This 'n That Thursdays: Two Fascinating Facts I Learned at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Towering orchid display at the 2018 Orchid Daze exhibit
(from The Orchid Column)

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I visited the Atlanta Botanical Garden to see the Orchid Daze display before it ended.  As happens more often than not, I forgot to bring my camera, but that did not stop us from enjoying the Garden.  We went on a Thursday hoping that it would be less crowded than on a weekend, and except for a few school class trips there were indeed fewer people, although it was still an impressive crowd for a weekday.  One of the perks of a less crowded day is that the docents have more time to answer questions, which is how we got to learn two fascinating tidbits of information that were new to us.

Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis)
(from Atlanta Botanical Garden)

The first fact involves tropical frogs.  You may not know that the Atlanta Botanical Garden has a facility for keeping and raising rare and endangered tropical frog species from Central and South America.  Several frog exhibits are located near the entrance to the Fuqua Conservatory where the orchids are housed.  One of the species on display is the Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis), whose deadly skin secretions were used to poison the tips of blowgun darts.  The garden volunteer at this exhibit told us that the frog poison comes from the insects that the frogs eat, and that these insects in turn get their toxins from the plants that they ingest.  The most interesting fact she mentioned, though, is that if the frogs are raised on nontoxic insects, then the frogs themselves are nontoxic as well!  And by the way, all of the Golden Poison Frogs in the Garden's display, which were raised at the Garden on nontoxic insects, are not poisonous.

Flowering Coconut Pie Orchid (Maxillaria tenuifolia)
(from Orchids Forum)

We then moved on to the orchid center, where we learned our second new fact of the day.  We first explored the Orchid Daze exhibit, and then went into the Orchid Display House in the Fuqua Orchid Center to see what orchids were flowering there.   We like to see the vanilla orchid vines in flower, and I am always on the hunt for any fragrant orchids.  We asked a volunteer which of the orchids in flower were fragrant, and she mentioned several, but one in particular that we had never heard of before captivated us.  It turns out that there is a species of orchid with a distinctive coconut scent, and it happened to be flowering when we were there.  Known as the Coconut Pie Orchid (Maxillaria tenuifolia), it also has long spiky leaves, prominent pseudobulbs, and small but pretty speckled red flowers.  The aroma of this orchid is heavenly, and so strong it smells more like coconuts than the real thing!

We were told that these orchids are not too difficult to keep, and that it was possible to purchase them online.  When we got home I had to do a search, and actually found a great source on Amazon!  Unlike most sources, this supplier sells good-sized plants already mature enough to flower, although they do not ship them in flower.  (Unfortunately, my source is currently out of stock, but there are other suppliers on Amazon, and this one may be worth trying as the seller gets good reviews).  I immediately ordered one just before Easter and it arrived the following Tuesday, well wrapped, healthy, and undamaged.  It now sits in our most plant-friendly window, and if we are lucky we may get it to flower one of these days.  I hope so, as I look forward to having that luscious coconut scent wafting through our house!

The next Garden event I am awaiting with anticipation is the Imaginary Worlds display which opens on May 5th (aren't those camels fantastic?).  There have been two previous mosaiculture exhibits at the Garden, and they are so unique and impressive that the Garden has actually kept a few of the previous displays as permanent features.  I had never even heard of mosaiculture before I saw these exhibits.  You may want to check out any botanical gardens located near where you live (or visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden if you are in the area), because you never know what fascinating facts you may learn!
             

Wish List Wednesdays: A Collection of Cute Crab Purses

For your consideration, here is a collection of cute crab purses I found while searching online for red handbags!  Straw bags seem to be popular this spring, but would you dare to be unique by carrying the coral-colored Betsey Johnson Crab Calloway Cross-Body Bag (currently on sale for $73.57 plus free shipping) shown above?

The polyurethane Crab Clasp Closure Shoulder Bag ($15.99 plus free shipping) is a very inexpensive option for anyone who does not necessarily need a long-term commitment to the crustacean.  It is available in white, black, green, or pink in addition to the red option shown.

For those who love leather and prefer a more discretely sized decapod, there is always the adorable coin purse-type Anipals Red Crab Wristlet ($19.99 plus $4.99 shipping).  This sweet little purse is also available in blue or green.

Shore Thing Small Crab Lottie

Shore Thing Crab Hilli

If you are a true arthropod aficionado with a crush on crabs and are ready for a life-long commitment (i.e., these bags are expensive!), then check out the Kate Spade genuine leather crab-shaped handbags.  You have two options - the larger snap closure Shore Thing Small Crab Lottie ($348) or the slightly smaller zip closure Shore Thing Crab Hilli ($198), both in bright Picnic Red.  (And if you are more of a lobster lover, Kate Spade has got you covered with her Shore Thing Lobster Crossbody here.)

