Rosemary in a cookie?

I have gotten my pots all filled with Basil and Rosemary. There is nothing like fresh herbs that are just a few steps from the kitchen.
Which brings me to these crazy cookies... I found this recipe on Guy Fieri's site (hush your moaning!) They were just crazed enough to intrigue me~ Oatmeal cookies with cranberries rather than raisins and some fresh rosemary. I changed the recipe up a bit, he called for coconut, and I left that out.

Craizy Cookies
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), at room temperature
1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup dried cranberries
2 cups quick oats
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
Preheat oven to 350°
In a medium bowl, sift together flour, soda, powder, cinnamon and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with a mixer. Mix in honey and vanilla until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, until fully incorporated. Mix in dried cranberries, oats and rosemary. Fold dry ingredients into butter mixture. Using a cookie scoop, place 2 inches apart on parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake until cookies turn golden, 13 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven to cooling rack. Let sit 5 minutes in the pan before transferring to a rack to cool completely.
Craizy! They are awesome.

Y'all enjoy~
Sandi

Blue Monday ~ Stars!

Look at these fabulous Stars~ With a bit of glue, they were easily turned into beautiful hair pins for the bride and her bridesmaids.

They were just the special touch we needed!

Happy Blue Monday~

Don't forget to check in at Smiling Sally for more blues.

y'all enjoy~

Sandi

Photohunt ~ Road

The photohunt for this week is 'Road'. It won't be long before I will be driving these back roads in Tuscany again.I hope I can remember how to read the road signs!Happy huntng y'all~

Sandi

Pomodori e Vino ~ Monte Biano

This has been a fun dish... one that comes with a story. Where should I begin?

Actually, I think this story begins in Italy... In Ferarra. In This Old Post you could see where Jerry and I spent a day taking photos of Bicycles in that beautiful Italian town. I conceeded bragging rights to Jerry for our little photo competition, based on a few well timed photos. I think he has felt a tad guilty over that ever since.

So... when I was desperate for Chestnuts to make my Monte Bianco, guess who came to my rescue? Jerry did! Not only did he find the chestnuts in Canada, he also made the recipe and sent me photos. What a champ!

Apparently fresh chestnuts are only available in Alabama during the one small week of Christmas; fresh chestnuts are essential to this dessert. "Monte Biano is a pyramid of dark chocolate and pureed fresh chestnuts, topped by a snowy peak of whipped cream" Marcella says that the aroma is a consolation for the approach of winter. And indeed resembles the white snow covered summit of Mont Blanc.

This is one recipe I can't wait to make ... next Christmas.

In the mean time, I hope that y'all will all take a second and go to Thoughts, Musings, and Rants and tell Jerry how much we appreciate his generosity.

Ciao y'all~ Sandi

Friday's Favorites ~ It's a party!

What do you do when the wedding is over? You head to the FloraBama, that's what!

The bushwackers were icy and the oysters were cooked to perfection...

That's my friday's favorite!

What is your favorite today?

Y'all join in the linky party~

Sandi

Cake Topper ~ Tutorial

When Brooke first started looking for a cake topper for her wedding cake, she found some personalized clothes-pin dolls that she liked. There are several on ETSY. Of course my first response was... we can do that! The first (of many) trip to Hobby Lobby I stocked up on supplies. The wooden clothes-pins come in a large bag, I also bought plenty of wooden balls, One pack of molding clay, I picked up a skein of flesh colored floss, and hair colored paint. I had some pliable wire and needle nosed plyers. Most important was craft glue!

I took a sharp knife an whittled a groove in the back of the 'doll' to have a place to set the wire arms.

After the wire was glued securely, I wrapped them with the flesh colored floss and glued the ends.

Next, I got busy with the paint. Black paint for the groom's pants. I fashioned the hair styles to match them both. I used the molding clay to create some curls for the bride and painted them all to match. Pieces of ribbon for the clothes. I snipped and glued. Waited for it to dry, then glued another layer.

Here you can see that they are beginning to take shape. Wired ribbon worked perfectly for the bride's skirt, and of course she had to have a short skirt on under the longer wedding skirt. I used a bit of black fabric to create the grooms jacket.

Once I got to the tiny details, it really got fun. I had to make lots of calls to be sure I got things right. How many buttons on the jacket? Beard or no beard? Your hair on the left or the right? What color flowers? Garter belt with a blue flower? Blue shoes with a little bling! Here is a close-up of the hair and her little starfish. The finished bride had a pretty veil with starfish too. The simple faces were Holly's artistic touch!

Since this was a beach wedding, they had to be standing in the sand. I used a sponge and LOTs of glue for that. I even had some tiny seashells to add. The finished product was just perfect.

Don't y'all think?

Sandi

Blue Monday ~ Let them eat cake!

Happy Blue Monday! I wanted to share the photos of the fabulous wedding cake...

The Cake Topper was absolutely precious on top of the cake. The white dots were just the right touch with a pretty blue ribbon. I must say the bakery at Publix in Orange Beach could not have been more wonderful. Of course this little crowd would have been happy with just a slice of wedding cake...

Don't forget to check in at Smiling Sally for more blues.

y'all enjoy~

Sandi

Photohunt ~ Trees

The photohunt for this week is 'Trees' We had the brilliant idea to use some local greenery for table decorations at the wedding.

Isn't it funny how these look a lot like the trees in the background?

Happy hunting y'all~

Sandi

Friday's Favorites ~ We are!

What does it take to throw a beautiful wedding at the beach? When there is not a lot of Money?

I can tell you exactly what it takes . . .Friends and family who are willing to do what ever it takes . . . to fill sand buckets and find greenery~

To keep me smiling~To remind us of who we are~

and to share in our special moments.

They are Friday Favorites for sure

What is your favorite today?

Y'all join in~

Sandi

Cooking Light ~ 100 miles of Flavor

Jerry came up with the theme for this month's Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club. Our task was to find a recipe using products within 100 miles of our home. Our recipes all come from Cooking Light ... this was a bit of a challenge! I found my recipe HERE. I am really trying to eat more local foods. Shopping at the local markets not only gets fresher foods, but also supports the local Mom and Pops. We are all about that! In an attempt to stick with the 100 miles of flavor, I had to change the recipe up a bit. I used local pecans instead of walnuts. I also used basil from my garden, rather than the arugula that the recipe called for. Fresh peas from the market and orzo from the Fresh Market as well. The Parmesan isn't local; but I carried it back from my last trip to Italy... so I think it counts! Orzo with Pesto and Fresh Peas Pesto: 2 Tbs coarsely chopped walnuts 1 garlic clove, peeled 1 1/2 cups torn spinach 1 1/2 cups trimmed basil 3 Tbs grated Parmesan cheese 2 Tbs water 1 tsp lemon juice 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 1 1/2 Tbs olive oil Remaining ingredients: 2 cups hot cooked orzo (about 1 cup uncooked rice-shaped pasta) and 1 cup shelled green peas. To prepare pesto, drop walnuts and garlic through food chute with food processor on; process until minced. Add spinach and next 6 ingredients (spinach through pepper); process until finely minced. With food processor on, slowly pour oil through food chute; process until well-blended. Cook the orzo in salted water until tender. Just before done, toss in the fresh peas and cook for 1 minute, drain. Combine pesto, orzo, and peas in a large bowl, and toss well. Serve warmed or at room temperature. Now let's see what everyone else has brought for our 100 mile Virtual Supper Club... Jerry has made Beef Tenderloin with a Mushroom Red Wine sauce. He used local beef, went to the mushroom farm, and barrels of red wine from Niagara. Jamie is bringing Grilled Ginger Lime Shrimp, using our fabulous Gulf Shrimp Val is bringing a Fallen Chocolate Cake with Cherry Red Wine Sauce with local ingredients from the Okanagan Valley MaryAnn has made a salad with Mixed greens with a Local Blueberry Vinaigrette Roz has made a Risotto with Porcini Mushrooms and Marscapone Cheese. Don't forget, that y'all are welcome to join in our virtual supper with the blog hop! Y'all enjoy~ Sandi

Wedding Bell Blues

I can't believe it is Monday. What happened to Saturday and Sunday? This weekend has actually flown by. I haven't had the chance to download photos and of course we will have a ton of photos once they come in. I'll give another peek here. When you have a small destination wedding... it is only successful by the help of friends. All of my closest friends were there to give me support and to wish Brooke and Brad well. To say thank you is never enough. ~ But then again, Thank you is not needed. We would do it for each other any day. I love y'all! Don't forget to check in at Smiling Sally for more blues. Y'all enjoy~ Sandi

Friday's Favorites ~ Buckets of Fun!

For the wedding weekend we had guest buckets for everyone. Since this is a 'destination' wedding for all of our guests, we wanted them to feel welcome. What could be better than sand buckets full of fun things for the beach. Sunscreen and bubble guns, as well as a few Southern munchies. I also included a brochure with some fun facts about this area, and our local Favorites. I loved the spot for me to attach a Florida Lotto ticket~ Can you read the fine print? 50% of the winnings goes tothe bride and groom ~ Wish us luck ;-)

What is your favorite today?

Y'all join in the linky party~

Sandi