Italian Garlic Salad

This salad is a HIT. A must try. It even tastes good as leftovers!

I taught a bunch of Young Women how to make this salad. They all LOVED it. I had a few phone calls the next day getting the recipe. We also made Breadsticks and Baked Ziti.

I adapted this recipe from a friend. Sometimes the best recipes are from the favorites of others kitchens. 

You don't have to go to a restaurant to have gourmet food. In fact, fresh good quality food is usually best made by you! And less expensive too. Now, don't get me wrong, I like to eat out. But I think I like to cook and bake more in my own kitchen. So I save the eating out for date night and special occasions.

Entertain. Have your friends over. What salad are you going to serve this time? Italian Garlic Salad. The garlic gives it a bit of spice...very nice! Like doing 2 things at once.

Multi-Task. Make dinner while you create your own radio station. Have you heard about Pandora Radio? Well, thanks to my bro-in law who told my husband. I now know about Pandora. Let me tell you, it is nice...just like spice! It is a little something for your ears, and the salad is a little something for your mouth.

Visit to the Eastern Shore

Now, the reason I was M.I.A. Missing in Action with Blogging is because I spent the last 3 weeks in Maryland.

So let me tell you about my 3 weeks. First. Food.

A few things I made while I was there...

The pie was a HUGE hit!

And that is not all the food I made or partook of. My taste buds were loving all the seafood. I had Stone Crab for the first time (wonderful), Tuna, Sushi and more! This is a food blog, thus I need to share all my tasteful delights! Recipes to come.

Second. I did do other things beside eat. Play (the reason for not being able to get to a computer). The beach was FANTASTIC! Lots of family time (yes those are glow sticks in my hair...it was the 4th of July and I was Lady Liberty). Family is why I was there.

A few things I did...

A few other random things:

*I learned that blue crabs are traditionally steamed with beer, vinegar and water.
*My new favorite cheese is Smoked Gouda.
*I do not miss the bugs that bite or the humidity.
*There is nothing as good as sleeping in your own bed.
*I found a Hermit Crab as I was jumping through the waves in the Ocean...bent over to pick something up and sure enough~A Hermit Crab! Luckily it didn't pinch my foot!
*I was adopted by one of my mom's friends.
*My Dad still likes Ice Cream as much as he always has.
*I don't like showering in "soft water".
*Thrashers Fries are still good.
*Surfing in Ocean City is hit or miss.
*I have a wonderful family and friends. Laughing is a must.
*Saltwater is not a good drink.
*There is still a part of me that will always remain and be a part of "home" for me in Maryland.

~Nicole

3 Cheese Tomato-Spinach Calzones with Pesto

Now, what is a Calzone? What is the difference between Calzones and Stromboli? Well, I will tell you....

Stromboli is rolled. Almost like Cinnamon Rolls, but pizza like. Stromboli does not typically have sauce inside the dough...you dip it in sauce. Now, Calzones are not rolled, but folded and they might have sauce inside. Calzones are individually proportioned and Stromboli you slice like cinnamon rolls. Does that help?

I love the pizza family. Italian food is amazing. Loved by so many. A favorite of so many. Growing up Lasagna was my favorite food.

I love to get creative with pizza's and calzones. Yes. What is not to love?

You could have a family night and "make your own Calzone night" Make the dough and have several toppings for your family to put inside their calzone. Make it fun and enjoyable to eat. Or not. Your choice.

Fruit Salad with Lime Mint Dressing

Fruit Salad. Yummy. Yummy. Fruit Salad. Yummy. Yummy.

I went strawberry picking in my back yard and look what I found....

So, I HAD to make a fruit salad. Look at the beauty. Those strawberries cry out...Eat me. Eat me. And They were SO good. Better than any store bought strawberries.

In fact, I have a wonderful amount and variety of fruit growing in my yard (some do better than others and some are still immature). Peach, Cherry, Apple, Pear, Blueberry, Raspberry, Almond (my favorite nut), Plum, Grapes. Just to name a few. I just LOVE it! And I love having all that wonderful fruit right at my doorstep.

Speaking of being eaten. I have. BY BUGS! I don't think I taste that good. I mean, seriously... why do bugs intend to torture me so? I am DONE being eaten. Thank you very much. But enough of my woes.

Lets talk about summer and fruit salad. Yummy. Yummy. Makes me want to break out in the "Wiggles" song, "Fruit Salad".

Raspberry Chipotle BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

This is one of my husbands favorite things....

Eating BBQ Drumsticks. Not Grilling. In fact, I am the one who does ALL the grilling. I think out of the 7 years that we have had our grill, my husband has grilled 2 times on it. Not to say that he isn't good. Just I LOVE IT!

I walk through a Home improvement store and see the grills and I am the one drooling. Yes, the grill has a special place in my heart.

What not better to do than grill in the summer? I mean, come on...who doesn't love the smell of food cooking on the grill?!

There are a few tricks to grilling. 1st. You need to know your grill and it's "hot spots". More on that later.

Drumsticks are CHEAP. And on the grill they are amazing! This recipe is simple. Simple. Simple.

Simple and Cheap, what better than that? Oh yeah, they taste good...the perfect trio.

On with the recipe.