A Denim Blue Tablescape

  

The table topper and place mats were made from scraps of the my Blue Patchwork "Up Cycled" Denim Quilt or my Blue Christmas Quilt.

See my African Violets in Bloom.

Linked with:


The Thrifty Groove: Thrifty Tablescape #6 - Dec. 3, 2011
Blue Christmas Quilt - Nov. 28, 2011
Denim Block Tutorial - Nov. 28, 2011
A Quilter with a Green Thumb - Dec. 6, 2011
Marcia's Crafty Sewing & Quilting Minutes for Me Linky Party - Dec. 7, 2011
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday - Dec. 13, 2011
Savvy Southern Style: WOW Us Wednesday - Dec. 14, 2011
A Southern Daydreamer: Outdoor Wednesday - Dec. 14, 2011
At Pickett Fence: Blogger Block Party - Dec. 9, 2011
Tootsie Time: Fertilizer Friday - Jan. 5, 2012

Meatloaf Squares

 Another photo recipe with just a few words.

2 pounds of ground beef
2 packages of instant Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal
2 eggs
1 small finely chopped onion
sometimes I chop up celery too
1/4 cup of sour cream
1 tablespoon of Mayonnaise
1 teaspoon of Ketchup --- you can add more if you like Ketchup
A dash of pepper.
I don't add salt as Ketchup and Mayonnaise have salt in them. You may want to season to taste.
It's kind of my Swedish version of meatloaf.

Spread mixture in a jelly roll or bar pan.  I used a stoneware bar pan.

Bake at 350F for 25 to 40 minutes - depending on your pan and oven. Bake until golden brown.

I serve with a little Mayonnaise and Sour Cream mixture or Ranch Dressing.

I freeze two meatloaf squares in a bag for my husband's lunch or my lunch, as I love cold meatloaf sandwiches.

Enjoy!

Marcia

Linked with:
Chef in Training: Tuesday's Talent Show - Dec. 6, 2011
A Quilter's Table: Tuesday at the Table - Dec. 6, 2011
RoCa and Company: Your Rock - Dec. 9, 2011
Sew Many Ways: Sew Darn Crafty - Dec. 12, 2011
Today's Creative Blog: Get Your Craft On - Dec. 13, 2011
Marcia's Crafty Sewing & Quilting: Minutes for Me - Dec. 14, 2011
Sew Happy Geek: Manic Monday - Dec. 19, 2011

What's for Lunch Today?

Leftovers:
chicken salad, cole slaw, and macaroni salad all mixed together to make one serving
topped with pecans 
1 slice of muenster cheese
blackberries
1 glass of ice water

Place all the food on your plate. Put everything else back in the refrigerator, so you aren't tempted to have a second serving of anything.

 Well, you can have more water!

Drink at least a 1/4 to 1/2 of the water before starting to eat. I usually drink 1/2 of the water first.

Eat a little bit of everything - slowly.  Enjoy your meal.

At this point make sure all of the water is gone or at least most of it. Save one or two blackberries to finish your meal with a sweet berry.

Eat the berry and finish all the water.
Do the dishes and you are done!

Why do I eat like this?

• I need to relax during lunch time. Two years ago I would stand at the counter and eat my lunch and rush back to work. Never took a break.
• I don't want to overeat, so that is why I set the food on the plate (and make it look pretty). Then I put away the other food before I start to eat.
• I think food should look pretty - like a quilt!

Linked with:

A Quilter's Table: Tuesday at the Table - Dec. 20, 2011
Marcia's Crafty Sewing & Quilting: Minutes for Me - Dec. 28, 2011

Crispy Crunchy Sweet Apple Salad

Apple - one Delicious Apple - sliced and diced (peeled or unpeeled)
Celery - the tender center pieces of the celery stalk (about 1/2 cup chopped and cut)
Matchstick Carrots or shredded carrots (about a 1/2 cup)
Walnuts (10 walnuts- whole or chopped)
Yogurt with fruit - My favorite is strawberry - gives it a nice sweet flavor.

Follow the photos...

 You can leave the peels on the apple, if you would like.  It would also add more color to the salad.

 I had my Crispy Crunchy Sweet Apple Salad for lunch today with a fried thin bagel with a slice of muenster cheese between the slices. 

 The bagel didn't look so cool ... I sliced it up!

Do you like all the ingredients?  If you don't like something don't put it in!  You still won't like it in the salad.  I make this a little different each time I make it. I add whatever I have available and I choose the veggies I like.  I have even added chopped fresh broccoli.  I sometimes eat it with fresh melon on the side - not in the salad.  I really like it with the sweet salad. 
The apples will get brown so if you want to make it the day before add the apples at the last minute.


Other suggestions of items to add:

• raisins or dried cranberries or even fresh cranberries
• the peelings from the apple
• fresh pears and peaches
• pineapple
• pecans
• a teaspoon of Mayo to cut some of the sweetness - it changes the flavor 
• diced onions for a different flavor

The list could be endless... try the things you like.


My recipe is for 2 to 3 servings - double it up to increase the serving size.


Enjoy!


Linked with:

Chef in Training: Tuesday Talent Show - Nov. 22, 2011

A Quilter’s Table: Tuesday at the Table - Nov. 22, 2011