Balsamic Cherry Tomatoes

October 16, 2023October 8, 2023 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Our tomato vines are still going STRONG! I can’t stand to see them go to waste, so I searched for a recipe so I could make the best use of these late bloomers. This is a variation of another recipe we love that uses roasted tomatoes and ravioli. You can find that recipe here. The recipe I’m sharing today is VERY close to that recipe. The one difference is that this makes up a bit of a chunky sauce poured over spaghetti. I know this…both are delicious and a fantastic way to use up those cherry tomatoes! I halved this recipe and it gave us supper for two nights. It was delicious!’

You could cook up this sauce and freeze it, too!

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Cozy Up a Room with Lighting

October 13, 2023October 8, 2023 RefreshHer3 Comments

Cozy rooms are so inviting, but how do we create that atmosphere? Is it by our signature style? Paint? The furniture? If I could only give one way to make a room inviting, my word would be lighting. It makes all the difference in the world.

I love adding lights at varied heights and brightness. Lamps help with tasks, like reading or handwork, and a dim light can make a dark corner glow with warmth. I’ve recently added some lights to my house and I’m loving the difference they’ve made!

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Responding to trials

Where Should We Look In a Trial?

October 11, 2023October 2, 2023 RefreshHerLeave a comment

You can listen to this post on the Refresh Her podcast.

One day my husband and I took our lunch from home and headed to the lake to sit on the boat dock and enjoy the pretty weather. The water in the lake was still low, due the early time in the season. So our seat on the dock was not sitting in the water, as you see in the picture below. Instead, we were looking immediately out onto rocks; big, little and in-between, as well as the dirt beneath them. There was even a bit of trash that had accumulated at the shoreline. it wasn’t a beach shore – it was the exposed lake bottom. It wasn’t exactly picturesque.

However, if I looked upward to the other side of the lake, there were beautiful homes to enjoy. Trees were blooming. The water was shining as the sun reflected off of it. I decided to look upward instead of down! I could then point across the lake and say to my husband, “Look over there! Isn’t that beautiful?” If I was thinking, I could have also reminded him that in a month or so this lake would be full again and it would be so pretty right where we were sitting, too!

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Beef · dinner in 30 minutes

The Best Steak Cooked in the Oven

October 9, 2023October 7, 2023 RefreshHerLeave a comment

We love a steak cooked on the grill! How about you? It’s juicy, flavorful and easy. Sometimes, however, things happen that keep the gas grill from being the best way to cook the meat. The weather can interfere and sometimes the propane tank is empty with no time to run to get a refill. It’s at those times that it’s nice to have a method to cook your steak inside that will make them taste JUST as good. I found a cooking method that is so easy and delicious that I almost prefer it over the grill! It’s also cooked within about 15 minutes for medium rare!

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Outside decor · seasonal decor

Autumn Front Porch On a Budget

October 6, 2023October 5, 2023 RefreshHer2 Comments

I love my front porch and keeping it inviting is important to me. I want to feel that it’s always opening its arms and welcoming all who pass to sit down, enjoy the shade and have time to rest. That takes careful attention to the chairs, rugs and flowers out there. The pillows on the chairs also need to be refreshed, especially after a summer of sunshine beating down, fading their colors. I don’t want to buy a new pillow for each season, but I do want the pillows to coordinate with the time of year. Here’s how I accomplish that without spending a fortune ~

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