Hot Toddy

In my house, this is called “the drink.”  It’s what you make when your loved ones/neighbors/friends are sick and they need to get a good night sleep and get better…fast. 

My aunt Mary has the flu.  Now in the past, I’ve thrown this phrase around like nothin’…like if I had a head cold, I’d be all “I have the flu.”  Until I actually got the flu 2 years ago and I thought I was dying.  I caught it on a full flight back from Chicago in early December and was in bed for 2 weeks.  And guess what?  Nobody knows how to make the damn drink but me and I was outta luck!!   So now we all have the recipe and if I ever get sick again, you can make it for me NO PROBLEM.  And of course, I’ll always make it for you, because I love you :)

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2 ounces alcohol of your choice:  Bourbon, Rum, Crown Royal, Jack Daniels
(in a pinch, I used Coconut Rum and it was delicious)
if you don't  have a shot glass, just count to 4 while pouring--1,2,3,4 (maybe 5) stop pouring...lol
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
water
honey

ps:  lemon is traditional.  You can certainly add it if you'd like (my mom does), but it changes the flavor and  makes it a little sour which I don't like for this drink 




Heat water in kettle on stovetop.

In the meantime, put brown sugar in the bottom of a coffee mug. 

Add approx. 2 ounces alcohol and stir both together.

this is where the alcohol should come to on the cup before you start pouring water

Add boiling water to the top of mug.
Add honey and stir.

Drink immediately.  MMMMMMMM......
Feelin' sleepy yet??

Bloody Mary

 

I bet I have a bloody mary story with just about every one of you.  They’ve gotten me in more trouble… and hence, more fun!...than any other drink.  I can’t stop drinking them:  at the beach, by the pool, during football games,  belly up to the bar nursing a hangover…”want another bloody mary?”…OKAY!!  I can never say no :(

 

mmmmmmmmm....

 

Preparing for this post, my friends and I did the taste test first.  We tested 3 of our favorite vodkas that coincidentally we just happened to have on hand —purely in the interest of science—I knew Absolut would be the one but no need to be hasty…and here’s what happened:

Tito’s:   So good, but it has almost no flavor.  This equals one thing = dangerous!!  All this is gonna do is make you keep drinking until you’ve had almost the whole bottle and then you’re gonna get sick and all THAT’S gonna do is make you feel bad and people will make fun of you.  Plus, it’s made of corn so it has kind of a sweet finish—save it for the sea breezes and pure mixed drinks where it can really shine.

NEEEEEXT…

Grey Goose:  Sooooo smooth.  Too smooth for this drink, because really--I just wanna know it’s working.  Working to cure my hangover, to make brunch do-able when your relatives are driving you crazy, to make for the best tailgating party of the year…I wanna know.  And for the money, it’s not worth wasting it in a drink where the mix is so overpowering.  Save the smoothness that Grey Goose is known for for your ice cold, shaken martini with 3 bleu cheese olives…

NEEEEEEXT…

Absolut:  The old stand-by.  Perfect cost, perfect bite, perfect perfect perfect for the bloody mary.  Perfect.  And I can tell from the first sip that it’s "gonna work".

Now as for mixes, there’s only one we need to talk about.  Back in the day it was Mr. and Mrs. T’s, which is still good in a pinch like on a plane or in the hotel mini-bar.  I’m never gonna turn it down.  But we’ve evolved.  Then after college, I believed V-8 mixed with fresh lemon and your own spices was the way to go, and we’d mix it in cleaned gallon milk jugs and each one of us would get our own for the football game (this is why they get me in so much trouble…lol).  All good…until I found Zing Zang.

About 6 or 7 years ago, I discovered this delicous mix and have been zinging and zanging all over the country ever since.  It has all the perfect spices already in it, and it’s beefy, full-bodied, and tomatoey amazing.  If you make your own mix, it won’t  be this good.  Promise.  Go buy it today!

