Thank you for visiting my blog on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday! I am so grateful to my faithful readers and all the new people who are joining us every week. Your comments and questions make my day. Since many of you are new, I thought it might be fun to share some oldies but goodies. Let’s call it Life at Bella Terra’s greatest hits!

Here at our home, we have the good fortunate of space where we enjoy everything from gardening to outdoor entertaining. Here are a few areas of interest.

Gardening and Chickens

My blog post Gardening 101 stemmed from the question, “does gardening take a great deal of time”? After the initial garden plan, the actual work to plant, harvest and maintain a garden is minimal and seasonal. And the benefits are enormous! To see this detailed post, click here.

Another popular post is about Composting 101, which is an ideal project to start during COVID. Being home and creating more waste, composting is the answer to having great soil for your garden. If you could recycle 30% of your trash to make rich fertilizer, why not? See that post, here.

Before and Afters

Don’t you love to look at other people’s homes? I certainly do! And it is a bonus if there are good Before and After pictures. I actually have a file where I keep renovation photos of other projects as inspiration.

Our historic home is always going through a constant renovation. However, the initial restoration was the most significant. In an attempt to capture that journey, I am writing The Restoration Chronicles. So far there are 5 chapters and if you haven’t read our story, click here for Chapter 1.

Entertaining

COVID has definitely put a monkey wrench into our socializing and entertaining. We feel blessed to be the stewards of this unique historical property and share it often to host everything from charitable events to proms. The orchard is one of the areas of the property we use for large sit-down meals. For more details about one of our dinners in the orchard, click here.

I long for the day when we can open up our home and our arms and welcome guests again. If you are dreaming of when we can all reconnect, here is an autumn entertaining post.

Cooking, Baking and Making

The summers do put a cramp in my cooking, as it is almost painful to turn on the oven in the triple-digit heat. However, the minute there is a touch of autumn in the air, I am back to baking. This past year, I learned how to bake sourdough bread from scratch, using starter that I carried home on a plane from Washington, D.C.

If you need a new project while we are all stuck at home, baking bread using a natural yeast, is so rewarding. I just recently shared more sourdough starter with someone who reached out to me and now I have a new friend. Bake bread. Make friends. Check out my post, Sourdough Starter Basics here.

Of course, there are all sorts of recipes in the files of Bella Terra. But here are a few favorites. Key Lime Pie post

Together we made Preserved Lemons (see recipe here) and then we used them in some fabulous recipes, like the one above. This delicious chicken pasta salad is ideal for the summer~as it can be eaten warm or cold. Check out the recipe here.

DIY and Home Improvement

I am not much of a crafter, but I do like to tackle projects myself, sometimes moaning along the way.

The most recent is a hand stenciled tile bathroom floor in our pool house. If you missed that post you can see it here.

We have accomplished quite a few projects this year, and several with your helpful comments. From the great advice on the vintage mailbox above, to helping select a front door color, your feedback is gold! See that post, here.

Organizing

Staying organized is such a challenge, but I am inspired to be better at it when I see others accomplishing these tasks. This year, getting the master closet organized was a big win. To see the embarrassing before pictures and the fabulous after shots, click here.

Keeping heavily used spaces like the pantry is always a challenge. But it looks so nice when it is neat and tidy. See the improvements here.

Pets

For those of you who have pets, you know how important they are to family life. Our two dogs, two cats and numerous chickens are all part of our daily existence here. The Best Kind of Friend is a blog post about the bond we have with our pets, how they shadow us daily and love us unconditionally. Read it here.

Thank you for all your kind words during Sox’s recent back injury and Tippy’s current failing health. We share in the joy of their presence and the grief of their loss.

Just Getting Through Life

You have provided loving ears to some of my life’s challenges as we enter new phases of maturity. It was only a year ago, when I was struggling with empty nesting (see post here). But with the pandemic, nearly everyone is home again! Now, next week I will do a repeat performance as we move our daughter out of the house to start her sophomore year in college. Ah, the ups and downs!

We have talked about Kindness (see post here) and how important it is to Smile (see post here) and how to age well (see post here). Even though we cannot get together physically, we have such a supportive community right here on this blog. The goal with each and every blog post is to provide you with something interesting and important. And I’ve learned so much from all of you along the way.

Again, I cannot express how delighted I am that you have been with me from the beginning and I extend a warm welcome to new readers. In a world that seems to be filled with division and anger, it is my hope that Life at Bella Terra will be a bright spot in your day.

