Favorite Ingredient Friday - Side Dish Edition (Zucchini & Corn Salad)

Both zucchini and sweet corn are in season right now, so I thought I would share something that included both of those great (and versatile) vegetables. Hope you like it!

Zucchini & Corn Salad

• 4 slices bacon
• 2 cups zucchini, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels
• 1 small onion, chopped
• salt, pepper and garlic powder, to taste
• 1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:

1. Cook bacon in a skillet and Reserve 1 tablespoon of drippings.
2. Drain bacon, chop, and set aside.
3. Heat the bacon drippings in the skillet over medium heat.
4. Sauté the zucchini, corn, and onion until tender but still crisp, about 10 minutes.
5. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste.
6. Spoon vegetables into a bowl, and sprinkle with chopped bacon and shredded cheese.

Here is a picture of the first time that I made it (before I put the cheese on it). I had way more corn than I thought I had, but it was really good and everyone enjoyed it!

Enjoy!

Bargain Bridal Shower was a Hit (but not to my pocketbook)!

Ok, so remember a couple of weeks ago, when I told you guys that I was giving a Bridal Shower for my best friend? Well, it was weekend before last (I couldn't find my camera cord until today, to load pictures), and I wanted to let you all know how it went. Well, here are some pictures so you can see for yourself.

The cake! Chocolate cake with fondant icing (by yours truly).

My gift and the "hostess" gift! I love the bright colors.

All the cute little favor boxes!

Since it was a bar shower, I tried to stick to the theme - inside we have beer nuts, beer salt and single serving margarita mixes (just add a shot of tequila and a 3/4 cup of water)!

All together - I tried to keep the colors all the same (to match the invitations).

The dollar store I went to was ghetto and you couldn't buy regular balloons and blow them up, you had to buy mylar ballons and these are the only ones that they had that didn't say "Happy Birthday" or "Get Well Soon"! Nonetheless, here is the gift table.

A shot of our table, as people were first arriving. We were in a private room, which turned out to be very nice!

As you can see - she got a lot of gifts (most of them too big for the table). This is the honoree, Elizabeth.

Liz with two of her cousins and her little sister, before everyone arrived.

Here is the group (minus me, I'm behind the camera). Lots of great girls - old and new friends, co-workers and family! No one better to celebrate with.

My goal was to do this shower for $100. I totaled everything up and guess what - I made it! I did the whole thing for $98.83. Seriously! I already showed you how I did the invitations and that cost me $7.22. I had enough cards left over, when I got through printing that I was able to run the left overs through the printer and address them (again), so that she could use them for thank you notes, and they would match (and save her some time)! So that's invitations and thank you notes for $7.22. We sent out 16 invitations and 10 people came, so that makes both the invitations and thank you cards approximately .27 cents each! Then, I was able to make the cake for $17.03 (that is counting my ingredients - I make from scratch), and what it cost me to get the fondant (I was lazy and bought it instead of making my own which would have been so much cheaper), and I already had the colors, so I didn't have to pay for that. I did find the flowers (which were artificial) on sale for half off, which helped. Then I got the balloons at the dollar store for $5.41 I had already picked up the favor boxes and my gift bags and tissue, a couple of weeks ago, so all I needed to do was get the stuff for the boxes. While I was at Spec's picking up her gift, I was able to get beer nuts, individual packages of beer salt, and individual margarita mixes all for $12.63.

Since we ate at a restaurant, everyone paid for their own meal. I paid for mine, and the honoree, and with the tip, it was $40 even.

So, add that up (I will wait, while you get the calculator).

$23.76 (Invitations, thank yous, postage, gift bags, tissue paper, colored paper and favor boxes)

$17.03 (Cake)

$5.41 (Balloons)

$12.63 (Favors)

$40.00 (Lunch)

Comes to $98.83!

I don't count her presents in there, because I would have bought those regardless of if I gave the party or someone else did. If you want to get picky - put it in there and its ALL less than $150!

What a bargain!

What a Bargain!

Fall is my absolute favorite season and I love to bake, so when I went into Williams Sonoma and saw the large pumpkin pan, I fell in love. Then I ran into Sur La Table and saw this, and was even more in love. But, my growing frugality won and I didn't buy either (much to my husband's surprise). I check both stores websites often, for sales - you know, just in case and guess what? I found the darling mini-pumpkin pan at Sur La Table was on sale (clearance, rather) for $4.99! Yes, you read that right! It was originally $30 and now it's only $4.99! So, I did what any other woman would do - I ran to my car to grab my purse (I know, I know) and I ordered that thing! I can't wait until it comes in. The only part that sucks is waiting until fall to use it!

Aren't those little pumpkin cakes it makes, just adorable?

