Sunday Evening ~ Memorial Day Weekend

Before or after dinner enjoy this Mango Martini.

1 cup fresh mango

2 1/2 cups water

2/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup lime juice

1/2 cup Malibue caribbean Rum with coconut flavor

Place sliced mango in a blender or food processor; process to puree. Add remaining ingredients and process until smooth. Next get out your Cuisinart Automatic frozen yogurt-ice cream and sorbet maker. Pour into freezer bowl, turn the machine ON and mix until slushy, about 20 - 25 minutes. Serve immediately as a frozen beverage. To serve as a frozen dessert, transfer to an airtight container and place in freezer until firm about 2 hours.

What's for dinner..............Carolina Shrimp and Grits

Grits:

4 cups water

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup grits

1/2 cup butter

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

3 eggs

3/4 cup half and half

Combine water and salt in saucepan. Bring to a boil. Gradually add grits and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in butter, Cheddar cheese and garlic powder.

Beat eggs and half and half together. Add to grits
Pour mixture into greased 2 quart casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Shrimp:

1/3 cup diced onion

2 tablespoons butter, divided

21 to 26 fresh shrimp, peeled and de-veined

1 1/2 teaspoons herbs de provence

1 1/2 teaspoons cajun seasoning

2 sliced bacon cooked crisp

Minced fresh parlsey (out of my garden)

Lemon wedges

Saute onion in 1 tablespoon butter in saucepan until softened. Add shrimp, herbes de provence, Cajun seasoning and remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Cook. stirring constantly, until gray sauce forms.

Pour over grits and garnish with crumbled bacon, parsley and lemon.

Sunset in Manteno

After spending the day in the yard it doesn't get any better than a Shrimp and Grits dinner with a Mango Martini.......a quick trip to the gym........and a relaxing 1 hour in the HOT TUB. Stay tuned for Memorial Day dinner. You are going to love it.

Chicken Kabobs

Can you just smell these Chicken and Veggie Kabobs on my grill. The smell was wonderful and so was the day. I marinaded the chicken over night in this excellent marinade.

1 1/2 cups olive oil

3/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

2 T dry mustard

2 1/4 t salt

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1 T ground black pepper

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

1 1/2 t fresh parsley (just out of my garden)

2 fresh garlic cloves minced.

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Stove tightly covered in a mason jar for a week. Or you can freeze indefinitely.

The chicken was so moist and tender, you have to try it. Excellent. Then I added BBQ.

Stay tuned for tomorrows meal................

Nikos makes his Confirmation

"I will ask the Father and He will send you the Holy Spirit to be with you always." [John 14:16]

Today was a very special day for Nikos. He made his Confirmation at 11:00 am, at St. Joseph's Church in Manteno, Illinois by Bishop, The Most Rev. J. Peter Sartain, along with our Paster Father Al Heidecke. Nikos chose his confirmation name to be Raymond. Steven was his sponsor.

Come, Holy Spirit!

Enkindle

the fire of your love.

Transform all that is fearful into boldness of heart.

Inspire your servants

with Wonder and Awe

at the mystery

of your presence.

Confirm

your sons and daughters

in Compassion and Forgiveness.

Whisper Right Judgment

in the midst of confusion.

Be Wisdom in time of trouble;

Reverence in the face of diversity;

Patience with the unfolding of like

and forever anoint your messengers

with deep and lasting joy.

Amen.

Nikos with Religious Education Catechists Mr. Larry Spiek.

Now for the party.

The appitizers.......Shrimp Cocktail, Nuts and Mom made Cheese Straws.

Mom and Dad enjoying a Mimosa cocktail:):)

Lauren and Steven.

Wow........Thanks Mom and Dad:)

Here is Nikos with his new Alienware PC. Hopefully, this will get him through college.

Hot Roast Beef sandwiches.........yum. I made them in the crock pot, and yummy wheat and white buns, can you smell them. Italian Salad, Fresh Fruit and Potato Salad. Ice Tea with Mint from my garden.

And what's for dessert........Do you want Banana Cream pie and Raspberry Jello pie. Tom picked Raspberry Jello pie.

Mother's Day Events

I brought Crab Cups with Caviar.

Kelly brought Marinated Shrimp. We all want the recipe. It was very good.

Lauri serving us Champagne Tea with fresh fruit. Very yummy.

White crisp linens with pretty pink tulip and potted flowers for everyone to take home.

Emily, Mom and Cara

Emily, Cara ~ pregnant with baby Kelsey, and Mom. Can't wait to meet Kelsey.

Kelly, Lauren and Lauri

Sisters ~ Kelly, Me and Lauri.....minus Kendy North Carolina is so far ~ we miss you. Emily and Caty

Arugala salad with lemon dressing and shaved cheese.

Stuffed Chicken Breast with mushroom sauce, fresh Green Beans/Carrots and Potatoes. Delicious.

Mom's famous Lime cookies and Oatmeal cookies in the middle. The Lime cookies seem to be everyone's favorite.

Mom's cookies and sherbert for dessert. Perfect.

Thank you Lauri you made Mother's Day with our family perfect.

It was a lot of work and I thank you.

Day two for my Martha Stewart flowers from Steven. They smell wonderful. The Magic Bullet from Tom and Lauren. Thank you I have been wanting one.

Nikos and Steve bought me a TV for the kitchen. Can't wait for Steve to mount it tomorrow.

Gardening on Saturday

Pinot Grigio gardening all day.... what a wonderful way to end the day......................:)

Hummingbird feeder - no birds yet

Finch feeder and my birds have been here.

Burning bushes........they will get bigger. Green in summer and red in the fall

Hens and Chicks

Beautiful isn't it.........Flowering Crab

Spring is here.....this is my Lilac bush

Tomato, Red Pepper, Cucumber and Zucchini

Tabasco Chili Pepper, Jalapeno Pepper and Mammoth Jalapeno Pepper

Basil, Oregano, Thyme, Rosemary and Dill

Lavender

Mint

Cilantro, Tarragon, Parsley and Sage

Happy Mother's Day!

Martha Stewart Flowers where delivered this morning at 10:00 am. They are beautiful! Thanks Steven.

Kentucky Derby Party at Mom and Dad's 5/2/09

Strawberry Mint Julep Jello Shots (bottom left), Chicken and Salmon (top left), Shrimp Cocktail (bottom right), Veggies with Benedictine Dip (middle right) and Blue Cheese Dip with Cucumbers (top right)...yum

Steve and Nikos enjoying the appetizers. Nikos wanted a Jello Shot, but didn't get one:(

Lauri had to show Dad how to eat the Strawberry Mint Julep Jello Shot:)

Mom after just having a Strawberry Mint Julep Jello Shot:)

We all placed our bets. Dad won 1st, Steve won 2nd and Dad won 3rd. Fun was had by all.

Mom made Beef Burgundy, Corn Bread and Salad. The Beef Burgundy was so good. Mom said she started cooking it on Friday. It was so tender. Got to get that recipe. Sorry forgot to take a picture of the Kentucky Derby Bourbon Pie. The pie was perfect. Thank you Mom, dinner was great.

Let's do it again next year:)