happy weekend...

 a sure way to beat the heat...  just close your eyes and pretend your feet are hanging over a dock on the lake and cool water is splashing all around you.  don't you fell cooler already?

Strawberry Cheesecake Pops

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cream cheese

• ¼ cup sour cream

• 3/4 cup powdered sugar

• 1/3 cup whole milk

• 6 large fresh strawberries, chopped or ¾ cup frozen strawberries

• 6 standard sized graham crackers

• 1 tbs melted butter

Instructions

1.   In  food processor add the cream cheese, sour cream, powdered sugar and milk, process until well combined. Add the strawberries, pulse to combine.

2.   Pour mixture into popsicle molds, leaving about 1 inch of the top empty for the crust.

3.   Crush the graham crackers in a plastic bag with a rolling pin.   Pour into a bowl mix in a tablespoon of melted butter.

4.   Divide the crust evenly between the popsicles, press down gently to compact. Insert popsicle sticks, freeze for at least 6 hours and up to 3 days.

enjoy,

love sent, xo

dear august...

the world looks better through a cool pair of shades on the beach on a saturday...

thank you for starting out amazing, now, please slow down...

love sent, xoxo

lucky...

life moves quickly.  enjoy every minute.  i started this post ages ago and just logged on and decided to post it just as it is... no words just a couple of pictures of a really fun night.

love sent, xo

have a safe and happy 4th...

love sent, xo

summer vibes...

it's been so long...

i'm trying to get back into the groove.  let's start with a recipe.  this was fantastic and will definitely stay in the summer rotation.

Ingredients

Dill & Garlic Dressing:
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh dill, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Salad:
• 1 pound tomatoes (cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half, or about 3 large tomatoes, seeded & chopped)
• 1 pound cucumbers (approximately 2 large or 4 small), diced
• 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, drained, pitted, & chopped
• 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill, for garnish

Directions

For the dressing:
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients until thoroughly blended. Alternatively, you may place ingredients in a jar, tighten the lid, and shake until incorporated.
For the salad:
2. In a large bowl, combine all salad ingredients. Toss with dressing until everything is evenly coated.
3. Cover salad and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, removing from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving. Drain off any excess dressing and garnish with dill, if desired.

and dessert...

love sent, x0

hope everyone had a nice weekend.

synonymous with comfort

                  this is what i want you to do.  tell someone you love them, and that dinner is at 6.

      this has been the loveliest of summers. weekends seemed to get the best weather and there was
      so much to do.   it was really a memorable few months.  with school starting a great way to introduce
      a new season is to fill your house with the atmosphere of everything this new season brings.
      light candles, grab a sweater (maybe not tonight) pile up the wood on your firepit, gather around the
      table.  times will always be changing and times are always changing all of us.  the time around the table
      together really, really, matters.  i feel so blessed that i get to do this often.  this house has a soul that loves us all. the time and effort i spend feeding people with food and love is very special to me, i am so blessed. i hope you will linger around the table tonight and enjoy all the small moments. embrace all that is new and toast to today. toast this new school year whether you have kids or not.  remember to enjoy everything that is new and different and exciting. remember to just be in the moment.
                 

   
                                               and then make this awesome cauliflower dish.  

cauliflower au gratin

1 lg head of cauliflower cut into florets
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp flour
1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup grated gruyere swiss cheese
1/2 cup of grated white cheddar
salt and freshly cracked pepper
5 slices of cured ham
1 tbsp chopped chives

pour an inch of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  place a steamer over the boiling water, add the cauliflower cover the pan, and steam for about 5-6 minutes.  in a separate sauce pan melt the butter, then whisk in the flour.  add the milk a little at a time stirring constantly to avoid lumps.  add the cheese and keep stirring until the cheese is melted.  add extra milk if you need to thin the sauce a bit.  season with salt and pepper.
place the cauliflour in a nonstick baking dish and pour the sauce over it.  bake in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes.  while the cauliflower bakes fry the ham in a dry pan until it becomes crispy.  break into pieces. remove baking dish from the oven and sprinkle the ham and chives over the top.

enjoy.

love sent, xo

summer 2014

fall in love with your life...

the days are slowly beginning to shorten and the nights have begun whispering that summer
is starting to unwind.  i am hanging on to these final days of summer.  i am planning on starting the
long weekend early...      thanks to an awesome interim boss...

5 things to look forward to this holiday weekend.

#1.   coffee - yes every day,  but i love the lingering kind that the long weekend offers.

#2.  flowers.  this time of year they are spectacular.  surrounding yourself with them is sure to make you smile.

#3.  beaches and browns lobster pound.  can't be labor day without them.

#4.   family.  love eachother.  it's what makes it all worth while.
grampy and mikey quahogging.

#5.   bike rides and another picnic.

can we restart summer?
here's to sand and surf, salty air and seaside dreams.  maybe even oysters and champagne.  hope your late summer weekend is off to a fantastic start.

enjoy,
love sent, xo
#forever summer

a beautiful sunset in august

i hope everyone has had a great august.  it has flown by here.  this summer the song i have listened to most often and it has kept me upbeat everyday listen here.  on a really great day it would  be blasting in my car.  "yes, i should have known that kind of feeling would last longer than that weekend."  i have had some amazing summer days, they involved lots of sunscreen, masses of fresh air, beach dinners, picnics, never rushing into the office, long evenings with a glass of wine.   i wouldn't trade this summer for anything.  this past weekend at the cape my camera battery died so i only had a few not so good phone pictures, but i have the memory and i will remember it for a long, long time.

there was incredible love.  feed the ones you love, the best "chowda" i have ever eaten and serve them aperol spritz, a drink that will bring them right back to those sunny days in venice.

then feed them again, and again. take long walks along the canal, share photos and memories. breathe in the feeling of fall, throw on a sweatshirt  and  keep warm around the firepit.  so many laughs. 
 i love you guys!!

thanks for the love. xo

blueberry, marscapone, won ton dessert

4 cups fresh blueberries
1 cup ricotta cheese 
3/4 cup mascarpone cheese

2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
20 wonton wrappers
cooking oil for frying.

add ricotta, mascarpone, honey, confectioners' sugar, lemon juice and zest to a medium bowl. beat until smooth. cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour before assembly. 

heat a skillet over medium heat. add about 1/4 to 1/2 of cooking oil and allow it to heat up. add wonton wrappers to oil and cook until lightly golden brown (about 30 seconds). flip them and cook until opposite side is lightly golden brown. remove wontons to a wire rack to drain and cool. set aside until ready for assembly.
combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon and nuts in a medium bowl. stir to fully combine. drizzle melted butter over the mixture and toss with a fork until mixture is
 coated. set aside until ready for assembly.

place a fried wonton wrapper on a plate. add 2-3 tablespoons of cheese filling and smooth it out to the edges of the wonton.
sprinkle about a tablespoon of graham cracker crumble over the cheese filling. 
add a layer of blueberries to the cheese filling and graham cracker crumbs.
repeat the first four layers again. serve immediately.

enjoy
love sent, xo

it's a beautiful day....

                                                          i think i want to marry you...

what an incredible wedding.  it was so much fun.  thanks sue and steve for hosting such a beautiful affair. congratulations to the amazing couple and wishing you a life time of happiness.  

days like these make us all stop and realize how truly lucky we are.  

my whole heart will be yours forever.  congratulations mr. & mrs. normandin.

                                                     stunning - love you guys...

                                                                 

                                          i love this picture, it really was a magical night. 

                            may the rest of your journey through life be as fun as your wedding!!!

love sent, xoxo

super moon

just beautiful..

it really was spectacular!


love sent, xo