Paula Deen & My Mom Cookin' It Up?

With Passover starting today and Easter this weekend I thought this would be a great day to focus on yummy treats that complete any family dinner. 

Today I'm inviting Paula Deen to come over to my mom's house to do some traditional Portuguese baking. She'd love this recipe for washboard butter cookies. Why? Butter! Oh yeah, and a lot of it. If you don't like to get your hands dirty, I'll warn you that this recipe may not be for you. No mixer is required just a whole lot of TLC from your five digits.

Step 1: Mix butter, shortening, and sugar

Step 2: Add eggs and mix

Step 3: Add grated lemon and mix

Step 4: Add salt,baking powder and flour, mix

These cookies are simply irresistible and I can assure you that you won't just eat one. They are called washboard cookies because the horizontal lines made with a fork resemble the ridges of a washboard. Delicately flavored with lemon, they compliment a cup of tea or coffee perfectly.

Step 5: Roll dough into a small ball

Step 6: Flatten ball(as shown ablove)

Step 7: Take a fork to create washboard pattern

Step 8: Bake 350 until golden brown

Ingredients For Washboard Cookies: 

4 Sticks of butter (at room temperature)

2 Cups of sugar

3 Eggs

1 Heaping tablespoon of shortening

1 1/2 grated peel of a lemon 

A pinch of salt

7 Cups of flour

2 Heaping tablespoons of baking powder

Makes (more than any individual should ever consume)

26.2 Is No Laughing Matter

There’s nothing funny about running 26.2 miles, and there is certainly nothing funny about getting up at the crack of dawn to train for such an event. If you think I’m talking from experience you definitely do not know me because although I like to challenge myself, running a marathon has never placed top on my list.

Oddly enough I have many friends that have run marathons. Some have even run more than one; which got me thinking, am I hanging around with  a bunch of lunatics or am I simply missing out on something really special.

I Stopped Along The Way to talk with my friend Barbara Vanderwilden about what has inspired her to run in this year’s Boston Marathon. I can assure you that Barbara is not a lunatic, but she is a woman of strength propelled by a passion much deeper and stronger than a finish line.

The Boston Marathon is the oldest annual city marathon in the world and is ranked one of the most prestigious running events in the world. On Monday April 18th approximately  25,000 people are expected to contend. To enter you have to qualify, and to stay in the race requires months of training. 


Barbara shared how as a little girl living in Boston’s North End she had always wanted to run the Boston Marathon. She is running as part of a team that supports MDSC the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. The MDSC team advocates for people with Down Syndrome. Because this is the 115 Boston Marathon, and the last year that the MDSC is a sponsored charity for the Boston Marathon, the stars aligned and she decided it was time to live out her childhood dream.

Barbara is a wife to John and mother of two to Emily and Max. Emily, the older of the two, is a wonderful big sister. She is Max's biggest cheerleader, and patient with him in everything that he tries to accomplish. Max has Down Syndrome and is a burst of sunshine. Whether he’s giving you a rendition of Taio Cruz’s Dynamite or flashing his wide smile at you, he’ll have you in stitches and win your heart.


In speaking with her it was clear that her journey was made possible by so many people. The continued support of her family has been crucial to her daily routine and a source of motivation and inspiration. With over $18 thousand dollars that she raised for MDSC she is extremely grateful to family and friends that helped her achieve her financial goal. In total 24 runners supporting MDSC have raised over $80 thousand dollars. Let's not forget about Beantown Bootcamp, six months of rigorous training during the extremely cold New England winter, now that's commitment!


I wish Barbara an easy run on Monday, and salute her and all the participants  that have devoted their time to a cause bigger than they. I'm so glad that I made this stop! It reassured me that my friends are not lunatics, and that yes, 26.2 is no laughing matter.


To follow Barbara during the marathon click here and follow her number 22678

Here Comes Peter Cottontail...

It's that time of year, have you noticed  this week I've been bringing you all things Easter related. Whether you celebrate this holiday or not, I'm sure you find pleasure in little bunnies and little chicks too. After all who can resist their soft fur. Our friend Peter Cottontail can be found in many shapes and sizes this time of year. Round and fluffy, stuffed and glittered or sitting at he mall waiting to take a picture with an adorable child in their Sunday's best  Peter Cottontail is all around us. If bunnies aren't your thing, not to worry because Peter always has chicks in tow. Fluffy ones, sweet ones, chocolate ones, you name his chicks are all the rage.

