Summer Recipe Index & New Blog Header | Peonies, Strawberries & Robin's Egg Blue

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8heX2rp13_IFHvF1r6w384ajAIi7ubGXyC4nEFntTBpLVZHh0c_q4Qv387haZj3cRXx3MBXCPC5Ypht2Ts994qhWKjnbacPcbLILaBWoKIIvnot67-2PDRaczYkIgcpyR4vO-3rn1B_i/s1600/header.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8heX2rp13_IFHvF1r6w384ajAIi7ubGXyC4nEFntTBpLVZHh0c_q4Qv387haZj3cRXx3MBXCPC5Ypht2Ts994qhWKjnbacPcbLILaBWoKIIvnot67-2PDRaczYkIgcpyR4vO-3rn1B_i/s1600/header.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> This week has been a little quiet on the blog, as Emma's been on her Summer break.  But after three days of working during naps I finally have updated the blog template to feel a little more summery.  As you can see above, the new header features some fun pink peonies, the robin's egg blue enamelware, linen tea towels and other goodies from my store.  Only another week or so left of peony season, so I will be glad to relish in it everyday on the blog : )<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QDaVi5Cc0D4zLH3_Fwv6mbJNqlz6DHSYN-QGoRm735KyvQh-Ock3Siu8rjJfc1FkWbxLnBhT_nmlmmF8NmTKLOXSp82lugQkezvoINAI-xQzaepOsgS4lZvRWfm70va9xJmZ2ljsJeQf/s1600/summer+galleries.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QDaVi5Cc0D4zLH3_Fwv6mbJNqlz6DHSYN-QGoRm735KyvQh-Ock3Siu8rjJfc1FkWbxLnBhT_nmlmmF8NmTKLOXSp82lugQkezvoINAI-xQzaepOsgS4lZvRWfm70va9xJmZ2ljsJeQf/s1600/summer+galleries.png" /></a></div>I've also been adding some new pages and features to make the blog more user friendly.  As I've done in seasons past, I created a <a href="http://www.jennysteffens.com/summer.html">Summer page</a> with an image gallery (and links) to all of my favorite Summer posts and products.  <br /><br />Here is a snapshot of the <a href="http://www.jennysteffens.com/summer.html">Summer Galleries</a> page.  As you can see, there are links to each recipe category - <a href="http://www.jennysteffens.com/summerdesserts.html">Summer Desserts,</a> <a href="http://www.jennysteffens.com/summersalads.html">Summer Salads</a>, <a href="http://www.jennysteffens.com/summerappetizers.html">Summer Appetizers</a>, etc.   Anytime you need some inspiration, just start browsing!<br /><br /><br />You can also find links to these galleries and recipe indexes on the right side of the page - all of the thumbnails on the bottom right. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyD_Mj0JZsnd2MSXHWyxJbYNQbJC7wB3D0R2b8CDGyNTaxL3q7SGXQsRvA6yvhHeYegi80DHng_ZSp7u0HnA5I1hXVmlMVZmw67-VufIqoczrJaVMYfZiQe1Z61g-5-aocuhcLqWTAhrg/s1600/summer+index.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyD_Mj0JZsnd2MSXHWyxJbYNQbJC7wB3D0R2b8CDGyNTaxL3q7SGXQsRvA6yvhHeYegi80DHng_ZSp7u0HnA5I1hXVmlMVZmw67-VufIqoczrJaVMYfZiQe1Z61g-5-aocuhcLqWTAhrg/s1600/summer+index.png" /></a></div><br />Here is a snapshot of what each gallery looks like - this is the <a href="http://www.jennysteffens.com/summerappetizers.html">Summer Appetizers</a> page.  As you can see, it has an image/link gallery of all of my summer appetizer recipes from years past.  I loved going through and finding the recipes again - many favorites that even I forgot about.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CEM6YFN5Sk6Pdjd6gwtuNslt0UCmCw8JdNo56V22zWFR_o12nvWn0cOFsaWyrWnk8DJlT-4TETTFUu01zCP8JLQjxgvf79PsYodoMhfhoq6C6sQ44-Wbw0-u6NS227nmM5q1ry9ieGa8/s1600/search.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CEM6YFN5Sk6Pdjd6gwtuNslt0UCmCw8JdNo56V22zWFR_o12nvWn0cOFsaWyrWnk8DJlT-4TETTFUu01zCP8JLQjxgvf79PsYodoMhfhoq6C6sQ44-Wbw0-u6NS227nmM5q1ry9ieGa8/s1600/search.png" /></a> </div>Another thing that is back by popular demand is the search bar... actually, I'm not sure what happened to it the first time, but now it's back.  Now you can find anything on the site you're looking for.  It is located on the right hand side under the header.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKYUOAeQKHOCJmusOblqajVUpX1X0V87otrQOwiNrJ-YcZBta2biBEPdFjXwkggsjgVjF8VoqBPHrX9G1f6F-Hr7_VINV0b2vUOIQWH2hITWUP3-xscObr3DXSK4gmmtGCwJHBbmBVbVy/s1600/newsletter.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKYUOAeQKHOCJmusOblqajVUpX1X0V87otrQOwiNrJ-YcZBta2biBEPdFjXwkggsjgVjF8VoqBPHrX9G1f6F-Hr7_VINV0b2vUOIQWH2hITWUP3-xscObr3DXSK4gmmtGCwJHBbmBVbVy/s1600/newsletter.png" /></a>Another big improvement is my new Email Newsletter system.  I've upgraded it to a prettier format, with personalized messaging.  Click on <a href="http://www.jennysteffens.com/newsletter.html">My Email Newsletter</a> to add your email address to my receive regular emails with whats new on the blog. <br /><br />I'm also working on indexing all of my recipes from the last 6 years.  Gulp.  It might take me a couple more weeks, but it will be another great improvement.  <br /><br />All of these changes have been made from your suggestions.  Thanks so much for continuing to encourage me to improve my site and services.  Happy Summer to you - naptime is officially over and Emma and I are off to the pool : )</div>

Summer Recipe Index & New Blog Header | Peonies, Strawberries & Robin's Egg Blue

 This week has been a little quiet on the blog, as Emma's been on her Summer break.  But after three days of working during naps I final...

