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The Corn Man

August 28, 2013 by Shanna Hatfield

sweetcorn

During the summer months, when fresh produce abounds, I try to buy as much as I can from local fruit stands. The other day I stopped at one I hadn’t tried before because I wanted some sweet corn and there were multiple signs advertising their selection.

Although there wasn’t an overwhelming about of produce to choose from, fragrant cantaloupes, lemony cucumbers, vibrant tomatoes and boxes of plums were set out in an appealing display.

Gathering up a few things, I looked around for the corn and didn’t see any. Asking the man running the stand if he had any, he smiled and nodded his head of white hair. At this point, all he needed was some funky sunglasses and a T-shirt to confirm he had not quite left behind the haze of the 1960s. Both his speech and laid-back body language assured me of this.

Turning around, he pointed to a huge barrel and removed the lid where sweet corn hid beneath a burlap covering. Pulling out a few ears, he showed them to me, describing his “beauties” as “elegant and lovely” before bagging a half dozen ears for me.

Seeing the corn man, along with those burlap bags took me hurtling back to the summer I was seventeen when my parents decided my divine torture for the summer would be helping them sell sweet corn. Although I’m sure it was probably just a few acres they planted, at the time it seemed more like hundreds. For a few weeks that summer, it seemed like all I did was pick corn (which caused my asthma to go into overdrive), shuck corn (which caused my whining to go into overdrive) and bag the shucked corn for customers. Some corn we delivered and others we sold right from the front yard, where huge piles of corn husks sat until yours truly got the privilege of hauling them off to the garbage.

To this day, I hate shucking corn although I do enjoy a good ear of sweet corn.

Thanking Mr. Corn Man for the produce, I begrudgingly shucked the corn for dinner that night.

Although I had my doubts, the corn man was right – those ears were not only sweet, but elegant and lovely, too.

She Who Needs to Go Back to the Fruit Stand

Posted in Captain Cavedweller, Garden, Home and Garden, Musings | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

Mason Jars

August 27, 2013 by Shanna Hatfield

I’ll freely admit it – I’m a sucker for mason jars.

You can use them for so many fun and unique purposes (and jars, turned blue with age are my favorites!).

mason jar crafts book

Lauren Elise Donaldson has a book out called Mason Jar Crafts that features an array of interesting ideas for using mason jars. Everything from gifts and decor to storage ideas and lighting are included in the book.

mason jar drink jarNot only does she give you great ideas (personalized drink glasses for a party – love this idea!), she also provides step by step directions for completing the project.

Mason Jar treatsHere’s another fun party idea. I can picture these at a tailgate party or an autumn gathering.

Mason Jar Piggy bank

This piggy bank is cute and a project simple enough to do with your child. You have the opportunity to teach your young one a craft, but also some “dollars and sense” about money.

Mason Jar christmas cranberry

The holiday section, in particular, tickled my fancy. Love, love, love these jars with cranberries and vintage art. So festive!

The book, available through Ulysses Press retails for $14.95 and can also be found on Amazon.

The author is a photographer, stylist, and design blogger in Los Angeles. For additional crafts and ideas for creative living, visit her blog at LaurenEliseCrafted,com

She Who Needs to Make Something with a Mason Jar!

Posted in Entertaining at Home, Entertaining Ideas, Home and Garden | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

I Remember It Well

August 26, 2013 by Shanna Hatfield

Captain Cavedweller had a rare weekend off from work so we spent it driving all over the countryside, eating things we know we shouldn’t, moving some well loved “junk” to storage, and in general enjoying time well wasted.

Our weekend together also helped me remember a few important details about my husband.

The first jog in my memory occurred when he emerged from the bathroom the first morning of his weekend off sporting a goatee. He’s been sporting scruff on his face for a few weeks and from past experience, I’ve learned to not complain about it too much or too loudly because that just prolongs the suffering. The last thing I expected was to see his snappy goatee, which, by the way, I love.

CC is always game to go for a drive, as long as there is something interesting to see along the way. Apparently 207 miles of dirt, harvested wheat fields, rocks, more dirt, winding mountain roads with no guardrail, and one deceased porcupine did not qualify as interesting.

Also, after spending the better part of a day driving 207 miles round trip to the middle of nowhere so I can take photos of a town that no longer exists, CC just wants to be fed (and gas station food does not count.)

While he seems to have challenges remembering details like the wedding we are supposed to attend, the name of my cousin’s new baby, or what time we need to leave for an appointment, he recalled with startling detail the exact location of a new restaurant he was most interested in trying after I mentioned weeks ago it was opening.

When CC decides he is completely and totally done with a project (like moving well-loved junk), it means he is completely and totally done right now.  Not five minutes from now, not “wait, let’s just…”  – all done. Right. Now. Which turned out to be a good thing, because I was ready to be all done, too.

She Who Is Now Remembering Many Details…

 

Posted in Captain Cavedweller, Entertaining at Home, Musings | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake

August 23, 2013 by Shanna Hatfield

choc coconut plated

The other day I wanted something chocolate, then I wanted something coconut. Then I decided why not combine the two?

Why not, indeed!

This recipe comes together quickly and, my goodness, it is yummy!

Moist, rich and chocolatey, the center of the cake features a filling that is sweet, creamy and utterly divine.

Ingredients

Ingredients

 

Start by mixing cake batter - cake mix, water, oil, sour cream, pudding mix, eggs. It will be really thick, and that is just who you want it.

Start by mixing cake batter – cake mix, water, oil, sour cream, pudding mix, eggs. It will be really thick, and that is just who you want it.

 

See all that fudgy-goodness?

See all that fudgy-goodness?

Mix your coconut filling using a little vanilla, coconut and sweetened condensed milk.

Mix your coconut filling using a little vanilla, coconut and sweetened condensed milk.

Spray a bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray. Spoon in half of the chocolate cake batter.

Spray a bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray. Spoon in half of the chocolate cake batter.

Add the coconut filling, then top with the rest of the chocolate cake batter.

Add the coconut filling, then top with the rest of the chocolate cake batter.

 

This would be the point where I got distracted by the Baby Kitty playing outside and forgot to take photos… Sorry!

When cooked, cool, invert on a serving platter or cake plate, top with a drizzle of chocolate frosting and enjoy! (Or freeze for later delicious consumption.)

When cooked, cool, invert on a serving platter or cake plate, top with a drizzle of chocolate frosting and enjoy! (Or freeze for later delicious consumption.)

 

Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake

1  Chocolate Fudge Betty Crocker Cake Mix (18 ounce box)

1 small box of instant chocolate pudding

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup oil

3 eggs

1/2 cup chocolate frosting

1 cup coconut

1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine cake mix, pudding mix, sour cream, oil, water and eggs  in a large mixing bowl.

Pour half the batter into a greased and floured bundt pan.

Mix coconut, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla. Spoon over cake batter in pan then top with remaining cake batter.

Bake  of one hour or until edges start to pull away from the pan.

Allow cake to cool completely then invert on serving dish. Finish the cake with some pre-made chocolate frosting (yes, right out of the can) that has been warmed. Use about 1/2 cup and microwave for 10-15 seconds, just until it starts to melt. Pour over the top of the cake. Prepare to be lost in bliss with that first bite!

She Who Loves Chocolate and Coconut

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Cake, Desserts, Recipes | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments »

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