EVENT: Jihva for Lentils

Jihva For Ingredients (JFI) is the new food blog event started by Indira of Mahanandi, which featured Mango as the ingredient for the month of May and Strawberries for June. This month Sailu's Indian Food and Andhra Recipes is hosting JFI for the month of July and the ingredient is Lentils

I made Lentil Salad to go with a lamb dish. It was so refreshing.



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RECIPE: Lentil Salad

Lentil Salad

2 cups beef broth
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 tablespoon dried onion flakes
salt and pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cups of Orange Lentils
2-3 medium tomatoes
1 cup haricot verts green beans
2 tablespoons parsley, minced
3-4 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil

In a pot add broth, garlic, salt, pepper, and thyme. Bring to a boil and add lentils. Turn down the heat to a simmer and partially cover the pot with a lid. Let simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are soft but still have a bit of hardness to them. They should not be falling apart and into mush. If not all the liquid is absorbed that is just fine. Drain any leftover liquid. Let cool. Meanwhile, chop up the tomatoes and the haricot verts green beans. Combine the lentils, tomatoes and green beans in a bowl. Add in the parsley, vinegar and oil. Season to taste.

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DAILY REPORT: Friday, June 30

I never get around to writing these. This week was exhausting. It was "Newsletter Week" which is when I work on my Twin Club's Newsletter. I spend hours and hours each night working on it. Probably too much time. I don't think I am being very efficient and constantly fiddle with the lay out. I was up until 3:30 a.m. the past two nights and swear I am going to bed "early" tonight. That means by 1:00 a.m.

I have a gazillion of pictures to go through on my camera. I don't even remember what is on there right now. I have to write down at least three recipes I made up over the past couple of weeks.

We are having a Teletubby birthday party for the boys next month. I am making way too many things for it. Crafty things and not just food things. I shall just have to see how much of that I can actually accomplish. Me and my projects.

EVENT: Still Life - Black and White Photographs

Well well well... I actually got some photographs up for this month's Still Life With Event - Black and White Photographs. I really do hope you will go and visit Still Life With... and her other blogs because they are excellent. I really do not take black and white photographs so this was not my best work but it was fun to be challenged. I could not even devote a fraction of the time that I wanted to but it was nice to pull out the camera and think about it at least a bit. The Celery Seeds I photographed in Sepia. The Milk is a color photograph. The Lemon was shot in color but edited into black and white.


Celery Seeds


Milk White


Lemons





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EVENT: I'll Show You Mine If... Spice Racks

Sweetnicks is helping us all peep into eachother's kitchen once again. This time we are showing off our spice cabinets.

I have a small kitchen so I have stuff everywhere. I got these shelves that have magnets on the back and they hang right on the side of the fridge. I like green glass so I bought green glass spice jars and actually moved all the spices into them. I don't like the labels though because they are too big and you can't see the glass well enough. So one day I will get new labels. I just got a new chipotle chili spice but no more room in this rack so I put it in a cupboard.

What are three things I always have? Well the list is much longer than these three but I could not live without these.
Cumin
Thyme
Ginger

What I almost never have on hand?
Chervil
Summer Savory
"Weird" cheap spice mixes from the grocery store. I am not even slightly opposed to spice mixes because some are excellent but some just weird me out. Does that make me weird?

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EVENT: Summer Ice Cream - Frozen Hot Chocolate

Sweet Pleasure is having a really fun event perfect for those hot summer days - Ice Cream and its frozen friends. I make this frozen hot chocolate quite a lot because it is so easy and not too sweet.

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RECIPE: Frozen Hot Chocolate

Frozen Hot Chocolate

4 cups (1 quart) milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup + 4 teaspoons cocoa powder

In a small bowl put cocoa powder and ¼ cup of the milk. Whisk with a fork until a paste is made. In a saucepan, bring the rest of the milk to a simmer. In a large bowl, add sugar and cocoa paste and stir together. Pour in hot milk and stir until completely combined. Cool completely in the refrigerator. Freeze according to ice cream machine manufacturer’s instructions. Makes about 4 cups.

