Crispy Green Beans

The crispy green bean appetizer at PF Changs is probably my all-time favorite food. We never go there without ordering it. They're crispy and salty and battered with a very light coating and served with a creamy spicy dipping sauce *DROOL* I don't feel so bad eating these because it's almost like eating a side of veggies - if it weren't for the crispy fried part :)

Preston was eyeing mama's beans. I let him smell one, but he'll have to wait a few years until I share my coveted green beans.

Garden fresh produce

I planted my garden late (June 1st) and have been waiting and waiting for some fresh produce. I went out to water the other day and lookie what I found!! I planted some different veggies this year and this picture shows two of them - purple green beans (which turn green when cooked) and a Fooled You pepper. It tastes like a jalapeno, but without the heat. I ended up stuffing it with herb cream cheese and eating it raw - it was really good! The tomato was amazing - nothing like growing it yourself and eating it right after it's picked. The zucchini and green beans were really good too. This was our dinner along with steamed Yukon gold potatoes and a mango-nectarine that I found at the grocery store. It was like a small, juicy peach with a hint of mango. Loved it! I can't wait for the rest of my garden to ripen :)

Birthday Monkey and Posole Soup

I love monkeys - they make me smile. I found this digital freebie on Dustin Pike's blog http://dustinpike.blogspot.com/ and had to have it. His images have such a cute personality. I colored the monkey and vines with Copic markers, added some brown grosgrain ribbon and cuttlebugged the bottom layer.

I made Posole Soup for dinner the other night and it was YUMMY!!! I love mexican food and I love soup. I've had Posole at restaurants, but I've never made it at home. I think the recipe came from a Family Circle magazine. I altered the recipe slightly since I don't eat meat - changes are in parenthesis. It was a slow cooker recipe, but I cooked it on the stove and it worked out fine.

Chicken Posole
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken cut into 1-inch pieces (I used Quorn Chick'n Tenders)
2 cans (15 ounce each) white hominy, drained and rinsed
1 medium-size onion, chopped
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. dried red pepper flakes
2 large chicken flavored bouillon cubes (I used vegetarian chicken broth powder)
4 cups water
1 can (14.5 ounce) petite cut diced tomatoes with jalapenos, drained
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Lime slices
*I also added a small can of roasted green chilies, drained

Combine all ingredients except lime slices and cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 5 hours. Serve in bowls with lime on the side.

(I sauteed the garlic and onion in a big pot until soft and then added the rest of the ingredients and simmered, covered, for about 15 minutes. The lime juice really added a nice tang.)

Stamps: Dustin Pike digital image, Hero Arts message
Accessories: Grosgrain ribbon, cuttlebug, Copic Markers
Paper: SU! Handsome hunter, chocolate chip, white

How To Cut A Fresh Pineapple

I just bought my first fresh pineapple and I wasn't sure how to cut it up. I found this video and the whole process was actually pretty easy! I had never heard the tip about turning it upside down so the sugars re-distribute. I didn't do that (I wanted to eat it NOW) but the bottom was much sweeter than the top. I'll be buying these more often :)