Well, this has certainly been quite a weekend. Not only have Jay and I managed to have a ton of fun, both Friday and Saturday, but we’ve also been pretty productive around the house, too.
This weekend, we were actually supposed to be away in Wildwood but we had a few changes in plans and didn’t wind up going. So we figured we should take advantage of our free time this weekend, since we don’t really have one now until October maybe? My goodness.
So one of our Jay’s projects this weekend? Pressure washing the pool area.
Believe it or not, Jay used the pressure washer to spell “Hi” in that photo above.
Just check out the difference…isn’t that crazy? It looks sooooo much better now!
The pressure washing actually took place yesterday, but I managed to keep myself busy. I managed to squeeze in a great walk, did some cleaning, a little baking, and also did a little tending to the garden.
Unfortunately, we’ve got bad news on that front. Remember a couple weeks ago when I said we had a ton of green tomatoes just waiting to turn? Well, they’re slowly turning…but then something is eating them.
I found a ton of half eaten tomatoes on the ground of the garden, and three out of the four plants have clearly had the tops eaten off of them. Damn deer.
I’ve been tossing the rotten ones into our fire pit for whenever we have our next bonfire.
Thankfully, the whole garden isn’t at a loss, and I was still able to manage to find a few winners.
Oh, and we finally realized the pepper plants we have are red…the key is to pick them when they just start to turn and then let them fully ripen(?) on the counter inside. They are so sweet and so good.
Another thing with the garden? My basil plant is OUT OF CONTROL.
Seriously, I’ve never seen anything like it. There’s no way I’m going to be able to use it all up, so if anyone local wants some, I’ll gladly send you along with a big bunch!
Today’s projects were tackled both inside and outside. I wound up getting the urge to clean our basement. Sadly, I can’t even remember the last time I really bothered to clean it…it was BAD.
Now things are lookin’ (and smelling) nice and clean, and the bar is ready to be used. Who wants to come and join us for a drink?
While I worked outside, Jay continued working on our back deck demo.
We’ve still got a ways to go, but we still have about three more weeks until our new siding comes, so we have some time.
Eventually, it was time to get to work on some dinner.
Oh, that’s right…this is supposed to be somewhat of a food blog.
Earlier today I took care of the grocery shopping and wound up picking up a couple of london broil’s (buy 1 get 1 free at Price Chopper!). One went into the freezer and one got a little marinade treatment, courtesy of hubby. I’d been looking forward to some steak ALL day…I don’t know what my deal was, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it!
Maybe it’s because I knew I wanted to do this with it?
I opted to serve my steak on top of a huge, veggie-filled salad, complete with romaine, spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes, grilled corn on the cob (cooked on the grill while the steak cooked), red peppers, beets, red onion, and feta cheese.
You guys. This salad…it was sooooo good.
Exactly what I was in the mood for.
On the side, I served up the last of our naan bread; a perfect accompaniment.
Now Jay and I ready to relax and lay low for the rest of the evening…it’s been a busy day, and busy (but awesome) weekend.
Hope everyone else had just as awesome of a weekend themselves!
Mandee says
i get what you mean… i’m not a big steak person, but there are times when i’m totally craving some outback or my mom’s london broil!
also – you should freeze your basil! my mom does that with hers so she always has some on hand.
Blog is the New Black says
been dying for steak! That looks amzing!
Stephanie says
Wow, you really were busy this weekend! A tropical storm has kept me indoors and I can’t complain either – I was pretty productive as well! :) It feels good to get some things off the to-do list, especially if you were planning to get away for the weekend. Enjoy what’s left of the weekend!
Tiff @ Love Sweat and Beers says
I knew pressure washers were magical, but daaaaang! Totally jealous of your peppers, by the way. I planted some earlier this summer and have yet to see any! Hopefully the produce some sooner than later.
Lisa says
I broke out the power washer myself this weekend. Ours is electrical so it makes things so much easier. I’m loving the update on the deck as well. Can’t wait to see the finished result. Three weeks will be here before you know it. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Min says
Whoa! Great job! You guys are an amazing duo! And those deers…Why won’t they leave us alone? Well…we did intrude on their space. Tim’s car got hit by a deer twice! Or is it the other way around? haha. Hope you’re enjoying the rest of the evening!
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles says
That’s an amazing dinner! I just tried the steak and feta combo for the first time about 2 weeks ago and it is amazing.
Ellie says
That salad looks really good and interesting~I don’t think I’ve had steak in my salad before. And wow, cleaning a pool sounds hard!
Emily says
If you clip the flowery parts off the tops of the basil plants, it will keep producing longer. And you can always make a batch of pesto with it and put it in the freezer in ice cube trays for individual servings for pasta! Tastes great to use something from the garden long after the plants have died!
Alex @ Brain, Body, Because says
Yes! I was just about to suggest freezing pesto in ice cube trays.
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
HA! I have that same coca cola picture you have in your basement!
And it looks like you better start making some pesto… ;)
Beks says
Deer have been eating all of my plants, too. I came home from work last week, and there was a deer in my front yard, where we keep our veggies. I haven’t been able to grow a sweet pepper all summer, which breaks my heart. Fencing around it would probably be a good idea for next year.
Michelle @ Eat Move Balance says
I just did a post this week about having extra basil . . . I chopped it and froze it with a bit of water into an ice cube tray. Now I have a baggie full of basil blocks that I can individually thaw and use as needed. :)
Lynn says
Like Emily said, you need to pinch the flowers on the basil as they start to grow. Not only does it keep it producing better, but it also keeps the basil from getting bitter too.
@pluvk says
Thanks for this tip! I was wondering about my own basil, because it’s getting like Courtney’s!
kim@hungryhealthygirl says
Love when I have those very productive weekends and that salad is beautiful!
Sara@MagiaePasta says
Oh man, I wish I lived nearby so I could take some of that basil off of your hands! My boyfriend and I just had a gigantic pesto-making party over the weekend and store-bought basil is expensive, especially since it’s so easy to grow! I definitely second the freezing it for later use, but maybe you should have a pesto party too? ;)
Khushboo Thadani says
That steak dinner looks SO good! HAve you tried venison? If not, I highly recommend it…one of the only kinds of lean red meat and it just tastes out of this world!
Michelle@Peachy Palate says
Very productive indeed! Your bar is so cute, love the stools!
Lauren says
Girl, that is my kind of salad! :)
Bethany @ Accidental Intentions says
My parents have basil in their garden, but their plant has definitely never grown to quite that size! Their dill, however, is practically invasive. It’s EVERYWHERE. If we grew cucumbers as well, we could seriously start our own pickle business hahaha.
Leena says
Keep the tomatoes or any fruits or veggies you want to ripen in a brown paper bag and place them some place dark and warm, they will ripen evenly and faster!
Hannah R. says
That salad looks AWESOME!! I think I might have to recreate it this week:)
Stephanie @ The Travelling Tastebuds says
That steak salad looks CRAZY good! My 5-year plan is to not be so intimidated by the grill.