PhotoHunt ~ Dodgy~

You have to be a bit 'Dodgy' to be a cabbie in London ~

Check for all the other Dodgy Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

Travel Tuesdays

Just time for a quick Traveling Tuesday . . .

This included a quick trip to Atlanta to visit with friends.
Of course ~ ANY trip to Atlanta includes a trip to Trader Joe's !
We don't have one in Birmngham, so once I get to TJs I have to stock up on everything from corn salsa to 2buck Chuck.
I couldn't resist a snap of this sign . . .

Y'all enjoy the ride~
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~ Escape ~

The photohunt for this week is 'escape'
I get to escape every year with Italian Great Escapes .
I am so lucky to get to travel with Gail ~ 

I can't think of a better ~ escape ~

This year we are going to be back in the kitchen.
We have a small villa that we will be filling with old friends . . . and soon to be friends .
We will be having fun in the kitchen, art lessons, wine,  and of course Bella Italia!
There are still some spots left  ~  if you are looking for an escape!

 
I can't imagine a better Escape ~

Check for all the other  Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

~ Full Moon ~

Did y'all see the Full moon this weekend? 
( begin chorus of Blue Moon)
We were enjoying an evening by the pool .  .  . and of course ( in light of Traveling Tuesday) I was remembering the Blue Moon I saw over Positano.
da Sigh ~

Back to Alabama.

Yesterday I posted my Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Rosemary  ~ this is the Full Moon Cole Slaw that goes with it . . .   

Full Moon Bar-B-Que's Marinated Slaw
1 head cabbage, shredded (about 9 cups)
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 1/2 cups plus
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup cider vinegar
1 cup salad oil
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon pimentos, chopped

Combine cabbage, green pepper, onion and celery and mix well. Coat with 1 1/2 cups sugar.

In a saucepan, combine oil, vinegar, salt and 1 tablespoon sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.

Pour the warm dressing over shredded cabbage. Add pimento (for color).
Mix well and allow to cool.

Of course this goes with Full Moon BarBQ . . . but it is also perfect on a pork tenderloin sandwich!
y'all enjoy ~
Sandi

The end of summer blues

We are coming to the end of summer ~
at least to the end of evenings IN the pool ! ~It'll turn your toes BLUE.
That water takes on a chill this time of year . . . and I am done.
We can still enjoy evenings by the pool.
I love to use the grill for everything, I don't even have to turn my oven on. This is a pork tenderloin that is perfect for the grill (or in the oven)

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Rosemary
pork tenderloin, about 2 pounds
1 handful fresh rosemary,
2 Tbs olive oil
3 cloves garlic, crushed
generous salt and pepper

Use a disposable cooking tin and heat the grill to High heat.  
Strip the leaves off of fresh rosemary.  In a small bowl, combine rosemary, minced garlic and olive oil. Rub over all sides and center of pork tenderloin, tie together with kitchen twine.

Place pork on the hot tin. Layer the remaining rosemary and garlic on top of the roast.
Return to the grill and cook on high for 15- 20 minutes (about 150° to 155° internal temp).
Remove and let stand 10 minutes, then slice.

I always use my battery meat thermometer . . . the most important tool in my kitchen. The meat is crusty on the outside, but pink and juicy on the inside.
Perfect! I serve it simply, with my Full Moon Slaw and rolls.
Just what an evening by the pool deserves . . .  Little effort and great flavor.

Don't forget to check in at Smiling Sally for more blues and Boogie Board Cottage for her Masterpiece Monday.
Y'all enjoy ~
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~Hairy~

The PhotoHunt for this week is 'Hairy' . . .
Which gave me the chance to share these photos from my evening of people watching in Piazza Navonna. Since I travel alone most of the time ~ you can imagine that is my favorite past-time. I will get a table right up front, and sit for hours (much to the dismay of the waitstaff). Actually, by the end of the night they are mi amici too !

There is an 'artist' in Piazza Navonna with a fabulous mop of hair and a oversized hairy mustashe who fascinated me all evening.

He was dressed as if he were an artist . . . but mostly wandered around and visited with the locals. He is always there selling paintings.

Just looking like an artist. . .

I wonder if he paints? ~ or does he just looks the part?

Check for all the other Hairy Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

Hard 'Boiled' Eggs

Y'all are going to love this!

A newer and easier way to hard 'boil' eggs . . . Thanks to Pinterest.

Place eggs in muffin tins or in paper cups ~ just to keep them from rolling around.
Put them into a cold oven and turn it to 325°  , Bake for 25-27 minutes.

Put them back in the fridge to cool.
Perfect every time!

I will never stand over a boiling pot of water wondering if my eggs are hard or soft boiled again.

What is your favorite today?
I'm also linking up at The Shabby Nest with this Frugal Friday idea.
Y'all enjoy~
 Sandi

Travel Tuesday ~ Rome

My friend jerry has been planning his trip to Rome for Christmas . . .
I hope they are able to hit all these high points ~
How many can you identify??

Meanwhile  . . . I am filled with travel envy!
Happy Travels y'all ~
Sandi

Saturday in the South

Saturday in the south . . .
It is all about some football !

Tailgate-ing in Alabama is an art.
of course this saturday . . . the art was all in red and white, with a lot of houndstooth mixed in.

We went to T-town . . . the home of the Crimson Tide.
Our niece, who is the school of nursing there,  has marched with the Million $$ Band for a few years now. We are so proud of her.
This was the perfect day to go watch.

I'm sure Bill wasn't watching this . . . not this.

You gotta love some Alabama football . . .
This made me laugh ~
the great Bear Bryant in 8 feet of bronze ~ with a sticker that says 'Go to hell Auburn'

What's not to love about some SEC football !
Since this is MY blog . . .
War Eagle y'all
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~ Stuck ~

Stuck
The PhotoHunt for this week is 'stuck'

That's what Hope would think everytime we put a hat on her head. . .
I'm Stuck!

It turned into a game!
Check for all the other stuck-up photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

Fish in a Tin ~ Friday Favorite

We've been home from the beach for 2 weeks ~
why does time just crawl when your not sitting under an umbrella?

I was craving the flavor of the beach. One of our favorite places in Orange Beach is Calypso Joe's. It's a bit of a mess right now, with construction . . . but we still enjoyed sitting outside at the marina. This is my favorite thing on the menu! Here is my version . . .

Fish in a Tin
4 talapia fillets
1 cup pineapple chunks
1 cup mango chunks
1 cup sugar snap peas
1 cup sliced carrots
1 onion, sliced
1/2 cup coconut milk
2 Tbs WhistleStop Marinade (optional)
red pepper flakes (more or less to taste)
Salt and pepper

Combine coconut milk with fruit and veggies and set aside. (I used frozen pineapple and mangos, so this gave them a chance to thaw). Tear 4 large pieces of aluminum foil for each fish fillet.

Place each fillet in the center of the foil, sprinkle generously with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes for a little spice. Divide the veggies and sauce evenly over each fillet. Seal the foil packets so that the juice won't leak out.
Bake at 400°  12-15 minutes.

Open the foil and serve with rice.

It's a taste of the beach ~
That's a Friday Favorite.
Y'all join in~
Sandi

Cooking Light ~ Celebrating birthdays with food

We have several birthdays in our Virtual Supper Club in the month of September . . . so we are celebrating birthdays with food ( is there any other way ? )
I love lemon bars ~ so I searched for this Cooking Light Recipe.

Butter Crunch Lemon Cheese Bars
Crust:

1/3 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground mace or nutmeg

1 cup all-purpose flour

Cooking spray

Filling:
1 cup 1% low-fat cottage cheese
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
3 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 large egg
1 large egg white
Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare crust, place first 4 ingredients in a large bowl, and beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Lightly spoon 1 cup flour into a dry measuring cup, and level with a knife. Add 1 cup flour to butter mixture, and beat at low speed until well-blended. Press crust into an 8-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.

To prepare filling, place cottage cheese in a food processor; process 2 minutes or until smooth, scraping sides of bowl once. Add 1 cup granulated sugar and remaining ingredients, and process until well-blended. Pour filling over crust.
Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until set (the edges will get lightly browned), and cool. Cover and chill for 8 hours.

Let me just say that cottage cheese is not a good substitute for cream cheese.
I am not sure there is a good substitute for cream cheese. The lemmony flavor wasn't bad... but that cottage cheese texture turned me off.
I saved lots of calories on this dish . . .
Now let's see what everyone else has brought for our  birthday celebration . . .
Jerry is kicking the party off with a Champagne Pomegranate Cocktail
 Val has an appetizer of Shrimp Bouillabaise Fondue 
Giz is bringing dessert, with Peach Ice Cream
This month we don't have a guest blogger ~ give a shout if you are interested in joining us.
Y'all enjoy~
Sandi

Chef's night ~ at the beach

One of the BEST traditions we ever started with our annual famly beach trips . . . is the alternating family cook nights.
We sit back and let the 'kids' do the cooking. As with most things . . . it turns into a friendly competition. Of course, it isn't just ramen noodles with shrimp ~ this is Top Chef . . . Beach style !  We have a full out menu, with drinks, appetizers, meal and dessert.

Which leaves Lolly and LuLu more time for this ~ ~ ~

This year Chef Rob was going to turn up the heat . . . with a nod to the Gulf Coast.
All fresh from the market and gluten free.

While Brooke played hostess with the mostest, and all around sous chef.

We started the evening with a 'Ginny Hendricks'. Ice cold Hendricks gin infused with a cucumber simple syrup.
Our gluten free appetizer was Thyme roasted Brie with fresh peaches and pecan crackers.

The main meal was fresh caught grouper, pan fried with lemon and thyme. Oven roasted potatoes with roasted figs and peaches. We also had chardonnay saute'd green beans.

I didn't get a photo of the watermelon sorbet . . . all made in our condo kitchen!
Awesome!
Not only was I not in the kitchen ~ but it gave me more time for this...

and THAT's what it's all about.

Don't forget to check in at Smiling Sally for more blues and Boogie Board Cottage for her Masterpiece Monday.
Y'all have a Happy Labor Day ~

Sandi

PhotoHunt ~ Quiet

The PhotoHunt for this Saturday is 'Quiet'

This is the Quiet moment before the Monks begin their chanting at Abbazia Monte Oliveto Maggorie. The white robes are all laid out and ready.

The Gregorian chant is done every day  and "calms and invigorates the mind and the heart".
I've been several times, but have never been there when the monks are chanting ,
maybe next may .  .  .

Isn't that the beauty of quiet?
Check for all the other Saturday Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi