Enjoy your Weekend

Wishing you a relaxing weekend.  I'll be spending mine sitting in "The Casbah" (aka gazebo) my favorite summer room.

Peonies

These peonies were picked from my garden this weekend.  Peonies seem to have such a short blooming season and heavy rain can make it even shorter.  So as soon as they bloom every June I cut them and enjoy them.  The mint green vase was a garage sale find.

Linked party at Savvy Southern Style and Linda: Coastal Charm

Sunflowers in Mason Jar

These sunflowers were painted in class last week.  My painting class takes place in the back of a framing shop owned by a fellow student and new friend, Elkie.  She placed this frame over the painting and it was magical.  When I brought it home I tried the frame on a few of my painting and it is truly a frame that makes any classic still life look fabulous.  8X10 oil on Gessobord.

Striper Grilled with Chimichurri Sauce

It's summer time and it's all about grilling.  Every week we grill our favorite meat, chicken and fish.  So what brings it up a notch... a spicy bold sauce made with fresh herbs, olive oil and lemon juice... that goes with everything - Chimichurri Sauce.  Yes, it has a few ingredients, but once I make it for the week I use on everything that doesn't move in my refrigerator.  This is my version, a little spicy with a hint of lemon.

This weekend I'm using it on fresh Striper. The boys went on a fishing charter out of the Shark River inlet in NJ in search of Stripers.  Unfortunately, due to the storms the previous week, the bass bite has been off.  So their trip began fishing the Shrewsberry rocks for Black Sea Bass.  After filling the cooler with delicious Sea Bass, they headed south in search of birds and bunker.  The evening started off hooking into a few of the biggest bluefish they have ever seen (Gators Blues).  As the sun began to set the first of three 30 lb. bass took the bait.  Over all, a very successful trip and Striper is the star of our Saturday night dinner for family and friends.

Chimichurri Sauce

2 cups fresh flat leaf parsley
1/2 cup olive oil
3  large gloves finely chopped garlic
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon or to taste (spicy) Sriracha sauce
2 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice

In the food processor, chopped garlic and parsley.  Slowly add the olive oil.  When combined add oregano, salt, cumin, pepper, red wine vinegar, sriracha sauce and lemon juice.  Process, taste and adjust seasoning.

Striper - Grilled

2 lbs fresh striper - cut into 6 oz. pieces
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Lemon Juice

Heat grill to medium.   Rub fish with olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon juice.  Place fish on a oiled grill-pan for the grill and cook for 15 minutes depending on the thickness of your striper.  My piece of striper piece was 1 1/2 inches thick and took about 20 minutes over medium heat.  It's done when it's firm to the touch.  Serve with Chimichurri sauce.

Daisies in Blue Sunflower Pitcher

This 9X12 Oil still life was painted in class.  The blue and green color scheme is very serene and relaxing to the eye.   I hesitated painting the sunflower on the pitcher, but think it brought this painting to life.

Radishes - What's in the Garden

This week the radishes arrived in my garden.   Checked on them every day to see if they were ready and within one day they popped.  Radishes are a cold weather vegetable, which means I was able to plant the seeds 5 weeks ago when it was still quite cold in New Jersey.  Now I must harvest two rows and plan some delicious recipes.  I'm planning to roast some for a side dish and then pickle a bunch to use as an appetizer, and of course use them in salads.  Recipes will follow.

 Back in March I ordered my plants on-line from The Tasteful Garden in Alabama.  The 17 healthy plants arrived about a week ago, but had to be kept warm in the garage because the temperature went down to 37 degrees at night last week.  A friend of mine has ordered from this company before and has been very pleased.  Heirloom tomatoes were a large part of the order, and my favorite tomato name was the "Mortgage Lifter".  So this weekend the weather finally cooperated and I've been busy planting the garden.

Happy Mother's Day

Hope everyone enjoyed their Mother's Day.  I was fortunate to spend the day with my mother, sisters and family.  Life doesn't get any better than a beautiful day spent with loved ones.