Okra Salad

Here is the recipe that I promised to post that involves fresh, okra and summer tomatoes.

Trust me, when I say that this will become a recipe that you look forward to each

Summer.  It is very basic, but SOOOOO delicious!!!  Best of all, it is very easy.

So let's get started:

Ingredients:

Chilled presentation dish

Home grown tomatoes

Red Onion

Okra

Yellow Cornmeal

Hot Oil
Salt

The first step is one of the most important step.

The very first thing that I do is chill a presentation dish or bowl in the refrigerator.

Have you ever had a salad when eating out that came to your table in a chilled bowl?
It makes for a much more enjoyable salad, don't you think?  This is the same concept
with this dish.

Next, dice a couple of tomatoes or more if making this for a large group.  Use your

judgement on the amount.  There is no exact science on the measurement of this

recipe.  Just create the amount based on the number of people you are feeding.

Also, dice a red onion.  Layer the diced onion on the bottom of the "chilled"

dish (I like to use a glass pie dish) and then top with the diced tomatoes.

Put the dish back into the refrigerator.

Next, prep your okra and coat with "yellow cornmeal".

Heat your oil.  It is important that the oil be hot!  Use a test piece of okra first.

Once your oil is hot, add the rest of the okra and fry it until, it is quite brown.

My family prefers it on the browner side.

Once the okra is quite brown, transfer it to a plate lined with paper towel to drain.

Then, while the okra is still hot, layer it over the chilled tomatoes and onions.

Serve immediately, while the okra is still hot!

I have two tips that MAKE this dish. 

1.)  The okra needs quite a bit of salt to contrast with the sweetness of the tomato and onion.

2.) And this is probably the most important step!  Serve, immediately after the okra is done!

See, so easy!  I just can't describe to you how wonderful this dish is! 

All I can say is that the saltiness, sweetness, hot and cold contrast and burst of summer flavors are addictive!

"It's Time Has Come" to enjoy this Summer recipe!

Let me know by comment if you tried this and if you liked it!

XOXOXOXO

Sandra

Vintage Hand Towel Holders

Here's a quick project with very functional and beautiful results.
I had several architectural pieces that were found when out treasure hunting.
I just love old wood, molding, wooden boxes and such....don't you?  Don't
pass them by.  They're great to keep on hand for projects such as this!

Let me tell you how to make one.
Nail a picture hanger to the back.
Then drill a hole in the front of the piece, at the spot where you would like to
mount a drawer pull or hanger.  Screw in the drawer pull or the hanger.

That's it.  Look how beautiful they are!  They can have multiple uses.
Hand towel holders.  Jewelry holders.  A hanger for scarves, or curtains...the list
goes on and on!

Don't you just love the old paint and the chippy spots on these?  I know I do!  They're like
kids, can't pick a favorite.  Just may have to keep them all!!!

Now get out there and find you an old, chippy piece and make you one, because
"It's Time Has Come" to be a Vintage Holder of your choice!

                                                        XOXOXOXO
                                                             Sandra

Some More Garden Bounty

Just loading a few pictures of some sliced tomatoes from our garden.
Isn't  this a gorgeous one?

Add, a little olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Oh my goodness, they taste like a burst of sunshine!
Isn't it a miracle what can come from a tiny seed?  Just some water, sunshine, and a bit of
tending and then you get to reap the reward!

Just wait until our okra is ready and I'll post one of the easiest and best recipe for a
wonderful summer side dish!

Now go get you some home grown tomatoes and enjoy!

                                                          XOXOXOXO
                                                                Sandra

Wonderful photographs!

Hey everyone, if  you are like me and love to look at photographs,  you must check
out this blog http://donnaboykin.com.  I'm telling you, I could spend all day looking
at all of  her stuff.  She is so talented!  You won't regret it!

                                                         XOXOXOX
                                                           Sandra

Quick and Elegant Vintage Gift

Have you ever been caught in a bind and forgotten to pick up a gift
for someone?  Or, have you just not had the money in the budget for the month
to spend on a gift?

Well, let me get you to thinking about something that you can start keeping on
hand for times like these.

When you are out treasure hunting, always check out the assorted plates, saucers,
and cups.  You can almost always find very pretty ones inexpensively, because they
probably were at one time part of a bigger set.  Yet, they can  still be repurposed  for an
elegant life once more.

I know you have probably seen this concept on Pinterest, but I would just like to point
out once again, that this can be a lifesaver as far as a beautiful, unique, one of a kind
treasure for someone special!

Below, is a picture of one that I created out of two vintage plates and a candle holder
from Hobby Lobby.  This is a great gift for friends or family that love to entertain!
All you have to do is adhesive them altogether.  See how beautiful this is?

So, look through your dishes and see if you have something on hand that you can make.
These look great on buffets because it gives you a vertical display!

"It's Time Has Come", for the orphaned china pieces to become elegant, vintage keepsakes,
again! Happy Hunting!
                                                     XOXOXOX
                                                       Sandra

1st Day of Summer

Quick and Easy Method for Freezing Fresh Corn-on-the-Cob

Happy 1st Day of Summer Everyone,

I guess you can tell by the title of this blog today what I've been doing.
My husband surprised me this afternoon with a basket full of fresh corn on the cob
from his garden.  He and his cousin have a combined garden at the farm where he
works.  They are getting a very good harvest this year due to the blessing of plenty
of rain at the right times and that they planted early this year.

So, I thought that I could teach everyone how to easily put fresh corn on the cob in
your freezer.  Believe me when I say that there is nothing better (except fresh tomatoes,
more on that later) than fresh corn on the cob in the middle of winter.  If you aren't
lucky enough to have a vegetable garden, then visit your local Farmers Market and
buy several ears.  It is worth the investment.

So let me show you how easy this is!

You will need the following items:

Large pan for boiling water.  (I use a large spaghetti pan)
Tongs
Two large bowls filled with water and ice. 
Very clean kitchen towels to drain the corn on.
Quart size or Gallon size Freezer bags depending on the size of your family.

That's it for the supply list!

Ok, lets get started.

Shuck the husk from the corn and remove as much of the silk that you can.
You can at this point break the ears in half if you choose.

Now get your water boiling and place several ears in the water.
Rule of thumb:
small ear- boil 7 minutes
medium ear - boil 9 minutes
large ear - boil 11 minutes

Once they have boiled the proper time, remove them from the water and transfer
directly to the ice bath to stop the cooking.  Note: (You can use the same boiling
water for up to five batches).  Next, let them sit in the ice bath the same number
of minutes that they boiled. Be sure that each batch of corn has plenty of ice in the
baths.  I always add ice back to the bowls after each cycle of boiled corn.

Once they have chilled the proper time, remove them from the ice bath and place
them on clean kitchen towels to drain.  It is important to let them dry somewhat
before putting them in the storage bags. This cuts down on the risk of freezer burn.

Once they have dried, place them into storage bags. Remove as much air as possible
before closing the bag.

Now when you are ready for some fresh corn on the cob, just grab a bag from your
freezer.  You can microwave them for 2 - 3 minutes each or boil them on the stove top 4
- 5 minutes.  Really you are just heating them up because you have already cooked them.

I am thinking that in the dead of winter, when I grab a bag to heat up that "It's
Time Has Come" to remind me of how beautiful our changing seasons are and how
each season brings something wonderful to our lives!  It sure is nice though to be able
to grab a season back from time to time!

Let me know if you try this!  You won't regret it!!

...and here is a tease of an upcoming post:  Home Grown Tomatoes!!!

XOXOXOXO

Sandra

Costume Jewelry Ornament


Are you like me and have lots of costume jewelry hidden away?  So beautiful, but not really
seen or appreciated?  Well, lets do something about that!  Why invest in the hunt for these
gorgeous treasures and not display them every day or on special occasions?  These are the
questions that I asked myself while cleaning out my jewelry boxes one day.

So, I started thinking why not turn them into a combined piece?  Being a lover of heart
shaped items I decided to take the plunge....... and so it began......

Here are the steps:

Cut out a heart shape (or your favorite shape) out of cardboard and spray paint it gold.  Punch a hole in the top of the heart so you will have the option to hang it if  you want. Begin hot gluing pieces to the cardboard backing.

Continue gluing pieces on.  This is so fun!

Until, finally you have a completed piece!!!

Now your collection can be displayed all the time!  You can also add a bow through the punch hole.

Mine is being displayed on the top of my desk right now and I get to enjoy it every day.  I plan to also use it as a Christmas tree topper this year with other costume jewelry Christmas tree ornaments. Imagine how beautiful a Christmas tree could be with that theme!  Anyway that it my plan, so look for this again in December!

I hope you will try this project at  your house.  Once again, the possibilities are endless for this project.  Just use your imagination!  Let me know what you make from your costume jewelry because..."It's Time Has Come"..to be a beautiful creation!

XOXOXO Sandra

Hello everyone!

Welcome to "It's Time Has Come"!

This is my first official post.  I have been hovering around blogland so wanting
to start my own blog for quite some time; so I'm taking the leap!  I hope you will join
me on this new journey.  It should be fun!

I struggled trying to decide on a name for this blog.  It's like trying to decide on a name
for a new baby!  You know it will have to last a lifetime and must be a name that will
serve the baby well as a child and into adulthood. Such a tough decision!

Finally the title came to me and it really fits quite well, since the goal of this blog is to
take things that have been forgotten because of a flaw, or thrown away or given away
and given new life or purpose. And so we begin......

On this blog I want to post DIY and home improvement projects.  I just finished a DIY
project that I would like to share with you.  I didn't take a before picture ( promise I will
get better) but here are the steps on how it was created.

Title of this craft:  Shabby Chic Candle Holder

Step 1: Take a brass candle holder and spray paint it gold.  Let dry.
Step 2: Spray paint white.  Let dry.
Step 3: Distress with fine grain sand paper to let some gold show through.
Step 4: Use silicone adhesive and glue tea cup to the candle holder.  Let dry.
Step 5: Use silicone adhesive and glue saucer to the top of the tea cup. Let dry.
Step 6: Enjoy your work of art!!!

These were three items purchased at Good Will and given a new purpose because
"It's Time Has Come" as a beautiful candle holder!!!

I added my bunny to the staging because she loves to have her picture taken.
You will probably see her from time to time!  Let me know if you tried this craft.
The possibilities are endless!



                                                    XOXOXOXO
                                                         Sandra