Pre-Workout Caramel Apple Smoothie #BacktoSchoolTreats

I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the #BacktoSchoolTreats week recipes. All opinions are mine alone. 

I loved having my teen home this summer.  We got to spend time getting to know each other better as we adjusted to our new normal of being a family.  But I am looking forward to the new school year as is she.  She feel more settled now and ready to concentrate on school rather than being the "new" kid.

I am looking forward to getting back into my routine of hitting the gym three mornings a week.  One of my favorite ways to take care of myself is to get my nutrition in before my exercise with a smoothie.  They are quick, portable and give me enough energy to power through even the toughest workout.

This smoothie contains a whole apple for fiber, Greek yogurt for protein, and Torani syrups for flavoring.  It is like enjoying a caramel apple on your way to the gym.  That is a wonderful way to start your day.

Cheesecake Truffles #NationalCheesecakeDay

All your favorite Cheesecake flavors in chocolate dipped bite size nuggets.

Welcome to National Cheesecake Day.......

Celebrating #BacktoSchoolTreats with Chocolate Malt Waffles

I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the #BacktoSchoolTreats week recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

Wow, it is hard to believe that summer is nearly over and the school year is upon us. Here in Michigan the kids don't return to school until after Labor Day. In other parts of the country they are returning to school next month. There is a wonderful group of bloggers that are sharing #BacktoSchoolTreats all week long.

I am starting off with a wonderful, filling breakfast that your kids are sure to love. Chocolate malt Waffles studded with chocolate chips and sprinkled with powdered sugar. You can sit down and enjoy a family meal or, if your family is like mine, the kids can grab a waffle and eat while being driven to school. Either way, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that their stomachs are full and their brains are ready to soak in all the teachers have to offer.

Welcome to the first day of Back to School Treats Week.......

Israeli Sticky Wings #ChickenWingDay

This simple Middle Eastern marinade of lemon and olive oil makes a delicious platter of sticky wings that your guests will gobble up in no time.

Welcome to Festive Foodies.  We are celebrating National Chicken Wing Day......

Sourdough Oatmeal Raisin Muffins #MuffinMonday

The fresh tang of sourdough combines with the heartiness of oats and the sweetness of raisins for a muffin so delicious and moist you won't want to stop at one.

It is Muffin Monday and what a great lineup today........

Chocolate Fudge Raspberry Bars #OurFamilyTable

Chewy, fudgy and delicious, these bars are topped with a chocolate ganache and then finished with fresh raspberries.  It is a decadent and lovely dessert.

We are sharing Chocolate Recipes today with the From our Dinner Table group......

Summer Spaghetti Salad and The Weekly Menu

Summertime in this household means lots of entertaining.  This is especially true during the month of July when my brother and his family come in to visit from California.  Luckily vegetables are abundant during the summer and my refrigerator is filled with finds from Farmer's Markets and Roadside stands.

This year, however, we had a very crappy June and our local produce is late getting to the markets. Nearly constant rain and below average temperatures this Spring wreaked havoc on our farmers and their crops.

That didn't stop me from making this Spaghetti Salad using what summertime veggies I had on hand.

Filled with seasonal vegetables and dressed with a store bought robust Italian, this salad can feed a crowd and is ready in minutes.

Roasted Beets and Turnips #FoodnFlix #LitHappens

Turnips are often overlooked as a stand alone vegetable. Roasted Turnips are wonderfully delicious.  In this dish I paired them with Roasted Beets, both of which were wrapped in foil and roasted on the grill for a summertime side dish.

I was inspired to make this dish after reading and watching The Guernsey Literary Guild and Potato Peel Pie Society......

July is flying by but here is the Weekly Menu

What an absolutely whirlwind month we have had.  I'm not complaining.  I love having a house full of company and the chaos that ensues.  But, I must admit, I had a bit of a melt down yesterday while at the Tigers game to surprise our friend Chet with a birthday celebration.

