SIX. 1-2-3-4-5-6.

On August 10, 2007, this girl went to the hospital........

I still can't BELIEVE I wore that outfit!

 ONE year later.....

No, I wasn't under house arrest! 

 TWO years later.....

Oh, I miss that beach!

 THREE years later.....

What a fun day this was! 

 FOUR years later.....

Seeing this picture makes me crave a  glass (or a bottle!) of wine! 

 FIVE years later......

Oh why do I torture myself with pictures of the beach?

 SIX years later.....

Here I am....yesterday in  Gerry's (my photographer) office!  Thank YOU Gerry!

 To all of my blog friends.....
To THANK YOU for being a big part of making these 6 years possible......I am sharing a few  new-to-me favorite recipes and menu tips that I know you will just love....because I SURE DO!!  

Spreading the love......

Recipe: Portobello Bruschetta with Rosemary Aïoli  

Now, let me tell you about this recipe.....it is TO DIE FOR.  Seriously TO.DIE.FOR.  I found this recipe when I was trying to recreate a dish that my daughter loves at a local restaurant.  Although this is not that particular dish, I am so thankful I decided to try it.  I made this about 2 weeks ago for a late dinner on the deck when we had some friends in town visiting.  It was a HUGE HIT.  I served it with a simple salad and this very refreshing wine that our friends brought with them.  WOO HOO!  

Recipe:  Spinach Basil Walnut Pesto 

As a mad lover of basil and all things basil, one of my favorite things on this planet is fresh basil pesto.  In the summer, I grow lots of basil and I make tons of pesto. I schmear it on everything except cookies and cereal.   This year, I must have went pesto crazy! There I was in the kitchen getting ready for guests when I found myself low on basil and pine nuts.  Since pesto was going to be the main ingredient I needed to top the grilled chicken with, I was in a bit of a pickle.   As I was tearing through the fridge trying to see if I had a secret supply of basil somewhere, I spied a bag of baby spinach.  Then, I remembered a recipe from my early cooking days---a super yummy spinach basil walnut pesto that I thought was from Mike Kalina's Pittsburgh Cookbook.  Since I couldn't find the cookbook on my shelf, I hopped online to try and find it.  Instead of finding it, I found myself captivated by the salacious stories associated with his suicide so many years ago.....not a good thing when you have guests coming for dinner!  I had to pull myself away and find a similar recipe pronto! While doing my research, I found that it wasn't from Mike Kalina's cookbook!  It was from Dom Deluise's cookbook--Eat This, You Will Feel Better.  So, anyway....here's the recipe I ended up using. Thankfully, I had everything on hand!  In addition to how much you will adore it's fresh taste, you will also love it's brilliant green coloring!  The only thing I did different from the recipe was  to add some fresh lemon juice and lemon zest.  I topped grilled boneless chicken breasts (that was marinated with this) with the pesto and sprinkled some feta cheese on top.  Everyone went gaga over it.  Or, maybe it was this before dinner drink that made them go gaga.  In any case....I recommend this recipe!  

 

Recipe: Summer Squash Casserole 

If you have never visited The Reluctant Entertainer, I highly recommend you do it NOW!

She posted this on her FB page yesterday and I promptly made it last night!  I whipped up this amazingly lovely and tastey side salad  to accompany this casserole and.... OMG.....yum!  

Did I say YUM????

Oh, and just in case you need to wash this down with something.....THIS WINE was amazing to pair this recipe with.... YUM AGAIN!

Recipe:  Jamaican Coconut Pie  (Bonefish Grille)
This, my friends, is the recipe you have been needing but you never knew how much.  Seriously, it's  decadently delicious!. Who knew that going Jamaican can be so mind blowing?  Hell, maybe it's the rum (did I mention there's a rum sauce on it?) but I feel like busting out Bob Marley tunes every time I eat this!  Listen, I am a coconut pie lover from way back.....waaaaay back.  Even though our family has a favorite coconut pie from a fabulous little bakery near our house.....this Jamaican Coconut Pie is of a whole different variety.  The fact that I--a non baker from way back-- can make it at home is a huge bonus!  I would never attempt to make the regular coconut cream pie that we love at home.  I don't do meringue. I might do the merengue but not meringue!   Anyway....this pie is the perfect ending to a perfect meal....especially in the summer.  But, it's good in the Winter too.  And, gee, it's great in the Spring.  Oh heck....it's spectacular in the Fall too.  What the hell?  Just make the damn pie!


Now, it's on to year SEVEN!