Spanakopita

Spanakopita

I've been promising this recipe for a little while
I hope you like it. It's the basic. Be sure to read
more at the link at the bottom, & try some of the other recipes
suggested. Please comment if you use this recipe as is
or tweak it.

preheat oven to 350

Ingredients:
1lb mozzarella cheese, shredded/grated
3 10 oz boxes frozen spinach
1 12 oz container of Feta cheese pieces
4 eggs
salt
pepper
nutmeg
1 1lb box of phyllo sheets


Directions:
add cheeses to a large bowl and mix together

thaw and squeeze all excess water(very important step) from spinach and chop finely

add to cheese and mix thoroughly break up any small parts to have an even blend.

in another bowl crack and whip your eggs, add about 1 tsp. salt and1 1/2 tsp. black pepper 1 1/2 tsp. nutmeg

pour into spinach & cheese mixture and mix together.



open your phyllo and flatten on working surface.
(scoop out a heaping tablespoon for hor d'vours. or for entree about 1/3 cup onto one corner of dough.)



for appetizer fold 1 sheet over top & proceed to roll in a triangular fashion over spinach mix to end. The same folding method is used for larger portions use about 3 sheet for entree. (see photos for folding technique like paper footballs)







traditionally oil or an egg wash is brushed onto the dough to give it a nice color, I spray with a light layer of nonstick spray



for appetizers cook 11 minutes. then flip & cook an additional 6 minutes.
for entrees double these times.


These are the appetizer sized portions I made for my daughter's class this morning)


I always serve with a small amount of salad and another vegetable as a meal (as first pictured).

I do not get creative with more herb or onions in this recipe it is the basic.
Please feel free to tweak to your tastes.

this recipe made 4 full sized + 36 appetizer sized portions (you can pre-make this and freeze your triangles in wax paper) although phyllo is a fickle bird. if left out it gets brittle, if wet it get super sticky.

It is mostly eaten as a snack in Greece
In rural Greece, smaller amounts of spinach are used, with the missing part substituted with leeks, chard, and sorrel
The pastry is similar to torta pasqualina, a traditional dish from Italy's Liguria region, that is very common in Argentina and Uruguay.

It can also be made with puff pastry

Read More about Börek style pastries
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burek

Have a Nice Day
~V
Keep It Green

Potato Pone

Although it's not the prettiest gal on the block
She sure is a sweet, tasty treat.

This recipe has variations from Africa, West India, Jamaica, Belize, & Europe
It is worth a research to taste them all.

This is our families' favorite Sweet Potato Pone recipe


Ingredients:
2 cans sweet potatoes (29 oz.)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
1 stick of butter
2 tablespoons vanilla
1 1/4 cups of flour
1/2 cup of raisins



Directions:
Drain potatoes.
Put in mixer bowl and add butter, sugar, egg vanilla.
Gradually add flour. When mixed, stir in the raisins.
Put into a 9 X 13 greased baking dish.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes at 400 degrees until the edges are light brown and is set.

Tiny Trees on a Tray

I've seen similar trees in one of my favorite catalogues for years at quite exhorbant pricing and had a little leftover oasis this year and decided What The Hey!

The most worrysome part of this project is cutting the oasis, it's dusty and messy (wet or dry) but it is so worth it in the end. I was going to Just Do It and have my kids oh and ahh and that be the end of it. But I put my 5 1/2 yr old daughter in charge and it was just the right kind of project for her.
I cut the stems (branches) all the right size and just let her go at it, and it's one of the most perfect decorations in our house. (both to look at & for fragrance)
And will be as much as a tradition in the future as making Gingerbread houses.

The oasis I had was in a square portion but you may be able to purchase cones and spheres as well.
So I recycled the old Oasis and cut it down into triangular shaped forms. (Shown here)Soaking in a bowl of water.

Arborvitae required quite a bit of branches. But was fun all the more.
We started from the bottom & worked our way up. We had to have longer stems for the damaged parts of the oasis.



Fraiser Fir was quite sappy & sticky
I plan to let my youngest finish up the boxwood tree tomorrow whilst I start the Holiday Baking.

