Smooth runnings! A healthy smoothie!

Tweet

Taken at Jamaica Inn cottage 5.

Dates, almond milk and bananas come together for a sweet tropical smoothie with unexpectedly sophisticated flavors! Thick, smooth and creamy and sweet. Just such a treat! It’s almost hard to believe that it’s healthy, but it really is amazingly nutritious. The almonds give you an super dose of powerful plant protein, while their huge quantities of vitamin E will leave your skin glowing. The bananas fill you up with life giving potassium and magnesium, the cinnamon keeps your blood sugar perfectly balanced and the dates give you a very much needed intake of fibre. It’s like drinking liquid health, even though it tastes like dessert. How perfect is that? It will also satisfy even the strongest sugar craving as it really is so indulgently sweet, which makes it a perfect afternoon pick-me up, after dinner treat or sweet breakfast. It only take 3 minutes to make so you wouldn’t be tempted to stray to the chocolate while you wait either!

Beef Tenderloin Steak with Duxelles & Morney Sauce + A Valentine menu!

Tweet

Let's surprise your loved one with a romantic dinner at home! Creating a dinner that says, "I love you", with every tender fork full!

Is there anything more romantic than a Valentine's dinner at home? Here's your chance to show off your domestic skills, if only for a day, set a pretty table by the fireplace (if you have one), light the candles, pick the music you both like and plan a simple yet elegant dinner. Doesn't that sound good? A lovely dinner is more appreciated these days than any present you could ever give.  Let's start the plans together! 

Easy Dark Chocolate Creme Brulee!

Tweet

Cupid Approved!

To me Valentine's Day is all about chocolate, roses, sexy clothes (or not:-) and Champagne! I can't think of anything better than this easy yet rich dessert to celebrate the day!

How to make Burlap place mats! Valentines or any day!

Tweet

I love the rustic natural look of burlap, and it seemed to fit perfectly into our island paradise cottage look. So, before we left Seattle amongst lots of other Valentine projects for my Grandchildren I whipped up these beautiful place mats with matching cocktail coasters. You can embroider, stencil or paint a design onto the burlap. I love adding a personal touch to my table settings and you can easily do this!! Really!

Cucumber salad with caramelized shallots

Tweet

This salad gets it's unmistakable sweet salty crunch from caramelized shallots, an addictive staple in Vietnamese salads.

Superbowl wrap up!

Tweet

NFL Superbowl XLVIII

The biggest Sunday in football is around the corner. If you want to score the MVP (most valuable party) award by serving up a killer menu just serve up some of these favorites!

Mini taco bites!! Superbowl!

Tweet

Seahawks! Yes folks ...MY TEAM IS IN!!! I couldn't be more excited! IN fact my entire family seems to have gotten into the spirit! Everywhere I go in the Seattle area, I see flags, tee shirts and even houses decorated in the team spirit colors! Yes, WE ARE IN!

Pic 1-My 93 year old Mother holding her Great Grandson (just afew hours old) both in their Seahawk gear! Pic 2- Amy, my daughter in law in the hospital with a custom made hospital gown I made for her the day before and her newborn son, Cooper Owen. Pic 3- My brother Bob with his Great Nephew Cooper!

It's time to get serious! The big game is days away! We need a menu plan, we need recipes....Heck WE NEED A PARTY!!! We're closing in on Super Bowl XLVIII  and Sunday's big showdown between the Denver Broncos and my hometown team, Seattle Seahawks. This game calls for a party filled with plenty of great finger foods, some Cheddar Bay Biscuits and a slow cooker filled with White Chicken Chili. And to keep you away from bags of frozen hot wings and tubs of pre-made dips and salsas, I'm giving you some new recipes and a wrap up on Friday of old favorite's that are perfect dishes for your Super Bowl party fare!!