitchen I have a white tray filled with all of my daily cooking essentials.

On the tray I have a couple sets of measuring spoons in a coffee mug.  One of the sets I purchased at Anthropologie.  Does anyone else love that store?  I can never get out of that store without purchasing something!

I’ve also got a mortar and pestle for when I cook with fresh herbs from the garden.

Since I tend to bake fairly frequently, I decided not to ever put my measuring cups away (also from Anthropologie).  I just bypass that step and keep them on the tray in the corner.  This way they’re always ready to go for the next batch of cookies :-) Yum!

I never cook with metal utensils.  There a lot of health recommendations that I should be more concerned about than I really am, which would defer me from using metal utensils.  But that isn’t why I use wood or bamboo lol In all honesty, I use wood & bamboo so I don’t scratch my cookware.  The fact that it’s also better for us is just icing on the cake.  I probably have my priorities backwards here but oh well; it all works out in the end.

Of course I can’t forget my little pups!  I also keep a nice jar filled with T-R-E-A-T-S on the counter for easy access.  I have to spell the word in case they hear me since they know that word very well lol

I’ve also got an olive oil cruet with pourer on the tray.  I use EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) all the time so I just keep it on the tray since I know that I’m going to be using it again soon.

So here is my Countertop Command Center. It keeps my kitchen Clean yet Convenient.

Do you have something like this in your kitchen to help keep you organized when the kitchen gets busy?

Have a great Friday and weekend friends!!!!

What I’m Lovin’ Wednesday: My Back-Up Camera

It’s the end of the semester and I don’t know about y’all but I have been so busy lately!  I’ve got piles of papers to grade, exams and quizzes to grade, final scores to submit…and the list could go on forever (I’ll spare you the list because it’s super boring and lame).  I can’t seem to catch my breath, let alone pull out the camera and take real pictures.  If I am lucky to pull out the camera there is certainly no time to edit the pictures.  I am seriously counting down the days to summer so I can tackle all the photos of projects and recipes that have happened around the Hawley house.  Until then, my backup camera (the camera on my phone) will have to suffice! So here are some photos of what's been going on around here lately:

Happy Wednesday my lovely friends! 

Hang in there, it’s almost Friday again!