Watch for homemade Grasshopper Cookies Recipe

Tomato Cage Topiary

This thought came to me all of a sudden this week as I was looking over the prices of live trees to put into my pots.
I had some extra greenery cut so I put my mind to work how to use it up
Repurpose your Tomato cages from the garden

This is a daytime and a nighttime view of my finished trees, They are large enough to make a statement in daylight or nighttime and the design can be more elaborate if you wish adding ornaments or garlands. I was simply using what I had around (the least expensive options)

Materials Needed:
Tomato Cages
Floral wire
Fresh Cut Greenery (16" pieces are optimal)
Embellishments (lights, Ornaments, Toppers)
one wire hanger cut into 6" pieces and bent into a U-shape to hold down tree into soil)

I started with an assortment of Tomato cages, and chose the least damaged of what I had.
I wired the tops to make a sort of teepee form

Then I started adding my greenery it was already cut into about 16" pieces since I was putting together wreaths and garland(Check out past blog posts from 2012). More pieces can be put into a bucket and cut into to make those. (it takes about 1/2 -3/4 a five gallon bucket to make each tree)
I used Sea Green Junipers for the ones pictured.

Wrapping once across the branch, under the first rung in the cage and back around is enough to hold on your branches.
If it seems thin push branches to one side and add a couple more.
You are really just creating an illusion, so unless you're going to have a professional checking out your work, the imperfections are what actually give this project its charm.
I topped off my Tree Creations with what ever red flowers I had around (they were inexpensive Dollar Store finds)
I also topped the very top with just a little fraiser fir branches. Just because.
We added a strand of solar led lights to each tree.

I'm thinking you could make a thin taller tree if you wired two cages together, and smaller one with cones of chicken wire. (Or even other topiary shapes it's only limited by the imagination)

Christmas decoration don't have to be costly or fancy to make the season special. Family & Friends and never forgetting the True Meaning of Christmas makes for a much more memorable & fulfilling Time.

Living Simpler is goof for you and good for the planet.


Here is a Sneak Peek of the next installation of our Christmas Decorating with the Kids.
Tiny Trees on a Tray

Blueberries are a Win Win planting choice

Growing Blueberries ~ As a Hedge

Everconsidered an edible hedgerow?
Blueberries are perfect, you get 4 seasons of interest, wildlife food, early flowers for bees, and best of all an healthy treat for you.
Planting in a row also allows you to easily cover if you wish to do so to protect from the birds. (although if you plant an entire hedge there should be enough for all)
http://www.plantra.com/Blueberry-Netting
Choose your varieties for your spaces and or containers. They range in heights from 18 - 24 inches tall to over 8 feet.
Check with your local extension office for the varieties that grow best in your region.
Blueberries are naturally pest resistant so they are great for growing organically.
They do like acidy soil Pine Straw is a way to make the soil perfect organically as it breaks down.

Most bluberries bloom white but I know of one variety we added to our double lined patch that blooms a pink color. 'Sunshine Blue' it is also supposed to be a bit more compact. they have withstood alot of dry times already since planting in May/Mothers Day I am even giving one a try in a porch container to accompany my other small variety 'Top Hat.'



The foilage in the winter is sparce and twiggy but mine never loose all of their leaves.
Summer they bush out and are quite dense. one practice to add to maintenance each year. Remove dead or damaged branches. Blueberries bear in the summer, I try to make sure fruit is really plump by giving supplemental water at least every other day.



Fall you get amazing colors and in a mass hedge planting this can be absolutely stunning.
If you want to grow your stand after you see how quick and easy blueberries are to grow. You can dig new rooted shoots from the base of the plant in the winter (we do it about Feburary here in SC)
I hope this inspires you to plant a couple Blueberries, they are easily incorporated into landscaping, even existing planting beds.



Thank You for taking the time to check out this post
Green It Forward. EarthSource Services ~Victoria
(photos in the blog are not mine)

Feeling A Little Blue ~ 2 Blueberry Recipies

Here are two awesome Seasonal Recipies
Nothing beats fresh fruit



Blueberry Yum Yum



Crust:
• 1 cup flour
• 1 stick margarine
• 1 cup chopped nuts
Filling:
• 8 ounce cream cheese,softened
• 8 ounces whipped topping
• 1 cup sugar
Topping:
• 2 cups fresh SC blueberries
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch, mix with water


Mix ingredients for crust.

