fwo | greek meatballs and old fashioned
mary, mary quite contrary how does your garden grow? this year dill, mint, parsley, Italian parsley, basil, purple basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme are putting their roots down in my herb garden. along with rose bushes, butterfly bush, scabiosa, and bee balm to attract those gorgeous pollinators we call bees and butterflies. yes, my garden is up and running and open for business. at least, the business of adding fresh herbs to recipes. welcome to fridays with oscar, where we are dishing up greek meatballs and an old-fashioned cocktail.
good golly, miss molly, it’s Friday again! can you believe May is only one week away? and i can’t wait! first, my bathroom renovation is on schedule with a finish date of May 11th. halleluiah! the most interesting and the prettiest part of the redo is coming up fast. tile, cabinets, wallpaper are all up next. can’t wait to watch the contractors pull the project together. and i can’t wait to put my house back in order! but the best part of May is i spend a week at the beach. which means i need to get going on my beach wardrobe – swimsuits, coverups, flip flops, hats, linen, and more linen. stay tuned!
striped drawstring shorts and sweatshirt
many of you write and ask what outfit i wear when i’m lounging around the house? today’s ootd is a spring/summer version of my everyday uniform when it’s time to unwind. sweatshirts are perfect to throw on this time of year when the temps are still cool. this vintage navy cotton terry crewneck from J.Crew was last seen here paired with joggers. today, i popped it over a gingham blouse and a comfy pair of striped drawstring shorts.
there’s always much discussion about women of a certain age wearing shorts and, in particular, the length of the inseam. when i’m relaxing at home, i’m looking for comfort, so i don’t think twice about throwing on running or track shorts. if i’m out and about, i like a 7″ or 9″ inch inseam. the sweet spot for shorts is 2″ above your knee or shorter unless they’re Bermuda shorts which tend to run long. and, no, you do not need perfect legs to wear shorts. and you don’t need a perfect body to wear swimsuits. i think it’s time to wrap our heads around the fact that only super-models have those assets. that’s why they get paid the big bucks! comfort is always a key component when putting an outfit together. once those hot summer temps set in, i will always choose a pair of shorts to beat the heat.
old fashioned cocktail
one of my favorite summer cocktails is an old fashioned, which is easy peasy to throw together. it’s funny, but my go-to cocktail in winter is a dirty gin martini garnished with three olives – gourmet olives stuffed with garlic or blue cheese. the first olive is eaten with the first sip, and the last olive is swallowed with the last sip. but come summer, a dirty gin martini seems heavy. that’s when an old fashioned steps in with a dash of simple syrup and sprinkles of bitters. and it couldn’t be easier to put together. this cocktail even has a glass to call its own.
Old Fashioned
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 2 tsp simple syrup
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
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Add all ingredients in an old fashioned glass and stir. Garnish with a lemon or orange peel. Add 1 whole cocktail cherry.
glass | domed candle holder
shorts | shirt | sweatshirt | similar driving mocs
flatware | melamine plates | bread basket | domed candle holder | olive oil drizzler
greek meatballs & tzatziki sauce
whenever i’m in a pinch meatballs, come to the rescue. typically, i have ground beef on hand. breadcrumbs too. the rest of the ingredients are pantry staples, so it’s easy to whip up a batch when friends or family stop by. add tzatziki sauce and a few veggies, and you have the perfect appetizer or meal.
Greek Meatballs
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup fresh thyme, minced
- ¼ cup fresh rosemary, minced
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
Tzatziki
- ½ large cucumber, unpeeled
- 1½ cups plain full-fat Greek yogurt
- 2 large garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill
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Heat a skillet over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons olive oil.
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Place beef, egg, breadcrumbs, thyme, rosemary, garlic powder and salt in a large bowl. Use your hands to mix together so that everything is combined.
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Use a tablespoon scoop to form meatballs in your palms. Place meatballs in a heated skillet.
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Use tongs to turn meatballs until all sides have browned. Add balsamic vinegar and turn heat down.
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Let meatballs cook in the balsamic vinegar for 6-9 minutes, rotating meatballs every few minutes.
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Remove from heat and serve as an appetizer or for dinner.
Tzatziki
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Grate the cucumber and drain through a fine mesh sieve.
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Combine the yogurt, garlic, oil, vinegar and salt in a large bowl.
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Transfer the grated cucumbers and fresh dill to the yogurt mixture and combine. Serve chilled with pita bread or baguette.
shop outdoor tabletop
oscar and i wish you a lovely weekend! enjoy.
Love the outfit and photos of you and Oscar in the garden. I look forward to trying the Greek meatballs. Thanks for a colorful and uplifting Friday blog!
i think you’ll like the meatballs! thanks for stopping by.
Blue & White, Stripes & Checks, Garden Herbs, Oliver and your gorgeous Pixie! Happy, happy, happy. Will make the meatballs with faux beef and try my hand at the tzatziki as I love cucumbers. Thanks again for reminding us that we’re good to wear shorts. Shorts make me happy!
exactly! and when those summer temps loom in the 90s shortsa are always a good idea.
Hello Beth ! Happy Friday !
I love your style , but even more so , I admire your outlook on life .
Your new do is darling . It reminds me of Vidal Sassoon and his “Sassoon” pixie cut in the late 60’s . Do you remember ? I was a teenager and had to have that trendsetter look . I didn’t even know who he was at the time …
such a fun memory !
my Mom sported a Vidal Sassoon short cut! it was so chic. thanks for sharing your sweet memory.
Thanks for talking about shorts and us “mature” woman! I have always felt that they can be worn by all body types. I prefer the longer length, undo were the short ones at home. Keep encouraging all women to love their bodies. Thanks!
it’s so important to finally shed “the perfect” body image. thanks for stopping by!
I learn something today. There is a way to mix gingham and stripes. I love this look. Oscar is always so handsome and he always ready for his close up. LOL
I was having meatloaf but this looks better.
meatloaf is comfort food. and so easy to make. but I think you’ll like the meatballs too.
Beth, you look so put together even when you are home relaxing. Love your style! Thanks for continuing to share wonderful style tips and recipes. By the way if you’ve never tried Luxardo cherries, also known as drunken cherries, they are dark and delicious in an Old Fashioned.
thanks for the suggestion! i love Luxardo cherries. always a nice addition to an old fashioned.
Yummy recipe!!
Love the stones that you put in your patio
i am so happy with how the backyard turned out.
Thanks so much for this post. I spent much of my 63 years being overweight and shamed if I wore clothes that others felt showed skin, like shorts or sleeveless tops. Now, I am finally maintaining a healthy weight and wearing a size 2 and I am once again being told that I should not wear these things because I am too old! Having fun with fashion and being comfortable is not just for the young or those with perfect bodies and Feels especially discouraging when other women are doing the shaming. Thanks for encouraging women to embrace their age and health!
that is the right attitude, heather! fashion should be fun. life is too short to get caught up in all the “shouldn’t”
The Greek meatballs look delicious, Will have to try the recipe. I envy you being able to wear shorts this weekend. It is cold and rainy here and are talking about snow this Sunday. Oh, MInnesota.
i remember one Memorial Day Weekend hanging out in sweats and jackets ‘cuz it was so dang cold in MN.
but i do love that State for so many reasons. hang in there!
Hello, where can I find the glass for old fashioned? It’s perfect for casual at-home vibe
Oops, firgured it out! Click the LINK!
you’ve got this! yes, the links are provided so you know where to shop.