Green Smoothie: Spinach, Tropical Fruit and Greek Yogurt

What do you call an alligator in a vest?
An Investigator.

Ok, I know, I know...alligators have nothing to do with smoothies.  But the color of this smoothie kind of reminded me of the swap we visited in south Georgia to see gators, so there you go.

Green smoothies are a fantastic way to get some extra daily veggies in.  Swap out your breakfast or lunch for one.  I know its green, but just close your eyes and get over that because it tastes delicious.

Here's what you need:
1 cup of Frozen Tropical Fruit (I used Wawona Spectrum Blend from Costco)
2/3 cup of orange juice
2 heaping spoonfuls of plain Greek yogurt (I used Kirkland Brand Plain Nonfat, also from Costco)
2 large handfuls of spinach

Quick Salsa Fresca

This is a great quick way to whip up a Salsa Fresco.  We served this up with some fish tacos the other night.  We also had a cabbage salad which had cilantro in it, so I skipped it here, but you could definitely add cilantro to this recipe if you wanted to.

Another great thing about this Salsa Fresca, is the next night, I added some olive oil to the leftovers and used it to marinate and cook some chicken breasts in.  Very tasty.

Here's what you need:
1/4 a large purple onion, diced
1/3 a red pepper, diced
2 roma tomatoes, sliced and quatered
fresh lime juice
salt and pepper to taste
optional, cilantro

Ok, ok, ok...I'm a slacker

Call it vacation, call it being a total slacker, call it lame....

Sorry for the lack of posting, sometimes other things just take over.  Next week, I plan on being back full force....so, get ready, hold your breath, etc. etc.

In the meantime, I want everybody to check out this new Chipotle video The Scarecrow (if you haven't already).  My love for Fiona Apple just grows and grows with this new under taking.  Read more here.

Berry Kale Smoothie

What's the formula for PI?
Eh, apple or blueberry?...

For the past couple of weeks, I have made the switch to smoothies for breakfast (and I'm totally lovin' it!).  I was surprised by how full a smoothie, packed with greens and greek yogurt, keeps me going well into lunch time.

This one is full of berries and kale, but the kale can be easily substituted for spinach and the berries for peaches.  Go with what you have on hand, and what your taste buds feel like.  The fruit you add hides most of the flavor of the greens.

Here's what you need for 1:
3/4 cup of orange juice
3/4 cup of fruit (I used blueberries and raspberries)
2 large dollops of plain greek yogurt
2 large handfuls of greens (I used kale)
3-5 ice cubes

Quick Black Bean Quesadilla with Red Pepper

What is an astronaut's favorite sandwich?
Launch meat.

Step away from your typical lunch of a turkey sandwich.  This quesdailla is just as fast to make.

Here's what you need for 1:
2 tortillas
1/2 cup of rinsed and drained canned black beans
1/4 cup of shredded cheese, I used colby jack
1 teaspoon of unsalted butter
1/3 of a large red pepper or 1/2 of a small one, sliced
1 teaspoon of sour cream
salt and pepper to taste
hot sauce, if desired

Peach, Blueberry and Goat Cheese Spinach Salad

"This guy is standing on the street, and he has a giant peach for a head.  And a man walks up to him, and says, "Ummm....you have a giant peach for a head.  What's up with that?  And the guys says, "Funny story, actually.  A genie came up to me and granted me three wishes.  And for my first wish, I asked to be rich. 
And a guy came up and handed me a briefcase with a million dollars, and I'm a millionaire, a millionaire.  For my second wish, I asked for the most beautiful woman in the world to fall madly in love with me.  Mila Kunis walked up to me, said "I love you" and we are getting married in a month.
For my third wish, I asked to have a giant peach for a head."

-Matthew Perry

Summer is quickly winding down, so I am trying to get in as much fruit as I can!  For lunch today, I fixed a quick berry salad with creamy goat cheese.


Here's what you need (for 1 salad):
1 handful of spinach
1/2 a handful of watercress
1/2 a peach, sliced
a few blueberries
2-3 teaspoons of plain goat cheese
dressing of choice or 1-2 tablespoons of aged balsamic vinegar

White Corn Bacon Skillet

What do you get when you mix onions and beans?
Tear Gas.

Summer white corn and cast iron, it doesn't get much better (except when you add bacon and some Vidalia onions).

I saw a great corn skillet recipe in Garden and Gun this month, and thought I would try a variation at home.  This side dish is absolutely phenomenal!  We served it up with some lime baked tilapia and BOOM, there was dinner.  This would also be good paired up with a pulled pork sandwich, some fried chicken, or over some fresh spinach and used as a salad.

Here's what you need (feeds 2-3 people as a side):
3 ears of white corn, shucked then kernels sliced off
1/2 a large Vidalia onion, diced
4 slices of center cut bacon
1/2 cup of milk
1 teaspoon of paprika
1 teaspoon of unsalted butter
salt and fresh ground pepper

Tomato Sandwich

Summer in the South.  Simple seasonal food combinations with lots of flavor.

This sandwich reminds me of when I was little girl.  I can't recall when I first had it, but to this day I absolutely love Tomato and Mayo sandwiches.

Here's what you need (for 1 sandwich):
2 slices of bread, toasted
2-3 thick slices of a flavorful tomato
2-3 teaspoons of mayo (I like Duke's)
salt
fresh ground pepper

Roasted Garden Tomato Turkey Pasta Bake

Why can't you take a turkey to church?
Because, it has fowl language.

