Photohunt ~Sports

The Photohunt for this week is 'sports'.

Have your ever wondered why a sunset is Orange and Blue?

SEC football~

Happy hunting y'all,

Sandi

A day at the pumpkin patch

Nicole has the most beautiful cooking blog called Pinch my Salt. She has posted a whole collection of Pumpkin Recipes. They are each so wonderful~ sweet and sour grilled pumpkin, muffins, pancakes... the list goes on.

I decided to add my own list of pumpkin recipes.
Pumkpin Cheddar Soup

Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage Butter

Pumpkin Pie

Now I'm off to the pumpkin patch for a little more inspiration.

Y'all enjoy!

Sandi

Reuse and recycle

Have you ever spent time reading the Target bag?

There are lots of uses for leftover grocery bags. I try to be a good green grocer and bring my reusable bags with me... but now I don't feel so bad.

How do y'all use your leftover bags?

Leave your idea on Mr Mcklinky... we'll see how many there are.

Sandi

The winner is...

I decided to go upscale, like the big girl blogs do, and use the random number generator to pick the winner of our bloggerversary giveaway. The random number was 3.

That is Lianne. Her blog is 'Socks are not the Enemy'. She also has a cooking blog 'A Pinch a Smidgen and a Dash' ...I think she needs one of our Pinch of Dis aprons~ don't you? We'll get a box of goodies in the mail.

I REALLY appreciate that 8 of you mentioned that your favorite posts were about my travels to Italy. I have pointed this out to Bill. Anything for the blog you know! The sacrifices we bloggers make.

Thanks y'all!
Sandi

Bella Cucina~

Don't forget to enter our Giveaway October 7th!
I saw this cute little sign at Pier One and just had to have it for my kitchen. Not because my kitchen decor is Italian~ I'm not sure what 'style' the decorators would call it. A kitchen is 'sposed to be the heart of the home... and it is~ my heart. I guess that would make it a little European, a little southern, some fresh flowers and a glass of wine, coffee in the morning, and lots of laughter with some good home cooking.

Anyway... this little sign called out to me because it reminds me of the 2 weeks I spent cooking in Tuscany, and that makes me smile. When I got it home it just looked lost on the wall. So I fancied it up a little. I took a $4 frame from my favorite 'barn of pottery' (check the tacky Tuscany picture). I used a little spray paint and an extra napkin to use as a mat, then just framed it up.
Don't you think that looks much better?
I am linking up at Kimba's DIY Day... along with hundreds of other bloggers.

Buon Appetito y'all,
Sandi

While you are at the grill...

Don't forget to enter our Giveaway October 7th!

If you have the grill fired up, why not throw on some corn on the cob? This is a quick and easy way to have that roasted corn flavor.

Of course you can leave the shucks on, soak them in water and then grill. The shucks end up toasty, and the corn is sweet and crunchy.

To remove the shucks, the corn itself gets that grilled flavor. I love it! I topped our corn on the cob with this spicy vinaigrette to keep it moist and yummy.

Spicy Vinaigrette

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 1/2 Tbs lime juice

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

2 Tbs fresh cilantro

Combine and whir in the bullet or blender. Pour over the corn and allow to sit for several minutes.

I bet you can't eat just one!

Y'all enjoy!

Sandi

Small Bites~ Goat Cheese

Don't forget to enter our Giveaway!
Our challenge for week #5 of Sunday Small Bites is ... Goat Cheese. I love the sharp, creamy flavor of goat cheese.

This recipe is from the il de France cheese site. I was excited when I found it... it looked perfect for the WhistleStop Cafe kitchen.

Grilled Green Tomatoes with Goat Cheese
4 green tomatoes
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 Tbs lime juice
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
2 Tbs fresh cilantro
6 oz goat cheese
2 slices bacon crumbled
Salt and pepper

Prepare the grill for medium hot fire. In a shallow bowl combine Olive Oil, lime juice, cilantro and spices and stir until well blended. Slice tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices, dip into Olive Oil mixture and place on the grill. Grill for 3-4 minutes, turn and top with goat cheese. Cook another 3-4 minutes or until the cheese begins to melt. Transfer to a platter and top with remaining dressing, bacon, and cilantro. Next time, I would combine some of the Olive Oil with the goat cheese. The flavor is great... but I thought the dressing drizzled on top left the tomatoes mushy.

Now, let's see what small bites we get from the other 'nibblers'. Leave your link on Mr Mcklinky. Y'all enjoy!
Sandi
Next week's secret ingredient ~~~Smoked Salmon ~~~

Photohunt ~Words

Don't forget to enter our Giveaway!
The Photohunt for this week is 'words'.
In the words of the great Elton John~Sorry seems to be the hardest word.

Happy hunting y'all!
Sandi

A bloggerversary giveaway!

What was I ever thinking? In Oct of 2006, Bill came up with the idea of starting a WhistleStop Blog. At first, the idea was that we would both be posting.

On Oct 7, 2006 I posted my first blog page. Now 3 years and almost 700 posts later... I am still at it. Bill has yet to make his first blog post (don't hold your breath on that one)

I will say over the past 3 years, I have developed some of the most amazing friendships. Many people I have met... others I've never seen face to face, but I feel like we are back door neighbors. We could sit over a glass of sweet tea and have plenty to talk about. I know that there are lots of blurkers who don't leave comments, but come into my bloggy kitchen every day. I have posted tons of recipes, tips, and crafty ideas. I've taken y'all on trips across the world and around town. You have shared in the important events in our lives.

I appreciate each of you! To celebrate our 3rd Bloggerversary I am going to have a giveaway. Leave me a comment (yes even you blurkers) and remind me of one of your favorite post, picture, or recipe. I will draw a name from the hat and send the winner a big goodie box of WhistleStop products, a cookbook, and an apron. I will draw the lucky winner on Oct 7th. Thanks y'all!
Sandi
~ and Bill :-)

O food for Ovarian Cancer

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and I am going to try to do my part. The more noise we can make... the more attention that this silent killer will get.

Ms Adventures in Italy and Bleeding Espresso are hosting the 'O' food challenge to help raise awareness of Ovarian Cancer. The challenge is to post a food that begins or ends with an 'O'. So, for this challenge I am posting a creamy GelatO from Cooking Light with the last of our southern strawberries and a little southern buttermilk.
Strawberry GelatO
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
5 cups quartered strawberries (about 4 pints)
2 cups low-fat buttermilk
Combine sugar and water in a large saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Pour into a large bowl; cool completely.Place strawberries in a blender, and process until smooth. Add strawberry puree and buttermilk to sugar syrup; stir to combine.
Pour the strawberry mixture into the freezer can of an ice-cream freezer, and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Yum! You still have time to enter an 'O' recipe before 12:30 tonight (Italy time). These are the prizes you can win...
1st: Signed copy of Dolce Italiano: Desserts from the Babbo Kitchen by Gina DePalma, who is currently battling ovarian cancer, inspired this event, and will be choosing her favorite recipe for this prize;
2nd: Signed copy of Molto Italiano: 327 Simple Italian Recipes to Cook at Home by Mario Batali (winner chosen by Sara);
3rd: Signed copy of Vino Italiano: The Regional Italian Wines of Italy by Joseph Bastianich (winner chosen by Michelle).

If you just want to dig in your pocketbook to support Ovarian Cancer... click here!
You might also want to peek at this interview with Gina DePalma that was posted today. We 'know' Gina from Slow Travel and wish her nothing but health and slow travels!
Thanks y'all
Sandi

Small Bites~Avocado

Time once again for Sunday Small Bites! This is our 4th week, and we are taking on the creamy Avocado. I am looking forward to some green delights.My choice this week is a small bite of roasted poblano pepper... stuffed with avocado. This would be great as an appetizer or on the side of a mexican feast.

Roasted Poblanos with Avocado
4-6 small poblano peppers
2 ripe avocados
3 baked potatoes
2 cloves garlic minced
2 Tbs olive oil
juice of one lemon
grated montery jack cheese
Salt and pepper
Bake potatoes as you normally would. Roast poblano peppers under the broiler until the skins are brown and peeling. Set the peppers aside to cool. Peel the cooled potatoes, dice and put in a mixing bowl. Add minced garlic, avocado, lemon juice and olive oil. Stir in 1/2 cup grated montery jack and mash the potatoes. Gently remove the charred skins from the peppers. Stuff each pepper with the avocado mixture. Top with grated montery jack cheese. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes until cheese is melted. Top with cilantro. You will notice mine is not topped with cilantro. Cilantro/Celery ~ they are very close when on some one's grocery list!
Now, let's see what small bites we get from the other 'nibblers'. Leave your link on Mr Mcklinky.
Y'all enjoy!
Sandi
Next week's secret ingredient ~~~Goat Cheese ~~~

Photohunt ~ twisted

The photohunt for this week is 'twisted'.
With a few twists of a handle~this~becomes this!
Happy hunting y'all!
Sandi

Thank You!

Some of you may have noticed that I haven't 'been around' all week. It is unlike me not to be visiting blogs or posting during the week. I can honestly say I haven't cooked a meal all week.

This week has been a mixture of reality that came rushing in, faith, and blessings. We had quite a scare with our son and have spent the week in the cardiac care unit at UAB hospital in Birmingham.

I am so very grateful to friends and family who have been such a support.
It helps to know that so many were praying for us... Not only our southern baptists, but we had some catholic rosary time as well (it helps to have that Vatican connection!).

We are also grateful to the skilled physicians at UAB and the wonderful nurses we met. What a team.

Rob is doing well and is going to 'hang out' with mom for the weekend before he heads back to school. That is when my heart will start to flutter!
In the mean time... am ready to sit down with Mr Obama and a cold glass of sweet tea and tell him what he can do with our health care system.
Thanks y'all for your friendships~
Sandi

Small bite ~ Sun Dried Tomatoes

The Sunday Small Bites has been so much fun and here we are in our 3rd week. We have taken one ingredient, and everyone comes up with their own favorite recipe.
Mercy~ this has become a real challenge!
Our secret ingredient this week is Sun Dried Tomatoes. This was not easy to find at the Piggly Wiggly... they carry one variety in the produce department. I'm sure Jerry will probably dry his own tomatoes :-)
I used my sun dried tomatoes to make some small bites of frittattas from a recipe similar to one I found in 'Healthy Cooking'. These would be perfect for a light breakfast, brunch with grits, or even as an appetizer.
Italian Mini Frittatas
2 tablespoons chopped sun-dried tomatoes
2 thin slices prosciutto, finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped shallots
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups milk
2 egg whites
3 eggs
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup shredded Asiago cheese
1/2 cup artichoke hearts, rinsed, drained and chopped
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
salt & pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350°
Place tomatoes in a small bowl; add 1/2 cup boiling water. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
In a skillet, saute the prosciutto, shallots and garlic in butter until shallots are tender. Remove from the heat; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk flour and milk until smooth; whisk in the egg whites and eggs until blended. Stir in the cheeses, artichokes, basil, salt, pepper, and reserved tomatoes and prosciutto mixture.
Coat 12 muffin cups with cooking spray; fill with egg mixture. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Carefully run a knife around edges to loosen and remove from pan.
Now, let's see what small bites we get from the other 'nibblers'.
Leave your link on Mr Mcklinky.
Y'all enjoy!
Sandi
Next week's secret ingredient ~~~Avocado ~~~

Photohunt ~ upside-down

The photohunt for this week is 'upside-down'.

I went through years of photos to try to find one.

This street artist in London has just made my day!

Happy hunting y'all!

Sandi