GINSANITY CHAPTER VIII: This'll Cherry, I mean Cheer, You up! {Cherry Gin Fizz}

Cherry Gin Fizz

DONE.

J'ai fini.

Stick a fork in me.

oh? it's only Thursday?
GEEZ.
Oh wait!
It's THIRSTY Thursday.
and this is my new little friend the Cherry Gin Fizz
It's easy like Sunday morning....
hehe, I know, that was cheesy.
I'm tired.

WHAT YOU NEED:

{1 part = 1 ounce when drinking alone 

---although you're never drinking ALONE, I'm with you in spirit}

1 part maraschino cherry juice {I know, zero health benefits but I think they now use something besides the carcinogenic Red dye #9 or whatever it was}
1 1/2 part Gin {there's the healthy stuff}
4 parts club soda
sugar for the rim

WHAT YOU DO:
BEFORE I made the drink I put my 1 part cherry juice in a shallow bowl to dip my glass in before sugaring the rim.... not necessary but I think it sticks better with the juice than just water.
Fill shaker with ice, add ingredients, shake vigorously before straining into your prepared glass....

can you say AH? Wake me when it's Friday....

p.s.  Don't forget, MY SEA SALT GIVEAWAY ends at 11:59 EST TONIGHT.... don't miss it... share this post for 2 extra entries {we are VERY close to adding the GRILL RUB COLLECTION!}

Sometimes You NEED a cheat.... {Magical Pomi Salsa}

POMI SALSA

 No time?
This Salsa is THE best cheat ever....
less than 10 minutes prep and then IF you have time refrigerate to let it marry....
if not, seriously I would eat these ingredients out out the Pomi box.

WHAT YOU NEED:
1 box Pomi chopped
1/2 red onion chopped finely
3 tbsp fresh cilantro {chopped}
1 TBSP minced garlic
1 TBSP lime juice
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp kosher salt
2 TBSP canned diced green chilis

WHAT YOU DO:
Do the hokey pokey and mix it all around....

OLE!

Spicey Honey Glazed Pork Chops & My Foodie Penpals!

My VIRGINIA Swag enjoying Kyra's birthday
opening up many Coke bottles for the Birthday Girl
[and maybe a Landshark or two.... not featured!]

Gotta love the fun of sending

AND receiving your Foodie PenPal package each month!

Daytona Beach Package OUT

VIRGINIA PACKAGE IN!

Lindsay at the lean green bean introduced me to two lovey ladies this month.... Sarah from Quotidienne Moi out of NYC

and Sabrina from Fitlaughlove in VA {Sabrina be sure you show your husband the OTHER use for bottle-opener pictures!}.... check out their blogs, I subscribe to both!


I love this program.... too fun, meeting people, giving and getting great stuff... if you haven't done it you should pop over to Lindsay's site and sign up.... 


But when it's all said & done, to me it's all about the inspiration that arrives in that little box and while I ADORED the swag, devoured the pretzels & Salsa Fresca, relaxed with my tea.... I was inspired and made some INCREDIBLE porkchops featuring my VIRGINIA WILD FLOWER HONEY <3

Spicey Honey Glazed Pork Chops

thank you Recipelion for this awesome recipe!

 WHAT YOU NEED:
5 boneless pork chops
1 cup honey {I used my VA HONEY!}
1 & 1/2 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried sage
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 small onion, chopped finely
1 TBSP minced garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
olive oil cooking spray

 WHAT YOU DO:

• Preheat oven at 325 degrees F. 
• In small skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and add garlic and onions. Saute until translucent.
• Remove from heat, immediately add honey, parsley, sage and cayenne to the pan and mix well.  
• Spray 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray.  
• Dip chops in glaze and place inside dish, then pour remaining glaze over the chops.
• Bake for 1 hour and prepare to LOVE these chops.

Spicey Honey Glazed Pork Chops

Have I Mentioned We Love Coconut? {Coconut Encrusted Sea Scallops}

Coconut Encrusted Sea Scallops

I LOVE seafood.

