We Will Always Have Paris

Photos of the Week: Scenes From A Summer - 2011

Our summer "to do" list.  I took this picture at the beginning of summer.  We've managed to check off about half of the items so far.

Our official summertime drink is Pimms.  We make our Pimms cup with 1 part Pimms No. 1, 3 parts 7-Up, cucumber peel and fresh mint.  Delicious.

My hubby has perfected an amazing recipe for samosas.  Baby G. has taken great pride in making her own and they are becoming a favorite family meal:

Samosa filling
3 whole boiled potatoes.  Peeled and coarsely mashed.  Lumpy is good here.  
1 T chopped cilantro
1 t salt
1 green chili seeded and finely chopped
1/2 t Garam Masala
1/2 t Chili powder
1 T lemon juice
1/2 c cooked green peas NOT CANNED. Frozen works fine.

Combine all, set aside.  Note, you may want to make the filling while your dough - below - is resting.  Filling should be warm when used.

Samosa dough
(This recipe will make enough dough for 24 samosas. More or less depending on how big you make your Samosas.  This is a no rise dough.  It should be the consistency of playdough or firm pastry dough when done.)
2 c flour
2 t salt
2 T vegetable oil
1 c warm water

Mix flour and salt into a bowl. Make a well into the center and add the oil and enough water to make a firm dough. Knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth and roll into a ball. Cover in plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Divide into 24 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and roll out into a 3 inch circle on a lightly floured work surface.

Place a tablespoon or so of the filling near the center of the circle.  Fold over and seal the edge with the tines of a fork -pressing all the way around the sealing edge to ensure a good seal.

Deep fry the samosas in hot oil until crisp and light brown.  Hubby cooks them in a sauce pan with a few inches of oil.  No need to fire up the deep fryer here.  Drain on a paper towel.

Absolutely amazing!!

 
Pool parties with your best friends.  Good times.  I'll be back with more summer pics next week!

Two For Tuesday: Hungry Girl's Freckled Lemonade and Swatch Books

Good gravy it is hot outside!  I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  We were able to cram in a day trip to the Maryland Science Center (a must-see) in Baltimore, a crab feast, a local church carnival, pool time, yard work and general household maintenance.  Busy, busy, busy!

Here are two things that grabbed my attention this week:

 
1.  Hungry Girl's Freckled Lemonade.  I'm a huge fan of icy frozen drinks on hot days.  I tried Hungry Girl's Freckled Lemonade the other day and now I can't stop whipping them up!  You can find the recipe in her 200 under 200 book or you can find the recipe here.  The recipe is only 27 calories!  Soooo much better than McDonald's 270 calories.  Delish!

 
 2.  Swatch Books from Paper Coterie.  These adorable mini-books are only $15 each and I can't wait to make a bunch of them for gifts.  Just upload your own pics and you can make your own 5.5" x 3.25" book with 11 pages.  I thought they would make great backpack stuffers for my kids when we travel around this summer.  And perfect for the dozens of birthday parties we will be attending this year.  How cute are they?

I'm off to finish up a paper cake for my sister-in-laws baby shower.  I'll be sure to post pics by the end of the week!

Stay cool (here's hoping your A/C is fixed today Larcy!)....

Two For Tuesday: Girls Night Inn and The Best Sangria You've Ever Had

I just returned from a weekend trip away with friends -- three days of scrapbooking, laughing and drinking way too many mimosas and sangrias.  If you're needing a weekend away, gather up your girlfriends and read below:

 

1.  Girls Night Inn in Nokesville, VA - I've scrapbooked in a number of cabins, fire halls, expo centers and hotel ballrooms.  Hands-down, this is the best place I've found for a getaway scrapbook retreat.  The home sleeps ten and is just under $1,000 for the weekend.  We like to reserve it for long weekends and take advantage of the extra weekend day.  This weekend, our group checked in before noon on Friday and left around noon on Monday.  All this, for $100/person.  Seriously.

The home is spacious and tastefully decorated.  Our group takes full advantage of the kitchen, taking turns making meals.  Some of the best laughs are shared over meals at the dining room table.  There is a fantasic hot tub in the backyard, overlooking a beautiful pond.  In the past, we have taken advantage of the outdoor dining room, having a wonderful Italian dinner by candlelight (we passed on dining al fresco this weekend -- a little too cold this go 'round!).  Upstairs, the bedrooms are perfect for the ultimate sleepover. 

The craft room is unbelievable.  Each cropper gets her own six foot table with a trash can, cup holder, cutting mat AND OTT LIGHT!!!!!  Other craft room amenities include: a shared Cricut and cartridges (feel free to bring your own cartridges as well), shared ink pads, hundres of Close To My Heart stamp sets, circle cutters, idea books, computer & printer and a DVD/TV with a large collection of chick flicks.

Most weekend crops cost well over $100, without the accomodations.  This is an amazing deal -- gather up your girlfriends and book a weekend now!

 
2.  My Mom's Sangria.  We spent the weekend enjoying my mom's sangria (ahem, some of us may enjoyed a bit too much...) and I promised everyone the recipe.  I thought I might share it with you as well (sorry Mom!):

2 large bottles red wine (it can be cheap wine…burgundy or cabernet works best)
1 bottle triple sec
1 bottle brandy
1 frozen can of orange juice concentrate ( I think it is 12 oz)
Juice of 2 lemons
About 2 cups of simple syrup  (equal parts sugar and water - once sugar is dissolved, boil 5 minutes and then cool before you add)

Mix everything together.  Add chopped granny smith apples or citrus fruits if you like fruit in your sangria. 
I like to freeze mine and then scrape it out so it is a slushy.  You can always serve it over ice too! 

Two For Tuesday: Gingerbread Bagels and Coffee Creamer

Holy crap, it's cold outside.  All of my West Coast girlfriends are e-mailing me and bragging about their 70 degree weather.  Seriously?  Bite me.  It's December.  It's supposed to be so cold that your tears freeze on your cheeks. 

So, to celebrate the temperatures outside, I'm hibernating inside... with coffee and bagels.  Thus, my Two For Tuesday picks this week:

1.  Gingerbread Bagels from Panera.  A little bit of heaven on a cold morning....  The Panera gingerbread bagel is to die for.  I'm not a huge gingerbread fan, but these bagels are the right amount of ginger, cinnamon, cloves & molasses.  I buy them buy the dozen and freeze them.  They are delicious toasted in the toaster oven with gobs of butter on top.

 
2.  International Delight Breve Creamers.  I'm head over heels in love with the new creamers from International Delight.  They are made with cream and sugar instead of the oil found in most creamers.  Yum!  Combine that with my Keurig coffee maker and I have no need for Starbucks!

So, enjoy your warm weather, my West Coast friends.  You'll find me bundled up, sipping hot coffee and eating a buttery gingerbread bagel.  As it should be...