Old Fashioned Gingerbread with Orange Maple Drizzle

1 Cup boiling water

2 t. baking soda

2 1/2 C. flour

2 t. ground ginger

1 1/2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. cloves

2 t. baking powder

1 stick unsalted butter

3/4 C. molasses

2 large eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 350. Combine baking soda in boiling water to dissolve. Set aside. In large bowl sift together flour, spices and baking powder. In another bowl cream butter, sugar & molasses. Add baking soda mixture, eggs. Mix well. Pour batter in desired pan. Bake 35 minutes.

~for Maple drizzle 

Cream 1 stick softened butter with desired amount of powdered sugar. Add a squeeze of orange and some zest. Add a Tablespoon of maple syrup.

...Brew'n homemade Kombucha mushroom

My daughter Tiara & our bff's Audree & Bari are making homemade Kombucha tea

The end of the summer garden...

Italian Orange Soy Candle~a gift from my hubby

Some of my favorite summer sandwiches

My breakfast this morning! Whole wheat english muffin, slice of gouda w tomato & avocado, a drizzle of olive oil & sea salt

I love rustic artisan breads or a fresh kalamata bread. Aged cheddar & fresh garden tomatoes!!!

Our Twentieth Wedding Anniversary

We celebrated the day a La Jolla Shores & dinner at Ocean 1500 in Coronado

Sashimi App

I ordered the seared scallops 

...and Steve thinks all I read is smut

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Afternoon Tea...classic

Caprese Martini

Pour balsamic glaze in bottom of martini glass. Shake 1 1/2 oz. of your favorite Vodka with ice, pour carefully into prepared glass. Garnish with fresh tomatoes, basil & buffalo mozzarella  ball pick. (I couldn't resist tossing in a blue cheese olive in mine)

Beauty Within

Blue potatoes, taste the same as regular but rich in antioxidants

                                        Mr. Stripey Heirloom Tomato~ 

Can't beat fresh squeezed juice from the backyard tree~

My Tomato Table

Tiara & Audree's Gourmet Mini Eggplant Parms

My daughter Tiara and her BFF Audree love eggplant parmesan~they picked a japanese eggplant from the summer garden & whipped up  creative mini stacks using muffin  pans. Making it just how they like it~saucy & lotsa cheese. YUM

T

~My new CANdle

It smells so good~Sweet Olive Blossom

Buongiorno Bella Pomodori

Tiara's Shrimp Tempura

This is my cute 15 year old daughter Tiara~after cheer practice she jumped in the kitchen and made us some dinner. She always amazes me, she is impulsive, likes to try new things & always makes up her own recipes~

She created her own tempura batter which was light &  delicate~ it had great flavor!

...and for dessert 

she dipped the shrimp in her homemade strawberry berry jam she made earlier in the week & tempura~served with  brown sugar & agave
It was Yummy!!

~Eggplant time