Strawberries

We've been enjoying strawberries every single week on salads, on peanut butter toast, in pancakes, and by the handful.
There's nothing better in the summer!

Summer Produce Flatbread

I have been a farmers market lovin' fool all month.  I have not been a cookin' fool, however.

Pretty much everything has been a salad, flatbread or straight up... my favorite.

I use Naan for my flatbreads. (here's the whole how-to)

This time I used peaches, zucchini, blue cheese and prosciutto.

I also brushed on a little Trader Joe's Black Pepper Sauce before I added the goodies.

Toss on the grill for 7 minutes and that's dinner!

 (Elwood is a photo dive bomber)

Instagram

yeah yeah yeah... ok.

tmorganrossi

Gin Mojito

 (here)

We're lovin' us some Olympics around here ... 

and we're lovin' us some Gin Mojitos while we're watching the Olympics even more!

In addition to my serious avocado addiction this summer, I've also been on a major mint kick.

I've put it in salads, drinks and desserts every chance I get.

For these mojitos, I made a mint simple syrup 

(1 part sugar to 1 part water, add a bunch of fresh mint, simmer over med heat for 10 mins, chill.)

"recipe"

8ish mint leaves
1.5 oz gin
1 oz lime juice (I just use a big wedge)
.5 oz simple syrup
1 oz club soda

Muddle mint and lime in glass.  Add liquids, ice and stir.

 My mojito is ready when it looks more like a salad than a drink ...

nothing better.

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

We made this over the 4th ... what a hit!

I followed this recipe only making one change... 

I used Ranch for the dressing and added (lots of) blue cheese crumbles

Tassel Necklace

I really want one of these tassel necklaces!  I tried to find a tassel this weekend to make this necklace and couldn't find one this big... might need to search online.

here

July

 

How is it July??

3 weeks of dance camp are behind me and competition dance brain storming is in full force.

I had a carport-dinner-party for my fella's 29th birthday and didn't take a single picture.

I haven't cooked in a loooong time.  

It's been all grilling, salads and a mild obsession over avocados.

The backyard is sprouting grass and we added another huge project (of course).

This month, we're determined to head up to Presque Isle for a weekend.

Hooray for summer!

Summer Dance Camp - Jazz Songs

Lots of summer dance camp happening this month!

Here's a list of my favorite tunes for Jazz class & combos...

Pickles

I looove anything pickled.  I need to try to make some of these this summer.

Directions here by A Beautiful Mess

Arugula Peach Salad

The Hollidaysburg Farmer's Market can not start soon enough for me.  

I'm dying for some local produce!

I tried to sign up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) box this year and they are already sold out for the summer season (which is a great thing for them, not so great for me).

I might try a fall CSA and see if I like it... it's just such a summer thing in my mind.

This week I tossed a honey-mustard glazed pork tenderloin (I followed this recipe from Southern Living) and served it up with an arugula salad topped with fresh peaches and goat cheese tossed lightly with a white wine vinaigrette.  Tastes like summer.

Speaking of Community Supported Agriculture ... My mom recently went to Horn O Plenty, a Farm to Table Restaurant in Bedford and has been raving about it for a week.

It's on my must try list for the very near future!

Diet Coke Brownies

This is too weird, I had to try it.

mix 1 box of low-fat brownie mix with a 12oz can of diet coke and bake according to box instructions (don't add any other ingredients).

They turned out ooey-gooey... not too bad!

Homemade PB&J Frosty Paws

I was recently at a picnic and had a great conversation with a dog owner who makes a lot of her own doggie treats, food, etc. 

(She also did not have kids, ha, imagine that!)

She told me how easy it was to make homemade Frosty Paws and of course I had to try it.

I read a few recipes similar to this one and decided to wing it from there.

