OSAMA BIN DEAD.

I'd love to skip this topic altogether, because I'm sick of hearing his name, but on this important day in history it'd be ridiculous to pretend like the issue doesn't exist. After almost 10 years of dilligent searching, Osama Bin Laden is dead, and it's on a day like this that I couldn't be MORE proud to be an American. I couldn't be more thankful for the military & their families for sticking through ten years of hardship and pain so that we could celebrate this justice. When the news first broke, an amazing feeling of relief swept the nation, but I couldn't help but cringe at the fact that we were actually CELEBRATING the death of a human being. I had this feeling until I sat and listened to a particular news network's story about the 40 minute shoot out that killed Osama. My heart dropped as the newscaster told the story of how one of Bin Laden's son's was killed first, and then Osama "used one of his wives" as a human shield to protect him from bullets, and she died instantly as well. What a man, what a man.. Now my feelings of celebrating the death of a "human" have changed.. Kick rocks, Osama. I think the cover of the NY Daily News Magazine said it best..

In other world news, did anyone know a Royal Wedding happened? Amidst the talk of death & such, yes..it happened. Kate = Flawless. William = Poised. Fascinators = Stunning. Except for Dutchess Fergilicious's daughter.. I bet ol' Ferg is looking back at pics like "WTF?!"

Yikes. Anyway, if you're like me you're O-VER hearing about the lovely Cinderella story, although it was a picturesque story for all of those involved. Minus the mother of this child, however.

 

Yes, far left.. Oh, joy. I'm sure she got a good A$$ whippin' on the carriage ride home. Yes, I said carriage ride.. as if all Brit's ride in carriages on a daily basis with car seats equipped.

P.S. I know I mentioned that I love Kate's little sis's name in a previous blog, but I can't help but notice.. Did Pippa totally look 10 x better than Kate on her wedding day? Not a hater..just saying. Pippa, you betta WORK! ;)

Anyway, on with the show! Guess who went swimming for the first time this summer the other day? Here's a hint.. He's made a couple of guest appearances on Baywatch..

Yes, you guessed it.. Cash is a swimmin' machine! He's all signed up for swimming lessons in June, and my b.f.f & I took him out to the pool this past Friday. I wasn't sure what to expect because he was so small last summer. Let me just say.. he is a FISH! We even learned a new trick.. I don't know the proper term but we called it "JUMPING OFF OF THE SIDE"

I love that child...OMGGG! After countless applications of sunscreen, we still left our day in the sun, a total BROWNIE..

 

Clearly, we had a fabulous time swimming & it definitely helped push me over my "Christmas Missing" stage.

*side note : If you're reading this blog, you'll need to know that I go in & out of frequent stages in which I miss all things Christmas. This usually starts the week AFTER Christmas & lasts until the following December. Hot cocoa, Home Alone, Christmas Lights, Cinnamon Candles, etc. It's a reoccuring illness of mine, and its only symptom is occassional pouting.

 

Anyway, (for now!) I'm ALLL about Summertime. Here's a couple of Summertime recipes I just can't get enough of:

 

NEELY'S STEAK & LIME FAJITAS

 

NEED:

Marinade:

1/2 cup olive oil

4 tablespoons tequila

4 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon lime zest

4 large garlic cloves, smashed

1 jalapeno, chopped

2 tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon ground cumin

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 (1 1/2 pound) skirt steak, cut in 1/2

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 poblano pepper, sliced

1 red bell pepper, sliced

1 large onion, sliced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

18 flour tortillas

Fresh sprigs cleaned cilantro, for garnish

Lime wedges, for garnish

Sour cream, for garnish

Salsa verde, optional garnish

STEPS:

1. Mix all the marinade ingredients together in a large resealable plastic bag. Add the steaks and refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours.

2. Heat a cast iron griddle over medium-high heat. Remove the steaks from the marinade and wipe off the excess. Cook the steaks for 3 minutes per side for medium-rare. Remove from griddle to a cutting board and tent with foil. Let rest while you cook the peppers.

3. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Add the poblano, red bell pepper, and onion and saute until tender and softened. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove to a bowl.

4. Wipe out the cast iron skillet. Toast the tortillas, until warm and slightly puffy. Remove and wrap in a clean kitchen towel to stay warm.

5. Cut the steak across the grain into thin 1/2-inch strips. Arrange on a large platter with the vegetables, cilantro, lime wedges, sour cream and a small bowl of salsa verde, if desired.

 

WATERMELON POPS:

(Kraft recipe)

NEED:

1 cup sugar, divided

1 pkg. (3 oz.) JELL-O Lime Flavor Gelatin

2 cups boiling water, divided

Ice cubes

1 cup cold water, divided

1 pkg. (3 oz.) JELL-O Strawberry Flavor Gelatin

3 Tbsp. miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 pkg. (4 oz.) Cream Cheese, softened

1-1/2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

STEPS:

1. Mix 1/3 cup sugar and lime gelatin mix in medium bowl. Add 1 cup boiling water; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add enough ice to 1/2 cup cold water to measure 3/4 cup. Add to lime gelatin; stir until ice is completely melted. Refrigerate 25 min.

