Simple Supper

From our Kitchen -

Here's what we had Sunday night

Italian Eggplant

You'll need

1 large eggplant

2-3 egg whites

Italian Bread crumbs

Your favorite sauce

Parmesan cheese

Olive oil

First prepare your sauce

I used Bertolli tomato sauce

.......and because my hubby doesn't think it's

a meal unless there is meat involved

we added sweet italian sausage and a few

spices to our sauce 

Next,

Now you are ready to slice your eggplant

(about 1/8" thick)

We use our Mandoline

The French use these to cut or slice fruits and vegetables

However, if you don't have one a

knife will do, just be carefull!!

Next, you'll need

a bowl, add your egg whites

and gently whisk

Get another bowl for your

Italian bread crumbs

Dip slices of eggplant in egg whites

then dredge in bread crumbs

Add a little olive oil (enough to

coat the bottom of your skillet

Preferably a cast iron skillet!!

Bring your skillet to medium heat

and add your coated egg plant slices

toast on both sides until medium brown

When you have all of your eggplant slices

cooked, your ready to serve

We like to stack ours in layers

using sauce and parmesan cheese

between the layers and on top.

Kind of like Lasagna!

Add a good salad, maybe some crusty bread,

and of course WINE and enjoy!!

One of my favorite cookbooks

"The New Southern Basics"

has a little different spin-

Fried Eggplant

1 large eggplant

3 eggs

3/4 cup dry breadcrumbs

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/3 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 cup vegetable oil

salt to taste

Peel the eggplant and cut into finger-size pieces.  Sprinkle heavily with salt and place in a colander to drain for 1 hour.  This rids the eggplant of any bitter juices.  Press lightly on the eggplant to drain.  Beat the eggs. Mix the breadcrumbs with the seasonings and place in a plate.  Drop the eggplant fingers in the egg and roll each in the bread crumbs to coat.  Place coated fingers on a baking sheet and place in the freezer for 15 minutes.  This makes the breading adhere.  In a deep skillet heat the oil to 325 degrees or almost smoking.  Fry the chilled eggplant fingers a few at a time until browned on all sides.  Drain on clean brown paper bags. 

Sprinkle with salt and serve hot!!

Pick your favorite or try them both!!

Every Little Birdie says -

Happy Cooking and Bon Appetit

Help is on the way

A lot of you have asked me-

How can I join your blog????

or

How do I leave a comment????

Well first, let me say

I would love for you to join my blog! 

I'd also love to have your comments. 

That's what makes all of this fun!!

But you might ask??

Why should I become a follower?

When you set up a google account and join blogsites you can go to your dashboard in google account and see a list

of blogs you follow.

You'll see a thumbnail of the latest post from each blog and can quickly

click on it to read the blogpost. 

Makes reading your favorite blogs easy!!

Here is how to set up a google account:

• Go to googleaccount.com
• Click on sign up for a new google account
• Type in your email address and set up a password

YOUR DONE!!  ---You now have a Google Account

How do I join as a follower -

• Find the "Join this site" button on the right side of my blog under Followers.

• Click on button, it will take you to your google account, click on "follow this blog".  Your a follower!!

How do I leave a comment -

Once you have a google account it's EASY!

• Go to bottom of post to the box that says "leave a comment"
• Write your comment in the box
• Go to comment as: and select google account
• Hit publish

You may not see your comment immediately but it will publish soon and you will be able to see it as a comment.

Every Little Birdie says -

Hope this helps!!

Liebster Award

Every Little Birdie receives -The Liebster Award

Liebster Award

I am so honored to receive this award from Carlene @ Organized Clutter, who also has a love affair with Victorian Charm.  Check her out at:

http://organizedclutterqueen.blogspot.com/

Liebster is German and means 'dearest' or 'beloved' but it can also mean 'favorite'.

What is a Liebster Award?

 The idea of the Leibster Award is to bring attention to blogs with less than 200 followers.  So, in the spirit of good fun I am passing this award on to these other new bloggers.  Please stop by and visit them.

