Memorial Day

Today, Please take the time to honor

those who lost their lives protecting 

our beautiful nation.

Outdoor Party Season- Part Two

Outdoor Party Season- Part Two

I'd Rather Bring a Salad

For more of my paintings visit: www.dianacummings.com

In my last post, I explained how I much rather bring a salad or side dish to an outdoor party.... So when I have the chance to say, "I would rather bring a salad, is that ok?" I hope the answer is yes....

Mustard-Dill Tortellini Salad Skewers

From Southern Living

Ingredients

• 
  Preparation1 (9-oz.) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
• 1 (8-oz.) package frozen sugar snap peas
• 68 (4-inch) wooden skewers
• 1 pt. grape tomatoes, cut in half
• Mustard-Dill Vinaigrette*

1. 1. Cook tortellini according to package directions. Rinse under cold running water.
2. 2. Place sugar snap peas in a small bowl; cover with plastic wrap. Microwave at HIGH 2 minutes. Let stand, covered, 2 minutes. Rinse under cold running water.
3. 3. Thread each skewer with 1 sugar snap pea, 1 tortellini, and 1 tomato half. Place skewers in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Pour Mustard-Dill Vinaigrette over skewers, turning to coat. Cover and chill 4 hours. Transfer skewers to a serving platter; discard any remaining vinaigrette.

Outdoor Party Season - Part One

Outdoor Party Season- Part One

"Oh Just Bring a Dessert if you like...."

Late spring then into summer is what I like to call outdoor party season. It is more casual and impromptu than Holiday party season.  BBQ's, luaus, afternoon get-to-gethers and swim parties galore! More often than not, these parties tend to be potluckish in style. The norm is to take a salad, side dish or dessert to go with the hosts main dish. My first outdoor party invite is for this weekend, and it gave me an idea to do a series in my blog on outdoor parties. So I asked the host of this weekend's shindig... What should I bring? "Oh just bring a dessert if you like..." I normally prefer to bring a salad or side dish... but if they need dessert I am happy to bring it... desserts just are not my specialty so... I had to go looking for something casual, that can travel, be yummy and survive the outdoors... so this week I will share what will probably become my go to outdoor party dessert!  I wanted something, easy, unqiue, easy traveling and something both kids and adults would love.....

Martha Stewart's No Bake Birthday Cake

I am giving it a more sophisticated look ....

Ingredients

• Vegetable-oil cooking spray
• Crispy Cake Basic Recipe
• Chocolate-Marshmallow Frosting
• Flower- and ball-shaped cereal pieces

Directions

1. Coat two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans with cooking spray. Prepare crisp-rice mixture; before pouring into pan, reserve 2 tablespoons for patching cake, and set aside, covered. Divide remaining crisp-rice mixture among prepared cake pans. Press into pans with greased fingers to level. Let cool until set, at least 30 minutes.
2. Run a knife around edges of cakes to loosen; unmold onto parchment paper.
3. While frosting is still warm, pour onto center of 1 cake layer, and spread evenly to edges. Let stand 10 minutes. Place second cake layer on top; press down gently. Using reserved pieces of crisp-rice mixture, patch edges where frosting is visible.
4. Decorate with cereal, arranging pieces around top,middle, and bottom edges. Let cake stand until firm enough to slice, at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours. After 2 hours, wrap cake in plastic wrap to prevent it from getting too hard to slice.

Love a Tree Day

Love a Tree Day

More artwork on www.dianacummnings.com

Tree huggers or painters unite! I don't paint on trees, I like to paint pictures of trees. Today is Love a Tree Day and I figured I would share facts about my favorite type of tree the weeping willow. No it's not the type of tree in the picture above... but I don't have any photos of a painting of a willow tree that I have done..... I love weeping willows because of the character they exude, almost a human like quality....

Quick Facts about Weeping Willow Tree

• When compared to other trees, life span of weeping willows is shorter, some don't thrive past 30 years.
• The height and width of weeping willows can be about 35-50 feet. They should be grown in full sun.
• The fruit of the tree looks like a small brown capsule. It is about half-inch long.
• Weeping willow tree is brittle by nature. The bark turns reddish-brown during the winter.
• Pests like aphids and tent caterpillars can destroy the health of the tree. You should frequently check for conditions like powdery mildew, crown gall and canker.
• You may cut some branches, remove the bottom leaves, and put them in a jar of water. Keep the jar out in the sun. Roots will grow within 15-20 days. But if you want a specific variety, it is better to buy it.
• Beautiful baskets are woven using willow stems. Some artists create three-dimensional sculptures, such as animals and human figures, by weaving willow stems. Artistic panels and obelisks made from willow stems help enhance the beauty of the garden.

Elder Abuse - Older American's Month

Older American's Month:

Elder Abuse

Earlier in the week I was celebrating some this month's holidays/appreciation days. May is Older American's Month. I am an older American :).  I would like share with everyone an issue that pertains to senior citizens in the US and all over the world: Elder Abuse. It is becoming more and more prevalent in our society and we need to take a stand. Check out these statistics and get involved with community! Make sure local nursing homes and senior plans have training on elder abuse prevention, and protocols regarding reporting and prosecution of such hideous acts! 

• 
  
  In 2009, 11 percent of older people responding to a phone survey reported experiencing at least one form of mistreatment—emotional, physical, or sexual. (The study did not include any individuals in residential care or with severe cognitive incapacity.)
• Financial exploitation by a family member was reported by 5.2 percent of older people in 1 year.
• Approximately 4.6 percent of adults over age 60 reported experiencing some form of emotional mistreatment in the past year, and only 8 percent of these individuals reported the event to the police.
• It is estimated that for every one case of elder abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect reported to authorities, about five more go unreported.

Sources: National Elder Mistreatment Study; Elder Mistreatment: Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation in an Aging America

Teachers, Nurses, Mothers

Nurse's Week

Teacher Appreciation Day

Mother's Day

Hello everyone! It's been really busy for me lately.  However I would be remiss if I missed this weeks celebrations. This week is National Nurse's Week and I want to thank all of our hardworking nurses for their time and dedication and compassion. It is also Teacher Appreciation day on Tuesday and I want to thank all the teachers who go above and beyond in and outside the classroom, preparing tomorrow's leaders. Just think teacher's are preparing our future scientists, presidents, doctors, social changers and visionaries, they have one of the most important job's in the world. So do Mother's and I would like to wish all fellow mothers a happy day! Enjoy!