Summer Morning's Best Blueberry Pancakes with Fresh Peaches

We love a cozy breakfast around here!  Pancakes are a treat that we make occasionally on a weekend morning, and Mr. Cozy is one of the best pancake makers!! He's been making me pancakes for years now and they just keep getting better.

 This past weekend was a wonderful, relaxing weekend for the two of us.  We didn't have any plans (yay!) so we decided to stay home all weekend and take advantage of all the free movie channels we got.  Yup, we cooked and watched movies all weekend, if we weren't outside soaking up the radiant sunshine!  So, it was a perfect way to wake up to delicious summertime blueberry pancakes with peaches on Sunday morning before church.

This is not necessarily a "recipe post" because the recipe is so simple.  This breakfast was just so pretty, and seasonal and delicious that I had to share with you guys.  I felt like I was eating farmer's market's bounty!  Not to mention, anything my Love take the time to make me is special!

 Have a blessed day whatever it starts of with!

We have a really good and simple pancake mix, Maple Grove Farms of Vermont, where you just add water!  Mr. Cozy always adds a smidgen of sugar and sometimes vanilla extract.  This time he also added some frozen blueberries (that I bought fresh).  He sprinkles right onto the pancake batter in the skillet.  Cook these in a small bit of butter, enough to keep from sticking.  Once golden, remove and slice a freshly ripe peach over and pour on real maple syrup to finish off the plate of fruity-sweet goodness!!  A steamy cup of Captain Micheal's coffee from Savannah and a small glass of oj washed it down just right!

Florida Key Lime Pie!

There is nothing that reminds me of summer at the beach any more than Key Lime Pie!  As hot as it has been, I thought it would be the perfect time to make a Florida key lime pie--my first one, ever!

(Mmm! Just look at that crumbly crust...)

I decided to make it in my tart pan, because I don't use it enough.  (It turned out so pretty, I think!)

This pie is a perfect cool down treat with a slightly tart, creamy filling flecked with lime zest-- in a buttery graham cracker crust-- with a homemade, fluffy, whipped cream topping.  

Oh, and did I mention this pie is easy to make??

Lemon Meringue Pie is one of our very favorite's in this family, and this pie recipe is actually very similar to it.  The primary difference is that it's made with limes instead of lemons and topped with whipped cream instead of meringue.

Don't like whipped cream?  (Can't imagine)  Then just leave it off! 

Here is a piece for you!

Enjoy. Every. Bite.

That's how we eat it around here.

Please, have a slice of sunshine and make this Key Lime Pie.

I'm off to get another piece right now!

Key Lime Pie

1  1/2 c. crushed graham crackers (I prefer crushing myself for a more crumbly crust.)

1/4 c. sugar

6 Tbsp. butter, melted

1/2 c. lime juice (key limes or regular limes)

1 can sweetened condensed milk (I use low-fat)

1 1/2 tsp. lime zest

2 egg yolks

1 small carton heavy whipping cream

1/4 c. sugar 

Mix graham cracker crumbs with sugar and melted butter.

Pat firmly in a tart pan or pie pan and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Allow the crust to cool on a wire rack.

While crust is cooling, in a bowl, beat egg yolks well.  Pour in condensed milk and mix well.  Slowing pour in lime juice with mixing, and the lime zest.  Mix altogether.

Pour filling in cooled crust and bake for about 12 minutes or until set.  (Although do not over bake!)

Cool completely on a wire rack before putting in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Make whipped cream:  With a mixer, beat together heavy whipping cream to soft peaks.  Add sugar and continue to beat to stiff peaks.  

Pipe whipped cream around the pie or you can spread all over pie.  Decorate your way!  Return to the fridge.  Garnish with lime wedge or lime zest, or both!

I'm linking up with:

Delicious Steak and Caramelized Onion Sandwiches with Crispy Oven Fries

I'd like to start off thanking everyone for their lovely comments I receive everyday.  I'm sorry that I can't seem to respond to every one of them, although I try!  I love hearing from you all and hope you know that even if you don't hear back from me that I have read and enjoyed what you have said!  I wish that I could just bake and blog full time, but I have been so busy at work recently that it has put a small dent in my blogging time.  I will press forward and continue to share with you as many recipes as I can!

Mr. Cozy loves a good steak sandwich, so I know when I want to treat him with an easy splurge meal this is what I make to make his day!  The first time I made this was for a picnic meal at the park, just the two of us.  What a fun Sunday afternoon that was!

This is your classic steak sandwich (minus the cheese this time) with caramelized onions, baby spinach on a multi grain ciabatta bun that has been smothered in homemade herb sauce!  Along side is one of our favorite things!--crunchy, spicy oven fries that go perfectly with classic ketchup.  This is a meal to love!