Ready? Five times fast? "Roasted Garden Tomato Turkey Pasta Bake, Roasted Garden Tomato Turkey Pasta Bake, Roasted Garden Tomato Turkey Pasta Bake, Roasted Garden Tomato Turkey Pasta Bake, Roasted Garden Tomato Turkey Pasta Bake, Roasted Garden Tomato Turkey Pasta Bake."  Let me know if you come up with an easier name for this dish.

Last night, I was totally craving some kid food.  Like Hamburger Helper or box Mac and Cheese...I settled on Pasta Bake (which is pretty standard kid food, unless you have those fancy kids, like the ones that always want sushi and foie gras...not to hate on sushi, I had that Monday night.)  The garden tomatoes on our kitchen counter have been piling up and eyeing me the past couple of days, so I thought I would teach them a lesson by roasting those suckers.  Making your own sauce is super easy and way more tasty, just do it already.

Here's What You Need (for a big ol' pan full):
a variety of garden tomatoes (large and grape), about 2-3 cups of
2 ish teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil, plus the same
basil
thyme
oregano
rosemary
parsley
salt and pepper to taste
6 cloves of garlic, peeled, kept whole, plus 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
1/2 a large onion or 1 small-medium sized onion, diced
1 orange pepper, diced  (you could sub red or green if you felt like it)
1 yellow pepper, diced
1 pack of ground turkey, approximately 1.2 pounds
1 15 ounce can of tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups of finely grated mozzarella cheese
1 package of Rigatoni pasta, approximately 1 pound
1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese

Sun Dried Tomato Ranch

A DEA officer stopped at a ranch in Texas, and spoke with the rancher that lived there.  He told the rancher, "I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs."  The rancher said, "Okay, but don't go into that field over there."  The DEA officer verbally exploded and said, "Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me!"  He reached into his rear pocket and pulled out his badge and proudly displayed it to the rancher.  "See this badge?!  This badge means I am allowed to go where ever I wish, on any land, no questions asked, do you understand?!?!  The old rancher nodded politely , apologized and went back to his chores.

A short time later, the rancher heard loud screams, looked up and saw the DEA officer running for his life.  He was being chased by the rancher's bull.  With every step the bull was gaining on the officer, and it seemed likely that the officer would sure enough get gored by the bulls horns before he reached safety.  The officer was clearly terrified.  The old rancher threw down his tools, ran to the fence and yelled at the top of his lungs...."Your badge!  Show him your BADGE!"

I'll admit, ranch is not the 'go to' dressing in our house.  We are more of a vinaigrette friendly family, but after making this dressing the other day I think that might change.

I happen to be up in North Georgia a couple of weeks ago and stopped by a Longhorn to meet a friend for drinks at the bar (I know, not the most ideal spot...but there was slim pickins).  I was starving (per usual) and decided to try one of their salads (Ranch House Chicken Cobb).  The salad was served with what they call "Smokey Tomato Ranch".  The dressing was surprising tasty, so I decided to try and make my own version at home.

Here's what you need:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup of sour cream
1/2 cup of sun dried tomatoes, chopped
2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons of chopped parsley
2 tablespoons of chopped chives
1 teaspoon of minced garlic
1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
salt and pepper to taste

Cinnamon Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Want to hear a joke about cinnamon?
It's pretty dry.

Playing around with cookie recipes is somehow just asking for trouble...trouble to your waist line.

Moving past that silly fact, homemade cookies are so wonderful to make.  Among the obvious deliciousness reasons to eat and share, they also make your house smell good.

I adore cinnamon.  The spice that gently tops my latte each morning just makes everything feel more fancy and decadent (perhaps, I just adore lattes...).  Yesterday, I though I would try out some cinnamon chocolate chip cookies, kind of like traditional Mexican hot chocolate, except in the cookie form.  I threw in some oatmeal too (cause, why not).

Here's what you need: 
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon of salt
1 1/2-2 teaspoons of cinnamon
2 teaspoons of baking powder
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips (or whatever flavor chips you desire)
Parchment paper
Cookie sheet

Fast 15 Minute Dinner: Mustard Caper Baked Tilapia

What do you call a fish with a tie?
Sofishticated.

Yesterday, I went on a long bike ride and the husband went on a run, so we both got home exhausted.  Ok, what to do for dinner.....

We had some tilapia in the fridge and decided on a quick mustard caper sauce versus a lemon pepper something or other.  (I think we were both craving salt)  No matter.  This is a great flavorful recipe that can be executed from start to table in about 15 minutes (awesome).  We served ours up with some sauteed okra, but this would also be good with some cheesy rice if you have the time.

Here's what you need:
2 pieces of tilapia
1 teaspoon of grainy mustard
2-3 teaspoons of Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon of drained capers
1 teaspoon of finely chopped garlic
a couple of splashes of white wine or about 3-4 tablespoons
2-3 teaspoons of fresh chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste
fresh squeezed lemon juice to taste

Fast and Tasty White Cheddar Poblano Bacon Spread

What happened after an explosion at a cheese factory?
All that was left was de brie.

Dips, and Chips, and Spreads oh my!

We had the most fantastic white cheddar poblano pimento cheese at a local restaurant.  This is a spin off version, with our good friend Bacon added.  Delicious.  Poblanos are very mild peppers, so for an extra kick we threw in some hot sauce.  This spread is great on pita chips or anything with a good crunch.

