Grilled Nectarine & Goat Cheese Crostini Recipe

I posted this on instagram last week and promised to post the recipe. It's pretty darn good.  I swear I had like 5 or 6 of them and ruined my dinner. lol.

Grilled Nectarine & Goat Cheese Crostini

from Taste of Home magazine

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1 Tbsp. olive oil

12 slice French bread baguette (1/4 in. thick)

2 medium nectarines, halved

1/4 cup fresh goat cheese, softened

1/4 cup loosely packed basil leaves, thinly sliced

Directions: 

1. In a small saucepan, bring vinegar to a boil; cook 10-15 minutes or until liquid is reduced to 3 Tbsp. Remove from heat.

2. Brush oil over both sides of baguette slices. Grill, uncovered over medium heat until golden brown on both sides. Grill nectarines 45-60 seconds on each side or until tender and lightly browned. Cool slightly. 

3. Spread goat cheese over toasts. Cut nectarines into thick slices; arrange over cheese. Drizzle with balsamic syrup; sprinkle with basil. Serve immediately. 

**we didn't grill the nectarines. hubs sauteed them in a pan. 

**we didn't grill the bread either. i brushed olive oil on the tops and put in the oven

Destin, Florida Recap

We went on vacation about two weeks ago which I think is the first time we've gone on one since our honeymoon two years ago.

My only outfit post for the whole time in Florida. I just didn't think about it because I was having so much fun! I'm such a beach/water person:)

OOTD: Shopping on a Rainy Florida Day

top: Lilly Pulitzer polo

shorts: Lilly Pulitzer Callahan in You Gotta Regatta

shoes: Old Navy tortoiseshell flip flops

accessories: Lilly Pulitzer sunglasses in Hotty Pink First Impression/ bracelets: David Yurman

handbag: Longchamp

We stayed at Silver Shells Beach Resort & Spa. I highly recommend if you're looking for somewhere in Destin, FL and looking for convenience. It's beachfront with pools, hot tubs, workout facility, spa, The Sandbar- hut on the beach that serves food and drinks [servers will walk down the beach and take orders but the hut has a bar where you can sit at], and there's a Ruth's Chris Steak house in the parking lot. Not to mention, it's right in the middle of Destin. The Walmart is basically across the street, it's a few lights down from Destin Commons, and literally 5 minutes or less to the outlet mall. Such a great place to stay!

All we really did was just hang out on the beach and eat. lol.
Places we ate:

Not Just Bagels

This place is seriously so good. We went for lunch, and I had a club. It was so so so good. We also went one morning for breakfast. I had the French Toast bagel with a combination of strawberry and cheesecake cream cheeses, and it was delish!

Camille's at Crystal Beach

The night we went they had $2 off sushi rolls. It was REALLY good:) I'm not a huge seafood eater, so when it comes to rolls, I'm kind of limited. I ordered the Steak roll thinking it would probably be nothing special. And it was SO freaking good. Actually, all my sushi was good. If you're looking for sushi while you're down there here ya go...

Cafe Thirty-A

Cafe Thirty-A is on 30A [you know if you're in the South, you've seen the 30A stickers on people's cars]. It's located in Seagrove Beach which was about 30 minutes from where we were staying. I had the crab cakes, and they were seriously the BEST crab cakes I've ever had! I forgot to take a picture, but here's one I found on google image. My dish looked exactly like this pic. 

Tommy Bahama

We had lunch at Tommy Bahama one afternoon. Our friends talked about how good it was, and they wanted us all to go there. I ordered the cuban sandwich, and needless to say, if I didn't have to take some medicine that must be taken with food, I would have asked my server to take it off my bill. It was pretty bland, and it had pulled pork on it with a texture I didn't like. My sweet potato fries and strawberry lemonade were very good though!

Pompano Joe's

Our last night in town, we headed to Pompano Joe's. I like PJ's in the fact it's pretty reasonable, and the food's pretty good for the price. It's not Cafe Thirty-A by any means, but I like it. I had the Crab Cake sandwich with a twice baked potato.  A few years ago, I went with friends to FL, and we rented a house in a community across the street from this part of the beach. We'd walk across with all our beach gear and spend the day playing games and laying out. For lunch and/or drinks, we'd just walk up to Pompano Joe's.

The next time we're in Florida, I'd like to try out Whiskey Bravo!

As far as the outlet malls go, they have tons of stores. I spent $100 between Gap and Banana Republic. That was what I budgeted before I went down and remained loyal to that figure!

