Eggs. It's What's for Dinner.

Fresh Eggs

I wonder how many people will live their whole life without seeing what an honest to goodness, fresh from the ranch egg looks like.  It's like a perfectly colored Easter egg without the smell of vinegar.  Many people in the Santa Barbara area are not only growing their own fruits and vegetables, but they raise their own chickens for the fresh eggs, too.  And the pay off is wonderful.  Especially for me.  All of the eggs, none of the work.  Thanks, friends! 

I do a lot of baking and a lot of cooking so I use a lot of eggs.  Fresh eggs are better.  The yolks are a beautiful deep, orange-yellow compared to the pale yellow yolk of a store bought egg.  The shells are tougher than their store bought cousins.  Best of all,they are from free range, grain fed, chemical free chickens.  How great to know we are eating so much healthier.

One of the easiest, fastest dinners to make is a frittata.  It's like quiche without the crust.  I whisk together eggs, milk and whatever veggies I'm currently trying to use up. 

Here's my easy recipe.

1.  Preheat oven to 425. 
2.  Whisk 6 eggs, milk and a pinch of salt & pepper in bowl.  Set aside.
3.  Cut veggies and onion.
4.  In a small, non-stick, oven proof frying pan, saute veggies and onion in butter.
5.  Add egg mixture to pan.  Stir gently to incorporate veggies.
6.  Cook on stovetop on medium-low heat until eggs are cooked about 3/4 of the way up the side of the pan.
7.  Remove pan from heat, sprinkle with shredded or crumbled cheese.
8.  Place pan in preheated oven and cook for 10-12 minutes or until eggs are cooked through and cheese is melted.  Take out of pan and cut into wedges.  Serve hot, room temp or cold.  YUM!

Whisk eggs, prep veggies & onion

Saute veggies & onion

Gently stir in egg mixture

Hot & fluffy out of oven

 

The finished frittata

Next time you want a quick dinner, remember, eggs aren't just for breakfast anymore. 

Happy homemaking!

Crescent LoMonaco

The Coastal Homemaker

 

 

Quick Starfish Art

I'm in the process of converting our studio into a vacation rental.  I'm calling the new studio "Starfish Cottage."  I can picture it now...blues, greens, shells, starfish.  All things ocean.  

I love starfish, hence the name Starfish Cottage, and I wanted a large piece of art for the focal wall in the studio.  I looked and looked and couldn't find the exact right thing.  It was either too formal, too small, too expensive or all of the above.  After browsing online and on Pinterest for a while, I decided to be brave and try to make my own art.  

I quickly learned that artist canvas is fairly expensive, and being the novice that I am, I didn't want to invest much money on a project that I may or may not be happy with.  So off to the thrift store and straight to their wall hanging section.  Great selection.  Lots to choose from.  I found a great 36"x36" canvas for $20.  The only problem?  The art was of course already on it.  My solution?  Paint over it!

Some of you may cringe at the idea of me painting over this beautiful face.  My apologies, Audrey.  I'm sure she'd understand.  I hear she loved the beach.

Two days later, my simple, whimsical masterpiece is complete.  My husband, nephew and son were in the other room as I was painting the words, and I shouted out to them to tell me things that remind them of the beach.  Their words (and some of mine) are what's written on the canvas.  It gives it the personal touch.  I haven't signed it yet.  My signature means I'm finished and can't make any adjustments.  I'm not sure I can commit to that right now.  I may hang it for a while and see how I like it.  

I can sign this post though.  Until next time, 

Happy homemaking!

Crescent LoMonaco

The Coastal Homemaker

Starfish Painting

Clutter Free Closet

 

As you may recall from my last post, I was in the process of taking on the very brave task of de-cluttering and organizing my closet. 

BEFORE

 

 

Here's the original photo.  Lots of clutter on top of a dresser that just didn't work in the space.  I needed to use the wall space that was available, so my generous, kind, helpful, sweet (Mike, are you reading this?) husband installed a closet organizer for me.  Thank you, Mike!

