Yesterday…a bit of “grandma’s house” came to live at the Farmhouse.

Isn’t a jelly cupboard fun?

I agree.

Have a wonderful day, Dirt Roaders.

Love from grandma’s house….I mean the Farmhouse kitchen,

Really Grandma.  I am sorry.  I am sorry because your okra is my favorite.  I love it breaded and deep fried the best.  I love a big ol’ pile of it on my plate.  At home, I love it straight from our garden and dipped in egg/milk and then deep fried in my cast iron chicken fryer.  The thing is…when I need to be good, your fried okra is so bad.  No wonder you have that cute little belly roll going on.  Under that floral dress…is a testament to fried okra.  (By the way…I’m not talking about a real grandma.) No wonder you feel so good to squeeze.  Okay…maybe I should just give up…put on a floral dress and grab a bowl of fried okra!  No…that is not the answer.  For now…while I am still a little on the “youngish” side…I will eat your fried okra once in a while and then eat my version the rest of the time.  Deal?  Grandma…you are so understanding.

Ha!  How are we doing so far with adding a little “grandma’s house”  to our summer journey?  We are off to a good start if you ask me.  Have you heard of Granny Chic?  It’s adorable.  People are  thrifting and incorporating things into their homes that make them think of days past.  It’s adorable. Oh wait, I already said that.  It’s so sweet. I tend to lean toward the simple side of farmhouse decor, but I have started to pick up a few little things.  One of my favorites is the little mustard colored doily from my sweet IG friend.  It just makes me feel happy.  Another thing that I have seen, are garlands made with colored doilies. All of the little house plants here and there have a very “grannychic” feel too.  Love!

Okay…so enough of that.  You are dying to have my recipe, I just know it! This is actually a variation of an okra and tomatoes recipe that I have.  I will also tell you how to make that.  It’s just the addition of tomatoes at the end.  In this recipe I used okra that I had frozen from our garden.  Did you know that you can just wash it and chop it and freeze it?  It’s amazing.  I was just trying to finish some up yesterday, so that is why I had okra for lunch.  That, and the fact that I am trying to be a good girl and eat my veggies!

2 tbsp. olive oil

minced garlic

onion

fresh okra, not breaded

sea salt and freshly cracked pepper

seasoning

Heat olive oil in pan, add minced garlic and onion.  Stir and let garlic turn golden.  (Don’t let it burn…bitter, bitter!)  Add okra and then season with s & P and whatever seasoning that you desire.  (It’s great with nothing…but you could use a lemon pepper or whateves. 😉 ) Keep stirring and “frying.”  When it gets done…to your liking…enjoy!  This is a wonderful summer side…or it can be a meal in itself.  If you love okra and tomatoes…towards the last few minutes throw in some halved grape or cherry tomatoes.  Cook until they are heated through.  DELISH!  (Oh yeah…and I don’t really do measurements.  Just because I figure you can decide how much okra, minced garlic and onion that you like.  My Dirt Roaders are smart that way. If you used a ton of okra…add a bit more oil.)

I hope that you enjoy the new “fried okra” in town.  It’s waist friendly and heart healthy.  I plan to enjoy it a lot this summer with my family…when the Lord blesses our little okra plants.  (Gotta have a little faith in this farming business.)  I also plan to eat Grandma’s version once in a while too.  It’s fun to have a treat now and then.

Love from the Farmhouse kitchen,

Okay…so with a title like that…let’s cut to the chase.  I’m not sure why my pictures are having trouble uploading when I blog from my phone.  I didn’t even realize that it had happened until I looked at the blog today.   Rats!  Well…I’m gonna try…one more time.  Plus…I am gonna give you an amazing FRIED PIE recipe!  I know.  I love you too!

This crust is amazing.  It doesn’t soak up the grease!  My MIL is a genius.  She not only grew the most amazing man on the planet in her womb…she found this recipe.  Okay…okay…she can’t take ALL the credit for my husband, God did that part…but she DID find this amazing recipe.  Good job…Moany!  (Her first name is Ramona and I like to call her Moany. Um…actually I like to give everyone nicknames.)

(Isn’t the Rhonna Designs app fun?  Moving right along…)

Back to the fried pies.  I hope that you make them and love them.  I also hope that my pictures upload.  That would be a huge plus.  If not…it’s back to hackin’ it out on the old Dell.  😉

Cray cray in the country,

Kelli

Mom and I had an adventure last Friday.  Instead of our usual junk stops…we headed south and went to some little “honey holes” that she knew of. We weren’t looking for a Pyrex adventure, the Pyrex adventure just kind of found us.

We both have a crazy love for bowls.  We also love Pyrex.  The great thing is…it’s not something that we just collect.  We use them.  I have actually trimmed my collection down, in recent years.  I only keep what we actually use. I just breathe better when I can reach in the cabinet and have a little space.  Plus…they are fun to give as prizeys.

So here we are in a little town, way off down the road and we happen upon to this little flea market of sorts.  We piddle around and find all sorts of goodies. (I will share more of them with you later.)  I spotted, what I thought was a stack of three Cinderella bowls, (The kind that the handles double as pour spouts.) and I loved the pattern.  I found out later that it’s called Town and Country.  Well…to make a long story short, we left and then I decided that the girls and I could really benefit from that big mixing bowl, so we went back.  The sad part was…the bowl that was stacked in the middle didn’t match.  So…after a little wheeling and dealing…we walked away with two.  Bowls 1 and 3.  Now I need 2 and 4.  😉  How fun…to have something to scout for!

A few years back…Mom started collecting “The Stack” for my brother and I.  I love them.  They are so bright and cheery.  Mine actually needs a different turquoise bowl because that one goes with a different set.  I will have to keep my eyes peeled.

Do you ever see the Pyrex refrigerator dishes when you are out and about?  I love those for our little coffee drawer.  They are perfect for holding packets of Stevia and Splenda.  They also work good for pickles and olives.

I have been craving simplicity lately.  I have been longing to have my things done in the house so that when warmer days are here to stay, I can focus on things outside.  When I am out junking with mom or my MIL or a friend…I usually try to be pretty choosey.  We go often enough that I don’t want to have a junk overload. Plus…we try to live on a budget.  Most of the time…I try to make sure that it’s something that we will actually use.  It’s also fun to have a few little things on hand in case you need a gift.  How fun to give a vintage bowl…tied with a piece of twine, sporting a pretty tag!

I hope that you enjoyed our little Pyrex adventure, Dirt Roaders.  Isn’t it fun to share things with someone that you love?  It’s like they are speaking your language.

Smiles from the Farmhouse,

Sometimes…I have a plan.  Sometimes I do not. Tonight I have a plan.  We are having turkey breast, I do know that much.  It is patiently waiting to be thrown into the Crock Pot.  I hope that my aim is steady today.  What’s cookin’ around your neck of the woods today?

To my utter shame…I am not one that plans out meals in advance.  Well, in a way I’m not.  I actually grocery shop with specific meals in mind but I don’t plan them out the week before.  That has stemmed from years of trying to grocery shop on a budget.  It works for me, but I do always admire those that have a pretty list of their meals for the week.  It looks so organized.  I do make sure that I have staples and meat.  You can make a meal in a pinch if you have that.  I try to promote thankfulness around here when it comes to food.  Yes…I am “that mom.”  “There are people that don’t have anything to eat…we should be thankful.”  Actually…I’m not too ashamed of that.  😉

Whatever is cooking at your home, I hope that when you get there tonight…that you get to sit down and enjoy it.  Life is meant to be enjoyed one moment at a time.  Father…please let us remember that.

Fixing to chuck a turkey…