HAPPY FEATURED 5! {& yes, we have a WINNER! }

WELL, Before I get to business.... I had 82 entries to May's giveaway and ONE LUCKY Sea Salt Collection WINNER! Congrats to CUCINA49!!! please email me at heidisuewebb@yahoo.com and I'll get it on it's way to you PRONTO! And then I'll look forward to hearing about how it has changed your life! 


I'll be announcing JUNE's giveaway this weekend so keep your eyes peeled.... I had a tie on votes for what it should be so I had to "randomize" that too! 

 



Happy June!

Happy Friday!

HAPPY FEATURED 5!

My first post is incredible looking but to me of course it's more than that.... it's my namesake in a dessert GRASSHOPPER PIE! Thanks for sharing Pass The Sushi, Ruthie would've approved!
p.s. I hope I won the book... sorry my 5 came out too late to pimp :(

Alex at Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Foodiness 

was mortified by the title of her post.... 

Presto Pesto.  

Cheesy ole me though....

 yup, I adored it. 

And that Pesto looks stunning

 and OMG it was made with

 a Magic Bullet.  

She was channeling her inner Grasshopper.... 

it's the celebration of the Grasshopper week.

what is that? THAT is Brown Risotto.  

Yes, Shut. The. Front. Door.  Who knew?  

Jessica at Oh Cake knew.... that's who.

I am finding this and making it!  

Thank you Jessica for posting 

Brown Butter Carrot & Walnut Integrale Risotto

I know I'm definitely more DINNER oriented this week.... possibly because it's been kinda crazy & I've made a bunch of quick "clean out my fridge" meals so I'm coveting this yummy food.... Lauren at Part Time Housewife {canNOT imagine what she'd cook up if she was FULLtime!} grilled up some Grilled Black & Bleu NY Strips.... YUM.  They looked awesome.... and now I'm just waiting for the recipe for the Bacon Slaw also in this picture.... give it up LAUREN!!!

O.K. enough dinner.  

Cookie & Kate were flipping some

Whole Wheat Carrot Cake Pancakes 

over in their neck of the woods... and I was like

WTH, I'll be wrestling alligators

 in the Everglades this weekend

 when I could be making these

 >>>>>>>

WAHHHHH! 

Make some for me and report back!

& there's always one for good luck. 

 This week it's from my first Blog love... 

Marina at the Yummy Mummy Kitchen.  

I adore her blog and all her awesome treats.  

This morning she featured an awesome seasonal salad, 

I can't wait to try it! 

Grilled Apricot, Gorgonzola, and Candied Walnut Arugula Salad... 

for the candied nuts check out my recipe HERE.

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

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

As usual I have a couple housekeeping matters :)

You may recall that 2 weeks ago I was over at Wilde In The Kitchen participating in her bake sale to raise money for Relay for Life!  WELL, not only did I get to send MY cookies of to my lucky winner {XXOO MOLLY} but I also received {and you know it really is better to RECEIVE than to GIVE ....is she kidding? you'll never know} but OMGoodness did I receive some YUMMINESS!

I'm still bitter at some chick Marisa who outbid me all over the place but boy did SHE miss out.... I received some Chocolate Chip Snickerdoodles from Heather at Bake, Run, Live that my family fought over AND an out of this world loaf of Povitica Bread from Mrs. Wilde herself, Vicki.  SO YUM.  It was such an awesome cause & such an awesome treat to receive my goodies... hope you'll all join in next time!

In closing.... HAPPY NATIONAL DONUT DAY!

Particularly to my David & my friends Kathy & Kevin <3

I wonder what CJ @ Food Stories will cook up?

Happy National Pecan Day! {Pecan Recipes}

I've just been alerted it's National Pecan Day!  PHEW! Almost missed it thanks CJ at Foodstories!

Thought I'd take a super quick moment to remind you of some of my favorite pecan recipes...

