Friday’s Fave Five (August 21, 2015)

Friday’s Fave Five is a great opportunity to scan the week and share some of my blessings. I am soooooo grateful for many things, but these are the highlights. Go here to read other FFF posts and to link up your post.

ONE. Ideas from other FFFers. Reading other’s posts give me good ideas to copy. For example last week I read about 3 recipes. And because 2 of them were veggie-based (always trying to get more veggies in my diet) and because they sounded so good. I made them: Nikki’s ratatouille and Karen’s tomato pie.

My version of . . . 

• Ratatouille – I read the comments and liked the suggestion about roasting the veggies before combining everything. However I didn’t do it the way that was suggested –  (each type of veggie separately). I roasted them all together like Ree from The Pioneer Woman suggests. I don’t know how this meal tastes without roasting the veggies, but let me tell you, THIS is so flavorful and worth the time.
• Tomato Pie – I didn’t have mayonnaise so I looked at other recipes to see how they made their pie. I ended up combining this recipe with Karen’s recipe. HINT: The quality of your tomatoes really DOES matter. This is probably a “duh” for most of you, but I am new to this type of pie. I WILL make it again and with a gluten-free crust next time.

Your Turn …

1. Do you like to try new recipes?
2. Do you collect any type or only certain ones – I.e. I mainly look for vegetable, gluten-free and sugar-free recipes.
3. What are some things you’ve learned from other FFFers?

TWO. Fancy nails. Last week my niece (Kadie) was sporting a gorgeous french manicure. When I learned that it cost $6.36 and not only did she do it herself, it was easy! I was intrigued. And even more so because she offered to be MY manicurist. They are press on nails (from Target). They wear well and still look great almost a week later. And I LOVE that you don’t have to scratch up your nails in order to get them to adhere. So once the fake nails come off, the nail bed still looks just fine.

Your Turn …

1. I LOVE manicured nails, but I don’t do such a  great job on myself, nor does the polish last long without chipping.Do you have any tips?
2. Do you have any family members that spoil you like my niece spoiled me?

THREE. Time with family.  Wow  –  a great week with family. Some of us met up in Grass Valley to go to the county fair. I went to Berkeley to see my son and his family. And I had the honour of speaking with my sister-in-law (in a different state) for almost an hour. I am grateful for all this family time that came about unexpectedly.

Your Turn …

1. Did you have any unexpected family time this week?
2. Have you been to a fair in your area this summer? It has been decades since I last went.

FOUR. Snowman ornament 2015. I LOVE snowman ornaments. I LOVE making snowman ornaments. Emily (another niece) and I made snowman ornaments this past weekend. Now that the prototype has been made, I am all set for when I get with the rest of the family in December for us all to make one.

Your Turn …

1. Do you collect themed ornaments?
2. Do you make ornaments? If, yes, are they themed? I’d love to see photos.

FIVE, Baseball game. I mentioned to a co-worker (Sydney) that I would love to go to a River Cats game this year. The River Cats feed into the San Francisco Giants (WINNERS of 3 World Series in the past 5 years) and so in baseball world, going to RC games is a big deal. Since Sydney LOVES baseball, she arranged for the staff to go (all except one). It was an enjoyable time of laughter, food and talk.  To top it off we got to YELL our approval at some of the plays and even won, 9-4. Such a satisfying evening of friendship and baseball.

Your Turn …

1. Have you ever been to a pro baseball game? I haven’t. But going to this triple a minor league game was pretty awesome.
2. Do you and your co-workers ever go out for fun? If yes, what have you done? We also go out for lunch after our weekly staff meeting. I LOVE spending time with them.

Your Turn  … What is a highlight from your week? SHARE in the comments.