As we were tasting (snacking, and basically eating) this spread, I thought this would also make a delicous cheese ball or log (since it is so thick).  You could roll the spread into a ball or log (or any other shape), then roll the outside in any number of things...like candied walnuts for example...hello yummzerness!  The best part, it can be whipped up in a matter of a couple minutes and ready to serve.

Here's what you need:
1 8-ounce package of extra sharp white cheddar cheese
1/4 cup of real mayo (I like Duke's)
1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard (I like Mille's)
1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste (easy on the salt, there's bacon after all)
1/2 poblano
3-4 tablespoons of crumbled bacon
hot sauce to taste

Pineapple Fruit Salad

Why can't a bicycle stand up by itself?
Because it's two-tired.

Mmmmm.  Summer fruit salad.  Yumzers.

We had the pleasure of going to the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center last night for jazz on the lawn.  So great, you pack a picnic and some wine and sit on the front lawn listening to music.  The perfect summer night activity.

The group last night was the Ted Howe Trio featuring vocalist Karla Harris performing "The Music of James Bond".  Needless to say, it was awesome.

Among other delicious things that were packed (roasted chicken, fresh grape tomatoes, french bread, brie, salt and vinegar chips, humus), I also made a Pineapple Fruit Salad.  This is best made the day before, so that the fruit can sit and become juicy buddies with each other.

Here's what you need:
1 1/2 cups of blueberries
1 peach
1 naval orange
1 small pineapple

Quick and Easy Peanut Butter Brownies

Two peanuts were walking down the road...
Then, one was assaulted.

Mmmmm.....brownies.....mmmMmmm crunchy peanut butter...

My buddy needed to make brownies for a competition at work, so she came over and we tried a couple of different recipes.  We used box mixes and then added different stuff (like caramel and peanut butter) to them.  The peanut butter ones were by far the best.

Today, I thought I would try a made from scratch version.  If you are feelin' extra lazy, just get a brownie fudge box mix and do the last peanut butter steps shown here.

Here's What You Need:
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla
3/4 cup of sugar
1 stick or 1/2 cup of butter, melted
2/3 cup of all purpose flour
3/4 cup of ground cocoa
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of baking powder
1/3 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons of crunchy peanut butter, melted

Trout and Goat Cheese Bites with Spinach and Aged Balsamic

A man walks into a fish and chip shop, with a trout under his arm...
He says to the man behind the counter "Do you sell fishcakes?"
"Yes" replies the man.
"Good" says the man nodding towards the trout under his arm, "cause it's his birthday today!"

Every once and a while it is good to step up your fancyness factor for a week night dinner (or a party).  I found that this can be achieved as easily as simply making an extra special appetizer.

We had a piece of leftover trout to cook up and that is definitely not enough for two people to eat for dinner.  Although,  1 piece of trout with get you plenty of yummy appetizer bites.  We also had a refrigerated pie crust, so I decided to use that for the "crackers".  Mmmm, flaky deliciousness.

Here's what you need (makes a total of 15 bites):
1 piece of trout
1-2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 a fresh lemon for juice squeezing
1 refrigerated pie crust
4-ish tablespoons of plain goat cheese
15-30 leaves of baby spinach
2-3 teaspoons of aged balsamic vinegar

Homemade Applesauce

What kind of apple has a short temper?
A crab apple.

Oh my, oh my, oh my.  Homemade applesauce is delicious.

I actually ended up making this for breakfast this morning.  There are some days when a warm meal in the morning is just comforting.  I had steel-cut oatmeal yesterday so I thought this applesauce might be a welcome change.

The advantage of making applesauce yourself is that you control what goes into it.  You can play around with different types of apples, to cinnamon or not to cinnamon, or even the texture.  This is a pretty classic tasting applesauce with a little cinnamon and orange juice for flavor.

Here's what you need (for about 2-3 cups worth):
2 Fuji apples, peeled, seeded and chopped
4 cups of water
1/3 cup of orange juice
2-3 dashes of ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon of sugar
2 dashes of salt

Roasted Lemon Basil Shrimp With Angle Hair

What did the lemon say to the lime?
Sour you doin'?

Scrimps! Yay!

Do you say shrimp or scrimps?  I like to call them scrimps, maybe it's a southern thing, maybe I am just a weirdo...awww....let's go with it's a southern thang. 

Summer is such a great time for light and flavorful dishes.  This is a super easy roasted lemon basil shrimp recipe (say that fiver times fast) that works great over pasta, but you could probably put the dish over fresh spinach or rice as well.  Husband added red pepper flakes to his (which is always a good idea, if you like that sort of thing).  The best part, you can get this sucker on the table in under 30 minutes.  Bamzers.

Here's what you need (we made extra, so you could prob serve 3-4 people with this):
1 pound of shrimp
1 lemon, using zest and juice
8 or so tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, plus 2 teaspoons
handful of fresh basil leaves
6 or so little sweet peppers
handful or so of grape or cherry tomatoes
angel hair pasta
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon of white vinegar

All Juiced Up With Avocado

What did one avocado say to the other?
Nothing; avocados can't talk.

I have a confession.

I've been juicing this week.

Healthy Juice! (please, I have enough muscles.)  This is a great way to re-set your body.  I am currently doing a 7-day Juicing program, but I'm not being super strict with it.  For example, last night I was so hungry that I wanted to chew on my own arm, so I decided to make some roasted broccoli and watered down broth soup.  This morning (Day 3) I am feeling much better.  Way less likely to try and eat everything in sight.

This is one of the juice recipes that I have been using.  You don't have to go crazy and try and replace all your meals with juicing, but why not try incorporating it as your lunch or breakfast a couple days a week?

Here's what you need:
Juicer
2 apples (anything but granny smith)
1 lime
1/2 of a small pineapple or 1/4 of a large one
piece of cucumber or zucchini
Blender
1/2 avocado
ice

Lemon Thyme Baked Salmon and Sauteed Garlic Lemon Kale

What did the fish say when he posted bail?
I'm off the hook!

Deliciousususususuususususussss.....

I must have been on some kind of Thyme-Lemon kick the other day, because in addition to the tasty Raspberry Lemon Thyme Smash we also had this beauty for dinner.

This is my new favorite way to cook salmon.  It came out absolutely flaky, moist and delicious.  Since outside has been full of rain, grilling was not an option.  Into the oven dinner goes! (or on the stove-top if your name is Kale).

Healthy, somewhat fast (under 40 minutes), and warm.

Here's what you need (for 2 people):
For the Salmon:
1 big ol piece of salmon
1-2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil
1-2 teaspoons of lemon zest
1/3-1/2 teaspoon of fresh thyme
salt and pepper to taste
For the Kale:
1-2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon of garlic, chopped/minced
2-3 large handfuls of kale
1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Raspberry Lemon Thyme Smash (A cocktail to get you smashed...)

What do Raspberries like to do after work?
They have jam sessions.

Occasionally, we like to have cocktail hour at our house.  This is a tasty, did I say TASTY, summer cocktail that uses some fresh berries and a pinch of herbs from the garden (yay garden!).

Here's what you need (per cocktail):
6 raspberries
some thyme from the garden
ice
1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons of simple syrup
2-3 tablespoons of gin

Not Your Mama's Pasta Salad

What do you call a fake noodle?
An impasta!

Nooodles!  Noodle, Noodle, Noodle.

Yesterday, I read a cute quote on Pinterest.  "If anyone ever tells you your dreams are silly, remember, there's some millionaire walking around who invented the pool noodle."  Cute, right?  There is a great (and short) article about the inventor of the pool noodle (Steve Hartman) here by Robert Osborne.

But, back to the edible kinds of noodles....

I love a tasty pasta salad.  This one is quick and easy, a perfect lunch option for those with little time.  I used some Ramen whole wheat noodles because they were on hand and they cook fast (like under 4 minutes!).  Looking over the fridge, I found some kale, tomatoes and feta, and BAMZERS there was lunch.

Here's what you need:
1 pack of Ramen (I used Hakubaku Organic Ramen Noodles from World Market, comes with 3 packs)
some cherry tomatoes, sliced
1 tablespoon of sun dried tomatoes, chopped
1 large handful of chopped kale
some plain feta crumbles
1-2 teaspoons of aged Balsamic vinegar
1-2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Blueberry Blackberry Lemon Bread

Knock-knock.
Who's there?
Army.
Army who?
Army and you still going for ice cream?

Blueberry Blackberry Lemon Bread.  Say that three times fast.

Over the weekend, I was lucky enough to receive some fresh picked blueberries from my buddy Whitt.  Hopefully this recipe will do her berries justice.

So many delicious things are made with blueberries: pie, cobbler, crisp, muffins, cake, fruit salad, smoothies, Gin cocktails, or just straight up.  I decided to go with a bread (the thicker bigger version of a muffin).  We picked up some blackberries on sale at Kroger and lots of lemons....mmm....berries and lemon....add sugar and you've got a party for your mouth. 

Here's what you need (for 2 loaves, one for you, one to share):
3 cups of blueberries and blackberries
3 cups of all purpose flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
12 tablespoons of unsalted butter
2 cups of sugar, plus 2/3 cups of sugar for glaze
4 eggs
4 teaspoons of lemon peel
1 cup of milk
7 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice

Easy Roasted Fresh Grape Tomatoes with Basil

What did the pizza say to the tomato?
Don't get saucy with me!

I am so excited about our garden this year.  The tomatoes and basil coming out of it has been absolutely f'in beautimous.

The rain let up for just a few minutes today and I was able to sneak out to harvest.  There is absolutely nothing better than fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the garden.  I think in the everyday hustle and bustle, a lot of Americans have lost sight of growing their own food.  Even if you just plant a couple of things, you are doing a world of wonderfullness for your body.

This is a quick recipe that packs some delicious taste.  Easy, easy, easy.

Here's what you need (the amounts are totally on you a 2 to 1 ratio of tomatoes to basil):
Cherry or grape tomatoes (preferably from your garden)
a handful or so of fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste
1-2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil

Whole Wheat Berry Layered French Toast

Jokes about fruit aren't berry nice.

If you know me, you know how much I love, love, love french toast.  We pulled some great strawberries out of our garden the other day, so I decided to mix those with some raspberries and blueberries to make this bright summer Berry Layered French Toast.

I used whole wheat bread here, but whatever type of semi-stale bread you have on hand would work fine (I'm sure there are prettier looking breads that could be used).

The berries complement the eggy bread just so, and when dished up hot out of the oven, this breakfast just screams pour some sugar (or syrup) on me.

Here's what you need:
1 to 1 1/2 cups of fresh berries (any combo you feel like)
1 tablespoon of sugar
4 eggs
1/3 cup of milk
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of vanilla
4 slices of whole wheat toast (or whatever bread you have on hand)
1 teaspoon of butter

Garlic Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Why do potatoes make good detectives?
Because, they keep their eyes peeled.

 I'mmmmmmm baaaaAAaaacCCCkkkk.

Apologies for the lack of posting, south Georgia is its own planet (well, and when you are dealing with family health stuff, it's hard to think about anyhting else....except maybe having some vino....)

The weather here has been complete shanarkys.  Just rain, rain, rain.  I found myself craving some simple meat and potatoes.  I made my quick Turkey Meatloaf and then, some oh so yummy Garlic Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes.

Scalloped Potatoes, or Potatoes Gratine (if you are feelin' fancy) is made up of thinly sliced raw potatoes, layered in a buttered dish, topped with cheese or breaded crumbs and baked.  There are many, MANY variations out there.  Here, I used a cheesy garlic sauce in between each layer for maximum flavor penetration.  Layers of potatoes, baked cheesy deliciousness, how could you go wrong?

Here's what you need:
4 large potatoes
a mandolin (used to thinly slice the potatoes easily)
3 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups of milk (I used 1%)
1 teaspoon of Hungarian Paprika
1 teaspoon of ground pepper
1 teaspoon Rosemary salt  (or 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of rosemary if you don't have on hand)
2 teaspoons of Minced Garlic
1 cup of finely shredded cheddar cheese, and 1/2 of finely shredded cheddar cheese

Small Town Meanderings

I am currently down in a small south Georgia town with family, and miss my kitchen terribly (although, I did have some killer Mac and Cheese at a cafeteria yesterday). 

I know...cafeteria food...le sigh.  But there is something about southern cafeteria food that just feels like home (perhaps its all the grease that has never been emptied over the years, flavored with bits of chicken skin, potatoes and cornmeal....mmm, hushpuppies...  The top of the baked Mac and Cheese was nice and crispy (super baked), the noodles were still slightly al dente, and there was just the perfect amount of creamy cheese.  I will probably try and have it again tomorrow :) and hopefully can remember to take a picture). 

Things I enjoy generally about small towns in Georgia (in no particular order):
~ Strangers are constantly smiling and saying hello (this can get trying at times, like when you haven't had your coffee yet...);
~ People watching (it's like the live audience version of "People of Walmart");
~ Traffic is non-existant (this is my favorite);
~ Fried Chicken, Mac and Cheese, Grits...all the good southern food (my husband is a grits hater...that's ok, I still love him);
~ The sale racks are insane (hello $12 Aquiesse "Sunflower" Candle and $7 shirt); and 
~ Time seems to just slow down.


So, I suppose I'll spend my time reading up on new recipes and making menu plans for as soon as I get back home (and for now, eat Mac and Cheese).


  

Leftover Roasted Chicken Croissant Sandwich

If a croissant could talk,
I'm sure it would try to butter me up.

Mmmmm......buttery goodness.  Flakyness.  Lightly Toastedness....hmmm....vino...(as I get distracted...)

Back to the lunch.  This is a quick leftover roasted chicken sandwich.  Light and flavorful.  I used some of the Garlic Dijon Roasted Split Chicken Breasts I made the other day.  Also, I was able to pick some fresh greens from our garden (hoo-ray!).  I just adore a croissant sandwich.  I think my friend Taisa got me hooked on them last year...she managed to always order one with chicken salad everytime we went out to lunch.  (Side Note: Jason's Deli makes their chicken salad with pineapple...it's good, you should try it).  Anyways, back to it.

Here's what you need:
croissant (1 for each sandwich)
some greens
left over roasted chicken
sun dried tomatoes
plain goat cheese
aged balsamic vinegar

Garlic Bolognese Ghetti

A guy walks into the doctor's office.  A banana stuck in one of his ears, a garlic clove in the other ear, and a carrot stuck in one nostril.  The man says, "Doc, this is terrible.  What's wrong with me?"  The doctor says, "Well, first of all, you need to eat more sensibly."

Although, we are from Georgia this is not Honey Boo Boo's Sketti  (ketchup and butter....not so sure about that).

If you like meaty garlic deliciousness, this is a good fast-filling Ghetti recipe from our house.

Here's What You Need:
1/2 a package of angel hair pasta
1 pound of organic (or otherwise) ground chuck
1 onion
2 tablespoons of fresh minced garlic
1 teaspoon of dried parsley
1 15 ounce can of plain tomato sauce
fresh basil for topping
Parmesan for topping
salt and pepper to taste

My New Favorite Dijon Garlic Roasted Chicken

How long do chickens work?
Around the cluck!

I must be on some weird chicken kick.  Either that, or the organic chicken has been on sale lately :)

This chicken is finger lickin' delicious. OMG!  I know I can get excited about cooking, but this recipe is one of the reasons why.  Super fast, super easy (kids could help you) and suuuuuuuuper tasty.  (Next time I want to try this rub on some drumsticks.)  This time, I used organic split chicken breast (the skin and bones help flavor the meat).  Best part, you can get these babies on the table in about 35 minutes.

Here's what you need:
2 organic (or otherwise) split chicken breast
1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon of fresh minced garlic
1 tablespoon of marjoram leaves
6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy Herb Roasted Chicken

What do you get when you cross a chicken and a pit bull?
Just the pit bull.

We love, love, love roasting whole chicken.  First off, it's super easy.  Second, this is a great option for two people because then you eat leftovers for the whole week.  Chicken enchiladas, chicken on top of spinach salad, chicken salad, chicken roll ups, chicken BLT, chicken pot pie, etc. etc.  The possibilities are endless!

This is also a fantastic option for dinner guests.  The prep takes 5 minutes, and once the bird is in the oven there's not much to do.  Once out, well that baby pretty much sets the table for you.

General plan: Rinse.  Dry.  Mix up some herbs, garlic, lemon zest, salt and/or pepper with either canola oil or here, we used olive oil.  Rub the bird down.  Fill the cavity with lemon slices, garlic either/and/or onion etc.  Cook.

Here's what you need:
1 whole chicken, we used organic, but get what you prefer
1/4 cup of olive oil (or canola oil)
2-3 tablespoons of herbs (whatever you're feeling: lemon zest, herbes de provence, sage, thyme, rosemary, garlic, etc.)
salt and pepper to taste
1-2 lemons (for stuffing the cavity and/or squeezing on the chicken as you eat its delicious goodness)

Blueberry Basil Iced Tea

What do you get when a bunch of blueberries try to go through a door all at once?
A jam.

It's summer time, sweet sweet summer time, summer time.. and we are here hanging in the south...so of course we are making some iced tea.

This is a great one.  Refreshing blueberry iced tea with fresh basil.  For more basil flavor, take a fresh piece and rub around the rim of your glass (great trick for cocktails too!).

Here's what you need:
4 bags of Blueberry Herbal Tea
boiling water
cold water
fresh basil, a handful-ish

6 Quick Blueberry Muffins

Why did the muffin go to the doctor?
Because, it was feelin' crummy.

Yum!  Who doesn't love blueberry muffins?!  This is a simple and quick recipe that makes 6 muffins.

Look at all that oozy blueberry goodness!

You could probably substitute any berries you have on hand.  The main thing is to not over mix the batter.  We desire light and fluffy goodness.  Let muffins cool all the way, so the bottoms do not get stuck in the paper.  These will keep for up to 2 days in an air tight container, but are best the day of.

Here's what you need:
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/8 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of flour
2 tablespoons of sugar, plus 2 teaspoons
1 cup of blueberries
1 egg
2 tablespoons of Plain Greek Yogurt (or sour cream)
2 tablespoons of canola oil
6 tablespoons of milk

Cucumber Kale Salad with Avocado

What did the salad say to the dressing?
Lettuce be friends.

Dinner last night was totally sponsored by the color green...next time, maybe one green dish at a time.

This Cucumber Kale Salad with Avocado was very light, lemony and refreshing.  We had a few radishes and some carrot, so I threw that in for some extra crunch.  Red/purple onion might also work instead...

Here's what you need:
1 large cucumber
1 avocado
1/3-1/2 of 1 carrot
2 radishes
2 teaspoons of white vinegar
1 lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
2 handfuls of chopped kale

Grilled Orange Pork Loin Chops and Savory Farro

What do you call a pig that takes karate?
Porkchop.

Every once and a while, I like consult a cookbook or two and try new recipes.  We received The Winemaker Cooks by Christine Hanna for Christmas and thought we would try out the "Orange and Dijon-Marinated Pork Tenderloin"  (adapted a bit) with some pork loin chops.

Hanna Winery & Vineyards is located and based in Healdsburg, California and the tasting room is open daily 10-4.  Christine Hanna,  president and author of The Winemaker Cooks, took over the family winery founded by her father Dr. Elias S. Hanna.  Her cookbook has over 100 thoughtful recipes organized by seasons, meals, and wine pairings.  If you are anything like us and enjoy wine (while cooking and eating), this book is an A+. 

To balance out the sweetness of the orange-Dijon-wine sauce I made a Savory Farro, earthy with onions, kale and toasted pecans.

Here's what you need (we made enough for 4 people):
For the pork:
4 pork loin chops
6 cloves of garlic
2 oranges (zest from 1, juice from 2)
3 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 cup of savingnon blanc
salt and pepper to taste
 For the farro:
1 cup of farro
2 cups of water
1 tablespoon of butter
salt and pepper to taste
2 handfuls of small chopped kale
1/2 onion, diced
2/3 cup of pecans

Grilled Basil Salmon with Sun Dried Tomato Kale Salad

What's the difference between a piano and a fish?
You can't tun-a fish.

Quick. Dinner.  Hungry.  Quick Quick.  (Sometimes, that is totally what happens at our house)  Luckily, you don't have to sacrifice flavor for a fast meal.

I think this kale salad is my new favorite (the dressing makes it).  Inspired by all the gorgeous salad bars at Whole Foods, it is dressed with a super-tasty sun dried tomato vinaigrette that makes you go yuuuuuuuuummm.

The salmon is a simple olive oil, salt, pepper and grill.  Then, topped with fresh basil and lemon juice.  Fresh food that leaves you full with out feeling overly so.

Here's what you need:
Salmon, I usually grill one bigger piece then divide onto plates after grilling.
1/4 cup of chopped sun dried tomatoes
2 tablespoons of white vinegar
1 tablespoon of olive oil, plus 1 teaspoon
1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, plus 2 teaspoons
salt and pepper to taste
2-3 handfuls of chopped kale
1 carrot
1/3-1/2 cup red cabbage
2-4 tablespoons of plain goat cheese
5-7 fresh basil leaves

"The Onion Thing"

Did you hear about the Frenchman who jumped into a river in Paris?
He was declared in Seine.

Oh "The Onion Thing", or at least, that is what my husband calls it.  This is a dish I made for him one night when we first started dating (apparently it worked, he likes onions).  The dish is made up of a toasted french baguette, plain goat cheese and onions cooked down for at least an hour with red wine, balsamic, and Worcestershire until they are almost black and thick like jam.  "The Onion Thing" is all about layering; layering small amount of red wine, balsamic, and Worcestershire over time gives the onions a really great flavor.  This works great as a dinner or lunch, but could also be scaled down for appetizers.

Here's what you need:
1 red onion
1-2 tablespoons of butter
5.5 oz log of plain goat cheese
1 loaf, french baguette
red wine
balsamic vinegar
Worcestershire
salt and pepper to taste

Fish Tacos with Mustard White Wine Vinaigrette

What is a taxi driver's favorite kind of vegetable?
A cab-bage.

Man, I love me some Fish Tacos.  I mean, really, you can't get much better.  They're fast, easy, and full of delicious veggies and beuatimous flavor.

You can use almost any fish; I like Tilapia because it is cheap, light and flaky.  To balance out the fish, I used some extra crunchy veggies: red cabbage, carrots, green peppers and radishes (mainly because that is what we had in the fridge).  The sauce (or dressing-ish) is a mustard white wine vinaigrette, very tangy and light.

Here's what you need for 2 people/ 4 tacos:
2 pieces of Tilapia
red cabbage, (we used half of one and had leftover slaw for the next night)
2 carrots
1 green pepper
4 radishes
4 whole wheat tortillas
For the dressing/sauces:
1 lemon, juiced
Dijon mustard
apple cider vinegar
white wine, Chardonnay etc.
extra virgin olive oil
Italian flat leaf parsely
salt and pepper to taste

Vesper Martini

The era of the three-martini lunch has come and gone.  Blame Kennedy, blame Carter, but really, blame yourselves for not being able to handle three delicious glasses of ambrosia.  (For the record, I'm on the floor after one.)

Like the Old Fashioned, the Martini (nee Martinez) is one of those classic cocktails that has been around since the dawn of time (or circa 1850) and keeps getting better with age.

Whatever your poison there is a flavor for you:

sweet (Cosmos), 

salty (Dirty), 

chocolaty (blegh), 

or somewhere in between (stay tuned).

Bottom line--and bottoms-up--there are as many ways and opinions on how to make a martini as there are Baldwin brothers.  However, when talking about the martini there is one, culturally obvious person to start with:Bond. James Bond.

In the novel Casino Royale, Fleming's Bond orders a Vesper Martini and conveniently lists the recipe as:

2 measures Gin

1 measure Vodka

1/2 measure Lillet

Twist of Lemon

Butter Pecan Cake

Use real butter,
then there is no margarine for error.

First off- I am no baker.  I am sure some of you pastry chefs out there can make a more straighter, better iced version of this very tasty Butter Pecan Cake.

This cake was made in honor of my grandmother's 94th! birthday.  She's an eater (like most of our family) and one of her favorite ice cream flavors is butter pecan, so, I thought this would be a perfect flavor for a very southern style birthday cake.

Here's what you need for the cake:
1 tablespoon of butter, melted
1 lb pecan halves
10 1/2 tablespoons, or 2/3 cup of butter, softened
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon of salt
2/3 cup of milk
Filling: butter cream frosting and butterscotch caramel 
For the frosting:
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup of heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

Greek Style Veggie Pasta Salad

Why are radishes so smart?
Because, they are well-red!

Get your picnic on already!  Nothing says summer like a hearty pasta salad.  We currently have a fridge waaaaaaaaaaaay too packed, so I have been trying to come up with creative dishes that use up all the ingredients.

Going slightly overboard on my last grocery shopping trip, I want to try and incorporate all these veggies before they have the chance to go bad.  They greatest thing about pasta salad, its just like regular salad- you can put almost anything into it.  I once read a magazine article about an actress who has "garbage omelettes" , where she puts almost whatever she finds in her fridge into an omelette.  Three cheers to meals made of "garbage" (not really)!

Here's what you need:
1 box of pasta salad
2 cups of cherry tomatoes, we used 2 different colors
5 large radishes
1 cup of black pitted olives
1 green pepper
1/4 cup of olive oil
spices to taste (we used 1-2 teaspoons of Mediterranean Seasoning, which contained: Chili flakes, garlic, lemon peel, dill weed, dill seed, oregano, cinnamon, mace, and spearmint leaf.  Use whatever you have on hand, mostly get some garlic powder, lemon peel, and oregano in there.)
balsamic vinegar to taste
feta for topping

Tropical Grill Chop Salad

When is an apple not an apple?
When it's a pineapple!

The grill-outs continue.  This salad is packed full of crunchy-sweet summer tastyness.  We had some jumbo frozen shrimp in the freezer, which makes for a quick de-thaw under cold water and a delicious dinner.

Here's what you need:
12 or so large shrimp
2 tablespoons of pepper jelly
chopped Pineapple
sliced and seeded sweet peppers
2 handfuls of chopped red and green cabbage (or other crunchy lettuce)
2 tablespoons of tomato basil feta (or plain, whatever you have on hand)
1 vine tomato
2 spoonfuls of balsamic vinegar
2 spoonfuls of extra virgin olive oil
1 lemon, juiced
salt and pepper to taste
drizzle of canola or vegetable oil
1-2 tablespoons of toasted silvered almonds and ramen noodles (take un cooked ramen noodles, break into pieces and toast with almonds until slightly brown)

Grilled Steak Salad with Feta and Mustard Vinaigrette

What is a cow's favorite moosical note?
Beef-flat.

