Boozy Biscuit Strawberry Shortcake

It's been busy, busy, busy around here the last few weeks.

One thing we have done is joined the local Bountiful Baskets program.

If you know nothing about Bountiful Baskets, I encourage you to click on the link and check it out!

It really is the coolest thing ever!

Co-Ops have been around for ages and this one is amazing! 

A few weeks back, our baskets contained strawberries and since we volunteer as well, we got to pick out additional items and I grabbed more berries.

Strawberry Shortcake is a favorite around here, so the berries provided an opportunity to whip up a batch.

The recipe is easy and makes about a dozen shortcakes.

Sure you can go to the store and buy the sponge cake things, but homemade is so much better!

Boozy Biscuit Strawberry Shortcake
2 cups flour
2 Tblsp sugar
1 tsp salt
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cream of tarter
1/2 cup cold butter
1 cup cold milk
2 cups sliced fresh strawberries, lightly sugared
1 tsp almond extract
1 Tblsp Grand Marnier (orange flavored liqueur)*
Whipped topping (store bought or make your own using whipping cream)

Combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and cream of tarter in a bowl and mix well. Cut in the butter until mixture resembles pea-size crumbs. Pour in the milk all at once and combine quickly. Knead gently for a minute or so on a floured surface. Roll or pat out dough to 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick and cut with a small round cookie cutter or biscuit cutter. Arrange on a buttered baking sheet, close together for soft sides. Bake at 450 degrees for 12 minutes; cool slightly. Toss the strawberries with the almond extract and the Grand Marnier. Let sit for 5 minutes or so. Split the shortcakes open and place on plates. Top with the berries and some whipped topping. Makes 12 servings. *If you do not use alcohol or don't have Grand Marnier on hand, you can use a tablespoon of orange juice in place of the Grand Marnier. 

Enjoy! 

Whipped Topping Clouds

 

I like it when I forget that I have taken photos and then go to upload something else, only to find a nice surprise waiting for me.

I'm weird like that.

 

The evening I took these shots, I was doing some dishes at the sink and looked out the kitchen window and thought the cloud formation looked pretty.

These are the mountains that are directly to the east of us and our home faces them.

I stepped out to the front porch and took a few shots.

The evening light was fading, which made it hard to tell what I had on the screen.

 

I like the contrast in colors from the green field to the blue of the evening sky.

 

This shot is SOOC

(straight out of the camera shot)

 

I played around with this one a bit to give it some "umphf."

 

The clouds looked like fluffy whipped topping!

Cloud Burst

Tired of clouds yet?

Hope not, as I seem to be fascinated by them lately.

 

Coming home on Tuesday evening I was treated to a beautiful sight as I dropped into our valley.

It had been stormy off and on all day.

The winds were blowing once again.

 

At the south end of the valley, the clouds were dropping and changing rapidly.

I noticed one cloud formation so I slowed down and I waited to see what it would do.

A micro-burst formed!

I could see the wind swirl up off the desert floor and the cloud started to fan out.

Micro-bursts can produce some pretty intense winds!

The light was changing fast as the clouds moved and I didn't think any of the photos would turn out.

I was wrong!

I love the shot I captured below!

Mother nature can be so beautiful even when she is behaving badly!

 

 

The rest of the drive home was filled with cloud bursts happening all around the valley.

 

Low hanging clouds stretch before me as I travel the road home. 

I See Fields of Green

As I dropped into the valley yesterday evening, I noticed that the fields are finally turning a pretty shade of green. I have been able to see the green in the fields the last few weeks, but it finally just popped with a vibrant shade in the last few days!

 

Even though there were tragic events unfolding across the county, I chose to focus on the beauty in front of me. I can't let my mind go to those dark places.

It is much to heartbreaking at times!

 

It really was a beautiful evening!

 

Cloud Filled Sky

The other evening, on my drive home from work, I slowed down to take a few photos of the cloud filled sky.

This was looking north in our valley and the sky was just full of fluffy, low hanging clouds.

Just after you round the bend in the road, you would see our hay fields.

They are greening up nicely now.

A Beautiful Nevada Sky!

Speckled with White

Our weather was beautiful last week!

We got a tad spoiled!

 

A storm blew in on Sunday!

Horrid wind!

Pelting rain!

Power outage!

 

Monday morning dawned windy and cold!

And it snowed over night!

 

The mountains around us were speckled with white!

It only reached 42 degrees for a high on Monday!

 

 

 

Today, Wednesday, it is supposed to reach 69 degrees!

What a difference a few days makes! 

The Eagle Has Landed

We have a Golden Eagle that visits our valley on a regular basis.

I actually think he comes into the valley to hunt.

I have seen him several times since late February, but have been unable to get a photo of him.

I'm not actually sure if the eagle is a male or not, but for the sake of this post, I will call it a him.

Silly, I know! 

On my way home from work Wednesday, my husband asked me to make sure one of the pivots was on and running at the south end of our valley.

I slowed down to get a good look at the pivot, which wasn't on and then called my husband to let him know the details of the non-moving pivot.

I was on the phone for a bit and then hung up and headed on my way.

Before I crossed the cattle guard, I just happened to look out the window and up towards the high power lines.

And I spotted the eagle sitting at the very top!

I very slowly stopped the car and got out my little point and shoot camera.

I zoomed in as far as I could go with it and started taking photos.

This is the only photo that came out somewhat decent.

This was the last shot I took and then I looked away for just a second to check the camera and when I looked back the eagle had flown.

His wing span was massive! 

He was amazing to watch in flight!

I was pretty happy to get this shot.

I usually don't do much playing around with my photos to jazz them up, but I did crop this one and add the frame to help make the image "pop" a bit.

I don't have a fancy camera, I simply use a Kodak point and shoot at the moment.

Most all of my photos are SOCS (straight out of camera shots).

I will continue to watch for the eagle and hopefully get more photos of him in the future.

As I continued on my way that evening, I spotted a buck antelope standing off the side of the road.

He was standing and looking around for his girl, who wasn't far off.

I stopped the car, rolled down the window and made kissy sounds to get his attention.

He turned and looked right at me.

I was shooting directly into the sun and couldn't even see the screen while snapping away.

I got several photos, but this one turned out the best.

He moved towards me at one point and then turned away from me and headed towards his girl.

I'm seriously considering getting a new camera.

Maybe a middle of the road, fancy one this time!

Spring Stroll

Stroll sounds so much better than walk, don't you think?

A stroll is leisurely and relaxed.

A stroll allows one to just be with no destination in mind.

That's just what I did yesterday when I needed a little break from work.

I took a stroll around the office complex.

Spring was showing her colors nicely.

The trees are budding and blooming.

Pink spring blossoms are popping out everywhere!

The birds were busy as well, but they wouldn't hold still long enough for me to get a photo.

"But the beauty is in the walking - - we are betrayed by destinations." ~ Gwyn Thomas

Sprinter

"Sprinter"

Is simply a mix of spring and winter.

It is the "norm" around here now and usually right up through May.

 

Here's hoping that April will bring many spring showers our way!