Really ANY seafood.

But I really REALLY love scallops.

We don't have them too often as they can be pricey but when I saw these beautiful  Sea Scallops at Hulls Seafood, I had to get them.

This recipe is so simple I had to share, it's my favorite way to make scallops 

and I can't recall ever screwing it up!

A Drink & A Tripod, Life is good. {St~Germain Cocktail II}

St~Germain Cocktail II

There are so many things that bring me joy about this picture... of course the most obvious is that it's a cocktail and I drank this cocktail on Friday, which also made me giddy with joy... because I am so ready for the weekend, and it's a THREE DAY WEEKEND, can it get better?  


WOOT WOOT!


What else do I love?

• Cupcake Prosecco
• St~Germain
• Fresh Mint from Mr. Donald Kent's garden
• my new boards that Olga & Steve made for me

AND.... the sharpness that my tripod is gifting me.  OMG.  $30 and I feel like I moved ahead like 25 squares in the photography game of life.

Thank you Katherine Martinelli.  Katherine is an awesome food photographer & writer that I've followed for a while.  A month or so ago I came across an old blog she wrote called "7 Top Food Photography Tips" which I read and took to heart.  Tip #2.... GET A TRIPOD.  I operate on a delay so it took me a month but it arrived and WOW.

Now, I need to go and implement Tip#3 and so on.... I love the growth.

I love it so much that I think we should drink to that!

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED:

a rocks glass packed with ice

4-5 ounces Prosecco

1 ounce St~Germain

a sprig or two of mint

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO:

Fill ice packed glass with champagne, add mint and top with St~Germain.

You are welcome.

XXOO

p.s. I'd like to shout to Zested which inspired this cocktail, I didn't have cucumber so it's not really her drink {THIS time!}.... but she inspired it this time {this isn't my 1st St~Germain cocktail} and so I want to nod her way.... she has an awesome blog.

"Once an opportunity has passed, it cannot be caught." ~Anonymous {GIVEAWAY REMINDER}

Just a quick reminder that in 6 days my SECOND GIVEAWAY closes out.... an awesome Williams~Sonoma Sea Salt Collection to one lucky U.S. Winner! 

All you need to leave a comment on this or the original post confirming that you have done EACH of the following tasks {even if you already are, confirm for an entry!}:

•     ~Followed/Joined my site
•     ~signed up to receive my emails

For THREE {3} EXTRA entries, leave EXTRA comments after you:

•     ~Like my Facebook page
•     ~follow me on Twitter
•     ~follow me on Pinterest

WANT THREE MORE ENTRIES.... PER DAY?

Share this post on your Facebook page and let me know you did by commenting here!

Every day you repost this AND comment here to let me know I will give you THREE more entries....  that's 21 possible entries if you start today!

Don't forget 150 entries and I add the Grilling Rub collection.... we are almost HALF WAY THERE!

click here to see the list and full details

BONNE CHANCE!

Featured 5

T.

G.

I.

F.

Anyone disagree?

I didn't think so...

Especially when you see what I've got ready for 

Friday's FEATURED 5!

Can you say OOEY GOOEY PEANUT BUTTER S'MORES BARS? Well, Kristina from Whipped sure can... YUM!

Kim Bee over at Cravings of a Lunatic was up to her elbows in yumminess making ice cream bites ... I'm only showing one but she made
Cocoa Pebbles Ice Cream rolled in Cocoa PebblesVanilla Ice Cream rolled in CoconutVanilla Ice Cream rolled in Pistachios

Get over there & check it out.

Did you see this? 

Well, I try not to play favorites among my favorites but this was the funniest post I saw this week.... and it ended like every joke EVERYTHING with a yummy dessert recipe. Go check out Kale at Tastes Good To Me and her Strawberry & Lemon Curd Pots.

Have you checked out Anurradha at Baker Street?
Well, you need to and if you needed a reason this is it... Cookies & Cream Pound Cake. Yup, you heard that right.

