BANANA BREAD WITH LEMON ZEST AND SWISS CHEESE SPREAD....NEW RECIPES FOR THE SUMMER SEASON

I used to clip and save recipes that sounded intriguing
from the newspapers wherever we were living at the time.
Of course, with the change we have seen with
social media, I love finding vintage newspaper recipes
on Pinterest and I have two prize winning ones for you today.

 

I have tried so many Banana Bread recipes over the years and they all
taste different....this recipe uses LEMON ZEST and I think it 
made all the difference in the world....just marvelous!
Now isn't this a beautiful loaf of freshly baked banana bread?

This is perfect for a mid-afternoon snack or a breakfast delight...
serve warm with butter.....

2 1/4 cups sugar

12 tablespoons butter

3 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Zest of 1 lemon, grated

4 bananas, mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup sour cream

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

The Process:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time. Beat well. Add vanilla extract, lemon zest and bananas; mix well.

In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add sifted ingredients alternately with sour cream to the sugar mixture, mixing well after each addition. Blend in chopped nuts. Butter and sugar two loaf pans. Divide batter between them. Bake in oven 30 to 40 minutes or until tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool slightly in pans; turn out on racks to cool.

Makes 2 loaves.

This cheese spread is perfect to serve when you
need an appetizer side....

Now, this easy and delicious spread is perfect for a cool summer appetizer
or even a light lunch....on the menu for a summer party with family....

One block of swiss cheese, grated
one or two fresh scallions, chopped
two fresh Roma tomatoes, chopped
Pepper to taste
Mayonnaise to your preference...

Mix well and chill....serve with crackers

I love to serve this with whole wheat Club or Ritz crackers.....
So, so good on a hot summer day....enjoy!

SUMMER TRANSITION CALLS FOR SUNSHINE YELLOWS and A HAPPY GOLF CART RIDE

How in the world is everyone doing today?
Our week has been uneventful but that
is what retirement can look like, which is not
a bad thing at all... 
I am looking forward to summer this year
which surprises me somewhat!
I am going to be updating the patio for the season
and have been tending to the pots of seeds I have planted..
we hope to finally get some rain for the weekend...

I hung a pretty floral hanging basket on the backdoor.....

My inspiration for the summer patio was my lemon tree serving tray..
I am planning to host a little summer soiree next month.....
and am so looking forward to wearing my  new yellow dress....

Vine ripened tomatoes always remind me of summer
and mother placing them on her kitchen window sill...

My little vegetable canisters bring to mind the Farmer's Market...

Lucy loves to watch activity from the kitchen window



We will be visiting our son this weekend so I baked
my favorite chocolate chip cookies to take along....

Again, drawing color inspiration from my garden....

This is the plan I came up with for next month....
it's such a happy place to be.....

However, I changed my mind and decided on something different!

Come back to visit and be a part of the summer party!

I can’t wait to see you🥳

Over in Atlanta, The Divine Miss M is the queen
of planting her containers....just gorgeous!!

Our talented son-in-law totally refurbished their
golf cart and it now belongs to the new owner...
they were so happy it went to a sweet family whose
little boys will enjoy it for many years ahead...

Happy trails little darlin's......

ITALIAN PASTA SALAD TO SERVE FOR GRILLING SEASON

 Good Morning kindred spirits.....
the days are heating up as we feel
April days flying by us .....time is going so quickly it seems....



Spring in Texas can bring rain and thunderstorms 
so it's good to soak in some sunshine on those days
where it's ideal for living outdoors...with sunscreen and a
hat for sure......
Today, I am bringing you a delicious pasta salad
which I found on Instagram!

It is so easy to put together and does not require
a lot of ingredients!
The secret to this salad is a particular dressing.....

Italian Pasta Salad
One package fresh cheese tortellini
fresh cherry tomatoes
ripe olives
shredded parmesan cheese
fresh shrimp, optional
Girard's Olde Venice Italian Salad Dressing

This pasta salad is versatile,,,,you can add whatever you like
as I added shrimp to ours...and the quantity of ingredients to suit your taste.

Everyone said, "this is a winner!"

We followed up with a perfect summer sweet ending....

Peach Pie....good food brings happy faces......

