In Season: Baby Eggplant

My love of minature things evidently extends itself to vegetables. I saw little cartons of baby eggplant at a farm stand over the weekend and couldn't resist. Total impluse buy. Now that they are home and washed, I have no idea what to with them. Cue google. Where I found a great recipe for: Roasted Baby Eggplant with Caponata Sauce on Steamy Kitchen.

Easy, fast, delicious, healthy and cute!

DIY Neon Necklace

I haven't had a "tutorial trial" on here for a while. But when I saw a brand new, super easy, yet impressive tutorial on Little Pink Monster, I knew I had to give it a shot. Besides, it involved the use of very bright nail polishes, that I have indulged myself with this summer. So, why not put them to another use? This one is super easy. Buy a chessy, rhinestoney necklace. (I happened to buy this one at JC Penney, it was the cheapest one I could find.) Carefully blot on nail polish. (I had a qtip near by to clean up little mistakes, becuse these "stones" were placed so closely together.) Do a top coat, just like you would with your nails. That's it!

Artscape 2011

I've lived here in Baltimore for 5 years and before this weekend, never had attended Artscape. Which I am told is the largest free art fair in the US. I finally went this weekend. I went early and didn't really stay that long. But I enjoyed it. I had intended to take lots of pictures while I was there, but I was completely distracted by the art (imagine that, at an art fair) and forgot to take one picture! I mostly walked around the "artist's village" where local artists sold their wares. They had pottery, hand printed knits, jewelry, handbags, stationary, paintings, sculptures, you name it! I bought a couple of things.

I bought this really cute goldfish print from Fuzzy Mug, a local artist, who will also do a custom portrait of your pet. It's an 8x10 print and I found the perfect frame at Target. I'm hanging it up in my bedroom shortly.

The other thing I bought was this grab bag of fun little items, for only $2, about a 1/4 yard of this fun Fiat fabric, along with 5 random zippers and two widths of bias tape. I plan on using all of it to make a wristlet. Now to only find fabric to coordinate with it...

Sunday Outing: PYO (Pick Your Own) Flowers

On a whim today, I decided to visit the Outlet Mall in Hagerstown. On the long way home (on I-70), I saw a sign for Larriland Farm and decided to check it out. They had a pick your own flower garden. Despite the blazing temperature, I decided to give it a go. They give you a big plastic cup and pair of clippers and tell you to have at it. There was also a pick your own blueberry patch, which I didn't try as well as a little open air store where you can buy produce. I was so happy I stopped! (The bottom two pics are of the flower "arrangements" I made, the smaller one will be coming to work with me tomorrow.)

Belleville Corn & Avocado Salsa

While visiting my sister and her family over the 4th of July, we went to a little neighborhood barbeque. All the food was delicious, but this particular salsa has been haunting me a bit. I'm kicking myself for not asking for the recipe. I decided that I had to give it a shot! Here's my version:

Belleville Corn & Avocado Salsa

14 oz can of corn, drained

15 1/2 oz can of diced tomotoes with chiles, drained

15 1/2 oz can of black beans, drained & rinsed

red bell pepper, diced

2 tbsp (small handful) cilantro, chopped

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 avocado, diced (squeeze lime over cut avocado)

2 tbsp olive oil (more to taste)

2 tbsp lime juice, with zest

1 tbsp salt

Mix together, chill for 3 minutes before serving.

(Her version had red onions in it, if you happen to like onions, add them!)