Gap: 

two 3/4 length striped boatneck tees 1 clearance embroidered summery type sleeveless top 1 pair of leather flip flops 1 clearance cardigan 
Banana Republic: 3 crew neck tees [seriously the best and only sold at factory stores] 1 ombre tank top 1 pink/white striped oversize blousy type shirt
And honestly, I can't remember what else, but I know there's more. It was quite a bit of stuff for just $100. Also, if you go, make sure you google factory coupons. BR and Gap both had 15% off purchase coupons:)
One night, the boys cooked for us which was alfredo with scallops and shrimp and a wonderful fruit salad. For lunch, I ate packaged fruits & cheeses I picked up at Walmart. And for nights we didn't go out to eat, we grilled hamburgers. 
FYI, don't forget to enter to win a Southern Living cookbook here. All you have to do is to leave a comment with a link to your favorite recipe on the post. :)
All pics with the exception of my OOTD were taken from google image. i was too busy having fun to take actual pics of the places i went to. 

Southern Living Cookbooks Giveaway

I loved these two cookbooks so much I'm giving a copy of each away:)))))))))))))
How to Enter:  Simply leave a comment with a link to your favorite recipe! [one entry per person please!] :)
This giveaway will close next at the end of next Thursday. 


**the cooksbooks are provided by YC Media

Southern LIving: Heirloom Recipe Cookbook review

"The food we love from the times we treasure." -on the front cover of Southern Living's Heirloom Cookbook.  I couldn't agree more. I treasure an old notebook full of my grandmother's recipes. I've tried a few, and well, she was from a generation of a pinch of this and a dash of that. She didn't really "measure" things. She passed away when I was a teenager, and I was too young to appreciate her culinary skills to learn exact measurements of things. 
When YC Media asked if I'd like to review this cookbook, I jumped at the chance. I love Southern Living, and this cookbook does not disappoint! 

Title: Southern Living Heirloom Recipe Cookbook: The Food We Love from the Times We          Treasure Writer: Marian Cooper Cairns Publisher: Oxmoor House

The book opens with Cocktail Hour. The first recipe is for Iced Tea which is a southern staple, and there is no doubt why it's the first recipe in the book! Not only does the Heirloom Recipe Cookbook include Iced Tea and Refreshing Lemonade recipes, it also includes the Bloody Mary [you know when you're not feeling so hot at Sunday brunch;)] to an Orange-Champagne Cocktail to the Mint Julep [for that Derby party you're throwing]. 
The next category is "Cherished Breads." Since I have just returned from the beach, I cannot begin to fathom how excited I am to try the Chesapeake Bay Crab Cakes from this section!
The other categories included are Memorable Mains, All the Fixin's, Blue-Ribbon Desserts, Holiday Traditions, The Larder, and my favorite Covered Dish Classics.
I love the Covered Dish Classics because they are one dish meals. Think potlucks at work, baby/bridal showers, things new parents can freeze, etc. Included are recipes such as Cheesy Chicken Tetrazzini, Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings, Chicken-Pecan Quiche, Shepherd's Pie, She-Crab soup, and so many more.  

And since I'm sure I have your mouth watering, here's one recipe from the book: 

Chesapeake Bay Crab Cakes
Prep Time: 21 minutes Total Time: 33 minutes Serving: 18 mini crab cakes
Ingredients:  1 lb. lump crabmeat, drained 1 large egg 1 1/2 tsp. dried parsley flakes 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire pepper 1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup mayonnaise, divided 4 saltine crackers, crushed Paprika Lemon wedges Garnish: freshly chopped chives
Directions:  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pick crabmeat, removing any bits of shell.   2. Whisk egg in a medium bowl. Whisk in parsley flakes, next 3 ingredients, 3 Tbsp. mayonnaise, and        3/4 tsp. Old Bay seasoning. Gently stir in crabmeat and cracker crumbs. Shape crab mixture into 18      (1 1/2-inch) patties. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet.
3. Stir together remaining 5 Tbsp. mayonnaise and 1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning; spread on crab cakes, and     sprinkle with paprika. 
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes or until golden brown. (Do not overbake.) Serve with lemon     wedges. Garnish, if desired.



I think this cookbook is lovely, and you should definitely check it out!  FYI-this cookbook is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon right now:)

Southern Living's Greatest Eats--Presented by CMT: Showstopping Recipes and Riffs from Country's Biggest Stars

YC Media sent me a copy of Southern Living Country Music's Greatest Eats --Presented by CMT: Showstopping Recipes and Riffs from Country's Biggest Stars to review.

