Monday, May 23, 2011

Memorial Day Weekend Food!!!!!!! Yum!

Dear Readers,
Wooohooooooo!!!!!!!!Memorial Day Weekend Approaches!!!!!!!!!!!!
Memorial day weekend aka (Summer kick-off weekend) marks our entry into BBQ, beach, and fun-in-the-sun season :)
Given that I ♥ food, fun, and sun... I want to share an assortment of BBQ receipes that are perfect for this weekend and the rest of the summer. Enjoy!



Tomato Basil Grilled Bruschetta 

Ingredients

4 ripe medium tomatoes, diced

4 leaves basil, chopped

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

1 clove garlic, thinly sliced

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Instructions

In a medium bowl, mix tomatoes, basil, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Spoon onto bruschettas and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil


Ingredients

4 cups water

3/4 pound wax beans, trimmed

3/4 pound green beans, trimmed

2 cups chopped tomato

1 tablespoon sherry vinegar

2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil

1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled feta cheese

Instructions

Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Cook the beans in boiling water for 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and rinse with cold water; drain.

Combine tomato and next 4 ingredients (through pepper) in a bowl. Divide beans evenly among 8 plates. Top each serving with 1/4 cup tomato mixture. Sprinkle each serving with 1 tablespoon sliced basil and 1 tablespoon cheese



Grilled Swordfish Kabobs
Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds swordfish steaks, about 1 inch thick, cut into 1-inch cubes

About 30 bay leaves

4 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup dry bread crumbs

2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper

Instructions

Light the grill. Thread the fish cubes between bay leaves onto four large skewers. Put the kabobs on a plate and brush with oil.

On a large plate, mix the bread crumbs, parsley, salt, and pepper. Pat the crumb mixture onto the exposed sides of the fish. Drizzle with the oil.

Grill the kabobs over low to moderately low heat or broil them, brushing with the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, until the bread crumbs are golden and the fish is just done, 8 to 10 minutes.



Grilled Peaches with Ice Cream
Ingredients
2 tablespoons light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

4 fresh peaches

grapeseed oil (or vegetable oil)

vanilla ice cream
Instructions

In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon.

Cut peaches along the seam all the way around and twist halves off the pit. Brush cut sides with grapeseed oil or vegetable oil. Cook, cut side down, on a hot grill until fruit has grill marks, 3 to 4 minutes.

Brush tops with oil, turn over, and move to indirect heat. Sprinkle cut sides with cinnamon sugar. Cover grill and cook until sugar is melted and fruit is tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

Serve with vanilla ice cream (sprinkle on extra cinnamon sugar if you like)





Leave us a comment with your memorial day weekend plans :)
Green and Yellow Bean Salad with Feta

Monday, May 16, 2011

Shout out to all the teachers!

Hello Readers!


This month being Teacher appreciation month, I want to send a special shot out to teachers everywhere. Hey hey hey!


Teaching is an art that is hard to master and rarely appreciated. However, I believe that teaching

and education of others is a truly joyous gift that is so crucial to the development of our youth and

evolution of the adult population. To properly impart knowledge on to another individual involves

much more than being knowledgeable. Really and truly a real instructor must understand how to

engage their students in the new subject matter and cement it in their memory. No easy matter!

Furthermore, the success of one’s teaching is intricately related to that individual’s personal

investment. Frequently, teachers lack the recognition deserved them and instead struggle with

the complaints of a voluminous few. Given their critical role in the development of our society’s

intellect, I have always been surprised by this under-appreciation. With the economic recession

and consequential budget cuts, the education situation has progressively deteriorated. Recent

California propositions could potentially result in 7000 employees in the Los Angeles School

District. Classrooms are already overcrowded and recurrently fail to provide the special attention

that is needed to properly educate our youth. Please read more in this week’s LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-teachers-protest-20110514,0,2449075.story

A great teacher is hard to find and I am certain that most of us have a recollect a select few in

our lifetimes. It seems limited funding and lack of attention is an unlikely way to increases their

occurrence.

Please celebrate teachers appreciation week by voicing your support in one way or another and

fight the current budget cut propositions.

In appreciation,

-Holly-

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Special Mother's Day Rememberance and Breast Cancer Spotlight

Hello dear readers,




This week I bring you a topic of great personal importance. May 7th marks the date of Revlon’s EIF’s Revlon Run/Walk For Women. This fundraiser which was instated in 1972 benefits the sufferers of breast cancer and the research of of the illness. Programs include counseling, outreach, and general assistance for those that bear the burde pf breat cancer.



My own Grandma struggled with breast cancer and eventually perished due to the disease. Observing chemo and the aftermath was heart-wrenching and very painful to encounter. The difficulties of her treatment were ameliorated tremendously with the support of foundations like Revlon Run/Walk and ACS,



Given her inability to drive, cab vouchers and grocery delivery were provided. As her hair fell off wigs were made available and resources to cope with the grief/ There is a certain inexpressible value women place on their hair and breasts. These elements are an extension the person and ingrained into their concept of self. Consider the pain of having a fatal disease in addition to a lack of consistency in one’s self-image and the resulting grief that occurs.



My Grandmother dealt with all of these struggles and still managed to joke with me on the way to chemo that “we better hurry, so we could make it the bar.”’ Would she have maintained that positive spirit without the support of beneficiary groups? I am uncertain. Nonetheless, I want to express my personal and the company’s commendation for their efforts and assistance provided. Also, I would encourage you to give your support via donation or participation int the Revlon Run/Walk.



Please visit their website http://do.eifoundation.org/site/TR?fr_id=1041&pg=entry and get started J



In the meantime be well, live well, and experience fully,.experience fully.



Your Blogger,



-Holly-