Look what I can do!

Mmmm!

Spaghetti with Italian sausage and my own version of pesto sauce!

My Pesto Sauce:

1 c Fresh Basil Leaves
1/2 c Pistachios (shelled of course)
1 1/2 cloves garlic, grated or finely minced
1/2 c shredded or grated Asiago Cheese
3 t butter
1/4 c olive oil (may need more or less depending on texture)


1.  In a food processor first chop pistachios into a more manageable texture and size.

2.  Add basil, garlic, butter and some oil.  Blend until all components are mixed, but it doesn't need to be smooth yet.

3.  Add cheese and blend.  Slowly adding oil until sauce blends easily.  Once at that point, stop adding oil and just let everything blend up for a full minute or two.  Because of the nuts, the sauce won't be perfectly smooth, which is fine.  You just don't want a huge surprise bite at the end!

4.  Toss a small amount with pasta: enough to coat the noodles.  Once you have plated your pasta, top with the remaining sauce.

5.  Yeilds approximately enough sauce for 2 servings of pasta.

Books

New favorites on books!  Well, they aren't all new, but I have been reading the series recently.  As of right now there are 7 books with another coming out this summer.  I love these books!  I think they did a great job taking the Vampire theme but taking a new look at it with a new eye.  There are a lot of Cherokee and other Native American themes within the books while still having a little bit of that mystical side that many of the other Vampire books that are out there right now can provide.

Right now I am about to finish Untamed, and so far it is awesome!

Check out the series' website here!

Newest painting

Called "Catch the Wave."

Dinner tonight

Steaks on the grill, couscous with beef broth, sautéed carrots with dill and corn muffins. Yummy stuff!

So Excited, you don't even know!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMEr8qohTTI

My first pedicure!

I liked it! I was afraid that I would be too ticklish, but it was nice.

Pizza!

Greek-style flatbread pizza:

1.  Top a piece of flatbread with olive oil, garlic powder and oregano.

2.  Top with shredded mozzarella, crumbled feta, chopped Kalamata olives and chopped artichoke hearts.

3.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is browning around the edges.  

I know it's a simple recipe, but it will be tasty!

Dinner tonight

Ribs, corn on the cob and corn muffins!

Ribs:

Ingredients:
1 Rack Baby Back Ribs
1 c Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 c Ketchup
1/4 c Worchestershire Sauce
1 T Liquid Smoke
2 T Salt
2 T Onion Powder
1 T Garlic Powder
1/4 c Molasses
1 c Honey Smoke BBQ sauce (or your favorite BBQ sauce)

Method:
1.  Cut rack of ribs into 3-rib sections and place into a slow cooker.  I use a crock pot, but a Dutch Oven would work as well.

2.  Mix Vinegar, Ketchup, Worchestershire, Liquid Smoke and Molasses.  Pour over ribs to coat evenly.

3.  Mix Salt, Onion and Garlic.  Sprinkle over ribs.

4.  Cook on low for 4-6 hours.  You want the ribs to be pretty much fully-cooked but not completely falling apart.

5.  Remove ribs from crock pot and brush with BBQ sauce.  Place on a hot grill.  I prefer a charcoal grill, but to each their own.  Cook on both sides until the ribs char on the outside continuing to brush with sauce(not burnt, just so the sauce gets a little crispy).

My new necklace! I proudly sport the hallows symbol. :-)

Dinner

Pork chops cooked in Sweet Tea Bourbon, couscous with lemon, sauteed carrots and buttered garlic and Rosemary potatoes with corn muffins!

Pork Chops:

Recipe:
4 Boneless Pork Loin chops (3/4"-1" thick)
1 c Firefly Sweet Tea Bourbon
1/4 c Apple Cider Vinegar
1 t Liquid Smoke
2 T Molasses
2 T Butter

Method:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1.  In a saucepan (the kind that has a lid and can go in the oven) melt butter over med-high heat.

2.  Place pork chops in pan and sear for 6-8 minutes on each side (until slightly brown).

3.  Add remaining ingredients to the pan and heat until simmering.

4.  Remove from heat, cover and place in oven for 45 minutes.


Potatoes:

Ingredients:
Approx. 20 Baby Red potatoes
1/4 c butter
2 cloves garlic
1 sprig rosemary (or approx. 2 T dried rosemary)
2-3 green onions
1 T salt
1 t pepper

Method:
Preheat oven to 400

1.  Wash potatoes and halve.  Place in oven-safe dish (glass bread pans work well).

2.  Melt butter and pour over potatoes.

3.  Chop garlic, rosemary and green onions and place into pan.

4.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Stir up everything in the pan.

5.  Cover pan with foil.  Poke a few venting holes in the foil.  Bake for 45 minutes.

6.  Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes.

Storm Glass

Just finished another book on my Kindle.  I read "Storm Glass" by Maria V. Snyder.  This is the first book in a companion series to the 3-book "Study Series" by the same author.  The "Study Series" is marketed as a Young Adult novel, however some of the themes may be better geared toward an older crowd.  I would highly recommend the "Study Series" and can also recommend at least the first book in this new series.  Try it out!  You can find it here at Amazon.com.

Just in case...

Just in case nobody has told you today, you are AMAZING and I hope you have a FANTASTIC day!!!