Happy Tuesday, my friends! If you ever want to see more content on any topic~gardening, recipes, home improvement, decorating, seasonal, whatever it is, please let me know! Thank you.

This post shared with Tuesday Turn About #61

You need lots of tomatoes

Back in early June, after harvesting the San Marzano tomatoes from my garden (thank you, Whitfill Nursery), I made fresh tomato sauce. However, I did not process it with the hot bath canning method, but froze the fresh sauce in individual zip-loc bags. Recently, when my friend, Rick said his tomato source has 50 lbs. of tomatoes available, I willingly said yes, not knowing what I was getting myself into.

The thought never crossed my mind what 50 lbs. of tomatoes looks like, but it is a lot. But there in nothing better than having a fresh batch of sauce from summer tomatoes in the middle of winter. Because of the volume of tomatoes, I will need to process them using the hot bath method.

Safety First

The last time I used the hot bath method in making tomato sauce a few years ago, I badly burned my hand (all my own fault). So I am a little wary making it this time.

But, like with most things, your memory dulls and my desire to have fresh tomato sauce overrode my fear of burning myself again. If you have never processed food for long term storage, it is a good thing to know. Especially after the events of this year. When the food supply is challenged, having a pantry filled with your homemade goodies is a comforting thought. And now is the time to do it with the summer’s bounty available.

There are several recipes available for making tomato sauce, but I love using the simple one from my friend, Rick. With only 4 ingredients~tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and salt, you have a great tasting sauce.

Enlist Helpers

Before you start a project like this, you may want to consider inviting your friends over to help. This is not a one-person project, nor do I suggest you do this with your spouse. There is a reason the women from the farm would gather and do this as a collective group. It is repetitive, time-consuming work but made faster with great conversation and friendship.

Get the Right equipment

It is important to have the right tools on hand too. Since you are working with sterilized jars and tops, boiling water and hot sauce, you need equipment to help. You can purchase jars from Walmart or through Amazon. Determine what size jar you will need (all depends on how many servings you want per jar). For 16 oz. jars, click here; 8 oz. jars, click here; and for complete canning kits, click here.

Processing tomatoes the wrong way can have serious side effects. There is much debate about safely canning tomatoes and you want to make sure you take all precautions in doing so. Sterilization of jars, hot bathing them for the proper amount of time, adding acidity for an extra level of protection are few things to know before getting started. Make sure you have a large stockpot. If not, here is a link to one.

Making the Sauce

For a quick summary on making the sauce, you stem, core and cut the tomato into 16 pieces. I add an extra step here, where I wipe away most of the seeds out of the tomato before I cut it into pieces. In the meantime, slightly cook the garlic in olive oil and then add the tomatoes and salt.

Cook the tomatoes for 15-20 minutes, until the skins separate from the tomatoes.

Here is where I deviate from the recipe. Instead of using a food mill, I put the tomatoes into a Cuisinart and reduce them to sauce. I skip the step about refrigerating it overnight (I don’t have the space for this much sauce), but pour the sauce into sterilized jars.

I like this device which sits on the jar, because the mouth is wide and the sauce funnels right in; and it has a measuring device on the side so you don’t overfill. I leave a 1/2 inch space at the top.

Safety guidelines recommend adding an additional acid to the top of the tomato sauce before you process it. Your choices are citric acid or bottled lemon juice. For citric acid powder, click here.

Getting Ready to Hot Bath

Next, wiping down the rim of the jar will ensure your lid seals properly.

Now the jar is ready to go into the hot bath. Again, proceed with caution as you are putting something heavy into boiling water.

I submerge the jars and simmer for 40 minutes.

You know when you have sealed the jars correctly, as the center button in the lid will pop down as the jar cools. It is rather satisfying to hear pop, pop, pop as all the lids complete the seal.

Whether you decide to can tomatoes or not, below is Rick’s recipe using 3 lbs. of tomatoes and it is worth making.

It is also possible to process certain foods with the oven method (jams, especially). To see that process, click here to see how I made fig preserves.

Since we really don’t know what the supply chain will be over the holidays, tomato sauce or other homemade preserved foods will be a wonderful gift. So if you have access to an abundance of fruits or vegetables, think about canning them for yourself or your friends.

I hope you have some fun plans this weekend. Happily I am up at the cabin again appreciating the cooler mountain temps. The plan is to do some painting (on canvas), and get some biking or walking in. Enjoy!

