Friends and "F"

Normally if I start a long drawn out project, like cooking through the alphabet, I involve as many people as I can. Because it makes it more fun.



It's not often, that if we are at home on a weekend, and eating....we are normally not by ourselves. There is always someone here with us. If it's a special night for dinner, which every night is a special night here, they are up to their eyeballs in what we have planned. And if they are good sports, they join right in. And luckily, since I have super supportive friends, they jump in and enjoy everything with us!

I had great sports this weekend. They were here to celebrate eating "F".



So here's what was on the menu:

Fried Fish
Regular Grilled Fish
(Halibut and Walley)
Flutternutter French Toast (Flutternutter is just marshmallow cream mixed with peanut butter, there is a whole history behind it and plus..... it's just really really fun to say!"
Feta Skewers
Frozen Yogurt topped with Frozen Fruit Cocktail
Fruit Pizza (Made by our guests!)



Fruit Pizza:

1 Can of sugar cookies rolled out onto a pizza pan and baked.
1 Package of cream Cheese.
1/3 cup of Sugar
Dash of Vanilla
Fruit to top

Mix Cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Spread over cooled pizza cookie.
Decorate with fruit of choice!

Parker and I have planned to decorate the whole back yard area for dinner, but it rained and we didn't get to.
Darn it.

I was looking for feta recipes and I came across this insanely odd recipe that turned out to be fantastic. I called it a Mediterranean party in your mouth and you had to eat all the things together for it to have the right effect. (Unless you don't like olives... then it has the opposite affect on you...and then you can eat the following salad instead.)

Marinated Feta and Olive Skewers

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
2 teaspoons orange zest
3 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
4 ounces feta cheese, cut into 24 (1/2-inch) cubes
24 mint leaves (I completely forgot this part and it still tasted fantastic!)
1/4 large English cucumber, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
12 pitted green olives, halved

24 (6-inch) skewers

In a medium bowl combine the fennel seeds, orange zest, orange juice, and pepper. Gently stir in the feta and marinate for 1 hour or more.
To make the skewers, place a mint leaf about 3/4-inch up the skewer, then add an olive half, then a chunk of cucumber. Gently place a cube of the marinated feta on the end.

If you don't like the olives you can take the ingredients and put it on a salad, which I did the next day and it was fantastic.

And this... I think my little one got a little excited about Z's in Pizza and forgot how to make an "S."

Song: With a Little Help From My Friends, Joe Cocker.

Love this song.... just reminds me of the Wonder Years. Gotta love retro Fred Savage!

Catching A Moment of Leisure

This is where we escaped today for a few hours. We used to, all the time, jump in old blue, put on a tape (yes we own a vehicle that still plays cassette tapes) and head on down the road, out to the country. But now, with the running hither and thither.....it's hard to spontaneously jump up and run away for a while.

It was my intention, after eating lunch, to lay down and read my magazine, or book that I carefully packed along with my hot tamale nail polish, and read and paint my toe nails. But the long grass called my name. So, I threw on my mud boots (that I bought at Ann Taylor 5 years ago before the fashion rain boots came into style, specifically for looking cute while playing in the mud) and ran out and followed the boys.

There was a lot of catching happening.

Fish catching.

Frog catching.

Bug catching.

Butterfly catching.

Dog catching.

What a perfect way to spend the afternoon. In between the painting and weeding and editing. Just perfect!

Song: Fishin' in the Dark, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

The Second of a Pair

About a year ago my brother in law brought home this little dude. Who has now grown into a huge beast of an oaf. He's kind of doofy. I don't mind saying that, because it's true. We all complain about each other's dogs in the most honest way.

Well today he brought home this tiny little ball of whiny fur. And he name is Lefty. His dogs are named Poncho and Lefty from the song. (at the end) He has had a dream for most of his adult life, to have two dogs with these names. And now he does. We got the pleasure of hearing Willie Nelson sing this in person once, and it was wonderful, though I can't say seeing Willie Nelson in Concert was ever on my list of things to do... but I did it and stood in the front row to see it on a cold night in Colorado.

Welcome to the family Lefty. You sure are cute! Thank you for letting me stick you up on a shelf in a bowl in my kitchen. It probably won't be the last time I make you endure something of the sort.

Song: Poncho and Lefty, Willie Nelson

First day of Summer

How did you spend the first day of summer?



Mine was spent running around like a madwoman!! But in between all the running I discovered a new spot for self serve ice cream!!! Back in the olden days...at least when I was a kid, it was pretty common to be able to go into a gas station and serve yourself up some ice cream on a hot day. I was just commenting the other day about how that has gone out of style, just like renting movies (two stores have closed down in the last couple weeks)

But yesterday I found this... for 50 cents! YAY!



I love summer.


Song: Summer Breeze, Jason Mraz

Everybody Eats "E"

Can you guess what we had for "E"
Eggplant of course. On the grill. Covered in Parmesan cheese!
We also had:
Edame
Echiladas
Elote

Elote is fastly becoming one of my favorite favorite things of summer, and seriously, and I know when I'm not looking people are eating this by the spoonful.

