Rattatouile with Mushrooms

One of my favorite dishes to make and eat is "rattatouile" now I am sure there is some official recipe for this but, I usually just take whatever fresh veggies I have on hand throw them in my black iron pan with a little extra virgin olive oil and see what comes out. I enjoy it every time no matter what the combination. This particular combination was pretty darn good if I do say so myself. All that's in there is zucchini, grape tomatoes, sweet onion and portobella mushrooms. Now those of you who know me will say - What? Ricepatty's eating mushrooms??? The answer is Yes! I made some rice with parsley and put this over it -- eveyone in the family ate it and loved it including me and my none vegging eating hubby :) This makes a wonderful side dish or with the rice a perfect main course.

Excellent Art Students

The high school where I work has a wonderful art department - our art teachers are among some of the best in our district. Lucky for the teachers we have some very talented students. This is a sample of some of the 3D art that the students produce and that the teachers display in our front office of the school. I thought there were very Color Carnival worthy! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

More Halloween Fun!

I really enjoy Halloween - when our kids were little it was one of our favorites. My husband I would make their costumes every year and each year we would try to out do the last. The kids loved it just as much and still do even as early 20somethings they get "into" every year by going to or having costume parties - it makes me happy to think that our love for it has rubbed off on them as they grow. Some day when the grandkids come along the tradition will continue. I made this sign for our daughter's apartment I think came out cute - her and her roommate will love it I'm sure. All this is - is a piece of scrap wood that my husband routed and sanded for me - I just brushed on the different paint colors and the "words" are a sticker set that I found at Michael's when "B" and I were out shopping the other day. The maskes I also got at Michael's colored them in with markers and glitter and wrapped the handles to finish them off -- I will add black curling ribbon at the top of the handles to finish them off. I really like the way these come out --this is the second year that I made them - last year for the girls at work this year to take to SC when I go visit my sister and her family for Halloween Day! Easy projects with lots of impact!

Sonny Boy!

This is our cockatiel Sonny, my husband took our daughter to get him for her 12th birthday - she just celebrated her 24th last month - so he has been with us for quite sometime. He is a very entertaining fellow. As I was taking these pictures he was just singing his head off! As you can see he was very curious about the camera.

Haloween Yummies

Cup cakes and brownies for the "Halloweeners". I made these cupcakes and brownies to send to Tallahassee for my son and his friends to enjoy at school (FSU). As you may know college kids will just about eat anything - but they especially love baked goods from home - nuttin' like it. I was happy that one of mys son's friends was in town to take them back with her. I'm sure they went fast!

Beautiful tiles

This is just a small piece of a grand tile mural on the island in Venice, FL by the water park. The artist did a magnificent job - most of the fishes, mer-people and real people are 2 dimensional in the picture it is hard to see it. The water park is a nice place to take kids to play on a hot day -- and probably pretty fun for those of us who are young at heart as well.

"Simply Croutons"

These croutons are so simple to make and even better to eat. Once you've tried these you won't ever use store bought again. Here's all you need:

1 loaf bread (the staler the better)

1/2 cup olive oil

2 Tbls of garlic (more to taste)

1 Tbls sea salt (more to taste)

Cut bread into cubes. In a large bowl mix bread with garlic powder and salt mix well. Add olive oil making sure that all of the bread cubes are covered. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 400 for 6 minutes turn bread over with spatula and bake for 6 more minutes. Let cool and enjoy on salads, soups or right out of the container.