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Seriously, how could anyone possibly be crabby when there are so many captivating crab-inspired pocketbooks available, creating crustacean cheer in the fashion world?
             

Weekend Wardrobe: Remembrance of Outfits Past - Favorite Apparel from Younger Days

Fashionable for Easter, more years ago than I care to admit!

Lately I have been fondly remembering favorite apparel I wore when I was younger, and came to realize that I have always had a love for bold and bright colors.  I've put together outfits that approximate those I favored back in the day (I am surprised that I can even find clothing that resembles items I wore in the past - does this mean I have also always been attracted to timeless styles?).  Take a look at my blast from the past below, in as close to chronological order as I can remember:

Tory Burch Short Sleeve Cashmere Sweater (sold);
H&M Paper-Bag Pants in Emerald Green.

I was still in grade school when I wore one of my most comfortable outfits.  I think the soft short-sleeved sweater in a mustard yellow color and the loose-fitting bright green ankle pants were hand-me-downs from my tiny mother, passed on to me before I began to tower over her.  The original pants had white piping along the seams and a lovely pearlized button at the waist - I had a fascination with beautiful buttons when I was young.  I wore this outfit one day when I was home from school with a cold or the flu, and it made me feel so cozy and warm.

Vintage orange floral jeans from VintageShopGertrude on Etsy.

I also remember my first pair of jeans, which were orange with a yellow flower print (I can't believe I actually found an image of a similar pair of jeans!).  Unfortunately, I ruined my jeans by undoing the leg hems, which happened to be the style at the time (anything to make the leg length long enough to drag on the ground - ugh!).  The ruination of these poor jeans is the reason I cannot get behind the current trend of raw-edge and/or distressed jeans today.

Vintage Faux Fur Leopard Print Bucket Hat (sold);
Vintage Faux Fur Leopard Print Handbag (sold);
ZARA Women's Green Textured Coat.

Getting a new coat was always a big deal when I was young.  The one I remember most was a rather scratchy bright green one, mostly because I also got a new hat and purse at the same time.  These accessories were faux fur leopard print, and I was delighted with them.  I happily endured the scratchy coat because I got to accessorize with my oh-so-stylish hat and purse!

L.L. Bean Women's Signature Merino Turtleneck Sweater in Dark Navy;
1980s Missoni Orange and Blue Plaid Pleated Wrap Skirt (sold).

I was slightly older, probably in junior high school, when I wore this combination of patterned wool skirt and navy blue turtleneck sweater.  The original skirt was actually a houndstooth pattern in navy, red, and rust orange.  I am not even a skirt-wearing person, but I loved that skirt, and would so like to own one just like it to this day.

Ralph Lauren Cotton/Silk Voile Shirt in Sunset Orange;
Chico's Shine Striped Charlotte Pullover in Andean Orange;
Coldwater Creek Pull-On Pincord Skirt in Brown.

My sister worked at a clothing store when we were in high school, and she got me an outfit of dark brown corduroy skirt, bright orange cotton gauze blouse, and orange-striped wrap cardigan for Christmas the year I started college.  She was the one who always loved bright colors when we were young - one of her favorite dresses was covered in metallic green and purple swirls!  I always thought my tastes were more subdued, but looking back through the years at my favorite outfits has made me realize that, in my own way, I loved bright colors just as much as she did.

Land's End Women's Mesh Polo Shirt in Bright Lemon;
Ex Viyella Ladies Smart Straight Leg Jeans in Chocolate (unavailable).

For some reason I simply cannot seem to own a yellow top without ruining it.  Every time I find one that I like I manage to permanently stain it almost immediately.  Nevertheless, I persist, and I think it is because one of my favorite casual outfits as a college undergraduate was this pairing of a cheerful yellow polo shirt with dark brown jeans.  I do have brown jeans now, and I will continue the hunt for a yellow top that I cannot destroy!

DressLink Turn Down Collar Button Front Belted Dress
(color modified greatly from the original yellow to the shade
of orange I remember from my dress).

Just before I graduated from college, my mother took me on a clothes shopping trip.  I had absolutely no interest in clothes when I was younger, which worried my mother, so she decided that my graduation present would be this shopping trip just to ensure that I had nice things to wear when I went to graduate school!  She bought me an orange shirt dress with a flared skirt that I remember to this day.  Since I so seldom wore dresses, when I walked out of the dressing room to let her see me in it my own mother did not even recognize me!  In fact, she thought at first that I was a salesperson.  I guess that dress made me realize for the first time that I really was an adult.  Even though I stopped wearing it, I owned that dress until just a few years ago, and to this day I still regret getting rid of it.

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Well, I think I've spent enough time strolling down memory lane, but it has been fun to reminisce about some of the clothing that I loved when I was young.  Next week I will return to the present day with another travel ensemble.  I wonder where we will wander next?
             

