Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Five Random Things Plus a Recipe!

Time for another "random things" post (otherwise known as 5 things happening in my world that would take me five weeks to write them all out as individual posts!)


1 - I have the perfect recipe for all those luscious homegrown red tomatoes you have been or will be picking and don't know what to do with! It is called Fresh Tomato Garlic Pasta and it is from a great cookbook my sister sent  me when she moved to Florida 20 years ago.




Simple to make with simple ingredients and it is SO good and fresh tasting. You have to make it ahead, in the morning of the day you want to eat it, so that all the ingredients have time to become delicious together.




Here is the recipe:
4 large ripe tomatoes, diced
5 cloves garlic, chopped
1 large sprig fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
6 ounces mozzarella cheese, cubed
1 pound pasta, like penne
Parmesan/Romano cheese as garnish

The night before or early in the day combine all ingredients EXCEPT pasta and parmesan.
 Stir well. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours but not more than one day.
Stir once or twice while in fridge.
When ready to serve, prepare pasta. Coat with sauce; serve hot or cold with parmesan.
It is delicious both ways.

The final plate with penne pasta and romano cheese....





2 - It was finally warm enough for me to go watch my granddaughter Cassidy's baseball game. She is eleven and the only girl on her team, the Marion Knights. Her Dad is a coach and her Mom is the score keeper. So proud of her and how she holds her own with the boys. She plays third base or short stop. Here she is ready to smack the ball.





3 - I have been working on my garden, getting things planted in pots and putting all my new, fun garden things out. It has been slow going because of the cold weather but we are having high 70's - 80's now so I am playing catch up.

Here is a sneak peak of two of my new additions to my gardens this year.

My weathered door and garden hose wreath I made this year



A sink garden with white Bacopa and vintage plates


Once my yard and gardens are ready and done I will do a whole post on all of my new treasures!


4 - Huge score at my local Goodwill. It was another "thrifting on a whim" kind of day and I found so many things that I was there for an hour and a half while my frozen tilapia was melting in my car. It is grocery shopping day but the thrifting bug bit me hard! Some will go to my booth and others to my Etsy shop. I might have to keep the little fish.



 I need some help here. Does anyone have any idea what this cut glass, crystal beauty is? It is on a marble base with no way to wire it as a lamp. The fancy brass top screws off. I just had to get it but I don't know what to call it to even search it. I was asking customers at the Goodwill to help me out. No one knew. Help!

Since I first posted this, I found out that this stunning piece is a Scales of Justice. It should have a hanging scale on either side. After reading Betsy's comment about using this pretty crystal stand to hang necklaces, I had to try it. What do you think? I love it!


5 - How many pictures of cute kitties sleeping together do you really need?

Just one more.....




AnnMarie xoxo


I am linking up with these great blog parties:


Talk of the Town
Share Your Cup Thursday
Simple & Sweet Fridays
Vintage Charm
Thoughts of Home on Thursday
Home Sweet Home
Random Five Friday
Five on Friday
Pink Saturday
Happiness is Homemade
Dishing It & Digging It Link Party
Cooking and Crafting with J & J
Best of the Weekend

43 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing your tomato garlic pasta recipe and all your vintage goodies with Talk of the Town. I LOVE your beautiful old door with the hose wreath! Your thingie sure looks like a lamp to me, I'd probably use it to display necklaces. Great find!

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  2. Great recipe!

    The crystal and brass object is a decorative balance missing the pans. You can see many examples on ebay. Still a stunning decorative object or it could be transformed into a candleholder.

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  3. Recipe sounds delicious-need to get some fresh tomatoes!

    The object is a decorative balance(missing the pans) and you can see several examples on ebay by searching with that phrase. It makes a stunning decorative object or would make a cool candleholder with a little tinkering.

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  4. Such a fun post filled with so much good stuff. Oh your pasta dish is mouthwatering. Definitely will try it. :)

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  5. You've been very busy but with wonderful things. :)

    I'm going to make that pasta! Yummo.

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  6. Your recipe is perfect for hot summer days - definitely going to try this! Good for Cassidy for holding her own with the boys! I was a Tomboy and can relate. I had all sisters, so I guess I was the 'boy' of the family :)! You found some great stuff! Yea, you need to keep the fish - too cute. I Love your old door with the hose wreath! What a pretty garden with those big, old trees! The little wash-basin is such a cute idea, too. I hope you figure out the mystery of the crystal stand. It is certainly unusual. Maybe it held two little crystal baskets or something like that for candles or fruit. Love the sweet cats. x K

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  7. Love this post and all the fun you've been having. The door with the hose wreath is awesome. The recipe sounds and looks so delicious. Thanks for sharing it. The crystal piece looks like it held hanging trays on each side, you know like balance weights.
    Have a nice weekend and holiday ahead. Hugs

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  8. Loved your post, lots of fun. Your tomato dish looks delicious and refreshing. You've certainly been busy :)

    Diana

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  9. Love the door with the hose pipe wreath, inspirational. A great recipe.

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  10. That tomato pasta looks/sounds wonderful. A great summer dish. I love the use of the old lamp to hang necklaces. What a wonderful way to display and reuse it.

    Have a lovely weekend

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  11. Oh I love your pretty garden and the door and pot with the dishes! The stand is awesome with your necklaces.
    Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend.
    Julie xo

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  12. I love your garden decor and that lamp (whatever it is lol) is great, I love it as a necklace holder. Great buys!