I was suffering a headache, I had these 3 darlings all clamoring for something different, I was hangry and feeling jostled by the crowd.  I had a small meltdown which Frank recognized immediately and graciously took over with some of the requests being thrown at me.  We all went into the restaurant to meet up with the Birthday Party gang and had some lunch which helped immensely.  We got to see a lot of people who we don't get to see near often enough and the tigers WON in overtime.  It ended up being a great day.

This crazy weekend started with a funeral for Frank's cousin on Saturday morning after which we picked up the Angel Face for her 2 week stay while Mama is in France and went directly to a graduation party.  It was HOT and muggy.  When we got home from the party, my brother Dick and his family were all here, visiting our brother. Larry and his family who are staying with us for the month.

Luckily we had planned on spaghetti for dinner and that can be stretched to feed as many as you need.  Frank made the spaghetti while I lounged in the pool with everyone and then, rejuvenated, I came into the house, threw together a salad, cut up some bread and dinner was served.

Yesterday we stopped and picked up carryout on the way home from the game.  Mary is leaving this morning to spend some time with her sisters for a few days.  Tomorrow our sister, Dawn, is having an impromptu get together for the family as her middle son, Jake, is moving back to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan from Florida where he had moved for his job. 

Wednesday, Mary will be back home. She has lunch plans with friends and I have food pantry.  We are meeting her cousins for dinner at a local restaurant. 

So it is a short menu this week but I still wanted to share it with you today.

Saturday

Spaghetti

Salad

Sunday

Carry out Chicken and Ribs

Monday

Steak with Mango and Jalapenos

Baked Potatoes

Broccoli

Tuesday-Dinner at Dawn's

Shortbread Skillet

Cheesecake Truffles

Peach and Nectarine Pie

Wednesday

Out for dinner

Thursday

Bratwurst and Blaukraut Sandwiches

Potato Salad

Macaroni Salad

Fish Friday

Grilled Salmon Packets

Meatloaf Burgers #OurFamilyTable

You don't have to wait for oven weather to enjoy the wonderful, comforting flavors of Meatloaf.  You can cook your meatloaf mixture up on the grill and enjoy it as a burger.  YUMMO!!

The From Our Dinner Table group is sharing Bodacious Burgers today.....

Summer Veggie Chili #SoupSaturdaySwappers

Chock full of your favorite summer vegetables this delicious chili is quick to make and makes an amazing Meatless Monday meal.  Delete the toppings and you have a perfect vegan meal.

Welcome to Soup Saturday Swappers...........

Cake for Breakfast? Why yes, please. #CakeSliceBakers

The next time you are out to super impress somebody invite them over for brunch and serve up this amazingly awesome Strawberries and Cream Crepe Cake.  It's perfect for dessert as well but nobody is expecting something this fantastic on the brunch table!!

This is one of four selections chosen for this months Cake Slice Bakers.......

Blueberry Sourdough Coffee Cake #BlueberryWeek

Tender sourdough coffee cake studded with fresh blueberries and covered with a delicious crumbly topping.  Excellent for breakfast, dessert or anytime you want to relax and pamper yourself.

Today is the final day of Blueberry Week........

Provencal Shrimp and Veggies in Foil #FishFridayFoodies

Colorful, healthy, nutritious and delicious, this easy one packet dinner is ready in minutes.  Gorgeous to look at and even better to eat!!

We are celebrating Grilled Fish/Seafood this month with the Fish Friday Foodies......

Korean Pork Tenderloin with Cab Franc from Saumur #Winophiles

When Cam of Culinary Adventures with Camilla asked the members of the French Winophiles to visit Anjou/Saumer and sample their wines, food and culture I immediately started researching the options.

I spoke with an agent over at Wine.com and explained that I was looking for a wine from the region.  I told her that we prefer dry red wines and she recommended two of them.  I bought both but have only opened the Chateau du Hureau, a Saumer-Champigny Tuffe that I will be sharing with you today.

Fresh Strawberry Bundt #BundtBakers

This moist, lemony Bundt cake is studded with fresh strawberries and topped with a lemony strawberry glaze.

We are celebrating summer fruits this month with our Bundt Bakers group........