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EVENT: Mixology Monday IV- Aperitif

I made up a batch of my Poire Framboise Aperitif for this months Mixology Cocktail Hour.

Jimmy's Cocktail Hour is hosting this months Mixology Monday and the theme is Aperitif.

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RECIPE: Poire Framboise Aperitif - Pear Raspberry

Poire Framboise Aperitif
Serves 1

Crushed ice
Framboise liqueur
William Pear liqueur

Place the crushed ice in a small glass. Pour one cap of the framboise and one cap of the pear over the ice. If the glass is a little large then pour additional liqueur in equal parts over the top.


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EVENT: WCC#6 - Picnic Food - Frittatas

This months Weekend Cookbook Challenge theme is Picnic Food! I have been meaning to make Martha Stewart's mini frittatas for some time and recently in her magazine she republished the recipe so I thought that was my cue to finally make them. They were really nice so I also made up my own version of Mini Frittatas with Tomatoes, bacon and broccoli.

These are perfect for lunch picnics with some nice white wine, cheese and crackers and fresh fruit.

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RECIPE: Mini Cheese Frittatas

Mini Frittatas
Makes 3 Dozen

Vegetable Cooking Spray
18 Large Eggs
2 teaspoons coarse salt
¾ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon fresh thyme
16 oz bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1 cup broccoli florets, cooked and finely chopped
2 cups tomatoes, seeded and diced
1/ cup finely grated Mozzarella cheese



Preheat oven to 400. Lightly coat mini muffin tins with cooking spray; set aside. Whisk eggs, salt, pepper and thymes in a large bowl; set aside. In a small bowl, combine bacon, tomatoes, broccoli and mozzarella and stir to combine. Place slightly less than a tablespoon of the mixture into the bottom of the mini-muffin tins. Pour egg mixture into the tins. Bake until set, 10 minutes. Serve warm

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RECIPE: Martha Stewart's Mini Frittatas

Martha Stewart Mini Frittatas
Makes 4 Dozen

Vegetable Cooking Spray
18 Large Eggs
2 teaspoons coarse salt
¾ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon fresh chives
1 medium zucchini trimmed and cut into 1/8” rounds
4 to 6 white mushrooms, cut lengthwise int 1/8” thick slices
1 red bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, flesh cut into 1/8” dice
1 yellow bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, flesh cut into 1/8” dice
1/ cup finely grated Gruyere or fontina cheese

Preheat oven to 400. Lightly coat four 12-cup or two 24-cup mini muffin tins with cooking spray; set aside. Whisk eggs, salt, pepper and chives in a large bowl; set aside. Put 1 zucchini round, 1 mushroom slice, and about 1 teaspoon bell peppers into each muffin cup. Ladle egg mixture into each cup to fill; sprinkle with cheese, dividing evenly. Bake until set, 8 to 10 minutes. Serve warm.


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WEEKEND BABY BLOGGING - WBB#6 Round Up

Angel of Fruit Salad who luckily for us started Weekend Baby Blogging gives little Hayley some carrots. I think the verdict is quite obvious! ICK. This picture just kills me. She is so cute.

As for me and my boys, well I am swamped and so I am putting up some old pics.



Don't forget to check out the Weekend Baby Blogging Announcment!

Oh. Babies or course come in ALL AGES!! So your children of all ages are included.


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WEEKEND BABY BLOGGING - WBB#6

I have not had a chance to upload photographs from my camera on the computer so I am sharing some photography my mom took of the boys this past February when she took such good care of them while hubby and I took a mini-break.


Beautiful Xander




Beautiful Timothy




I can't believe they are sharing. Maybe it just looks like it in the photograph.



Which Pan Should We Use?

Don't forget to check out the Weekend Baby Blogging Announcment!

Oh. Babies or course come in ALL AGES!! So your children of all ages are included.


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EVENT: WHB#38 - Goat Cheese and Scallion Cheese Roll

This week Weekend Herb Blogging is being hosted by Virginie of Absolutely Green.

This weekend I made Goat Cheese and Scallion Cheese Log.

Celebrate food with the taste of herbs! For more information please check out Weekend Herb Blogging Archives.


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RECIPE: Goat Cheese and Scallion Roll

Goat Cheese and Herb Cheese Ball/Roll

3 tablespoons butter, softened
8 oz. Goat Cheese, softened
4 oz. Cream cheese, softened
3 shallots, finely chopped
2 tablespoons basil, finely minced
pepper
salt

Place all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. With a spatula, mix all the ingredients together until completely combined. Lay out a large piece of plastic wrap. Scoop the cheese mixture into your hands and pat it back and forth to make a shape that resembles a ball. Wrap completely in plastic and roll slightly into a cylinder/log shape. Place on a plate in the refrigerator. After about 1 hour, when the cheese has firmed up a bit, take roll/log out and while still in the plastic wrap roll it on the counter so that it makes a nicer roll. Place back in fridge for at least 30 minutes. Can be made and kept in the refrigerator up to two days in advance. Serve with fruit and crackers.


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EVENT: ARF#26 - Tomato and Mozzarella Melted Sandwiches

Sweetnicks famous Antioxident Rich Food Tuesday is geared towards, yes, you guessed it Antioxident Rich Foods, but certainly not limited to. Just create some delicious food with vegetables and join in on the fun.

So this weekend I made my yummy Tomato and Mozzarella Melted Sandwiches.

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RECIPE: Tomato and Mozzarella with Basil Sandwich

Tomato and Mozzarella with Basil Sandwich
Serves 4

4 rolls
1 Mozzarella Cheese
2 tomatoes
8 Basil Leaves
Balsamic Vinegar
Salt and Pepper

Slice the rolls in half. Toast in the oven. Meanwhile, slice the cheese and tomatoes and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Lay out 4 sheets of tinfoil. As soon as the rolls are toasted take them out of the oven, turn off the oven and quickly build the sandwiches. Drizzle the vinegar on both sides of the rolls and layer on the cheese, tomatoes and basil. Wrap in foil and place them back in the oven. They will melt slightly. Not completely but they will be slightly oozy and completely delicious. These are great sandwiches to take to the beach because in the heat of the sun the cheese will remain oozy. They are so good.

Portuguese Rolls are perfect but a nice buttery one will work well too.


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PHOTOGRAPHS: Roosters and Chickens At The Fair

Rooster


Shake Your Tail Feather


Rooster Tail Detail


I Can See You


Hmmm


Go Away


Red Feathers


A Pair in Profile


Yes? You Were Saying. . .


Regal


Black and White Feathers

PHOTOGRAPHS: Rabbits at the Fair

Grey Rabbit


Black Rabbit


Black and White Rabbit

PHOTOGRAPHS: Animals At The Fair

Zebra


Sleeping Baby


Piggy


Pig - The Reality


Mother and Child


Goat and Child


Camel Baby


Duckling


White Tiger

WEEKEND BABY BLOGGING - WBB#5 Round Up

Angel of Fruit Salad who luckily for us started Weekend Baby Blogging is about to see how hard it is to take pictures of sweet Haley soon because she is on the verge of crawling! Life will never be the same. I do hope they are ready. hee hee.




Well we took the boys to the San Fernando Valley Fair. Here are some of the pictures from the day. Plenty more to come of course. This picture is when we were just leaving. Tuckered out.

Don't forget to check out the Weekend Baby Blogging Announcment!

Oh. Babies or course come in ALL AGES!! So your children of all ages are included.


Weekend Baby Blogging Archives

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PHOTOGRAPHS: Fair Food

Food on a Stick


Funnel Cake Stand


Funnel Cake


Grill Smoke


Junk Food


Cotton Candy


Ice Cream Deluxe