MEMORIAL DAY PARTY

Here are a few simply scrumptious recipes from our buddies at The Food Network which will be the hit of any backyard party!

Have a happy and safe Memorial Day...and please remember the reason for the celebration. Visit www.twoblonds.blogspot.com for a quick reminder.

Grilled Appetizer

• Garlic-Mustard Grilled Beef Skewers
• Marinated Grilled Shrimp Cocktail
• Grilled Corn "Salsa" with Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
• Twice Grilled Peppers with Buffalo Mozzarella and Caper-Basil Vinaigrette

Grilled Entrees

• Cuban-style Burgers on the Grill
• Basil Grilled Chicken
• Grilled Swordfish with Lemon, Basil and Mint
• Grilled French Bread Pizza with Mushroom Pesto and Fontina Cheese

No-Cook Salads and Sides

• 5-Minute Goat Cheese and White Bean Salad
• Gazpacho
• Wonderful Waldorf Salad
• Corn, Avocado and Tomato Salad

Beachside or Backyard Clambake

• EatingWell's Clambake at Home
• Clam Bake Foil Pouches
• Clambake on the Beach
• Kitchen Clambake

Summer Sweets

• Watermelon Salad with Mint Vinaigrette
• Summer Pudding
• Lemon Curd Trifle with Fresh Berries
• Coconut Lime Pudding Cake

Breezy Beverages

• Long Island Green Tea
• Gin and Tonic Jellies
• Blackberry Lemonade
• Peach Iced Tea

Easy Ways to Get Your Yard Summer-Ready

Only a few weeks until the first official holiday of summer, Memorial Day. Now's the time to prepare your home for cookouts and get-to-gethers right in your own backyard.

Enjoy!

Dale


This year, make your outdoor haven everything you’ve dreamed it could be.

Which Deck Style Is Best for You?

Choose the Right Decking Material

Step-by-Step Patio Planning

10 Easy-to-Install Deck Tiles

Deck Maintenance 101

• How to Refinish Your Deck • Synthetic Decking 411 • Stain Removal Tips

Better Outdoor Living

• Build an Outdoor Fireplace • Relax by the Pool • Enjoy an Outdoor Room

Traditional St. Patrick's Day Food

If you are all about the traditional foods and themes of the holidays, then you will be excited about St. Patrick's Day celebrated on March 17.

Thanks to our friends at the Food Network for all this scrumptious collection of eats!

CLASSIC IRISH EATS

Celebrate the holiday with these traditional pub favorites that are more than just meat and potatoes.

Potato, Onion and Pea Champ
Colcannon
Smoked Salmon Hash with Dill Vinaigrette
Ten more classic Irish recipes >>

CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE

Although it's not Irish, this dish is a St. Patrick's Day tradition in America.

Our favorite Corned Beef and Cabbage
New England Boiled Dinner
Corned Beef and Cabbage Strudel with a Grain Mustard Sauce
Browse more recipes for corned beef >>












SIMPLE, HEARTY IRISH STEWS

Settle in on St. Patrick’s Day with one of Ireland's classic lamb stews.

Barley and Lamb Stew
Cabbage and Lamb Stew
Ballymaloe Irish Stew
Traditional Irish Stew the Bailey
Hearty stews your family will love >>













TRADITIONAL IRISH SODA BREAD

Easy, delicious and true to its name, Irish soda bread uses baking soda and buttermilk for its biscuit-like texture.

Oatmeal Soda Bread
Sweet Irish Soda Bread
Raisin-Caraway Soda Bread
Find more recipes for soda breads >>

SWEET IRISH ENDINGS

Celebrate St. Patrick with a delicious finish to your holiday meal.

Apple Oatmeal Crisp with Irish Whiskey Cream
Roscommon Rhubarb Pie
Oat Cake with Berry Compote and Clotted Cream
More Irish desserts >>

SIPS AND STOUTS

Sing an Irish folksong while you wash down your feast with a classic Irish drink.

