I bought a ton at the May Sweet Salvage sale. Wanna see it all?
Yes?
YAY, I’m excited and happy to show you!

Let’s begin with some of the more fragile finds.

There were two lovely Ironstone brown transfer-ware covered dishes. I couldn’t decide between them – so I got them both.

I researched the markings on the bottom of each and found that they are from the late 1800’s.

I further found a match to the second one for sale at an auction site online. Trust me, I paid nothing close to $150 for my two dishes!

The three little Ironstone hotel creamers are adorable. Two of them have markings, I haven’t had a chance to look them up yet.

The creamer on the left is from the New Southern Hotel in Jackson, Tennessee – you can read about the hotel’s storied history HERE. The center creamer came from the Hotel St. Charles in Winnipeg, built in 1913. The one on the right is from The Belmont. There are many Belmont Hotels all over the world, I have no idea which one this creamer is from.

I actually purchased two of these little gems at the April sale, but since I didn’t post about it, I thought I’d share them with you now.

I especially love the Ironstone brown transfer-ware butter pat dish. Sheila picked up four of five of these cuties too. The adorable flower thing is about as big as my thumb. That is the marking on the bottom of it. I think it’s half of a salt and pepper shaker pair.

The small square dish is from the Hôtel Plaza Athénée, a 5-star hotel in Paris, France that is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Looking at the little hotel dish every day, makes me long to be back in Paris!

The rectangular dish has the image of THIS on it.

Ready for more?  This batch is mostly metal stuff.

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Three weeks ago, my favorite lifestyle blogger, Heather Bullard, posted THIS.

Image via HeatherBullard.com

I was inspired to create a packaging/wrapping tote of my own. I decided to wait the three weeks until the next Sweet Salvage event to see if I could find the perfect container.

As always, the ladies at Sweet Salvage did not disappoint! Not only did I find this fantastic tote and vintage Arizona Winter Sweet Orange crate, but two dozen-plus additional treasures too!

I’m not quite certain what I’ll do with the Blue Goose Growers, Inc. crate yet, but I couldn’t pass it up. Loved the imprint with Tempe, Ariz. on the sides. I found this 1950’s label for sale online. I’m tempted to purchase one and attach it to the front of the crate. I’ll have to sleep on that…

It was an especially good month at the once-monthly sale! I’ll show you my other purchases in the next post, but today I’m going to focus on what I’ve done with the wooden tote.

After stenciling on the front, I loaded that puppy up in no time!

Shipping labels, muslin, and flat glassine bags.

Vellum envelopes and mini corked bottles.

Clay kitchen tags for baked goods and other food gifts. Numbered clay tags and the entire alphabet for unique and personalized gift tags.

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This is the final recipe from my Red, White & Blue holiday cooking class at Les Gourmettes. The summer provides three excellent chances to get together to celebrate our country; Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Invite friends over and enjoy!

Image via Country Living

The ingredient list for this chicken dish is lengthy, but please don’t let that scare you off. The marinade keeps the chicken juicy and is put together the night before.

The grill only needs to be manned for a few minutes, since the chicken is only “marked” on it… it is cooked through in the oven. This is a serious plus in Phoenix! The hottest 4th of July on record happened in 1989 when it reached 118°F. Manning a grill in that heat – no thank you! But if you live in a more moderate climate and you’d prefer to use the grill to cook the chicken through, that works too.

The BBQ sauce is sweet and tangy and is equally delicious and used with shrimp, beef, or pork. It is an absolute delight.

I doubled the recipe for class, so you’ll notice I had to use two zip-lock bags to marinate in – the single recipe needs only one.

Image via Country Living

Patriot Picnic Menu

Barbecued Chicken with Blueberry Bourbon Sauce
Succotash Salad with Creamy Basil Dressing
Creamy Dijon & Dill Potato Salad
Root Beer Baked Beans
Red, White, & Blue Trifle

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This potato salad was the second side to my patriot menu. The entrée and full menu will follow, tomorrow.

