"Y" is for Yummmmmmm

I found myself going to a Neighborhood Garage Sale this morning and can you believe "I came home with nothing".. that is a first for me!
Then I did a bit of grocery shopping and found Florida Strawberries at $1.49 a qt... so I bought lots!  I love to make Strawberry Jam and got to work.

Yummmmm is much to small a word, (if this is a word but we do say it a lot) for how good this is!

First, I picked through and cleaned the berries, then put them in the pot to cook....
While that was coming to a boil I put together a new "Cheese Cake" recipe and it turned out so good...

"Cheese Cake with Macaroon Crust"

The recipe was a simple cheese cake but use lime juice in place of the lemon juice. 
The crust was the best part...

2 cups flaked coconut
2 egg whites
1tbl sugar
Fluf the egg whites with the sugar, then add the coconut.  That is it!
Line your pan with this mixture and bake at 375' for about 25 minutes or until browned.

While the crust was browning I made my favorite cheese cake recipe but added zest and juice from one lime instead of the usual lemon juice.

I put the cheese mixture in the crust lined pan then into the oven at 325' for about 50 minutes or until the knife comes out clean.


Then on to the Strawberry Jam.

I found there were some fresh blueberry's  in the freezer that I had stored so I added them to half the batch of strawberries. Made the jam in the usual way, then put in jars.
But first I had to try the jam on the cooled cheese cake... yummmm!

The cheese cake recipe said "Let cool 4 hours"... haha

I had to taste it after only one hour.. but first I added a bit of the "Jam" and a sprig of fresh mint that I have  growing out in my garden.....

Know what,, the "Macaroon Crust and the Lime Zest" really did make a change in the taste, "For the better"... I may just continue to use lime instead of lemon in all my future cheese cakes... and forgo the usual graham cracker crust, for the macaroon.
Give it a try next time your in the mood for Cheese Cake.

Yummmmm!

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 I'll be joining Jenny Matlock @ Alaphabet Thursday

 

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Guest Room Quilt

Several months ago I re did what was once a bland guest room.  When my town house was built, some 30 years ago, this space was meant to be a den.
  I always have a guest spend the night, or weeks with us, so I made it into the perfect little guest space. (when I have a couple come, I give up my room and this little space is mine for the duration).

   Here is the link to the Guest Room reno. (click)

Once the guest room was finished I called it my "Garden Guest Room".
It had so many cottage/garden items and floral patterns,  but not a nice quilt.
So, I started a new one but had so many other projects going in the house
this quilt was only worked on maybe one day a week, if that!

 I'm happy to say, "It's finally finished"

I love to sit quietly and hand quilt.  I see the wonderful machines that will do
the quilting for you  but I so love to stitch it myself. So much more personal.  I don't use elaborate stitches, just a wiggly line stitch.
I found this type of stitch along with 'low loft' batting keeps the quilt light and airy.

 I'm happy with the colors and floral patterns, they all seem to blend in with the garden theme I'm after.

Ok.. room ready for the next guest... 

Sister Dolly,, come on, new soft quilt for you!

I'm joining these linky parties 

Remodelaholic Friday 

Flaunt it Friday 

Lovely Crafty Weekend 

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Gardenia

I posted the photo of my Gardenia Bush ready to burst into blooms..

Here it is... It's Started.

Spring is indeed here!

For all of you up North... hang in there... Spring will show her beautiful face soon!


For now you can look at my Gardenia's, close your eyes, take a whiff and

Believe!

Oh how I wish everyone could smell what is going on by my front door!

I'm Joining
Fishtail Cottage

Cottage Flora Thursday 

Tuesdays Garden Party 

huggss
Sandy

 Some years I work so hard to keep my garden and plants alive.  You know, you buy seeds or plants and put them in the ground only for them to not do very well or by the grace of God, (or my bad gardening)  they just die.

 

 Well, last Fall when the  season was over I took the holiday Pumpkin out back, down by the creek, and left it for the Critters to enjoy.  The Deer and Raccoons  love to munch on pumpkins.


About two weeks ago I went out and found the seeds from the totally rotted Pumpkin remains have "Sprouted"

Look at the Pumpkin plants today.  

I must have  counted about 22 flower buds.

I have never tried to grow Pumpkins and wonder if there is anything I must do to help the plants along?  I do remember seeing a program where the gardener took the pumpkins, once they were about the size of grapefruits,  placed them on flat bricks to protect them from the damp ground... hmmmm? 

Wonder if I should use plant food?

"I'm on a mission to grow "Pumpkins" this year"

I'll be joining

Fertilizer Friday

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laundry Ingredients

Get whiter whites and darker darks with these ingenious additions to your laundry.
Whiter whites

 Do your white T-shirts tend to go grey? White socks look dirty no matter how many times they’re washed? Try one of these tried and trusted methods for making whites stay white.
1. Baking soda
Soak in a solution of 4 liters water and 1 cup baking soda.
2. Aspirin
Soak in hot water in which you’ve dissolved 5 aspirin tablets (325mg each).
3. Vinegar
Add 1 cup white vinegar to the washing machine’s rinse cycle.

PLUS:

Blacker blacks and darker darks
While faded and distressed-looking garments are sometimes the height of fashion, you may prefer not to look as if the last time you went clothes shopping was in the 80s. Here are some tips for keeping black and dark-colored clothes looking like new.
4. Coffee or tea
For black clothes, add 2 cups brewed coffee or tea to the rinse cycle.
5. Salt
For dark colors like navy blue or plum, add 1 cup table salt to the rinse cycle.
6. Vinegar and salt
To keep denim from fading quickly, soak jeans in salt water or a 50:50 solution of water and white vinegar before the first wash. Turn the jeans inside out before putting them in the machine and turn the temperature setting to cold.

 Look, my Amaryllis bulbs are blooming!

 Hope these tips might be of help on this beautiful Spring Sunday....
If anyone may need me....
I'll be out in the garden today, getting my clothes all full of dirt and mud.  

May have to try a few of these tips.

huggsss
Sandy
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