Peach Tomato and Mozzarella Crostini

Here's what I discovered this weekend, peach and tomato are BFFs. They are "summer sisters". They are pretty alone but beautiful together. Put this out at your next party, or make it for lunch....for yourself, you're so worth it.

Recipe by Joy the Baker


fresh mozzarella
ripe peach
tomato
fresh basil
balsamic vinegar
baguette


Slice and brush a baguette with olive oil and place until a broiler until browned. Top with a slice of tomato, a slice of fresh mozzarella and a slice of ripe peach, sprinkle with salt and pepper and fresh basil, dash of balsamic. E N J O Y.

Baked Beans

Who doesn't love a cookout? I'm the girl making a beeline to the baked beans...always. I like them in a separate bowl and eaten with a spoon. This recipe is topped with thick cut bacon. H E L L O. 

recipe by Pam Anderson as seen on The Pioneer Woman

8 slices bacon, halved

1 medium onion, diced

1 medium green pepper, diced

3 large cans (28 ounces) each pork and beans

3/4 cup barbecue sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup distilled or cider vinegar

2 tsp dry mustard or 2 Tbsp dijon mustard

Adjust oven rack to lower middle position. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Fry bacon in a skillet until partially cooked. Remove bacon from pan and drain on paper towels. Add onion and pepper to bacon grease and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. While the veggies are sauteing, in a small bowl combine, the brown sugar, vinegar, barbecue sauce and mustard, mix until combined. add beans to the onions and peppers and the barbecue mixture, stir and bring to a simmer. Pour flavored beans into a greased 13X9 inch pan, top with bacon. Cook until bubbly and sauce is thickened like pancake syrup, about 2 hours. Remove from oven and let stand slightly to thicken more.

Funfetti Blondies

A super sweet treat your kids will love, very quick to throw together. I think next time I will leave out the white chocolate chips. A cross between an ooey gooey butter cake and those icing topped super soft sugar cookies you get at the grocery store.

Recipe by Girl Meets Life

1 box funfetti cake mix
1/4 cup oil
1 egg, beaten
1/4 -1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup white chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8X8 baking dish and set aside. In a medium bowl mix all the above ingredients, press into prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the edges start to brown. It's okay if the center seems a little soft still. It will set up when it cools completely.

Monday Musings

1.  It's a sad day when I'm sitting in a theater watching Madagascar 3 with my kids checking the exits and ready to pounce on anybody who walks in that even remotely freaks me out. Praying for those families. Repeating to myself the words I read from another blog this morning. God is always good, man is not.

2. on a much lighter note...
http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/07/white-pizza-dip/
WHAT.THE.HECK. I think I need to have a party, like today...just so I can make this dip.

3.  yes, I'm ready for fall. I said it. It's out there. I am hibernating. The Mister is too, he just won't admit it.

4.  Speaking of the Mister we went for a lovely bike ride this morning, wondering where I can get a giant seat that's oh, about as big as my pillow? That would make it so much more enjoyable!!

5.  Two things I'm looking forward to, Olympics and Shark week.

6.  Something is wrong with me, I cannot get through 50 shades of Grey, I am trying, is there a page when it just really takes off? How can they possibly make a movie of this? Don't hate me.

7. I did, however read this in 2 days.
 

8. Happy Monday everyone.

InstaFriday

 Missed this face while we were away.

 and this one

 found an awesome place for antiquing while out with mom this weekend.

 cherry pie in the making

 it tasted better then it looked

 oh how I adore afternoon thunderstorms

 trying my hand at succulents, I cannot keep anything alive.

 took a $10 brass chandelier from Habitat and got out my spray paint

so happy with the result.


Happy Friday, stay safe out there.

Fresh Corn Salad

This is a summer staple side dish for me, we consume a lot of corn on the cob when corn is in season but I hate having to run and floss after eating it. It looks pretty too, that's always a plus.

Recipe by Ina Garten

5 ears corn, shucked
1 small diced red onion
3 Tbsp cider vinegar (I've used red wine as well)
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
1/2 cup julienned fresh basil leaves

In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the corn for 3 minutes, until the starchiness is just gone. Drain and immerse the corn in ice water to stop the cooking process. When the corn is cooled cut the kernels off as close to cob as you can.Toss the kernels in a large bowl with rest of ingredients. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Summer

How has your summer been? Ours is flying by, now that vacation is over I'm hoping it will slow down a bit. They cut a portion of Eme's cast off today, he can at least straighten his arm now. 2 more weeks of stinky cast left. 2 more weeks and he will be able to swim under water like Nemo, something he has missed so much this summer. Here are a few shots of of our summer so far. I hope you're all having a wonderful summer, making memories, relaxing, exploring, staying cool.

Monday Musings

1. Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise, Scientology, it's sad... are you surprised?

2. Have you ever had a week where you accidentally broke several things and kept dropping things on your baby toes and biting the inside of your lip in the same exact place over and over again?, No? just me? Ugh.

3. We rented A Thousand Words with Eddie Murphy this weekend. I seriously cried real tears from this movie. What is wrong with me? I'm blaming it on the heat...106 degrees.

4. I am trying so hard to save my flowers but they are starting to wither, they are throwing in the towel, it's just too hot.

5.So, I tried this stuff this weekend, I've had my eye on it for some time, my grocer had them buy one get one free. I kind of have a soft spot for gelato, and this is so yummy.

pinterest

 6. Emerson's cast is permeating a distinct funk. We have many more weeks to go. Prayers appreciated.

7. Wishing you all a happy and safe 4th of July. Considering the week I'm having I think I'll keep my distance of any fireworks, matches etc.