Ice Cream Pie with Raspberry Swirl #FantasticalFoodFight

Rich, creamy, tangy and sweet.  This Ice Cream pie is well worth all the steps when you see the smile on faces when you serve it up.

We are having a Fantastical Ice Cream Food Fight today........

Blueberry Thyme Tequila Smash #BlueberryWeek

This Smash cocktail is a simple concoction of liquor, fruit, sugar and thyme.  It is perfect for enjoying during these dog days of summer.

Welcome to Day 2 of Blueberry Week.........

Grilled Chicken Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette #BlueberryWeek

This delicious main dish salad of mixed greens tossed with fresh blueberries, peaches, cucumbers, cheese, dried cranberries and candied greens is topped with citrus marinated grilled chicken breasts and drizzled with a homemade blueberry vinaigrette.

The Festive Foodies are celebrating Blueberries all week long.......

Watermelon Ice Cream Slices #OurFamilyTable

Wow your guests with this creamy delicious watermelon ice cream served up in a watermelon shell.

We are celebrating National Ice Cream month with the members of the From Our Dinner Table group......

Summer Entertaining and the Weekly Menu

Since we got home from vacation on Sunday evening we have had company for dinner 4 times.  This means last weeks menu was rearranged a lot.  We have had lots of good eats, good drinks and good times.  Today, though, we have nothing on the schedule. I think it will be a lie around in the pool and relax day......

I have no idea who this little cutie is but I LOVE this image I found on google.

Frank and Larry are working on getting the new refrigerator to fit properly. They have been removing cupboards and walls.  Then when that didn't work they had to put everything back.  I don't know how we are going to fix this.  The refrigerator fits in the space perfectly but it abuts up to a wall and you cannot open the freezer.  I have some recommendations but I think I will have to wait a few days for Frank to calm down before I suggest them.

I have leftover steaks from our dinner party on Thursday.  I am going to use them in a beef stroganoff for dinner tonight.

My niece came over for dinner last night so I made up the pulled pork that was planned for last Tuesday. Tuesday I ended up making chicken pitas.  We are going to go out for dinner tomorrow night now since we ate home Friday.

I am celebrating several events on the blog this week so stay tuned for some amazing recipes each day.  My menu is apt to change according to who happens to be around at dinner time. July is always a crazy month but I still make up my Weekly Menu to try to keep some semblance of sanity to my life.

Saturday
Beef Stroganoff (using leftover steak)
Egg Noodles
Glazed Carrots

Sunday
Out for Dinner

Meatless Monday
Caesar Salad
Spinach and Cheese Ravioli

Tuesday
Pulled Pork Quesadillas (using leftover pulled pork)
Beans and Rice

Wednesday
Chicken Kebabs

Thursday
Hamburgers
Baked Beans
Cole Slaw

Fish Friday
Grilled Shrimp Salad

Our Favorite BBQ Ribs with LAN Rioja #WinePW

When Jeff of FoodWineClick sent the invitation out asking us to join him in a Rioja and BBQ celebration I was very excited.  There is nothing better than relaxing around the pool with a BBQ meal and glass of wine.

This event was made even sweeter by the fact that it was sponsored by Bodegas LAN who sent several of us, including me, some lovely bottles of wine.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are purely my own.

Grilled Asian Mahi Mahi with Kiwi Pineapple Salsa #ImprovCookingChallenge

Meaty, tender Mahi Mahi fillet slathered in Asian Flavors, grilled to perfection and served with a sweet tropical Kiwi Pineapple Salsa.

Welcome to the Improv Cooking Challenge.........

Lihapullat (Finnish Meatballs) #EattheWorld

These delicious Finnish Meatballs reminded me of Norwegian Meatballs with a deeper, darker gravy.  Very delicious and satisfying.  Comfort food at it's finest.

Join us as we visit Finland in our Eat the World challenge........

Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad #OurFamilyTable

If you are a deviled egg lover you are going to be crazy over this macaroni salad.  All the wonderful flavors of deviled eggs combined with pasta to make a salad that is perfectly portable and great for all your summer picnics.