I just realized that ALL 5 of my picks this week were sweets. HOW ODD. I'm really much more of a savory girl... salty one might say. But it is what it is... look at what Anne at From My Sweet Heart made.... I can hardly type it. Biscoff White Chocolate Chip Blondies. 

MADNESS I SAY.

& My one for good luck? 

It isn't a new post but I just found it 

and I'm having one this weekend.... 

The Elderflower Champagne Cocktail posted by Zested 

...if you know me at all that choice 

requires no further explanation!

****ALL PHOTO CREDITS TO THE POST REFERENCED,

HUGE Thank you to all for letting me repost****

As usual I have a couple housekeeping matters :)

I'm very excited that I will be joining CJ at Food stories to be on a team of Judges for her new Food Stories Award.... I'm joined by some of my favorite bloggers in this honor: Jen - Juanita's Cocina, Kim - Treats & Trinkets, Jennie - The Messy Baker, Uru - Go Bake Yourself and of course CJ. Go check it out....

and of course don't forget May's GIVEAWAY is less than a week away from it's drawing.... enter to win your awesome 

Williams Sonoma Sea Salt collection 

& POSSIBLY a grilling rub collection too! 

WOOT WOOT!

THIRSTY THURSDAY {Fruit & Flowers Sparkler}

Meet my Thursday.... this is my daughter's Middle School Orchestra.  It was a field trip today.  I try not to miss because I know these days are coming to an end but this one was pretty hellish.  We had to be at the school at 7 a.m. so we could travel WITH the Chorus AND the Band to visit and perform at 4 Elementary Schools in the area.  Two school buses packed full, a U-haul full of instruments & music stands and about 80 kids all told in 90 degree heat.  Unloading, slepping, watching them perform, packing up, riding in the bus to the next school and then doing it all over {and over again}.  Don't get me wrong the kids were AWESOME.  Well mannered, helpful and performed incredibly but I'm an OLD WOMAN and I am whooped {and Rebecca forgot the flask!}.  

So, I'm THIRSTY.  But it's all good because it's Thirsty Thursday and I'm enjoying a lovely cool cocktail.  I'm calling it the Fruit & Flower Sparkler and it is YUMMY AND REFRESHING.

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED:

1 & 1/2 ounces St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur
1 & 1/2 ounces pomegranate juice
4 fresh strawberries sliced
4-5 ounces Brut Champagne


HERE'S WHAT YOU DO:
Add everything but the Champagne in your processor {I used my Magic Bullet of course} and puree then add to glass, fill with ice and top with Champagne.


AHHHHH, it's Friday soon but this will hold you over :)


p.s. have you gotten a Magic Bullet yet?  You deserve one.... summers here.... frozen drinks in a snap ~

PARTY FOOD FOR DINNER! {Bacon Chili Chicken Bites}

Bacon Chili Chicken Bites

Let me just say these are sent straight from the Food Gods to your lips.... and EVERYONE will love them.  I mean it's true, EVERYTHING is better in bacon.  My friend Leah sent me this recipe in a food chain letter as an easy dinner favorite from her house and I've make it for dinner AND as an appetizer.... Two Yums Up EVERY time!

And easy.

Who Says Three's A Crowd? {Trio of Bean Dips}

BUTTER BEAN & PEA DIP WITH MINT
PINTO BEAN & CORN DIP WITH CILANTRO
CANNELLINI & EDAMAME DIP WITH TARRAGON

I think  Cooks Illustrated  is one of the best cooking magazines out there, I just love it and have subscribed for years.  Great tips, awesome recipes.  In the most recent issue they "rethought bean dips" in a most excellent way.  We catered an event shortly after I read the article and featured versions of three of them at our Dip Station.  These dips were SO easy, quick, yet FABULOUS and looked so chic.... I recommend any of them but the cannellini & edamame was my personal favorite... no real surprise.... edamame... tarragon....


Without further ado....

Happy Birthday Kyrabobera!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday Dear KYRA!

Happy Birthday to you!

CHA CHA CHA

Cannot believe it's been 14 years!

