Recipe from Grandma

Today I am missing my grandma terribly. I can't think of a reason to miss her more today, but I just do. I decided I would share a recipe of hers that I love to make this time of year. It is her Benedictine Spread recipe. My grandmother was a wedding caterer for many, many years. She made what we called "fancy" sandwiches, which consisted of benedictine, pimento cheese, and chicken salad along with some others. Her benedictine is still my favorite!
 Here is Wikipedia's definition of Benedictine spread: Benedictine or Benedictine Spread is a condiment made with cucumbers and cream cheese.[1] It is used to make cucumber sandwiches and was invented around the turn of the 20th century by Jennie Carter Benedict, a caterer and restaurateur in Louisville, Kentucky.[2] Benedict opened her restaurant in 1893.[2] It was there that she invented and originally served benedictine. Originally used for sandwiches, benedictine has in recent years been used as a dip for chips and filling for potatoes.  I hope you enjoy this recipe.

Alice's Benedictine Spread:
1 Large Cucumber
2 Pkgs Cream Cheese (softened)
2 Tbsp yellow onion (finally chopped)
Salt to taste
Green Food Coloring
 Cut the ends off of cucumber and peel off all skin with a peeler. Cut down the middle and cut out all of the seeds. In a food processor or chopper, mix the cucumber until fine. Strain juice from cucumber and reserve a couple of tablespoons of the juice. In a medium mixing bowl mix cream cheese, finely chopped onion, cucumber, reserved juice and salt until blended well. Add drops of food coloring until light green color and blend again. Serve on bread or with crackers. White bread with benedictine is my favorite! It is the one time I will buy a loaf of plain white bread. Oh how this makes me miss my sweet grandma Alice.

Outside Wall Decor

I got this great idea from another blog at www.inmyownstyle.com. The link to the post is http://inmyownstyle.com/2012/05/how-to-make-outdoor-wall-art.html. I loved the idea so much I made some of the art and hung them on our screened in back porch. I used thick poster boards I got at Hobby Lobby for $1.99 each. I left one whole and cut the other one in half for two pieces. I then purchased two color coordinating vinyl table cloths at Walmart. I cut them and taped them around the boards with packing tape. I then hung them with 3M poster sticky strips.

I decided to take it a one step further, since it will be in my protected porch and thumb tacked pictures of us at summertime, or doing outside things to the front of the boards. I am thrilled with how they turned out! I am one step closer to my back porch makeover reveal!

Check out www.inmyownstyle.com for this and other great project ideas!

Back Porch Cabinet Redo

When the back porch was emptied after my grandma died this cabinet was suppose to be put in the dumpster brought on site, but I put a not on it to leave it for a redo. I have to say this is not much of a "redo" in the traditional sense, but it is pretty much what I had in mind. We have redone the porch with mostly "nature" decor. The cabinet was in really bad shape, so I decided to do very little to it other then paint it. It was missing a glass door on the front. Most of the shelves were all bent from the weather and the back and top were caved in because they are made of that very thick cardboard. Paint was chipped off almost completely and the handles are rusted. Every part of the cabinet would have to be replaced and to me that would mean we weren't really keeping my grandparent's cabinet, so I left it almost the same.

All I did was took the other front glass door off, sanded off the rest of the excess paint and then cleaned and painted it. I even left the rusty handles. I think it actually looks pretty good considering the shape it is STILL in. Ha Ha! 

I know my grandparent's would be so happy to see all of the items we are still using in the house! I have only three small projects left in the back porch and I can show all the room makeover pictures! I can't wait to share!