Press into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Bake at 350F. for 20 minutes. Let cool.

Mix cream cheese and sugar for filling.

Add whipped topping. Spread on cooled crust.

Cook berries, sugar and water approximately 15 minutes.

Add cornstarch and cook until blueberries thicken.

Cool mixture. Spread on top of cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate.I find this dessert is best when left to sit for at least 6 hours before serving.

Updated with Step by Step Pictures July 4th, 2013 1:05a.m. est ~Victoria






BERRY BLONDIES

16 blondies at 38 cents each

6 oz good quality or premium white chocolate, chopped
5 T unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 eggs
2/3 C sugar
1 teas vanilla extract
1 1/3 C all purpose flour
1 teas baking powder
½ teas salt
1 C fresh raspberries
1 C fresh blueberries


Position rack in middle of oven. Heat to 325. Line 9x9x2 inch square
baking pan with foil; grease

In metal bowl, set over saucepan of barely simmering water, melt white
chocolate and butter, stirring until smooth. Let cool to room temp

In large bowl, beat eggs, sugar, vanilla on medium speed until
thickened and pale, about 3 mins. On low, gradually beat in chocolate mixture.
Into a bowl, sift flour, baking powder, salt. Beat into chocolate
mixture until combined. Spread evenly in prepared pan. Sprinkle with
berries.

Bake in middle of 325 oven until top is very lightly browned but center
still soft when lightly pressed, 45 to 50 mins. Let cool completely in
pan on rack. Blondies are easiest to cut if chilled, but serve at room
temp for best flavor

Benefits of Raised Bed Gardening

These Are NOT my Words or Pictures
I just think this is an easy explaination on this topic,
and it could have been my words I thing it is put excellently
Just wanted a disclaimer on this so no one get ticked ;)
Words By : Lynnae McCoy
Though it’s tempting to just hoe out a patch of ground and plant some seeds, I’m convinced that the initial work we put into building raised garden beds will pay for itself in the long run. Why? Let me count the ways
1. Weed Control. Because a raised garden bed is planted above existing soil, you can put down weed barriers between the ground and the soil you put in your garden box. If you’re diligent to use weed-free soil in your box, any weeds in your garden should be few and far between.
2. Pest Control. Our neighborhood has a little gopher problem. If I were to plant my seeds directly into the ground, the gophers could eat my garden right up. But with a raised bed, I can put chicken wire down beneath my garden, keeping the underground critters out. And if I have to, I can make a little chicken wire cage to place above my garden box, keeping out other animals.



3. Better Soil. When you plant a garden directly in the ground, you need to start with the soil that’s already there, and that soil might not be ideal for gardening. You can add things to it to make it better, but it may never be ideal. However, when working with a raised garden bed, you can use whatever soil will work best for your garden, right from the get-go.
4. Portability. What happens if you move? With an in-ground garden, you leave it behind, and start all over at your new place. But if you use a raised garden bed, particularly a small one like a square foot garden, you can bag up your soil and take your garden box with you. At least that’s what I did when I moved.
5. Higher Yields. Because of the better soil used in raised bed gardens, they tend to have higher fruit and vegetable yields than traditional row gardens.



6. Accessibility. One of the best things about raised bed (specifically square foot) gardens is their accessibility. Because each garden block is only 4′ x 4′, you can easily reach every single plant to water, inspect, and pick the produce.
7. Adaptability. For those who aren’t mobile enough to get down on the ground to reach their gardens, small raised beds are adaptable. Just put the garden on a tabletop. Since the garden is not dependent on soil beneath the box, you can put your garden box anywhere you like.
8. Frugality. Seeds are expensive. In a traditional row garden, you scatter the seeds, then thin the plants as they grow, wasting seeds. In a raised bed garden, you plant only the amount of seeds you need. Properly stored, the additional seeds will be good for another year or two, saving you money on next year’s garden.
9. Longer Growing Season. Gardening seasons depend on the temperature of the soil. The ground in a 4′ x 4′ box will warm up more quickly than the ground under the lawn. In addition, it’s relatively simple to make a cold frame for a raised garden bed to extend the gardening season further.
10. Aesthetically Pleasing. Raised garden beds look neat and tidy. In addition, if you’re a creative person, you can make some pretty cool looking gardens. Your garden could easily become the focal point of your yard.