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Tuesday Turn About #62

I wanted to entitle this “Clean out Your Fridge” dinner, but my husband didn’t think that was very appealing. However, it’s not too far off. This simple summer dish can be a side serving, or a full meal, depending on what ingredients you decide to include.

A version of this recipe was recently posted from Veronica on Instagram @baconliciousmademedoit, so I cannot take complete credit for its development.

It is as easy as this. Start with something from the following list.

A Grain (or Seed)

You can use rice (brown, wild, white), quinoa (which is really a seed), farro, barley or buckwheat. I chose farro because I like the texture and nutty flavor and it’s a great source of fiber. In following the directions on the back of the package, 1 cup of rinsed farro and 2 quarts of boiling water=4 servings.

Vegetables

Summer squash and zucchini are abundant in my refrigerator, so I sautéed them in olive oil and then seasoned them with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Diced into bitesize pieces, they are a nice addition to the meal.

You can add cooked or uncooked vegetables~cucumbers, tomatoes, really any vegetable that you have or love. They add texture and flavor. For this recipe, I used 1 1/2 summer squash and 1 1/2 zucchini.

Beans

We have SO many cans of black beans that were purchased from Costco at the beginning of COVID when we were all in our hunkering down mode. But you can use chickpeas instead.

Nuts

Unless you have a nut allergy, feel free to add walnuts or a nut of your choice. We always have a bag of pistachios in the freezer.

Fruit~ Fresh or Dried or both

Honeycrisp apples are a staple in our home and we add them to everything~from tunafish salad to thin slices on toast and almond butter. So it is a natural choice to chop up some fresh apples into this dish. For a different texture, I also added dried cranberries (cherries would be great too).

A Protein~Optional

I added shredded grilled chicken (2 boneless breasts) to this recipe. You don’t have to as it is great without it, but for a main course, the protein seemed like a good idea.

Fresh Herbs

Basil is growing quite well in the garden despite this intense heat so that is the only herb I added. But maybe even a little fresh mint might be interesting?

The Dressing

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon honey

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Juice from 2-3 lemon or lime wedges

Or you can use a favorite dressing that you have. We love Marston’s San Pasqual Salad Dressing which would also work very well too.

This chilled dish/salad is so hearty and delicious. It was even better the next day! So nice to make a big bowl of it and then everyone helped themselves as the day went on.

And it is nice not to have to stick to a recipe and jazz it up according to your own tastes and whatever is in your refrigerator.

When it’s over 100 degrees here it is so hard to turn on the oven. It’s even more difficult to want to go outside and grill. But having a healthy, filling dish ready to go in the refrigerator is perfect for the summer. For another favorite summer salad recipe, click here.

This with a huge slice of watermelon makes for a delicious weekday meal.

Enjoy!

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During a recent trip to Home Depot, I found a few fun things and bargains that I want to share with you. Typically, when I think of Home Depot, lumber, plumbing and hardware comes to mind. But in the last few years, Home Depot has become so much more. Here is a list of some of the fun finds and bargains I discovered. Also, this is not a sponsored post by Home Depot, only my personal recommendations.

If you do not get their seasonal catalog, I would highly recommend signing up for it. Here is an online version of their Summer one, which is chock-a-block full of ideas on summer home decor and entertaining. Granted, many of these products are not in the actual stores, but ordering online is very easy.

If you are doing your summer canning, click this link to see all the supplies Home Depot offers.

Unique tile

Recently, I ordered this beautiful green tile for our barbecue backsplash from Home Depot. They have an extensive tile collection on their website. Their stores tend to inventory what is popular or a best-selling item, but if you are looking for something unique and different, try their website. If you missed the blog post on the BBQ project, please click here.

Lanterns

During my latest trip I picked up these fabulous outdoor lanterns. They are 22″ tall. This must be the clearance price, but the cost is $12.98 each. I purchased two and went back and bought the remaining 3. When I first checked, they were available online at the price. But I believe they are now out of stock online. However, you may only get this price at the store level. Check out the inventory in your local store too.

Think of all the different ways they can be used for fall and Christmas decorating!

Even the smaller 14″ lantern sitting next to this one on the shelf, was more expensive (regular price $24.98 reduced to $16.00). Go figure.

Right now, they are sitting outside on the covered porch of the cabin. The battery operated candle is not included, but I have several of those anyway. Isn’t this just a steal? It feels so good to get a bargain!

Halloween Items

In the fall, Home Depot also has the BEST selection of Halloween items. A few years back, I ordered several fun decorations, all done from the comfort of my home. They were ready for me to pick up at my local store~~which now with their curbside pickup makes shopping a breeze. It appears that Halloween items will be available after August 1.

Entertaining

Check out the variety of entertaining items in their catalog! Their photos are beautifully staged and they also include a recipe for Grapefruit Rosemary Cocktail.

With the holidays coming, Home Depot’s prices are so affordable for glasses, dishes and serving pieces. Check out some of the fun items here.

And look how cute these blue and white melamine plates are? Perfect for outdoor use or pretty enough for indoor entertaining too!

I’m not sure how much holiday entertaining any of us will be doing, but check out these sweet oversized red and white dish towels for $2.49 each. Aren’t they ideal for wrapping baked goods or lining a gift basket. The online price is less than the catalog at$18.00 for 8 ($2.25 each).

Another fun find is a set of ceramic dinnerware that I purchased for our cabin. This is the first time I have ordered dishes from Home Depot, and am delighted with this set. Online price is $116.12 for the 16-piece set.

Outdoor Furniture Covers

Finding a good quality outdoor furniture cover is a challenge for me. They are not inexpensive and often, made of plastic, which doesn’t last more than one season. This new purchase from Home Depot is an attractive brown and beige fabric. It’s large size can accommodate a big table and 6-8 chairs.

This cover has handles and a venting system on either end. So far I am impressed with the quality and the roomy construction. Let’s see if it will survive the elements. So if you are looking for outdoor furniture covers, the collection online is rather extensive. Online price for this one is $41.98.

If you click on the links I provided, it will take you to the Home Depot website. If you decide to buy something, I may get a small stipend at no cost to you!

Home Depot’s fall catalog will be mailed sometime in August so keep your eyes open for it. Now with more online ordering and curbside pickup or home delivery, you can truly enjoy the vast number of fun Home Depot items.

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Lately, life feels like a lot of loose ends. The ups and downs of the pandemic, the constant barrage of bad news, the light at the end of the tunnel brightens and then dims. I don’t know about you, but I feel a bit untethered. Of course, some days are better than others. But, wait. What day is it? So today’s blog post is wrapping up the stories on previous editions. Let’s get some loose ends wrapped up!

Propagating Roses Project in April

Remember me attempting to propagate roses a few months ago? I did all this research and had the right tools and equipment? My goal was to create more of the heirloom roses that have been growing on our property for many years.

Well that project was a total failure. Not one of the stems took root and all of them died…in a matter of days. Seriously. It’s hard to admit when such an ambitious project bites the dust. However, I am not giving up. I will try again in the fall when the temperatures are cooler. To read more of my lofty rose goals, click here.

However, like most things in life, there is a bright spot. One of my lovely subscribers, Shaun took the time to send me pictures of her beautiful roses. So I am living vicariously through her stunning rose pictures. Thank you, Shaun.

Back Staircase Project

As you may recall, the back staircase project started last August. Yep, nearly a year ago. The existing sisal rug was separating on the edges and showing wear and tear. To see that post, click here.

Though we have made progress, it has been slow and painful. The last report from me showed us struggling to remove layers of carpet glue and old paint. See that May post here.

Well, I’m happy to report that the stripping is complete and the stairs are down to bare wood. However, in doing so, we found 3 broken threads and one jury-rigged upright. To get these repaired by a professional, the first bid was a whopping $3,500.

That is enough to take the wind out of your sails, so the project is on hold until we get more opinions. Right now it would be easier to just cover the problems with carpet, but I can’t do that. This has become more challenging that we expected. But this will get done.

The Bulb Garden

It was so joyful watching the heavily planted bulb garden bloom in the spring with an abundance of iris, tulips and hyacinths. I was a proud bulb mama, carefully inspecting each and every blossom on my daily yard walkabouts.

And then the bulbs disappeared. Literally. I know there is something living below ground just munching his/her way around the yard. But I haven’t done anything yet because it just seems a bit overwhelming. Fighting with a varmint? I just don’t have the energy. But the fall will be here soon and I WILL want to replant my bulbs. So there is more work to be done there….sigh.

The Pool House Bathroom Floor

This week, I started a new floor stenciling project in the pool house. If you follow my stories on Instagram, you have seen my progress. The stencil painting will start after letting the primer and base coat dry for a full week. More to come!