If you are selected for this award, you need to:

1. Choose FIVE up and coming blogs to award the Liebster to. Blogs must have less than 200 followers.

2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

3. Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their sites.

 I am happy to pass this award to : 

http:/thevictoriantailor.blogspot.com/

for her love of white!

http:/sharingshadymont.blogspot.com/

for her great spring décor.

One Crafty momma @

http:/didireallymakethat.blogspot.com/

for her crafty make overs

http:/twocottagesandtea.blogspot.com/

for her love of gardening

Jen & Amy @

http:/preksweetpeas.blogspot.com/

for their love of God’s precious little ones and their great ideas on their brand new blog!!

Victorian Charm

Let's be honest, shall we.....

my sweet little town of Victoria

isn't exactly a destination city.

It's called the

"Crossroads of the coastal bend"

for a reason, it's on the way to other places

like Corpus, Austin, & San Antonio.

However.......

should you take the time to actually

visit our little town I

think you will find we

have some "Victorian" Charm!!!

Let me take you on a tour

of our "Historical District"

Love the porch steps

to this grand home

Charming

Elegant

Rather stately, don't you think

There are yellow houses.....

......Green houses



Blue houses...

and yes, there is

 a Pink house!

There are secluded homes

Smaller homes

Large Homes

Every little birdie says.....

Come visit us and see for yourself.

I think you'll find our little town

very charming indeed!!

Victoria, Texas

County Courthouse

I'm linking up over at -  http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

White White White

On any given day, if the sun is out

and it's dry you just might find me

out painting things white!!

I love White!

Not everything white, that would be boring.

But I do love my white!

So I look around my house for things that I think would look better with

a coat of white paint

 I start with some of this.....

I gather my subjects for the project

Not wild about this green

and this.....

... is a stool my son made in

shop class in middle school. 

Although I've loved the

blue I think it's time for a change

I'm liking this better!

Perfect decor for my "Winter Porch"



Although I didn't get a before picture of

this sweet little lady, believe me she looks

better with a coat of white paint. 

She was kind of grey and drab

but not now.

The little white stool looks cute

next to Pixie's tiny wicker chair!

Soon, I'm going to take on a bigger project.

Have you heard of Annie Sloan Paint???

Well, it's really great stuff.  I asked Santa for

some this Christmas and I must have

been a good girl because look

what I found under my tree....

This paint is amazing, it has a wonderful

finish to it and you don't have to do any

prep work.....no sanding, just Paint!!!!

I have an old oak table and four chairs

out on my screened porch and .........

Yes, I think they'd look better white!

I'll probably start this project

the first week in March.

I can't wait to show you the new look.

Every little birdie says if you

don't like the color of

something just get a can of spray paint

and

PAINT IT WHITE!!

Ready for Spring

Are you as ready for Spring as I am??????

I can't wait to start gardening

at my new home!!

I've planted a few things I bought in the fall at the Victoria Educational Gardens plant sale. 

(Yes, they have two plant sales

a year - spring & fall)

I thought I'd died and gone to Plant Heaven!!

So many wonderful plants,

so little money in my pocket!! 

Oh well, there is always next time.

I'm anxious to start laying out my design for my flowerbeds.  I always use perennials!!

(Friends don't let friends buy annuals!!)

Why wouldn't you plant something that comes back more beautiful each year!!!!

I've been roaming around Pinterest looking for some garden ideas. 

Here are some of the things I really, really loved.

Love this idea for growing veggies

I think these large tubs are available from

farm and ranch supply companys

I must check this out!

Maybe my garden will look like this

in a year or two.

I love the cottage look!

We also want to add some garden paths

around our yard

I'm loving both these looks!!!!

Garden in an old chest

I think this would be great on my breezeway!

And I'm digging this too! 

Isn't this a great idea for a garden bench

and of course every garden needs a

little whimsy

AND LET'S NOT FORGET

A GARDEN CHERUB!

Soon it will be time for me to stop dreaming

and START working

Every Little Birdie says-

Please hurry Spring!!!!!!!!