Welcome Summer!

Have I mentioned that I'm in a dinner club?  

I don't know who I'm trying to kid... but it's a "Gourmet" dinner club even.  First, let me set the record straight here... I don't profess to be a "gourmet cook"... I just like to cook and try new recipes.  So, a year or so ago when my friend Cassaundra proposed the idea of this dinner club... I was intrigued by the thought of being able to expand my culinary hobby beyond turing the toaster oven to 425 degrees to heat up the chicken nuggets for the kids.  It's a sad fact, but no one in my house truly appreciates my desire to delve into cookbooks to whip up delicious meals.  So, each of us takes a month with our partner and basically throws together a 4 course themed dinner party, decor and all.  So far, the dinners have been amazing!  The bar has been set high... about 4 times before our turn.  My partner Amy and I definitely felt the stress of putting this together but we were totally giddy about our theme: "Welcome Summer!"  

Before I get too far into the pictures, I just have to give Ashley credit for taking these gorgeous pictures of the night... 

Good thing my husband is a production designer... I came across these gem table runners that I tucked in the closet thinking I'd be able to use one day... 

One of his set dressers made them for a show.  They were perfect for our table!

And good thing I had these cool light globes we used at my birthday party last summer... 

Amy and I found the lovely green dishes at Ikea and the pretty creme salad plates at Tai Pan.  

On the menu: 

Appetizers: Pomegranate Spritzers, Prosciutto and Cantaloupe Bites

Salad: Tomato & Watermelon salad

Main: Mar-a-Lago Turkey Burgers, Sweet Potato Fries and grilled sweet corn

Dessert: Blueberry/Plum Crisp with homemade vanilla bean ice cream

Amy made these beautiful pomegranate spritzers, which were so delicious!  Her idea to put out cucumber/mint flavored water for refills was refreshing as well.

The Prosciutto and Cantaloupe Bites, drizzled with olive oil, lime juice, chili flakes and chopped mint.

The Tomato and Watermelon salad was one of my favorites.  Amy and I visited a local specialty olive oil shop to find a tasty olive oil/balsamic vinegar to dress the salad.  It was a tough choice but we finally went with basil infused olive oil and a cranberry pear balsamic vinegar.  YUM! 

The salad was also full of avocado, watermelon, heirloom tomatoes and cucumbers, along with a variety of fresh herbs.

Amy used her moms fine silver for the occasion... isn't it pretty and whimsical?

Amy and I went back and forth about the main course.  It was her brilliant idea to make a turkey burger but have I ever made a turkey burger in my life... uhhh, no.  We tried a few variations, even tried a curry chicken burger that I loved but decided was not totally appropriate for our theme.  When all else fails, trust Oprah.  She raves about the Mar-a-Lago Turkey Burger served at Donald Trump's private club in Palm Beach.  I have to agree they were quite tasty! 

The sweet potato fries were a whole 'nother dilemma.  Does anyone out there truly know how to bake a good sweet potato fry because I tried about a half dozen times before giving in to Amy's fryer.  At least we used fresh canola oil, which is one of the  "healthier" oils to fry with. 

We dressed the turkey burgers with a pear/mango chutney and provided a yummy sour cream dipping sauce for the fries. 

Grilled sweet corn... slathered in softened butter, cumin, chili powder, parsley... soaked in cold water for 20 minutes and grilled right in the husk for a half hour. Mmmm!  

So, my dessert preference is fruit over chocolate. Thank goodness Amy agreed. Naturally, summer calls for fruit... lucky me!

I already knew of a good recipe I've used before from the Family Fun magazine for a blueberry plum crisp... but this is Gourmet club... gotta step it up a notch!  I found a similar recipe by Food Network Chef Ann Burrell that incorporated fresh lemon rind in the fruit and chopped almonds in the topping.  Amy added the perfect touch by topping it with candied lemon rind... it tasted like candy!

Thank goodness we are done till November!  Now we sit back and enjoy a few other fabulous meals prepared by our friends and contemplate what we will serve in November...