Less is More they say.... Candy  some 

CLICK HERE for my recipe....

got bananas?  add them to your White Chocolate Pecan Banana Bread 

Or get your fresh & fancy on and 

sprinkle them on your

Raspberry Asparagus Endive Boats

or you can just grab a handful and enjoy!

Light, Fresh & Pretty, kinda like me! {Raspberry Asparagus Endive Boats}

I have made this lovely "appetizer" a couple times now & LOVE it.... thanks to the Yummy Mummy for the original post on this.  I wouldn't pigeon hole it as an App though, I really think it could be just about anything you need.... an appetizer for a fancy party, a nosh at your Book Club, a light lunch or a side dish for dinner.


Try it soon, you'll fall in love....
Raspberry Asparagus Endive Boats
{makes about 15}
2 Endives
1 bunch asparagus
2 Tablespoons raspberry vinaigrette* 
1 1/2 pint fresh raspberries  
1/2 cup candied pecans, chopped {Click HERE for recipe}

Trim one inch off the bottoms of the endives. Separate, rinse, and dry leaves.
Trim tough bottoms off asparagus and discard; Cut asparagus into approximately 2.5" pieces. 
In a medium sized skillet over medium-high heat, heat one tablespoon olive oil. Add asparagus and a pinch of kosher salt and pepper and cook just until tender crisp, about 5 minutes. Stir in raspberry vinaigrette and remove from heat. Place asparagus in a bowl and cool completely in refrigerator. Carefully fold in raspberries and place raspberry asparagus mixture into endives. Sprinkle with pecans.

• *Raspberry Vinaigrette
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/8 cup Raspberry Vinegar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/4 tsp Kosher salt 
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid & shake well!

Something Yummy & Healthy [Winter Fruit with Baby Greens and Champagne Vinaigrette]

Since everyone else is posting Superbowl YUMMINESS, I thought I'd post something we can all enjoy for Monday night to try to undo where we will no doubt go tomorrow!
Beauty & Brains as they say.

This is a fabulous salad, a lot going on but super easy and everything is in season.  That said, I'm not going to lie... I use bagged lettuce.  There really is no cost effective way to get a fabulous assortment of lettuces otherwise in my opinion.  I own it.  


This recipe is a dinner salad for 4..... that doesn't mean a grilled chicken breast wouldn't accompany it beautifully if you need some protein.

Winter Fruit with Baby Greens Salad

1 bag assorted baby lettuce

1 bag baby spinach

2 clementines peeled, sectioned and then cut in half

1/2 pint strawberries sliced

1 kiwi thin sliced [and cut into heart shapes with a canape cutter if you are a loon like me]

1/2 cup candied almond slivers [Click Here for recipe from yesterday]

Champagne Vinaigrette

1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/4 cup champagne vinegar

2 TBSP lemon juice

2 TBSP honey

1 clove garlic minced

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

I toss the lettuce with the vinaigrette THEN toss the fruit in..... but that's just me.  ENJOY!  Guilt free :)


p.s. I've been challenged to bake the WOW Red Velvet Brownie.... tomorrow is going to be REALLY fattening!

Use No. 123,456,789 for Madagascar Vanilla (Candied Pecan Recipe)

Doing my prep work today for our baby shower catering job tomorrow and needed candied pecans. Never realized how fabulously easy they are to make and I got to use my MADAGASCAR!


All you need:
1 egg white
1 tsp water
6 oz bag of pecans
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tsp MADAGASCAR Vanilla


Preheat oven to 225 degrees, line large jelly roll pan with parchment.


Beat egg white and water in large bowl with whisk. Add nuts, stir until coated. Pour in rest of ingredients, stir well then put on to prepared pan in a single layer.

Bake for 45 minutes, stirring approximately every 15 minutes. Then turn temperature up to 275 and bake 15 minutes more.


Remove from oven and cool on pan.  


Enjoy :)

.

Assuming you have any to save put in an air tight container!


as an aside:  I made the pecans to go on an appetizer but then I candied some almond slivers for a salad too.... same recipe just change it up depending on your needs, wants or your pantry [which usually makes my mind up for me].