Summer, oh how I adore thee....just man....it's HOT.  When it gets like this we turn to lots of salads for dinner, topped with grilled veggies, meat, or poultry.  This Grilled Steak Salad with Feta and Mustard Vinaigrette was the perfect meal last night.

Last week, we hit up a great local restaurant called Muss and Turners (white cheddar poblano pimento cheese to die for!) and they had the most wonderful brand of mustard (we tend to fall in love with condiments quite easily) called Maille 1747 Fine de Dijion (very French, no?).  The husband's parents were nice enough to track some down for us, and I thought it would make into a great vinaigrette to pair with this hearty salad.

Here's what you need:
1 steak, per two people
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
spinach
chopped red and green cabbage
1 vine tomato
2-4 tablespoons of crumbled feta cheese, we used tomato and basil flavored feta
2 teaspoons of Maille 1747 Fine de Dijion mustard, or another Dijion of your choosing
5 teaspoons of Balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil

Bacon Wrapped Cream Cheese Peppers

Knock, Knock.  Who's there?
Bacon.
Bacon, who?
I'm bacon a cake for your birthday...


Over the weekend, I threw a birthday party for the husband.  Main ingredients: Meat, Bourbon, Bacon, Friends, Family, Giant Tissue Paper Flowers, etc. etc.    We made many small plates to snack on and this was one of the favorites.  This is an easy, quick and great appetizer for your favorite bacon lover.

Here's what you need:
Some small sweet peppers, halved and seeded
plain cream cheese
bacon, center cut
small tooth picks
(that's it, how easy!)

Welcome!!! The Dirty Floor has a new sister...

The Dirty Floor has a brand new baby (be gentle) sister site called The Dirty Floor Decor.

Take a stumble over and check out the garden tour.

Grilled Chicken Spinach Salad with Apples and Bacon

What day do chickens hate the most?
Fry-days.

Although not fried, this Grilled Chicken is sure to make your mouth happy.

Finally, the rain stopped and the sun abated enough for a good grill out on the back porch Thursday night.  This Grilled Chicken Spinach Salad with Apples and Bacon was a quick and tasty dinner (it would also be also a really good lunch or brunch option).  We served ours up with a simple tomato rice.

Here's what you need:
2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (we only used 1 for 2 people and saved the other for the next day)
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of onion powder
1 teaspoon of chili powder
1-2 teaspoons of paprika
salt and pepper to taste
2 carrots, chopped
6 radishes, chopped
1 apple (we used fuji)
1 lemon, juiced
2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
2 large handfuls of spinach
3 slices of bacon, cooked and diced

Birthday BLTE

Age is a question of mind over matter.
If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

If you can't already tell by the candle (and The Carte Blanche Old Fashioned from last night), the husband's birthday celebrations have begun!  We started off the morning with a requested, Birthday BLTE.

Bacon, bacon and more bacon (it was his birthday, why not.), a variety of greens from our garden (tour of the garden to come soon!), vine tomato, and two slightly runny fried eggs.  Since he is not a fan of mayo, I made up a quick and dirty basil oil to use to wet the toast.  All and all, he had a big smile on his face and lots of crumbs on his shirt.

Here's what you need:
2 slices of bread, toasted
8 or so leavese of basil
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 vine tomato
a variety of mixed greens
center cut bacon, bacon, and more bacon (at least 6 slices)
2 eggs, fried and slightly runny

The Carte Blanche Old Fashioned

Some of you may be familiar with what is known as airport fiction, books written primarily for men that are as disposable as the latest teen starlet.  The themes are almost always the same: one part MacGuffin, two parts of a femme fatale, and 2 giant brass parts of a protagonist.  Common examples of the perpetrators may include: Tom Clancy, Andy McDermott, Richard Castle (He really is ruggedly handsome), and Jeffery Deaver.

Deaver had the honor of writing one of the latest James Bond novels, Carte Blanche, and took the liberty of concocting a beverage for Bond-a noted bourbon fan in the original books-that was a variant of the excellent Old Fashioned.

Side note: The Old Fashioned is one of the earliest cocktails and primarily consists of whiskey, bitters muddled with sugar, and a citrus rind.  Modern bartenders often put in a garnish cherry in lieu of the rind which is just savagery writ large.

Since we're not savages, but instead fans of delicious flavor, we'll omit the cherry and do things the proper way with:
Bourbon (Rye is also acceptable)
Triple Sec
Sugar
Orange Peel
Bitters
Ice

Maple Veggie Sandwich with Avocado, Goat Cheese and Arugula

What did the yeast say to the bag of flour?
Come on, we knead to be serious.

I love, love, love when friends introduce me to new food.  My buddy Sarah recently showed me frozen maple flavored veggie sausage patties.  They are by Morning Star Farms, take 1 minute to cook and are full of protein.  I have been eating them for breakfast for the past week.

For lunch today, I got a little crazy and made a sandwich out of one.  This is one of those sandwiches you will either love or hate.  I mean, it's maple flavored-ish.  Weird? I enjoyed it.  Morning Star Farms also makes a bunch of different kinds of patties, so you can find which flavor suits you.

Here's what you need( or knead....he he he):
1 sandwich bun, I used whole wheat
1-2 tablespoons of plain goat cheese
2 slices of tomato
salt and pepper to taste
a handful of arugula
2-3 tablespoons of guacamole, or slices of fresh avocado
1 maple flavored veggie sausage patty (Morning Star Farms)