Earth Is NOT A Disposable Planet

I am hopping upon my soapbox this A.M. because I am just disgusted at the number of the population that wears the Green Shield but with not a care in the world about actual daily Green practice of some kind to Save the Planet.
Wearing conservationalist tshirts and carring a couple cases of bottled water in the trunk does not a EcoWarrior make. Kind of Contradictory since plastic bottles are a problem in landfills.
Those of you who purchase the reusable shopping bags and put the plastic one inside them, kind of a joke isn't it...?

Buying foods from a grocery or superstore are everyday practice and there are some things you can get nowhere else, but when I ask our future (kids) where your veggies come from and 75% respond with WalMart it absolutely breaks my heart. As it should others too.

It is sad that the family unit is not what it used to be. It was once a standard practice, to teach the children how to do things that were meaningful to family, home, & body. Things were done with togetherness, a pride in heritage, and a thirst for knowledge. Now a trip to the superstore results in alot of unhealthy habits being instilled. Convenience does not have a Conscience.

A starting point in solving alot of the issues today, starts with kids of tomorrow. In history every generation has had a choice of poisons for the populations, envoronmentally, mentally, socially, and physically. If I am not mistaken it is from some unnatural chemical. From Genetically Modified Organisms, to Artificial additives into all sorts of different living venues. I do not believe Science is required a long enough testing window to accurately access the outcome of llongterm build up of their Frankenstein Products.

But back to my original thought, Kids need to be made knowledgable of their foods, origins, additives, unknowns. Educational tools are being removed from the systems cirriculum that are vital for children to be knowledgable and make better decisions. School lunchroom are an atrocity, and it is such a joke that alot of kids think chicken is a nugget, a joke I personally do not deem funny.

Children need to let the Growing of their food catch them in the time of their lives when there is the largest sparkle in their eyes. A love for growing and understand that it is a good thing is something that grows stronger when it is nurtured. Families who garden together are healthier in the top most meaning of that word, in all facets of life. Kids needs to feel the life in the soil and watch it feed their food to understand. They also need to meet the farmers in Fresh Markets allow them to really talk, and question. They will increase their level of awareness of the entirety of the world of they are given the proper opportunities. Their questions are important to them, do not discount their validity at any time.
They will grow in the garden, just like the plants, and they will learn to keep the Earth clean from evil contaminates. Grow Green Kids because maybe they will make better decisions than our ancestors, and they will make a difference. It has to start with a few real changes in the parents though, Parents are you willing to teach Green Practices, it takes dilligent consistancy.

I have been guilty of making bad environmental decisions in the past, And yes because of my circumstances and location I do have to visit Walmart But I do try to make a difference by making and teaching my kids the most EcoFriendly and sustaniable ways of doing things. We are lucky enough to live in an area where we can grow our own seasonal vegetables and we do. I have also made it my mission to teach as many children as I can where their food comes from, and I hope it makes that difference we all desperately need to continue to survive on this life pulsating rock called Earth ;)

Do or Do Not.There is No Try. ~ Yoda

Irish Potato Candy

Erin Go Braugh
A little taste of the Irish

ENJOY A FREE PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD

IRISH POTATO CANDY

This recipe will serve three candies per each guest of dinner for four.

4 tablespoons of mashed cooked potatoes
2 tablespoons of butter
2 teaspoons of milk
1 cup confectioners' sugar, if mixture doesn't get stiff like dough, add a little more until it does.
2 cups peanut butter

Step 1. Mix together potatoes, butter, and milk. Add enough powdered sugar to make a stiff dough.
Step 2. Roll out on a flat surface sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Step 3. Spread on a layer of peanut butter and roll up. Place on cookie sheet and chill for at least 1/2 hour and then slice in 1/2 inch thickness.
Step 4. Wrap each slice in gold/yellow plastic/Syran wrap and return to refrigerator until just before serving.
Step 5. Place three wrapped Irish potato candies in the Shamrock Favor Cup.

