Roasted Greek Potato Salad

So, hubby and I had decided to grill out for the better part of Sunday.  We put together a menu of shrimp on skewers wrapped in fresh basil and a strip of bacon (appetizer), chicken breast stuffed with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, and ciabatta bread smothered in oregano butter and grilled.  Suddenly a recipe I’d seen popped into my head that I thought would go really well with the chicken… and it did!

From the June-July 2009 issue of Mary Janes Farm magazine:

GREEK POTATO SALAD   (makes six servings)

2/3 cup plain yogurt
1/3 cup sour cream
1/3 cup finely grated cucumber (squeeze out liquid)
1 garlic clover, finely minced
6 cups roasted potatoes (see below)
1 cup tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 cup seedless cucumber, peeled and chopped
1 cup black olives, sliced
1 cup feta cheese, crumbled

1.  In a small bowl, combine yogurt, sour cream, grated cucumber and garlic, and mix well.

2. In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredients.  Add yogurt sauce and toss gently.  (I added just a bit of Mrs. Dash’s Garlic & Herb seasoning too.)

ROASTED POTATOES:  I used Yukon Gold, as suggested, and those were perfect.  The recipe said to bake as you normally would and remove from oven immediately.   I found that this still overcooked them; I would back off next time about 7-10 minutes in the baking process, as softer potatoes are hard to skewer.  They should be more al dente.  Allow potatoes to cool completely.  Cut them, skins and all, into 3/4″ cubes and then skewer; they can go on fairly close together.  Brush potatoes generously with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Place skewers on a grill tip and cook, turning frequently, until golden brown and crispy.  Remove from the grill and toss with other ingredients while still warm.

OVEN ROASTING METHOD:  If firing up the barbecue isn’t an option, you can roast these in the oven.  Don’t bake whole potatoes first; just cut into bite-size chunks, coat with olive oil, season, and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 400F for 30-35; turn once.

8 July 2009 ~ For Today ~ Simple Woman’s Journal

FOR TODAY … 8 July, 2009

Outside My Window… blue skies, cool air, lawn crew.

I am thinking… that I have too much to do today!

I am thankful for… today being my last workday this week.

From the kitchen… boiled artichokes last night and ate leaf by leaf, hubby’s first time with.  Served with a Caesar salad, baguette, Havarti cheese and a Michigan Rose’ wine.  Yeah… it was good!

I am wearing… a dark red blouse with velvet trim, black slacks, black sandals.

I am creating… finished my last practice crochet piece… another potholder LOL!

I am going… to slow things down a bit.  We’ve had so much going on!

I am reading… latest issue of Victoria magazine.

I am hoping… that my feet which sunburned so badly two weeks ago will finally heal up; I want to tan the rest of me LOL!

I am hearing… lawnmowers outside.

Around the house… the new entry door should arrive within the week; housework is caught up. 

One of my favorite things… when  a new recipe works out and makes me look good LOL!  I have one to post…

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… me me me.  It’s all me time. 

My Picture Thought … my new toy, a Singer 301!  I can’t wait for hubby to replace the cord; all the rest looks to be in terrific condition.  The brackets in front were actually from a detachable cradle that I’m glad came with it, since I just picked up a sewing desk also for this machine for $9.95.     This is the “big sister” to the Singer Featherweight.   The big attraction, other than that it works like a horse, is that the feed dogs drop.  I’ll be open to free-motion quilt with this!

We Do Have One Outdoor Kitty

Anyone who knows us knows our feline babies do not go outside, unless it’s to relax on the porch under our supervision.    But there is one exception.  She’s supposed to keep the chipmunks out of my flower bed; I don’t think she’s very motivated.

2008 Thimbleberries 4th Quarter

All the units are done!  Now I work on borders and start putting it all together!  Below are previous quarters’.  I was enrolled in the club through my local quilt shop, not the online Fat Quarter Shoppe; I’m just using FQS’s image of the completed quilt. 

 

30 June 2009 ~ For Today ~ Simple Woman’s Journal

FOR TODAY … 30 June, 2009

Outside My Window… gray coolness, occasional soft rain

I am thinking… that I am tired of feeling sick to my stomach.  (still)

I am thankful for… having enough.

From the kitchen… yoghurt, all the tummy wants tonight.

I am wearing… a kaftan in golds, reds and teals (with tassels LOL!)

I am creating… quilting on my sampler and trying hard to finish a quilt top.

I am going… to stay home this holiday weekend. 

I am reading… just finished Voices in Summer by Rosamunde Pilcher

I am hoping… that our weather improves by Friday; maybe another day at the beach!

I am hearing… the TV, with some laugh track in the background.

Around the house… simply MUST dust and vacuum!

One of my favorite things… watching the kitties watching the birds at the feeder.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… finishing up an audit project at work.

My Picture Thought … my brand new cellphone, just purchased today.  I think we’ll be very happy together!

22 June 2009 ~ For Today ~ Simple Woman’s Journal

FOR TODAY … 22 June, 2009

Outside My Window… blue skies and rapidly warming temperatures.

