Blueberry Lemon Bread

This week is spring break in my world.  It feels like spring break and this has put me into a summer baking mood.  I found this wonderful recipe in The American Country Inn and Bed and Breakfast Cookbook.  Happy baking on this first day of spring!
Blueberry Lemon Tea Bread

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, or margarine
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 -1/2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup sugar

In large bowl with mixer at low speed, beat butter and the 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating in thoroughly each time. Combine flour, salt and baking powder. Add milk and dry ingredients alternately. Gently stir in blueberries (don't thaw, if frozen). Spoon batter into greased and floured 9 x 5 inch loaf pan. Bake at 350º for 70 to 75 minutes, or until paring knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Combine lemon juice and 1/3 cup sugar and spoon over bread. Let stand about 20 minutes and remove to rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy!
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menu plan week of March 19

Today I am joining with others at http://www.orgjunkie.com for menu plan monday.  I have noticed my grocery bill creeping up because life has happened in my house and I have been making frequent trips to my mother's house 2 hours away to help with her illness.  This has put a great dent in my budget.  This week I plan to get back into my menu planning and hopefully I won't have to go back to the grocery store this week. 

Monday: Reuben Sandwiches (using leftover brisket from St. Patty's Day)

Tuesday: Spaghetti and Meatballs

Wednesday: leftovers

Thursday: out of town

Friday: out of town

Saturday: Oriental Chicken Salad

Sunday: Beef Roast in crockpot

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Frugal Lenten Dinner

Around my house, my go to lenten meal is linguine with clam sauce.  It is the cheapest meal to make and the best part is that it comes all from the pantry.  Here is my recipe and the cost is about $5 to make 6 servings and it cooks while the pasta cooks in about 15 mins.  I also feel as if I am eating at a great restaurant.


Linguine With Clam Sauce

1 pound Linguine
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 6 ounce can minced clams
oregano to taste
minced parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Cook the linguine according to the package directions.  While the pasta cooks prepare the sauce.  In a saucepan fry the garlic in olive oil.  When the garlic turns light brown add the juice from the clams.  Add the seasonings.  Bring to a boil; simmer for 5 minutes.  Add the clams a few seconds before serving otherwise, they will be rubbery.  When the linguine is done drain it well.  Pour the sauce over the pasta and serve immediately.
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Get your garden growing!

Here in Iowa the sun is shining and the temperature feels like early summer.  Don't let it fool you, there could still be a little bit of winter left.  I have had the itch to garden this week.  Here is the tasks that can be completed in the garden in March.  Happy growing this season.

March

Early in the month:

• Start seeds indoors of slower-growing annuals that you should start 10-12 weeks before the last average frost date. These include snapdragons, annual salvias, and impatiens.
• In the second half of the month:
• As temperatures and soil moisture allows: Direct sow seeds of fast-germinating cool-season vegetables, such as radishes, spinaches, and lettuces, and onion plants.
• Divide any perennials that are an inch or so high and don't bloom in very early spring.
• If you didn’t do it in the fall, apply compost to perennial, annual, and vegetable beds.
• Clean up perennial beds that didn’t get done last fall. Rake up late fallen leaves that have accumulated around plants.
• Uncover mounded roses and clean up dead/diseased foliage as soon as new growth begins to swell.
• As soon as the snow melts, rake up leaves that remain on the lawn. Begin mowing as soon as necessary.
• The last week of March or first week of April: Start seeds indoors of annuals that you should start 6-8 weeks before the last average frost date. These include marigolds, globe amaranth, sweet alyssum, flowering tobacco, peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant.
• Cut back ornamental grasses to 2-3”.
• Start visiting the Garden Center to see the early arrivals.

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Smoothie a breakfast basic

Fruit Salad Smoothie

1/2 c. low-fat plain yogurt
1/2 c. milk
1 small ripe banana
6 - 8 strawberries
2 TBS. frozen raspberries, thawed
6 - 8 ice cubes.
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional)
2 packet sweetener or 2 tsp. sugar

I put the banana in the bottom of the blender followed by the other fruit. Then I add the yogurt and the milk, the protein powder, and the ice cubes. Blend until well mixed.

This will make a thick smoothie. If you prefer to have it a thinner blend, add a few more ice cubes.

If the strawberries are very sweet, you can omit the sweetenerPin It