2. Meanwhile, repeat Step 1 using strawberry gelatin mix and omitting the refrigeration step. Pour into 16 (3-oz.) paper cups. Freeze 20 min. Stir 1/2 tsp. chocolate chips into gelatin in each cup.

3. Beat cream cheese and remaining sugar with mixer in medium bowl until well blended. Stir in COOL WHIP; spread over gelatin in cups.

4. Pour lime gelatin over cream cheese mixture. Insert wooden pop stick into gelatin in center of each cup. Freeze 3 hours or until firm. Remove pops from cups just before serving

MARGARITA CUPCAKES

 

CAKE:

3 cups cake flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup margarita mix

2 T lime juice

1 tsp lime zest

5 T strawberry preserves

1/3 cup tequila

3 eggs

1/2 cup milk

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl and set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add margarita mix, lime juice, lime zest, strawberry preserves and tequila and mix on low speed to incorporate. (Mix may appear slightly curdled at this point but don't worry, it will come back together with the flour.) Add in eggs, one at a time, mixing after each addition. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture, then 1/2 the milk, and repeat mixing after each addition until just incorporated, ending with the flour mixture.

Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners and bake approximately 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool approximately 10 minutes and remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

GLAZE:

1/2 cup margarita mix

2 T tequila

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Red food coloring

Add powdered sugar to a small bowl, whisk in margarita mix and tequila to make a thick liquid glaze. Add a few drops of red food coloring to desired color. Poke 4-5 holes in each cooled cupcake with a wooden skewer. Spoon glaze over cupcakes, about a tablespoon at a time, giving the glaze a chance to absorb before adding more. You don't want to saturate the cupcakes so you may have some extra glaze left over.

 

FROSTING:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature

4-6 cups powdered sugar

3 T margarita mix

2 T strawberry preserves

Red food coloring

Beat together butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add margarita mix and strawberry preserves and beat until well incorporated. Add powdered sugar one cup at a time until frosting is desired consistency. Add a few drops red food coloring to tint frosting to desired color. Pipe frosting onto cupcakes as desired. Top with sliced strawberries for garnish if desired.

With this Summertime pep in my step, I also decided to start an herb garden. If you can't already tell, I cook. Alot. I typically use dry herbs in my cooking, but I've been craving fresh ones in some of my recipes. I'm going to start my garden with Basil, Parsley, and Jalapenos. If I had the time/space, I'd grow ALL of our veggies.. such a rewarding experience! Not to mention, Cash gets a kick out of "helping" these days, even if that means just digging a hole in the dirt with his shovel. Away from Mama's plants, of course.. Has anyone been missing my beginner crafting skills? Sorry I haven't had much to highlight lately. If it helps, I've been putting all of my planning/crafting energy into planning Cash-Man's Mardi Gras birthday party, and it may be the cutest thing in the world. I wish I could share the details, but then there would be nothing to look forward to!

 

Hi. Um. Yeah. This is my MOM. She looks 20. She's not. Her secret? SUNSCREEN. Every single day.. In case anyone is looking for the best sunscreen, as in literally labeled the BEST SUNSCREEN IN THE WORLD by Dermatoligists, this is it. I saw it in a magazine & I'm considering purchasing it. I can't say it'll make you look like my mom, (good genes came into play in that case as well. WHOOP!) but it's worth a shot..

LA ROCHE-POSAY ANTHELIOS XL LAIT SPF

http://www.amazon.com/ANTHELIOS-XL-SPF-50-Face/dp/B0009VT9WU

Speaking of products, I've been SPRING CLEANING all day, and there are two of my very favorite cleaning fragrances filling my house. If you do not clean with these two particular products, you haven't lived. Dramatic, but so very true. One is for laundry & one is just a home fragrance.. If you think I'm over-exaggerating, buy these products, clean with them & I'll pay you a $1 if you don't fall in love. Oooh, a whole dolla.

GAIN APPLE MANGO TANGO LAUNDRY PRODUCTS:

 

FEBREZE LAVENDER & VANILLA HOME SPRAY:

P:S I need help! Our old house was fully tiled with no carpet (even in the bedroom) so it took some time for Cash to adapt to the carpeted bedrooms in the new home. This is my calm, cool & collected way of stating that my little heathen drew pictures with my eyeliner all over the freakin' carpet. I need a suggestion for a VERRRRYYY good carpet stain remover. I know that shampooing is ideal, but excuse me for not being a professional cleaning superstar & ENJOYING lugging a big contraption like that around.. I'm looking for the next best thing. SOMETHING SIMPLE. I want to be able to scrub & vacuum dry. ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE NICE! I got a whole 287 blog views on my last post, with only one comment, so I'm assuming all of you anonymous bee-yotch's won't help a sista out anyway, but it's worth a shot ;) I kid, I kid.. kind of.