I love you KyraBobera

You bring us laughter & joy

XXOO

FEATURED 5!

Oh My Word.... Friday?

Already?

Well, other than illness 

zipping through Chez Webb 

I had a GREAT week.

Productive!

Got enough done early in week 

to not mind end of week getting bogged down.

And yes, I made time to keep my finger on the PULSE....

Cause that's how I roll!

It's no surprise that after all my drinkin' last weekend that I'd kick off my top 5 with a COCKTAIL!  Thanks Anita at the Hungry Couple for giving me another reason to celebrate Strawberry season with her Strawberry & Basil Martini.... YUM!

Mojito?  Did someone say Mojito?  

Besides me that is..... yes sireee someone did.  

Lauren over at the Part Time House Wife was grillin' up some Mojito Mahi Mahi.  

Yeah, she said it.  I heard it.  and here it is!

Did you see this? Well, I'm glad I didn't miss it! Jenn over at Home Skillet was busy being an artist as far as I'm concerned with this vibrant fruit salad!

Honey Pork Stir-fry from Pass the Sushi

I saw this post from Pass the Sushi for her Honey Pork Stir-fry & immediately made my own version.... you REALLY need to try this, the sauce was To. Die. For.

I saw this pop into my inbox and was like.... 

SHUT. UP. Joanne! Are you SPYING ON ME?  All I do is talk about my sweet chili sauce and you pop in with this bit of yumminess?  OMGoodness.... and the peppers are ripe in "our" garden.... Thank you Fifteen Spatulas for this recipe for Hot Pepper Jelly!

& My one for good luck? 

It just arrived..... and it's simplicity is perfection!

  Thanks to Kelly at Eat Yourself Skinny for her Lemon Water with Fresh Mint...... ahhhhhh

****ALL PHOTO CREDITS TO THE POST REFERENCED,

HUGE Thank you to all for letting me repost****

As usual I have a couple housekeeping matters :)

I'm over on Wilde In The Kitchen participating in her bake sale to raise money for Relay for Life!  Someone needs to bid on my Trail Mix Cookies.... they are SO VERY YUM <3

BIDDING ENDS TONIGHT!

and of course don't forget May's GIVEAWAY is under way.... a Sea Salt collection 

& POSSIBLY a grilling rub collection too! 

WOOT WOOT!

Thirsty Thursday {Cava Sangria}

Cava Sangria

A woman is sitting at home on the terrace with her husband and she says: "I love you." 

He asks: "Is that you or the wine talking?

She replies: "It's me... talking to the wine."

snicker. snicker. 

As summer approaches, I hope you are stocking up on all these awesome Sangrias I'm feeding you.... this is one of my personal favorites. But, then again.... I don't think you can go wrong if it involves champagne <3

SWEETS FOR THE SWEET! {Relay for Life Bake Sale}

FUN STUFF on this Thursday.... 

and for a GREAT cause!

A fellow blogger, Wilde in the Kitchen, is participating in the Relay for Life and as her fundraiser she is holding a blogger bake sale!

HERE'S THE SCOOP:

"It's time for the WITK Bake Sale for Relay for Life!  All I can say is thank you to the bloggers and friends that have come together to deliver an amazing bunch of treats.  If you are looking for more information about the cause, check out this post of mine from a few weeks ago!
Be sure to check where the bakers are shipping to!  There are even a treat or two for my friends in the UK & Canada!
Here are the details...  The bake sale will run through Friday at 11:00pm eastern standard time. Each item has a starting bid of $15 and can be bid up in $1 increments.  All bids should be e-mailed towildeinthekitchen@hotmail.com, no bids left in the comments section will be counted. Be sure to include your bid as well as which item you are bidding on!
Bids will be updated through the course of the day as I recieve new bids.
Winners will be e-mailed on Saturday, May 19 and will be directed to the Relay for Life Website to post their donation/bake sale purchase.
Bakers will then make & ship their delicious treats and mail them to the winners within 7 days!"

Well, couldn't pass up being part of THIS fun! So, I'm offering up my yummy Trail Mix cookies over there! And I'm bidding up a storm too :) I'm SAYING to myself that I'm sending some to others as gifts if I win..... wonder if I actually will!?!

It's Only Wok & Roll But I Like It {Sweet Chili Chicken Stirfry}

Sweet Chili Chicken Stirfry

I've really got a thing for my Asian Sweet Chili Sauce these days.... so, when I saw Pass the Sushi's Pork stir fry this week I thought..... I see a Sweet Chili Sauce opportunity.  And I went for it.... I completely credit this stir fry to her recipe because even though I changed up the main components, I stayed true to her sauce, which is to die for.

Mussels, Clams & Shrimp in Drunken Tomatoes

Mussels, Clams & Shrimp in Drunken Tomatoes

ok, no significant back story to this recipe except that I LOVE Mussels.  I cannot walk into a restaurant and see them & not order them BUT I've never ever cooked them. 

Mainly because my girls {little fools} snub shellfish largely {Kyra will eat Shrimp only}.  But of late I've decided I don't care.... there I said it.  Seriously though, they can eat the sides.... in this case they had crusty bread AND WATER!  LOL.  Don't call DFS they were happy as CLAMS.... no pun intended.

Anyhow, this was a simple and FABULOUS and less than an hour from start to table including peeling & deveining the shrimp.

Chicken Soup for Chicken Little {Chicken Noodle Soup with Edamame}

Mama's Chicken Noodle Soup

Sick Little One

I had a sick little one over the weekend, ok, ok, so she's not so little, she's 16.... but she's still my baby so I made Chicken Soup for dinner Saturday night to heal her and it was particularly YUMMY so I thought I'd share....

Happy Mother's Day to ME {The Champagne Mojito}

Champagne Mojito

I need to nod to Viviane at Food and Style for this genius.... not sure HOW I haven't thought of it! Two of my favorite things... Champagne & Mojitos.  The dry Champagne is a perfect counter-point to the sweet Mojito.

That said, here's my celebratory Mother's Day Mojito.... the Champagne Mojito!

Happy Mother's Day {Ruthie's Award Winning Stuffed Tomato Fan-tans Recipe}

Stuffed Tomato Fan-tans

When I was 6 or 7 I have the vivid memory of going to downtown Trenton to the appliance store where a Trentonian photographer took my Mom's picture with my brother, Cholly, and I with her winnings.  Mom had won a recipe contest and won a full size deep freezer!  It was huge.... the freezer AND the moment.  

My Easter Buffet this year
a/k/a Ruthie's Birthday

The winning recipe was for her Stuffed Tomato Fan-tans.... a yummy cool summer night dinner that was a favorite in the Schmid house.  I've only made these a few times myself but Ruthie made them all the time.... I made them for her birthday a couple years back but sadly she didn't remember them so I tucked the recipe back away until her birthday this year.... I thought it would be a good remembrance and they were as delicious as ever.  With tomato season on the approach and it being Mother's Day I thought I'd share. 


Unfortunately even though the article with the picture is as clear as day in my mind's eye we couldn't put our hands on it.... this picture is in that same era though {the era of homemade matching or at a minimum color coordinating mommy-daughter outfits}.


This is a copy of her original recipe, you probably can't tell because it got cut off in the scan but she wrote an H in the top right corner. When she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease but was early stage she began compiling and organizing envelopes full of recipes for me.... and they all have the "H" in the corner. 

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO:

Bring cream cheese to room temperature and combine with all other ingredients {except tomatoes}; then cut slices into your tomatoes, not quite all the way through {approximately 3 slices per tomato} and fill with the "stuffing."

Ruthie's Stuffed Tomato Fan-tans

VOILA!  Grab your knife and fork and enjoy Ruthie's Stuffed Tomato Fan-tans.

NOTE:  It's not required but I like the stuffing to sit over night, covered & refrigerated, to "marry" before stuffing.... in fact, these can be made AND assembled the day before if needed.