Patriotic Linky Party Is Here

Welcome!  Please come on in - the party is here!

I'm new to this hosting a linky party, this is my second try so please bear with me.  I love Patriotic holidays and celebrations.  They are fun-filled times with family and friends, food feasts galore, love of God and country and decorations out the wazoo, so please share your recipes, decorating ideas, holiday plans, attire  and celebrations in this Patriotic Linky Party.  I'll start it off with my Patriotic Berry Trifle (you can find the link to join in below this recipe):

by Sunny Anderson

1/4 cup plus 2/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup Limoncello or fresh lemon juice

1/4 tsp. almond extract

1 premade angel food cake, cut into 1-inch slices

1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature

2 cups heavy cream, at room temperature

2 pints blueberries

2 pints strawberries, hulled and sliced

Heat 1/4 cup sugar, the Limencello or lemon juice and 1/4 cup water in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves.  Remove from the heat and stir in the almond extract (sorry, I completely forgot to take a picture of this part).

Brush both sides of each slice of cake with the syrup.  Cut the slices into 1-inch cubes.

Beat the remaining 2/3 cup sugar and the cream cheese with a mixer on medium-speed until smooth and light.  Add the cream and beat on medium-high speed until smooth and the consistency of whipped cream.

Arrange half of the cake cubes in the bottom of a 13-cup trifle dish.

Sprinkle evenly with a layer of blueberries.

Dollop* half of the cream mixture over the blueberries and gently spread.

Top with a layer of strawberries

Layer the remaining cake cubes on top of the strawberries, then sprinkle with more blueberries.

Top with remaining cream mixture.  Finish with the remaining strawberries and blueberries, arranging them in a decorative pattern.  Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.

Time to share your patriotic posts in celebration of Independence Day, 4th of July!

• Patriotic recipes, projects, art & crafts only please (no Etsy links please).
• You can share as many posts as you want just as long as they have already been posted to your blog.
• Link directly to YOUR POST and not to your web page.
• Please include a link back to I Savor the Weekend somewhere on your post. Whether by grabbing my Patriotic button (on the left bar) or by a link. Thirty lashes with a wet noodle if you don’t!
• Please don't forget to pay a visit to any of the other entries and leave them a sweet comment.
• Thanks for your entry, have a safe and Happy 4th and may God continue to bless America!

Fresh Herb Roasted Potatoes

2-3 lbs. red potatoes, cut in quarters
1 bunch fresh lemon thyme, chopped
4-5 sprigs fresh rosemary, chopped
2-3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 medium onion, sliced not too thin, not too thick
Extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and pepper
2 tbsps. butter
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Once everything is chopped and sliced, throw it all in a large baking sheet.  Drizzle a good amount of the olive oil, salt & pepper to your liking and with your hands, mix well.  Spread out in a single layer.

Place in preheated oven for 30-45 minutes, stopping halfway in between to turn once.  Five minutes before they're done, melt butter in large skillet.  Test the potatoes to see if they're done by poking it with a sharp knife or two prong fork.  If they easily slide in and out, then they're ready.  Now, place potatoes in pan with melted butter, gently and I mean GENTLY, mix in the butter for about 5 minutes.  Serve and enjoy.

Yum!!  If you're like my family and I, we don't waste any time in eating these savory, luscious, buttery chunks of loveliness.

I made these on Saturday and they're all gone so, no leftovers on Sunday.

I partied at:
  

Magnolia Tree

Hubby's outdoor project today meant we needed to trim a couple of branches off our Magnolia Tree.  I went through the trimmings and picked out all the ones that had a blossom or two.

I don't know if I'm doing this right as far as taking them indoors and putting them in water.  I just know I didn't want to leave them behind.

This blossom bloomed shortly after I had put it in water.

The scent from one of these blossoms is so strong and potent, I love that the scent is an "air freshener" in my house.  There have been many times I have walked out the front door and the front lawn is full of this wonderful heavenly scent.  I'm so pleased with this tree, I truly love it.

Thirty One Bag Lady

I was invited to a Thirty One party a couple of weeks ago.  I really had no idea what it was all about, all I knew is that it was a party for a bunch of us ladies, I knew it would be a great night of fellowship and that I was going to have fun and get away from all the worries in the world for a couple of hours while somebody would try to sell me a purse of some sort.

As soon as I looked at the catalog and at all the samples the Thirty One representative shared, I knew immediately I was hooked.  Mind you, I'm not easily "hooked".  It's been years, maybe a decade since I've been to one of these "Hen parties" (that's what hubby calls them).  I had gotten to the point that,  I've seen them all, I don't want to spend any more money, I don't care if it's the latest craze, I can't tell you how many I have turned down throughout the years.  I don't know why I decided to attend this one, maybe because it sounded like fun with a lot of fun and dear women I know.