*32 oz Low Fat Organic Yogurt - I used BaNilla flavor

1/2 Cup Organic Smooth Peanut Butter

2 Containers of Organic Banana Baby Food (you can use real banana, but I wasn't sure I could get it smooth enough to pipe through a baggie, so I went for the baby food)

2 Tablespoons of Honey

8oz Container of Organic Blueberry Yogurt

Mix together all ingredients except for the Blueberry Yogurt.

At this point you can fill paper dixie cups with the 'ice cream' if you have a medium-large dog.

I decided to make Elwood bite-sized 'ice cream' nuggets.

I filled a ziplock baggie with the mixture, snipped the end and pipped 'coins' onto a foil lined cookie sheet.

Then I filled another ziplock with the Blueberry Yogurt and drizzled it over the 'coins'.

Pop the cookie sheets into the freezer and remove after 6-8 hours.

Store in a Tupperware container in the freezer for a PB&J summer time puppy treat!

*This made a LOT of little treats.  I filled 4 trays.  If you have a tiny dog, you might want to 1/2 the recipe.

Salsa Garden

I usually plant a medium sized garden with lots of different veggies.

This year, since my yard looks like this, my garden is nonexistent

I opted for a mini Salsa Garden in a Whiskey Barrel

Tomato, Cilantro,  Jalapeno & Cayenne Peppers

I also have a Potted Strawberry Patch that I started last year... 

it has already produced about 20 big yummy strawberries!

DIY Make-Up Fixer-Upper

What what WHAT??

How did I not know this trick... 

I carry my make up around in my car/purse/dance bag etc.  

This happens to me all the time!

From The Beauty Department

Summer Dance

Back to dance this week.  

3 week-long camps in a row (at different studios), 

plus my weekly technique classes are all starting.

That 2 week break always goes so fast... but I'm excited to get back to it.  

Summer classes and camps are always lots of fun :)

Let's Go

(here)

... I'm ready for a real vacation

Strawberry Spinach Salad

I had leftover balsamic glaze in my fridge from last night, 

so I threw together a delicious salad with whatever we had in the fridge.

Baby spinach

Grilled chicken, sliced

Strawberries, sliced

Shelled pistachios

Blue cheese, crumbled

Toss as much as you like of each ingredient onto a bed of baby spinach.

For the dressing, I diluted some of the balsamic glaze with olive oil and added salt & pepper.

I also made beer bread (from a box)... dump & stir style.

Perfect week night dinner! 

Grilled Tomato Basil Pizza

I could eat this all summer long... one of my favorites!


To make 2 pizzas, you need:
1 package of Garlic Naan (there are 2 Naan per pkg)
(or be amazing and make your own)
2 teaspoons olive oil, 1 per pizza
1 vine ripe tomato, sliced and divided

6 slices fresh mozzarella cheese, divided
8 basil leaves, roughly chopped and divided

Salt & pepper to taste

 

Place each flatbread on a sheet of aluminum foil.

Top your naan with the olive oil, tomatoes, basil and cheese.

Add salt and pepper.

 

 

 

Balsamic Glaze

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

combine and cook over medium-low heat for 20-25 minutes

allow to cool before serving.

Fire up your grill (I set mine to 'high') and pre-heat (mine takes about 15 minutes)

Turn the grill to low and place your pizzas on the grill (still on their foil)

Close the lid and allow to cook for 10-15 minutes.

Remove from grill and drizzle with balsamic glaze.

By the way, the fence construction started tonight.  So while I was grilling pizza, this is what was going on around me...

Yikes!  No looking back now...

DIY Drip Vase

Super easy DIY Drip Vase tutorial at You Are My Fav...

definitely making these soon in mixed metallics and maybe neon

Green Machine

I have a juicer, this is just so much easier...

(and tastier and actually cheaper when you buy the big bottles!)

I slug down 8oz of Green Machine in the morning for breakfast.

Makes me feel like Popeye...

Makes Eric want to gag. haha

Shrimp Tacos

Another weeknight dinner I can make in 15 minutes... always a plus!