For the recipes, click over to our Gourmet Dinner Club blog: karrotsticks.blogspot.com

Girl's Spa Day

(Amy, Heidi, Nicki, Rachael, Cassaundra and Tera)

In celebration of my 35th birthday... and Mother's Day... 6 awesome husbands treated their wives to a day at the spa.  This was like a dream come true for me!  I've been wanting to go back to Glen Ivy Hot Springs ever since my sister took me there like 7 years ago.  And did we ever live it up there!  We soaked in mineral baths... slathered our skin in mud until it was baked in the sun... ventured down to the grotto where they painted us with warm aloe vera moisturizer... lounged on our private sun patio sipping diet Pepsi because the "I.E." doesn't serve diet Coke... pedicured our toes... need I say more because it was a perfect day!  I'd show you the pictures except then I'd have no friends to go back with me next year.  So, this pic of my gorgeous friends will do... thanks for the memories girls! 

Yosemite 2011

Made it to Yosemite this year!  

Unfortunately, we seem to only be able to make it there every other year for various reasons... which I wish was not the case.  Yosemite is amazing!  I bet every national park is amazing, but we love Yosemite, it truly is a beautiful place... so beautiful that it testifies to me of a divine creator.  This trip seemed sort of spiritual in nature for me.  I thought a lot about a loving Heavenly Father who provided such magnificent beauty for His children to enjoy.  For me, at times, it really does take my breath away!  One day when we went into the Yosemite Village Museum, I saw this quote by John Muir, the "Father of National Parks": 

"Everyone needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike."  

When I read that quote, I thought it pretty much summed up how I was feeling about our current stay in Yosemite.  

Grant found a fuzzy caterpillar on the first day...

I don't know who's cuter... Grant or the caterpillar?

Oh!  Here's a cutie!

Our camp was situated near a small stream, all the cousins enjoyed playing near it in the wilderness. 

On the second day, we went off the beaten path and hiked to the base of "Staircase Falls".  We had no idea where we were going, so I was surprised when our guess took us right to the base.  It was hard work, especially for our youngest hikers and the ones who had to hold them half the time, but it was amazing to come to it and take in the view all around us. 

From the base of Staircase Falls, we had a beautiful view of Half Dome. 

I loved the way the water cascaded down this mountain.  It was so beautiful. 

Cory and the kids

My pregnant sister in law... nevermind the fact that I'm still twice her size. 

From the base of Staircase Falls was also a cool view of Yosemite Falls. 

Aunt Amber and Zoey chillin' at the top. 

One the third day, we took an hour and half drive to a reservoir called Hetch Hetchy.  This is the view looking over the dam.  It was scary, we held on tight to the kids.

Our family in front of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. It was pretty there as well. 

Maggie and Zoey at Hetch Hetchy. 

There were also several waterfalls around Hetch Hetchy feeding the reservoir.  We took the trail around the lake to see if we could hike to one. Hikers coming towards us, told us that there were baby cubs and their mama ahead... 

These are Aunt Amber's pictures.  I never saw the mama bear, I didn't want to disturb her anyway...  

Her bear cubs were climbing a tree.  They were cute.  I only saw one of them, but there were 2.  

We made it to the first little waterfall.  Everyone took a turn cooling down in the water. 

Cory helping Grant reach the water without falling in.

Cousin Laura got drenched!

Even Zoey wanted to put her head under the water, she saw what everyone else was doing and wanted to do it too!

On the fourth day, we headed into Yosemite Village and wandered through the indian camp. 

We stumbled across a deer that was just taking it easy in the grass. 

He walked over to Yosemite Falls via a lesser known trail. 

Maggie sure does love spending time with her cousin Laura!

Yosemite Falls amazes me because I cannot believe how much water keeps coming over those falls.  There must be so much snow on the top, just melting away.  This is only the second, lower part of the falls.  

Everyone enjoying the view of the falls. 

You can see the upper and lower falls in this awesome picture I took myself.  I took it even though Cory said he would buy me a postcard of it.

There are lots of bears in Yosemite and we usually get to see at least one during our visit.  This year, amongst all of us, we saw 5!  This one was walking parallel to our camp!

Another thing we did this year for the first time was fishing.  Well, what I mean is that the boys tried it!

And Cory and Grant found success with a carp!