SUMMER COOKBOOK CORNER

 It will soon be summer....
and I am ready for it!
I wanted to think about inspiration for changing
the seasonal look for my cookbook corner
and it actually came to me quite easily..
sunny days and porch evenings spent
at my grandmother's house....
hydrangeas in the garden, playing games
with our cousins in her massive backyard
and clothes drying on the closeline.....
I would wake early in the morning and hear
doves cooing, the screen door banging shut over
at the hardware store and people greeting each other 
on the sidewalks.....
It was the season we lived outside...
we picked strawberries and blackberries from her plants
along the old picket fence and lived in shorts and sleeveless tops....
her lace curtains would blow gently from the breeze coming
through open windows....

My summer memories of our home in Jackson
are dear and sweet....
Mother's gardenia cuttings in the living room,
an anticipation of her 7-Up floats being served
for a dinner treat and playing with friends
well into the night....we made weekly
trips to the Farmer's Market....

Summer in our homes needs to be bright and breezy..
blues, whites, hydrangeas and lemonade with iced tea....
a peach cobbler in the oven and floral summer dresses...

These are my decor items that I have chosen to use
which will transpire the corner of the kitchen to pay
a remembrance to Grandmother and all the days of
of childhood summers....

This is going to a fun little project....a new cookbook,

a cottage core coffee mug, a beautiful art canvas and hydrangeas,,,,

now, I feel like enjoying a glass of iced tea....

EASTER SUNDAY 2026

Good Morning Kindred Spirits...
I hope you all enjoyed a lovely Easter weekend.....
we celebrated a birthday for our son

 and then
enjoyed a lovely, yet rather quiet Easter Sunday....

The Easter tablescape takes some planning....

A Saturday morning spring rain rolling through

The first rose of the season....

I woke up early to begin the dinner preparations and noticed
a beautiful full moon on Easter morning....
this told a story from the heavens....

Which then gave way to a stunning sunrise....
God speaks to us in amazing ways....
a reminder of the the teachinga of Easter.....

It was just three for dinner this year....

Candlelight always makes it special

The menu was planned and this year,
rather than ham, I slow roasted a turkey breast...
the kitchen smelled heavenly all day

Crescent roll bread,,,

Deviled eggs and roasted turkey

Broccoli cheese casserole and Scalloped Potatoes
from Costco

Lemon and Raspberry Tarts

This was the birthday cake....
made with Blackberry Wine...very
similar to a Crack Cake

It was a special day and we are thankful to see, visit
and celebrate with family...
Thank you Lord, for allowing us to enjoy another Easter Sunday....

EASTER DINING TABLE, and MRS. BETSY'S CUSTARD PIE

 Good Morning Loves.....



the Hyacinth is in bloom so surely
Spring must have arrived.
I have a few spring delights for you today

I still have a collection of Bath and Body Works candles
but I have not been to the store in quite some time.
Their candles are rather pricey these days so instead,
I have been quite happy with the candles from Walmart!

I love the designs, the scents and the price!



Welcome back to Estelle's...



A pretty spring garland graces the mantel.....



I added just a few spring touches to the bar cart



Time to bring out the vintage green cocktail glasses



I miss going home for Easter...so many years, so many egg hunts when the children
were dressed in their Easter finest and dinner with Mother and Daddy....



I am in love with this table runner....



This darling little thrifted find of Fitz and Floyd is new this year!
These were marked down at a marvelous price and
I simply could not resist adding them to my collection



I wish I could remember how long I have had this garden rabbit..
he comes out during Spring and sports a festive bow each year...

I purchased this set of Churchill dinnerware from QVC
years ago and love using it every Easter

A darling little salt and pepper shaker came with 
the rabbit pitcher....a lovely set from Valerie Par Hill

And, as is a must have each season is
the glass bunny candy dish filled with Jelly Beans

Mother always had her formal dining table
decorated with collectibles during Easter...
I always loved seeing what she enjoyed putting on display

Last year's egg plate....I thought it was darling...and delicious too

Our darling little Lucy...so curious about everything

Now if you are in need for a perfect ending to your Easter dinner'
then Jay's Custard Pie recipe was a real hit with our family.....