Title: Southern Living Country Music's Greatest Eats --Presented by CMT: Showstopping Recipes and Riffs from Country's Biggest Stars
publisher: Oxmoor House 
author: Tanner Latham


Greatest Eats includes recipes from some of your favorite stars! It ranges from big names like Randy Travis and Sara Evans to American Idol contestant Lauren Alaina and CMT host Katie Cook to recent chart toppers such as Florida-Georgia Line and The Zac Brown Band.

Not only does the cookbook contain recipes, but there is a page spread on each star as well. I find it interesting to know what their mothers cooked and what they like to cook on the road. Pretty cool!

Recipes vary from simple things like vidalia onion mashed potatoes to vegetarian dishes like vegan massaman curry with tofu to shepherd's pie to orange dreamsicle cake. Trust me, there's a recipe for everyone in this book! <----including a novice like me

One of my favorite recipes in the book was for Blackberry Cobbler [recipe below]. The recipe was provided by American Idol alum Lauren Alaina from her grandmother who owned a restaurant for several years. "As a little girl, I remember always wanting my grandmother to make blackberry cobbler for me."
It was delish by the way, and I can't wait to make it again for my father's birthday next month. Blackberry is his favorite fruit!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blackberry Cobbler

makes 4 to 6 servings

hands-on time: 15 min.

total time 1 hour, 35 min.

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blackberries, thawed and drained
1 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. table salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
whipped cream or ice cream

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375. Stir together blackberries and sugar in a medium bowl. Let stand about 20 minutes or until fruit syrup forms.
2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and milk in another medium bowl. Stir in melted butter until blended. Spread batter in an ungreased 8-inch square baking pan. Spoon blackberry mixture over batter. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
3. Bake at 375 for 45 minutes or until puffed and golden. Serve with warm whipped cream or ice cream. Sprinkle with additional ground cinnamon.

**Tip: If you are using frozen berries, thaw them in a sieve over a bowl to catch the juice.**
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Also, another great feature is each recipe contains a high resolution picture which is nice because I like to know how my food should look. :)

I would definitely recommend this cookbook. Not only do the pictures make you drool, but it's a very interesting read in and of itself!

Be on the lookout! YC Media is partnering with me for a giveaway. So be reading within the next few days to win your very own copy.

**i was not financially compensated for this review. all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

5 on Friday

Here ya go..............................

1. Gone Girl
I just finished Gone Girl the other night at like 4am. It took me awhile to go to sleep because that was some effed up $@!*
FOR REALS. I still don't know how I feel about what happened. All I can tell you is the two main characters are seriously screwed up. With that being said, I totally recommend it. Worth the read, especially since the movie will be coming out in a few months.

2. A Good Bargain
I happened to stop by Macy's this past week and ended up buying these two for work. When I go shopping, I often tend to gravitate toward work clothes. Tell me I am not the only one who does this, no??!?!?!  Both of these tops cost me a whopping total of 28 bucks and some change. Left is Charter Club; right is INC.

3. Peonies!!!! Peonies are my fave. I was feeling a little under the weather last week, and my SIL was so sweet and surprised me with a little pick-me-up! Not only did they fill up the room with their wonderful fragrance, but they also made me feel better:) I decided to put them in an antique crystal vase that my great aunt gave us as a wedding present. 

4. Newest Snack Binge My last snack binge was Hostess cupcakes [if you remember that post. ha!]. I decided that those little chocolate with the white swirl delicacies probably weren't the most healthy and were pretty processed. I decided to snack on what I had in the pantry/fridge because I refused to buy said processed treats. And pictured above is what I came up with. It's so yummy that I haven't even missed the cupcakes to be honest, and it reminds me of my honeymoon. The historic hotel we stayed at had a wine and grapes and cheese hour. 

5. Catching up on Game of Thrones Sucks being behind everyone else. We don't have HBO, so we have to wait for Netflix to get it. This means staying a season behind:/ We just started watching season 3. I've read all the books though but the hubs hasn't. I'm really hoping that Martin is able to finish the series before he dies. He's older and SUPER SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW at writing. If you like GoT and haven't read the books, you totally should. fyi- in the books, tyrion's nose is basically mutilated and not just that surface scratch they gave him in the show. [<----see i told you the books were worth reading! ;) ]

REVIEW: Southern LIving's Scooped

YC Media so graciously gave a copy of Southern Living's Scooped for review.

title: Southern Living Scooped
publisher: Oxmoor House

Scooped features over 100 recipes ALL including ice cream. Most recipes can be made using store bought ice cream.