Read more »

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup from Nine and Sixteen

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmAIkenSariXOFOZum0QlGHaWFhC5c7t4ulQMCG0dQ4_nlANjnEVOODuSR9Cts09WtNwMRjLW42-1dLMy2XT9DEePTyEd0AXubnSLBnapBg4u-pb7VyJuOJnGCW0jzIRuaB9GFXpD9-A/s1600/IMG_1701.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmAIkenSariXOFOZum0QlGHaWFhC5c7t4ulQMCG0dQ4_nlANjnEVOODuSR9Cts09WtNwMRjLW42-1dLMy2XT9DEePTyEd0AXubnSLBnapBg4u-pb7VyJuOJnGCW0jzIRuaB9GFXpD9-A/s640/IMG_1701.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuQv1AddMUh1gAtfGExVUxv43lGE6t28MJ0ZSvkuUvq7cgmzgsw0E1n4SwyJUNOpM-YthO47J8vsK-ePSmBp6zN52oA1XW2owU3dhvR849Iewwniur1O1ckWHZbEtG3SCac42JOib5z8/s1600/IMG_1694.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuQv1AddMUh1gAtfGExVUxv43lGE6t28MJ0ZSvkuUvq7cgmzgsw0E1n4SwyJUNOpM-YthO47J8vsK-ePSmBp6zN52oA1XW2owU3dhvR849Iewwniur1O1ckWHZbEtG3SCac42JOib5z8/s640/IMG_1694.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>I hate to admit it, but I don't read a lot of blogs.  Terrible, I know!  It seems like I just can't find more than a handful that I can remember to keep up with.  One that I never mess is Tessa's <a href="http://nineandsixteen.blogspot.com/">Nine and Sixteen</a>.  I'll bring up her name in conversation with my husband like she is a personal friend, "Tessa posted about her son's school talent show today and it was the sweetest thing I've ever read.  Ever."  And, he knows exactly who I'm talking about.<br /><br />When I started reading her blog my perspective on blogging changed.  She is real in her writing.  She shares her life in such an honest (but not tooooo open and out there) real way that has encouraged me to write in a more personal style.  Her family's lifestyle seems to be of a comfortable, but thoughtful one with home-cooked dinners, plenty of projects and special quiet moments.  She says things like, "When my boys are grown they'll probably say their mother was always in the kitchen {and her closet and car were a disaster} and she read me the best stories."  I love that.   <br /><br />Tessa shared this recipe for  Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup last April.  When we were on our way back from Seaside last week to our blizzard struck home, I was thinking about this soup and knew it would be the perfect light and fresh, but warm and comforting soup I needed.  Everyone in our family loved it - even Emma.  I loved that everything was the perfect size for her.  It was not too lemony, just enough to bring a freshness to what is otherwise a chicken and vegetable soup.  <br /><br />Thanks, Tessa!  Here is link to the recipe for <a href="http://nineandsixteen.blogspot.com/2012/04/recipe-family-life-weekends-more-soup.html">Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup</a> on her blog!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1Hl-10y1ovugfzCOLyxkkdiWwmCGPkBhibRScQQwBlSU7iLpNOuL4my-ooAT2dLXiudj3FhuAOhcoX42t31mznZfJsEnOQZ0DVzMP2VWUUfItio2kEaiedITEFY28IeHEB3JDAklRPs/s1600/IMG_1685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1Hl-10y1ovugfzCOLyxkkdiWwmCGPkBhibRScQQwBlSU7iLpNOuL4my-ooAT2dLXiudj3FhuAOhcoX42t31mznZfJsEnOQZ0DVzMP2VWUUfItio2kEaiedITEFY28IeHEB3JDAklRPs/s640/IMG_1685.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The soup is garnished with roasted lemon slices.  If you have never tried cooking a lemon, I highly recommend it - they seem to transform. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IgGZgW2-Tnyx0HrIOgs06M673LwbQx0M4gGXme6enL6kVNm9iC6CORWRviKgpyWF8kmZymso-egWdSGHzyCEHBGfeClALlvYz6f6gyk5M8LbY_csn2kJ0wHhFT7TPX-HJl2tAYOacIE/s1600/IMG_1691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IgGZgW2-Tnyx0HrIOgs06M673LwbQx0M4gGXme6enL6kVNm9iC6CORWRviKgpyWF8kmZymso-egWdSGHzyCEHBGfeClALlvYz6f6gyk5M8LbY_csn2kJ0wHhFT7TPX-HJl2tAYOacIE/s640/IMG_1691.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup from Nine and Sixteen

I hate to admit it, but I don't read a lot of blogs.  Terrible, I know!  It seems like I just can't find more than a handful that I ...

Read more »