Blue Monday @ The Gulf

This is the perfect timing for a Blue Monday ~

We have just gotten home from a quick weekend at the beach  . . .  so I have lots of Blues to share.

Beautiful Blues ~
'The Gulf' is a fabulous new restaurant in Orange Beach. We instantly knew this was our kind of place.
The food was fresh and local.

It is a chic design . . . made with 're-purposed' shipping containers.
And a whole lot of style.

with a fun atmosphere . . . dogs were welcome.
They were almost as cute at the owners.

It is the perfect place to sit on the beach ~
and watch the sunsets.

the perfect place to reflect on what is really important in life.

Family.
Friends.
and a little time to reflect on both . . .

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 ~ Knitted

The PhotoHunt for today is Knitted.

I've got Lots of knitted projects . . . it keeps my hands busy and out of the cookie jar.

I knit little hats for 'my' babies at work.

Some are cuter than others (the hats . . . not the babies)
Check for all the other Knitted Photos on The Saturday PhotoHunt
Happy Hunting y'all~
Sandi

Traveling Tuesday ~ la Tagliata

Another post-it note to remind my own self about another restaurant in Positano . . .
 la Tagliata is a lot of fun.
They will come pick you up . . . which is nice in an area where only the Italian's should get behind the wheel.
This is a ride up and out of Positano, to a place that hangs off the side of a cliff. 

The food is plentiful ~ and good.

The wine plentiful ~ and not so good.
(yes that is moisture on the red wine . . .  from being kept in the fridge)

The Limoncello is icy cold ~ just as it should be. 

A trip to la Tagliata is mostly worth the views.

There is also some singing, and dancing, and napkin twirling ~
Overall a FUN evening . . .
That's what traveling tuesdays are all about.
Y'all enjoy the ride~
Sandi

Fun with Wine Corks

I've been saving wine corks for a while . . .
I just knew that there had to be a clever use for them. 

Especially the one's with great sayings.
~A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine~

They were easy to cut in half with a sharp knife . . .
No wine while I was slicing ~ Careful to not loose a finger!

Then I glued them onto a letter I picked up at Michael's at 50% off.

Don't you think the finished product looks cute hanging in the kitchen?

Now, to start saving up for another project . . . 
Y'all enjoy ~
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~Haven

The photohunt for this week is 'Haven'

A Haven is a place of safety or asylum ~ like a refuge at the beach.
Or a port in a storm . . .

I love the boat in the port named ' Knot Today ' ~ that's about the way I feel when watching a sunset from the balcony.

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

A treat ~

When is a rice krispy treat, not a kiddie treat?

When they are made with browned butter, creamy roasted almond butter and topped with flakes of sea salt.

Almond Browned Butter Krispie Treats
3 Tbs butter +2Tbs butter
1 bag miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup Almond butter
5 cups rice crispies
1 Tbs coarse salt
Using 2 Tbs butter, coat the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Melt the 3 Tbs of butter in a large non stick pan over low heat. The butter will melt then slowly turn to a nutty brown color. Add the marshmallows and stir until melted. Add the Almond butter and stir until creamy. Add the cereal in batches, stirring until blended.

Press mixture into the buttered baking dish. Sprinkle with sea salt.
I don't know that I'd call rice crispy treats 'healthy eating' . . . but these are gluten free.
And yummy!
The only thing missing is a little dark chocolate . . . But that is an idea for next time.

What is your favorite today?
I am also linking to Frugal Friday at the Shabby Nest.
Y'all join in~
 Sandi

Traveling Tuesday ~ la Sirene

Gail and I  have decided to spend a week in May in Positano . . . As soon as we mentioned it, we filled up our villa!
Just that quick ~ a Great Escape to the Amalfi Coast.

One of the first things we will plan to do is to call Sonja at la Sirene ~

She can book us 'the nice white boat' for an evening of dining. . .
Because, there is only One way to get to the restaurant.

I might look a little water-logged in this photo. Holly and Rick of course looking tan and relaxed . . .
That is what a fun evening is all about.
Lots of laughs and good food.

Traveling Tuesday.
Y'all enjoy the ride~
Sandi

~ Blues ~

I've been pouring over photos of Positano, trying to remember the name of restaurants and sites we saw last May.
This is when it is nice to have a blog.
I love this photo of the town and the Church of St Maria Assunta ~ We were coming in by boat . . .
FAST.!

 

 

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 ~ Celebrate

The PhotoHunt today is Celebrate . . .
I found lots of photos of celebrating, but some were not so flattering ~

So instead . . . a worthwhile tip.  

If you have finished celebrating . . . but not yet finished the bubbly,
Place a silver spoon in the top of the bottle.
It will keep the bubbles fresh for hours!

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

Travel Tuesday ~ A Great Escape?

It's Traveling Tuesday.
I have been traveling Virtually with my friends who were in Rome over the holidays . . . all that does, is make me even more eager for May!

In the past,  with our Italian Great Escapes we have spent our time in Tuscany, near Montalpuciano. We had announced our Kitchen Capers in Tuscany, but really have not had much interest.   Gail and I are wondering if people feel that Tuscany has been over-done recently.

So, we are looking at other options . . .

The Amalfi Coast?
Positano??

I am ready to go back . . .
how 'bout y'all?


Y'all enjoy the ride~
Sandi

Roasted Garlic and White Bean Soup

January.
It's cold and rainy and blah ~ ~ ~
We need some warm comfort food.
A pot of warm beans with the smell of roasted garlic . . . I can sit and read a good book, while it simmers on the new gas stove.

Color me Happy!

Roasted Garlic and White Bean Soup
2 large heads of garlic
2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 onion
1# white cannellini beans
2 cups chicken broth
 sprig of rosemary and thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
4 cups water
Soak dry beans in water overnight (or use canned white beans that have been rinsed). The next morning pour off the soaking water. Fill a large pot with fresh water, chicken broth and beans. Place several sprigs of herbs in the pot. Bring to a boil and cook over low heat.

Cut off the heads of the garlic, slice the onion in half, drizzle both with olive oil. Wrap in foil and roast at 350°  for 40 minutes.

In a blender, add the roasted garlic and onions and some beans and broth from the pot. (cool before blending).
Blend to a thick puree.
Pour this back into the pot and continue cooking until the beans are tender.

Always season beans with salt and pepper in the end!

 That'll warm you up!

Y'all enjoy ~
Sandi

PhotoHunt ~ Add

The PhotoHunt for today is 'Add'

When making pasta, you crack the eggs into a well of flour.
Then stir ~ slowly adding the flour.

The trick is to not break your flour 'bowl' before you get the runny eggs mixed.

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

Cooking Light ~ Fresh and Clean

Our monthly Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club is celebrating the New Year.
Giz of  The Equal Opportunity Kitchen picked our theme "Clean Eating"
That is a great way to start with those new year resolutions.

I looked for my Cooking Light Recipe ~ and decided to go with some fresh brown eggs and fresh spinach. I make frittatas almost every weekend . . . and this is my basic recipe. I will change the veggies and either omit or add a cheese ~ that's the way I work.

Spinach Onion Swiss Frittata
2 teaspoons canola oil
2 cups vertically sliced onion
4 cups baby spinach leaves
8  large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup shredded swiss cheese

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Heat a 10-inch ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add oil; swirl to coat. Add onion; sauté 10 minutes or until tender. Add spinach; cook 2 minutes, stirring just until spinach wilts.
3. Combine eggs, salt, and pepper. Pour egg mixture over vegetables in pan; cook until edges begin to set, about 2 minutes. Gently lift edge of egg mixture, tilting pan to allow uncooked egg mixture to come in contact with pan. Cook 2 minutes or until egg mixture is almost set. Sprinkle with cheese.
 

4. Bake at 400° for 8 minutes or until center is set. Transfer frittata to a serving platter immediately; cut into 6 wedges.

 

 
Now . . . let's see what everyone else has brought for our clean living meal.

Jerry has been in Italy for the holidays, but still managed to bring a Lentil Herb Salad
Val is making a salad of Bulgur with Dried Cranberries
Giz was not able to cook... but can still enjoy our Virtual Club.
 Susan is bringing Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Fennel and Shitake Mushrooms
We  are excited to announce that we have two new members!
 Sara is bringing Curried Lamb and Lentil Stew
 Roz has made a Citrus Granita

Y'all enjoy ~
Sandi