Foodie Fridays: Easy Baked Lemon Chicken

Like a lot of people, I am always on the lookout for quick, easy, and tasty chicken recipes.  With a lot of lemons left over after Easter's lemon-focused menu, I was also on a hunt for dishes that called for lemon.  I found a great recipe for Easy Healthy Baked Lemon Chicken that satisfied all of my requirements, and am happy to report that the end result is really good.

The only changes I made to the original recipe were to reduce the amount of honey (which is insignificant anyway, so feel free to use the full 1 T. if you prefer, or omit it completely if you like) and to substitute fines herbes for the Italian seasoning.  I happen to love dried fines herbes, but this blend can be hard to find, so use whatever herbs you like.  If you would like to try the fines herbes, I recommend ordering it from Amazon as I did (I ordered the Spice Islands 3-pack here).  Boneless chicken breasts can get too dry if overcooked, so watch the cooking time carefully.  Next time I might try pounding the chicken a little to even out their sizes, as some pieces were much bigger than others and took longer to cook.  Be sure to serve this dish with pasta or mashed potatoes to soak up any extra sauce, because it is so delicious you would not want to waste a drop!

Easy Baked Lemon Chicken

3-4 chicken breasts (about 1½-2 lbs.)
3 T. butter
⅓ C. chicken broth
4 T. lemon juice
1 tsp. honey
2 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. fines herbes (or Italian seasoning)
salt and pepper to taste

Melt the butter in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the chicken and cook 2-3 minutes on each side to brown.  Whisk together the remaining ingredients and pour over the chicken.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes (cooking time will depend on size of chicken breasts).  Spoon the pan juices over the chicken every 5-10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.  Serves 3-6 (depending on size of chicken breasts).
             

This 'n That Thursdays: 2018 Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Recipe Showdown

The Mississippi Comeback, the 2017 Gold Award winner!

Grilled cheese sandwich lovers rejoice!  The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board's Grilled Cheese Academy is accepting entries for its Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Recipe Showdown.  The contest is open from April 2nd to May 15th, and this year there are four entry categories - Open Class (anything goes), Classic Class (up to six ingredients), Junior Class (chefs under age 18), and Fan Flavorites (video entries).  The one requirement in all four categories is that only Wisconsin cheeses be used (you can read the official rules here).  The winner of the Grand Prize will receive $15,000, with a total of $40,000 in cash prizes to be awarded!

If you make a unique grilled cheese sandwich that you love, why not enter it in the contest?  And if you love grilled cheese but do not have a recipe to enter, you may want to try some of the previous years' winning recipes here.  Most of these winning entries contain red meat, which I cannot eat due to my red meat allergy, but the Elote sounds intriguing, as does the Bewitching (if I use chicken bacon).

The Elote

The Bewitching

The website has many other recipes as well, most containing ingredients that I am able to eat.  I have a feeling I am going to be taste testing a lot of new grilled cheese variations in the near future.  And I may just have to come up with my own grilled cheese sandwich recipe to enter as a contender in the showdown!
             

Wish List Wednesdays: Gourmet Art Dalmatian Whistling Teakettle

Because 2018 is the Year of the Dog, I find myself more obsessed than usual with all things Dalmatian.  So even though for years I have owned a perfectly functional and exceptionally well-made red Copco whistling teakettle, I just had to order the Gourmet Art Dalmatian Whistling Teakettle ($52.95 plus free shipping) I found recently on Amazon.  It arrived last week, and I am besotted!  I still use my red workhorse kettle, but I keep the Dalmatian version sitting on our kitchen island so I can see its smiling face every day when I prepare meals.  It is adorable!

Gourmet Art has quite a few different tea kettle designs, many of which are animal-themed.  I am especially enchanted with the pretty pink pig version shown below.  If you are in the market for a unique and amusing whistling teakettle, check out the Gourmet Art options!

Gourmet Art Pink Pig Whistling Teakettle

               

On the Homefront: Sunny Bunnies (and Dalmatians and Hedgehogs) Easter Table

Lily the Dalmatian Easter bunny welcomes you to the holiday dinner!

The color scheme for my Easter table this year came from some new Dalmatian-themed salad plates I found in The Company Store catalog:

The Company Store Dapper Dog Melamine Salad Plates
(other Dapper Dog designs are available)

Yellow, spring green, white, and touches of navy and sky blue are all found on these plates, and all make an appearance in my tablescape.  I normally avoid melamine dinnerware, but of course I had to have these plates with their Dalmatian design!  Easter bunnies also dominate the table, as do four bright yellow hedgehog votive candle holders that I have not used in a while.  The result is a bright and sunny table guaranteed to bring on thoughts of spring, even if the weather should refuse to cooperate!

