Mr. Prof designer home

It's been awhile since we've had beef burgers but as soon as I saw these Onion Ring Topped BBQ Bacon Cheeseburgers over at Lauren's Latest I had to put them on the menu. SP is a big onion ring fan and he also enjoys BBQ sauce on his burger.

I forgot to buy a slicing tomato at the supermarket so I opted to leave off the lettuce and tomato. Big mistake. These burgers were good, don't get me wrong, but I was missing something green. A side salad or something to cut the richness of the beef and onion rings. I've also decided I don't like pieces of onion in my burgers since they don't have a chance to fully cook on the grill.

Once again I was blown away by an Alexia product. We've been enjoying their shoestring fries for some time now but the onion rings were a new purchase. Delicious and crispy in the oven - you can't beat that.

Onion Ring Topped BBQ Bacon Cheeseburgers
Slightly modified from Lauren’s Latest

1 13.5 oz. package frozen onion rings, such as Alexia brand
4 slices thick cut bacon
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup BBQ sauce + more for the burgers
Salt & pepper, to taste
4 slices cheese
4 hamburger buns, toasted
Mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickles, etc.

Cook onion rings according to package directions. While those are in the oven, cook your bacon to desired doneness and drain on paper towels.

For the burger patties, in a small bowl, stir ground beef, BBQ sauce, salt and pepper together until combined. Divide into two equal patties. Spray a nonstick skillet with cooking spray and cook patties on medium heat for approximately 7 minutes per side. Alternatively you can use a grill. In the last few minutes of cooking add the cheese and melt.

To assemble burgers, place cooked patty onto hamburger buns and top with more BBQ sauce, cooked bacon, onion rings and any other desired toppings. Serve immediately with any remaining onion rings and/or fries.

All pictures: My Scandinavian Home Blog

In case you're wondering where anything's from here's a bit of an 'I spy': Blackboard paint by Flugger. Second hand industrial lamp; I think it's Louis Poulsen but I need to get this checked. The pretty pink flower is a 'Gloriosa' and the green plant is a Fig. The footstool is BEKVÄM by IKEA which I've painted in mint green. Oh and my beloved sheep skin rug is from a farm in the North of Sweden.

Just one little thing worth noting - while we were painting we realised it was best to leave a border at the top of the wall and also on one of the edges leading out into the rest of the room - definitely worth thinking about if you're considering painting one of your walls in a strong colour.

Oh and I am wearing a veeeeery cosy new knit from TopShop which I can warmly recommend for blustery Autumn days like today!

Eeeek, hope you like the result, always nerve racking posting my own pics (plus it could take quite a few layers to paint over it again)! Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

Goodness it seems even though we don’t live too far from the kids we just don’t see them as often as we would like.  Could be our schedule or could be that they are a young family and just have so much to do so we took a ride down there on Wednesday.
I can not believe how much Miranda has grown in a few weeks!!!  She’s now smiling and making fun noises.  Aidan is the big brother of course and told us everything she has been doing right on down to pooping her diapers…I think he’s going to be a wonderful protector of his little sister.

I was on Darren’s FB page and saw this picture of Aidan…it doesn’t even look like him! lol  Silly little guy!

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(remember you can click on the pictures to view them larger)

On our drives to the kids house we pass this farm that has a covered wagon for their fruit/vegetables they sell.  All the times we have passed it, it has been just too cute…but wouldn’t you know this one time I had my camera with me ready to take a picture of it, it was all ragged from wind and rain – but you still get the idea.  I bought 5 Pumpkins here.
 

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Probably much like all of you out there…FALL IS RUNNING THROUGH MY BLOOD right now…I need the cooler weather and we’re getting it actually.  Yesterday and today was very chilly but with long sleeves and a vest it was perfectly comfortable.  So I’m ready.
And ready with nice comfort food too!
Tuesday night I made stew from the roast dinner we had on Sunday and a cast iron skillet of yummy Corn Bread. Perfect comfort food for a cool Fall evening.

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Today we headed to Kane County, IL for a Folk Art show…WOW…it was fantastic.  I haven’t been to a quality show in just ages. 
Much of it was not in my price range (at least not without feeling guilty about buying it for the prices they had on things) but there were a couple very nice Primitive and reasonably priced vendors there and I could have shopped and shopped in the one.
She doesn’t have a shop or website which is so sad because her work is just beautiful.  Maybe some of you who have gone to the Folk Art shows have seen her products.  Her name is Marti Diederich and she sells things at the Olde Timers Antique Center in Sandwich, IL.
I was so happy to see some well made aged Primitives that didn’t look too ratty.

Got the Turkey and corn from Marti.  The two gourds and broom from two other vendors. Actually the broom came from http://www.lucyslazydayzprimitives.com/

A little closer look at Mr. Turkey and the corn
She used real aged corn husks for the feathers and on the corn…how unique!
 

Is this corn real and gorgeous looking or what!!!

These Gooseneck Gourds came from Marti as well - The picture did not come out well but I wanted to put the gourds up to show what they looked like. Not sure if this is where they will stay.  have to see what Fall is going on the mantle before I decide.

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Got myself another Blue Pumpkin and some little whites and the traditional Orange Pumpkins. Also a very large tri-colored Mum at Sam’s Club.
If I can only find something to display all the Pumpkins and Mums I bought last week I will be happy.  Next Sunday will tell cuz that’s the last flea market of the season and if I don’t find a wagon or wheel barrow then it’s a couple straw bales.

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I know there are a few of you that love to read Amish Fiction books like me – my cousin gave me this to read and I must say I’ve never read a more interesting and intriguing book in ages…it’s a murder mystery but falls around an Amish family. A must read.

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Last year at this time I was buying up Green Beans to string and dry – I have a few strings in the basement yet but never did anything with them.  This one I put Cranberries on the string. I wish I had done it with all of them.  This week I brought it up and added it to the gourd garland that hangs on the back of a cupboard that’s exposed by my front door. I like the Green Beans with the gourds.

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YOU HAVE 5 DAYS LEFT TO JOIN MY CHALLENGE!
http://mycolonialhome.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-post-challenge-that-will-have-winner.html
There are goodies in it for ya!!!  Just a few teasers…

 

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I hope I haven’t forgotten to mention something I was supposed to…seems there is though.

My following is growing I see and I thank you everyone for visiting me, commenting and for giving me the opportunity to express myself with this blog. If it wasn’t for all of you I would not be doing this at all – so again Thank You.

Oh…I know what it was…I closed my POPULAR SELLING BLOG SITE
Seems there were MANY sites that didn’t even exist anymore and some that never updated for well over a year (some even more) and it took so much time to go through each member and see if they were active.
Thank you to all who participated and I hope you gained a few sales from being listed.
If you have my logo on your blogs feel free to remove it.
It’s this logo…

Blessings to all
Karen

Erik Olsson

.......I have a wonderful new sponsor - fab online shop LET LIV in New Zealand. I absolutely love everything they sell and currently have my eye on a Jaipur quilt. It's definitely worth popping over to their shop and having a mooch! They automatically ship to New Zealand and Australia and can ship worldwide on request you just need to send an e-mail to info@letliv.co.nz - yay!

Have an absolutely lovely weekend guys, and see you Monday! x

As much as I enjoy the Blogger's Choice recipe swaps, they are definitely more difficult than the themed swaps. Having to actually pick a recipe is tough. For this installment of Blogger's Choice I was given Kim's blog, Feed Me Seymour. I love the name and had a tough time picking a recipe. I had it narrowed down to four choices and ultimately gave SP final say. It wasn't a shock when he chose Fried Green Tomato BLTs. The man loves a good BLT.


The sandwiches sounded delicious but I was concerned about my ability to find green tomatoes in the supermarket. I've never noticed them before and, as suspected, they didn't have any. I chose a firmer red tomato and hoped for the best.

These were absolutely delicious, if messy. The tomatoes held together pretty well during the frying process but didn't get crispy or golden brown like I hoped they would. I wonder if Panko would be a better choice, if not exactly authentic. The sweet basil mayo was positively addicting and I was sad that there wasn't more of it (the recipe below makes just enough for two sandwiches). I hope I can find green tomatoes at some point so I can make these properly.

As an aside, I wish I could take better pictures of sandwiches. I haven't been able to figure out how to get a good inside shot while still showing the whole sandwich.

Fried Green Tomato BLTs
As seen on Feed Me Seymour
Makes 2 sandwiches

Fried Green Tomatoes
1 large green tomato (or firm red tomato)
1 cup flour
1 cup breadcrumbs (or Panko)
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 eggs
salt and pepper to taste

Slice the tomato into thick slices.

Put the flour on one plate. Put your eggs, beaten, in a shallow bowl. Combine chili powder, salt and pepper and breadcrumbs on a third plate. One at a time, dip the tomato slices in the flour to coat. Tap off the excess flour. Put them next in the egg, coating them, then in the breadcrumb mix and fully coat.

Heat a sauce pan with about an inch of oil over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, place the tomato slices in the pan. Cook them on one side until golden brown, about a minute. Gently flip them to the other side and cook until golden brown. Remove from the pan and place on a paper towel to drain. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Sweet Basil Mayo
1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper

In a food processor, combine basil, mayo, lemon juice and mustard. Pulse a few times until combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Sandwiches
4 slices thick sandwich bread, toasted
4 fried green tomatoes
Lettuce
8 to 12 slices crispy bacon
Sweet basil mayo

Slather one slice of bread with sweet basil mayo. Be generous. Layer on two fried green tomatoes. Next, add 4 slices bacon. Top with lettuce and the other slice of bread.

This Stockholm apartment is for sale right now through Erik Olsson. It has the white floors (tick!), the beautiful original windows and doors (tick). A little outdoor space (tick!). And it also helps that the owners have impeccable taste, furnishing the Swedish home with a mix of designer and high street and a hint of far off places. Ja tack!

Erik Olsson

What do you reckon? Somewhere you could see yourself pottering around? Second home in Stockholm perhaps?!!

One of my little girls is sick today (poor lamb) so I'm at home looking after her. This morning I lined the Chariot (we love our chariot - it can go behind a bike, be used as a push chair and in the winter it even hs it's own set of skis!) with a sheep skin rug, wrapped her in a cosy blanket, surrounded by cushions and took her for a stroll in the nearby park to take in the Autumn sunshine. It wseems to have done the trick as she has just appeared in her 'dancing dress',  ten hair clips and pink leg warmers.... it must be the Swedish sea air!

This afternoon we're planning on making an apple pie with the apples from my friend's garden....any recipe link tips?!!

Have a lovely afternoon!

Photographs courtesy of L'Affiche Moderne