Favorite Ingredient Friday (Peanut Butter Pie)

Last weekend, I was watching Semi Homemade with Sandra Lee (who I think is fabulous for no other reason than she makes a cocktail on every episode)! She made a Peanut Butter Pie that one of her viewers sent her the recipe for. My husband drooled, so I decided to make it for him while he was at work. End result - a very easy and delicious pie and a very happy husband!

Peanut Butter Pie

• Pre-made Oreo pie shell
• 1 cup of powdered sugar
• ½ cup of peanut butter
• ¼ cup of milk
• 8 ounces of cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• (8 ounce) container of cool whip, thawed
• Magic Shell ice cream topping Directions: Mix all ingredients (except the cool whip) together in bowl until everything is well incorporated. Gradually fold in thawed cool whip. Pour into the pre-made pie shell. Freeze for about 10-15 minutes. Take out and take the Magic Shell topping and drizzle it over the top of the pie and stick it back in the fridge until time to serve.
• Ok, so the recipe actually says to initially freeze for 2 hours, but seriously - it comes out the same as if you freeze it for 15 minutes. Once its in there for awhile - you can't even cut the damn thing!

Enjoy!

Will You Accept This Rose? Oh wait, nevermind, can I have it back? I meant to give it to her!

Ok, so most of you have watched The Bachelor, After the Final Rose by now, so you know that Jason broke Melissa’s heart. First of all, this makes me mad because I was rooting for Melissa. I really liked her. She seemed like a really great, down-to-earth girl from TEXAS, so of course – she had my vote. Up until Monday night, she had Jason’s too. Then, on national television – he broke up with her and asked Molly (the girl he didn’t pick at the last rose ceremony) for a second chance. Melissa gave him the ring back and called him a bastard (which I think he deserved), and after the commercial, he is will Molly and life is great again. I have many issues about this whole situation, but my biggest problem is that he apparently “fell in love” with two different women, at the same time. Which, I have major issues with. I mean, I fell in love with my now-husband very quickly – I knew after about a month and a half – so I can get with you on the fast-paced romance. What I don’t understand is feeling those strong feelings for two people at the same time. Once I fell for Darren that was it. There was no thinking about other people, wondering about other men, etc. I was in love with him, and that was it!

My second issue is, after he let Molly go and cried about losing her – he gets down on one knee and proposes to Melissa! For arguments sake, let’s say that he was that conflicted – why the hell did he propose? He could have just picked her and they could have seen how things went! Ok, I am a big believer in following your heart and that it doesn’t always end up how you think it will, or how you plan it to. I also understand in the mix of all of that, sometimes people get hurt. That’s almost always unavoidable, as much as I hate it. I can even deal with that – what I can’t deal with is doing it on National television and then picking your “runner-up” five minutes later and acting like you just didn’t make a complete freaking idiot of yourself and break someone’s heart!

Then I got to thinking – why is it ok for him to propose to Melissa, then break her heart and dump her on national television, get the ring back and then go for girl number 2 in all of half an hour, and it’s not okay for Brad Womack not to pick either girl! At least he was up front and said that he didn’t love either one of them enough to marry them! There was no leading on or proposals and promises of forever – he knew he couldn’t give them that and he told them that – up front! So, he is shunned and everyone thinks he is the biggest jerk in the world and they let Deanna bad mouth him all over the place, but Jason is a saint? I don’t quite understand that one! As much as I am upset about what became of Melissa and Jason and the way things were handled – I am quite sure I will be tuning in on May 18th to watch the premiere of The Bachelorette! I mean, how cute is Jillian?

Favorite Ingredient Friday - Pizza Edition (Dessert Pizza)

Dessert Pizza

• 1 (18 ounce) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup sliced banana
• ½ cup sliced fresh strawberries
• ½ cup sliced kiwi
• ½ cup mandarin oranges

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Press cookie dough evenly into a giant cookie pan (or a 12” pizza pan).
3. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
4. Cool in pan on wire rack.
5. Mix together cream cheese and thawed cool whip and spread over the crust.
6. Arrange fruit in a decorative pattern.
7. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

The first time I made this, I was in high school in a Nutrition class, since then - I have seen about 50 different variations, but they are all basically the same recipe. This is quick, easy and very versatile! You can use all different types of fruit – whatever your family likes, or whatever is in season. Think about using raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, honey dew melon, pineapple, and apples (to name a few). Use as many or as few different types of fruit as you like! You can even mix some fruit preserves into your cream cheese/cool whip mixture for some added flavor and color or you can sprinkle shredded coconut over the mixture, before you put your fruit on. There are so many ways to make this and all of them are delicious! Also, this is a great in-the-kitchen activity with your kids. Bake the cookie and cut up the fruit, and once it the cookie cools, you can let them do the rest! They will have a blast decorating and arranging the fruit.