Black Velvet
Irish Coffee
Black and Tan
Get 22 more Irish drinks >>

From the Kitchen of: TWO BLONDS & CO.

"Everything old is new again!" describes the kitchen appliance called the CROCK POT. Busy schedules and ease of preparation have brought back a traditional standby. Here are just a few of the hundreds of mouth-watering recipes we found to tempt the palate.

Our thanks to Better Recipes.com where you can enter to win $250.00 in prizes on their site.

Enjoy!

Pepper Chicken in Creamy Wine Sauce

Chicken thighs are cooked with red & yellow sweet peppers, onion, mushrooms, and a sauce made from cream soups and white wine

Chicken Athena

Chicken breasts, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, olives & dried

tomatoes are cooked in a crock pot and sprinkled with fresh basil, feta cheese & capers

Mojito Pepper Chicken

This easy-to-make crock pot meal is loaded with the flavors of Cuba -- tomatoes, peppers, lime, and rum

Top 10 Recipes

1. Cocktail Chicken

2. Pulled Chicken

3. Spicy Thai Chicken

4. Athens Chicken with Greek Salsa

5. Crock Pot Italian Chicken

6. Homemade Chicken and Noodles

7.Slow Cooked Chicken Cacciatore

8. Crock Pot Lemon Chicken

9. Chipotle Chicken Tacos

10. Herb-Crusted Chicken Crock Pie

"DO WHAT...?"

Being a MAC "middle aged chic" a name coined by fellow blogger "Punchy" on her blog "Lucchese to Louis Vuitton", requires much time and maintenance...especially after menopause.

I am bombarded with what to eat, what not to eat and tests for my tests to determine what hormones are working and what effect they have on my overall health. So far nothing seems to be working to my benefit. Where's Dr. Phil when you need him?

I walk everyday due to the fact that I live on 11 ac and am building a house...just hubby and me doing the work. I have always been very careful with food content watching carefully the fat, salt and sugar intake. (No, I don't mean I watch it as it passes from fork to mouth either!)

Being a Texas gal, it's difficult to eliminate the Texican foods that are fried and slathered with cheese and/or sauces but I've adapted.

I've been using Splenda for over a year now to cut down on calories ... it is derived from real sugar cane. I just can't get away from sweetened iced tea or that freshly brewed cup of coffee in the a.m. Mama don't take my caffiene away!

Now, much to my dismay...yet another naysayer report has come out with information regarding sugar substitutes which poses the question:

Can Sugar Substitutes Make You Fat?

Click on the link for the whole story!

This leads me to say "DO WHAT...?"

Have a good one...with or without sugar substitutes! At this point, I'm thinking forget about replanting the tree farm...let's grow STEVIA!!

Dale

DID I HEAR "CHOCOLATE?"

February 12, 2008

Doesn't matter what your age, the word "chocolate" makes your mouth water, right? And who wouldn't love you for baking something delectible and delicious?

Here's a Valentine idea to sweeten up Cupid's special day AND coupons as well for NESTLÉ CHOCOLATIER™

Have a good one!

Dale

Chocolate Lover's Dream Come True

Everything looks pretty in pink on Valentine's Day. Why not your dessert? The Chocolate Raspberry Brownie Mousse Delight, made with NESTLÉ CHOCOLATIER™ 53% Cacao Dark Chocolate Morsels, offers a delicious blend of raspberries and chocolate, topped with a fluffy raspberry cream cheese mousse.

For other indulgent recipes, click here.

WAYS TO PLAY CUPID THIS VALENTINE'S DAY

Here are some of the best ideas I've seen in a long time to show your special Valentine how much you care. And don't forget the best gift you can give is to give of yourself.

A special thanks to the gang at HGTV for getting the creative juices flowing. Don't forget to register for the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway being built on Islamorada in the Florida Keys.

We'd be pleased as punch if you'd stop by Two Blonds & Co. and select a gorgeous piece of jewelry for your honey. Nothing like diamonds to make a girl sparkle!!

Have a good one!

Dale