Elote

1/2 cup mayo

1/2 cup Queso Fresco

2 tablespoons Chopped Cilantro

1-2 tablespoons Lime juice

Salt and pepper to taste.

Melted Butter

Olive oil

Brush olive oil onto corn. Grill until tender.

While Corn is cooking Mix the mayo, queso fresco, cilantro, lime juice and salt and pepper. Should be kind of a chunky mixture.

Cover corn with melted butter and then brush on (A LOT) of cheese mixture.

"D"

One of the reasons I want to do a project like this with my little bird is to get him involved with me. Hopefully get him to like cooking. I want him to take this with him when he leaves and use it and remember everything familiar and everything new that we try. When I left home, and was truly on my own, I was clueless. I had NO IDEA how to cook. Luckily, thank the lord, someone taught me how to cook chicken a chicken breast, otherwise I probably would have starved as I didn't and still don't really eat fast food. I don't want him to be clueless.

Last week we had "D" day. We at the main dish before I got a photo. We were all starved

Here's what was on the menu
Dill White Sauce Pasta (YUM!!)
Deviled Eggs
Devil Squares
Doritos
Dots
and Dates

Here's the trick with Deviled Eggs:

Mix the yolks with miracle whip (I'm not a mayo girl)

Mustard (brown or spicy)

and a little pickle juice

BAM...there is the key ingredient. pickle juice. (thanks to Uncle Tevi for that trick)

Devil Squares (one of only about 3 recipes that I use from my mother and my childhood)

1 Box Devils Food Cake

1/2 Cup Butter

1 Egg

1 Container of marshmallow Cream

3/4 cup Peanut Butter

Soften butter and mix together with devils food cake mix. Set aside 1 cup for topping. Mix one egg with remaining cake mix and press into the bottom of pan.

Mix together jar of marshmallow cream with peanut butter. Layer on top of cake mixture. Sprinkle with crumbs set aside earlier. Bake at 350 for about a half hour.

And dates... well. They are like GIANT raisins. Park loved em'.

Paddling

I promised my little dude that we would do something fun today. So we spent the majority of the morning at the park. Perfectly overcast most of the time. Warm. Not terribly windy. LOVED IT.

We went paddle boating...which in my opinion is the greatest way to enjoy the GIANT park that I live 30 seconds car ride from.


Since it was just me paddling... we went slow. Slow is good. Slow is perfect for a summer day with your favorite little dude.

He was the captain. I was the crew.

I love the the cattails.

Song: Sit Down, Don Henley

Faces

So, I have to tell you....
I would probably have this picture blown up to a giant wall sized picture.
Because I'm that kind of mom.
The kind of mom who displays a picture of her kid with underroos on his head.
The kind of mom who thinks kids doing kid things makes the world a happier place.
I would at least make them into greeting cards.

But he wasn't the whole reason for the visit.
She's a newbie.
She will learn all the kid things that make the world a happier place.
From him.

Song: Funny Face, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Excuses and Adorable Bears

Last weekend I spent, like most working weekends.. hanging out with adorable babies. Now, living in Wyoming has made my weekends a little bit trickier than say...Arizona. We have severe weather here what seems like 75% of the year. Last weekend was the rain. But we all managed. In between shoveling buckets of water away from my house, painting the kitchen and tiling in the basement.... I was out with cuties like these!

Then, during the week, in between the painting, the tiling and the cleaning.... I got a bit sick. IN JUNE. Who gets sick in June. Me.

So, I'm a little behind with everything.
I'm behind in sending photos.
I'm behind in editing them.
I'm behind in the cooking project (though I did manage to get 2 in.)
So, what I guess I'm trying to say in the most eloquent way... I'm really sorry if you are waiting on me or if you happen to run into me as I'm not recognizable most of the time and normally covered in paint (something I've just learned to live with!) I'm also learning to live with the fact that I'm always behind.
I will catch up.
Someday.
Somehow.
Someway.

And because he was an adorable one....

Song: Teddy Bear, Elvis

Energy

It isn't every day that a complete stranger hugs you upon meeting.

Have to say, it was really nice and a hug was exactly what I needed for a greeting.

This mom is one of those people.

You know, the ones that you want to bottle up their energy and personality and save it for when you have all run out.

That's me... kind of run out (for those who have to see me on the weekends, in my paint clothes and tattered pants and hats, no makeup, no nothing, disheveled and homeless looking.... I apologize!)

She was fun.

She ran around me in circles and so did her kiddos.



I loved it!!!!! It was just want I needed!

And this... too cute for words.

Song: An American Girl, Tom Petty

A Runner

He may be quick, but when I catch him, I love what I get. He has the most gorgeous eyes and the cutest little smile and he talks a mile a minute. I can't believe how big his is getting...seems like yesterday he was just a wee one that we were propping up, and now I'm running to keep up with him.

Oh... and he's going to be a big brother!!!! YAY!!

Song: Rebel Rouser, Forest Gump Soundtrack