On Location: Fair Market Austin, Texas
2018 May 25
Boiler Nine
Knife
Tillamook
Launderette
Epicerie
Edison
Royal Wedding Day Festivities
Royal Wedding Day Festivities: Celebrating Harry & Meghan
5am: English Breakfast Tea with Scones, Clotted Cream, Lemon Curd, Jam and Fruit
Bunting delivered by a friend directly from London
The One Party
Making Type One, Type None!!!! JDRF ...the fight to cure Type One Diabetes!!!
2018: Iconic Austin
Golf & Gala
Original: Outdoors @ The Lions “Muny” Municipal Golf Course
Rain (Final) Location: WAYA Tarrytown & Poker Tourny
Cocktail Hour: Caprese Watermelon Bites, Bacon-Wrapped Habenaro Quail, Breaded Artichoke & Lemon Aioli
Menu: Family Style: Southern Fried Chicken, Strawberry Salad, Buttermilk Biscuits with Cholula Sauce & Honey Butter, Chilled BBQ-Rubbed Smoked Salmon with Creme Fraiche & Tomato Chutney, Elotes, German Potato Salad, Grilled & Roasted Thick Asparagus, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Peppers & Portabellos, Strawberry Rhubarb Shooters, Lemon Whoopie Pies, Trashed Brownies
The Golden Paddle
Suede!!!
Springdale Farms Farewell
This weekend my husband and I enjoyed the old parts of Austin even with the bizerk 24 hour cold snap. We visited a locally owned retailer that had been a landmark in Austin for 38 years, The Light Bulb Shop. Unfortunately, due to the changing times and the ever growing types of lighting and proprietary bulbs the owners are closing their doors. However, we were in for treat that afternoon as we needed to replace a couple of lights in our elevated tract fixture and the sweet owners sent us home with $60 of museum quality lighting for $12!
Our favorite part of the day was shopping, having brunch and saying an unofficial farewell at Springdale Farms. This summer the farmers are hanging up their tools and retiring the urban farm. If you have not had a chance to visit this quaint beauty nestled inside of the city I suggest you had hurry up before your chances are forever gone. Enjoy spending time among the chickens, ducks, and flowers or run the field of the many vegetable varieties. This trip we found fennel, brussel sprouts, kale, leeks, and loofah awaiting harvest. That’s right, loofah that you shower with...is a squash! We purchased our necessary salves and edibles, then we treated ourselves to brunch at Eden East where I devoured gluten free fried quail and grits and enjoyed hot sauce for the first time in my life. As is typical for Austin the weather was completely unpredictable and our previous 85 degree Friday plummeted to a 40 degree Saturday but that did not stop our fun. We watched as layed out comfy blankets and set up the campfire for that evening’s wedding. Such a pleasurable place we are so sad to see it go. Please do try your best to visit this precious gem of a farm stand before June!!
the glassware for the evening’s wedding
the glassware for the evening’s wedding
brussel sprout
poppies
fennel
loofah
Springdale Farms is located at 755 Springdale Rd in Austin, Tx
~AngelaO’
Love Gathers for a Letter Writing Party
My love of gathering and keeping family and friends connected was bestowed on me by my Gramma. So many mornings I remember waking up in my Grandma's house with her in excitement smiling at me and saying that someone was coming to visit that day. When visitors weren't around she took to mailing thought-filled letters out. Many times you would find me sitting at her kitchen table writing to aunts, uncles, and my pen-pal. After I graduated college and moved to the southeast, I wrote everyone and expected everyone to write me. My mailing address was published in my local Midwestern newspaper for all my community to keep in touch. We all loved our little rural community cluster and it was easily forgotten that we housed a major prison in Illinois, till I got a letter from an inmate. Oops.
