Snow in May

Can you believe it? Snow is falling right now! Grumble. I want summer. Actually I want my lilacs to bloom! Their fresh smell is intoxicating! I think I will make some lilac fizzy bath bombs and take a long hot bath…trick myself into thinking it is at least spring!
Fizzy Bath Bombs are easy to make, find your favorite scent and make some!
1 ½ cups baking soda
½ cup citric acid (try a specialty grocery store-if you are here in Laramie go to Whole Earth Grainery or the Food Co-op.
Mix these 2 ingredients together then take 1/3 cup of the mixture and put it into a separate smaller bowl.
In a small glass mix together 1 Tablespoon of olive oil and 3-4 drops essential oil (in your favorite scent) and a drop of food coloring.
Now add about half of the liquid mixture to the dry mixture in the small bowl. It should be fairly “flaky” in appearances. Now gather the mixture into your hands and make a ball in the same manner that you would make a snow ball, pack it tight. If it falls apart at the slightest touch add a bit more of the liquid mixture. Once the ball comes together, set it upon a cooling rack to dry overnight. Store in a baggie, or another air tight container.
You are now set to sink into a hot, fragrant bath to await the Spring/Summer!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Happy Cinco de Mayo! & Happy Birthday Dori! My children and I have been talking for the last few days about what we want to eat tonight for dinner. I have a pork shoulder roast slowly cooking in a 275 degree oven with about a cup of orange juice, ½ of a white onion roughly chopped, ½ teaspoon oregano, ¼ teaspoon cumin, one ancho chili in adobe sauce. I am using my smallest French oven. I have found that when I slow roast meat, it is more tender when everything fits tightly in the pot. The meat will roast for about 3 hours till it falls off the bone. Using the orange juice and chili together gives the pork a wonderful flavor, slightly sweet with a small hint of spice. My daughters do not care for spicy meat, however, my son and I like to try to burn our tongues out with spice. Therefore, just a little spice is a happy medium. Once the meat is done, I let it sit in the oven while the oven cools and we prepare the feast. We will have, diced tomatoes, avocado, and finely sliced lettuce, salsa (green and red) sour cream, beans, rice and hot peppers. The kids and I will have the choice of building a burrito or a tostada. They will have a mango smoothie, I will have a margarita!