National Watermelon Day & A Trip Down Memory Lane

Today is national watermelon day. At our house we all love watermelon. My dad loved watermelon as well and he often brought one to our house to share with our kids. It was a day of having fun for all when the kids would eat watermelon with their grandpa. While not always graceful there was a lot of laughing on that front porch as all ate that red juicy fruit known as watermelon. I believe he was the one that taught them how to spit watermellon seeds and I know he was probaby behind the joke they all seemed to ask me about whether if they ate watermelon seeds if a melon would grow in their bellies. Now while they loved to eat their watermelon straight out of the rind directly after being cut I seem to love some of the many recipes that you can use with watermelon. This watermelon salad may just find its way into next weeks menu. I hope the farmers market has some fresh melons available.

Watermelon Salad with Mint Leaves Recipe

1 (5-pound) watermelon
1 sweet onion (such as Vidalia or Walla Walla)
1/4 cup red or white wine vinegar (your choice)
Salt and freshly-ground black pepper
1/3 to 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves
6 whole mint sprigs (for garnish)

Cut the flesh from the melon and cut into bite-size pieces, removing and discarding any seeds. Place watermelon pieces in a large serving bowl.

Peel and slice the onion into rings. Gently combine the onion rings and watermelon together.
In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, salt, and pepper; whisk until salt is dissolved. Slowly whisk in the olive oil, a few drops at a time. Add in the chopped mint, taste, and adjust seasonings. Pour the dressing over the melon/onion mixture and toss gently until everything is coated and evenly mixed.
To serve, divide salad among individual plates and garnish with mint leaves.

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Fish for Friday

 

A bit of family history of mine and no this is no fish story while it does include a fish fry and a great new recipe for fish. Perhaps I should give you some background about myself. I grew up in a rural area where the little towns all came together for events. One such event was a fish fry that my grandparents pulled together because of the love of fish, good music and oh yes lots of company. Years before I was born my grandparents hosted this annual event and each family member was expected to play a role in the fish fry. It grew so much that the entire area came to the large Patterson fish fry to enjoy a get together with great music and amazing food. I can remember working at the picnic in a few different ways (1) waiting tables making sure that those that came to eat enjoyed their selves we filled their coffee cups and tea glasses. We replenished the garden fresh tomatoes and made sure that the crock bowels of pickles and onions were filled so that all could enjoy. The tables were served family style with heaping bowels of chicken and fried fish as well as garden fresh vegetables. It was the type of family environment that I still love to this day. While the fish fry as we knew it then no longer exist the memories in my mind as well as many others who came to eat, fried the fish or helped serve the tables will never forget. Our family still loves fish all though the fish fry that my grandparents started years ago is no longer in existence . Perhaps you will enjoy the amazing fish recipe that I share here today. If you like my story or you like my recipe please leave a comment so that I know there is someone out there reading my post. While I do enjoy sharing great finds I also love hearing from those of you who stop by my blog.

 
1 1/4 ounces lemon juice
1/2-ounce hot sauce
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 (5-ounce) catfish fillets
3 cups all-purpose flour, seasoned with salt and pepper
3 cups buttermilk
3 cups corn tortilla flakes
Vegetable oil, for deep-frying
9 ounces prepared chile con queso
3 ounces prepared pico de gallo
6 lime wedges

Whisk the lemon juice, hot sauce, salt, and pepper together in a shallow bowl. Dip each catfish fillet in the lemon juice mixture. Dredge catfish in seasoned flour, followed by buttermilk, and then corn tortilla flakes to coat completely.
Pour oil into a large, deep saute pan until it comes about halfway up the sides of the pan. Heat oil to 350 degrees F. When oil is hot, carefully add fish fillets to pan, in batches if necessary, and deep-fry until golden brown, about 10 minutes total. Remove from the oil and drain on paper towels.
Place 1 1/2 ounces of queso on each of 6 plates and top with the fried catfish. Place 1/2-ounce of pico de gallon on top of the catfish. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.

recipe source here

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Inspire Me Monday

news in my area

news in my neck of the woods includes this story that ended up on none other than yahoo I work for the doctor that actually paid the charge he feels was not right in quarters. The two guys in the photo I think of as my close friends

