Sunday, July 26, 2009

Gazpacho!!!

I love Gazpacho! I was first introduced to it when I traveled to Spain to visit one of my best friend's Shannon Willimas Frost when she was studying abroad . I was a little leery at first. A cold tomato soup., YUCK! However, to my surprise I fell in love! I thought I would share with you the process and the recipe for gazpacho.

Here are few of the ingredients used. Fresh summer produce is the best, a cucumber, red bell pepper, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, olive oil, vinegar, and tomato juice.

Chop each individual vegetable and chop in food processor, not pureed. Here are the tomatoes.


Here is what it will look like before you add the tomato juice, vinegar, and olive oil.

Then, Viola'!!!! I really hope all you will give Gazpacho a chance. It is fantastic. It is a little time consuming, but well worth it. Enjoy!!
Gazpacho
2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded
1 red bell pepper, seeded
4 roma tomatoes or fresh from the garden
1 red onion
1/2 bunch of cilantro, chopped (i used more cilantro than parsley)
1/2 bunch of parsley chopped ( I used 1/2 of the 1/2 bunch)
tablespoon of minced garlic ( I used the one that is already in the jar!)
kosher salt (I used my sea salt grinder, enough to taste)
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil ( I used pure olive oil)
3 cups of tomato juice
2 oz of cider vinegar
Chop each vegetable and remove seeds. Put each vegetable separately into a food processor fitted with at steel blade and pulse until it is coarsely chopped. Do not over process!
After each vegetable is processed combine in large bowl. In separate bowl combine, tomato juice, olive oil, and vinegar. Stir until completely mixed together then pour into vegetable mixture. The longer gazpacho sits, the more the flavors develop.

Not much....

I haven't posted in a while, but really nothin' much has been going on. I promise that when something does I will have it on here. I am attending a First birthday party next weekend for Stella , so I will have sweet pictures from the party. We are going home August the 8. My cousin is getting married, so it will be a short trip home. However, I am coming home the week before Labor day.I am SUPER EXCITED!!!! The yummy food at the Walking Horse Celebration is one of my favorite times of the year!! See, Ya'll soon.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Drew and Brittany's Wedding

Well, let's say the party got started as soon as the two were hitched!!! They had the same band we did The Respectables .
They rocked the house!!! It brought back lots of memories from our wedding! Neil and I had a blast at this reception. As you know at your own wedding you can't really let your hair down or really cut loose. You have to make your rounds saying thanks and all the other good stuff. So at Neil's best friend's wedding, We LET OUR HAIR DOWN AND BOOGIED ALL NIGHT LONG!!


Drew doing the famous "Robot" moves!!





Ross (Drew's brother) , Josh, Neil, and Ryan






Brittany being a little shy when Drew ran his hand up her dress!!! Can't be shy anymore!!






Oh yes, here we are at the bar tanking up on some delightful beverages and posing for the camera!!








Brittany doing a little dance!




Neil and I doing what we do best... ACTING CRAZY!!!


I always wanted to be in a band!! That is the cowbell I am playing... if you remember I played the cowbell at mine to "Honky Tonk Women by the Rolling Stones"



Give me more cowbell!!!!

Friday, June 19, 2009

The after party at the TIN ROOF



After the rehearsal dinner the BRIDE went home to get her beauty sleep. So, the boys and me decided to go out to the TIN ROOF for a little after party!!!

Nothing but AAAAA Alcohol here talking!!!


Hey Neily, I need you to prop me up , Man..... the Bear chasers are getting to me, said Jonathan!
Two best buds from way back when. Congrats Drew!



Drew and Brittany's Rhearsal Dinner at Jimmy Kelly's

Here is the happy couple Drew and Brittany after the rehearsal. They hosted a lovely rehearsal dinner at Jimmy Kelly's. It was fantastic. Especially the brownie with ice cream. It was the best brownie that I have ever had!


Here a few highlights from the dinner.




Drew, Ryan and Jonathan


Neil, Ryan and Jonathan



And last but not least Neil and I .... this was the only picture he was smiling in. He thought it would be funny if he didn't smile in any of the pictures.

A day at the pool with the GIRLS!!


Friday, June 19 we decided to get together and have a pool day! It was great to spend time with my childhood friends Shannon and Suzanne. Shannon brought along the next generation , Avery! She has grown so much in the past few months since I have seen her. She is a doll in her polka dotted bathing suit! Look at this precious smile!




Here we are, the girls from the 80's !!!! Suzanne, me and Shannon spent alot of time together growing up. Lots of memories I will always treasure, the good and the bad!!!


Here is Little Miss Avery!!! Love the hat and bathing suit. She loved the water. There were times she would just splash and giggle!



I tried this super cool function with my camera. It brings out all the pink and everything else is black and white!!!





Saturday, June 13, 2009

Carson's 3rd Birthday Party June 13, 2009

I went to visit Amy and Matt for their son's 3rd birthday party. His birthday was actually June 10. Amy did such a nice job on all the food! Everything was yummy including the Drum cake and Eddy's vanilla ice cream... just thinking about it makes me want more!



The theme was music. Carson is into instruments and music. She had Kindermusic come and entertain the children for 30 minutes. The children enjoyed it alot!


Happy Birthday Carson! I hope you enjoyed all your toys!






Birthday Boy


Mommy cutting his cake which looked like a Drum!


His adorable sister Stella!! I took this with my camera which is a very cool function!



The kids playing and singing songs!



This is Stella on the L and Isabella on the R. They are cousins and only 8 days apart!