MEDITERRANEAN PIZZA BREAD

I haven't posted a recipe in a long time and decided it was time. Those of you who know me know that cooking is not my favorite thing to do; but for some reason, my family likes to eat.

This is an easy, quick recipe that can be used for an appetizer or as a side dish to roasted meat.

MEDITERRANEAN PIZZA BREAD

8 slices of Italian bread (sliced about 1/2-inch thick)

1/4 cup olive oil

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

3 seeded and chopped Roma tomatoes

1/2 cup chopped and pitted black olives

6 oz. feta cheese, crumbled

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Mix olive oil, oregano, and red pepper flakes together; then brush mixture on both sides of bread slices. Bake on baking sheet for about 4 minutes. Turn slices upside down. Combine cheeses. Sprinkle slices with the cheese mixture, reserving about 1/2 cup to sprinkle on the top. Then sprinkle each slice with tomatoes, olives, and remaining cheese. Return to oven, baking until cheese melts.

Hope you enjoy this easy side dish.

A NEW TREND??

I heard that there is a new trend when building McMansions to include a snoratorium. This is a small bedroom off of the master bedroom where a snorer (or the one being snored upon) may go sleep when the snore noise becomes unbearable. The extra room may also be used when one partner is ill.

All of this discussion brought to mind my childhood. Below is a mosaic of my childhood farm. My grandparent's house was the big house on the left side in the first picture. My parents and I lived in the little 3-room house in the center; and later in the house across the road.

Grandma and Grandpa built the house in 1914 right after my father was born. It is a wonderful, huge house built in the Arts & Crafts style. It has a huge living room, dining room, office, and a screened-in porch all with big windows; lovely woodwork, and built-in window seats. The bedrooms upstairs are enormous with walk-in closets. My parents lived in the house for several years after Grandma moved to town, but that was after I was married. The farm was then sold in the 1960s.

Nothing is new under the sun, as this house had a snoratorium! The down stair's master bedroom had a small room attached with windows on two sides. I remember it contained a closet, dresser, Grandma's sewing machine, and Grandpa's twin bed for those nights of excess snoring. They called it Grandpa's sleeping porch, but it wasn't a porch at all.

So, what do you think? Should every house have a snoratorium?

AESTHETIC BROWN TRANSFERWARE

My favorite collectible has to be brown transferware from the 19th century aesthetic period. Finding pieces in my budget over the last 15 years has been a journey, but I have managed to amass a nice little collection. To receive a piece as a gift is a real bonus! My friend, Jan, also collects brown transferware and on her travels found this pedestal plate. She knew how much I fell in love with it, so she gave it to me for my birthday.

It has an incised mark on the bottom, but I can't make it out. I'm guessing that it is about 1880.

I love the Asian influence in the pattern, but the piece was probably made in England.

If anyone out there in blogland has any info on this piece, I would appreciate hearing from you. (All pictures can be clicked on to enlarge for a better look at the pattern.)

Thanks, Jan, for a wonderful addition to my collection.

Next week I'm joining the following parties:

A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

These blogs are always so full of fun stuff - be sure to visit them for lots of inspiration.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIKE

Just a quick post to wish our son, Mike, a Happy Birthday.

Here he is at age 3 - such a cutie and so full of curiosity.

And now, he is 43. Where did all of those years go? Still so full of curiosity; always seeking adventure and knowledge.
He's always had a desire to learn about this world, and now to pass that information on to his students. Congratulations on all of your accomplishments, Dr. S.

Cloche Party Time

It is time for Marty's annual Spring Cloche Party. Well, I'm reluctantly being pulled out of Winter mode (my favorite season). I know that I'm the only one in blogland not looking forward to Spring. So, this is about as close as I get to Spring decorating. For all of you Spring aficionados, gaze at these two plates next to my cloche for inspiration.

The plates were hand-painted by the noted Colorado china painter, Anna Peters, in the early 20th century. She was especially recognized for her rose renderings, so it is unusual to find a plate with columbines on it. However, the columbine is the Colorado state flower, which would probably explain it.
The cloche is covering a Murano glass egg that my son brought to me from Italy a couple of years ago. The wooden base is a piece that my Dad turned 30 years ago from a walnut tree that had been planted in the 1800s in the small town I grew up in. I've had that base all of these years just waiting for something special to display on it. It connects my Dad and my son, who is named after his grandfather. The pink marble lamp in the background was a wedding present to my parents in 1937. All are treasures I cherish.

Please check out Marty's blog, A Stroll Thru Life,

for some real Spring cloche inspiration.

GALLERY WALL

The dining room in our 1980's small ranch-style home is basically a hallway that connects the kitchen to the rest of the house. We have a 7-foot narrow harvest table that sits in the center of the room, which we really enjoy. But, it doesn't leave any room on the side walls for furniture. I've really struggled with what to do with this long wall, but I'm finally satisfied with a gallery of pictures, plates, and small shelves.

My latest addition to this wall are the two Bavarian bird plates, one that I bought from ebay for $7 and the other from an estate sale for $3. Then, I found the two frames that are marked Germany at a junk store for $1 each.

They say (whoever THEY are?) that if you buy what you love then everything will go together. I love both the plates and the frames, so I just put them together.

The remainder of the pictures are watercolors, oils, and prints that I have picked up at estate and yard sales over the years.

This week I will be partying with the following:

Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

Please check out these wonderful blogs for great inspiration.