Our weekend get-away

The pipeliner and I did a little get-away

over the weekend.

He probably wont see any more time off until late fall.

So we did it up right!

There are so many things to see and do in Vegas.

This time we decided to see it all on the Big Bus Tour!

I would recommend it to anybody.

They picked us up right at the hotels back door.

We have never stayed downtown before.

The Golden Nugget had everything!

I am sure we will be staying here from now on.

The Big Bus tour took us down the strip.

New York, New York is such a great looking landmark.

We even made a stop at the M&M factory.

A few snacks for the plane ride home.

The next stop was at Pawn Stars.

The highly rated History channel hit.

Not that exciting, 

but at least I can say I have been there.

And what are the two things that you know Vegas is famous for?

Thats right,

wedding chapels and Elvis!

Check and check,

we saw them both within a block of each other!

We even went past the spot where

the pipeliner and I were wed 7 years ago.

The Riviera!

Then it was back to our starting spot.

A very quiet Fremont Street.

It sure didn't look like this 3 hours later!

It was a great weekend!

But time always flies by when you are having a fun.

I could tell you more,

but you know the motto,

what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!

lol..who am I kidding,

we are to old for that stuff!

Just happy to have a little adventure before the busy

working season begins!

Liz

Myrtles Rhubarb Cake

I would have to say I am blessed to have a

green thumb.

There is probably not to many things that I haven't been

able to grow.

However these two things have me stumped!

Never have had any luck at all.

These two things would be roses and rhubarb.

Crazy right?

So I was thrilled when I noticed a patch of rhubarb sprouting up 

this spring.

Last weekend it was finally ready to harvest.

I knew just what I would be making with it,

my grandmas recipe for rhubarb cake!

It turned out just as moist and tastey as I remembered!

We enjoyed the first pieces warm, just out of the oven!

YUM!

Myrtles Rhubarb Cake

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter softened

1 egg beaten

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup buttermilk

4-6 cups chopped rhubarb

Cream the sugar and butter

Add the beaten egg, baking soda, and vanilla.

Fold in the flour and salt.

Stir in the buttermilk.

Fold in the chopped rhubarb

Pour into a 13 x 9 greased and floured pan.

Make topping

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup butter

1 tsp cinnamon

Cut the flour, sugar and cinnamon into the butter until it resembles

course crumbs.

Sprinkle over the rhubarb mixture.

Bake in 350 F. oven for 40 minutes.

Top with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream.

Fingers crossed I can keep the rhubarb patch

growing for a long time.

And wouldn't you know my parents gave me a rose bush

for Mothers Day.

Its still looking healthy.

Maybe my luck is changing!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Liz

Sunday night pizza dough

Sunday night is pizza night around our house!

When we lived in town,

delivery was the way to go.

We were lucky to have,

what we thought,

was one of the best small town pizzeria's around!

They would worry about us if we didn't call in our usual

Sunday night order.

Then we moved to the country.

The closest pizza place did deliver.

But it was usually cold by the time it made it to the house.

When we moved again,

no more pizza deliveries in the area.

If we were to continue Sunday night pizza I would have to go back to making it myself.

I have tried a few different dough recipes, 
and this is the one I always come back to.

Besides,
what could be easier than making it with my bread machine.

You just throw the ingredients in, 
then let the machine do the work.

It takes an hour and 20 minutes to do its thing.

Gives me time to finish up yard work, 
and hop in the shower.

The dough always comes out smooth and elastic!

Sometimes we do 2 round pizzas, 

but most of the time its a rectangle for us.

That way there is plenty of left-overs for Monday!

The crust can be made a little thicker for a pan pizza,

or thinner for a crisp crust.

We like ours crisp!

Geez after writing this post, 

I can hardly wait for lunch time to roll around!

I am ready for another slice!

Happy Monday!

Liz

Pizza Crust Dough

In the bread machine

Add to your bread machine in this order

3/4 cup water    80F.

1 Tbsp oil

1 Tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. dry milk

2 1/4 cups bread flour

1 tsp. active dry yeast    or   3/4 tsp bread machine yeast

Set your bread machine to the dough cycle

When the dough is ready divide and press onto a 12 inch greased pizza pan raising edges.

Spread pizza sauce over the dough and add your favorite toppings.

Bake 425 F.  for 18-20 minutes or until crust is golden brown around the edges.

May Weather?

I am so glad I picked a big bouquet of

lilacs yesterday,

because today they look like this 

Yes, thats snow!