Extra large raw shrimp, peeled, devained and tail off (plan on approximately 3 per taco)

1 small zucchini, sliced into strips

1 small onion, sliced into strips

1-2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup fat free sour cream

1/4 cup hot jalapeno salsa

1 avocado, sliced

cilantro

1 lime, sliced into wedges 

flour tortillas, taco size

olive oil

salt/pepper

Over medium heat, cook zucchini, onion and garlic in appx. a teaspoon of olive oil until tender.  Salt and pepper to taste. 7-10 minutes.

Remove zucchini mixture from pan and return pan to heat.  

Add shrimp and cook through. 3-4 minutes.

Combine sour cream and salsa to make a spicy jalapeno cream.

Arrange toppings in small bowls.

To assemble tacos, spread a tablespoon of the spicy jalapeno cream on a flour tortilla.

Arrange some of the zucchini & onions on the taco and top with 3 shrimp.

Place avocado slices & cilantro on top.  Squeeze a lime on the taco to finish.

Fold over and enjoy!

Water Bottle Chandelier

DIY Water Bottle Chandelier by Oh Happy Day

Now that's just impressive.

Mod About You

My new summer love ... it goes with everything.

 

Mod About You Salon Effects Nail Polish by Sally Hansen

Note to Self

(Note to Self)

Junk Yard

I had my first experience at a junk yard this weekend.  Never. Again.  

Eric needed a part for his car.  I wanted to go to Target.

I ended up in a junk yard.

The highlight of the trip was when Eric yelled at the top of his lungs 

"YEAH, NICE! WOOHOO!"...

he had found a beer token in one of the cars to a local dive bar.

Yahtzee.

Dirty Dozen

When to buy organic produce (strawberries) and when to skip it (onions)... 

I use this guide a lot when I'm shopping.

Organic.com - Dirty Dozen

 

12 Most Contaminated
Peaches, Apples, Sweet Bell Peppers, Celery, Nectarines, Strawberries, Cherries, Pears,
Grapes (Imported) ,Spinach, Lettuce, Potatoes

12 Least Contaminated
Onions, Avocado, Sweet Corn (Frozen), Pineapples, Mango, Asparagus, Sweet Peas (Frozen), Kiwi Fruit, Bananas, Cabbage, Broccoli, Papaya

Rockstar Puffed Pancake

Rockstar Diaries Puffed Pancakes are amazing.  

I haven't made one since the weather turned summery, 

but with the rain and cold on this Sunday evening, I had to have one for dinner.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a pie plate in the oven

Mix together 2 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup flour a pinch of salt and a pinch of cinnamon.

Pour batter into pie plate and return to oven for 10-12 minutes.

I love it with a squeeze of lemon and a dusting of powdered sugar or sliced strawberries.

Panera-ish Thai Chopped Chicken Salad Knock-Off

While we avoid chain restaurants when we can*, 

there are a few that we just can't resist due to some specific menu items!  

We triple heart love the Thai Chopped Chicken Salad at Panera.  

It's spicy and savory and plain old yummy.  

Last time we had one, I was all like, "this is so easy, I can make this" ... so I did.

Make a bed of lettuce, I used Leafy Romaine

Grill & sliced chicken breast, I totally cheated... then toss in a saute pan with a drizzle of Tonton Japanese vinaigrette (really easy to find) and a squirt of Sriracha and cook over medium heat for a minute or two until the dressing/hot sauce is absorbed.

Combine thawed, shelled edamame and chopped roasted red bell pepper.

Add chicken and veggies to bed of lettuce.

Top with chopped peanuts, a few wonton strips and a drizzle of vinaigrette.

Toss and serve.

It's not identical, but it's darn good!

It would be great with tofu to make it veggie too!

*we do our best to support small businesses whenever we can.  We're not super strict about it, but we do believe in shopping, eating and thinking locally... hey, we live here, why not!