Grilled Zucchini Salad With Lemon and Scallions

 

Grilled Zucchini Salad with Lemon & Scallions

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds medium zucchini (about 6), halved lengthwise
• 1 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 6 scallions, sliced
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• kosher salt
• (I added Pine Nuts to add a little more yum-iness to this recipe)

Directions

1. Heat grill to medium-high. Brush the zucchini with 1 teaspoon of the oil and grill until tender, 5 to 7 minutes per side.
2. Cut the zucchini into 1-inch pieces and toss in a large bowl with the scallions, lemon juice, red pepper, the remaining tablespoon of oil, and ¾ teaspoon salt. Serve at room temperature. 

I made this last night for dinner as a side to our blue cheese burgers.  I usually like to use the grill basket when I grill my veggies, but last night I made this recipe over the stove using a grill pan. I also added Pine Nuts, which I thought tasted yummy with this veggie "salad." I'm always up for new recipes for veggies! So, if you have some you think are great, I'd love to know!

photo and recipe via Real Simple

Zucchini Cookies with Chocolate Chips and Dried Cranberries

photo via here

So, like many others, I'm trying to find recipes to put all my zucchini to good use.

My friend Maria, has a bunch of great zucchini recipes on her
 yummy, yummy blog Two Peas and Their Pod.
I tried the Zucchini Cookies with Chocolate Chips and Dried Cranberries 
last night for a little friend Bachelor Pad party (now, remember that this is off the record.

On the record: I would never watch such drama-train-wreck-horrendous-trash! 

Ha ha...Oh, but it is too fun to watch. Why? Why is it so entertaining?)

. Next, I think I'll try Maria's zucchini brownies.  They sound yummy!

 On a side note... this is the first year that our Nectarine tree has produce any fruit to speak of.  

And boy are these to speak of!  We have a ton of DELICIOUS nectarines. 

I'm in heaven with those and my tomatoes and basil, one of my favorite combos. 

It is so fun to have such amazing fresh fruits and veggies. 

I'm inspired to really put more time into my garden next year.

Inspired By:

What lovely photos and ideas from Anthropology.

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

You may have seen this home on Design*Sponge, but I just have to post these pictures 

because I'm in love with this home and with Designer Jessica Helgerson. 

I've mentioned before, but I've been looking for a wallpaper that I just LOVE for my 

bathroom and bedroom.  I may have just found one... I adore this

grey wallpaper from Walnut Wallpaper. Should this go in my bedroom, or my entry?  

Can't decide, but I just know I'm in love...

I have always had quite an obsession with gray, grey, charcoal, or silver... however you'd like to call it.  

My SUV is charcoal. My husbands truck is charcoal. I have a child named Grayson 

(we call him Gray, or Punkin'). I wear gray quite a bit... It is just a fab color.  

Maybe that is why I am so drawn to this home.  There is so much use of light, medium, and dark Gray.  

How about that gorgeous custom grey velvet sofa!? I'm crazy for it.

And I wish I could have that white coffee table. Why do I feel so limited in the

furniture I can use... do others not feel this way?

I've always been such a skeptic on getting a coffee table with corners 

because of my four rascals... so, I put an oval table in my family room. 

Just last night my little bug found a way to gash his eyebrow on it. I mean really! 

I have no idea how he did it on that table, but if there is a way to get hurt, he'll do it!

Splashes of red, great designs on the bathroom floors, fabulous abstract mirrors in entry. 

Unique light fixtures. 

There are so many wonderful things about this home.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. 

We will probably spend some more time in the mountains. 

We've got to take advantage while we can, before it gets too cold.  Like I've mentioned before... 

I'm not ready to say goodbye to summer yet! Anyone have fun plans?

I'm Not Ready ...

to let summer go.

Quote of the Year

seen here & found here

Happy Things~Guest: Two Ellie

A few months back, I had a few wonderful women share their favorite things 

or things that made them happy. I kinda became a slacker as I was trying to create 

Modern Palm Boutique, 

however, I am now ready to start the series again. 

I am so excited to have these amazing women share a bit more with us about things that make them happy.

Who better to re-start this series, than 

Paula from Two Ellie. 

Paula is a darling southern girl who has a beautiful family, great taste, an eye for great home decor,

and a warm, friendly personality.  She and her husband are quite the photographers too! Her blog has truly become one of my favorites, so I'm excited to have her share some of her faves with us!

Dream Job: My dream job would be to become a shop owner. Whether it be a home store, bakery, or flower shop wouldn't really matter. Just turning the little open sign every morning would be rather delightful, but to be honest being a stay at home mom is rather perfect too.

Product you can't live without: My number one product must is sunscreen. Right now I am loving Clinique Even Better with SPF.

Favorite Vacation: A trip I will never forget is to the jungles of Ecuador.  We spent time with the tribe and bathed in rivers. Definitely something I never expected myself to do. God is good.

Dream Vacation: My dream vacation is to Italy and/or Greece. To taste the food, see the architecture, to just be part of it all.

Favorite Food: Can't say I have a favorite restaurant or food. I just love to eat.