When I got up this morning it was a slow, steady rain falling.

But it soon turned into big, fluffy flakes.

Some of the biggest flakes I have ever seen!

It didn't take long for the ground to become covered in 

a blanket of white.

A peek out front.

Can you believe this is May weather?

Look what it did to my May flowers.

I guess the yard wont get mowed today!

Liz

Banana Bread Donut Holes

Will this weather ever straighten itself out?

We have had too many cold, dreary days to my liking!

Today was no exception.

So what do you do on a day like today?

Of course, bake!

I came across a recipe the other day for banana bread donut holes.

It described how you could make them in your electric cake-pop maker.

Well I didn't have one of those, but I did have one of these,

A silicone cake pop pan, plus 2 over ripe bananas just begging to be used up.

I mixed all of the ingredients together, 

and baked them in a 350.F oven for about 17 minutes.

The recipe called to roll them in cinnamon and sugar

hot out of the cake pop maker.

When they came out of the oven I popped them out of the pan and did just that.

They sure didn't look like donut holes!

More like donut acorns!

Then I remembered, I have an electric mini donut maker somewhere around here.

Lets give that a try!

In no time I had a pan of mini banana bread donuts!

They sure looked better than the other ones!

When the daughter stopped to drop little man off,

I sent a few bags full for her to share at work.

And the rain stopped long enough for me to venture out 

and pick a big vase full of lilacs!

I will pass along the recipe for the banana bread donut holes.

They are actually very moist and tastey!

I will let you decide how they will be baked!

Banana Bread Donut Holes

1/2 cup butter softened

1 cup sugar

2 lrg. very ripe bananas

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup milk

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

Cream butter and sugar.

To the creamed mixture add the bananas, eggs and vanilla.

Then add the milk.

Fold in the flour and baking soda.

If you have an electric cake-pop machine bake for 5 minutes.

Roll hot donut holes in a mixture of 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tbsp sugar.

Eat while hot!

Good luck!

Liz

A different kind of Mothers Day

Most of my Mothers Days, since I have become a mother, have been spent working.

For many years I worked in the restaurant business.

Mothers Day brunch was one of the best days of the year for tips!

(And you didn't dare ask for that day off!)

Later on I had my own greenhouse/ floral shop.

Again, besides Valentines Day, Mothers Day was one of the busiest days of the year.

But while working those jobs,

my kids were usually right there working beside me.

Now that my Mothers Days are work free, 

it doesn't always mean my kids are.

With the kids working this year,

the pipeliner accepted 2 tickets for the Blackhawks game!

They were from one of the businesses that does work for my hubbys company.

And these weren't just any tickets,

they were box seats in the executive level!

Free prime buffet, free snacks, and free drinks ALL night long!

This was just the dessert bar!

If you follow hockey you know that the Hawks are in the play-off series, defending their title for the Stanley Cup.

They were tied 2 games a piece with the

Minnesota Wilds.

This was a pretty important game!

We had never been to a hockey game before.

The crowd was amazing!

Everybody dressed in black and red, 

supporting the home team!

We ate, we drank and we cheered!

To say we had a blast would be an understatement!

And the Hawks won!!!

Even if I didn't get to spend the day with my kids,

this Mothers Day was extra special to me!

Happy Mothers Day!

Liz

What to do with 5 acres

The weather still wont turn the corner to full time spring.

It still gives me plenty of time to stare out the window and wonder what the heck are we going to do with 5 acres?

A small part we decided to fence in.

They came last week to set the fence posts.

It just makes sense with the grandson running around.

Plus it adds some protection for the littlest dog with coyotes roaming around.

The last owners mowed paths through the back acreage.

We will keep the paths mowed.

The grandson will love exploring these when he gets older!

But there are a lot of scrub trees that need to be eliminated.

A little creek runs through the very back of the property.

So many ideas run through my mind.

Of course I would love to have animals.

But with the pipeliners job keeping on us the road every once in awhile, that just isn't the cards for now.

I want to plant lots of native flowers for the bees.

One thing I have never had to deal with is deer.

I have to plant deer resistant plants.

This corner looks like the perfect spot for a nice get-away shed.

A place for  relaxing, have a bon-fire on a warm summer evening.

 My pinterest board for backyard ideas is full of things I would love to incorporate!

For now the only thing I have added is my new Oriole feeder.

I am hoping they find it on their spring path.

It looks like it will be a fun summer completing some of my new ideas!

Stay tuned!

Liz