Summer Recipe Series: Millionaire Pie

Now that summer is upon us, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite, easy, summer staple recipes. The first is SO easy...it seriously takes 5 minutes and you get not one, but two pies! My Aunt Mary gave me this recipe a few years back, and it quickly became one of my faves. It's so light and creamy...perfect for summer (or anytime really)!

Millionaire Pie

1 large tub Cool Whip

1 can crushed pineapple, drained

1 can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk

2 ready-made graham cracker pie crusts

Juice of one lemon

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, divide between the two crusts, chill and...VOILA. Seriously, it's so easy. Just don't forget the lemon juice, or it won't set, and for some reason she told me it needs to be "Eagle" brand for the sweetened condensed milk. And you can add nuts if you'd like, either to the filling or sprinkled on top for garnish.

Enjoy!

Seedlings

We've decided this year to start our garden from seeds. So far, things are going pretty well (hopefully it won't frost tonight!). Dan did some seeds directly in to the ground (first collage below): lettuce, spinach, carrots, corn, peas, beans. And then we started some other things inside with one of those starter trays (second collage below): artichokes, basil, cilantro, yellow squash, edamame, zinnias, cucumbers, sweet williams, watermelon and zuicchini. I'm pretty sure we won't have room to properly grow all these things, but it has been fascinating growing things from seed. I know Jamie and Sandi do this, but we've usually just purchased the plants from a garden center in past years. It definitely seems more rewarding so far to do some things from seed. I just love seeing the new growth everyday. In the second collage the photos on the left side are just last weekend (we planted them Saturday night) and the photos on the right side are from yesterday. So much fun to see everything getting big (especially my zinnias - center pic).

Now, if anyone has any advice for getting the inside seedling out and into the ground safely, please let me know! :-)

P.S. I realize I am posting everything in collages now. It's become a serious addiction! Sorry. It's just an easy way to post lots of pics at once. :-)

Flowers are the best subjects....

...they always sit still and look pretty!

Wallflowers

I think I might need these. They were the special of the day on delight.com yesterday. Aren't they so cute? I'd like to put them over my bed maybe?

Pesky, but Pretty

Remember as a kid when you thought that dandelions were "real" flowers? Maybe even picked some for your mom? Well now that I'm a home owner with a yard, I can't stand them. But sometimes I can't help but appreciate the vibrant pops of yellow against the really green spring grass. And who doesn't love shaking the fluffy ones and watching all the little seeds fly away? I'm sure our neighbors love it. :-)

Here are some pics of "weeds" in our back yard today.

Simple Start

My sister has always been really great at painting (maybe because she always got stuck with it?). :-) She has graciously painted many things around here for us over the years. And she's done lot for other people, too. And did I mention she's really good at it? :-)

She recently started her own painting company, called Simple Start, Inc., and it's really taking off! She helped us a couple of months ago with a project in our dining room..one that I've been wanting to do for a long time. Actually, it's a technique I learned from Christina and Joyce....you stripe a wall in the exact same color, but alternate flat and satin finishes. The effect of the light makes the stripes noticeable, but subtle.

Here's the before and after....drumroll, please...

And a larger "after:"

Much better! This room has taken a LOT of different forms. When we bought the place, this room was stark white. I decided I wanted a lovely robin's egg blue (Jamie was gracious to help). :-) It also served as the kitchen (notice the fridge!) while the real kitchen was being gutted. Let's just say, the blue didn't last long (wonder why?! it wasn't Jamie's painting).

For a long time it was the family/TV room (bottom left corner), but I didn't like the green (which we painted VERY shortly after the blue) with my craigslist couch and rug. Then last fall we turned it into the dining room.

Here's the big transformation in progress and Becky in action (and C a little bit, too!). :-)

Now, it's starting to come together. Still lots to go, like finishing the light fixture, chair rail, paining the new trim (which Dan modeled after the other trim in the house - nice work, hon!).

As you can see, Beck did a great job! She is SUPER meticulous, but efficient...she did the whole room in one afternoon / evening. If you need some painting done, HIRE HER! :-) Here's her info: Simple Start, Inc., www.simplestartinc.com, simplestartpaining@gmail.com.

Thanks, Beck!!