I am thinking… that I am tired of feeling sick to my stomach.  (still)

I am thankful for… my job.

From the kitchen… pizza cooked on the grill.  Pretty yummy!

I am wearing… dark red tunic with velvet trim, black slacks and black sandals.

I am creating… quilting on my sampler and perfecting a crochet stitch.

I am going… nowhere special.

I am reading… Collecting Household Linens complete with beautiful pictures and estimated values.

I am hoping… that this Advil knocks out my headache without upsetting my stomach LOL!  (Not a Tylenol to be had in the kingdom.)

I am hearing… my co-”workers” watching and reacting to the US Open.

Around the house… going to Lowe’s tonight to order our new entry door and storm door.

One of my favorite things… learning something knew. 

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… the kayaks will be tested on a Great Lake for the first time Saturday, as we take them out on Lake Huron!

My Picture Thought … from an exhibit in the Van Andel Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  This quilt was made around 1858 by Elizabeth Fought Mowry.  She was 16 when she completed it.; the quilt was donated to the museum by Elizabeth’s granddaughter.  I’m amazed at the brightness of the colors after 150+ years!

Little Mango Imports

These folks offer some really fun and exotic textiles, as well as jewelry, home decor, and more.  The items in the Indonesia section alone have me starting a shopping list LOL!

Luscious (IMO) Batik:

 

Pillow Cover (one of many):

Woman’s Huipils from Guatemala:

Little Mango Imports

11 June 2009 ~ For Today ~ Simple Woman’s Journal

FOR TODAY … 11 June, 2009

Outside My Window… clouds and wetness from rain throughout the day.

I am thinking… that I am tired of feeling sick to my stomach.  (still)

I am thankful for… a day at home to myself.

From the kitchen… just brought home an almond shortbread I’m dying to dig into with some tea. 

I am wearing… pink hoodie, black leggings… pyjama-wear since I’m home for the evening.

I am creating… quilting on my sampler; still need to do something bracelet-wise with these gorgeous beads I recently bought.

I am going… to visit my mother-in-law in the hospital, recovering from hip replacement.

I am reading… re-reading actually, Coming Home, my favorite Rosamunde Pilcher novel.

I am hoping… that I feel well enough to get some serious yardwork done tomorrow!  Stupid ulcers, slow meds…

I am hearing… Pansy hollering for dinner.  What a set of pipes!

Around the house… think I’ve picked out the perfect ceramic tile for the guest bathroom, a pattern I’ve been after forever.  But it’s only available in unglazed ceramic, so I’m torn.  I wish it weren’t so rough and porous, even though it looks great (in sample form anyway.)

One of my favorite things… a rainy evening alone at home. 

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… gardening and quilting and not much else LOL!

My Picture Thought … this was in an MSN “photos of the day” sort of folder, and just tickled me.  If I could caption it, it’d say,  “Lemme go… I can fly, I tell you!”

1 June 2009 ~ For Today ~ Simple Woman’s Journal

FOR TODAY … 1 June, 2009

Outside My Window… clouds, and grass growing so fast, I can almost see it!  ;p

I am thinking… that I am tired of feeling sick to my stomach.  No, not pregnant… see below.

I am thankful for… little Saffi who just hopped up onto my shoulder to purr and play with my ponytail.

From the kitchen… not much due to stomach issues.  See below LOL!

I am wearing… pink hoodie, black leggings… pyjama-wear since I’m home for the evening.

I am creating… haven’t done a whole lot.  I’m reading about quilting; does that count??

I am going… to bed early tonight.

I am reading… Heidi’s Children, last night.  Just such a nice place to visit. 

I am hoping… that there is nothing seriously wrong with my innards, and that they feel better soon.

I am hearing… my washer running.

Around the house… laundry, laundry, laundry

One of my favorite things… historic inns like where we just stayed (that will be a later blog post)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… endoscopy on Thursday.  Late Tuesday night of last week, I started being sick to my stomach.  It came and went all day, and while the tummy settled, I had this deep pain in the middle of my back through to my food pipe – felt like I had a big old vitamin C stuck in there.  I kept getting worse and wound up in emergency through Thursday morning.  They seemed to think gall bladder cuz of the back and shoulder blade pain, but the gastro I met with today is thinking stomach… ulcer, bacterial issues… something like that.  So, down goes the camera and we’ll see what’s what.  The pain is much better, but I’m still uncomfortable and nauseous.  (I also had to leave town for a few days for a company event, and between the two situations, have obviously neglected my blog!)

My Picture Thought … FINALLY used my gift certificate at my quilt shop.  I’d intended to stock up on 30’s reproduction fabrics, but was snared instead by the display of Moda’s Charisma collection.  (I should just buy stock in Moda.)  So I came home with these four:

Lilacs, anyone?

First of all, here is a pic of a gorgeous quilt completed by a lovely Canadian lady of my online acquaintance using a lilac print fabric.  I think her design is marvelous!

And from my own backyard, and incredibly fragrant, bloom these gems (I’m sorry I didn’t get them when the white ones were still blooming):