Spring Garden Chores

Not everyday can be a "make something new" kind of day. Some days have to be a "maintain something old" kind of day. This week included two days of garden maintenance chores. I am not an avid gardener but I love having gardens. Do you see the dilemma? Garden chores are not my favorite but I certainly love looking at the results.

So it was mulching week. I made two trips to the mulch center and got the pick-up truck loaded up.  David and I have spread it over most of the required places. My finger nails are all dirty but I did pause to take some photos.

Here is the garden near the main door. My Restoration Hardware Sphere sits proudly atop a stone wall I built a couple of years ago.

When we added the sunroom we decided to replace the front lawn with a series of paths and garden patches. Although we tried for 30 years, we have been totally unsuccessful in growing grass beneath all the trees. Instead we have a path that beckons you on. (See all the beautiful, fresh mulch!)

Our garden is filled with sculptures and industrial chic stuff. I found the big gear in the woods!

Turning the corner of the sunroom the paths continue and there are three of my red dancing sticks to welcome you into our front yard.

Two others frolic along the driveway.

All are happy to be dancing in fresh mulch! Happy Spring everyone.

Previous Posts of Interest:

• Tutorial for Red Dancing Sticks
• Winter Garden Sprinkled with Sugar
• Balls in the Garden

©2012 Ashbee Design, Marji Roy

Ladders

Today I find myself thinking about my front entry and moss, or ladders. Not sure which direction to go but here are some of the images inspiring me.

Sky Ladder by Tim Johnson via Pinterest

Branch Ladder by Creative Ambitions via Pinterest

Source Baileys Home and Garden via Dan Faires

Source Restoration Hardware

source via Pinterest

Clearly I need to spend some more time dreaming, finding where the idea emerges from the inspiration.

 ©2012 Ashbee Design, Marji Roy

Recipe • Pulled Pork Pizza with Caramelized Onions and Apples

Creative cooking comes in spurts for me. Some days I have an interesting mix of food in the house and I need to create a meal. If it coincides with a creative mindset something interesting may come of it. The following recipe happened in just that way. I had leftover pork tenderloin roast and I wanted to create something tasty. This experiment was a delightful success.

I am posting this today especially for a most loyal reader, Bettsi. I had shared a photo earlier and she requested the recipe.  Let me know how it comess out Bettsi!


Pulled Pork Pizza with Caramelized Onions and Apples

Ingredients:

• Leftover pork roast (I had 1/2 of a small pork tenderloin left, wasn't more than 1/2 lb of meat. If you haven't got leftovers one of those pre-wrapped pork roasts would easily create two pizzas.)
• 3/4 cup of bottled barbecue sauce
• 1 Boboli Whole Wheat Pizza Shell (I am sure you can use any other type or make your own. I believe in simple!)
• 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 cup baby spinach (optional - I sneak spinach in when ever I can because it is so good for me!)
• 1 delicious apple, skin on sliced thinly
• 1/2 cup shredded pizza cheese 

Process:

• Take a leftover pork tenderloin roast and bake it again, wrapped in tinfoil for about 1 more hour at 350 degrees. Remove from oven, allow to cool to the touch and pull the pork into shreds.
• Preheat oven to 400º.
• Take 1 large yellow onion, sliced thin and sauté it in a small amount of olive oil over medium heat for about 15 minutes to caramelize the onions.
• Meanwhile, combine the pulled pork with ¾ cup of your favorite barbeque sauce in a frying pan. Heat over medium heat until heated through. 
• Add about 1 cup of baby spinach (optional) and sauté until spinach is wilted and mixed in with the pork and sauce. 
• Spread the pork/spinach/sauce mixture over a Boboli Whole Wheat Pizza crust.
• Spread the sautéed onions on top.
• Arrange apple slices around the edge of the pizza.
• Cover with about ½ cup of shredded pizza cheese mixture.

• Bake in oven on open shelf (no pan) at 400 for 20 minutes. I put a cookie sheet on a lower shelf to catch any possible drips. 
• Remove, slice and serve.

Yield: 4 big pieces of pizza. This is good for 2 on a hungry night! 

Tastes great with a side salad and an ear of corn!

Enjoy and let me know how your family liked it.

Previous Posts of Interest:

• Grilled Pizza • Power Failure Experiment
• Gifts That Keep Giving
• Passing it On. Being Creative Matters
• Celebrations • Quick Cake Decorating
• Just Waiting for Company

I have shared this post at the following link parties:

• A Bowl Full of Lemons
• Not Just a Housewife
• The Shady Porch
• Blue Cricket Design
• House of Hepworths
• The Shabby Creek Cottage
• At the Picket Fence
• Addicted 2 Decorating
• Tatertots & Jello

©2012 Ashbee Design, Marji Roy