Blessed be the Fruit- Handmaid's Tale Emmy Snacks

The Handmaid's Tale is nominated for 20 Emmy Awards this year.
It is cause for celebration or as they would say in Gilead,
Praise Be!

It is a dark and suspenseful story 

and I felt like we needed a little brightness and levity to enjoy during the show.

Blessed be the Fruit and the Handmaids...

Fresh, ripe strawberries are instantly transformed into handmaids 

that even Aunt Lydia would be proud of...

You just need berries, mini white baking cups and toothpicks...

fold the cup in half...

and secure on either side of the strawberry with a toothpick... 

(I broke mine in half)

Enjoy the show...

the Emmy Awards are sure to be a Blessed Day!

and if you'd like to toast the show...

check out the Handmaid's cockTAILs I made last year

My Favorite Rock Lobster Recipe

One of the best parts of summer is the bounty of vibrant fresh produce.

I have become a little obsessed with fun, easy ways to serve them.

Watermelon always catches my eye at the market and I wanted surprise my kids with silly treat.

Cue the B52s, my beloved cookie cutter and a bed of sea glass 

and you've got...

Rock Lobster!

With this recipe, the lobster comes out perfectly every time...

and I always finish it with a dusting of my favorite rock salt or sea salt 

for a taste of the ocean...

Who doesn't love a perfect Red Lobster?

Red, white & JÙCE - 4th of July Smoothies for a crowd

By the dawn's early light, 

we all need a colorful and patriotic way to start the day on July 4th.

I'm serving up mini red, white and blue smoothies for a crowd...

Fun bursts of star spangled color, 

 full of fresh ingredients are the perfect way to get ready for a day of BBQs and fireworks.

Red Cherry, 

White Coconut, 

and Blue Blueberry, 

all get an extra burst of nutrition from Júce.

Since no single fruit or vegetable provides all of the nutrients you need to stay healthy. 

Júce is made with a variety of 35 organic fruits and vegetables, providing the essential nutrition your body needs. A scoop everyday in your favorite beverage helps immune support, digestive health, focus and energy. After these smoothies the morning of the 4th, you'll definitely be ready for the twilight's first gleaming!

Red Cherry Smoothie
makes approximately 8 2oz servings
1 cup chopped cherries
1/2 banana
2 Tablespoons non-fat vanilla yogurt
1/2 non-fat milk (or milk of your choice)
1 scoop Júce
1 handful of ice

Blend all ingredients together and serve

White Coconut Smoothie
makes approximately 8 2oz servings
1 cup chopped pineapple
1/2 banana
2 Tablespoons non-fat vanilla yogurt
1/2 coconut milk
1 tsp shredded coconut
1 scoop Júce
1 handful of ice

Blend all ingredients together and serve

Blue Blueberry Smoothie
makes approximately 8 2oz servings
1 1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 banana
2 Tablespoons non-fat vanilla yogurt
1/2 non-fat milk (or flavor of your choice)
1 scoop Júce
1 handful of ice

Blend all ingredients together, top with shredded coconut and serve



Thank you to Júce for collaborating with me on this post.  You can find more information on them here

Red, White and Blue Cheese - A Patriotic USA Tray

From sea to shining sea, 4th of July plans are well underway.

What better way to celebrate the nation's birthday 

than a patriotically colorful, bounty of homegrown American treasures?

Red, white and blue never tasted so good!

We've got the West Coast covered in crimson -

local cherries, raspberries and strawberries...

along with robust Red Hawk cheese, 

and a creamy Nicasio California cow's milk.

Middle America is typically pure and wholesome...

This pride of the Iowa prairie cheddar and a wonderful Wisconsin cheese,

along with the sensational Semifreddi's handcrafted sourdough baguette are the salt of the earth

Oh boy have we got the blues.

Black and Blueberries line the East Coast, 

with a cheesy visitor from Point Reyes, California...

and a glorious Georgia gem...

Happy 4th of July.
Keep it cheesy,
keep it colorful
and keep it all American!

Thank you to Sigona's Farmers Market for providing the amazing fresh fruit, artisanal cheeses from around the country and locally baked bread. They are the ultimate one stop shop!

Summer Cherry Salsa

Is there anything cheerier than a cherry?
Perfect for pies, simple snacks, gorgeous garnish for drinks
and sensational in salsa...

We are so lucky to have friends with property chock full of cherry orchards.

We definitely know Summer is here when we get a package from Sunset Ranch...

Cherries are such a fun, flavorful alternative to tomatoes, 

the tart yet sweet taste is totally addictive...

Quick, easy and pretty, 

I think it's the best way to get the Summer Fiesta Season started...

Summer Cherry Salsa

Mix together:

2 cups fresh pitted cherries chopped

1/4 cup finely chopped shallot

1-2 fresh jalepeños finely chopped with seeds removed

juice of one lime

1/4 cup roughly chopped cilantro 

1 tsp kosher salt

Serve with chips and enjoy

A new twist on Pineapple Pizza

The recent headline that Iceland's President wants to ban pineapple pizza, 

ignited great debate in our family.

We were torn, half loving the sweet juicy fruit as a topping 

and half despising it.

In an effort to unite and delight, 

I created a few fun "Pineapple Pizzas", 

everyone will like.

Once I decided to take a totally literal approach, 

these pizzas really took "shape"!

I prebaked Pillsbury pizza crust for 8 minutes at 400 degrees, 

then cut into pineapple shapes.

(this can be done ahead of time, then later you can top your pizzas and heat in the oven)

then topped with fresh mozzarella cheese and back in the oven for about 5 minutes.

Thinly sliced green and yellow bell peppers add the pops of pineapple color...

The second pizza has a mixture of shredded cheddar and jack cheeses, 

topped with mini pepperoni,

(again in the 400 degree oven for 5 minutes)

then a little fresh chiffonade basil.

Pizza night isn't complete without a fun dessert 

and this pineapple pizza twist couldn't be easier...

A slice...

topped with a pinch of shredded coconut...

then kiwi...

and mint.

A fresh, healthy pizza that may even remain legal in Iceland!