Deluxe Log Cabins

Have you ever driven by those highway signs showing the log cabin you can build or have built? They usually look nice on the outside but I always wondered if it would be dark inside since they don't seem to need sheet rock and paint. So here are some pictures I found online of "log cabins".  These are maybe a step or two up from the ones advertised on the highways. I think I could live in most any of these.

Could you make do with any of these?

Bread Salad

The Italians are ingenious about using up their bounty of tomatoes and any leftover bread. Panzanella, or bread salad, uses tomatoes and french bread to create a cool salad when you're wanting something other than lettuce.

                     Panzanella - Italian Bread Salad

3 tablespoons good olive oil

1/2 loaf  french bread, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 teaspoon  kosher or sea salt

2 large, ripe tomatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and sliced 1/2 inch thick

1/2  red onion, cut in half and thinly sliced

20  large basil leaves, coarsely chopped

3 tablespoons capers, drained

For the Vinaigrette:

1 teaspoon finely minced garlic

½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

½ cup good olive oil

½ teaspoon kosher or sea salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Heat the oil in a large sauté pan.  Add the bread and salt; cook over low to medium heat, tossing frequently, for 10 minutes, or until nicely browned.  Add more oil as needed.

For the vinaigrette, whisk together the ingredients.

In a large bowl, mix the tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, basil and capers.  Add the bread cubes and toss with the vinaigrette. Season liberally with salt and pepper.  Serve immediately, or allow the salad to sit for about half an hour for the flavors to blend.

A Little Over the Top

I found these pictures of some over-the-top houses. Some are awesome, some are just plain drool-worthy. Some just make you go "huh?"

Enjoy.

Over the top putting green.

Over the top neighbors.

Over the top shower.

Over the top sports watching.

 

 

 

Over the top grand entrance.

Over the top water features.

Over the top pool.

Over the top organization.

Over the top penny pinchers.

Over the top needs a handrail. This has to be against code.

Over the top man CAVE.

Over the top kitchen, but I could make do.

Over the top ugly.

If money is no object, which would you choose? I'd go for the shower or the kitchen, but Mr. Lane has already drooled on my computer looking at the putting green.