Yellow cotton placemat; navy blue dinner plate; Dapper Dog Melamine Salad Plate; yellow and white bunny napkin (from HomeGoods a few years ago); white-handled flatware; green egg cup; bunny napkin ring as decoration (from Birch Lane a few years ago); blue goblet.

At the head of the table a Dalmatian Easter basket carries little Daffodil,
a Dalmatian Easter bunny in training.  Lindt Milk Chocolate Gold Bunnies
flank the basket, and Dalmatians Tulip and Azalea sit on either end,
wearing their bunny ears and carrying a spring flower in their mouths!

A closer look at the Dalmatian Easter basket, and the egg-shaped
salt and pepper shakers in front.

A bright yellow egg-shaped candle sits surrounded by sky blue glass
beads and a row of even brighter yellow hedgehog votive holders.

A closer look at a hedgehog votive holder sitting atop the yellow and
white bunny table runner that matches the napkins.

I found this lovely bunny platter at HomeGoods last year.

For some reason Easter always makes me think of foods flavored with lemon, and my menu reflects that thought as every dish includes lemon as an ingredient.  Some of the dishes even contain touches of green or blue foods, which are two other colors besides lemon yellow in my color scheme.  I do like a menu that color coordinates with my tablescape!

Lemon Love Easter Menu:

Easy Chicken Piccata*

Lemon Orzo with Parsley and Scallions**

Lemon-Roasted Asparagus***

Lemon Cream with Blueberries****

*Easy Chicken Piccata

1/2 C. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
dash of pepper
3 T. grated Parmesan cheese
4 thin chicken cutlets
4 T. olive oil
2 T. butter
1/2 C. dry white wine or chicken stock
2 T. lemon juice
4 T. capers
2 T. minced parsley

Combine the flour, salt, pepper, and cheese in a large shallow bowl or pie plate.  Rinse the chicken cutlets and dredge in the flour mixture, shaking off excess flour.

Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Sauté the dredged cutlets two at a time, about 3-5 minutes per side depending on the thickness of the cutlets.  Remove the chicken to a plate and set aside.

Add the wine or stock, lemon juice, capers, and about 2 T. of the flour mixture to the pan juices.  Cook until thickened.  Top each chicken serving with the caper sauce and sprinkle with parsley.  Serves 4.

**Lemon Orzo with Parsley and Scallions

3 C. water
1 1/2 C. orzo
1/2 tsp. salt
2 T. butter
grated peel of one lemon
2 T. lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
2 T. minced parsley
4 T. sliced scallions

Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat.  Reduce the heat to medium, add the orzo and salt, and cover.  Cook until the all of the water has been absorbed and the pasta is tender, about 10 minutes (check and stir occasionally to be sure the pasta does not begin to dry out and stick to the bottom of the pan).

Add the butter and stir until it is melted.  Stir in the lemon peel and juice.  Add the parsley and scallions.  Serve immediately.  Serves 6.

***Lemon-Roasted Asparagus

16 oz. asparagus, tough ends removed
1-2 T. olive oil
1-2 T. lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
salt and pepper to taste

Arrange the asparagus on a baking pan with all spears in a single layer.  Drizzle with the oil and lemon juice.  Season to taste and toss the asparagus until well coated.  Rearrange in a single layer.  Roast at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes until crisp-tender.  Serves 4.

****Lemon Cream with Blueberries

1 C. lemon curd
1 C. mascarpone
1/2 C. heavy whipping cream
1/2 C. blueberries
additional whipped cream for topping

Combine the lemon curd and mascarpone in a medium bowl until smooth.  In a separate small bowl, whip the heavy cream until fairly stiff peaks form.  Carefully fold the whipped cream into the first mixture.  Divide the lemon cream evenly among 4-6 small custard cups.  Cover and refrigerate for about 2 hours until firm.  To serve, top each serving with a spoonful of blueberries and a small dollop of whipped cream.  Serves 4-6.

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Two small blue bowls containing a variety of Lindt Lindor Truffles (white chocolate, coconut, and caramel with sea salt) in appropriately-colored wrappers, all recycled from previous holidays, sit on the Easter table for anyone craving chocolate:

On the credenza sits an adorable ceramic bunny I found at Tuesday Morning a few years ago:

I just cannot celebrate Easter without some spring flowers.  I could not resist these bright yellow tulips in their pot with the checked yellow wrapper:

I almost forgot to mention that the only other Easter candy I bought this year was marshmallow Peeps in two flavors - a dark chocolate-dipped coconut flavor that actually looks pretty good, and a rather surprising new choice called "Pancakes and Syrup"!  We have not actually eaten them yet, so I will have to let you know later how they tasted!  And now, in honor of Easter and Peeps, I will once again end an Easter post with my annual tradition of this video from YouTube: