Summer Hits.

HELLO FRIENDS!!! Happy Summer :) Just getting back in my "normal" routine after traveling constantly for the past 2 months. Well, by normal I mean "baseball life normal." Ha! I've been dying to upload and share some pictures of recipes I've made - and LOVED - since the summer started! I would not share anything on my blog that I didn't think was amazing, so here goes...

Made this Champagne Mojito for the whole fam on Memorial Day. It was a HIT!

Get the recipe here.

This Hot Corn Dip has been floating around Pinterest for a while, so I decided to try it out on everyone.

WOW! It was all gone in about 30 minutes! Amazing appetizer for a crowd! Here's a little tip:

Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce can be hard to find sometimes. Look at Dollar General, that's where I found mine - and for cheap!

Apricot Chutney - I can't take credit for this one... my little mama made this, and let's just say we were so full we could barely eat our dinner by the time we polished this one off! 

It's from the cookbook, Sunday In the South.

Recipe below.

Watermelon with Feta with Mint

Simple but wonderful - perfect for summer! I added a little something extra on top of the salad:

Cranberry-Pear Balsamic Vinegar (get it here!)

We made this twice in the span of a week: Brown Sugar Fruit Dip

Bonus: It has Kahlua in it, which MAKES the recipe! 

Another new find for me: Double Blind Pinot Grigio 

I am usually not a white wine drinker, but this one has won me over! 

Read about it and buy it here.

Also made these Sweet & Spicy Grilled Chicken Breasts! Full of flavor and simple to make...

only THREE ingredients! I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts, and they turned out just fine!

Here is the recipe for the Apricot Chutney:

2 (10oz) jars of apricot jam (we used peach preserves; either one is fine)

1 cup rice vinegar

1/4 cup mustard seed

1 TBS fresh ginger, minced (fresh ginger is preferred, but 1 tsp. dried ginger may be substituted)

Combine all ingredients in a medium skillet and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat slightly and continue simmering, stirring frequently, until mixture is thickened and reduced to 2 cups - about 8-10 mins. Allow to cool before serving. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator. 

We just poured it over a block of cream cheese and served it with toasted baguette slices.  You could also pair it with grilled chicken, pork, or fish! (Tip: To serve with pork - which I think would be amazing - slice pork thinly across the grain and drizzle with this mixture!)

Here are a couple other amazing summer recipes that I love:

Parmesan Cilantro Skillet Corn (Making this right now!)

Heirloom Tomato, Fresh Peach, Pecan, and Goat Cheese Salad

My husband, family, and I just got back from a week-long trip to Napa!! It was one of the best trips we've ever taken, and I will be blogging about it this week! Stay tuned :)

Life, Lately.

Pretty sure I am a horrible blogger. I haven't posted since the Super Bowl. WORST! Three days after our Super Bowl party, my little honey and I left for Spring Training in Scottsdale, AZ. My life was pretty much baseball, Lululemon, Nike, and sun for the better part of a month and a half. Sorry for being MIA, but my fashion blog would be pretty boring if I posted my everyday outfits that have been consisting of workout clothes. Here's a few things that have been happening in my life, lately.

Went to the NHRA Arizona Nationals, wearing these vintage Chanel studs & 

an Auden multi-cross silver necklace (Check out the Auden website - LOVE their stuff!) 

You guys know I love to find great restaurants when I go/move to a new city...

We found two we loved: Cowboy Ciao and FnB Scottsdale. This pic was taken at FnB.

If you're ever in Scottsdale, put these two places on the top of your list! 

The "Chopped Salad" at Cowboy Ciao was the best salad I've ever had. IN. MY. LIFE. (and I don't even like salads since my pageant days, years ago)

Everything at FnB was incredible!! Just ask your server what they recommend & go with that. 

Trust me. (P.S. How do y'all like my little honey's shirt? haha)

The huge cross cuff with chain is the newest addition to my collection! Been wearing it a lot with all black ensembles. My earrings are from The Montage Collection. (Thanks Myrna!)

Toured the Wrigley Mansion with my adorable mama (seriously, look at how cute she is!!)

We also toured the AZ Biltmore and ate lunch there, too, which I highly recommend!

Guess what else we did while my mom was visiting....???

We took a hot air balloon ride in the dessert with these guys - AMAZING!

We went up with 2 other balloons that afternoon.

I got to get inside the balloon as it was on its side, being blown up (which was HOT) 

because I wore a dress... I know, I know... who wears a dress to go on a hot air balloon ride.