Steak Sandwiches with Caramelized Onions

Flank Steak

Olive Oil

Minced Garlic

Balsamic Vinegar

Salt & Coursely Ground Pepper

Red Onion

Butter

Balsamic Vinegar

Herb Sauce

Miracle Whip or Mayo

Spicy Mustard

Fresh Rosemary

Fresh Basil

Salt & Pepper

Crispy Oven Fries

Russet Potatoes

Cajun Seasoning

Salt &Pepper

Olive Oil

I don't have a real defined recipe I use, but everytime I make it they turn out just scrumtious!   Here is a "loose" recipe for you.  Just imagine your in my kitchen and I'm just talking you through this.

I usually always use a flank steak.  They are so big that I usually cut it in half and freeze the half I don't use when I'm making this for just the two of us.  I always like to marinade the meat in something like olive oil, lemon or lime juice or balsamic vinegar with minced garlic and lots of pepper and salt.

Once this marinades for at least 4 hours or even overnight, grill it on the grill or (and this is what I did this time) pan sear it in a skillet to get a crust on it and then pop it into a hot oven for a few more minutes, since we like our steak for sandwiches cooked medium.  (Although I have to admit that I did cook it a smidgen too long this time.) You will want to the steak to allow the steak to rest in it's own juice in some aluminum foil for a few minutes before slicing thinly.

The caramelized onions are amazing with steak, and good thing--they're easy to make! They add a sweetness that complements the peppery steak so well.  Slice a red onion or other sweet onion.  (I think the red onions make for such a pretty topping.) Heat a skillet over med-low heat and add equal parts butter and olive oil.  Not too much, but just enough to cover the bottom of the pan when heated.  Add the onions and a teensy bit of sugar, dash of balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper.

This will cook low and slow for at least 30 minutes , stirring occasionally.  You do not want to see browning or crispiness here.  You are looking to create soft, melt in your mouth onions.

Doing this, you are bringing out all of the natural sugars from the onion, therefore "caramelizing" them.  I love smothering these on top of a hot, grilled steak with a side of mashed potatoes!  Oooo, good!  We don't eat steak very often at all, but when we do we really enjoy every bite.

While the onions are caramelizing, you can make the herb spread for the sandwiches.  I just use equal parts of miracle whip (yes, I'm one of those people) and dijon, spicy or course ground mustard and this time I added some freshly minced rosemary and basil with salt and pepper.  This sauce has a bright flavor that's delicious with the steak! 

Spread the sauce on toasted multi grain ciabatta bread (I actually found some at Wal Mart's bakery!) that I toasted quickly in a skillet.  Now you are ready to assemble the sandwich.  Start by slicing your steak as thinly as possible across the grain.  Pile on your sandwich as much as your conscience will allow. Don't forget to pour the extra dripping left in the foil over the meat.  This is where you would add your cheese if you were going to.  We didn't this time because we are trying to keep things fairly healthy.  So, top the steak with a healthy portion of the caramelized onions that drip with sweet goodness!  Next, I added fresh baby spinach.  Top the simple, but yummy, sandwich with the toasted ciabatta that has been smothered in the herb sauce!  Cut in diagonal and serve hot!

For the fries:  Take russet potatoes and cut into thin showstring pieces.  Add this to a big bowl filled with cold water.  Allow to sit for 30 minutes.  This is crucial for perfectly crispy fries!  This draws out most of the starch. 

Drain and pat dry the potatoes.  Place in a oil sprayed sheet pan and toss with olive oil and Cajun seasoning with black pepper.  Bake on 425-450 degrees for 15- 20 minutes or until golden and crisp.  Do not toss much if you want them crispy!  Sprinkle with salt right out of the oven and enjoy hot!

Hydrangeas and Coffee Table Vignette

I'm on a roll today with my second post!

I don't show my home much, but I just had to share with you all this simple, lovely arrangement I put together thanks to our beautiful hydrangea bush outside.

I thought the vibrant cornflower blue flowers would be a pretty summertime pop of color in my living room against all the red.  I arranged them in this vintage--perhaps antique-- Ball jar that my parents recently gave me.     

 You can see that it is aqua blue and has bubbles signifying that it could've been hand blown glass!  It was one that was from my great grandmother's kitchen.  I know that they had a huge garden and probably canned tomatoes, green beans and much more.  I wonder what she used this one for?

I got this trunk at a peddler's mall/antique store about 3 months ago.  I love it as our coffee table!  

I use this pretty cream colored runner over the top to soften it up.

I love this tray.  I keep here to hold my magazines and usually a candle.  I've also put some chocolates in a small jar for a sweet treat.  I think it's a rather cozy vignette!

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Have a blessed day!

Linking this to:

Tybee Island Memories with my Love

This the the last post of our vacation to Savannah and Tybee Island.  

(It's been very busy around here--I meant to have this finished a couple of weeks ago.)

  I'm excited to share with you a few of our pics and let you in on our wonderful trip together!

Here is the first time we saw the beach on the afternoon we arrived.  I am so excited to be here!

Our first meal on the island, at our favorite spot, AJ's Dockside Bar & Grill. 

It sits right on the water, just about a block from our cottage...so we walked there!

