For the love of an egg . . .

This morning my husband and I got up early, we needed to take a ride for a change of scenery and to clear our heads from the events of the past week. As many of you know, my mom passed away on Tuesday, September 20, her funeral mass and burial were on Saturday.

So, we decided to take the road least traveled and headed out to Brookline, NH . . . to buy eggs! My friend Susan at From Beyond My Kitchen Window discovered this little gem of a country store that sells the best eggs from happy hens! The yokes are like little pots of bright yellow sunshine!

Egg-actly what I was looking for . . . 

Waiting to be added to my frittata!

See the recipe below!

The Village Store, Brookline, NH

An Early Autumn New England Morning.

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Adjacent to the store's parking lot is a lovely canal.

The trickling sound of the water was very relaxing

as we drank our coffee and munched on our 

apple cider donuts!

Zucchini Frittata


Tonight's dinner . . . here's the recipe.

Ingredients
1 cup chopped onion
2 cups shredded zucchini
2 teaspoons cooking oil
6 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

Directions

In an 8-in. ovenproof skillet over medium heat, saute onion and zucchini in oil for 2-3 minutes. Pour eggs over top; sprinkle with salt. Cook until almost set, 6-7 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees F for 4-5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Broken Heart . . .

Today we lost the heart and light of our family.  My mom passed away after a long courageous battle with diabetes.

Mom's love for her seven children, seven grandchildren, great grandchild, sons and daughters-in-laws and future son and daughter in-law was deep and unqualified. 

She reveled in our accomplishments, and she felt sheer joy and delight in spending time with us, and she was pretty cool to hang out with!

Mom loved having us around; she was like my grandmother in that respect – the more the merrier!  

Mom @ her oldest granddaughter's graduation.

Mom loved a party, and she made great baked beans!  Mom loved the beach, and she loved shrimp!  We always had to have 2 bags at family parties, one for the family and one for mom! 

She loved being a Red Hatter and their “Queen Bee” - they were wonderful friends to mom when she moved to New Hampshire, they included her in everything, despite her medical problems. 

She had a fabulous sense of humor, a beautiful smile and an infectious laugh - that could be heard clear across a crowded room.

Mom with my cousin on Pie Day!

Mom set an example of what it meant to work hard – Mom worked full-time while mothering seven children - an amazing accomplishment!  She helped dad with his dairy business, She did catering, ran for State Rep, she was president of the Band Boosters, she sold Dutch-Maid clothing and her beloved Princess House crystal at home parties.

Last Christmas

Our world will be a foreign place without mom, we'll miss picking up the phone and chatting 5 - 7 times a day!  

It's also difficult to let go of the first hand you ever held. Yet even in this most difficult moment, we thank God that he blessed our family with her presence for so long. 

We are honored that she graced and enriched our lives, and we admire how she battled disease with courage.

Lastly, we take comfort in knowing that’s there’s a great Irish party going on in heaven right now, and that Dad is waiting for her with open arms, a warm smile and a fantastic welcoming committee of friends and family who have gone on ahead of her.  

Mom, "We love you more!"

The Honeymooners, together again!

You say . . .

Tomatoes

Grape tomatoes

Vine tomatoes

Steak tomatoes too

Red tomatoes

Green tomatoes

I know what to do

Dice them, slice them

Mince them, seed them

Put them on a plate

Eat them, feed them

To yourself…

They taste really great!

Coffee anyone . . .

Ready to make liquid velvet!

 Not just any coffee, but Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee!  Have you ever felt velvet?  So you know it's smooth and delightful.  Drinking JBM coffee is like drinking liquid velvet.  It is so smooth it's unbelievable.  It is not bitter, and does not have any aftertaste.

Mind you, this coffee delicacy does not come cheap.  It's a rare treat, and we haven't had any in 17+ years!  I remember the first time I coveted a cup of this coffee was at my friend Susan's home @ From Beyond My Kitchen Window when she was a bride just 25 years ago.

Ready for brewing in my 27 year old Mr. Coffee, coffee maker!

Rewind to 1993.  When we got married, we took a cruise for our honeymoon.  One of our stops was Jamaica.  We were on a tour of a plantation and our guide was discussing the beautiful blue mountains in front of us, then casually mentioned coffee, and I slowly put  2 + 2 together!  I'm in Jamaica, those are the Blue Mountains, that's the coffee that Susan buys!!!  What a eureka moment!  So I bought a pound and brought it home, that was 17+ years ago!

JBM in a cup from my hubby's favorite aunt.

Fast forward to 2011, strolling through the Maine Mall and stopping for a cold drink on a super hot day, even the mall was stuffy.  Looking at the coffee choices I noticed Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans for sale! OMG, I NEED some!  They were OUT, but the manager promised me his shipment was due and he would call me - he did and I was there the next day!  I only bought a half-pound, it's expensive, and I was unemployed afterall. We have savored each and every cup of that coffee this summer.  When we arrived in Maine on Thursday evening I told my hubby that the Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee was gone, and we were going to be back to the regular old grind - ha, ha, ha!  Then Friday, my husband surprised me with a pound!  I can't wait until Saturday morning!

Add a little cream and we're ready to drink!

My only concern is that I'm spoiled and I won't want to go back to buying supermarket coffee!  I think my husband has created a Coffee Monster!

Would you like a cup?  I'm only sharing with friends!