What Time is Dinner? 🍴🍴🍴 “Sisterhood of the World” Award

What time is Dinner? I adore food blogs, so when a friend who shares my love of food nominates me for a blogging award…..I just want to celebrate by Eating Ice Cream!! 🍦Thank you, Kat, for nominating me. Her step-by-step photos make everyone feel like a gourmet chef. Check out her blog at   http://hunggrytummy.wordpress.com
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The Rules:

Thank the blogger who nominated you, including a link back to their site.

Put the award logo on your blog.

Answer the ten questions the blogger has sent you.

Create ten new questions for your nominee to answer.

Nominate up to ten people of your own and notify them.
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Questions asked of me:

(1) How many children do you see yourself with? πŸ“ My husband and I together have five.

(2) What’s your favorite food? πŸ“ Popcorn.

(3) What’s the current song stuck in your head? πŸ“ Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”.

(4) If you were to be stuck in an island… what’s one thing you’d bring?πŸ“ Sunscreen.

(5) If you were to be stuck in an island… who would you like to get stuck with? πŸ“ My husband, Gerald. (He’s also an engineer.)

(6) Hot weather or cold weather? πŸ“ Hot weather.

(7) Your make-up must have? πŸ“ Blush.

(8) What weird obsession do you have? πŸ“ No dirty dishes.

(9) What are you currently reading and how do you feel about it? πŸ“ Bible Study, the books of 1, 2, and 3 John. A thought-provoking journey of self discovery.

(10) Your ultimate dream? πŸ“ To publish a cookbook.
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Questions for my Nominees:

(1) Do you like to cook?

(2) Would you rather use organic ingredients or packaged ingredients?

(3) Which do you prefer: A candlelight dinner for two OR Dining alone while watching TV?

(4) Would you rather host a dinner party OR be a guest at a dinner party?

(5) Do you snack while preparing a meal?

(6) Would you rather use porcelain dishes or paper plates?

(7) Do you think it’s silly to use cloth napkins every day at home?

(8) Are you of the opinion fresh flowers are a waste of money?

(9) When you eat out, do you usually want a taste of your partner’s food?

(10) what is your favorite dessert?
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My Nominees:

http://lynzrealcooking.com
http://khayceelyncordovilla.wordpress.com
http://sangeetapradhannutritionist.wordpress.com
http://gervannastephens.wordpress.com
http://witlessdatingafterfifty.wordpress.com

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Be Bold, Be Creative, Be Hungry!

Gail.    http://snapshotsincursive.com

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter L

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? The Daily Special: Lazy “Lobster” Wrap! When you don’t live at the ocean where lobster is in abundant supply, the next best thing is an imitation variety. Alaska pollock is not only heart-healthy, fat-free, and packed with omega-3 in every serving, it’s readily available at your neighborhood market. Amazingly, this mock lobster is a surprising alternative. Eat it now and with the money you save, you can stuff yourself with real lobster when you travel to the shore. 
LAZY “LOBSTER” WRAP
Ingredients:

7-ounce package of chunk-style imitation lobster

1 tablespoon lemon olive oil

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

cracked pepper to taste

sea salt to taste

1 pat of butter

Vidalia onion slices

1 4-ounce container of crab dip, deli-style

2 flour tortillas 

Spring Mix Salad Greens 
Instructions:

In a medium skillet, sautΓ© imitation chunk lobster and onion slices in lemon olive oil, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. While still warm, add 1 pat of butter. Cook an additional minute to blend flavors. Remove from heat. To assemble wrap: Take a flour tortilla, spread on a layer of crab dip, top with salad greens, and add a spoonful of lobster mixture. Roll it together to form a wrap. Serve warm or cold. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter K

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? The Daily Special: Kinky Red Cabbage Slaw! When you need a little color, a satisfying crunch, and an extra dose of vitamin K, look no further than red cabbage. Its robust, hearty flavor can be combined with spices that have you feeling like the Queen of Sheba or the King of Siam. Make a healthy choice today. Opt out for red cabbage. It may provide just the twist you need. 
KINKY RED CABBAGE SLAW
Ingredients:

1/2 head red cabbage, shredded

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons sugar

1/4 cup olive oil

2 teaspoons celery seed

Sea salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon red onion, diced
Instructions:

Whisk together vinegar and sugar until dissolved. Slowly add oil, celery seed, salt, and pepper. Toss in cabbage and onions. Coat well. Refrigerate for one hour. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter J

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? The Daily Special: Pickled JalapeΓ±os! As you may recall, I live in the country. However, I’m really not much of a gardener. Thank goodness my husband is. He cultivates the ground, plants the seedlings, and kicks the weeds to the curb. Then I gather the produce and transform its bounty into wonderful surprises. This pickled recipe makes me feel like a pro. It’s quick, it’s easy, and most of all it’s super delicious! The spiciness has you asking for more. 
PICKLED JALAPEΓ‘OS
Ingredients:

15 jalapeΓ±o peppers, sliced

2 garlic cloves 

1 cup white vinegar

1 cup water

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons kosher salt
Instructions:

In a medium sauce pan, combine the garlic, vinegar, water, sugar, and salt. Heat to boiling. Stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved. As it continues boiling, add the sliced jalapeΓ±os. Keep them submerged under the pickling liquids. Remove the pan from the heat. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the jalapeΓ±os and garlic to a clean jar. Ladle the pickling juices over top until the jar is filled. Let cool at room temperature before securing a lid and storing in the refrigerator.

Pretty in Pink Impatiens

“She cast her fragrance and her radiance over me.

I ought never to have run away from her…

I ought to have guessed all the affection 

that lay behind her poor little stratagems. 

Flowers are so inconsistent!

But I was too young to know how to love her…”

~ Antoine de Saint-ExupΓ©ry,

The Little Prince

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter I

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? The Daily Special: Impressive Pizza Crust! When it comes to making homemade pizza, two factors are critical to taste: Crust and Sauce. (We’ll address pizza sauce another day.) It becomes personal whether you prefer a thin and crispy crust or a deep dish pizza pie. Fortunately, my husband and I are partial to a thin crust. Choosing your “method of madness” takes practice as well. Experts recommend kneading the dough and getting pretty rough to develop the gluten. Others use a bread machine for maximum results. I found my food processor passed the test with this impressive crust. Later on, I may try another. 
IMPRESSIVE PIZZA CRUST
Ingredients:

2 cups bread flour, plus more for work surface

1 tablespoon sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

1 cup warm water

1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for work surface

1/3 teaspoon sea salt

Cornmeal for pizza pan
Instructions:

In food processor fitted with metal blade, process flour, sugar, and yeast until combined, about 2 seconds. With machine running, slowly add water through feed tube. Process until dough is just combined and no dry flour remains, about 10 seconds. Let dough rest for 10 minutes. Then add olive oil and salt to dough. Process until dough forms a satiny, sticky ball that clears the sides of the bowl, 30-60 seconds. Remove dough from bowl and knead briefly on a lightly oiled countertop until smooth, about 1 minute. Shape dough into a tight ball and place in a large, lightly oiled bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 24 hours and up to 3 days. 
After 24 hours divide the dough into 2 equal portions. (Wrap one tightly with plastic wrap and return to the refrigerator for later use if you are only making one pizza pie at this time.) Shape dough on lightly oiled baking sheet; cover loosely with plastic wrap coated with nonstick cooking spray. Let stand one hour. Preheat the oven to 425Β°. Then coat the ball of dough with flour and place on a well-floured countertop. Knead and stretch the dough without breaking. Spread olive oil lightly to grease pizza pan. Sprinkle corn meal over the olive oil forming a thin even layer. This keeps the crust from getting soggy and adds a nice crunch to the texture of the crust. Transfer dough to pizza pan. Using fingertips, gently flatten and stretch as you go, until it reaches the edges. Press down around the edges of the pan to create a border, which will keep the sauce and toppings from seeping while baking. Place in oven and bake crust for 10 minutes without toppings. Remove and add pizza sauce plus desired ingredients. Reduce oven heat to 400Β° and bake an additional 20 minutes until crust is crispy and toppings bubbly. 

It’s Music to My Ears! 🎡🎡🎡 “The Creative Blogger Award”

🎡 Because I’m Happy! 🎡 Everyone has those days when the “Repeat” mode button of your mind plays the same song all day long. That’s when it helps to visit my good friend, Waffles, who always has a different tune to fit your mood. And then some. Thanks very much for nominating me, by the way. (If I could, I’d mail you a Dutch Apple Pie!). Check out this musical blog and see for yourself http://wafflemethis.wordpress.com

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Here are the Rules:
* Nominate a few bloggers and contact them with the amazing news.

* Link back to the person who nominated you.

* Post five (5) facts about yourself.

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Here is a little information about me:
(1) I love wearing bracelets. Right now I’m favoring Pandora, but I also expanded to Alex & Ani. Both reflect my personal style and have become signature pieces.

(2) I collect antique French dishes and actually use them!

(3) I could be addicted to crushed red pepper flakes. I add them to a lot of recipes.

(4) I appreciate music, but cannot carry a tune to save my life.

(5) I like to iron dish towels using a French lavender spray.
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Now…..the Chosen Few:

http://fightalone.wordpress.com
http://forbiddenjungleexplore.wordpress.com
http://gardentokitchenwithsuz.wordpress.com
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“Because I’m Happy!”
Gail  bhttp://snapshotsincursive.com

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter H

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? The Daily Special: Hot Dog Coney Island Sauce! Sometimes it’s a treat to dress up an ordinary grilled hot dog with a thick tangy coney sauce bursting with flavor. Now you can make your own secret sauce to keep on hand for that weekend picnic…or any time. 
HOT DOG CONEY ISLAND SAUCE
Ingredients:

1 small onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons butter

2 pounds ground beef

2 cups water

1 1/2 cups catsup

1 teaspoon cloves

1 teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1 teaspoon cinnamon 

2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon chili powder

2 teaspoons sea salt

1 teaspoon cracked black pepper

1 teaspoon basil, crushed
Instructions:

In a large sauce pan, lightly brown the onion and garlic in butter. Remove from heat. Add all remaining ingredients and mix well. Return to heat and cook on medium until the beef is crumbled and cooked. Cover and simmer on low setting for one hour, stirring occasionally. Serve with grated cheese, green onion snips, and mustard. 

Manicure Anyone? πŸ’…πŸ½πŸ’…πŸ½πŸ’…πŸ½ “Sisterhood of the World” Bloggers Award

What an incredible opportunity it is to belong to a community of women linked together by a common interest in communication and expression! I am proud to be nominated by Naammekyarakhahai, who has the best manicure ever! She makes my French tips look boring. Thanks very much for the nomination. I deeply appreciate your thoughtfulness and grace. And I really enjoy your blog!   http://bepositiveyaroon.wordpress.com

 “There’s nothing a fresh manicure can’t fix.” ~ Author Unknown. 

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RULES:
Thank the giver and link their blog to your post.

Answer the 10 questions given to you. Then post 10 new ones.

Pass the award on to 7 other bloggers of their choice and let them know that they have been nominated.

Include the logo of the award in a post or on your blog.

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I was asked the following questions:
Do you like your hair to be straight or wavy? πŸ“ It depends solely on my mood.

Which is the best food that you have cooked till date? πŸ“ French Silk Pie.

Which is your favourite restaurant? πŸ“ The Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas.

Who is your favourite blogger?why? πŸ“ Aunt Beulah. I connect her stories to my childhood.

Tell me about your best friend. πŸ“ She has been there through a tough divorce.

Which is you favourite shopping store? πŸ“ Williams-Sonoma.

Write 5 random stuffs about you. πŸ“ I am an early bird who loves espresso. I tend to be very organized. My energy level is high during the day. I am terribly romantic. And I try to make others feel special and important.

Do you remember any of your dreams? πŸ“ All the time.

tell me a joke. πŸ“ I cannot remember them once I hear them. (True story.)

last one… tell me about the best day of your life till date..:) πŸ“ It was the day I married my husband, Gerald.

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I wish to nominate the following bloggers:

http://eatdrinkseeaus.com
http://pamobieta.wordpress.com
http://kitchenspells.wordpress.com
http://enaamshealthandhappiness.com
http://lifeat28andcounting.wordpress.com
http://dadojodest.com
http://cherylbecker.wordpress.com
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Please respond to these questions:
What is your favorite city?

Would you ever want to live there?

What would you do to make a living in this city?

Would you share that life with someone special? If so, Who?

What is it that intrigues you about this city?

How long would you stay?

What is the first step you would take to make it a reality?

Does it feel like a possibility?

Are you impulsive? Or practical? Or both?

Do you believe in Providence……..or Coincidence?

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Happy Blogging!

Gail.   http://snapshotsincursive.com