Author: Gail

🐉 Puff the Magic Dragon 🐉 “The Dragon’s Loyalty Award”

Sometimes a dragon is referred to as a Phoenix who rises out of the ashes. I’m going to go with that analogy because I believe every blogger can relate to being nameless at the onset of their journey. Being identified and recognized by those among us is an honor worth receiving. I acknowledge and thank my loyal friend, Lina, for her encouragement and favor. She is a multi-talented cook and author. Perhaps you should go visit her at   http://lins239.wordpress.com  where she entertains us with “Fiction in the Kitchen!”
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THE RULES:
1. DISPLAY THE AWARD CERTIFICATE ON YOUR WEBSITE.
2. ANNOUNCE YOUR WIN WITH A POST AND LINK TO WHOEVER PRESENTED YOUR AWARD.
3. PRESENT UP TO 15 AWARDS TO DESERVING BLOGGERS.
4. DROP THEM A COMMENT TO TIP THEM OFF AFTER YOU’VE LINKED THEM IN THE POST.
5. POST 7 INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF.
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7 things about me:
I have visited the magical town of Hanalei.

I am spiritually uplifted whenever I see a rainbow.

I am extremely sentimental.

I find the island of Kauai a real-life paradise.

I believe that birthday wishes really do come true.

I love the fragrance of star-gazer lilies.

I am the happiest I have ever been in my life.

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My Nominees:

http://singhalalok.wordpress.com
http://jujusecretingredient.com
http://olivesndpastel.wordpress.com
http://onceuponaspice.com
http://suskizzled.com
http://easypeasypleasy.com
http://lomely.wordpress.com
http://ibakedishotiateit.wordpress.com

The Daily Special

Gail’s Kitchen seems to be open 24 hours a day. Pull up a chair for “Eating My Way Through the Alphabet: The Daily Special!” With over 200 posts, the response continues to amaze me on this journey of the palate. Thanks very much to all of my followers on http://snapshotsincursive.com for the uplifting support and moving words of encouragement. What’s cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? It’s as simple as reciting your A-B-Cs. One of my passions is being at home in my own country kitchen. I love to cook, and my husband loves that I do it often. Now more than ever, since I am retired, I relish the thought of creating something delicious from scratch. I adore time-honored traditions using tried-and-true recipes. Yet, I often never think twice about tweaking old favorites or modifying others to suit the inner craving of the moment. Most of the recipes serve 2-4 people, but can be altered in any direction. The leftovers are golden morsels to be eaten again later or shared with others. And I love to share. To me, seeing a smile in gratitude is thanks enough. The recipes you will find here in the next several weeks can be prepared very easily. Feel free to contact me with questions. Now take a deep breath, inhale the aromas, and join me on a tasteful journey entitled, “EATING MY WAY THROUGH THE ALPHABET: THE DAILY SPECIAL!”

🌞 The Sunshine of My Life 🌞 “Sunshine Bloggers Award!”

It has finally stopped raining in Indiana, so this award is perfect! Sunshine is bright, vibrant, warm, uplifting, and rejuvenating to the mind as well as the body. I simply could not survive without it. That’s why I have Lina of Lin’s Recipes to thank for nominating me for this cheerful award. Any time you wish to brighten your day, please check out her blog at http://lins239.wordpress.com for the “Fiction in the Kitchen” segment. She charms the reader a chapter at a time.
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RULES OF THE AWARD:

•Thank the person who nominated you.

• Answer the questions from the person who nominated you.
• Nominate a few other bloggers.
• Write the same amount of questions for the bloggers you nominated.
• Notify the bloggers on their blog.
• Put the award button on your blog.
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My Answers:
The recipe that challenges you the most? 🍓 At this point, I would have to say Pizza. I have been working on a crust that is thin, crunchy, flavorful, and can hold the toppings without getting soggy. I’m getting there.

Favourite clothing line? 🍓 It’s a toss up between Ralph Lauren and Jones New York. Both are classics that work as staples in my wardrobe.

Favourite restaurant? 🍓 The Eiffel Tower Restaurant in Las Vegas. Romantic!

Your favourite book and why it is? 🍓 One of my favorites is “The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd. It’s a coming-of-age story about love, loss, perseverance, strength, and hope.

The song that keeps running inside your head, of late? 🍓 Fields of Gold by Sting.

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My Nominees Are:

http://milfordstreet.wordpress.com
http://tthompson792.wordpress.com
http://peachytalesplates.wordpress.com
http://lettersofburlapandlace.com
http://filmandgarlic.wordpress.com

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My Questions:
What is your favorite dessert?

What is the most unusual main dish you have eaten?

What is your “comfort” food?

If there were no consequences, what would you eat every single day?

Do you like to eat leftovers?

