4th of July (part ii)

Have I mentioned how the 4th of July was really a week-long event this year?  Absolutely wonderful.  Spending time with friends and family is pure joy.  And ending the weekend on a boat was just the icing on the cake.  But I'm getting ahead of myself!  The 4th started out HOT and only got hotter!  We kicked it off by going to a parade at the Greatest Fourth in the North!

After that, we headed to a friend's house for lunch.  We retreated to the basement to beat the heat with some pool.

Of course, the basement was nice and cool, but nothing cools you off like a swim!  Swimming on the sloped side of a dam is not strongly recommended.  These guys seem pretty casual about it though.

But they weren't the only daredevils.  Here's my badass mother, climbing right over the railing, in a dress.  Apparently she used to do this all the time growing up, so that makes it okay.

All that water made everyone hungry, so we headed "downtown" for some pulled pork.

Once again, the heat was too much, so we headed down to yet another basement for some ping pong, shuffleboard and shuffle puck.

Having renewed our spirits, it was time for pyrotechnics.  It's a tradition!  Of course, it's been so dry that we had to hire a fire patrol to keep things from getting out of hand!

There were some live victims of the fire patrol...

And then it was time to go "downtown" for the REAL fireworks.

I had a lot of fun experimenting with a 15-second shutter.

So...that was Wednesday.  On to the weekend!  We kicked off Friday night at the beer tent while listening to the Yes Berger band perform in the park.

Just HAD to try a potato spiral!

I just want to say that we had a lot of help in making this beer-amid!  But there were a shocking number of casualties by the time we left the beer tent.

And *someone* decided we needed some deep-fried pickles, so it was off to the bar we went!  Holy hot pickles!  I burnt my mouth so bad!

The next morning, there was another parade (but I left my camera at home).  After that, Kyle and I tried out stand-up paddle boarding!  I feel like the last person ever to try this!  That's what I get for living under a rock :P  (Thanks to Dad for having a cell phone along, otherwise I'd have no pics at all!)

 Then some bowling with the cousin.

Then on to wine and food tasting at a local market.  Check out that beautiful drink behind me!  Lemonade flavored with herbs and edible flowers (notably basil, mint and rosemary).

Whew!  I headed home for a nap after that.  But then it was off to my parent's for some pizza, and then we helped a friend get his boat ready for the summer! 

After watching a glorious sunset...

...we watched yet MORE fireworks!  This is probably the most interesting photo I got, but it's just hard to hold steady when you're on a boat!

And that was only Saturday...  On Sunday, we spent the day on the boat and at the beach with friends, and I learned just how exhaustive it can be to go to the beach with a two year old and a one month old!  Definitely no time for photos :)

After the go-go-go of the weekend, it was hard to return to the desk job, but I needed some recovery time!  I'm hoping to get in some more camping this weekend!

Red, White and Blue Cheese Coleslaw

Yup, I know the fourth is over.  You can bookmark this recipe for next year.  It's festive and you don't have to turn on the stove.  And there's no mayonnaise!

Start out with the "white:" the cabbage.

Next is the "red:" red onion.

Extra color:  carrots.

Now some tasty stuff to hold this together:  Greek yogurt, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey, and the blue!  Blue cheese.

Mix it all up!

Add some paprika, salt and pepper. 

Red, White and Blue Cheese Coleslaw

• 1/2 cabbage head
• 1 red onion
• 3-4 carrots (about a cup, grated)
• a few radishes
• 2 6-oz cups plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tbs red wine vinegar
• 2 tbs honey
• 2 tbs lemon juice
• 3 oz blue cheese crumbles 
• 1 tsp paprika
• S&P to taste

Directions:
Grate the cabbage, onion, carrots, and radishes.  Mix in a medium bowl.
Mix up the yogurt, vinegar, honey, lemon juice and blue cheese.
Stir yogurt mixture into veggies.  Add paprika, salt and pepper.  Mix everything up.
Bring to gatherings with family or friends.  Enjoy!

4th of July (part i)

The good thing about 4th of July on a Wednesday is that suddenly it's a party all week long.  The bad thing about 4th of July on a Wednesday is that businesses don't really know how to handle it...so I feel like I'm working a two day week followed by a two day week.  So let's get this party started!  Last Saturday: canoeing w/ the fam.

Then Sunday followed with lunch at Gram's, for which I made this appetizer.  I didn't get any pics of dinner, but feel free to drool over the delicious dessert (fresh strawberry cheesecake and creme de menthe cupcakes).

 

Kari gave an artistic reading of "All My Friends are Dead," to our rapt attention.

Then a little pre-Fourth fireworks - the daytime kind!

This one unleashed a slew of parachutes.

Which made for a great game of chasing them!  Altogether I think there were about 40 parachutes!

 

After that, some outdoor games.  Has anyone heard of Seven Steps?

How about SPUD?

 

But the week is still young...There's much more to come!

Independence Day Appetizers

This morning a thunderstorm woke me up about an hour before my alarm went off.  Isn't that just the perfect way to wake up?  You get to listen to the rain, but still get to snuggle in bed for a while.  Perfectly comfortable.  Happy Independence Day!  Let's talk appetizers.  It's hot and humid, so let's find a no-cook, cool recipe that everyone will enjoy.  Let's incorporate eye-catching colors, and let's step it up with some marinated mozzarella.  Let's make THESE:

Marinated mozzarella skewers with strawberries and basil!

Marinade for one ball of mozzarella:
zest from half a lemon
zest from half a lime
1 tsp dried cilantro
Extra virgin olive oil to cover (~1/2 cup)

Marinate in the fridge for up to 2 hours.

I love zest from lemons and limes.  If I could put it in everything, I probably would.

Slice up the mozzarella ball into bite-sized pieces, and douse it in oil.  Add zest and cilantro.

 Mix it up, refrigerate for up to 2 hours.

Now, prep your other ingredients.  Strawberries and basil are totally a thing.  But you know avocado is soooo good too.

And marinating the mozzarella adds a great fruity kick that goes well with both strawberry and avocado.

It also makes a very pretty appetizer tray!

Quick and easy cold appetizers.  Tell all your friends :)

Tipsy Chocolate Cherries

I wanted to call these drunk cherries, but there isn't very much alcohol in them.  Just enough to add a little flavor kick!

Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes.  If you haven't tried them, try them.  And then make more ganache, because it's like a whiskeyed chocolate fondue.  And what goes great with whiskey chocolate fondue?

Cherries.  Lots of juicy, sweet cherries.

Whiskey?  Check.  Dipping things in chocolate?  Check.  Summer dessert?  I'm all over it!

No cherries because all the buds froze in a freak-weather incident?  No problem.  Use strawberries.  Or head down to the grocery store and let the shame of California cherries battle with your strong desire for another classic spring fruit.

I think it goes without saying...the cherries won.