Aug 29, 2012

12 Hour Salad



Although school has just started for most of us, we're still bound to have a few more weeks of warm summer weather.  I'm determined to keep pulling out the grill and drag out the BBQ season for as long as I can. 

Maybe even host one last farewell summer BBQ with friends?    

When preparing food for a crowd I've learned the hard way that simple should always be the rule.  And by that I don't mean sacrificing flavor, but choosing the smart easy options that allow me to trade fussing for relaxation and good conversation.

No TiAnn, you really shouldn't make homemade rolls, or be cooking at the stove when the guests arrive, or be a stressed out crazy person... Duh. 

Jul 30, 2012

Berry Crumble Bars


These bars were bonkers good.  

They remind me of my sweet Grandma Hill and all of the happy childhood memories of the lovely home baked goods that she spoiled us with as kids.  Mmmmmm.  

My choc-aholic P-Man loved 'em too.  He's always proving me wrong that way.  I'll make something that I'm sure he'll reject on principle alone, and he's like "Hey these are super good".  

Jul 22, 2012

Blackened Shrimp and Guacamole Tostadas



These totally just happened at my house.

I have romantic notions about shrimp.  We belong together.  Ping to my pong.  

When dining out I'll almost always order something with shrimp, and I never seem to tire of it.  Because what pray tell, is better than shrimp?  Few things in this world, and if you don't think so then I'm not sure we can be friends anymore!         


Jul 1, 2012

The Green Smoothie

First let me say how very disgusted that I originally was at the thought of these smoothies.

Secondly let me say how very addicted that I now am to them.




The thought of trying to choke down a swig of the leafy green embued smoothie-imposter, was for me, gag-worthy. 

But my kid sister Shawny helped me to see reason.  Or taste it rather.  It's so nice to have people like that in your life.  Those who will patiently take your hand and help you overcome your childish fears of the unknown.  Baby steps though, I still think wheat grass shots sound putrid.

So let me tell you what I assumed before trying my first green smoothie.  I assumed that it would taste like a liquified salad.  Bleck.  Of course I love salad, in it's proper way, eaten on a plate with a fork.

The truth is that you don't taste the leafy greens.  No really!  It just tastes like a regular fruity sweet wonderful smoothie, but dare I say fresher?  I absolutely love them.  They're my go-to breakfast of choice and I love how good and energized that I feel after having one.  They're also my detox meal after an episode with say perfect chocolate buttercream...  Brings balance to the force.

My little girls have caught on to their goodness too, and they've become known as "the Hulk drink" in our house.  I mix it up using different fruits and vegetables all the time.  Basically whatever is in my crisper goes into the blender and they're always tasty.  

Healthy awesome goodness.   


Jun 27, 2012

Fruit Salad with Vanilla Honey Citrus Dressing


Summertime means salads to me. 

I'm enamored with the fresh seasonal ingredients at the height of their nutrients and flavor.  I especially enjoy sampling new salads at summertime get-togethers and BBQs, and oft times simple wins big. 

So here's my version of simple.  A medley of fresh vibrant fruits tossed in lightly sweetened juices with the perfect hint of vanilla. 

Lovely!      

Jun 20, 2012

Perfect Chocolate Buttercream

I made this and spread it upon a reeeaaallly good chocolate cake- recipe to follow soon, it was snarfed up by family members before I could document it's greatness- as a belated Father's day dessert for my beloved P-Man.

He's an exceptional Dad to his girls.

We're all darn lucky to have him.  



I'm sorry to have to say this, but I was raised in a family that could take or leave chocolate. 

Yes people like that really exist. 

We prefer fruity desserts over double-chocolate-chunk-ganache-fudge-cocoa-smothered whatevers...  It's a genetic thing I'm sure.  But my choc-aholic husband has gradually eroded my ways and today I find myself sitting somewhere in the middle. 

I do like and even crave chocolate occasionally now.  Quite the evolution.

This frosting really was divine.  My P-Man's say on the matter was that he normally scrapes off the cloyingly sweet frosting and just eats the cake, but this frosting was in his words perfect.   

Jun 11, 2012

Roasted Sweet Italian Sausage and Vegetables (a one-pan dinner!)



I really like Pam Anderson. 

No, not that Pam Anderson, but Pam of Three Many Cooks.  She's the inspiration behind this recipe and my new preoccupation with one-dish dinners.  Her new cook book Perfect One-Dish Dinners: All You Need for Easy Get-Togethers  is an absolute revelation.      

A work of utter genius.         

Jun 5, 2012

Easy Cream Cheese Wontons




I'm an appetizer girl. 

When dining out, if given my druthers, I'd almost always pass on the sweets and opt for the savory. 

I'm odd and I know this. 


But there's just something about the miniaturization of ordinary eatables that has me utterly smitten.  And I can't seem to outgrow it.  Parties boasting of heavy hors d'oeuvres are the shindigs worth showin' up for. 

Guuuuyyys... they make me happy.  Yin to my yang.  
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...