I don't have a picture of my own, but I found this picture on line, to give you an example:

Beautiful and delicious! Does it get any better than that?

It's Cookie Time!

Ok, so most of you have seen them - those little girls in green - hiding out at every grocery store and post office entrance and at every Wal-Mart in America. They are everywhere! You can't escape them (not that we try really hard to anyway). You know who I mean - the little Girl Scouts. So, you know what that means...It's Cookie Time! As a former "little girl in green", I have to remind everyone what a great organization you are supporting when you are buying girl scout cookies. The Girl Scouts of America were founded in 1912 with the purpose of bringing girls out of their homes and into their community, with other young girls. The organization promotes community service while helping to build courage, confidnce and character. The Girl Scouts help build self-reliant, motivated young women that are active in their homes and in their communities and work toward building a better world. Examples of such women? You probably know a few personally, but some of the more "famous" girls grew into great women with household names. Some of those women include: Barbara Walters of 20/20; singers, Natalie Merchant , Dionne Warwick and Sheryl Crow; political namesakes, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Reagan; former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright; Astronaut, Jan Davis; Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Sandra Day O'Connor, and actresses such as Debbie Reynolds, Blythe Danner, Mary Tyler Moore, Kathleen Turner and Candace Bergen. And these are just the famous women! So, the next time you see these bright young faces - make sure you stop and tell them how great they are doing - and buy some cookies! I remember very cleary our ENTIRE dining room filled with boxes, and boxes, and boxes of cookies. We would call up all of our relatives, neighbors, friends, my parents co-workers and we too stood outside of your grocery store - to make sure we sold enough cookies to make enough money to get us through the year! So give in - you know you want to anyway! They are only $3.50 a box! To find girls selling them in your area, go to the Cookie Site. They come in all these delicious flavors (as if you don't already know them all): Thin Mints: The most enduring and universally familiar Girl Scout cookie. These round, mint-flavored cookies covered with dark chocolate perennially sell the most boxes of any cookie. Thin Mints have never changed their name. Little Brownie Bakers and ABC Bakers both make Thin Mints. Do-Si-Dos® or Peanut Butter Sandwich: A sandwich cookie. The round, bumpy perforated oatmeal cookie top and bottom surrounds a peanut butter-flavored layer inside. Do-Si-Dos® (formerly Gauchos) are baked by Little Brownie Bakers. ABC Bakers calls them Peanut Butter Sandwiches. Trefoils or Shortbread: These shortbread cookies are shaped like the Girl Scout Trefoil design. Scot Teas were a similar, lighter sugar cookie made by the now defunct Burry. These cookies come in a blue box. Little Brownie Bakers calls them Trefoils; ABC Bakers call them Shortbread. Tagalongs® or Peanut Butter Patties®: These are round cookies with a layer of peanut butter on top, and covered in chocolate. These cookies come in a red box. Little Brownie Bakers calls them Tagalongs®; ABC Bakers call them Peanut Butter Patties®. Samoas® or Caramel deLites®: These are round doughnut-shaped cookies about two inches in diameter with a hole in the center, covered in caramel and toasted coconut, and then striped with chocolate. Samoas® are made by Little Brownie Bakers. The ABC version is called Caramel deLites®. Daisy Go Rounds™: Reduced Fat Daisy Go Rounds™ make it easy to snack by doing the calorie counting for you! Each carton contains five ready-to-grab-and-go snack packs full of crispy cinnamon flowers blooming with flavor in every bite; they are made by ABC Bakers. Thanks-A-Lot™: A shortbread cookie with a layer of fudge on the bottom and the words "Thank You" in English, French, Chinese, Swahili or Spanish embossed on the top. Thanks-A-Lots™ have been made by ABC Bakers since 2006 and were preceded by a similar cookie called the Animal Treasure. Lemon Chalet Cremes™: Featuring a design of Our Chalet in Switzerland, a beloved Girl Scout World Center, this sandwich cookie has a touch of cinnamon-ginger spice that evokes the warmth of a fireside chat on a snowy evening; they are made by Little Brownie Bakers. Sugar Free Chocolate Chips: With Sugar Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, those who need or prefer sugar free products have a new way to support Girl Scouting — and a scrumptious new snack at bedtime, or any time! They are made by Little Brownie Bakers. Dulce de Leche: New for 2009, and inspired by the classic confections of Latin America, these sweet, indulgent cookies are rich with milk caramel chips and stripes. They come in a turquoise box, and are made by Little Brownie Bakers. Lemonades™: Introduced in 2006, these shortbread cookies are stamped in the shape of a sliced lemon with a tangy lemon icing. They are made by ABC Bakers and come in a yellow box. The Samoas (my favorite) and the shortbreads (Darren's favorite) have already made an appearance in our house!