Friday Fast Tip! {Lunch}

I know, it's been ages since I've posted a Friday Fast Tip, but today I absolutely HAD to post!

While I was at our local Dollar Tree, I found these fabulous Veggie and Dip containers for, you guessed it, $1!!!

For a while, I have been eyeing the idea of Bento boxes and checking out different websites for fun lunch ideas.  What always stops me short is the price of those cute little boxes with the different compartments.  I always think, "Really, $14 for a small plastic container?" 

But today, my search for something inexpensive ended!  The kiddos and I love to bring lunch with us when we go to the park, beach or zoo!  I absolutely can't wait to find some fun ideas to fill them with!

If you want to pick some up at your local Dollar Tree, here are my quick ideas of what to put in them:

*Veggies and Dip (Of Course)
*Pita and Hummus
*Apples and Peanut/Sunflower Butter
*Pretzels and Cream Cheese
*Salad and Dressing

What else?  Please send me your ideas!  I'd love to hear some other creative combinations!


Thanks for stopping by!  Be Refreshed!

Flocked!

One of my favorite things to hear my husband whisper as he's leaving for work is, "It's snowing!"  It's like the little girl in me comes alive as I envision what the front yard must look like!

 

 

 

 

But this mid-July morning, I was just as delighted to hear him whisper, "There are pink flamingos in our yard!"

 

Under the veil of darkness the Young Life group from our local high school planted these classy yard ornaments.  As a fundraiser, they will "flock" your friends yard with these lovelies for a donation toward their camp fund.  The next evening they come and remove them, and hopefully you have passed along the fun to the yard of one of your friends!

Whoever donated to have us flocked, all of the Cooks say, "Thank you for adding a smile to our morning...and a story to tell!"

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Be Refreshed!

 

Dilly Beans!

This past weekend, the girls and I made some of our family's infamous Dilly Beans! 

 

 We made the trek to our local fruit market to purchase our ingredients fresh.  My mom and I used to make this same trek years ago.  I can remember packing jars with my mom as a little girl.  Then came the eternally long wait for them to be ready to eat! 

 

Kiddos would pop in and out of the kitchen and say, "When can we eat those?"  To which I replied, just as my mom would reply to me, "Oh...around Christmas!"

 

Here are some pictures of the process:

 

 {Ken snapped a picture of us girls working...}

 

 

 

This is a copy of the original recipe in my own mother's handwriting.  Of course it would be so much more organized to have this in my computer, but I don't want to lose the heritage and memories that come with each scribble and scroll. {The "boxing" around the title is exactly how my mom always delineates her recipes!}

 

Just in case you want to make some of your own:

 

Dilly Beans

{makes 4 quart jars}

 

2lbs green beans

1tsp. cayenne pepper (or 1-2 red "hot peppers")

4 cloves garlic

4 dill heads

1/4 cup salt

2 1/2 cups water

2 1/2 cups vinegar

 

Remove tips from beans and wash thoroughly.  Pack clean canning jars with beans lengthwise.  Add pepper, 1 clove garlic, and 1 dill head. 

 

Combine water, vinegar, and salt and boil until salt is dissolved.

 

Pour into jars with 1/4" of headroom.  Add lids and rings.  Hot water bathe the jars for 4 minutes.  Remove from water and let cool.  Lids with "pop" as they seal.

 

Wait...wait...wait!  They'll be ready around Christmas!

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Be Refreshed!