The drink shown above is served like they used to at Campiello's here in Naples, FL.  About 10 years ago, if you ordered a bloody mary, they'd bring it to you with a small pilsner of beer (and if you know enough to ask, they still will).  The effervescent carbonation of which is a perfect foil for the thickness of the bloody mary.  Serve it like this and you won't be sorry--

So:  call some friends, make brunch, turn on the game, and you have an afternoon worth remembering (or if it’s really good…NOT remembering…lol).  And invite ME…I’d love to join you! :)

 

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WHAT TO BUY:

1 bottle Absolut vodka, icey cold right out of the freezer
1 bottle Zing Zang bloody mary mix
fresh lemons, cut into wedges
Lawry's seasoned salt
Bud Light

optional:
olives, garlic pickles, pepperoncini, dilly beans, celery

Pour some seasoned salt in a shallow dish.  Rub rim of glass with lemon wedge.  Dip rim in seasoned salt.  Fill glass with ice.  Add as much vodka as you'd like, fill remainder of glass with Zing Zang.  If you have it, add 1 teaspoon olive juice, and mix well.  Add any garnishes you'd like, and finish with fresh squeezed lemon over the top.   Serve with a small pilsner of Bud Light on the side.

ignore the santa-suite wearing prosecco and the pinot noir in this picture...they were for later :)

100 Reasons to Smile Today

 

 

100 Reasons to Smile Today

 

1. The Kate Spade loafers from Nordstrom's that have been getting me happily through Winter (see picture above) :)
2. 2 for 1 Happy Hour
3. Your mechanic said it's under warranty
4. When someone sexy kisses your bellybutton
5. My daughter said "okay"...and did it!
6. The smell of Fall
7. Watching your kids sporting events
8. Holding hands
9. You get carded buying a lottery ticket (happened to me on Wednesday! yay!)
10. When you look over at him and he's already staring at you
11. A good haircut
12. Walmart's $2.99 bottle of wine
13. Finding an Ann Taylor gift card and it still has some money on it
14. Getting a birthday card in the mail
15. Months with 3 pay periods
16. A good book
17. When you're walking to your table and he puts his hand on the small of your back
18. Sharing
19. An ice cold Coke on a hot summer day
20. First kisses
21. The smell of burning candles
22. Breakfast for dinner
23. Afternoon naps during summertime rainstorms
24. Finding a dollar in your pocket
25. Reading old love letters and seeing your name in his handwriting
26. That "aha" moment when everything makes sense
27. Finding your own Jake Ryan
28. The way your cool covers feel on your sunburned skin
29. Wishing on a shooting star and knowing it's gonna come true
30. Eating an apple picked right off the tree
31. Playing golf in the Fall
32. The way the golf ball sounds when you put it in the cup
33. Warm, soft, gentle breezes
34. Fireflies
35. Champagne
36. Warm clothes right out of the dryer
37. Driving with the top down on a windy summer day
38. A Red Sox game on a beautiful summer night in Fenway
39. Pleasant surprises
40. Cup of Coffee #1 in the morning
41. When you don't have to set your alarm
42. Intimate conversations
43. When you get off the plane and someone you love is waiting for you
44. Cuddling by the fireplace
45. Shopping for your wedding dress
46. When the Bears/Cubs/Bulls/Blackhawks win
47. Sexy moonlight swims under the stars
48. Pedicures
49. Goodbye Winter, hello Spring
50. Seedless watermelon
51. Divine Intervention
52. Turning up the radio and singing all the words to Def Leppard's "Photograph"...really loud!
53. Sleeping with the windows open
54. The first "sweater day" of the year
55. Scratch-off tickets
56. Bartles & Jaymes original wine coolers in the 4-pack
57. White on white Tretorns
58. Ankle bracelets
59. Wearing perfume to bed...and nothing else...
60. Unless it's his tee-shirt...
61. Butterflies in your stomach
62. Fresh sheets
63. Bubble baths
64. True love
65. Christmas lights
66. Meeting his parents
67. When your steak comes perfectly cooked
68. Puppies
69. Getting your dream house
70. Kisses on your neck
71. Sunsets
72. Long walks on the beach
73. Homemade hot chocolate
74. Wildflowers
75. When the leaves change colors in the Fall
76. The way the air smells after it rains
77. Old friends
78. When someone says "I miss you"
79. Thunder
80. Giving (or getting) forgiveness
81. Looking up at the stars with someone special
82. That little unexepected shop tucked behind all the big shops
83. Sleeping into double-digits
84. Day dreams
85. Hugs that take your breath away
86. Full moons
87. The hustle and bustle of a big city
88. A good VHI "Behind the Music"...lol
89. Sharing a chocolate martini for dessert
90. That in-between feeling when you're half asleep and half awake
91. Sweet memories
92. Being tickled
93. Making a wish and blowing a dandelion into the wind
94. A good fortune cookie
95. Second chances
96. Adventures!
97. Live music
98. Lily Pulitzer anything
99. Smelling his cologne
100. WATCHING KARMA UNFOLD RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Another year has come and (almost) gone and here we are in November again, thinking about those things for which we are the most thankful.