Creamy Dijon & Dill Potato Salad

3 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and left whole
Kosher salt
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon whole-grain Dijon mustard
1 small red onion, peeled and diced
3 celery stalks, diced
1/3 cup tightly packed chopped fresh dill
Freshly ground black pepper

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Another recipe from the Red, White, & Blue Menu that I taught last night of classes at Les Gourmettes Cooking School. Again, no step-by-step photos … no worries, they are not needed.

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This is the dessert I made for the last class of my 3-week cooking series at Les Gourmettes Cooking School. The semester ended last night – it is officially summer for me. No more classes until September.

Since I made this during class, I don’t have any step-by-step photos for you, but the recipe is straightforward.

This is the perfect dessert for Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, or honestly any day of the week this summer. Enjoy!

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While riding our bikes home from Lisa’s Cinco de Mayo party a couple Sundays ago, we spotted a neighbor’s “trash” on the side of the road. Amy, Scott, Ronnie, Dave, and I made a u-turn on our snazzy wheels to check it out.

There was a big-screen television, a satellite dish, four Adirondack chairs, a bunch of boxes and toys… and a rustic outdoor couch. We moved the TV to the street, piled onto the couch, and snapped a photo of our intoxicated selves. What can I say… that tequila punch was really potent… and tasty!

Then we rode our bikes home and Scott and I went back with my car because I needed that couch! Either Dave was too tipsy or more likely, too embarrassed because he wanted nothing to do with my dumpster diving ways.

Note: Drinking and driving don’t mix… this house is in our gated community, no intersections or major streets were involved in the excursion… it is only two cul-de-sacs away.

As a point of reference, in the photo above, I am standing in my backyard looking across at Ronnie’s house. The “trash pile” was in the next cul-de-sac – just behind her house. The big trash pick-up was the next morning. Please forgive.

When we drove around the corner, we were aghast! There was another car there, picking up stuff. They better not lay their grubby hands on that couch of mine! Alas, all they wanted was two of the Adirondacks.

We loaded up my couch, I dropped Scott off at home and then forced Dave to help me unload it. He begrudgingly obliged.

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A very happy Mother’s Day to each of you Moms out there and special wishes to my mom, my mother-in-law, and my sister!

¸.•*¨`* •¸.•*¨`*•¸.•*¨`*••*¨*•
¸.•*¨ A Mother’s Day Playlist for Mom!¨*•.¸¸ ¸.•*¨`*¸.•*¨`*¸.•*¨`*•¸.•*¨`*•…•*¨*•.¸¸

Mother and Child Reunion
Paul Simon
 
A Mother’s Prayer
Celine Dion
 
To My Mama
Bow Wow featuring Amerie
 
The Wind Beneath My Wings
Bette Midler
 
Teach Your Children
Crosby, Stills, and Nash
 
Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston
 
In My Life
The Beatles
 
Dear Mama
2Pac
 
Hey Mama
Kanye West
 
Oh Mother of Mine
The Temptations
 
The Long and Winding Road
Paul McCartney
 
The Perfect Fan
Backstreet Boys
 
Mama
Spice Girls

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I have a recipe update for the Easy Mac & Cheese topped with Beef Short Rib Ragù which I posted in September of last year.

I happen to know that this is my friend and neighbor, Cindi Hancock’s, favorite recipe from this site. She and I often commiserate about and then update each other on, the availability status of the prepared short ribs at Costco.

This is the product that Costco sold last September. Then, suddenly, it wasn’t available… right when Cindi was planning to make the dish for a dinner party. We were bummed.

I’d search for the ribs on my weekly Costco runs.

After a few months of disappointment, I found that prepared short ribs were once again available at Costco. I sent Cindi a text while I was there, telling her of the good news. I purchased a package and tossed it into my freezer.

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Wishing each and every one of you a joyous weekend!

And for those of you celebrating Mother’s Day, may it be wonderful. Hallmark holiday, or not… You deserve it.

I’ll be spending mine with my son and husband and missing my daughter, but knowing that I am in her heart.

I know this because she always goes out of her way to make sure I know and feel it.

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