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/man-pays-settlement-with-600-000-quarters-191225587.html

Hodge Podge Wednesday

1. Share one way you think the world has changed for the better since you were a kid?

I believe that there is more known in the health field both ways to cure as ways to work with healthcare

2. How 'bout one way it's changed for the worse?

While there was crime in the past there was still the closeness of the community and watching out for each other. These days I see more crime and less community get togethers


3. Starlight, starfish, starling, Starbucks...your favorite 'star'?

love those little fruit chews starburst

4. Name a song that's overplayed, but you love it anyway?

a recent one that I love is "This aint your mamas broken heart" but you hear it quite often but I still love it

5. When did you last have home made ice cream? Your latest favorite flavor?

been quite a while I would say last time church had an old fashioned get together and I tried blackberry was really good 

6. What do you think is the best way to inspire or motivate people?

II often motivate my girls at work by offering praise and that makes them feel better and work better

7. When was the last time you were without power?

last real time that I can remember was when the tornado hit our town very crazy atmosphere we were without power for a day or so but there were so many genorous people that helped us

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Do your best in life, be where you are supposed to be and do what you are to do and trouble is less likely to find you

Make Going Back To School A Ball

Going back to school can either be something that one dreads or with a bit of help can be something that is very much looked forward to. Why not have a ball getting ready to go back to school. It would  be easy enough to get the gang together and throw a back to school party. Easy decorations like this disco ball can make all the sparkle for the party to get everyone ready to return to school

To make this disco ball is easy enough

Supplies:

1. Large Styrofoam ball
2. Long wooden skewer or something similar
3. Invisible thread
4. Small craft mirrors varying in size
5. Craft jewels
6. Thin wire or something similar
7. Glue

Start by inserting the skewer through the center of the ball
Leaving the skewer in place take your large mirrors and firmly press them into the ball so they make a good indentation
They more than likely will not want to stay so glue the back of the mirror to the ball. You want to make the indentation first to create a firm place for the glue to adhere to
Now press the rest of the smaller mirrors into the ball and they should stay in, as well as the jewels

Now take a thin piece of wire (I used floral wire) and make a loop at the end to tie the invisible thread to. Remove the wooden skewer and guide the wire through the same hole. I’m not gonna lie, it took me a few tries. Then gently pull the thread through. Make sure the piece of thread is fairly long allowing to hang from a high place. Your done! Hang from the ceiling with a tack securing the thread and place a little clip under the ball to hold it in place till the big moment.

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Domestic Heros

Peach Dumplings

Last time I was at the farmers market there were peaches for sale. I did not buy any this past week but will be purchasing some this next weekend. Oh my the smell of the fresh peaches can only sit next to the delicious taste that they offer. I recently found this super easy recipe that shows off the fresh peach taste in a delicious manner.

Peach Dumplings

2 whole large peaches
2 8 oz cans crescent rolls
2 sticks butter
... 1-1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
cinnamon, to taste
1 12 oz can Mountain Dew

Peel and pit peaches. Cut both peaches into 8 slices. Roll each peach slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan.
Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour entire mixture over peaches. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top

retweet post

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What we accomplished Wednesday

white cloud $1/1 coupon

Cupcakes for the Dog Days Of Summer

For the dog days of summer check out these super cute cupcakes. How fun they would be to make them for a back to school party as well.

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NurtureMe Snack and Contest

Do you worry about what you give your kids to eat? Summer time often offers even more dilemas. With meal time sometimes being more sporatic snack time becomes important as well. There are so many products out on the market that kids would love to have the problem is they are not always good for them That is why I like nurture me. It allows both me and my little ones to be happy. Yum A Roos Organic Dried Fruit and Veggie Toddler Snacks offer big nutrition in a snack designed for little hands. Made from bite sized pieces of fruits and veggies that easily dissove in their mouth. The danger of choking as we all know is potentially there in any little one so anything that lessens the chance of choking is awesome to me. The Yum A Roos snack is great for little ones age 1 year of age and older. Nutrition is present because they offer veggies in additon to fruit preserves through a special process in order to lock in the delicious taste.

NurturMe has launched a new free iPhone and iPad APP featuring Yum A Roos adorable spokescharacter Roo to teach children about their favorite fruit and veggies. Link to enter here