The book is divided up into the following sections: 
[i have included recipes i want to try from each section]
Bites
Meringue Nests with Ice Cream and Raspberries
Sundaes
Bourbon Pecan Waffle Sundaes
Pies
Caramel Cone Cream Pie
Cakes
Ice Cream Sundae Cupcakes
Shakes
Fizzy Fruity Ice Cream Floats
Shoppe
Birthday Cake Ice Cream
Extras
Balsamic Strawberries

As you can see from the future recipes I plan to make, there is a wide variety of items you can choose from in Scooped!

I really enjoyed the inclued "Social" section at the beginning of the book. It gives you examples/menus of what to serve for your various ice cream social occasions. Also, I really liked that Scooped provided a homemade ice cream tips for success page in the shoppe sections. Shoppe is all about different types of homemade ice cream recipes, and for a novice like me, the tips page is helpful!! :)

When I first received Scooped, I was flipping through really i was drooling over all the delicious pics and decided to make the hot fudge sundae shake for this review. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo because the shake was that good. I was so focused on drinking this delicious little ensemble that I totally forgot to take a picture so I snapped this from the book itself.

This included ingredients such as vanilla ice cream, milk, hot fudge topping, caramel topping, whipped cream, brownies, and a cherry for on top. If you'd like the actual recipe, you'll just have to buy the book. I loved this so much to the point that I slurped up every drop. ha!

I would totally recommend this book!!!!

*no financial compensation received for this review; i was only given the book

OOTN: Funfilled Weekend Part 1

The hubs' family came in town this past weekend, and it was tons of fun catching up!

OOTN: Dinner Downtown

dress: Lilly Pulitzer Beckett

handbag:Lilly Pulitzer

shoes: Gap leather flip flops in camel

1. reminder to take pics sans sunglasses. i have the TINIEST head and they just make me look ridiculous. 

2. pose where it does NOT make me look like i have a broken leg or some sort of weird leg disfigurement. lol. i'm not a "fashion" blogger,  but maybe i should research some so i can know how "to pose." lol. 

We all went down to a local place called The Rendezvous. It's one of those places that is on the "must go to" lists for visitors, but I know of better bbq joints in town. FYI, Princes William and Harry ate there last month when they were in town for a wedding. 

One item that NEVER disappoints is the sausage and cheese plate. I'll sometimes have it as my meal. If you follow me on instagram, you've already seen this, but I couldn't help but post. SO GOOD!

 

Red Gold Lasagna Party Kit

Back in January, Red Gold sent me a Lasagna Party Kit. I meant to post this last month, but life kind of got in the way. With having to take my mom to cancer appointments, work, and a family member passing away----I just didn't get a chance.

 I loved LOVED this! The party kit came with the basic essentials needed to make lasagna--spatula included!. All we needed to do was to get the ricotta. We keep parmesan and mozzarella on hand at home. Gotta love being married to an Italian:)

We used i guess i should be honest and say the hubs used the following recipe that Red Gold had emailed me:

Recipe: Red Gold “All-in-One" Lasagna

Overview:

Servings:	12
Preparation Time:	20 minutes
Cook Time:	1 hour

Ingredients:

1/2 cup water

1 (28 ounce) can Red Gold Crushed Tomatoes

2 (14.5 ounce) cans Red Gold Diced Tomatoes with Basil, Garlic & Oregano

1 (16 ounce) box lasagna noodles, traditional, uncooked

1 (15 ounce) carton low fat ricotta cheese

3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

 Directions

• Preheat oven to 350º F. In large mixing bowl combine water, RED GOLD® CRUSHED TOMATOES and RED GOLD® DICED TOMATOES with BASIL, GARLIC & OREGANO.
• Cover the bottom of a 9x13x2 inch baking pan with 1½ cups of sauce mixture.  Arrange 1/3 of noodles on top of sauce, slightly overlapped.  Top with ½ of ricotta cheese, ½ of mozzarella cheese and 1 cup of sauce.  Repeat layers and top with last 1/3 of noodles and the remaining sauce.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 to 1½ hours; until noodles are cooked. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
• The recipe makes 12 servings, but you could divide the recipe into two 9x9 inch baking dishes and freeze one for a wintry night supper.

*Sadly, I forgot to take a picture of our meal that night with all the craziness that has ensued over the past couple of months. It was yummy for sure!!!!

This was fantastic! I looked the fact that you are able to use uncooked noodles which makes the process go SO much faster!  And it's something this novice can do herself next time:)

I had never used Red Gold before, but it's great and will now be a regular staple in our pantry! Thank you SO much Red Gold!