LaBellaMaison

Okay One More Time

 Okay one more time........  I had a bout of major frustration earlier today when I attempt to complete a post to this blog.  My Internet explore froze up on me again and all my work was lost.  Reminds me of when I was trying a term paper and hit some random key and lost everything because I hadn't been saving my work as I went along.  So today, it was that same feeling of frustration.  I just had to walk away from this computer after I hit it a couple of time ( for real).  Insanity!!!

Anyway, I was trying to finally show you all my outdoor spaces or garden room or whatever it is.....   The space I am describing is on my lower level deck which has several different levels.  My favorite area is my red & white space.  It is so fresh and crisp with the black furniture.  The furniture is antique wicker from my parent's home in Michigan.  Although they used the furniture indoors in their basement, I had it recovered with Sunbrella fabric for outdoor use.  It is so wet & damp at times here in Seattle that it was definitely worth the $$$$ that it costs.

I also added this picture that I had in my house in Florida which was unused in the basement of our Seattle home:

This sign  that hangs on the wall was purchased on Whibey Island.  It is made out of driftwood from the pacific northwest.

On another adjacent level of the deck I have a little different color scheme going on.  I never was motivated to find new cushions for these chairs:

I think next year these chairs will end up upstairs on the deck off my bedroom along with this:

All of the white wicker is from my home in Florida and was on the balcony outside of the master bedroom.  Charlie and Lenny hung my chandelier from the ceiling of the upper deck.  It's pretty large and hasn't been filled with candles yet.

I also have this sign from my friend Jacque from Minnesota, hanging on a post.

My flowers look sad don't you think?  I am ready for them to go away since I am tired of taking care of them.  They almost look as sad as my project desk that is a mess from a gift I am making for my little friend Delanie.

But, before this chaos began, I was able to make a few cards primarily using Heidi Swapp papers and Stampin Up stamps.

A little boring pink & white......I am fighting the urge to jazz them up a bit!!!

CHILI LIME CHICKEN W/CORN WAGON WHEELS

Happy Friday-I've got another recipe for you to try this weekend as you enjoy summer:  William Sonoma~Chili-Lime Chicken w/Corn Wagon Wheels.

I tried this recipe last weekend as part of my quest for new recipes to put on my dinner table.  It all started with this which I saw at my local William Sonoma Store:

It is a beer based chicken roaster that you put on the grill.  I purchased all the essentials at William Sonoma one of my favorite stores.  I've never had a recipe from them that I didn't enjoy.  Next, I add this which was sold out for some time:

All you need is your whole chicken to make this:

Looks yummy right?  It was also fun to make to watch the chicken roast.  The recipe that goes along with this is:

Chili-Lime Chicken with Corn Wagon Wheels

Cooked on a vertical roaster over a backyard grill, this chicken emerges with moist, flavorful meat and crispy skin. Ears of corn, which are cut into rounds that resemble wagon wheels, cook in the base of the roaster along with the bird.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbs. unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. chili-lime rub
• 1 chicken, 4 1/2 to 5 lb.
• 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 2/3 cup light beer
• 4 ears of corn, husks and silks removed, corn cut into rounds 1/2 inch
    thick
• 2 Tbs. vegetable oil
• Grilled garlic bread for serving (see related recipe at left)

Directions:

Prepare a charcoal grill for indirect grilling over medium-high heat.

In a small bowl, using a rubber spatula, stir together the butter and 1 Tbs. of the chili-lime rub. Using your fingers, gently loosen the skin from the chicken and rub the chili-lime butter evenly under the skin. In a small bowl, stir together the 1/4 cup chili-lime rub and 1 tsp. of the salt. Rub the mixture evenly on the outside of the chicken.

Pour the beer into the central well of a vertical chicken roaster. Place the chicken, with the legs pointing down, on the roaster, and tuck the wings behind the back. Insert a remote thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, away from the bone. Set the roaster on the grill. Cover the grill and cook until the thigh registers 170°F, 1 hour and 25 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes. Be sure the internal temperature of the grill stays at 325° to 400°F.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the corn, vegetable oil, the remaining 1/2 tsp. salt and the remaining 1 Tbs. chili-lime rub, and stir to coat the corn evenly.

After the chicken has cooked for 45 minutes, place the corn in the outer ring of the roaster. Cover the grill and cook until the kernels are browned and tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer the corn to a platter and cover loosely with aluminum foil.

Transfer the chicken to a cutting board, cover loosely with foil and let rest for 10 minutes. Carve the chicken and arrange on the platter alongside the corn and grilled garlic bread. Serves 4 to 6.

Williams-Sonoma Kitchen.

 

I highly recommend you try it out this weekend.  Hopefully, the roaster and the rub is still available at your local William Sonoma.