(And maybe burned some of those delicious seafood calories!)

I didn't take a picture, but I had the blacked fish po boy sandwich with homemade dill potato salad.  It was great!

This was our first day at the beach.  Look at all the sand dunes on the way to the water.  Sea turtles bury there eggs here.  I was really hoping to catch peak of their hatching one night!  I would LOVE to see those sweet little flippers make there way across the sand.

Here is our mode of transportation around the island!

We agree that riding bikes was one of the best things about being there....such a laid back place.

I LOVE this man!!!

Here we are leaving the little grocery with a basketful of food, including fresh sub sandwiches for lunch.

Oh, don't forget the flowers!

What's better than a picnic on the beach (no sand, please) with your Love?

I have a virginia ham with swiss and cucumber, lettuce, tomato and mustard. 

Simply delicous with BBQ chips!

Dinner was at The Crab Shack.

Rachel Ray has been here on $40 a Day!

We ate outside on the lovely deck beside the marshes.

The deck was built around these huge live oak trees with basket lanterns hanging everywhere.

It was so beautiful!

The beach the next day.

Here we are looking off the pier.

There are lots of beach houses on this side of the pier.

Next is shopping in the quaint downtown Tybee!  

It's filled with colorful buildings of little shops and restaurants.

Gelato and we are there!

So, I have no make up on in many of these pictures, only sunscreen. I am hoping as friends and family that you guys won't care!  Mr. Cozy looks like he didn't expected me to take a picture here as we're walking out with our cones!

I got campfire marshmallow-chocolate chunk gelato!!

Sounds kinda weird?  Soooo good!

Leaving for dinner again.

On our way back to AJ's to eat.  The sunset was stunning as we walked there!

A J's--the Best restaurant on Tybee Island!

The sunset from the dock overlooking the bay at the restaurant.

Look at this plate of deliciousness!

Fried flounder and shrimp with red skin mashed potatoes, snow peas and hushpuppies complete with a lemon wedge and tartar sauce.

Our favorite beach dessert: Key lime pie!

Tybee Island is known for it's gorgeous sunrise.

  

We wanted to get up really early, and go down to the beach to enjoy a romantic morning with just us and the sunrise.

We only saw a couple other people out on the beach.  We had it basically all to ourselves!

This next picture has to be my favorite! (My hubby is the best photographer!)

Look at the reflection of the water under my feet.

There is the sun poking through the clouds as the world opens it's eyes.

Being there, we couldn't help but be in awe of the Lord's creation.

The Artist of this sunrise loves me.

God is so good.

Breakfast at The Breakfast Club.

Highly recommend this hole-in-the-wall restaurant!

It has a cool beachy meets diner atmosphere.

Waking up with my first cup of joe!

Mr. Cozy is getting a great tan!

Waffles, perfectly crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. His with pecans!

Homemade breakfast sausage--spicy and perfect! (Love sausage!)

We also got scrambled eggs.

Simply delicious breakfast for our day!

After breakfast we went back to the cottage to change for the beach, but first decided to ride our bikes around to the northern part of the island to the lighthouse.  It was located in the historic district of the island, and had more magnificent live oak trees with the Spanish moss. 

Here is the (functioning) lighthouse and museum.  The cute house in the front was built for the lighthouse keeper and his family back in the 19th century.  

We climbed up the narrow, spiraling stairway to the balcony off the very top!

The wind the blowing hard when we got to the top, but we manages to capture a few pictures.  Here's one of them--the view of the Atlantic Ocean.

(I'm afraid of heights, so this was a big accomplishment for me!)

Some of the rooms in the Lighthouse Keeper's house.

Going to Uncle Bubba's Oyster House!

Paula Deen and her brother own this.  It's located to Wilmington Island, where she lives.

As fried pickle experts we ranked these as the very best!!!  Light and crispy breading with a wonderful homemade ranch dipping sauce. YUM!

Mr. Cozy's crab stuffed grilled flounder with a delicious sauce.  

(Forgot exactly what is was--but I know it was good!!)

My crab cakes (we love crab cakes!) with cajun rice and creamy coleslaw.  

This meal was outstanding for both of us!!!  We'll be back someday. :)

As we are leaving to go back home, we had to stop in Savannah at the unique, Gallery Espresso on Bull St.  This was located off of one of the prettiest squares.

We heard about this coffee house in April's issue of Southern Living!

I have never seen a more beautiful espresso maker.

It was huge for one, and made of shiny copper!

The baristas really took the time to make our drinks just right.

We SPLURGED!!!

He got cinnamon roll with a dark chocolate mocha and I got a  big, flaky, croissant with a white chocolate macchiato.

We shared the pastries, and they were as tasty as they looked! 

I. ate. too. much.

This trip was an especially wonderful time for us!  We really enjoyed all of our time together as we fell in love with Savannah and Tybee Island, GA!

God blessed us with a vacation that we will never forget.

I'm so glad I get to take the best part of it home with me--my Love!

I'm linking up with: