Hi Everyone,
I can't believe that it's been a month since I last blogged. It's been a crazy past month around here. Lot's of house guests, vacations, reunions and just plain ole' burn out on my part. But I am back and I missed all of you! I can't believe it's been almost four months since I first started this blog back in April. It's been an amazing outlet for me to share stories and pictures of my little life and to also learn about so many of yours. I have "met" so many amazing people through this blog that I never would have met otherwise. I've discovered how to use Twitter, which FYI to any bloggers out there that don't have a Twitter account for your blog, you must get one now. I think that it is almost a requirement if you want to expand your readership and its also a great way to stay up to date on whats going on in the bloggy world. Even though I haven't blogged in a month, I have been on Twitter so I don't feel completely out of the loop. I've attended Twitter parties and actually won prizes. I finally figured out how to use a hashtag and how to see who unfollows you through Qwitter. I swear I could be on the computer 24 hours a day for the rest of the year nonstop and still not know half of the things I feel I should know if i really want my blog to be successful. Which I do! I've seen some of the people that I follow that are involved in some kind of Bloggy Boot Camp that I plan on researching that I think helps you to become a better blogger. So, I am going to try and be 100% committed to this blog from now on with no more one month hiatus. I missed you all too much. Even though I must say that I am a little thankful that this Blogher 2010 conference is almost here and over because I don't think I can stand to see all the #Blogher hashtags anymore and contain my immense jealousy that I am not going to be attending this year with all of you fabulous women and men. Maybe next year!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Yummy Recipes for July 4th!!!
We will be spending the 4th of July at home this year and attending our first neighborhood block party that is basically converging upon our house because we sit in a culdesac. You are able to sit in our driveway and watch the most amazing fireworks show that goes on for miles across the county line near our house. It's perfect because I hate getting out and trying to fight the crowds at all the public shows that go on around town. So, as I was looking through all my recipes trying to decide what I would be making for this weekend I thought I would include a few of my favorites for all of you! Hope you enjoy!
Snack Foods
Fresh Salsa:
2 cans petite cubed tomatoes
1 small purple onion chopped
1/2 red bell pepper chopped
1/2 green bell pepper chopped
2-3 jalpeno peppers diced-deseeded (more or less to taste)
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro (no stems, just leaves)
1/2 juice from one lemon
1 juice from lime
3 tablespoons fresh garlic minced (more or less to taste)
2 tablespoons dried parsley
Salt to taste
*Mix all ingredients together and let sit for at least an hour before serving with tortilla chips.
Spicy Pretzels:
1 bag stick pretzels
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 packet dry Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
*Mix all ingredients together except for pretzels in a large bowl with an airtight fitting lid, Add pretzels and stir well to coat. Put lid on and turn upside down then right side up every hour or so until dressing is soaked up. This will take several hours.
Appetizers
Caprese Salad:
1 cup baby spinach leaves
1 large tomato, sliced 3/4 inch thick
1 ball of fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
2 tbls chopped fresh basil
1 tbls extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbls balsamic vinegar
Sea Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper
Super Easy Deviled Eggs:
8 Eggs
1/2 teaspoon mustard
1 tablespoon miracle whip
1 tablespoon finely chopped pickle
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 pinch Paprika
*Place eggs in saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Cover, remove from heat and let eggs sit in hot water for 10-14 minutes. Remove from hot water and let cool. Peel and cut in half lengthwise. Put yolks in a small bowl and add all ingredients above except paprika and mash all together with a fork. Mix until smooth. Spoon yolk mix into each half of egg evenly then sprinkle with paprika. Chill in fridge until ready to serve.
Main Dish
Spicy Lime Grilled Shrimp:
3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
1 large lime or 2 small limes
juiced
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound peeled and deveined
medium shrimp (about 30-40)
Sprinkle Sea Salt and Fresh
Ground Pepper over shrimp
while cooking
*Add all ingredients to a zip lock bag and let out excess air and marinate in fridge for an hour. Add shrimp to wooden skewers (soak skewers in water before using to prevent burning) and cook on an outside preheated medium heat grill that has been lightly oiled for about 2 minutes per side.
Sides
Loaded Baked Potato Salad: (this is for 20 servings)
7 pounds baking potatoes
Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
2 pounds bacon, cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces
2 sticks (1/2 pound) butter, softened
2 pints sour cream
Salt & Pepper
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
1 pound cheddar cheese, shredded
*Preheat oven to 400'. Pierce the potatoes with a fork; brush with oil. Bake until tender, 1hour. Let cool, then cut into bite-size pieces. In a skillet, cook the bacon until crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain. In a large bowl, combine the butter and sour cream; season with salt & pepper. Stir in the potatoes, bacon, scallions and cheese. Serve at room temperature.
Desserts
Strawberry Angel Food Dessert:1 (10 inch) angel food cake
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip, thawed
1 quart fresh strawberries, sliced
1 pint of blueberries
1 (18 ounce) jar strawberry glaze
*I like to use a trifle bowl on a stand to make this for parties. Crumble the cake into bottom of bowl and reserve enough for about 3 layers. In a bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Fold in Cool Whip. Mash the cake down with your hands and then spread the cream cheese mixture over the cake. In another bowl, combine strawberries and glaze until strawberries are evenly coated. Spread over cream cheese layer and then sprinkle a hand full of blueberries on top of strawberries. Repeat layers two more times. (You can add additional Cool Whip to top of dessert and then add a few strawberries in the center and set blueberries around edge. This is all just for presentation.) Chill until ready to serve.
YUMMO! Now I'm starving and can't wait to go make some of these!
Snack Foods
2 cans petite cubed tomatoes
1 small purple onion chopped
1/2 red bell pepper chopped
1/2 green bell pepper chopped
2-3 jalpeno peppers diced-deseeded (more or less to taste)
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro (no stems, just leaves)
1/2 juice from one lemon
1 juice from lime
3 tablespoons fresh garlic minced (more or less to taste)
2 tablespoons dried parsley
Salt to taste
*Mix all ingredients together and let sit for at least an hour before serving with tortilla chips.
1 bag stick pretzels
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 packet dry Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
*Mix all ingredients together except for pretzels in a large bowl with an airtight fitting lid, Add pretzels and stir well to coat. Put lid on and turn upside down then right side up every hour or so until dressing is soaked up. This will take several hours.
Appetizers
1 cup baby spinach leaves
1 large tomato, sliced 3/4 inch thick
1 ball of fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
2 tbls chopped fresh basil
1 tbls extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbls balsamic vinegar
Sea Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper
*Spread the spinach out on a serving plate. Place slices of tomato on the bed of spinach. Top each slice of tomato with a slice of fresh mozzarella. Sprinkle the basil over the salad and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Then top with Sea Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper.
8 Eggs
1/2 teaspoon mustard
1 tablespoon miracle whip
1 tablespoon finely chopped pickle
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 pinch Paprika
*Place eggs in saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Cover, remove from heat and let eggs sit in hot water for 10-14 minutes. Remove from hot water and let cool. Peel and cut in half lengthwise. Put yolks in a small bowl and add all ingredients above except paprika and mash all together with a fork. Mix until smooth. Spoon yolk mix into each half of egg evenly then sprinkle with paprika. Chill in fridge until ready to serve.
Main Dish
3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
1 large lime or 2 small limes
juiced
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound peeled and deveined
medium shrimp (about 30-40)
Sprinkle Sea Salt and Fresh
Ground Pepper over shrimp
while cooking
*Add all ingredients to a zip lock bag and let out excess air and marinate in fridge for an hour. Add shrimp to wooden skewers (soak skewers in water before using to prevent burning) and cook on an outside preheated medium heat grill that has been lightly oiled for about 2 minutes per side.
Sides
Loaded Baked Potato Salad: (this is for 20 servings)
7 pounds baking potatoes
Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
2 pounds bacon, cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces
2 sticks (1/2 pound) butter, softened
2 pints sour cream
Salt & Pepper
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
*Preheat oven to 400'. Pierce the potatoes with a fork; brush with oil. Bake until tender, 1hour. Let cool, then cut into bite-size pieces. In a skillet, cook the bacon until crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain. In a large bowl, combine the butter and sour cream; season with salt & pepper. Stir in the potatoes, bacon, scallions and cheese. Serve at room temperature.
Desserts
Strawberry Angel Food Dessert:1 (10 inch) angel food cake
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened1 cup white sugar
1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip, thawed
1 quart fresh strawberries, sliced
1 pint of blueberries
1 (18 ounce) jar strawberry glaze
*I like to use a trifle bowl on a stand to make this for parties. Crumble the cake into bottom of bowl and reserve enough for about 3 layers. In a bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Fold in Cool Whip. Mash the cake down with your hands and then spread the cream cheese mixture over the cake. In another bowl, combine strawberries and glaze until strawberries are evenly coated. Spread over cream cheese layer and then sprinkle a hand full of blueberries on top of strawberries. Repeat layers two more times. (You can add additional Cool Whip to top of dessert and then add a few strawberries in the center and set blueberries around edge. This is all just for presentation.) Chill until ready to serve.
YUMMO! Now I'm starving and can't wait to go make some of these!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Beautiful Blogger Award
I am SUPER EXCITED! I have received my first blog award. Melissa, over at The Life of a Sippy Cup Mom, gave me the Beautiful Blogger Award. I've never met her in real life but she has been very helpful with answering random questions from a newbie blogger and I appreciate you thinking of me for this award.
This award comes with some rules!
1. Thank whoever gave you the award.
2. Tell 7 things about yourself that readers may not know.
3. Pay it forward by nominating 15 bloggers you've recently discovered.
Seven Things You Might Not Know About Me
1. I lived in England for 3 years.
2. I tore my ACL on my right knee the very first time I ever went skiing. Ran right into that orange mesh fencing and had to be strapped to a stretcher and taken to the clinic on a snowmobile. Very Embarrassing!
3. I still think that spiders will "get me" when on the toilet because of the movie Arachnophobia.
4. I love reading instruction manuals. Like to cars and gadgets.
5. I love Reality TV like Big Brother, Real Housewives of wherever shows, Top Chef, Project Runway, The City, The Hills.....The list could go on forever!
6. I can't stand to have my hair touch the back of my neck when I am laying down.
7.I can pretty much associate all important memories from my life by a smell or song.
Now to pass on the Beautiful Blogger Award! Here is my list of "Beautiful Bloggers":
1. Real Life With Kids
2. Dearinger Diary
3. Mommy Burgh
4. Happy Healthy & Loved
5. The House of Burks
6. The Wilson Family
7. Ten Talents
8. The Cooks Buns This is my real life BFF and she is Totally Fabulous in real life and bloggy world!
9. Mommy Moment
10. Mom-Nom
11. Eternal Lizdom
12. A Belle, a Bean & a Chicago Dog
13. Rants From Mommyland
14. Mommy & Molly
15. Money Saving Queen She helps save me lots of money and was one of the first blogs I ever read!
These are all amazing blogs that in some way help make my days more fabulous. Check them out!!!
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