Favorite TV Show: We do not watch much TV at all. We don't even have cable, but we did have a love for LOST and now Mad Men.

Favorite Movies: I have three favorite movies, The Holiday, It's Complicated, and Something's Gotta Give. They are my feel good movies that I can watch time and time again. Plus the sets are all so gorgeous.

Favorite Treat: My favorite treat hands down is strawberry shortcake. I am not one who really enjoys chocolate.

Favorite Book: My favorites book besides the Bible would be Trail of Crumbs by Kim Sunee.

How do you like to relax? To relax I pick up a pile of magazines curl up on the couch and just get lost in it all. A cup of tea with a spot of honey is the only thing that can make that any better.

5 LOVES... My kiddos, my husband, fresh flowers, clean sheets, and photography.

5 DISLIKES... gossip, hate, a dirty house, oreo cookies, and chocolate cake. 

Thanks Paula! I must say, those are some of my favorite movies as well! The sets are a big reason for my liking them too... sometimes I'll just pause at a house scene and look at how they designed the set/home. Too fun! That is great you were able to go to Ecuador. What an experience! I'd love to hear more about that. I'm always one for an adventure! Loved getting to know you better!

Katherine Rally Textiles: Now at Modern Palm!!!

The latest addition to the

Modern Palm Boutique

are these amazing pillows & tablecloths by Katherine Rally,
all the way from Bali!

The name Katherine Rally comes from its two designers / creators, 

Katherine and Rally Dupps.

After backpacking through Southeast Asia, 

they were engaged and decided to move to Bali, Indonesia.

Luckily, we are able to benefit from their surroundings! 

They have created their own line of batiks inspired by their love of 

travel, textiles and design. 

Luckily, we are able to benefit from their surroundings! 

They have created their own line of batiks inspired by their love of 

travel, textiles and design.

I adore these unique prints, designs, and colors.  I love the possibility of mixing the modern designs with the more traditional.  And how fun are these colors? So many possibilities with these bright, bold and beautiful colors.  They could be perfect for layering together, or they could make a serious statement by using the same color but mixing with different prints.
 

To check out more pillows and tablecloths 

please visit  

Modern Palm or Modern Palm Blog.

Here are just a few designs that I personally love...

Can't wait to find out which are your favorite! 

Chrissi Richards Photography

Last week one of my dear-life-long friends came into town just to get together with the gals! It's about time Chrissi! You see, we were great friends back in college, worked together, and traveled together.  But, after she got married, she and her hubby moved around quite a bit...like all over the world.  I haven't seen her in almost 10 years, but the second I saw her, and my other dear friends, it's like nothing has ever changed.  Sure we had little kids running around us, but we still had those young 20-something hearts and memories. We didn't skip a beat. I'm so grateful for life-long friends! Chrissi, you amaze me with your happy attitude and constant kindness. Next time you come in town, I so want you to photograph my kids! Pretty please!

In those 10 years, my amazing friend, Chrissi, has become quite the photographer! She also has a darling family of 5 kids! This photo-shoot is with one of her beautiful daughters. Isn't it just darling? If you live in California, you will be super happy to know that she works in the Antelope Valley and Beyond. To see more of her work you can visit her site or blog.

Paint, Paint, & more Paint

I have paint on my mind quite a bit lately.  I am 99% sure on what I want to paint the kitchen.  

I KNOW that I am painting it a slate blue, however, I'm just trying to finalize which slate blue. 

I have a fun eggplant color I'd like to paint my bathroom mirror, 

and a fun green color I'd like to paint the kids bathroom mirror.  

I'm also thinking of painting horizontal stripes in the entry and hallway.  Can't wait to get going on these projects... now, it's all about finding the time to accomplish the projects. 

I'm trying to update the house a bit, and I'm finding that paint is a cheap and fun way 

to use what you have and freshen things up a bit.  I've been looking through magazines, 

books, and online trying to get ideas.  

Here are a few great ideas that I enjoyed from Martha Stewart.

I love this banquette and emerald green back ground in the shelves.  Notice the blue plates... 

those are the Iittala Taika Designed dinnerware by Finish artist, Klaus Haapaniemi.  

I just adore the imaginative and unique design.  

In fact, I love this storytelling dinnerware so much that I have included it in my  

Modern Palm  Boutique.

So, back to paint. 

I love yellow and I'm loving this collage of frames all painted different shades of yellow.

Another color I'm debating is black.  I'm so tempted to use black in my entry, 

solid or in the stripes. I'm also tempted to use it in my bedroom. I love the classy bold statement.

I like the idea of using your old headboard, but just sprucing it up with a beautiful color.  

A few more ways to involve a fresh coat of paint. On old file cabinets, on a wood floor, on old storage baskets, or an old dresser. I'm all about color!

Too die for!

Half a table and find a new life for it, make your own carpet runner,

make your own small chairs, and brighten up a vintage console.

Love all of these ideas from Martha Stewart. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Labor Day weekend!  

Any fun plans? I think I may work on a few projects...