It's All About Food

This is one of the yummiest sandwiches I have ever put into my mouth.  It goes perfectly with a warm, creamy tomato soup ( I buy Pacific Natural Organic Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Soup).  The combination is so so so good!  I can't wait until the next time I make it...scrumptious!  

Basil & Oregano Pesto

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup fresh oregano leaves (or just more basil leaves)
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/4 cup of walnuts
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil

How-To

1. Put all of the ingredients in a food processor, blend and set aside.

• Basil & oregano pesto
• Mozzarella cheese (fresh), sliced
• Tomato, slice (from garden or organic heirloom is best).

Italian Grilled Cheese

Ingredients

How-To

1. Put your griddle (or panini press) on medium heat.
2. Spray with cooking spray.
3. Assemble your sandwiches.
4. Cook until lightly browned and the cheese has melted.
5. Cut in half and serve right away...Enjoy!

Servings: 3 sandwiches

Thank you Chocolate and Carrots for the yummy recipe and beautiful pictures!

Bedtime Inspiration on an Almost Wordless Wednesday

Make bedtime stories extraordinary!

Remember making forts out of sheets? I sure do, it was like being transported to another world.  Pair this with reading and you've got yourself a double whammy! 

Picnic Days

     Picnics can be wonderfully romantic, so relaxing, and just plain fun! Summer is the season to get outdoors; and one of my favorite summertime activities is a hike followed by a healthy, wholesome picnic. I also like finding secluded picnic spots, for my loved ones and I to enjoy our meal.  Very soon school will be starting again for the young ones, so get out and explore while you still can. Oh, and don't forget to enjoy the sun!

Ice Cream Soda Party!

Summer is winding down, so before it ends throw as many summer bashes as possible!

     This summer fun idea is great by itself or following a back yard BBQ.  People love to piece together their own food (and in this case drinks).  It is kid and adult friendly alike!  This dessert display could be mostly set up before the get-together, and completely assembled as the excitement of dinner commences.    

 

     Putting pre-scooped ice cream in cute containers makes all the difference!  Just pop the entire bucket and ready-to-go scoops into the freezer, until all the other decorations are set up, and don't set them out until right before your guests arrive.

     Vary the soda selection, so there are many possible flavor combinations for every palette.  Other snacks are always welcome as well!  Cookies and yummy sweets work well for this type of party. 

      Different Syrups can make for endless possibilities!  Remember to label them to make syrup selection easier on you guests.

  To Make An Orange Sicle Soda: Add two scoops of vanilla ice cream to an old fashioned soda glass, then pour over orange juice. Top with cream soda and garnish with whipped cream and cherry if need be.

To Make A Strawberry Soda: Add two scoops of ice cream (strawberry can be substituted for vanilla)  to 
a soda glass.  Drizzle high quality strawberry flavored syrup over the ice cream. Top with soda and stir. Garnish with whipped cream and cherry if you so choose.

To Make Chocolate Soda: In a soda glass, combine 2 scoops ice cream and drizzle with the finest chocolate syrup. Then, pour seltzer (or soda water) over it to fill the glass completely. Garnish with whipped 
cream and cherry, if  desired.

An Almost Wordless Wednesday In The Middle Of August

Happiness is: a warm, comfortable cat.

It Is All About Trust

The Lord listens; trust, and seek comfort in him.
He has always been there for me, and I must remember that he always will be.

The Joy of Juicing!

Carrot Juice--Yum!!!

      I love watching health documentaries, it is one of my many strange quarks.  I have seen quite a few documentaries that recommend eating mostly plant based, raw foods (Food Matters is an awesome one!). So over the past 2 years I have been weening myself off of all things meat, soda, and fast food, and eating mostly all natural foods, tons of whole grains, and lots of fresh fruits and veggies as well.  Even so, my diet overall, is still not where it should be.  I eat way too many carbohydrates, I mean talk about starchy and sugary foods.  I am looking to be a lot healthier, and of course a bit slimmer too.

      So I made a plan.  I decided after watching Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead that it was time to take drastic measures.  First I bought a power juicer and Vitamineral Green (an extremely good-for-you green powder) online, then I bought just about the whole produce section of the grocery store.  I juiced everything I bought, and created three different juices; one for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  I am going on a month long juice fast, to see where it takes me.

   Juicing is a great way to add in lots of nutrients to the body, with minimal effort. It is so incredibly healthy that everyone should make it apart of their daily routine.  Moreover, it is an excellent way to make your whole family healthier.

      I am not suggesting that everyone do what I am planning. I am taking juicing to the extreme, and fasting is definitely not for everyone. But adding even one fresh juice a day will do nothing but good for the body.  I hope to make it through the thirty days of fasting, and I also hope the cravings for bread wont be too bad...wish me luck, I am going to need it!     

Sun Sweet Berries

     One of the best things about the summer season is the produce!  It is so much less expensive than it is in the winter months, and it tastes so much better too!  Especially when it comes to the fruit, and in particular, when it comes to the berries.  As my best friend likes to say: "It's like you can actually taste the sun in them!"  And I totally agree with her, but "sun" is a very difficult taste to describe.  Maybe it's the slight bit of warmth the fruit has when you pick it strait from the bush, vine, or what-have-you, to eat it; that gives it the flavor of sunshine.  Maybe it's that extra bit of ripeness, and sweetness the fruit contains during the summer.  Whatever it is, it's delicious, and I love it.

     I also love to "pick-your-own" produce.  It keeps the cost of the food even lower; plus it feels so much more natural to harvest your own food, than to buy it all the time.  Fruit picking is such a treat, even though it can be hard work, which is why the more helping hands you have, the better.  Produce picking could be done as a family outing, or trip.  Getting out together in the fresh air is great, and showing the young ones where some of our food comes from, is wonderful as well. During Autumn, many orchards offer apple picking, and of course I can't forget to mention pumpkin patches; which are a blast!  But for now, it is off to the blueberry, strawberry, and blackberry bushes I go, before the season is over, and it is too late!