This post started out to be about my children, as they are for sure the greatest achievement of my life…but then I started thinking about all the other things I’m truly grateful for, and it surprised even me how numerous in number they are.  For the most part, except for a few bumps here and there, I’ve lived a pretty charmed and wonderful life.

I learned pretty early in life that I have not been graced with luck.  I have the worst luck of anyone I know.  If it’s gonna happen to anyone, it’s gonna happen to me (so don’t stand next to me in a lightening storm…lol).  One day,  I was complaining to my mom and she said “God made you pretty, sexy, AND smart…you’ve used up all your luck and have to make your own from now on”…and so it’s been...

Needless to say, I’m grateful to God for THAT…but amongst my other blessings, let’s include these:

It’s Kathy Packish talking to me on the phone for an hour every morning for the last year and a half, and Cheryl taking over  from there after I hang up;  Lynda Chafel for sharing the Hello Kitty bedroom and sneaking out for cider with me to keep me laughing the whole time;  Traci Kohler for her specialized understanding...lol;  it's my mom and dad making sure I had a carefree and amazing life, with traditions and values I could pass on to my children; it’s every boyfriend I’ve ever had being above and beyond amazing, especially Tommy and Porter for loving me even though my hands smelled like garlic and onions every day for 3 years (each!)  because they were my kitchen guinea pigs;   it’s Lance making sure I had the home and children of my dreams;  Chris Payson, who kept coming in and out of my life for the last 30 years because he just couldn’t stay away, thereby

deeming me “too sexy to forsake”…lol;  Greigh Hall who I wouldn’t talk to for 20 years but had the tenacity to work his way back in anyway,  proving that real love never goes away, even with friends;  Laurie Albanos for checking on me every day after surgery, and Kristy Buschle asking me to call her if I need to giggle;  the people who repeatedly invite me to be on their golf team though I just taught myself  how to play last summer; Steve Egan for believing dearly that misery loves company;  Scot and Christina Jones for making me their first phone call when they moved back to town; Dave Parnell for continually pointing out that my often-times faulty thinking of late is not in keeping with someone as smart as myself…and to keep checking in anyway;   and it's my loving and supportive family who reminds me every day that disappointments do not define you.



CK and CP 1988

 …and the list goes on and on…







Greigh Hall 1987ish

Miracles happen every day.  Tomorrow, take the time to think about the ones that have changed YOUR life, and how thankful you are that they did.  It’s easy to get caught up thinking about what we DON’T have because somehow it’s easier to focus on those things.  But everything happens for a reason, and just because you didn’t get the winning lottery ticket…or the big promotion…or to live on an island with the love of your life...doesn’t mean that something better isn’t around the corner.  Be patient and have faith…give it to God and go to sleep…if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen.  And if not, something else will.

Happy Thanksgiving from my heart to yours,

XOXOXO

Christine



The Party

I’m sorry I haven’t been in the kitchen a lot lately.  I surely didn’t forget about you, but I still have a few weeks recovery time from surgery and my real job that pays the bills (as opposed to this dream life I share with you), has gotten crazy because we’re starting tourist season down here in Naples.  Booooo...

Blah blah blah…the real news is that I’M GETTING READY FOR A PARTY!! WA-HOO!!

Now, those of you who know me know that I love love LOVE a good party.  Parties for ME, even better.  Parties where I get to wear a bedazzled tiara of some kind and get to drink a bottle of champagne all by myself, awesome.  Parties that drag out over days, like my birthday week, shared with the family and friends I love so much…those are the best.  This party is somewhere in between:  it’s the launch party for this blog I’ve been sharing with you, and we’re all really excited about it.  Only 13 weeks in, the analytics are CRAZY, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. 





The reason I love parties today: my first party dress, getting ready with my mom (1973)
Gigga, all 26 sexy years of her



It’s Saturday night, November 22^nd at Barbatella, on 3^rd Street in Olde Naples.  A cocktail reception, and private dinner following.  For those of you that can’t make it, check out the restaurant at http://barbatellanaples.com.  We’ll definitely miss you but no worries…pictures will be shared here, on my Facebook page, and in the local media.  We wouldn’t leave you out! 

You know, I had a whole amazing and wonderful life planned for myself and it didn’t work out.  Somehow, still not quite sure how, I got this new life instead…and it’s more amazinger and wonderfuler than I ever imagined!  Though nothing erases the pain of the “coulda/shouldas” of life, it’s that pain that makes the “want to’s/and did's” so much sweeter.  Born out of necessity, really, because I could easily have died… but didn’t.  And some days I wanted to, believe me.  But every day is full of surprises, and no matter what disappointments or heartbreaks come your way, know something else is ahead.  For me…it’s a tiara, a sexy black dress and even sexier kick-ass black heels, a bottle of prosecco, and 30-40 of my closest family and friends all together next Saturday night toasting this blog of mine.  God works in mysterious…and wonderful…ways.



The second reason I love parties:  you get a crown of your very own!! (Me, 1974)

The Big Cookie

You'll love this cookie, it's so easy!  Only 4 ingredients, and it's perfect for a crowd.  It's both sweet from the orange marmalade and piquant/tart from the apricot preserves...perfect for after dinner with espresso, for breakfast or an afternoon snack with iced coffee, or as I like it best--with a cordial of amaretto. 

You can certainly make individual cookies, but I like to serve it family style...one big cookie...and everyone breaks off a piece of their own.  My good friend Christine Green loves it, it's my son's favorite, and I hope it will be yours.  Change the nuts or drizzle melted chocolate over the top, it's up to you.  If you expand on this recipe let me know what delicious concoction you've come up with...I'm always interested in new and better things :)

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YOU WILL NEED TO BUY:
1 roll sugar cookie dough
1 jar sweet orange marmalade
1 jar apricot preserves
1  2.5 oz bag sliced almonds

Place nuts in sautee pan, and toast over med heat--shaking pan--until the nuts are golden brown. You'll be able to smell their toasty goodness--that's when they are almost done.  Don't take your eyes off them, they go QUICK and will burn if you're not careful.  When they are ready, remove from heat and place in bowl to cool. Set aside until needed. 

toasted nuts

Unwrap cookie dough and with your hands, make into free-form circle/rectangle on your cookie sheet.  Sorry to say, I have no measurement for you--not too thick or it will be raw, not too thin or it will be burnt.  You'll know...
Cook according to package directions.

free-formed cookie dough

When cookie is done, take put of oven and cool slightly.  Remove to platter that you will serve it on.

baked cookie, out of the oven

Spread approx. 3-4 tablespoons of orange marmalade on cookie.

Then, spread approx. 3-4 tablespoons of apricot preserves on top of that.

both orange marmalade and apricot preserves

When nuts are cool and you can handle them easily, sprinkle all over cookie.  Bring to table whole on the platter, and invite your guests to break off their own piece(s).

This can be made a few hours ahead, covered, and served after dinner when ready.  However, keep in mind that the longer it sits covered, the softer it will be.  If it sits too long (2 days maybe), it will still be delicious, but almost soggy and hard to pick up.  Your call.

mmmmmmmm...

Happy Halloween

Halloween 1974

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!
I've had a lot of favorite costumes over the years...this isn't one of them... lol.  It was back in the day of homemade costumes (1974) AND my mom put clown makeup all over my face that I was allergic to.  Itchy and with hives on my face, and only one Benadryl away from the emergency room, my friends! Thanks, Gigga...good times!!

BUT...

Here ARE My Top 5 Favorite Halloween Costumes: (drum roll please...)

5. Sexy Witch 2008
4. Maryanne from Gilligan's Island 1992
3. French Maid (no surprise, also my boyfriend's favorite) 1993
2. Dallas Cowboy's Cheerleader 1980
1. PINKY TUSCADERO 1979

 

Wishing you a safe and happy (antihistamine-free) Halloween,

XOXOXO

 

Christine

 

 

Meatloaf

On the first Monday of every month, my third grade teacher would pass out the Scholastic Book order form.    I LOVED IT!  I would wait until I got home, lay it out on my bed, and pour over it—every book and every word—4 pages, and when I was finished I’d do it again, saying to myself I want this and I want that…but we didn’t have a lot of money and I hardly ever ordered.    BUT, one Monday, there was a cookbook in there and I decided then and there I HAD to have it.  So I asked my mom for $1.96, she gave it with weirdly no questions asked, I filled out the order form, and turned it in on Wednesday morning.  Two weeks later it arrived! It was like Christmas!!  I put it in my bookbag and as soon as I got home I opened it up, started at page 1, and read it like a novel.  I was hooked.