Two and a half days later...voila!  This is the finished closet, all ready full of stuff!  Now, however, I can see where everything is and I was able to clear out three huge bags of items to donate.  That feels good.

AFTER

But my favorite part of the closet...TADA!!!  Organized shoes!

All in all, it was a lot of work, but it feels great to pare down, and finally be organized and able to find everything again.

Gotta go.  I have a few free minutes to go sit in my closet until I have to pick up Elijah from school. 

Happy homemaking!

Crescent LoMonaco

The Coastal Homemaker

Clutter Happens

Sundays at our house often go something like this.  Elijah wakes my husband and I up in the morning and the three of us snuggle in bed while we watch a cartoon.  It's one of the only calm moments we get on the weekend.  While I can't stand the mostly irritating cartoons, I savor that 24 minutes of relatively calm, together time.  Cartoon's over...we're up and running.   

Don't be mad at me Polar Vortexers, but I spent the first half of today at the beach.   I love taking long walks to clear my mind and get inspiration for my next project.  I return from my walk to re-join my two favorite boys who are busy building sand castles.  The three of us hang out and play for a while, until I decide it's time for me to walk home and get lunch ready for them.  Lunch is ready and waiting, which gives me time to head into the scariest area of my house. It's where things get shoved and forgotten.  It's packed to the brim.  It's disorganized.  It's the black hole of the house. It's...my closet!
 
If you've ever taken on an organizing project, you know that it has to get worse before it gets better.  That is certainly the case with this project.  I decided to divide the work into phases, working with the front half of the closet, and opting to save the back half for another day.  First thing first.  Remove all clutter.  I toss most of the things onto the bed, to give me a blank canvas to work with in the closet.  This is only a very small portion of the stuff I have to find a home for later. 

Clutter Happens!

If I don't finish by tonight, we will have to sleep on the sofa!

Although I love this dresser, I've decided after 13 years, that it just doesn't serve me well.  In a small space, I need to work vertically.  Notice all the wasted wall space above the dresser.  Also, in my house, flat surfaces tend to get filled with clutter, hence the disaster area on top of the dresser.  I've enlisted the help of my hubby to help install a closet organizer.

I'll check back in a couple of days to let you know how the project goes.  

 

Happy homemaking!

Crescent LoMonaco

The Coastal Homemaker

Happy Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Birthday, Christmas, New Year, oh yeah...and Valentine's Day!

My Funny Valentine!

 
October 3, 2013.  That's the last time I blogged.  And I'm reminded of that by my friend, Jerry, every time I see him.  Jerry's birthday happens to be today.  He's a Valentine baby.  How cool is that?  So, for his birthday, I'm taking time out to blog today.  (Selfishly, it's a gift for me, too, as I have really missed blogging.)

Like most of you, I had a really busy holiday season.  I survived prepping dishes for Thanksgiving, hosting Hanukkah for 8 crazy nights, throwing a birthday party for 67 people for my son's 3rd birthday, cooking and hosting open house on Christmas Day, making merry on New Year's Eve and most recently, throwing a Party Heart-y wine and dessert party.  Whew!  I told you I love to have parties!

Looking back, this season may have been a bit excessive, but I recently "retired" from working behind the chair as a hair stylist, which allows me more time to do the things I love...raising my son, homemaking and writing.

Over the next couple of weeks, I'll write about each party that I had.  I keep notes on every party I throw.  It helps me in the planning phase, and also helps me to look back and see what worked and where I could have improved.

Today though, is all about Valentine's Day, and Jerry's birthday!

Ganache Ingredients

Naked, filled cake

Ganache Consistency

Happy Birthday, Jerry!

We're off to Jerry's for dinner, so that's all for today.  Happy Valentine's Day, Happy Birthday Jerry, and until next time...

Happy homemaking!

Crescent LoMonaco

The Coastal Homemaker

Naked Cake

Ganache Ingredients

Wine

Ganache Consistency

Royal Icing Cookies