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter Z

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Home Cooking: Zebra Pretzel Snacks! This treat makes everyone smile! You only need three ingredients, it takes merely minutes to make, and it’s very kid-friendly! With that being said, “What’s black and white and has a salty, sweet taste?”  
ZEBRA PRETZEL SNACKS
1-pound of mini square or round pretzels 

14-ounce bag of Hershey’s Hugs

1-pound bag of M&M candies
Preheat oven to 250°. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or Silpat. Place pretzels in single layer forming even rows. Top each pretzel with one unwrapped Hershey’s Hugs. Place tray in oven. Bake for 4 minutes. Watch! Remove when candy begins to melt. Moving quickly, gently press a candy piece onto each Hug. Allow to cool completely in refrigerator to firm up chocolate. Remove and store in airtight container. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter Y

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Home Cooking: Yakitori Chicken Skewers! Our dinner was supposed to be grilled outdoors. Thank goodness when the weather doesn’t cooperate, meat and vegetables can be broiled indoors with very tasteful results. The international marinade lends itself to an enhanced blend of aromatic soy, olive oil, and pungent ginger which is pleasing to the palate. The Japanese-style dish is a light and healthy alternative when mixed with fruit and vegetables. 
YAKITORI CHICKEN
Ingredients:

2-3 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, and cut into small sections

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup sake or vermouth

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, shaved

1 garlic clove, minced

6″ skewers

1/2 cup pineapple chunks

1/2 cup green pepper strips
Instructions:

Place chicken in a dish. Combine sugar, soy sauce, sake, vinegar, ginger, and garlic. Mix well to combine. Pour over chicken pieces and marinate in the refrigerator for one hour. Thread chicken, pineapple, and green pepper alternating on skewers. Preheat oven broiler on high setting. Place skewers on a foil-lined baking sheet. Broil 5 minutes; turn and broil an additional 5 minutes on the other side. Cook until chicken is fully cooked. Remove from oven being careful of hot juices. 

💟 Isn’t She Lovely? 💟 “One Lovely Blog” Award!

It is exciting to be on the cusp of discovery. I am still learning the ropes of this intriguing realm of Internet blogging. Meeting my peers, and getting to know them better, is sometimes similar to a domino effect where one comment touches another, and another, and then yet one more reader. That is exactly how I met Anugya of  http://indiancurryshack.com whose love of food and cooking equals mine. Please check out a segment called “Shack Saturdays” where weekend specials are highlighted and featured. Thanks, Anugya, for the nomination!
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These are the Rules for this Award:
1. Thank the person who nominated you for the award.
2. Add the “One Lovely Blog” logo to your post.
3. Share Seven (7) facts about yourself.
4. Nominate up to 15 bloggers you admire, and then inform the nominees by commenting on their blog.
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Here are Seven (7) Facts about me:
* I was a tomboy when I was growing up.
* My long legs make me a fast walker.
* I once participated in a bicycle race and was the only female to cross the finish line.
* I don’t wash windows or mow the lawn.
* I am afraid of heights.
* I don’t know how to swim and really don’t like to get my face wet.
* I tend to read more than one book at a time, savoring each one chapter by chapter.
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Here is the list of bloggers that I wish to nominate: (up to 15)

http://maureenlermer.wordpress.com
http://thoughtsofagirlnamedvierareign.wordpress.com
http://erikakind.wordpress.com
http://dinnercheznous.co
http://lolawi.wordpress.com
http://weight2lose2013.wordpress.com
http://strassenfotografien.wordpress.com
Have a lovely day and Pay It Forward! Blessings! 💟

Gail  http://snapshotsincursive.com

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter X

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Home Cooking: X-tra Thick Mango Crush! Is it fresh fruit? Is it ice cream? Or is it a sparkling Italian beverage? Surprise! It’s all three. The intensity of this mid-summer treat is so refreshing and thirst quenching, you’ll find yourself asking, “Is it a delightful dessert or a tangy beverage?” My thoughts? I don’t need a reason to enjoy the citrusy intense flavors. After all, it’s summer and anything is possible!
X-TRA THICK MANGO CRUSH
Ingredients:

2 medium mangoes, peeled and sliced

1/4 cup powdered sugar 

1/2 cup heavy cream, very icy cold

1 11.15-ounce can of San Pellegrino Aranciata Rossa Blood Orange Sparkling Beverage
Directions:

Combine the ripe fresh fruit and sugar in a food processor or blender. Process on “Pulse” until the fruit is roughly chopped. With the processor running, slowly add the heavy cream until fully mixed. Transfer fruit ice cream to a plastic storage container with lid. Place in the freezer for 2-3 hours or until firm. To serve, use a melon ball scoop to fill a tall glass. Slowly pour the sparkling blood orange beverage over all, being careful not to foam over. Garnish with toasted coconut. 

Keep Calm and Carry On! 🍓 “Post a Quote” Challenge! 🍓

We’ve all heard the saying, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” (Benjamin Franklin said that.) Now here is a challenge that provides a pleasant diversion from regular posting. It has no thought-provoking questions to answer and no need to dig any deeper than the tip of your tongue. Whether your blog is nutrition, travel, fashion, food, art, poetry, photography, fiction, or non….everyone has quotes that impact them, in my opinion. Perhaps you will take a moment to share those quotes with others by accepting this challenge. It’s really very simple, actually.
I have Gabriel to thank for this well-deserved break. His blog, A Little Me, Apparently at   http://gabriel360live.wordpress.com is so surreal. He can transform your imagination from superhero to computer geek to food junky to author. The guy never fails to entertain. And just when you think you caught a glimpse of his soul peeking through, he’ll be as fickle as a cat and take you into a dream world on a thrilling adventure. Don’t take my word for it, go check out The Dark Room yourself. If you dare.
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The Rules of this Challenge are:
– Post 1 quote a day for 3 days (can be your own or from other sources).
– Nominate 3 bloggers to participate per post.
– Thank the person who nominated you.
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My Nominations are:

http://williamleeone.wordpress.com
http://tanvil8.wordpress.com
http://tanvi18.wordpress.com
Keep Calm, Carry On, and Post a Quote! 🍓
Gail     http://snapshotsincursive.com