VINTAGE PLANTER REMOTE HOLDER

Years back, I up cycled an old sewing machine drawer to use as a remote holder on the coffee table.


 As much as I liked the holder, it just wasn’t fitting in to my newer streamlined décor.

Then, I found an idea online.  Why not use a vintage planter to hold the remotes?


You might recall this past upcycling project.  I bought this at a road side sale for $1.00  I'm not sure why I was drawn to it, but I bought it.



I posted a blog on March 8, 2018 on the upcycling project.  I loved the outcome.



Unfortunately, since the planter didn't have drainage holes, the plant withered and died.  I pulled out the plant and stuck the planter in the garage.

While on Pinterest looking up velvet pumpkins, I spied a great idea.  Why not use my vintage planter for a remote holder? Using chalk paint and silver gilding wax brought this planter into the modern era.

I cleaned out the old soil, a good wash and drying and voila— a remote holder that fits much better on the coffee table.

Sometimes it is the easiest fix that is the most satisfying.

QUICK SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO SAUCE FOR BEEF RAVIOLI

I wanted to come up with a quick sauce to serve over a package of beef ravioli in the freezer.  I had some sun dried tomato pesto on hand that I found at Aldi's.  After making the recipe I found online, I tweaked it a bit and came up with a glorious sauce.  Here goes.

5 MINUTE SUN DRIED TOMATO PESTO SAUCE

Serves 4

6 Tablespoons of sun-dried tomato pesto

2 teaspoons garlic, minced

8 fresh basil leaves, sliced

1 c. heavy cream

2 T. butter, use at end

salt and pepper to taste

Parmesan, grated to be put over sauce at the end

1. Cook ravioli according to directions, drain.

2.  Add sun-dried tomato pesto and garlic to frying pan over low heat, stir, then add sliced basil leaves and cream.  Let it simmer 2 minutes.

3. Add 2 T. butter, one at a time into sauce before serving.
4. Add in drained ravioli and carefully toss, top with grated Parmesan

This pesto sauce costs $1.87 which is much cheaper than jar pesto at other grocery stores.  It is delicious.  I also use this pesto in my cream cheese, sour cream and sundried tomato dip for pretzels.



This sauce looks very diluted because in the original recipe, it called for 1/2 c. pasta water.   I will not use the pasta water in future recipes, as it diluted the sauce too much.

I will try this recipe again with my revisions.  

CHICKEN MARSALA

I had a lot of frozen chicken fillets in freezer packs, so I decided to make Chicken Marsala.

This is a family favorite.  This is a new, improved recipe and I think the prosciutto makes the difference.

The recipe follows:

The ingredients are assembled.

First slice your fresh mushrooms.

 Then, thinly slice the prosciutto.

I put in 2 Tablespoons of olive oil and butter to cook the fillets.  After I cook one batch, I repeat adding the oil and butter heating it up before I start cooking the next batch.

I know it seems like a lot of oil and butter, but it will give you amazing cooked dripping for your sauce.

Cook the chicken until golden brown. Remove from the pan and cover with foil while cooking the remaining batches of fillets.

As per the recipe, add your prosciutto, and then mushrooms.  Then add Marsala and let it cook down a bit.  Add chicken broth and heat through.  Make sure to turn your skillet down before adding whipping cream. 

I plated the chicken with rice pilaf.  The sauce is yummy and compliments the rice well.



This dish would be great for company.



SOUTHERN FALL MANTLE 2019

Now that the  in the fireplace has been updated, it was time to put a simple, yet elegant décor on the mantle.


I wanted to stay with the subtle grey and white tones but also wanted to bring in a hint of regional flavor.


I believe this granite lidded box came from the old house in Peoria. 

 

I wanted to display my cotton branches in a large white pitcher.  For all the  staging items I have in my treasure trove, I didn't have this one.  Target sold it for less than $15.00.  To save on shipping, I shipped it to the store and picked it up.

The artichoke was one of my favorites.  It was gold and made of paper mache. It costs an entire .25 and I got it at Good Will.  I sponged painted chalk paint on it and distressed it.  Funny that I've seen comparable ones for $50.00 on line.  Which tells you that almost anything can be done on the cheap!

The  mirrored frame has been used on the coffee table and used on a dresser to hold vintage silver-plated brush, comb and mirror.   It is easily leaned up against the mantle mirror with a oval frame from Hobby Lobby that is made from MDF.   

This trivet was $1.00 at a thrift store.  Originally it was covered with a mustard glaze.  Some grey and white chalk paint revived it.  This piece added more texture to the mantle look.

I love it when the sun is streaming through the  window in the morning.

I am pleased with this look for the new update.  Fall is around the corner and adding a bit of pumpkins and maybe bats will be just what this mantle need.

This final image is an edited one from my phone.  I like the stark black and white coloring. 

MARKETPLACE #1 FIND

While on Facebook one day, I came across the Marketplace.  I never realized how much fun it could be to go pickin' without leaving my house!. 

I found this incredible solid oak oval coffee table with a shelf underneath.  $40.00 was the price.  I made my youngest hop into the car to  go meet the buyer.  What flabbergasted me was we literally drove out of our subdivision to the storage place across the way.

  I took one look and fell in love! It was even better in person.  Yes, it needs work, but that's what I do.  Right now it is sitting in the garage waiting for cooler weather to strip the varnish off of it.  I'm not sure as to what my plan is right now.



BACK 40 BARN PICKIN FIND-DAMAGED FRAME

Our Parish secretary, who is 82 with the heart of a 30 year old is my new picking buddy.  We find out about sales and off we go.

This past May, we found a new pickin' hole-Back Forty Barn Sale.  My buddy arrives at my house around 2:00 PM and we load up in my car, along with my basket on wheels and away we go.

This sale being new really got us excited.  Long story short, the drive out to the country was wonderful and the pickins' were good too.

Here are my 2 new finds?

The first find was an architectural piece.  I have no idea what I could use it with but it was too neat to pass up.

My second find was this large antique frame.  It had a major chip out of it, but for the cost, I could fix it and repaint it.  I see a new, beveled mirror in this frame's future.

Who knows where I will put this frame when finished, but I think it will be an easy, quick fix.



SAVING MONEY BY MAKING MARINATED MOZZARELLA PEARLS FROM SCRATCH

I was preparing for my last big event with my organization.  I was creating a Tuscan antipasto spread with 3 long rectangular tables.  I have various items on the menu, which I will blog about later.

  

One of the items I wanted to serve was marinated fresh mozzarella balls.

I priced the mozzarella balls-pearls as they call them, and realized that the already $4.97 for the same amount as not  marinated ones for $2.97.  I purchased 3 packages of the un marinated pearls and made my own marinade.

This recipe literally took 5 minutes to whip up. I pulled out a package of Aldi's dry Italian

Salad Dressing and Mix.

The next step was to separate the 3 balls of mini mozzarella pearls.

I went online and used an easy recipe for Marinated Mozzarella Pearls. 

After mixing the oil and dressing and spices, I placed all the pearls into a plastic take out container and poured the mixture over the pearls.

I let it marinate  for 4 days occasionally turning the lidded container upside down to allow the oil mixture to wash over the mozzarella.

This was an easy appetizer to set on the Italian buffet.  I was also able to marinate the mozzarella pearls and save my budget some money.