This month I invited a few young ladies over to show them how much fun we could have since the art of writing, sending and receiving letters has unfortunately become lost in our society, even though not in my heart or home. So, I pulled out my stationary and had some sweet valentine's treats and we got to work reaching out to our friends and family. Here you'll see sweet youngsters and my friend enjoying a great universal past time with me.
xoxo,
angela o'
Game of Thrones BUNCO
Welcome to my neighborhood ladies bunco group of January 2018! I'm part of bunco group that includes approximately 45 active members who take turns hosting the monthly event. It was finally my turn to host and I wanted to make it fun and memorable.
January 2018 bunco theme: Game of Thrones
My husband and I love watching GoT (along with the other 80 billion worldwide watchers) but not everyone in my bunco group had seen the show. It was important to me to make the experience involved in a way that everyone felt included and could have a good time. Gathering and Entertaining is my Joy, after all.
When I searched for Game of Thrones party inspiration I was rather disappointed on what I found on the internet. A few individuals had thrown parties and posted their ideas online and while I was thankful that they shared with everyone I just didn't feel like it would be enough for my vision. So typical with my party planning ways I took to the streets and to the stores and began cruising the aisles with my creator goggles on. Spying for objects that could be manipulated into what I wanted. And here we are...
mustaches, bones, eyeballs and silver hearts adorned the red gelatin. Along with two bloody dolls and hand weapons.
photo credit: carrie hall
photo credit: carrie hall
Custom Bunco signage was necessary for tying in the theme. All bunco nights need score cards, table numbers and eat/play cash signs so why not make them GoT! The signage for the event was done using Adobe Photoshop.
Prizes: Purse Wine! I picked up two 4-pack mini bottles of Sutter Home wine to pass out as prizes in between rounds. As the players would switch tables and stop by the provisions to fill up their plates and cups, I would shout out trivia. Since we played two full games of bunco that night, I spread the six questions out over 12 rounds asking about two questions each time. Purse wine makes a great choice for inexpensive prizes as one 4-pack is about $4.00 at the grocery store. If you don't use them all then hand out a bottle for best costume or keep a a couple back for the hostess.
Questions:
1. Name three of six Stark direwolves? A: Lady, Nymeria, Shaggy Dog, Ghost, Greywind, Summer
2. What is the name of Arya's sword? A: Needle
3. What is Ned Stark's real name? A: Eddard Stark
4. What is Ramsey Bolton's nickname for Theon Greyjoy? A: Reek
5. What are the horse people tribe called? A: Dothraki
6. What is the Dothraki term for wife of a ruler? A: Khalessi (meaning: wife of the Khal)
photo credit: emily nelson
special appearance by a direwolf! and a pocket direwolf!
photo credit: robin james
photo credit: carrie hall
Sassy LaCroix Just Got Bottled!
This hot number was introduced today in Whole Foods! Bottled La Croix!! Check it out, I picked up this 1 liter bottle for $1.00!
~ With Angela O'
Fresh Dill Butter
What do you do when you have an entire bunch of fresh organic dill weed delivered to your door step? Make dill butter of course!!! Just use one pound unsalted butter, flake sea salt, and fresh dill then blend with mixer and place into four 4-ounce mason jars.
P.S. It makes a great hostess gift! Do an assortment of flavors to hand out for Christmas!
~ Angela O'
The Collins Quarter
Madagascar Vanilla Latte
Autumn in the Cape
Visiting Cape Cod in Autumn is one of the most beautiful and joyful things ever. John and I were so blessed to have an October 2016 getaway where we refreshed our minds and brought in new thoughts. The welcome mat was definitely rolled out as we met so many wonderful locals and were graced with businesses accommodated dietary allergies. Of course, we had to see Boston too so you will be treated with a few of those moments as well.
Luke's Lobster
Boston, MA
Gluten Free Lobster Roll & Gluten Free Clam Chowder
Luke's Lobster
Boston, MA
Fun rock formations
Outside of Boston, MA heading to the Cape
Parkside Market
Falmouth, MA
Write here...
Gluten Free Farmhouse Sandwich & Fresh Cut Fries
Parkside Market
Falmouth, MA
Parkside Market
Falmouth, MA
Downtown
Falmouth, MA
Another delicious Falmouth, MA restaurant to check out is La Cucina Sul Mare on 237 Main Street. Tina, our server was so accommodating and pleasant to talk to.
Nantucket Book-Folding
anne2059@comcast.net to order
Nantucket, MA
Nantucket Whales at Sunny Wood Designs
facebook.com/sunnywooddesigns to order
Nantucket, MA
Nantucket Whales at Sunny Wood Designs
sunnybwood@gmail.com to order
Nantucket, MA
Nantucket, MA
Angela O'
Brant Point Lighthouse
Nantucket, MA
John O'
Brant Point Lighthouse
Nantucket, MA
Nantucket, MA
Nantucket, MA
Nantucket, MA
movie belongs here!!!
Cisco Brewers
Nantucket, MA
Cisco Brewers
Nantucket, MA
Angela O' & John O'
Cisco Brewers
Nantucket, MA
John O'
Cisco Brewers
Nantucket, MA
Angela O'
Cisco Brewers
Nantucket, MA
Welcome to Bartlett Farms in Nantucket. Think of Whole Foods but stationed on a legitimate farm where you come to shop and eat!
Bartlett Farms
Nantucket, MA
Nantucket, MA
Nantucket, MA
In the Pink
A Lilly Pulitzer Shop
Nantucket, MA
In the Pink
A Lilly Pulitzer Jeep!
Nantucket, MA
Ralph Lauren
Nantucket, MA
Ralph Lauren
Nantucket, MA
Nantucket, MA
Nantucket, MA
Nantucket, MA
Nantucket, MA
Nantucket, MA
Nantucket, MA
Nantucket, MA
Nantucket, MA
movie belongs here!!!
Fresh Squeezed OJ machine at Whole Foods
Hyannis, MA
Pickle Jar Kitchen
Falmouth, MA
Pickle Jar Kitchen
Falmouth, MA
Brussel Sprout & Bacon Hash
Pickle Jar Kitchen
Falmouth, MA
Tailgating at Gilette Stadium
Foxboro, MA
Tailgating at Gilette Stadium
Foxboro, MA
Awesome Ugly Sweater!
(Unfortunately, I didn't make it back before the store closed)
Patriot's Place
Foxboro, MA
The O's
Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA
Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA
Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA
Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA
Card Trick (we were the ribbon)
Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA
Martha's Vineyard, MA
Martha's Vineyard, MA
Martha's Vineyard, MA
Martha's Vineyard, MA
Hit up the MV Tours and Transport for a great 3 hour tour around the island. Reasonably priced, shared small group tours. Rated top on Trip Advisor.
www.mvislandtours.com
Menemsha Fish Market
Menemsha, MA
Martha's Vineyard
Gluten Free Lobster Mac & Cheese
Menemsha Fish Market
Menemsha, MA
Martha's Vineyard
orders at www.menemshafishmarket.com
Chilmark, MA
Martha's Vineyard
Gay Head Cliffs
Aquinnah, MA
Martha's Vineyard
Edgartown, MA
Martha's Vineyard
Vineyard Vines
Edgartown, MA
Martha's Vineyard
Edgartown, MA
Martha's Vineyard
Edgartown, MA
Martha's Vineyard
In the Pink
A Lilly Pulitzer Jeep!
Edgartown, MA
Martha's Vineyard
In the Pink
A Lilly Pulitzer Jeep!
Edgartown, MA
Martha's Vineyard
Edgartown, MA
Martha's Vineyard
Edgartown, MA
Martha's Vineyard
The Black Dog Tavern & Company's grassy knoll
Vineyard Haven(Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard
The Black Dog Tavern
Vineyard Haven (Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard
The Black Dog Tavern
Vineyard Haven (Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard
The Black Dog Tavern
Vineyard Haven (Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard
The Black Dog Tavern
Vineyard Haven (Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard
The Black Dog Tavern
Vineyard Haven (Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard
The Black Dog Tavern
Vineyard Haven (Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard
The Black Dog Tavern
Vineyard Haven (Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard
The Black Dog Tavern
Vineyard Haven (Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard
the pedestrian crossing signs
Vineyard Haven, MA
Martha's Vineyard
Hey sometimes you just gotta get a power nap!
Even if it's on the ferry.
Samuel Adams Brewery
Boston, MA
Samuel Adams Brewery
Boston, MA
Samuel Adams Brewery
Boston, MA
Harvard University
Anneberg Hall
Cambridge, MA
on the subway
Boston, MA
Boston, MA
movie belongs here!!!
The Lady and her Squirrels at Boston Common park
Where everybody knows your name.
Boston, MA
Autumn Decorations of Beacon Hill homes
Boston, MA
Acorn St. at Beacon Hill
Boston, MA
Acorn St. at Beacon Hill
Boston, MA
Acorn St. at Beacon Hill
Boston, MA
Quidditch Tournament at Boston Common
Boston, MA
Giacomo's Ristorante
The number one restaurant in Boston, MA
Giacomo's Ristorante
The number one restaurant in Boston, MA
Giacomo's Ristorante
The number one restaurant in Boston, MA
Giacomo's Ristorante
The number one restaurant in Boston, MA
Notable pastries: lobster tails and gluten free black & white Othello cookies
Mike's Pastry
Boston, MA
Lobster Tails
Mike's Pastry
Boston, MA
Modern Pastry
Boston, MA
Ricotta Pie, Cannoli, Gluten Free Cannoli
Best Cannoli in Town!
Modern Pastry
Boston, MA
Beachside Village
Falmouth, MA
Cafe Chew
Sandwich, MA
Home of the best hot apple cider ever!!!!
Cafe Chew
Sandwich, MA
goat cheese omelet, fresh potatoes, homemade cranberry pecan bread
Cafe Chew
Sandwich, MA
Old King's Highway
Cape Cod, MA
Old King's Highway
Cape Cod, MA
Old King's Highway
Cape Cod, MA
Cape Cod Potato Chips
Hyannis, MA
Cape Cod Potato Chips
Hyannis, MA
Cape Cod Potato Chips
Hyannis, MA
Cape Cod Potato Chips
Hyannis, MA
Nauset Lighthouse
(The lighthouse on the Cape Cod Potato Chip bags)
Eastham, MA
Angela O' with her favorite chip company bag
Nauset Lighthouse
Eastham, MA
Happy Camper
Provincetown, MA
The Canteen
Provincetown, MA
Happy Camper
Provincetown, MA
Pie in the Sky
Woods Hole, MA
Pie in the Sky
Woods Hole, MA
*A MUST VISIT PLACE*
Pie in the Sky
Woods Hole, MA*A MUST VISIT PLACE*
Pie in the Sky bakery and cafe makes it all from scratch! Including gluten free bread, gluten free popovers, and gluten free apple walnut cookies! YUM!!!
Woods Hole, MA
Woods Hole, MA
Woods Hole, MA
Harbor Seals at the Aquarium
Woods Hole, MA
Harbor Seals at the Aquarium
Woods Hole, MA
Woods Hole, MA
Woods Hole, MA
Walk to The Knob
Woods Hole, MA
The Knob
Woods Hole, MA
The Knob
Woods Hole, MA
The Knob
Woods Hole, MA
The Knob
Woods Hole, MA
Walk to The Knob
Woods Hole, MA
Walk to The Knob
Woods Hole, MA
Noquochoke Orchards
A family owned orchard for more than 100 years
Westport, MA
Private tour of Noquochoke Orchards
A family owned orchard for more than 100 years
Westport, MA
Farm Stand of Noquochoke Orchards
A family owned orchard for more than 100 years
Westport, MA
Noquochoke Orchards
A family owned orchard for more than 100 years
Westport, MA
Nobska Lighthouse
Falmouth, MA
Nobska Lighthouse
Falmouth, MA
Water Street Kitchen & Public House
Woods Hole, MA
***A MUST VISIT PLACE***
Water Street Kitchen & Public House
Woods Hole, MA
***A MUST VISIT PLACE***
"The best rock", server Jamie
Water Street Kitchen & Public House
Woods Hole, MA
water street kitch and public house notable dishes: Pork Shank, Daily Bread served with fresh radish butter, Glazed Carrots, Crispy Pork Shoulder, notable libations: village elder with vodka, old fashioned
Water Street Kitchen & Public House
Woods Hole, MA
***A MUST VISIT PLACE***
freshly made gluten free ice cream sandwich
Water Street Kitchen & Public House
Woods Hole, MA
***A MUST VISIT PLACE***
Water Street Kitchen & Public House
Woods Hole, MA
***A MUST VISIT PLACE***
Sunrise
Falmouth, MA
Sunrise
Falmouth, MA
Autumn Trees
Drive from Cape Cod to Boston, MA
Boston, MA
Fenway Farms in Fenway Park
Boston, MA
Boston, MA
Fenway Farms in Fenway Park
Boston, MA
Corn Maze at the Farm
Welcome to Barton Hill Farms near Austin, Texas! They have an amazing corn maze that goes through a layout change every year.
This year the design was the Lonesome Dove.
The crew puts a ton of hard work into the annual event and are quite ingenious with year to year changes. Check them out!
Midwesteners will notice that the corn is missing as the farm chose to use a product with a stronger stalk! Sorghum! Texas has wild hogs that will plow right through the field!
withangelao'
Did You Know? Frankincense for Stings
photo credit: google images
Frankincense is the oil that should kept in your first aid kit! It is the only thing known to relieve scorpion stings and is also an immediate relief for wasp stings. Western medicine does not teach about essential oil use and most doctor trips for scorpion stings will end up with the medical professional google searching 'scorpion sting relief' in front of you in the exam room {personal experience}. I believe there is a place for both western medicine and for natural medicine and that they should be combined to live life in a safe and meaningful way. Quickly said...if you need to go to a doctor or hospital, then GO!
Scorpions are a regular sight in my Texas home and have been through all my Texas moves. My husband has been stung in the neck while sitting on the coach eating lunch (going for the jugular!) and I have had a scorpion scratch my neck in bed while it was tumbling down from the ceiling to my blankets. Yuck! I know. In Texas, that nastiness is normal so as you can see my experience can be vouched for. This past August, I was outdoors sitting quietly in our drive hand painting large sandwich board signs when a wasp decided that it was completely okay to sit down on my ear and lay his stinger down without my permission. Thank goodness I was sipping wine as the initial shock could have been way worse. Oh and thank goodness my friend Jennifer was helping paint as she provided moral support and the "oh-crap" crazy eye warning. Naturally, I took some benadryl as I tend to always break out in hives the second anything stings me but the pain was horrendous and would not lift. That's when I remembered the great Frankincense hiding away in my bathroom medicine cabinet. Oh the relief was instantaneous. Throughout the following 24 hours I dabbed straight frankincense oil directly on the sting sight for continuous relief.
Some individuals may choose to dilute the substance with coconut oil when using essential oil on a young child as not to give too strong of a dose for a little body. It is always good to do your research and ask for assistance from a qualified adviser. Just remember, coconut oil is a great substance for itch relief as well but frankincense is the only thing that will relieve the pain of a sting. Makes you think back to the gifts the Three Wise Men brought to Bethlehem. 😉
photo credit: google images
Now let's get to the nitty gritty. Keeping a good frankincense in the house can be costly...upwards of $100. I do believe in a good pure essential oil company like doTERRA who can back the quality of their products up. To connect with a great doTerra essential oil rep, visit my friend Brandi's website at
http://www.mydoterra.com/brandichristian/#/
.
I also understand that not all families can afford to stock a hundred dollar first aid item in their cabinets. In this case, I would recommend picking up a $10 bottle of NOW brand frankincense at your local grocer. This will get the job done well enough if the affordability is an prime concern for you.
Take Care Y'all!
xoxo, Angela O'
Nasty Galaxy & Sophia Amoruso
Sophia and Angela
October 2016
The Lumineers
Southern Summer
Me and B.
Savannah, GA
Kayak Cafe tacos with the best scratch lime garlic dressing
Savannah, GA
Beetnix: Warrior One Pitaya Bowl sub coconut for cacao
Savannah, GA
Savannah, GA
Savannah, GA
Savannah, GA
Savannah, GA
The Collins Quarter: Mimosa Bondi Sunrise & Drip Brew
Savannah, GA
The Collins Quarter: The Daily Catch
Savannah, GA
Savannah, GA
The Collins Quarter: Eggs Benedict on Gluten Free Toast
Savannah, GA
Savannah, GA
The Collins Quarter
Savannah, GA
The Collins Quarter
Savannah, GA
The Collins Quarter
Savannah, GA
The Collins Quarter
Savannah, GA
The Collins Quarter
Savannah, GA
Savannah, GA
Savannah, GA
Savannah, GA
Savannah, GA
The Paris Market
Savannah, GA
The Paris Market
Savannah, GA
The Paris Market
Savannah, GA
The Paris Market
Savannah, GA
The Paris Market
Savannah, GA
The Paris Market
Savannah, GA
Savannah, GA
Savannah, GA
South Carolina Peaches
Hardeeville, SC
Savannah, GA
Savannah, GA
SoHo South Cafe
Savannah, GA
SoHo South Cafe
Savannah, GA
SoHo South Cafe
Savannah, GA
Savannah, GA
Jones Street
Savannah, GA
Really enjoyed meeting Rosa at RMC Boutique! Shop her fabulous boutique at www.rmcboutique.com
Tybee Island, GA
The Walking Dead Cafe
Senoia, GA
Senoia, GA
"Woodbury, GA": Senoia, GA
"Woodbury, GA": Senoia, GA
"Woodbury, GA": Senoia, GA
Bella needing a road trip nap
B crusin' in the G-Wagen
New Orleans
New Orleans
Irene's Cuisine
New Orleans
Be sure to enjoy the Lemon Basil Vodka Martini at Irene's
Cafe Du Monde
New Orleans
Hotel Monteleone
New Orleans
Hotel Monteleone
New Orleans
Hotel Monteleone
New Orleans
Ms. Monteleone!
New Orleans
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| Lake Travis, Texas |
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| Quack's Bakery in Austin, Texas |
Austin, Texas
Blanco, Texas
Blanco, Texas
Imagine Lavendar Farm: Fairy Homes
Blanco, Texas
Imagine Lavendar Farm: Fairy Homes
Blanco, Texas
Blanco, Texas
WPP: Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Mayfield Park
Austin, Texas
Mayfield Park
Austin, Texas
The Monument Cafe: Scratch Peach Jam
Cenote: Kale Scramble
Cenote: Eggs Benedict
Toby!
Easy Clean-up Watermelon
Summer is upon us and so are the sweet & juicy giant watermelons. Enjoy this Independence Day weekend with a no mess watermelon service for your guests! Simply provide a large clean workspace for the cutter, lay down one large cutting board, then spread out several large clean and unscented garbage bags above the cutting board and entire workspace. Now cut the the watermelon in pieces, chunks or wedges. Once done, roll up the garbage bags and toss. No juicy drips on your workspace.
Tip: Keep your hands from getting slippery by wearing nitrile gloves while cutting the melon.
Happy Fourth of July!!!
~Angela O'
Get Rid of Fruit Flies the Classy Way
I've been doing this now for a couple years and realized I never shared this saavy tip. I'd been plagued with fruit flies during the spring months in Austin and didn't know how to rid them. Never had I experienced them before moving to Austin. I'd read many stories about how fruit flies live in sinks, etc but never really cared as my only concern get rid of them. A friend of mine told me that all I needed was to put apple cider vinegar in a bowl and cover it with aluminum foil poking holes through the top. Well, the idea sounded doable but I liked things to look classy and I hated the idea of having a random bowl with sloppy aluminum foil sitting on my counter all the time. So I went home and put together a plan of attack. A couple of days later I had set up permanent fruit fly traps in my home. Voila!
These classy little fruit fly traps make quite cute gifts during the spring and summer months, just gift them in pairs. I set them up and leave them for an extended period of time but don't forget to check and refresh them regularly.
Materials Needed:
- Glass Mason Jars, 4 oz preferred
- Mason Jar Lids and Rings
- One nail, 1/4 inch width is good
- Hammer
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Instructions:
follow the pictures and enjoy the captions
Collect your supplies
Hold the nail steady above the jar sealed tightly with lid
Hammer the nail in to make a full hole and pull the nail out
Just like this!
Keep it up until you have a sufficient amount of holes
It should look like this
Pour in the apple cider vinegar to about half full; don't fill up!
Like this!
Look at those nasty buggers!
Rust will happen on the inside. That's okay. You can reuse the rusty holed lid as many times as you wish when refilling the vinegar because it will evaporate and be full of bugs. Just throw the lid away when you are ready to make a new lid. You won't need to redo everything.
Purchase the 4 ounce mason jars and apple cider vinegar here!
~With Angela O'
Grab & Go Half Pint Steel Cut Oatmeal Cups
One of my favorite Grab & Go breakfasts is half pint steel cut oatmeal cups. I make one or two batches each time, loading the half pint mason jars and stacking them in the fridge so that my husband and I can grab one before work or exercise! They are super easy and rewarding both when you are hungry and when someone at work comments on how cute/clever the cups are.
My preferential taste for steel cut oatmeal is Bob's Red Mill which can be found at Costco in large bags for a fraction of the leading grocery store cost and is naturally gluten free. I also store those large bags in giant mason jars!!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup - Steel Cut Oatmeal, uncooked
- 1/4 tsp - Salt
- 2 cups - Water
- Your Favorite Add-Ins! Pecans, Brown Sugar, Maple Syrup, Agave, Fresh Fruit, Dried Fruit, etc.
- 4 - Half Pint Mason Jars (8 ounces), with lid and ring
- 1 - Medium Sauce Pot, with fitted lid
- 1 - Stirring Spoon
- 1/4 cup - Dry Measuring Cup, empty and clean
Directions:
Make in the afternoon or evening, prior to the morning you want it. Place 2 cups water in medium sauce pan and reach boil. As soon as the water boils remove from heat and add the 1 cup of steel cut oatmeal and 1/4 tsp salt. Quickly stir the mixture and immediately place lid on sauce pot. Leave off of hot burner so it doesn't boil over. Do not remove the lid again as this recipe requires the heat and steam to cook the oats! Leave for 3 hours. After 3 hours open the lid and stir the oatmeal. You'll find it's complete. Some people leave in the pot overnight and call it "overnight oatmeal" but I don't have time for that! The whole point of having grab and go oatmeal is so that I don't have to fiddle with it in the morning before work. Now for the fun part! Take your empty 1/4 cup dry measuring cup and put two scoops of the oatmeal mixture in one half pint mason jar. At this time you can choose to mix add-ins with the oatmeal inside the jar or you may wait to add them in before you eat the oatmeal. Because I like my pecans crunchy I always add in my goodies just before consuming. However, my husband likes brown sugar in his oatmeal so it is safe to add that in early. Once you are done filling the jars, wipe the edges of the jar clean and seal with the lid and ring. Place in your fridge until ready to consume. One batch of this recipe will make 4 half cup servings of oatmeal. I like to double my recipe so that 8 half cup servings (8 half pint mason jars) are an easy grab for the two of us. When you are ready to eat your oatmeal take off the lid and ring and set aside, placing only the glass jar filled with oatmeal in the microwave. Caution the sides of jar will be very hot! Microwave for thirty seconds to one minute maximum. I find that the top of the jar where the lid screws on at tends to be cooler than the glass sides but to be safe just remove from microwave with towel. Stir you oatmeal with a spoon. Mix your add-ins! Yummy!!
