Ricotta dip for Plums!

This is a really yummy summer snack. Today we had it as a side to BLT's for lunch! It is this:

Ricotta cheese

Fresh mint
Sugar

Add some chopped mint leaves, and a little bit of sugar (both to your taste) to the ricotta cheese. Mix it up and dip some sliced plums. Refreshing!

Maggiano's Little Italy

This restaurant is a chain that you can find pretty well anywhere in the U.S. We went the other night to the downtown Bellevue Maggiano's, and I just wanted to share that it was worth it!! If you live close to one, go for a date night. We just got an appetizer - bruschetta, excellent - and dessert. I got the Chocolate Zuccoto Cake. Hello...it was amazing. The word I'd use is 'succulent'. The most succulent food I've ever tasted! Go!

A salad trick

I have always had a love/hate relationship with salad. I love the way it makes me feel, but I am gagging it down the whole time I'm eating it. Enter Tamari Sauce and Toasted Sesame Oil. I learned this at my mom's when we were visiting last fall. Just put a little bit of each on your salad and it tastes amazing!!! It's a kind of cooked flavor, rather than a raw one and I think that's why I like it so much. Try it!

Dilliscious

Every now and then I will buy a random herb to use in cooking for that week, a couple of weeks ago it was Dill. I threw it in a bunch of dishes that week and the one that stuck out the most was in scrambled eggs. Yes, its true. Try a bunch (whole bunch) of fresh Dill, some cheese, and a dash of salt in some scrambled eggs! Delish!

Chocolate Festival

Today we found a chocolate festival in Enumclaw, WA. We were out around that area doing some other things when we saw a sign for it and said, "Sweet!" Literally.  It was fun.  Lots of yummy chocolate!

Cole showing off a chocolate sample. We had lots of samples:)

















Sampling shortbread with white chocolate drizzled on top....yum.

Our spoils.  O.k., so there were obviously some other things being sold besides just chocolate..... Have you ever seen this "Garlic it!" stuff before?? It was amazing!! It's just slices of garlic marinated in oil with different seasonings and it is sooo good.  I am so excited to try it in some recipes.  We also bought some chocolate covered marshmallows.

The chocolate festival was probably a one time experience.  It was a little pricey (in our opinion) to get in, but it definitely was worth it at least this one time.  So, if you ever randomly see a chocolate festival, then stop and go in!

Lunch Date!

For those of you close to an IKEA, if you haven't gone just to eat their food, then you need to! Every now and then, and usually on a rainy day, I will take the kiddos to IKEA for a lunch date.  Why? Because it is cheap and good! And I do love IKEA.  I feel like IKEA is a big, blue friend.

 

We went one day last week and got Seafood Chowder.  I usually get whatever is the special of the day because it's always good and usually full of vegetables! Both Cole and I have always liked what we've got (which I'm glad of because he certainly does not eat enough vegetables at home).  

A bottled water, two cookies, and chowder added up to about $7.  We had a good time and I have to say that these two are some of my favorite lunch date buddies.  They enjoy getting out as much as I do!:) 

 

Gracie munching on some of the cookie.    

Cilantro and Lime Salsa

This is so yummy! And easy, and I can put it on just about anything!

1/4 bunch cilantro, washed and stemmed

1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 lime, juice

3 Tablespoons light sour cream, stirred to thin                                                                                                                                                                     

Puree the cilantro, onion and lime juice in processor and process until very smooth. Place in small bowl.

Makes 4-6 serving.

Simple, and different, and yum.