Food and fun...

Ok, the food part is true; fun is in the eye of the beholder.  I actually enjoy cleaning the flower beds and raking the yard.    I cleaned the pine needles out of the rose bed.  Despite the 60 degree weather I will not unleash the roses until the end of May.  

 The veggie beds are cleaned.  The onions look good and I see the garlic peeking out.  I have big plans for this year's vegetables.  Last year I let the slugs get the upper hand.  I will be better prepared this year.  There was also the small issue of confusion about seedlings.  I still haven't found a good idea for labeling seedlings.  Any advice is appreciated.  

My German Chamomile is already making progress.  I keep it in an old wash tub in the greenhouse during the winter.  As you can see below, the temperature in the greenhouse is a balmy 80 degrees.  Last week I planted lettuce and spinach.  I think the lemon thyme (a zone 5) made it.  I'm not positive, but I thought it would have a good chance in the greenhouse.  

My flower beds look good.  So far it seems like everything survived.  My only concern is my Miss Kim Lilac.  I tried to re locate it into the new raised bed in front of the house.  It isn't looking positive.   

 I also spent a lot of time in the kitchen this week.  I found some great recipes on pinterest that I was anxious to try.  One is a copy cat Texas Roadhouse Roll recipe.  I ate there for the first time a few weeks ago and fell in love with the rolls.  I couldn't wait to try.  The recipe was perfect.  I am a sucker for bread.  I honestly love it more than chocolate.  The other recipe is a Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta.  Another good choice.

 Texas Roadhouse Rolls

2c. milk

3 T. butter

1 T.  active dry yeast

1/2 c. warm water

1/2 c. sugar divided

1/2 c. honey

7 1/2 c. flour

2 eggs

2 t. salt

butter

-Heat milk in sauce pan over medium heat.  Bring to a boil and remove from heat.  Allow to cool slightly.  Melt 3 T. of butter and cool.
-Combine yeast, warm water and 1 T. sugar in a mixing bowl and allow to bubble.
-Add remaining sugar, honey, milk, and 3 1/2 c. of flour to yeast.
-Add melted butter, eggs, and salt.  Mix well.
-Add additional flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough begins to separate from the sides.  
Let rest.
-knead dough for about 5 minutes.

-Add dough to a greased bowl and let rise until it's size has doubled.
-After it doubles, punch it down, roll out into a big rectangle on a floured surface, until it is 1/2 inch thick.
-Fold it over onto itself so it is about 1 inch thick and roll a bit more.  
-Cut into 2 inch squares and place in greased baking sheet.  Allow to double in size.
-Bake at 350 degrees for  15-20 minutes.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

1/2 lb penne pasta cooked

8 slices of cooked bacon

1 T. butter

2 chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces

2 T. flour

1 pkg. ranch dressing mix

2 c. milk

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

-Cook pasta as directed.

-Cook bacon, drain, cool, and crumble.

-Use fat from the bacon and use it to brown the chicken.

-When the chicken is cooked add flour and ranch dressing.  Coat evenly then stir in milk.  Cook until thickened.  Add cheese and half of the crumbled bacon.  

-Heat until cheese is melted.

-Serve with remaining bacon crumbled over the top.

Both recipes were perfect.  It made for a wonderful Sunday dinner.  I also bottled my Prairie Chokecherry wine.  We also took our traditional spring Sunday walk.  We were lucky enough to see the bighorn sheep.  They weren't close enough to get a good photo, but they were fun to see.  The weather is supposed to get cold again, so we enjoyed the outdoors as much as we could this weekend.

Do you have any weekend traditions?  How do you label your seedlings?  What is the best thing you have cooked or baked lately?