IT'S HOT IN SEATTLE

It's so hot here.........yes, Seattle with temperatures in the 80's!  I know that might not sound too bad for people who live in other areas of the country.  But, they probably have air conditioning and we don't.  Yup, most homes in the Seattle area do not have the luxury of air conditioning.  Not a good mix when you are a allergy sufferer and need those windows closed instead of open.  Well, that's my situation right now.  Allergies that are making me so miserable that I want to take my head off.   All the windows in my house are open & that lets the doggie hear every noise in the neighborhood.  Needless to say, they have been doing too much barking and growling at everything!  They are definitely in need of a "time out."   To stay cool.......... I have been spending a lot of time downstair on my second level creating stuff like this:

 

and this

 

(Lots of Making Memories, Jenni Bowlin, and Scenic Route).  I am on a card kick......can't you tell?!  But, I also made this:

 

A page about me.  (Making Memories, Rhonna Farrer, Love Elsie, and Heidi Swapp).  And I also tried to use a different style on this layout-simplicity:

Today, I was  in downtown Seattle and was so inspired by this busy, happy, bustling city.  I had an appointment on the fifteenth floor of the Nordstrom Tower and I was in awe at the spectular view of this city.  All different types of architecture, views of the Puget Sound, and hilly landscape make the sky scape awesome.  The great resturants and shopping are too many to mention. 

Now, while downtown today I forgot where I parked my car.  Initially, I tried to park in the Nordstroms Department Store structure; but, unfortunately the lot was full.  So, I ended up going around a couple of block and found an office building garage that had available parking.  Well, the not so funny thing is that when I left Nordstroms I couldn't remember where in the heck I parked.  It kinda was like I was in a daze and it was a little scary.   I was so caught up in the energy and the hustle/bustle of the city that I wasn't paying attention.   Thank good ness I remembered that I took a left and then a second left when I left the parking garage.  A girl definitely needs to get with it!

 

JUST TRYING TO POST

I was trying to post on this darn blog earlier today and my Internet Explorer just quit on me.  Yup, just totally stopped working.  Talk about frustrating, I lost my entire post.  But, I didn't get too upset because I just had finished visiting Livinglifefully.com.  This is a great inspirational site that puts everything in perspective for those of us who sometimes get caught up in life's craziness.  The goal of Living Life Fully is to project peaceful and positive thoughts into our daily lives.  This fresh outlook Living Life Fully provides will hopefull provide you with inner peace to shape your perspective as you go about your day.  I was inspired by today's daily quote:

Whatever our individual troubles and challenges may be, it’s important to pause every now and then to appreciate all that we have, on every level.  We need to literally “count our blessings,” give thanks for them, allow ourselves to enjoy them, and relish the experience of prosperity we already have.

Shakti Gawain

I also really enjoy the Daily Pick- Me Up's that focus on topics to ponder deal ing with life's lessons and journeys.  If you have a moment check this site out and and  add it to your favorites on your computer.

On the creative side of things, did I mentioned that I bought this:

 

Yes, I know that I already have a Berdina Sewing Machine that I do not know how to operate......  But,  sewing mini is for sewing on paper.  I have fallen in love with cards and layout with sewing on them.  And so, I had been looking at this machine for  quite a while at Impress Rubber Stamps in University Village.  IHonestly, I was j afraid to bring it home because I thought Charlie would do a back flip ( since I didn't utilize the one I already have).  But, I came home with it one day and it was cool.  It was a good thing I purchased this one; because I was right that there was no way I would have been able to operate The Berdina.  Getting everything set up from threading the bobbin and needle wasn't easy.  With the help of Mary Ann I am now on the road to creating..........This is the first card that I made:

 

So its baby steps.....but, progress.  A simple card that has a little sewing on it. I also complete a couple of other cards...........

This is a birthday card I made for my aunts birthday.  I used red and white Jenni Bowlin on this one because it is our sorority colors.

And this is another birthday card I whipped up using up some old Making Memories papers in my stash.

 

Well, I've got lots more to show but I'll save it for later.  Ciao.....

DID I TELL YA

 Did I tell you that I have been cooking up a storm from my newest favorite cookbook?  Probably not, because sometimes I am "On Strike" from the kitchen.  But, I did find a new cookbook after sampling one of the recipes at our friend's Mike & Diane's house.  The recipe she used was the Mexicali-Style Corn with Lime Butter & Cilantro.  This dish was fabulous so I had to run out and purchase the cookbook and make this dish for the 4th of July.  The cookbook is Bobby Flay's GRILL IT!

 

 

I absolutely love this book and would highly recommend it for anyone that wants to zip up their recipes.  It sure saved me from the same boring things that I was making on the grill.  Some other great recipes that I have tried from this cookbook are:

Cuban Style Corn-corn cooked on the grill then rub in a Chipotle Mayonnaise & rolled in Cotija Cheese (just like the one we used to love at Chino-Latino in Minneapolis).

Grilled New Potato Salad with Bacon & Buttermilk Dressing-fabulous & a new twist on the old potato salad.

Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges with Spicy Cranberry-Bourbon Glaze

Molasses-Mustard Glazed Pork Chops with Apple Butter

I'd recommend that you go, no run to your closest bookstore to pickup this great cookbook.  Definitely 5 stars!!!  When we were coaching at the Minnesota Vikings, Bobby Flay a friend of our head coach came and prepared a meal for our staff which was "Delish."

I also have been at it again making a few cards.  Here we go....

the writing on the card says

 

 

I made these two cards using old scraps of paper in my stash.

 

A birthday card for us who are getting older than we would like.

 

Another card using up scraps.  This is my new stamp from Impress Rubber Stamps.  Lots of ways that you can use it.

 

Love the orange and blue combo.

 

A little Scenic Route & Joann's chipboard.