Evening In The Backyard

We were sitting out back the other night and all the solar and twinkle lights were so pretty, I decided to attempt some photos.

A month or so ago, I picked up some solar light stakes at the dollar store.  I brought them home, took the stake parts off, and stuck them down inside the sockets of an old chandelier I had in the garage.  That's what's hanging in the tree.  Super cute and super cheap.  Five dollars to be exact.  The Dad has gotten me all the other yard stakes over the years.

The Girl scrubbed the shed doors for me yesterday.

Yes, it would have made me crazy to not say anything about how gross they are in these photos.

I also conveniently cropped out the dog's bathroom.

The lawn is so pretty and green where she doesn't pee.

And the arbor lights.

 I moved that heater today.

It was drivin' me crazy in photos, too.

Not a bad spot to drink my wine in the evenings.
It's been raining nonstop since last night.
Okay, that's a lie.
It slowed down long enough to take pictures of fuchsias today.
Ha!
Happy almost Friday!!!

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Brie, Ham, Apple, White Cheddar, and Rhubarb Chutney Paninis

Soooo, you're gonna wanna go ahead and make this asap.  That was a mouthful of a title (pun intended), but I didn't want to exclude anyone.

I've been itchin' to try some new recipes with my rhubarb from the garden, and this chutney was up first.  My sister got me the Williams Sonoma, "Cooking From The Farmer's Market", Cookbook for Christmas and I can't eat my way through it fast enough.  The chutney recipe came out of it.  It was actually meant to go with pork, but I wasn't feelin' the pork, so I brainstormed a bit with my fridge open.  And this sandwich happened.

I don't wanna toot my own horn or anything, but it was SO FRIGGIN' GOOD.  Okay, it could be partly because I was starving. And partly because melted cheese between two pieces of bread is my version of heaven.  But still.  I think I can safely say it's a winner.  Annnnnnd, I wanna throw it out there that you can totally skip the ham if you want.  I had cooked a whole one a few days prior, so we had leftovers.  I don't do that nasty packaged lunch meat, so mine would have been meat-free otherwise.

Okay, I'll stop rambling and share the chutney recipe first.  I made a few substitutions that I'll make note of.

Rhubarb Chutney
Printable Recipe

1 C brown sugar
1/2 C cider vinegar
1 Tbsp lemon zest (I substituted lime zest)
3 - 4 rhubarb stalks, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cinnamon stick
2 Tbsp minced fresh ginger (I substituted ground to taste)
1/2 C golden raisins (I substituted a mix of diced dates and dried cranberries)
1/4 C chopped walnuts (I substituted pecans)
1/8 tsp salt

In a saucepan over low heat, cook the sugar, vinegar, and lemon zest, stirring until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes.   Add the rhubarb, cinnamon, and ginger.  Raise heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until the rhubarb is soft, about 15 minutes.  Remove the cinnamon stick.  Add the nuts, raisins, and salt, and cook for about 3 minutes.  Let cool.

Super duper easy, right?  It filled a mason far, so I have plenty of leftovers after our sammies.  I stuck it in the freezer and will save it for when I need an appetizer.  Brie and rhubarb chutney crostini anyone?

Here's the chutney, all brewed up and ready for spreadin':

And now, for the piece de resistance....

I used a yummy sliced deli bread.

Spread some of that rhubarb goodness all over one side .

Lay your brie out on the other side.

Now you need some ham.

Or not.

Prosciutto would be delicious, too.

Apples up on top of that.

I used Granny Smith.

And finally, more cheese.

White cheddar to be exact.

Or some other white cheese.

Asiago, Manchego, Gruyere, none of them would suck.

Now slap the lid on that bad boy, butter up the outsides, and throw it in the panini maker.

Or, you could use a pan on the stove.

Or the oven works, too.

Here's heaven:

The Kid doesn't learn from strangers.

"That one's mine."

I made a simple salad of mixed greens, candied nuts and orange vinaigrette to go with.

Here's dinner on my plate:

So flippin' good.

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The Third Week Of June In The Backyard

I'm so excited the Ixias are blooming!!!  I bought a pack of these bulbs at the grocery store for two bucks.  I think there was 12 in the box.  They're SO pretty.  Definitely gettin' more next year.

I took a bunch of pictures of the buds, 'cause I was so excited over just that, and then they bloomed the next day.

I love them.

I planted them in a pot, then sprinkled annual Candytuft seeds, that are starting to bloom now as well.

Don't mind the horrible brown spots in the grass.

That's clearly where The Dog chooses to pee EVERY TIME. 

The rose that was here when I bought the house is starting its second bloom.

I love it, too.

Notice anything new in the background?

I took my Variegated Willow out of the pot and put him in the ground.

Don't mind the neighbor's Rhody that I still haven't deadheaded.

My old ladder used to sit there, so I had to find a new home for it.

This'll do for now.

My hope is, once that trellis in the pot is completely covered in Black-Eyed Susan Vine, that area won't look so cluttered.

I still may move the Shepard's hook.

It was already there and I was too lazy at the time.

Did you see what's goin' on next to the ladder?

Buds on the PeeGee Hydrangea!!!

So exciting.

Mine is 'Limelight' and it's one of my favorite plants in the yard.

Anyone know what this is?

It comes up in this pot every year and I have no clue where it came from.

Clearly a bulb of some kind, but I'm stumped.

And last, this isn't much to look at yet, but I finally got my old birdcage planted.

I've been talkin' about doin' it forever and it is officially done.

I used moss my mom got out of the forest to line it.

She also gave me some Calibrachoa babies that had reseeded at her house, so I stuck a few of those down in it.

We'll see how it does.

Off to sit on the patio with a glass of beer.

I love summer.