As I made some stops this week I couldn't resist taking a few picture of our friends in the many hats that they wear this time of year. From nesting eggs to Easter baskets galore they are everywhere. This got me  thinking how bunnies, eggs, yellow chicks and baskets filled with Easter goodies were incorporated into the Easter tradition. 

According to University of Florida’s Center for Children’s Literature and Culture, origin of the celebration - and the Easter bunny - can be traced back to 13th century, pre-Christian Germany, when people worshiped several gods and goddesses. The Teutonic deity Eostra was the goddess of spring and fertility, and feasts were held in her honor on the Vernal Equinox. Her symbol was the rabbit because of the animal’s high reproduction rate. Spring also symbolized new life and rebirth; eggs were an ancient symbol of fertility. The first Easter bunny legend was documented in the 1500s. By 1680, the first story about a rabbit laying eggs and hiding them in a garden was published. These legends were brought to the United States in the 1700s when German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania Dutch country.The tradition of making nests for the rabbit to lay its eggs in soon followed. Eventually, nests became decorated baskets and colorful eggs were swapped for candy, treats and other small gifts. I think I'll stick to the real reason for the season but heavily rely on Peter cottontail and his Hippy Chicks for decor and to bring smiles to a child's face.  

Don't Make A Peep - Just Buy Some

Remember wax lips, candy cigarettes, flying saucers, and Swedish fish? I do. There was a store down the street from my house that sold this type of nostalgic candy. The shelves were lined with candy and each piece cost pennies. I vividly remember finding a coin, walking down, and being totally satisfied for the rest of the day. A lot has changed since then, but you can still find stores locally that give you that same sense of satisfaction. This weekend I Stopped Along The Way at one of my favorite local candy shops, Prides Crossing Confections. I especially like visiting this time of year because the shelves are lined with chocolate Easter bunnies, Peeps, jelly beans, and so much more that if I continued it would make your mouth water. All the packages are beautifully wrapped and tied with colorful ribbon ready to make any child jump for joy. 

There are two things that I especially like about this shop. First I am in love with its location. Prides Crossing-MA, in an old train depot, could you get any more nostalgic than that? To me it represents a time when people took the train to Prides Crossing for a day at the beach. The second thing that I like is of course the candy. Whether you prefer Turtles, Fudge, Clusters or simply a fruit slice they have it, and you can bet that it is fresh, beautifully presented, and out of this world delicious. I have nothing vested in this statement other than the pure joy of sharing a stop that I know will be worth your time. Enjoy!  

Prides Crossing Confections

590 Hale Street

Prides Crossing

Click Here For Vintage Chocolate Molds

Click Here For Nostalgic Online Candy Store

A Pie, A Bird, A King

Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye. Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie. When the pie was opened, the birds began to sing; wasn't that a dainty dish,to set before the king?

Today as I write this post I'm reminded about "Sing A Song Of Sixpence", that famous nursery rhyme. I made a Stop Along The Way last week at Harrow's to pick up a pie for myself and my friend. My niece happens to work there so for me it was a double "yummy" stop. There was quite a bustle going on that day. People rushing in, rushing out with bags full of chicken pies. You could tell these customers had been here before, and were happy to be back. 

I peeked in the back window, and was amazed by the rows of pies lined up. It was at that point that I had to ask my niece if I could get a closer look. I was hoping she would sneak me behind the pie tins with a hair net on my head and send me on my way, but she's much smarter than that; she got Wally.  Walter Arsenault, "Wally", which suites his personality much better, is the owner along with his brother Dan. Wally was thrilled to show me around. You could see that he takes his chicken pies seriously. From production to counter his #1 priority is upholding a tradition that was started by Charlie Harrow back in 1930. 

Wally's father,Walter Arsenault started working for the Charlie Harrow back when he was a kid in the 1940s.  He eventually purchased the business in the 1950's.  Walter and his wife, Shirley, ran the business with a little help from the family. . .their seven children.  While different family members have come and gone, Dan and Wally Arsenault remain in the chicken pie making business.  They both began working at Harrows as young children, and eventually purchased the company from their father in 1995.  

Harrows Chicken Pies are still made the same way they were in the 1930, with slow cooked chicken and rich homemade gravy made from scratch everyday.  The pies are made just the way your grandmother would have made them sixty years ago, or the way you would if you had all day to spend in the kitchen. 

There won't be any birds flying out of these pie, but you can be sure that they are fit to serve a king!

Click here for Harrow's hours, directions, and locations 

Don't Count Your Chickens Till They Hatch

I’m no chicken, but when it comes to those feathery friends I have a love hate relationship with them. They are cute and fluffy when they are small, you kind of want to get hundreds; but when they grow up they can be feisty little buggers.  When my father was a boy he got pecked by a chicken, but that hasn’t stopped him from getting a few for his own backyard. He currently has several and their eggs are so fresh and delicious that I suppose that has made up for the pecking incident. 

As I was picking up eggs at my dad’s house I was reminded about Hardy’s Hatchery in Essex. Some of my dad’s chickens came from there. A few years ago I happened to Stop Along The Way when I saw the Hardy’s Hatchery  building. It’s a unique structure because it looks abandoned if you quickly look at it. The shingles are somewhat falling off, some windows are cracked or missing, and the Hardy’s letters are barely decipherable. The thing that appealed to me is that the hatchery abuts a beautiful yellow antique home. Since I can’t resist old buildings I pulled in hoping that a couple of neglected chickens didn’t chase me off the property. I was pleasantly surprised. I was immediately welcomed and taken where the chicks are hatched. I bought a few that day and brought them back to my dad’s. Oddly enough he had been asking for a supplier and I just happened to find one that day. We placed the chicks under a heat lamp until they got big enough to be out on their own. Although those chickens are long gone, and others have replaced them, Hardy’s Hatchery is still raising chickens and selling eggs. This tradition has been in their family since the early 1900’s. Can you imagine that! I bet they coined the phrase don’t count your chickens until they hatch.

Apparently housing chickens is a growing trend. Have you noticed more chickens in your neighborhood lately? I have noticed an increase in their presence as I drive by some homes. Sometimes they seem almost kamikaze, no fear to get close to the road in the hunt for food. Most times their feathers look really pretty against the green grass backdrop. I’m no chicken, but I think they are best in someone else’s yard instead of mine.  

If you are interested in buying fresh eggs visit:

Hardy’s Hatchery

Rt 133 Essex


If you are interested in raising a few of our feathered friends below are some helpful links:


Raising Chickens 

Custom Chicken Coops


Small Portable Chicken Coops


A Portable Backyard Solution 

What's So Funny About That?

It was a cold and long winter and now a cold start to spring here in New England, so when I came home yesterday and saw that the thermometer read 59 I was tempted to sit on the porch and soak up the rays. My husband was enthusiastic about this idea but I told him the blog wouldn't write itself. He chuckled! Happy Funny Friday to you all! I was thinking about my post and wondered what it would include. I thought about this for a second and then it came to me. Isn't it funny how one thing can make someone laugh out loud to the point of tears, and the same thing can bore someone to the point of tears. Some YouTube videos are like that too. 

For instance the Friday song by Rebecca Black . To date it has 87,944,639 hits.  I don't particularly find it funny but who am I to stand up against 87,944,639 people(that's a crazy #).  

I'm not sure if I laugh at this because it's funny or because I can totally see myself in the mirror singing to this and looking quite odd as well. Keenan Cahill has a slew of these parody videos. He's really made a name for himself and has the numbers to back him up.

What about these talking twin babies. If you watch long enough you'll actually think that you can understand them, now that's a funny thought. 

And this one I really do like .Can your man......NO HE CAN'T... Where is the one that says can your women... Because anyone that knows my family unit knows that my husband is a genius when handling a computer mouse, but not so much when handing a power tool.

The weekend forecast is looking really warm - It may be time to switch wintery wools to warm weather whites. I'm excited because I love the sun and I love the heat too.

Thank you for coming along with me on my journeys this week. 

A lot of fun things prepared for next week so be sure to follow along!

Enjoy your weekend and any "Stops that you find yourself making Along The Way".

I Need A Vacation

GREEN IS UNIVERSAL has partnered with Etsy.com,the world's handmade marketplace and destination for eco-friendly, upcycled and recycled products. They are giving away several products one of which is a Family Vacation to Universal Theme Park. Oh yes, I need a vacation!

To enter The Green is Universal Contest you must be:

A permanent, legal residents of the United States  (CHECK)

Eighteen  years of age or older (Definitely CHECK)

The purpose of this Contest is for the entrant ME to submit either a video or before, during, and after photographs that show how I recycle/reuse/upcycled an item to keep it out of the landfill. 

LIGHTBULB MOMENT, because I rescued a antique baby crawler out of the trash last summer, and now I have a purpose to recycle/ upcycle it. When I saw the baby crawler in the trash I immediately loved it because 1- it was real wood (not plastic) 2- you could see the scratches and baby marks on it 3- It had a really cool form, one little hoop to fit the baby into, and a larger one for their legs to flail about. 

I immediately ran to my studio to begin construction. I found sweaters that were originally destined for a black trash bag. I cut them into strips and started wrapping them around the crawler. I really enjoyed the texture and color, but what was I making? Viola- a multi purpose home décor.  

It can be a lampshade (as shown)

It can be a sculpture prominently placed in any room  

If can be a stool/ alternative poof by simply adding a small round pillow to it.

Wish me luck, I'm going to enter my multi purpose / reinvented baby crawler today. 

I hope I win because I really need a vacation.


Click here for details


My project is under Home Decor - it is called No More Crawlin' Baby
Cast a Vote April 9-15

Una Noche Magnífica Español

Una Noche Magnífica Español - A Magnificent Spanish Night

For eleven years our  friends Heidi & Craig have hosted a Valentine's  dinner. This year, because of snow days and schedules we celebrated this past weekend. Although this was a scheduled stop, I couldn't let the evening go by without a well deserved spotlight in my blog. The theme changes from year to year, highlighting a specific country. The food, decor, and music coordinate to the theme. We've been to France, Italy, China, just to name a few. This year, Spain. Heidi is extremely creative and always outdoes herself with the decor. She doesn't miss a single detail, and this year was no exception. Bright orange Gerber daisies, maps of Spain, and bowls filled with oranges  were spread throughout the house. So inviting, so festive, and so beautiful!

We started off the night with very tasty sangria, and cerveza that our friends Nancy & Scott  brought. Heidi decorated each glass with colored rubber bands and a small map clipping. There was no mistaking our glass so it made it easy to pick up where we left off.

Our friends Marci & George were in charge of the appeizers. They grilled mouthwatering ribs that were to die for. They also brought cheeses from Spain, a fig and almond loaf of yumminess, and tortas de aceite. 

Although I can't give Craig any credit for decor, I must say that he is the master behind the main meal. This year he cooked up an authentic Spanish Paella. It was like a taste bud explosion, meat, seafood, rice, vegetables, spices.....a big pot of awesomeness. If I hadn't stuffed myself with appetizers I could have easily had two more helpings. This picture is making me hungry and I want more!

We ended the evening with a plate of assorted desserts and coconut macaroons that yours truly made. This Barefoot Contessa recipe was super easy and really good. Thanks Tanya for the recipe.....Amazingly enough I didn't screw it up.

I hope you enjoyed this scheduled stop. Spring is here, maybe you'll be inspired to host your very own Una noche magnífica español if so below are some recipes to help you make entertaining seem as effortless as Heidi & Craig do. ! Enjoy!

Click here for Authentic Paella Valenciana

Click here for Authentic Paella Sevilla

Click here for Coconut Macaroons

Click here for Classic Spanish Sangria

Some Days Just Stick

On Sunday after church we were driving home; there are a couple roads that lead there,  right is a prettier view, but left gets us home quicker. We were a little strapped for time so we went left. As we drove down the road I looked out my window and saw a very unique tree. It made me giggle when I saw it. I immediately asked my husband to stop the car and spin around so that I could share its creative form with you. 

As you can see it was chopped down, but its limbs were still holding it up. It reminded me of an enormous stick bug. Have you ever seen a stick bug? The first time I saw one I was in awe - #1 because I had never seen such a curious creature before #2 because it was nowhere near a tree or a stick, it was on a window. 

As we were taking the pictures, the owner came out....oh boy!.... You never know how a homeowner will react to a person on their property, after all he probably just wanted the tree gone and didn't see the humor in it. We immediately introduced ourselves and told him why we were taking pictures. He was extremely accommodating and such a pleasure to talk to.  Apparently someone in their Sunday best looks much different than that same someone in jeans and a sweatshirt because it took about  five minutes before my husband remembered that he attends our church and sits just a few pews back. We had been wanting to say hello but hadn't had the chance.  Amazing! I guess if God wants to place a person in your path he will literally chop down a tree, make it look like an enormous stick bug, and make you Stop Along The Way. 

Wow- That's A Lot Of Bread!

This weekend I hosted a party to celebrate a certain someone's birthday. Happy birthday RS! I made their favorite meal, an authentic Portuguese bean recipe, feijoada. This dish is very tasty and filling, especially when consumed with large amounts of Portuguese corn bread. Since this type of bread is not available at most local grocery stores I had to make a stop at an authentic Portuguese bakery. 

I remember as a child going to this neighborhood bakery practically every day for fresh bread, on Sunday it was a treat because we'd get pastries too. Central Bakery has been a Peabody staple since 1923. Wow that's a lot of bread! The fresh baked aroma when you enter is intoxicating, and reminds me of my childhood.  The cases are overflowing with fresh bread, cakes, pastries, donuts and cookies. It's a quaint Portuguese bakery, no frills, no glitz, just a consistent product. Other than the prices nothing has changed from the days that I was a child; and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Central Bakery

48 Walnut St, Peabody, MA 01960

978) 531-2101

If you happen to stop along the way try the following items, you won't be disappointed:

Breads:

Pao De Milho ( Portuguese Cornbread )

Papo Seco (Portuguese Rolls)

Linguica  Bread- Yummy!

Traditional Portuguse Pastries:

Queijada

Pasteis de Nata

Bean recipe:

I'd give you my bean recipe but I typically don't cook with recipes, I just go with what feels right. 

Click here for one that has the  basic ingredients that I use, give or take a pinch of this and a pinch of that.

Enjoy!

In Like A Lion - Out Like A Lamb

March is said to come in "ferocious" like a lion (rain,cold win,storms,sleet snow, etc..) and go out "gentle" as a lamb. Let's hope so! Happy April!

I'm No Fool!

"The first of April is the day we remember 

what we are the other 364 days of the year."

Mark Twain

I thought I was the originator of April Fools day. Ever since I can remember I've been fooling people. I thoroughly enjoy making people laugh so fooling is part of my daily plan. 

So, if I didn't make up this silly tradition who did? Well, apparently it all started back in BC times. Julius Caesar recognized New Years as January 1, but over the years, different countries grew to observe it on different days. Some celebrated it on February 1, some on March 1, and still others on Easter. The church celebrated New Year's on March 25. People would celebrate for 8 days, until the first day of April. To avoid confusion, Gregory XIII made a decision that was handed down through the ages: New Year's Day would be observed on January 1. Some people were opposed to this change, and some didn't even learn that there was a change until years later, and so they continued to celebrate New Year's from March 25 to April 1. Those that celebrated the "new" January 1 New Year made fun of the people who continued to hold celebrations for those eight days. They called them "April Fools," sent them false invitations to New Year's parties, and played tricks on them. Talk about all dressed up and no place to go! Pretty funny right?!

What are some jokes that you like to play on people? Last year I posted a note on our copier machine that stated how it had been upgraded to a voice activated copier. I could hardly stand it as people approached and talked to it, but got nothing but frustrated. 

Click here for an official copier's been upgraded document

Another joke I played was on my mother. She loves scratch tickets so I bought her a fake prank ticket. Have you ever seen them? They are all winners, and they all pay out at least a cool million. Mom scratched hers and her eyes got wider and wider and wider until she jumped up and scream woooooooooo wooooooooo. I got out of my chair screamed along with her. She then called my husband to tell him. I finally had to extinguish her flame and let her know that it was a prank. If she wasn't well on her way to a heart attack I may have let it go for a little longer but I figured we got our joy out of seeing such a spectical.

Click here to get your very own prank scratch tickets

Thank you for coming along with me on my journeys this week. 

A lot of fun things prepared for next week so be sure to follow along!

Enjoy your weekend and any "Stops that you find yourself making Along The Way".