    I love that your granddaughter is playing with the boys, good for her!! Enjoy your weekend.

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  13. How fun to watch your little granddaughter play baseball & kudos to her for being brave enough to be the only girl on the team. Nice bunch of stuff you gathered from the antique stores. - Cool door display in your garden. I just posted some doors on my blog for Good Fences recently. It's a "trend" now to use old doors.

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  14. What a fun post. I love the door with the hose wreath. The marble crystal stand is great for necklaces!!

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  15. How fun, I love the weathered door and all your Goodwill finds, Wow! I have no idea what that last piece is but it does look pretty as a jewelry stand!

    Tania

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  16. Such lovely finds and I adore your garden vignettes. Thank you so very much for joining us at Thoughts of Home on Thursday. Have a wonderful holiday weekend.

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  17. What great finds, I really like the crystal scales you're using for your necklaces! Very elegant storage! The recipe sounds great. I'm pinning your recipe for later when my tomatoes come in. Enjoy watching your granddaughter's games. Our daughter was a 'soft baller' years ago and we loved watching her play. Enjoy your holiday weekend!

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  18. A fun selection of random things! The recipe sounds yummy! What a pretty way to hang necklaces. That's a real treasure.

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  19. I can't wait to try your fresh pasta sauce recipe. It looks great.

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  20. Your garden treasures are lovely Ann Marie!

    I have a similar recipe and make it almost every September when tomatoes are readily available.

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  21. Your fresh tomato garlic pastsa sounds delicious. Good on Cassidy showing the boys how to play baseball. =) LOVE your old door in the garden and those thrifty finds are fabulous. As for your crystal beauty, I have no idea what it is, but your jewellery is perfect hanging from your pretty.

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  22. ummm...the recipe sounds delish...cutest things for your garden..your jewels look great on the olden scales...

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  23. Good Morning and Happy Post Memorial Day weekend!

    This recipe looks wonderful and we have many tomatoes, they just aren't ripe yet, I will definitely be giving this delectable sauce a try.

    You found the perfect use for these scales, they are a stunning vintage piece to hang your necklaces on.
    It is fun to see all of your treasures and I am so thrilled for you and the opening of your shop, are you enjoying it?

    Proud of your granddaughter too:)
    xo
    Jemma

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  24. Your kitties are so adorable, and the pasta recipe looks delicious. That scale thingy is a great find. Love the old door, and your sink planter too.

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  25. Great post, AnnMarie! I am pinning that pasta recipe, for sure! Good for your granddaughter not being intimidated to be the only girl! LOVE your garden vignettes; the Scales of Justice is an interesting piece, and looks very pretty adorned with your necklaces! The sleeping kitties are precious!

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  26. Yummy looking pasta! I like your necklace holder!

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  27. Your pasta looks delicious and I adore your door and sink garden!

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  28. Fun post! Thanks for sharing at Dishing It & Digging It!

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  29. Hey AnnMarie! Just popping back in to say thanks so much for sharing at Vintage Charm.

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  30. The door and the sink add a touch of whimsy to the garden, love them.
    Amalia
    xo

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  31. Looks like such a great recipe and easy to pull together. Thanks for sharing. Love the way you are using the scale. Your garden is beautiful. Love your door with wreath and the garden chair. The garden sink is an inspiration too.
    Good for your granddaughter holding her own playing baseball. I know you are proud!!
    Have a great weekend and Happy June. xo

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  32. I am defiantly going to make that pasta dish, my children would love it. Love the door in the garden

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  33. Oh Ann Marie, that pasta dis looks to die for! I do love pasta, and a cool dish for summer is especially nice. And I love the make-ahead requirement!

    Thanks for popping into Marmelade Gypsy today! It's so nice to meet you!

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  34. That recipe looks wonderful...so light and refreshing!! Hope you are doing well sweet friend! I'm trying to get back in the groove of things! Love and hugs to you!!

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  35. Cute garden projects Ann Marie! I put an old door up on the top of our rock wall only to wake up with it having blown down the next morning. We had a bad windstorm that night, which we hardly ever get. Now it sits under the pergola waiting for a place to call home. lol! Love the cute scale piece! Perfect for holding jewelry. You really made a great haul! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  36. Forgot to mention that I can't wait to try the recipe!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  37. What a fun post. I enjoyed reading your random thoughts, and I'd like a bowl of that pasta as well.

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  38. This recipe looks so delicious! YUM! :)

    I’d love for you to share it with my Recipe and Crafts Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

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  39. Hello AnnMarie, so nice to meet you through our dear friend, Benita! Your recipe looks delicious, I love things that can be made ahead too. Reading about your thrifting makes me miss it but after downsizing and expecting to downsize further, I really shouldn't. Nothing more fun than a day of thrifting though!

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  40. I bet the pasta is incredible I'm so going to try it. The grandkids and the garden are so cute.

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  41. Oh wow my mouth is watering! I think the crystal thingy was a scale without the scale now. I love your idea! Your garden looks great! I'm looking for an old door to bring inside.

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  42. Oh my, you had me at tomatoes! I have yet again, copied another one of your recipes to save for dinner one night. Thanks so much! And the kitties are adorbs!

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