A Few of my Favorite Things

This weekend was full of favorite things…but then, most weekends are.

We did spend part of the day Saturday working in the yard at our old house, which we are getting ready to put on the market. Not so much fun necessarily, but we felt a great sense of satisfaction seeing it all mowed, trimmed and tidy. And I know the neighbors loved it. I do have to say, we had wonderful neighbors there…there have been times we’ve gone to check on the house and the lawn is mowed and edged. You don’t find that just anywhere.

Favorite thing #1 – the garden:
Mike planted a little more in the garden, and every time I look at it it makes me smile. We’ve grown tomatoes, peppers, squash…a few things like that before, but never a full-fledged, big old garden. Every day the first thing we do when we get home from work is walk out and see what grew and how much since the day before. I think I understand now why my father used to sit in a lawn chair in the evening and just ‘watch his garden grow’.

Yep, those are peas, and I planted them, and yep they are actually growing.

Favorite thing #2 – preserving food:
We also dehydrated strawberries this week.  I’m planning to do a lot of dehydrating this year hopefully.

Favorite thing #3 – living outside:
This is quickly becoming my favorite spot outside.  I can sit and sip on a cold drink and watch the dogs try to escape…

Favorite thing #4 – family and food:
We had family over for lunch on Sunday, and enjoyed sitting outside to eat. It’s quickly becoming my preferred place to have meals, especially late in the evening.

I love finding a simple easy recipe that I can go to in a pinch and is always a hit…well, do I have a great one!
I’ve made this oven barbequed chicken three times in the past week…it’s that good. We had company over last Sunday, then again Monday for the holiday, and I made it both days. I made it again today, and again, it was a hit.

You can’t really see all the rich, sticky gooey-nish in this picture, but trust me, it’s finger licking good.  And very simple…
Lightly brown about 3 lbs of chicken in 2 tsp butter, then transfer to a casserole dish.

In the same butter, saute 1 small onion and 1/2 c. celery (you could omit this, we like it).

To the onion and celery, add 1 cup of your favorite barbeque sauce…we like really hot…and 1 can of cranberry sauce (we like it with the berries).

Pour the mixture over the chicken and bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.  You will not be disappointed, this is delicious.

Favorite thing #5 – Mint green tea steeping in the sun:

Favorite thing #6 – (actually this is #1) – a handsome man on a tractor:

Loving the weekends in the country.