With Angela O'
Autopiloting in a Tesla
February 26, 2016
Wow, today started out very interesting. This morning at 9:35am I headed out to run a work errand that would take me into Austin's quaint Hyde Park to Antonelli's Cheese Shop. My regular commute to most of Austin includes Farm to Market 2222 (a.k.a. FM 2222 a.k.a. RM 2222), one of the dangerous highways in Texas. Regularly individuals are choose to drive with lack of control, using no particular care to pass pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles or other vehicles that share the roadway.
Unexpectedly, I had to slam on my brakes at the top of the steep hill of FM2222 due to a severe collision involving a dump truck that was not visible from where I was located. Next thing I know a motorcycle flies into the opposite lane and a man is lying on the ground about 3 cars behind me. After seeing others go to help the man and making a quick assessment of me being blocked in from all sides of the road I choose to make a U-turn (a safe, legitimate one as no cars are coming in the opposite direction) and then witness emergency services arriving and performing CPR on the man's chest. Ugh.
Man! Sometimes you just need to start the weekend early so at 3 p.m. I hopped back onto FM2222 to head to Tesla Motors to follow through with an invitation from last November. Again I pass another collision that was bad and again the traffic was backed up for a long time. Thankfully, I was able to navigate around 2222 using back roads that most Austinites don't know about and those who do covet. It wasn't until I drove the Tesla in autopilot mode on the busy highway I really understood the need for those smart technology vehicles to ease the craziness and road rage on our streets. It seriously hit home today.
Being in a car with an autopilot mode is certainly a dream but one that you cannot truly imagine or understand until you are behind the wheel without touching it in the middle of rush hour traffic on Mo-Pac. It was truly surreal. I did not have to control the car. The Tesla sped up to 65 miles an hour and slowed down and continued smoothly in stop and go traffic with cars on all sides of me. It even switched lanes on it's own with just that tap of the turn signal. Amazing. I mean ridiculously amazing. Of course, we have all read the articles and consumer reports on auto pilot methods and self driving cars but to think that you know what the hell the industry is talking about until you have done it is a complete bologna. Once you have auto-piloted a car or experienced a self driving car behind the wheel yourself, you have connected with the vehicle on an entirely different level. So today I cruised the streets of Austin in Tesla's AutoPilot. It was amazing! Insane! Loveable!
I am a very particular person when it comes to vehicle seat design and it's functionality. I must sit straight up and cannot have some funky object touching the lumbar region. My steering wheel must be perfect, not too skinny where I'm gripping so tight that my knuckles hurt and not to fat that I don't feel in control. Somehow, this car was perfect to me the moment I sat in it. And it's adjusts to everyone.
Tesla Model S 70D is considered the Car of the Century by some and I can certainly understand some of the points. At 32 years old, I've been strongly considering an SUV for my next vehicle for a multitude of reasons that do include travel, children, and pets. The Model S sedan rectifies the need for an SUV by safely securing seven passengers when adding rear facing seats to the sedans package. Insane!!!
To end the ride, my Tesla for the day backed into the parking spot on its own. Lord Have Mercy.
So the day ended fabulously, but to my satisfaction the gallery set me up to take the car home next week to enjoy it on my own terms. XOXO, get yourself a Tesla!
~Angela O'
Video Credit Tesla Motors via YouTube
Horse Driving and Loving It
I really enjoyed this 70 degree day at a Texas ranch being surrounded by several Great Danes, horses, chickens, a teacup chihuahua, and a cat named Jack. What a wonderful crew to be with for my first time horse driving!!
~ With Angela O'