coming off the grill

There is something really right about barbecuing in the summer.  Kids in the pool, husband at the grill, me rocking on the deck with baby. (Did you catch that-- I don't do the grilling :) There seem to be far fewer messes in the kitchen when we cook outside as well. 

I don't know about you, but I'm a little burned out on the regular
barbecue fare. I'm not a huge fan of meat to start with; so how many
steaks, burgers, dogs, and chicken breasts can a girl eat anyways? Not
many.

When the 4th of July rolled around, we were all ready for something different. 

Grilled pizza.  It had to be easy though, with baby in tow I wasn't up for some grand and fancy feast. I just bought ready-made pizza crust in the refrigerator isle (near the cinnamon rolls and biscuits) and ready-made pizza sauce--the squeeze kind even!

We unrolled the crust, plopped it on the grill and cooked one side.  Then we brought them in, flipped them over, and heaped toppings on the cooked side (fresh mozzarella, basil, tomatoes, artichokes, asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese, avocados, pepperoni, and canadian bacon & pineapple). We slathered them with olive oil and sent them back out to the grill to cook the bottom of the crust.

Thank you to our friend Marc who did a great job at the grill.  It was windy and my husband is only a fair-weather griller!

One thing that would've made it easier is this.  I don't have one.  We made do with spatulas, tongs, and inverted cookie sheets (with a lot of giggling along the way). We never lost one though, they all made the transfer in tact!

It was so refreshing to try something different! Easy, yummy and pretty too!

So Much Love

Breakfast with my Loves.

 

Wishing you pink, heart-shaped sweetness today and everyday!

**this breakfast delight brought to you by a few drops of pink food dye, a makeshift pastry bag (gallon-sized zip-lock bag with the corner cut open), and nice warm griddle.

roughage

I am absolutely in love with this book!  I found it at the library last week.

Where has Ina Garten been all my life?  I seriously think she may be my new best friend. I love the way she talks about her home in the Hamptons and her "off season" home in NY (not to mention the lovely little flat she keeps in Paris) like her readers most certainly have a similar situation. Um not quite.  But that is where her pretentiousness seems to stop.  I was delighted to find that most of her recipes are simple, the ingredients attainable. 

My Saturday lunch:

A little greek salad with warm goat cheese on toast.  I adapted the recipe in the book to include many of my favorite flavors right now.

Toss together: I don't measure anything, just dump in what looks good to you.

Mixed Greens (I am loving the artisan lettuce tub at costco right now...stays fresher longer than the pre-cut stuff)

Artichoke hearts (mine were from a jar, packed in oil)

Kalamata olives

Garbanzo beans

Then mix dressing: (I measured all ingredients into a jar, then put the lid on and just shook it up. This will make enough dressing for salads all week- time saving!)

6 T white wine vinegar

1 t dijon or seedy brown mustard

1 t mince garlic

1 C olive oil

Coarse salt and pepper to taste

Toss Salad and dressing together.

Then I brushed a few pieces of baguette with olive oil and topped them with sliced goat cheese and baked them at 450 for 8 mins.  This is long enough for the goat cheese to warm and the bread to toast.

It was divine. I really did feel "Barefoot in Paris" versus just "Barefoot and Pregnant".  Going back to the library to find more of Ina.  Any recommendations?