HELP YOURSELF TO A FREE PRINTABLE SET OF SEED PACKETS

HAVE A GREAT HUMPDAY ~V

Amazing No Knead Bread

This was sent to me from another website for a Facebook Group I coordinate posts for

Amazing No Knead Bread

We have done this recipe for no-knead bread ages ago - and it is one I use on almost a daily basis - and I got asked for it again just recently. It is excellent, SO easy.
I still use one tsp yeast per cup of flour, but each to their own.
ADDED - Some want the recipe, so here goes.
Put into a bowl 3 cups of high grade flour,
3tsps of yeast (depending on the type you use - check on instructions to
see what the measure for measure per cup should be),
one tsp of salt
and around one cup to one and a half cups of water; enough to create the dough.
Mix the dry ingredients together, then add the water.
Mix the dough until it is well integrated, then cover with a greased clingfilm and leave on your countertop (or warm place) for 10-12 hours.
Preheat your oven to 425F (220C) and at the same time, put in an empty cast iron or Dutch oven with a lid.
Heat that for 30 minutes.
Empty the dough onto a well floured breadboard, then shape into a round. Bring out the cast iron pot, remove lid, pop dough into it
(do not grease the pot or put any other thing into it).
Put lid back on and cook for 30 minutes, then remove the lid and cook for 15 minutes more. Done!

http://www.frugallivingnw.com/frugal-homemaking/amazing-no-knead-bread-step-by-step-recipe/
— with Gina Rosa and Debbie Logan Romesburg

Happy New Year ~ Fireworks

I visited the Canon Learning Webby this evening and set my Canon Rebel T3 EOS Cam on GO for shooting Fireworks this New Year's Eve..
I wish I had taken Audio so you could feel what I did as I was awaiting the flash of fire in the sky. It was like Cannon Thunder and explosive flashing beyond the trees, behind me, to the left and right...Frank SInatra and Jimmy Buffet carrying on the water to me over the Erriely still Lake Murray.
Just FYI for those who are interested
my Camera settings were
Manual
Shutter Speed 1/5
Aperature 08
ISO 3200 and 1600
Manual Focus on my mm Canon Ultrasonic Telephoto Lens (Thank you Santa)
Ste up on a tripod using a remote switch

I worked out all my best shots and put them together for you all I hope you enjoy this pic. These turned out relatively well considering I shot them therough Trees ;)
I edited using Canon Photostudio %
Quick and Easy

Happy New Year
I can't wait to work with these lenses more

~v

Sun is Setting on 2012

Tomorrow the Sun will Set on 2012 and a whole new year will be upon us.
Take time to be with and enjoy your family and friends, The Fiscal Cliff will still be there looming in days ahead. Hug your loved ones tight, and hold ones not coles enough inyour hearts, for karmas sake. Let go of any hard feeling from the previous year, negative begats negative, a forward positive vibe will help guide you in a positive direction.

If folks have ill feeling towards you, forget-about-it, it really is their problem not yours, each person has their oun bubble to attend, if you mess with others bubbles is when issues begin. Memories as something folks take for granted these days, think about that for one second, disease, accident, and more can strip this from you in an instant. Treasure your memories today.

Take lots of pictures, but keep the people closer to your heart. Written correspondance is a forgotten art, make it one of your resolutions to revive it in your life, it really is a great momento to have for the future.

In my personal bubble we have been through quite a bit this past year, several Milestone events, and luckily out bubble has remained intact, it's been stressed but has not burst, I hope it remains that way through 2013, I feel good about the new year.

Have a Great Day
~V

Merry Christmas

I hope this message finds you well and excited about Christmas.
You've survived the Mayan Apocolypse...;)

Be sure to hung the young ones tighter and be appreciative of our Children.
Be sure to value every life you come in contact with.

Show patience and forgiveness to some that maybe have not bee in your best favor
the Holiday time is a good time to let by gones be by gones and pacify the spirits of the Season.

Spend time on your New Year's Resolution, make it count and keep it.

Here's sending Positive Vibes to all this 2012 Christmas.

I hope you enjoy the Vintage images, I love finding old cards at flea markets and yard sales, they remind me of a simpler time, when less was more. Well actually not less but folks were less materialistic and more family oriented...Maybe we will come back to this and things will seem brighter in the coming days.

Be sure to check back in my Blog if you're just tuning in this is one of my favorite stories




XOXO ~V