You Say Tomato....I Say How Many Ya Want

Did you know as I child I hated tomatoes. I don't ever think I even had tasted one when I made my mind up about this-but my Grandpa Snuffy didn't like them, so neither did I. Ketchup, yes. Big, ripe, juicy tomato--no.

I also hated bleu cheese, olives, Dijon mustard, sour cream and pork chops. But my how my tastes have changed. Stuff the bleu cheese in the olive--Magic, I tell you. Coat the Dijon on the pork chops, slather sour cream on my nachos--oh yes! Why didn't I learn to love rice cakes and sea weed? Life is so cruel.

These tomatoes are fresh from my back yard. The plant is brimming over with ripe tomatoes so this whole week will be filled with tomato dishes (sorry, honey). My tomato plant came from Stump's in Logan (a roadside stand where once something is sold out they are gone---so you have to go the first week they open or you miss out!). It is the Rutger's variety and they are so sweet. I almost had to fist fight an old lady over this plant, but she backed off.

I ended up making last night this delicious salad of spinach, tomatoes, onion, cucumber, black olives and basil. I made a simple oil and balsamic seasoned dressing. Right before serving I added some sun-dried tomato feta cheese.....delicious!

Then I cut up a head of cabbage into wedges and grilled them the healthy way--with several heavy squirts of butter spray, some splenda, salt and pepper. I know it doesn't look pretty or impressive, but it is so good. P.S. I forgot I also hated cabbage as a child. I think I only thought you could make sauerkraut out of it--and that is something I still can't stomach.

I finished up our meal with some simple chicken kabobs. I marinated everything in a oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, fresh rosemary and oregano blend. It was the perfect meal for a hot summer day! Ta-Ta for now:)

My Sweet Baby Isabella

Today we had to put down my sweet baby Bell Bell. She was my Easter present when I was ten years old. My grandmother made a tiny Easter bonnet for her with holes cut out for her ears. She probably weighed a pound. I remember giggling with delight when we drove her home and stopped at a park where a man asked if she was a kitten because she was so tiny.

She arrived at our house with a severe case of kennel cough and I was devasted when Dr. Bill called and said she probably wouldn't make it. Well, she proved us all wrong as 17 years later she was still hobbling around.......but a stroke and seizures got the best of her and we knew it was time.

So may you rest in peace my wonderful, sweet, brown-nosed chi-hua-hua. I know you are probably basking in the sun of doggy heaven chewing on one of grandma's biscuits.

The Long Lost Blog

I could absolutely kick myself for neglecting my blog. I have made so many delicious recipes and cocktails over the past few months--it makes me sick that I didn't document them. I just end up making so many things that I end up forgetting some of the things I really liked.

It has been the summer of wedding planning for my sister-in-law, starting at a new company for work, lots of playing golf and lots of RAIN! I swear this has been the coldest, ickiest summer ever! But it is now August, so hopefully the tides have changed.

I also have moved into a new hobby this summer---practicing on my green thumb. I have never had good luck with keeping anything alive before, but this year I have REALLY tried. Daily watering and deadheading. Pruning carefully. Weekly feedings. It takes about an hour every day...but you know what, they look pretty darn good AND I planted everything in late April and we now into August and they are still ALIVE!! I know I shouldn't sound so excited, but it is a first for me!

I am going to make an effort to keep this updated, if only for myself.....

And then they were done.......

The Wheeling Project

The Gary Project


Ah, back from the dead. I have spent the last three months of my life fixing up these bitches! I could kick myself for not taking any "before" pictures! I've painted, cleaned (then cleaned again....oh and then again), ripped up flooring, shoveled gravel, wired lights, laid trim, and oh so much more.

It was a learning experience, but I must admit I am a pretty fast painter now. The Wheeling Project was Eric's baby and the Gary Project was mine. Now, I love a-love a-love my Gary. He turned out beautifully. Now just to find the right people to rent it........I don't want any dirtballs up in here!