Come to find out, Thirty One is a Christian based company run by a woman named Cindy Monroe, who got tired of juggling the corporate world, family, church and time for herself.   Her new company, only several years old is similar to Mary Kay, Tupperware and who knows what else is out there but basically a job that allows you to manage your own work schedule as well as work from home.  Here is an excerpt from her website:

The name Thirty-One comes from the verses of Proverbs 31. These words may be thousands of years old, but I am constantly amazed by how today's modern woman can relate to them. Don't we all want to be strong, dignified and wise? The Proverbs 31 woman is dearly loved and respected by him and her children, yet she is an individual in her own right. She manages the home and property with kindness and integrity. Her savvy business skills are partly brought about by her desire to serve others, to do good deeds and prosper. I knew women just like this, and I wanted to find a way for every woman to be recognized for who they are and for their hard work!

What a great foundation for a business.  Don't you think so?  Anyways, links to her catalog and website are at the bottom of this post. 

Well I ended up purchasing three items, one was on sale which made me feel so much better about my purchase, so without further ado, here's my loot from Thirty One:

This is what my loot arrived in......isn't it a hoot??!!  I love it!!  Even with a bow tied at the top.

(Small Thermal Tote, Item #3085 in the Apple Blossom pattern)

I wanted it all.  It was so hard to pick exactly what I wanted and what I needed.  I saw this lunch bag and knew immediately that I had to have one.  It will encourage me to bring my lunch to work which I love to do, I just don't take the time to make my lunch because I don't have a pretty bag to put it in......I do now!!!  Isn't it aDORable??? This bag is also thermalized, sweet!

(All-in-One Organizer Item #3258 in Playful Robots pattern)

I bought this handy dandy bag so that when our adorable grandson comes to visit, we can carry all his stuff in this bag from one room to the other.  It even has side pouches for all those important items like froggies and rocks and what nots.

(Large Utility Tote Item #3121 in Black Tailored Stripe Pattern)

and finally, this was the item that was on sale.  $15 total with embroidery.  It's at least 10 feet wide......no, not really, just kidding but it is BIG!!!  Holds my loot plus plenty more.  I love it! (By the way, this is my favorite pattern - so chic, so girly with the pink)

Did I tell you all these bags are waterproof??

Did I tell you, you have a choice of a variety of patterns to pick from?

Did I tell you embroidery is only $6 no matter how long the name or message?

Did I tell you you also have your choice of fonts?

Did I tell you can also have your choice of font colors?

I love this company and I can't wait to buy more and more bags!!!

Thirty One

Thirty One Catalog

A couple of days later . . . . . . . . . 

We went to the our local Farmer's Market

My first purchase with my big tote

I bought some beautiful floral arrangements, fresh onions, and lots of Amish baked treats :)

I partied at:

Deviled Eggs

8-12 boiled eggs
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup white wine or vinegar
2-3 tbsps. spicy brown mustard
Fresh juice from half a lemon
1/4 cup chopped dill plus a few sprigs for each egg
Pimientos
Paprika (optional)
Salt & pepper

After the eggs are boiled, run under cold running water.

Crack the eggs open.  I like to crack them open under cold running water just to make sure all egg shell remnants are washed away, it doesn't hurt the egg at.

On a recipe that I read about boiling eggs, it said not to use fresh eggs because otherwise the membrane will stick and ruin the egg as you peel it.  Fortunately, I had a batch of both fresh and week old eggs so I used the older ones and look how neat and clean they look??

Take each egg and cut in half.

I boiled my eggs a little too long, that's why the yolk is a little green on the outside but it doesn't hurt the taste at all.  Anyway, I couldn't take pictures as I scooped the egg yolk out because both my hands were busy and messy.  Put all the egg yolks in a food processor.

  Add the mayo and lemon juice.  I happened to have a giant lemon for some reason, that's why it looks so big, it really was!

Add the dill, brown mustard and white wine or vinegar.  Sprinkle in salt and pepper.

Mix for about a minute until all the ingredients are completely blended and there are no lumps.

Once again, I was not able to take a picture as I scooped the creamy mixture into the eggs.  Fill each egg just above the rim.  Don't worry there's plenty of the mixture for each egg.  Once each egg is filled, take a dill sprig and place it on top.  Sprinkle some paprika if you'd like ( I happen to love the flavor it gives the eggs).

Don't forget to add the final touch, a piece of pimiento on top of each egg.  Presentation people, it's all about presentation.

As I scoured the internet for Deviled Eggs and got a little overwhelmed, I just decided to make my own recipe.  I'm not crazy about the taste of egg yolk, but when it's got enough salt, peppery flavors and a touch of tanginess then that to me is a perfect deviled egg that I'm more than likely to enjoy.  I started out on purpose by not adding a lot of mayonnaise because I'm not crazy for mayonnaise plus I wanted these eggs to be a little  "healthy" side.  To me, the more mustard and tanginess, the better.

They were a hit and they're all gone!

I partied at: