Sunflowers and Sunflower Seeds

We grew sunflowers in our garden this summer.

         I love sunflowers

I forgot how tall sunflowers get.  Taller than RT, if you can believe that...

The great thing about sunflowers is.....sunflower seeds!

I wasn't sure how to harvest them, so I checked out Wikihow and their step by step plan on how to harvest sunflower seeds.  

Once the flower starts to droop and the petals started to pull back from the flower, you know that they are ready to harvest.  You can harvest them on the stalks, just cover them so birds, squirrels and chipmunks don't get to them.  

We cut our flowers and let them dry in the kitchen hanging from some hooks.  (the chipmunks were feasting on them, so I decided they needed to come into the house)  I forgot to take a picture, so, you just have the one flower hanging. (you can see some of my peppers hanging in the picture, too)

When all the flowers were hanging, Nick said, "Why are those weeds in the house?"  Yea.  He thought they were weeds that we were growing and that we decided to just bring them in the house.  We're weird like that, I guess.  Oh, and we did tell them that they were sunflowers.  

Once the flowers are completely dry, it's time to harvest the seeds!  They should come right out of the flower easily.  It can be quite messy, so, put down a towel or maybe think about doing this step outside.  

The seeds come out pretty easily

Once picked, you can soak them in salt water or just bake them.  I soaked them in salted water and wish that I skipped that step.  They still turned out, but, I don't think it was necessary.   

Bake them for about 40 minutes at 300 degrees and they are ready to eat!

We have a large bowl full of sunflower seeds.   I think we are set for awhile in the sunflower seed department.

Nothing says sexy like someone cleaning up dog poop.

Which means, I must be pretty sexy since I'm always cleaning it up.

It's going to be a good day

I remembered to put on deodorant before work today.

Maybe I should play the lottery?

One Direction Concert

              Beautiful

Tickets to see One Direction in concert = free

Earplugs = $1

Parking =$49

Smile on my daughters face = priceless

Selfie before the concert starts

selfie after opening band (5 Seconds of Summer)

Nail Clippers

Alex came into the bathroom while I was polishing Bella's nails.  He asked if he could have the nail clippers.

Me:  You can borrow them, but, you have to give them back.  I can pick you up some nail clippers if you want your own.

Alex:  Really?  Can't I just have these?

Me:  No.

RT (from the other room):  That's a really sweet deal.  I would take it.  Mom wouldn't let me come near her nail clippers for 14 years.

Me:  And now it's only with supervision.

Alex:  Really?  Why?

Me:  (whispers)  Because he steals them!

Need a backstory on this one?  Check out this post.

Vegetarian Diaries - Eggplant Parmesan

Haven't done a Vegetarian Diaries post in quite some time.

I decided to plant eggplant in my garden this year.  It has taken off and has forced me to make dishes using eggplant.  I had RT barbecue  an eggplant for dinner one night (I sliced it up first). It was delicious.  I made my eggplant patties and eggplant Parmesan.I have been using my homemade spaghetti sauce (I have tons of tomatoes).  Nothing like a meal made with fresh ingredients from your garden!

I looked over many recipes for Eggplant Parmesan.  Many of the recipes called for breading the eggplant and frying it.  I wanted to try something a little different.  I decided to grill the eggplant (using the George Foreman grill).  I brushed the slices with oil (olive or sunflower) and grilled them.  Placed them in the bottom of a greased 9x13 dish, poured homemade spaghetti sauce and topped it off with some Parmesan cheese.  (I even went a little crazy and tossed some shredded mozzarella on it for kicks)

This has been my go to dinner.  It's quick and easy and, eggplant is quite nutritious.  I happened to look up the nutritional benefits of eggplant and was quite surprised.

Here's to Eggplant!  And, Eggplant Parmesan!

             Delicious!

I had to run some errands today.
Aren't you glad that I told you that....now you can get on with your day.
Seriously.
I was at a store and the woman behind me asked if she could put her loaf of bread on the counter because it was too heavy for her to carry.  (she was also talking in a really high voice)  I said no problem.  I let the cashier take her first.  She then starts telling me that she just had heart surgery.  I said you look good for just having surgery.  She continues telling me that she had surgery and has been in a coma for two months.  (I'm stunned at this)  She said that she is happy, though.  She has her license and she can drive around.

I checked out and peeled out of the parking lot before she reached her car.