The From Our Dinner Table Group is sharing Picnic Party Recipes today........

Heading Home and the Weekly Menu

This morning we are heading out towards home.  We will be stopping at our friends, the Sawyers, whom we haven't seen in far too long.  Keith Sawyer and Frank served together in Viet Nam.  They were best buds but lost track of each other shortly after the war.  They reconnected about 16 years ago and we try to see him and his darling wife, Kim, as often as we can.

Usually we get together every couple of years when we are driving through Pennsylvania or when they are in Michigan.  It is always a great treat and I'm excited to spend some time with them, even if it is only one night.

This is a photo of one of our previous visits.

We will head out towards home after breakfast.  I soothe myself knowing that I will see my Chuck in less than a year and we will see the Sawyers as time permits.  As much as I complain about social media, I am very grateful that I am able to keep in constant touch with those I love.  

When we get home we will be greeted by my brother, Larry, his wife, Mary and their grandson, Jack.  They arrived from California while we were on vacation.  They will be spending the month of July with us.

When we arrive home we will hit the ground running.  Our refrigerator died while we were out of town.  Luckily our friend, Karen, was there caring for the dogs and moved all of the perishables into the garage fridge and freezers.  God has blessed us with very dear friends. 

Good news this morning is that my brother worked on the refrigerator for us when he got there and it appears to be working again, fingers crossed.

We have a standing appointment with our trainer at the gym on Mondays but I think we will reschedule this week because the Teen has a job interview that morning as well. Frank has an eye doctor appointment in the afternoon.  

Tuesday we will get the Angel Face in the morning and she will stay with us overnight.  Thursday we have an orthodontist appointment and then I need to get over to the food pantry to stock some shelves.  

So here is my Weekly Menu.  We will be feeding, at the minimum, 3 more each day and you never know who else might pop by so I try to make meals that can be stretched and/or are great for leftovers while we have out of town guests.

Saturday

Dinner with Kim and Keith

Sunday

Dinner en route home

Monday

Grilled Chicken Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette

Tuesday

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Cole Slaw

Wednesday 

Grilled Hamburgers

Baked Beans

Potato Chips

Thursday

Pulled Pork Quesadillas (if there is leftover pork)

Fruit Salad

Friday

Out for Dinner

Summertime and the Living is Easy with Prosecco DOCG in my Glass #ItalianFWT

Before I left on vacation I was lucky enough to receive 3 lovely bottles of Prosecco DOCG!!  Tomorrow I, along with the rest of the Italian FWT group, will be sharing our thoughts on these sparkling, crisp wines.

These wines were arranged by Liz of What's in that Bottle and provided by Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Zone.  All opinions are strictly my own and I received no monetary compensation for this post.

This party is being hosted by Cam of Culinary Adventures with Camilla for our Italian FWT Group.  You will learn more at her Invitation Post.

Gettysburg and Virginia: Our First Four Days

So far this has been a lovely trip.  The weather has been HOT but the sun is shining and we have been doing our best to stay cool.

We arrived in Gettysburg early evening on Sunday.  Checked into our hotel which was lovely and then strolled around town before dinner at the Dobbin House which was a seminary/liberal arts college as well as the family home to the Dobbin family which consisted of 19 children.  This was also part of the underground railroad system and many slaves were hidden in a secret room before being secreted north.  After dinner we did a candlelight walking tour of the town and met some of the area ghosts who are said to haunt the area.

Beef and Watermelon Stir Fry #FoodieExtravaganza

Tender slices of sirloin steak marinaded in Asian flavors, stir fried with onions and sugar snap peas and then tossed with fresh watermelon slices.  This is an excellent summer dinner......

The Foodie Extravaganza team is celebrating Watermelon today........

Homemade Giardiniera

This spicy pickled vegetable mixture has Italian roots but is most popular from being served in restaurants throughout Chicago.  It is easy to put together. lasts for months in the refrigerator and is the perfect addition to sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers and even pizza.  It is also a wonderful addition to an appetizer platter or as a side salad for whatever you are serving up.

The Festive Foodies are celebrating all things pickled today................