Spicey Grilled Shrimp

 What's cooking on Applejack Lane?  This week we had Spicey Grilled Shrimp along with wild rice and fresh cucumbers out of the garden.  This is a simple and tasty way to fix shrimp on a hot summer day.

1 clove garlic finely minced

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon paprika

2 Tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons lemon juice

2 pounds of peeled and deveined cooked shrimp

Combine all the ingredients to form a marinade.  Pour over shrimp and stir until shrimp is well covered.  Let sit in the refrigerator for several hours.  Place shrimp on skewers.  Grill on each side for 2 minutes.  Enjoy!

I am joining  Foodie Friday with Designs By Gollum.

An Eagle Has Landed!

An eagle has landed here at Applejack Lane just in time for July 4th decorating!  My friend Valerie from Snap Peas  brought  me a get-well gift today, and I just have to share him. Here he is- Baldwin, the Eagle! I love his rusty accents and his prominent beak. I am glad he arrived to celebrate the 4th with us!  Now, I need to find the perfect perch for him to rest-some place up high, I imagine.

Our friend  Brenda from The Rusty Thimble crafted him, and here is some good news to share.  Brenda has a has a new giveaway-a dear witch!  Check out her blog at The Rusty Thimble to sign up by July 14!

Happy July 4th!

Easy Summer Salsa

Along with gardening comes the choices of what to do with the produce. Here is an easy, peasy basic salsa recipe.  You can double or triple the recipe as needed.

5 large tomatoes diced or two 15 oz cans of petite diced tomatoes
1 finely chopped onion
2-3 hot peppers finely chopped
3 garlic cloves finely chopped
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
cilantro

Mix all ingredients together.  Let sit several hours or overnight.
Serve with your favorite chips.  We like the Mission strips.  You can put a lot of salsa on just one!

Fresh From the Garden

Cathy's  gardening efforts  are starting to reap delicious benefits!

Thus far, we have had six perfect cucumbers

and

two messes of sugar snap peas!

The sugar snap peas are great with a little olive oil as a coating and a couple of clove garlics minced with a dash of thyme.  Bake at 450 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes. 

Happy gardening!

Crossing Rainbow Bridge

This morning, Mr. Murphy crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.  He had been in poor health since before Christmas.  He had a cancer around his right eye area that continued to grow with additional tumors showing up in his head area. He went to sleep about 10:15 A.M. at the Westwood Animal Hospital surrounded by those he loved, Guy and Cathy.

Mr. Murph adopted us in October, 1994 when he was about 2 to 3 weeks old. He was so tiny and had a Christmas tree shaped tail.  He lived in the bathtub for a period of time.  Cathy would come home in the middle of the day while she was a junior in high school to feed him with a medicine dropper until he could fend for himself.  I remember the first Christmas that we had him.  When we went out to look at the Christmas lights, Murphy was wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a Blazer.  His two greatest friends were Miles and Bagel, our two beagles.  In fact, for a while, Mr. Murph thought he was a beagle.

Murphy was a wild child and a tough old bird.  He outlived his beagle friends and fellow brother cats,  Claw Paws and Velcro. Recently, he grew to love his new Husky friend, Kahlo. He and Cathy became best buds in recent months.  During the day, he slept under her bed, and at night he crawled up on top of her covers, snuggling against her head and snoring into her face.  

Mr. Murph, we will miss you dearly.  For almost 17 years, you've been quite a little buddy and companion.  Someday, we will meet you at the Rainbow Bridge.

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

We're Off To See Picasso!

Good morning from Applejack Lane!  Tomorrow morning, Cathy and I are off to see the Pablo Picasso exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.  This exhibit contains a 176 piece collection of Picasso's favorites in ten galleries of the newly renovated VMFA.  The exhibit opened February 19 and will close on May 15 before it moves on to San Francisco.  It is remarkable that this collection is only going to be shown in seven cities worldwide, and Richmond ended up being the only one on the East Coast to have it.   The VMFA recently completed a $150 million upgrade, and this entered into the decision made in France to include Richmond on the tour. This is a once in the lifetime opportunity!                                                                  

"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary," once commented Picasso. I guess we are going to have a chance to see Picasso's diary!

Do you know why this lady has two noses?

Bay Scallops In Aglio Sauce Over Pasta

Good afternoon from Applejack Lane.  Today I will share my recipe for Bay Scallops In Aglio Sauce Over Pasta.  Enjoy!

1 pound bay scallops (thawed)
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cup diced plum tomatoes
1 tablespoon capers
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup olive oil
3 garlic cloves (chopped)
1 tablespoon dry basil
1 teaspoon oregano
salt and pepper to taste
favorite pasta-I used linguine

 In a large saute pan, add two tablespoons of live oil and heat until hot.
Add bay scallops, lightly salt and pepper to taste, and cook for approximately 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently.
Once the scallops are cooked through, strain, and set aside.
Place remaining olive oil in saute pan and continue to heat.
Add garlic and cook until tender.
Add mushroom, diced tomatoes, and capers.
Continue to cook and stir for approximately 3 minutes.
Pour in chicken broth.
Add spices, slat and pepper to taste.
Simmer for an additional 3 minutes.
Add bay scallops and lightly toss to reheat.
Serve on top of your favorite pasta.
Add grated cheese if desired.
Makes 4 servings.
Thanks for stopping in at Applejack Lane!

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