Sharing Sourdough Starter

In April, I wrote a post on Sourdough Starter basics. An old friend, Tanya reached out to me as a result. She indicated her daughter (who used to be in my Girl Scout troop and attended the same grammar school as my youngest), wanted to learn how to make bread.

Happily, I shared some of my sourdough starter and basic information on bread making. Meet Ursula and her first loaf of sourdough bread! She is now a rising sophomore in college and loves baking.

I am so happy that her first loaves were successful and she continues to bake bread. Tanya and Ursula, thank you for sharing your pictures! To see more about Sourdough Starter Basics, click here.

Pretty Masks

My dear friend, Janie, asked me to share my resource for pretty masks. Now that these have become a fashion accessory, I do try and have them match with whatever I am wearing. Fashion and my name are never in the same sentence so this is possibly the only fashion tip you will get from me!

Johnny Was, known for their boho chic designs, has a Buy a Mask, Donate a Mask program. Made from repurposed and assorted fabrics, I find these masks comfortable and attractive.

For $25.00 you can get a package of five masks~and 5 will be donated. Not only will you look cute but do a good deed too.

Hands down, one of the best benefits of writing this blog is hearing your comments, feedback and getting your pictures. Truly, it makes my day. And in this complicated, disturbing world, I can’t even begin to tell you how much that means to me. You are my inspiration. Keep them coming!

Well, that wraps it up for the Wednesday, July 15th. Stay sane. Stay grounded. Let’s lift each other up in the meantime.

I am not a breakfast person. The thought of any meal in the morning is almost hard for me to comprehend. So I struggle with what breakfast options are healthy, quick and not big in volume.

Collagen Peptides

Every morning starts with my delicious Nespresso coffee with foamed milk and two scoops of Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides.

Vital Proteins provides 18 grams of protein, which is just enough to sustain me through my morning workout. But there are days where I am more hungry, especially if I skipped dinner the night before. Sometimes grabbing a quick hardboiled egg (pre-made and in the fridge) does it, but other days, I need something with a bit more substance.

Breakfast Cookies

I started making breakfast cookies when I was the Food Mom for my son’s high school crew team. Often the boys would be up at the crack of dawn before a regatta wanting something light, but healthy to eat. Cookies, you say? For breakfast?

Blueberry Breakfast Cookies

Yesterday, I dusted off the recipe for Ambitious Kitchen’s Omega 3 Blueberry Breakfast Cookies and made a batch. Being challenged with too many apples, I found an additional recipe online from Kristine’s Kitchen for Apple Pie Breakfast cookies. Both recipes are chock-a-block full of fiber and goodness. So it is time to compare the two recipes.

The Blueberry Breakfast cookies are gluten-free and dairy free. Using almond meal, coconut sugar, flaxseed meal, rolled oats, chia seeds, banana, blueberries, walnuts and an optional add ~ dark chocolate, these large cookies are very flavorful and filling.

This recipe makes 8 large cookies. The most time consuming part of the recipe is gathering the ingredients! Using an ice cream scoop makes it easy to plop these down on a cookie sheet to bake. Prep time is 10 minutes with a cook time of 15.

Apple Pie Breakfast Cookies

The Apple Pie Breakfast cookies have similar ingredients~rolled oats, apples, oat flour, ground flaxseed, applesauce, maple syrup, egg, butter and spices. Refined sugar-free, this recipe makes 18 large cookies.

Similar to the first recipe, drop balls of dough on a cookie sheet and flatten with your hand.

These cookies are perfect if you have children or grandchildren that you need to feed quickly. They freezer beautifully and a few seconds in the microwave, you have a nutritious and delicious snack.

As food crew mom, at one point, I needed to feed 65 high school athletic boys. The Blueberry Breakfast cookie recipe is the one that they boys would shove in their mouths as they raced to their next regatta.

This morning, we sampled both recipes. My husband and I prefer the Blueberry ones, as we love the combination of blueberries, walnuts and dark chocolate. The Apple Pie ones were good, but I think I would make the apple pieces bigger as they got a bit lost in the cookie. Also, our apples from the orchard are Anna apples, which have a mild, sweet flavor. Using an apple with more tang will bump up the taste. But both are worthy recipes. Now they will be frozen for future use!

I hope if you are a non-breakfast eater like me, you will find these recipes to be a helpful addition to your morning routine.

Happy Wednesday! I am heading over to visit my elderly neighbor who lives alone and wants some company….of course, at a distance! Wishing you a day of wonder and love!

If you enjoy this post, please feel free to share on Pinterest.

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