Category — Holiday

Happy 4th to you and your family! I found this awesome graphic of “The 4th of July by the Numbers” on Pinterest. I know that it is difficult to read, you can use the link at the bottom of the post to go directly to the source.

There are so many cool facts… for instance, the first one you can’t make out here says, “The Continental Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776, but didn’t approve the declaration until the 4th.”

My favorite fact? “On the Fourth of July Americans eat 150 million hot dogs, enough to stretch from D.C. to L.A. more than Five Times!”

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The 4th of July is two weeks from today. It’s not too soon to start planning the menu for your party or the dish that you plan to bring to that party you’re invited to.

Even if the “party” is just you and the kids waving around sparklers in your backyard, you need some fun festive food.

I’ve got just the thing for you.

I am in the middle of a week-long set of private cooking classes. We made a super simple Fruit Flag for dessert. Obviously, no recipe is needed!!

Skewers + Strawberries, Blueberries & Bananas = USA Flag

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The meat from these baby back ribs is fall-off-the-bone tender and oh so flavorful!

Dave requested vinegar-based ribs as his Father’s Day main course. Done! Although the ribs were delish, they weren’t the best part of Father’s Day.

On the Thursday night before, I received a text from my sister-in-law, Teresa, saying that she was on her way to town for an unexpected visit.

Teresa and my older brother divorced over 20 years ago, but she and I have always been close… since high school actually. She and my four nephews moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho some 19 years ago. Sadly, we rarely see each other.

My dad gets up to Idaho to see his grandsons and Teresa every couple of years, but we haven’t been there since 2003.

Teresa wanted to know if she should call Dad or if I thought she should surprise him on Father’s Day instead.

Surprise, of course!

So Teresa, her sister Jennifer, and their mom, Judy, walked in about a half-hour before dinner and surprised Dad. He was overjoyed and has been talking about it every day since. There is nothing better than seeing and catching up with family!

Jen, Judy, and Teresa are pictured above. Love them! xoxo

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This is a healthy, refreshing and easy-to-make summer salad, and a great way to use up some of the zucchini bounty from your garden.

It served as one of our side dishes for Father’s Day dinner on Sunday.

Carpaccio is the international name of a typical Italian dish made with very thinly sliced raw meat.

Nowadays the term carpaccio is used for any preparation made with thinly sliced raw meat, fish, vegetables or fruit.

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Yesterday morning, Connor pitched in to help me make a simple Father’s Day breakfast for his dad.

I was already working on an early afternoon dinner for 8, so I didn’t want it to be some big elaborate morning meal. These pancakes are about as light and fluffy as it gets.

Plus, with the two of us working together, it was a breeze to get on the table in less than 20 minutes.

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Happy Father’s Day…

… to all of you wonderful dad’s out there.

Photo: Me with my dad, Gene Otter, on our way to a family wedding in 1986.

Especially big wishes for a super-duper day to my own dad and my husband, Dave.

January 1988 photo of us at Marissa’s baptism.

Dad with his eight grandchildren in 1992, on Connor’s first birthday. Standing: Benjamin, Joel, and David. Sitting on chaise: Marissa, Dad, Connor, and Raina. Sitting on cool deck: Race and Jeremy.

Dad and me making Christmas dinner in 1996.

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When we left for Hawaii on May 22, the peaches on my tree looked as if they would be ripe any day.

Connor would be coming home on the weekends while we were away and Marissa was home one short weekend for the wedding shower of her college roommate, Paige.

The wedding is in August and Marissa is a bridesmaid.

I told both the kids and my dad to keep an eye on the peaches and to please please please pick and eat them. I hated the thought of the luscious fruit going to waste.

If not picked, they’d either fall off the tree and rot or more likely, the bugs would get to them as soon as they ripened. The idea of it made my stomach actually ache.

When we arrived home on June 3rd, surprisingly there were still peaches on the tree! My dad said that they were always hard as rocks when he checked and I never did remember to ask the kids if they had any.

The little fruit flies, gnats, or whatever those nasty little bugs are, had already been to work on more than 2 dozen of the peaches, but I was able to pick a decent boxful! Joy!

I made a delicious Peachy-Chicken entree one night (coming soon to a post near you) and today I am using the last of the peaches for this dessert.

It’s a partially-make-ahead dish. I’m starting it today and we will be enjoying it on Sunday for Father’s Day.

Of course, I had to make one serving from start to finish so I could photograph and post it for you today.

The things I do and the sacrifices I make for you people!

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A very happy Mother’s Day to each of you Moms out there and special wishes to my mom, my mother-in-law, and my sister!

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¸.•*¨ A Mother’s Day Playlist for Mom!¨*•.¸¸ ¸.•*¨`*¸.•*¨`*¸.•*¨`*•¸.•*¨`*•…•*¨*•.¸¸

Mother and Child Reunion
Paul Simon
 
A Mother’s Prayer
Celine Dion
 
To My Mama
Bow Wow featuring Amerie
 
The Wind Beneath My Wings
Bette Midler
 
Teach Your Children
Crosby, Stills, and Nash
 
Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston
 
In My Life
The Beatles
 
Dear Mama
2Pac
 
Hey Mama
Kanye West
 
Oh Mother of Mine
The Temptations
 
The Long and Winding Road
Paul McCartney
 
The Perfect Fan
Backstreet Boys
 
Mama
Spice Girls

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Wishing each and every one of you a joyous weekend!

And for those of you celebrating Mother’s Day, may it be wonderful. Hallmark holiday, or not… You deserve it.

I’ll be spending mine with my son and husband and missing my daughter, but knowing that I am in her heart.

I know this because she always goes out of her way to make sure I know and feel it.

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These shrimp are not only perfect for Cinco de Mayo but equally so for a quick weeknight meal or a big party.

We’re looking forward to going to the James’ annual Cinco de Mayo party tonight! See you soon, Lisa! Eieieiei Ariba!

Guajillo [gwah-HEE-yoh] chiles are dried peppers with a bright tangy taste and kick of heat. Find them in the grocery store alongside the other Hispanic ingredients.

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