The Project Table: April 2009

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Met Monday!

From Really Rainey's Project Table!

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Welcome to Met Monday hosted by the lovely and talented

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.

Click on the link above to visit all the other talented posts that have metamorphosed on the porch between naps!

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I didn't think I would ever get this done but I did!

The Grandkids playroom!

I had a beautiful work out room three years ago

when we moved into this house.

But then as the grandkids got bigger and more of them...

so did the mess.

So I made a nitch in the corner of my home office

for the grandkids to play in and all their MESS!

But that only made my office a mess...

I decided they needed a room of their own

and I gave up my work out/meditation room.

I emptied everything out and painted it a soothing green...

Then applied a paper mural to one wall...

My son-in-law- Danny will be coming over to frame out

the mural to look like a window.

I hand painted the "Growing Tree" mural myself.

I'll measure each child and write their name and the date

on the tree each year on their birthday's.

I hand painted the little birds on the tree, each one represents a grandchild

and the Gramma bird watching over them on another wall.

then I went shopping at IKEA. I bought furniture and accessories...

Hubby and I put furniture together for what seemed like days...

But secretly I love putting together IKEA furniture!

Its fun!

We put up the shelves on the wall and I did the finishing touches and finally the room is done and we are ready for the Big Reveal!

The Growing Tree wall

The Desk wall...

A whole desk with kid size chairs to do puzzles or color or do one of the many projects we are always doing... These chairs can also be brought into the dining room to join the adults at the table... Theses IKEA chairs are incredibly clever!

The storage, library and reading wall.

Just a few details:

A puppet theater...

Fishing poles...

Cozy reading nooks...

I made these frames for future art to be proudly displayed.

Oh and a monkey hanging around...

I'll be adding a few more details such as framing the mural to look like a picture window.

The kids names on the tree...

More things on the shelves... a valence...

And I am looking for a wood play kitchen on Craigs list.

Here's a short clip of the kids playing in their new playroom...

(Could someone leave a comment and let me know

if this video clip is working. Thanks~Rainey~)

Thank you for visiting

The Project Table

~Really Rainey~

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Foodie Friday! 5/1/09

Welcome to another

Fun Filled Foodie Friday!

Hosted by the terrifically talented

Miss "G" at Designs my Gollum

Click on the link above to visit all the other Foodie Friday Posts!

Its almost Cinco De Mayo and here in the southwest we start early!

(Ahhhh... we do in Bloggererville too)

(CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE)

Starting with ice cold Margarita's

Here is my recipe:

RaineyRitas

In a large pitcher fill it with ice. Then one can of Limeade, one limeade can of water, 1/2 or more limeade can of Tequila, one can of 7up and one bottle of Corona & one sliced lime.

stir and enjoy!

If you don't care for Margaritas you might like to try some incredible Agua de Fresca! There are many different flavors. In Mexico you see what are called lacheiera's with huge jugs called vitroleros of Agua de Fresca. Try the mango, or the cantaloupe, or cucumber and mint or pineapple, how about watermelon?

However my favorite is

Agua de Jamaica!

So today I made my favorite to show you how easy and beautiful it is!

You start with this: 1/2 cup of dried Jamaica flower, (hibiscus whole). Not the kind from your tropical garden, these are in the rosemallo family. I think that bag of dried hibiscus flowers was 88 cents at Walmart. However you can find them in most larger markets in the Hispanic section. Its where you see all the large bags of spices. (Which I buy too because I make my own meat rubs but that's another Foodie Friday post someday)

Put 4 cups of water to boil in a sauce pot. As soon as it comes up to a full boil you turn off the heat... Add sweetener, any kind, I use organic sugar, or Agave nectar. Let seep for 20 minutes.

Today I used the nectar. Agave Nectar is another incredible food. Its made from the Agave plant and it looks like honey, is a sweet and tastes like honey, BUT it doesn't spike your blood sugar like sugar or honey. Its perfect for kids & diabetics or for anyone! Agua Fresca is actually a super healthy drink and very easy to make... essentially three ingredients, seasonal fruit, fresh water, and sweetener. No matter what flavor. I ALWAYS add the juice of one key lime and sliced limes. Its just the way I was taught to make it.

After its seeped for about 20 minutes

(no exact science here)

Its ready to strain: Look at that incredible color! Did you know Jamaica flower Agua Fresca is high in vitamin C and antioxidants too?

So much better for you than soda.

Pour over ice:

Then serve!

If you want it a little bubbly like soda.

Top it off with a little lime flavored Soda water.

Enjoy mi amigos!

If you want the recipes for the other flavors E-mail me

and I will send them to you!

I also use the Jamaica flowers to color things,

like cakes and puddings and frosting.

I NEVER use Red dye its a terrible chemical!

I'm not a Kool-aid or Hawaiian punch Gramma

I'm a Agua de Fresca Gramma!

To use the flowers as a dye. In a small sauce pan boil 1 cup of water, turn down the heat to simmer, drop in about 2 to 3 Jamaica buds and simmer on low for 10 minutes, watch it closely, what you are doing is reducing like you would make a reduction sauce. Reduce to about 1/2 cup. You will have the most remarkable red dye you have ever seen. its best to use right away. You can store it in the fridge for a week tho.Careful with it... it will stain!

Have fun Mi Amigos!

Now for dinner... I'm still on my diet but I LOVE Mexican food, no reason for me to go without... Heres my Chicken Tortilla Sopa (soup)

Bake 2 chicken breasts in 1 cup of water, hot sauce to taste and some taco seasoning for about 20 min. tightly covered with foil. (Or if you are in a hurry you can boil the chicken breasts whole with water, hot sauce and taco seasoning.

Coarsely chop one large Texas sweet onion, 2 small carrots,

1 large Anaheim chili (or any large chili) and sauté till almost tender. Add 3 chopped Roma tomatoes, a handful cilantro, 2 cans of fire roasted chopped tomatoes and. Stir till blended.

Take off heat and process in batches till smooth. Add back to pot and pour in 1 large carton of chicken stock and 1 can of fire roasted green chilies.

Shred chicken breasts and add to soup pot...

along with the drippings from baking the chicken...

Taste... add salt if needed... or any spices as needed. Actually at this point its so darn good already you will want to eat it right away... and you can, its ready. But letting it slowly simmer an hour or so will really make this soup come alive... With all the fresh ingredients you will be amazed at the flavor of this sopa!