Basil Walnut Pesto

  

It wouldn't be summer without a batch of pesto! Fresh and green and so yummy. I made this particular batch with walnuts instead of pine nuts to try something new. The results were great! I did, however, add too much garlic, so I will be sure to cut it down to one clove instead of two next time. I adapted Martha Stewart's Every Day Food recipe found [here]and added lemon juice as well.

Cucumber Salad

My mom gave me six cucumbers from her garden this week! I had no idea what to do with that amount of cucumbers so I searched for a cucumber salad recipe. I ended up using a Martha Stewart one that I found [here] It is super easy and quick to make and is a refreshing side dish for a picnic or a simple salad to make for a weekend lunch.

Summer Food.

Nothing says summer to me like a huge jar of homemade pickles. I have fond memories of my Grammy, picking her cucumbers from her own garden and placing them in a jar for future tart pickles. I saw this image on Marthastewart.com and just has to share.

This would be a lovely gift or special treat to make for my own cravings! Find the recipe [here]

I have also been making Mr. Jim's Louisiana Barbecued shrimp a lot this summer [abandoning my vegetarian lifestyle briefly] which is also from Marthastewart.com It is so dangerously simple and so delicious that I want to eat it almost every night! I serve it over cooked rice and with grilled corn on the cob. Find the recipe [here]

Mark, from the quickly growing famous Whimsy & Spice [which is a sweet shop based out of Brooklyn] recently posted on he and his wife's blog a super tempting photo and recipe of crab cakes. Find it [here]

Lastly, I finish it all off with tea, lots of tea. I keep reading about the health benefits of tea that it really feels good to drink it. Cold in the summer with a splash of juice or lemon and hot in the winter with soothing honey. I read this great article this morning titled: "You are What You Drink" I like knowing that I don't "drink my calories" by inhaling soda and nasty chemically enhanced drinks.

A little bedroom inspiration...

I found a great photo gallery on Martha Stewart.com about bedroom decorating. I love this blue/aqua oasis one! Its a dream. The lines of the wallpaper headboard are just so unique and inspiring.

I love the sunshine yellow glow to the wooden chair and the great aqua and yellow accents on the bedding. So fresh and clean and there is no frill and no fuss with the window treatment!Another inspiring color pallet! Gray, pink, light green and dark green. This is also another great headboard with amazing lines. This image is from the stenciling pillowcases article. Check out the steps for stenciling [here]Lastly, I love a good wall collage of frames. This one is particularly nice, with both oval and rectangle frames intertwined.

My only extra though, why is marthastewart.com's photo tag so ugly? [see above image] Is is so not a Martha Stewart typeface!

Easter...Eggs...

In honor of Easter, I thought I would pass along this photo from Martha Stewart's latest magazine edition. These eggs are the most lovely shade of blue and I just adore, simply adore the lace/doily inspiration.
I would also like to try to plant some wheat grass or some herbs in an egg shell. I think the look is just simply peaceful. I bet that the grass doesn't last long, at least it wouldn't in my house, because a cat would nibble on it, for sure.