My Scholastic Book

The next day I told my mom I wanted to make dinner.  She was all like “whaaaaaaaaaat?”, but readily agreed since both she and my dad worked 10 hour days and it was less work for her.  I gave her a list, she bought the ingredients, and the game was afoot!  I could see the trepidation in their eyes, forks raised to their mouths but hesitation looming, looking at each other like “you go first”, and finally my dad took the first bite. So good!! And I’ve been making it ever since.

What follows is a variation on that recipe—it’s come so far since 1979.  I’ve made it for every boyfriend I’ve ever had, won 2 awards with it, and it’s the treasured dinner of my children’s Godfather.  And I’m happy to share it with you here.  So many memories are made in the kitchen…get your kids in there with you :)

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3/4 cup dry breadcrumbs
3/4 cup milk or tomato juice
1 egg, beaten
1 small, chopped onion
1 1/2 lbs ground beef (if available, buy meatloaf mixture in your local grocery store--usually a combination of beef/pork/veal)
1 packet meatloaf seasoning packet (I use McCormick's for simplicity sake, as it contains all the spices you will need)
ketchup
yellow mustard
light brown sugar


Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Long ago I did away with the meatloaf pan because it was a nightmare to clean.  Simply grease a 9x11 pan and set aside so you can free-form the meatloaf later.

Put breadcrumbs, milk, egg, and onion in bowl.  Mix until breadcrumbs are soaked.  Add seasoning packet and mix.

Add meat.  With clean hands, work all ingredients together until well mixed.  Shape into a ball.

Place in greased pan and shape into a rectangle, smoothing top.

Mix together:  1/4 cup ketchup, 2 teaspoons mustard, 3 tablespoons brown sugar.  Make this sauce mixture twice.  Spread one on top of the meatloaf and let drip down sides.  Place the other batch in the refrigerator until ready to use.

ready for oven

Bake meatloaf at 350 for 1 hour.  Approx 10 minutes before meatloaf is ready, heat 2nd batch of sauce slowly on stove until warm.

out of the oven

Serve with mashed potatoes and peas.  Pass heated sauce on the side.

(Note:  See picture below:  one of the early recipe variations in my 9 year old handwriting.  I see I used to use bouillon and only salt/pepper,  and check out the fancy name "Meatloaf with Tangy Sauce"...what a pain in the ass I was!! LOL)



Week 1 - post surgery

Week 1

We are almost one week into surgery and I’m already out of Percoset.  I truly don’t see this as my fault, however, as they don’t work and I can’t be held responsible for the fact that I had to double up.  They should have taken my high narcotic tolerance into account--I filled out a questionnaire in Pre-Op about alcohol usage…isn’t that what it was for??  Anyone who readily admits 5 drinks a night to their medical practitioner should get extra meds!  Anyway, I've been getting by with a sweet little mixture of Crown Royal and Tylenol PM's.  I will be calling the doctor’s office tomorrow, though, at which time they will either be prescribing more Percoset or calling the DEA on me…either will be entertaining and I’ll let you know.

I won’t be up and in the kitchen for at least another week, but I haven’t forgotten you.  We’ll be doing some fun posts about cocktails, special ingredients, ‘80’s songs, and I’ll be sharing other people’s recipes, too, so keep checking back.

Thanks to all of you for the gifts, the funny cards, the Starbucks’s Mocha Frappacino’s, the chocolate beer, and the beautiful flowers.  And to Christina Jones—a gigantic hug for the pound of peel and eat shrimp all the way from the Lazy Flamingo on Sanibel last night.  So sweet of you to remember that it’s a favorite of mine!

Now for the rest of my friends, you’re slacking, so step it up! (just kidding…maybe I should lay off the Crown…lol)

As thanks, I was gonna offer up the big whammy—a video of Dionne Warwick and friends all 1985, singing “That’s What Friends are For”…Stevie on the harmonica …and it was good.  But you know me—if I’m gonna do it…I’m gonna do it BIG!  So here’s something a little bit better.  THAT’S RIGHT…THANK YOU FOR BEIN’ A FRIEND, my friends.  Hit it, Blanche…
 

Grilled Lambchops with a Balsamic Glaze

I know what you're thinking:  I can't possibly have a story about lambchops.  They're not as popular as ham or porkchops...how can I have a whole story about something not alot of people even like? Well, I do.  In fact, I have several:  there's a funny one about my Aunt Annie and a rack of lamb, a sweet and sentimental one about the lollipop lambchops on the bar menu at Capital Grille, and there's this one about my mother and some missing lambchops that I'm about to share with you now:

A few years ago, I went over to my moms (who we call Gigga) on a Friday after work, and got there just as she was unloading her groceries.  She was INCENSED, and very vocal about it, that Publix had forgotten to put her lambchops in the bag.  Now what to have for dinner?... Goddammit it, how could they forget the lambchops?.... Grrrrrrrrrrr Publix and the goddamn lambchops... how hard is it to put lambchops in a bag?....now there's mashed potatoes and nothing to have with them,...blah blah blah and on it went until it was time to leave for my daughters soccer game, to which Gigga rode in my car.

The next day, I picked her up for the next soccer game and still...goddamn the missing lambchops...I'm getting my money back...

Sunday night, we're going to the third game of  the tournament and she says she'll drive because....yep, she wants to go by Publix and give 'em what for!  We open the car doors and .....WHAAAAAAAAT the hell died in the car?!? Some kind of animal has crawled in her car and died a horrible death...we think.  We start gagging, shirts over our noses, and then we find it:  the lambchops slid out of the bag on the floor of her backseat and had gotten stuck underneath the driver-side seat.  FOR 3 DAYS, they'd been festering in the high heat of August (112 degrees) inside her locked car, in the sun.  It was HORRIBLE!   We couldn't get near the car for a week and my dad called it "the mutton-mobile" forever after.  I think about it and I can STILL smell it...LOL!

Fast forward to yesterday, my friend Steve is curious about the beautiful lamb he keeps seeing at the store, and I agree to make it.  Word spread, and I had a house full of people last night, plus 5 ravenous soccer players who'd just returned from the movies, feasting on some mighty good looking loin lamb chops, my friends.  As for preparation, they're just like steak and no more difficult:  season, grill, and enjoy.  My menu looked like this, but if you want to make your own favorite side dishes, please do:

Loin lamb chops with garlic and fresh rosemary and a balsamic reduction
mashed potatoes
Sautéed zucchini and tomatoes finished under the broiler with a parmesan crust

(and ps:  once again I have to apologize for the picture above.  Steve is fired from his duties as picture taker, because by the time it gets to the plate, he's 2 martinis and a bottle of merlot into it, and his photos leave a little to be desired...LOL)

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2-3 loin lambchops per person
fresh rosemary, off the stalk and chopped
garlic powder
kosher salt / pepper
olive oil
Balsamic Glaze (found near the balsamic vinegar in your grocery store)


First, pat chops dry and place in pan.



ready to season

Season with rosemary, garlic powder, salt and pepper on both sides. 



Seasoned, and ready to grill

Drizzle olive oil over and grill. 



On the grill--see how they change color?

When finished, take off grill and drizzle immediately with balsamic glaze.  Let rest, covered 10  min, and serve. (Thank you, Charlie, for gauging them perfectly!!)

I like mine to be medium--pink and warm throughout.  Americanlamb.com  says loin chops 1 - 1 .5" thick should be cooked to 145 * F for medium-rare (7-12 minutes on grill or under broiler).  Adjust as necessary.




3 gluttonous, drunk, happy carnivores :)

The Creamsicle Dreamsicle

 

 

It happened quite by accident.  My neighbor, Ruth, gave me a bottle of Pinnacle Whipped Cream vodka and the rest is history.

Now normally, I'm a purist by nature.  I like coffee flavored coffee, regular iced tea, white paper towels, clear fingernail polish...and vodka flavored vodka. BUT...and we've all been here...it was the only alcohol I had.

My friend Steve came over and wanted a drink, so I made him a screwdriver with this stuff thinking he'd never know the difference and if he did, I'd play it off like it was his tastebuds playing tricks (sorry, Steve).  So I make the drink in the kitchen and taste it before I give it to him, wondering how much I'm gonna have to play it up...but it was GOOOOOOOD!!!!  It tasted like the dreamsicles my mom used to buy when I was little.  Of course, I wasn't allowed to have any of those--they were name brand and were for her, and she used to hide them in the back of the freezer.  My friends and I got the no-name box of 108 popsicles that had hardly any syrup in them and would turn to white ice after like 6 licks!  Goddammit, mom!! 

But anyway...

I've been making this drink ever since...on purpose now...with great results.  I've made it for people across the country, have had bartenders make it for me for dessert, and I admit (shhhhhhhh...) that I've even had it for breakfast (don't judge).   One summer I had it made for me, got way drunk, made it about 200 yards away from the bar and passed out in the street before my friend had to carry me the rest of the way up to my hotel room.  To this day we joke that I got roofied.   Ahhhhhhhh, good times with the Creamsicle Dreamsicle!! LOL

It's only two ingredients and so easy; perfect for these last few days of summer.  Share it with someone you love and make some memories of your own.  Have fun!

-----------------------------------------------------------

icy vodka, right out of the freezer
 

1 bottle Pinnacle Whipped Cream Vodka
1 container orange juice (not from concentrate)
ice, of course

Place ice in glass.  Add as much vodka as you'd like and fill the rest of the glass with orange juice.  Stir and enjoy.

Chicken Parmesan

You can't do it every night.  You simply cannot make a sauce from scratch every night! That's ok--it doesn't make it any less delicious or appreciated, and tonight is one of those nights.

My daughter (14) plays traveling, competitive soccer.  She just came home from a tournament in Sarasota--3 games in a day and a 1/2...she's sunburned and exhausted, plus she has a wicked head cold.  It was 105 every day, and she plays outside-mid...which means she's only one of two players who continuously run the length of the field.  Consequently, she's always hungry (and cranky...lol), and I like to have something hot and comforting for her when she comes home, so she can eat, take a warm shower, do her homework, fall asleep, and do it all again tomorrow.  She's come home soaking wet from the steamy rains of summer and from the frigid windy rainy nights of winter.  I'm amazed at her energy and her gracious attitude.  She hurt her foot last summer and played for 2 weeks before we found out the top of it was cracked; she cut off the end of her big toe 2 years ago and played with a bandage (and some serious pain meds) the very next week; and she carried on thru a tournament last May, so tired, in the middle of what we later discovered was Mono.  Ok, so I'm not winning any mother of the year awards...but even in  light of ME...she carries on...lol.  She's for sure my hero, and I'm her biggest fan.

Why am I her biggest fan?? She's not even left footed...

She's always happy when she comes home from practice and sees (smells!) Chicken Parmesan.  It has no breading, so it's light enough to serve year round.  It's so good  and filling on it's own, I serve it only with linguini on the side. Make someone happy tonight...their smiles are worth a thousand words and they'll thank you again and again...



Reason #2, her specialty...the corner kick



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4 chicken breasts
1 bottle marinara sauce ( I use Rao's)



browned, and simmering with tomatoes

1 can fire-roasted, diced tomatoes
1 ball fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
parmesan cheese
olive oil
1 lb linguine
kosher salt/fresh ground black pepper/garlic powder
dry, red wine (I use merlot)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Drizzle oil in oven-proof skillet over med-high heat.  Place chicken breasts in pan, sprinkle liberally with salt/pepper/garlic powder and brown.  Turn over, sprinkle other side with spices and brown.
When browned on both sides, turn heat to med low.  Add tomatoes (do not drain), and scrape up brown bits in pan.  Add a splash of red wine.  Add sauce and mix all.  Place some sauce over chicken.  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.  Place in oven.





ready to come out of the oven

Cook for 30 min uncovered.  Then covered for 20 min.  Place mozzarella cheese on top of each chicken breast and sprinkle with more parmesan, and bake 10 more min, cooking 1 hour total.  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
NOTE:  approx. 15 min before chicken is done, cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain in colander, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle salt on top.  Mix together. 

When chicken is ready, take out of oven, add additional seasonings if necessary, and serve immediately with a spicy merlot along side.

(serves 4)