Back in the Saddle (or car, as it were...)

My sister has been chauffeuring me around all week due to my eye problems.  I went to the eye doctor for the third time this week, and he confirms that the corneal scratch is healing.  I'm still having trouble with the light, but I definitely am better.  So much so that, after having her drive me around all day, I ended up driving myself around anyway.  She dropped me off at home, and I realized that I didn't have the rosemary I needed for a project I was doing, so I went to two stores looking for fresh rosemary.  I was fine...if only I had remembered that it was dried rosemary that I needed!  Anyway, I was going for the Williams-Sonoma "signature scent", which I've never heard of, but someone posted it on Facebook.  I was intrigued so I went for it.

One quart water, the rind of one lemon, three sprigs of fresh rosemary and 3 tablespoons of vanilla.  Of course that's my version--I'm so bad at following directions.  But the basic ingredients are there.  It's a nice combination of scents.  It smells like something really great and traditional is baking, then the rosemary hits you.  Smells like a gourmet treat.  I love it!

Ingredients assembled.  The lemonade is for me.  Some people drink wine while cooking, I drink lemonade. BTW, these are my favorite glasses.  Glass half full/empty.  In Italian.  Yes, they are very cool.

On to dinner.  I made this salad last night and loved it, so of course, obsessive person that I am, I had to have it again.  I used grilled chicken strips and dried fruits (cranberries and blueberries) from  Aldi.  No, this is not a sponsored post.  I just like to provide detail, especially when I'm saving money.  I like to get a little sear on my chicken, even though it's pre-grilled.  The black lines prove that, right?  I sauteed it in a little olive oil, then added my dried fruit.  Mmmm....just add lettuce!  I like shreds, so that is what I used.  Finished off with a sweet vinaigrette, and voila!  More lemonade, and dinner is done.  

And to top everything off, I found this really cute vintage dress at the thrift store.  It's so nice to be functioning at nearly normal again.  I definitely made up for lost time--cooking, creating and finding great things!

I'll post a few more things tomorrow that I found.  Hint:  Georges Briard.