So far I've showed it to a dozen people, but only one has actually sent back an application......I think credit checks scare the bejesus out of them. But I guess if they already know that we won't like what we see---then they won't waste their time completing it. Ah, dirtballs.......my favorite.

I'll post some more interior photos this week. I guess I'll have to change the name of my blog from Baker's Lamb to the Laborer's Lamb? Ugghh, you should see my hands they are disgusting from all the manual labor! It's definitely time for a break!

The Biggest Loser Is Over.......

So, I have taken a two month hiatus. I last blogged right before we went to Florida for a vacation with Eric's family. I had planned to pick right up blogging when I returned, but something happened the last day we were sitting on the Florida beach. Eric and his family decided to get into a match of who could lose the most weight by June 1st.

Therefore, when I returned to Ohio there could be no baking of pies, cakes or tarts. No cream sauces, chicken wings, or pizza. Just lots of salads, yogurt, and subway. Eric was on a mission to win and my cooking obviously hasn't helped over the last few years:) So, for the last month in a half I cut out all baking and tweaked the cooking to make everything healthy and low fat.

But, now I am back and hopefully can share some lightened recipes with yall. Eric ended up losing 22 pounds at weigh in and is currently down 27. I am so proud of him! He says ten more to go, so hopefully I can help him achieve his goal! So welcome back to the new-healthier baker's lamb!

LOVE ME SOME LEMONS

Well, there she is. My Most Extraordinary French Lemon Cream Tart, the selection from Tuesday with Dorie this week. Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, Mary for picking this one. I absolutely needed something spring-like! And I swear as soon as I baked this the neverending rain ceased here in Ohio and the sun finally made a showing!

I must confess though that nice weather equals bad blogger (shame on me). The Harley has been waiting patiently for months now and there is no way we couldn't ride this past weekend. So, we ended up cruising around all day and even ended up witnessing a wedding in a biker bar (yep, ceremony and all). The groom had on his best Harley shirt and Levi's. We didn't even know them, but my karaoke rendition of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" will surely be one of their fondest wedding memories.........ah, I love weddings!

So, I finally got around to making my tart Sunday evening. I really didn't have many expectations, since I have never really liked or disliked lemon. But as soon as my grater hit that first lemon, I was hooked. Ahhh, that smell (ooh, great Skynard song!).

The crust was a snap to make in the processor. I chose to replace some of the flour with hazelnuts and that proved to be my first good choice. It baked up beautifully and had a wonderful shortbread-like texture. The only annoying part of this recipe is whisking the lemon cream to exactly 180 degrees. But I stayed true to the recipe and my filling turned out perfectly. I ended up topping it off with some cream and blackberries.

Extraordinary is a great was to describe this recipe. The cream was so lush and citric. The crust outstanding. Put it all together---amen! I'll make this again. Maybe next time with key limes:)

RECIPE TO BE POSTED

OH!!!! By the way, I'm leaving for Florida tomorrow and the hubby and I said no laptops, no cell phones. So you will have to miss me for a week. I will have to bow out of the next Tuesdays with Dorie. See you next Wednesday! And mom don't forget to water the herbs in the windowsill!

PICK YOUR POISON

Okay, I have found two new favorite drinks that I must share with you. They are going to be perfect for summer!

One is dubbed the Tokyo Tea and comes courtesy of Pat G. It is a wonderful concoction that he had somewhere and we made our bartender, Merlin, recreate it for us last evening at Molly Woo's.

It is basically half sake and half plum wine. Stick it in a cocktail shaker and then strain into a wine glass. Serve with a wedge of lime squeezed over the top. It is DANGEROUS!

Next, is the Jalapeno Peach Martini. Oh my goodness. It is on the menu at Molly Woo's and I seriously love it. It is peach vodka, white cranberry, and something else..........mixed with a dash of jalapeno juice and garnished with a slice of jalapeno. It is to die for, seriously!

I need to figure out exactly what is in it, so I can recreate them at home! I'll post if I find out.