This girl. 

This was my view from inside the basket... very pretty!

Mom and I up 5,000 feet!

Beautiful sunset in the AZ desert.

After our (rough) landing, we had a champagne toast and hors d'oeuvres in the middle of the desert.

Shopping in Carefree and Cave Creek

 (which is another thing I highly recommend if you are in the Scottsdale area)

In Carefree, be sure and eat lunch at English Rose Tea Room and have a late afternoon sangria at the newly-opened Venues Cafe!

Mom and I got these amazing sterling silver aztec-looking rings in AZ! 

I loved being in Scottsdale for the two months of Spring Training! We saw a lot - and ate a lot! Hoping to get back there soon!!

Super Bowl Highlights.

Before we left for Spring Training, my little honey and I wanted to throw one more little party. We decided a Super Bowl party would be the perfect way to do that. Below are some of the recipes we used to make the party a huge success! These are recipes you can use throughout the year, at any gathering - not just for a Super Bowl party! I know I haven't been doing many "outfit posts" lately, and I'm sorry! Once Spring Training and baseball games start....and I am wearing more than Lululemon and Nike on a daily basis, I will take some outfit pictures! Ha! Enjoy the recipes! xx

Kahlua Brownies - If you make ONE thing from this post, make THESE!!! You guys know I love sweets, and I've had a lot of brownies in my day... but these rank among the best I've ever had! That says a lot!

Very rich, with a subtle taste of Kahlua. I also added some Kahlua to the brownie mix itself, too!

Note: To make the icing a little thicker, we added almost one more full cup of confectioners' sugar.

Brownies cut into the shape of footballs.

Rice crispies w/melted chocolate on top. Didn't have time to do all the white lacing before the party started.

More of the food, including Jalapeño Popper Dip, Captain Rodney dip (one of the easiest and best appetizers to make!), Simple Meatballs, Texas Caviar, Rotel, and tons of chips.

My sweet little mama!!

Our football themed goodies!

The meatballs are so easy to make! All you do is get frozen meatballs in the freezer section of your local grocery store & cook according to the directions on the package. Next, in your crockpot or over the stove on low heat, combine one jar of grape jelly and one jar of Heinz Chili Sauce. Mix well and add cooked meatballs. Stir to coat. You can double or triple this recipe with ease! I usually double it to feed a crowd of 15+. They are great left over, too!

{Picture and recipe via here.}

The hit of the night were these little Ham & Cheese Sliders. 

I had been seeing them float around Pinterest for months before I pinned them, and I am SO glad I did! 

No one could eat just one...they were THAT good! Make this using Hawaiian rolls like I did, and it's so much easier than using the little dinner rolls. You're welcome.

One more recipe I wanted to share with you guys is "Super Bowl Soup." We had it the week before Super Bowl, so that counts right?? The recipe takes a little time due to all the peeling/chopping, but IT.IS.SO.WORTH.IT!!!! TRUST ME!!! This is especially popular with the men and children ;)

I would double the recipe, at least...maybe even triple it so everyone can have seconds & still have some left over!

Here's the recipe... enjoy! xx

Super Bowl Soup (can be tripled)

1/2 lb ground beef

3/4 cup chopped onion

3/4 cup shredded carrots (or chopped)

3/4 cup of celery, chopped

1 tsp dried basil

1 tsp dried parsley

1 tablespoon butter

1 32 oz box of chicken broth (or you can use bullion cubes or the powdered version)

4 cups of potatoes peeled and cubed (about 1 3/4 lbs)

3 Tablespoons butter

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

8 oz. Velveeta cheese, cubed

1 1/2 cups milk

3/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/4 cup sour cream

Brown meat and drain - set aside. Large saucepan or in soup pot, sautee onions, carrots, celery, basil and parsley with 1 tbs butter until tender. Add broth, potatoes, and beef to that mixture & bring to boil. Reduce heat and cover to simmer for 10-12 mins or until potatoes are tender. Meanwhile in a small sauce, melt 3 tablespoons of butter and stir in flour. Cook and stir 3-4 mins until bubbly. Blend flour mixture into soup, then bring to boil. Cook and stir for 2 mins, then reduce heat to low. Stir in cheese, milk, and salt & pepper until cheese melts. Remove from heat then stir in sour cream (this is the last thing you do). 

* Can chop all veggie the day before. 

**Can add some heat to the soup, in the form of cayenne or red pepper flakes.