Let the Salads Begin!

First of all... 156.1 Blah!  Glucose 84.  Yay!  Good news on the glucose anyway.

Ok!  The greens are coming in!  They are about the only thing thriving in the garden though.  We've had such cool weather that most of what I've planted in the garden is just plain ole shivering!  But look at this spinner full of mixed greens!

Aint they purdy?  Oh wait!  I'm back in Washington.  Let me rephrase that... aren't they pretty?  I'm going to have to watch myself or I might say something like... hog killin.  That's TN talk for BBQ.  :)  That's what my cousin Robin calls the BBQ anyway.  She's awesome!  She's my 5th favorite cousin.  :)  Wow!  I'm just feeling mean!  I think it's because it's Sunday night.  :(  I have a super bad case of the Sunday blues.  I think it's partly because the weather was not great all weekend.  Every time I tried to hop on the mower it started raining.  Finally today I just decided it was not going to stop so I finished mowing in the rain.  Then I planted flowers in the rain.  Yesterday I transplanted my giant pumpkins in the rain.  You get the drift!  The only really cool thing about the rain today was sitting out in my green house and listening to and watching the rain fall on the roof.  That was awesome!  :)  That's my kind of rain!

Here are a few of the flowers I planted today in my old car planter.  Talk about white trash!  

  

Well... let's get to the salads.  The arrival of lettuce and spinach deserves a new salad recipe don't you think?  Here are two that I thunk up over the last couple of days.  First up...  Grilled Shrimp with Mango.  Oh baby!  A squeeze of fresh lime over those sizzling shrimp.  A little cilantro, avocado, fresh mango and... oh yeah... BACON :)  scatter with a little Parmesan over the top.  This was really pretty divine :)  if I do say so myself.    

  And equally as delicious was my Fruit and Nut salad.  Check it out...

For this one I just tore up some of my tasty tender greens, sliced an English cucumber, added carrots, campari tomatoes and then sliced red seedless grapes over top.  I love them!  They look like little gems in the salad. I generously sprinkled goat cheese and topped with the star of the show, honey toasted walnuts.  They are so easy to make!  Just toast them up in a dry pan and drizzle with honey.  Stir them around until well coated with the warmed honey and then just try to not eat them all before they cool enough to go on top of the salad! This was seriously good!  I've also made a similar salad with strawberries instead of grapes.  That's good too.  I think the first time I had strawberries in a salad was at the Coho Cafe in Redmond.  They used grated Gruyere cheese and caramelized walnuts.  I fell in love with it and have been a fruit and nut salad fan ever since.  There are so many ways to switch it up too.  This one is really good with a little balsamic vinegar drizzled over the top.  Well, I hope those inspire you to get creative with your greens.  After all... there is more to salad than ice berg lettuce right?

In honor of fathers day this weekend we allowed Red Bull to join the rest of his family in the pasture.  I think he had a very special Father's Day.  :)  He is really quite a different animal from the little yearling bull we bought last year.  He ran all over the pasture snorting and pawing up the ground and generally put on quite a show for his ladies... and possibly to impress the neighbor bulls.  Here... check him out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEe7qoz25eM

I started this blog post days ago.  Long before Father's Day arrived.  But now it's here and I just have to say Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there.  Especially the special fathers in my life.  First to my awesome husband who was crazy enough to marry me and love and support me through raising our combined six children.  They are each so wonderful and different.  Sort of like a smorgasbord of children.  :)  And to my own dad who is a never ending source of ... oh so many things!  Funny stories, thought provoking ideas, example of having been married for over 50 years and still being in love.  I can also see by his example that if I work really hard I can reach the goals I set for my life and be very successful.  Although... my ultimate goal is probably not going to be becoming the Mowron of Bear Springs :)  Some of you may not know what this is.  It's a special honorary title bestowed on him by the mayor of Dover, TN because he mows half the county just for fun.

I'd have to say my Dad is probably my biggest "fan".  He is so supportive and helpful in my effort to keep my weight and blood sugar under control.  Here is the super helpful email he sent me last week... an instant link to about 3 million cookie recipes!  Awesome Pa!  Look at all the cookies I can make now...







1-2-3 Cookies 7 Layer Cookies Allie Nelson's Famous Snickerdoodle Cookies Almond Crescent Shortbread Amish Sugar Cookies Andies Candies Cookies Angel Crisps Angenets Applesauce Cookies Apricot Fold-Overs Aunt Edy's Molasses Crinkles Auntie Linda's Ginger Gems Bakeless Dream Cookies Banana Drop Cookies Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World Biscotti Biscotti Blueberry Cookies Boiled Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies Bronwnies Brown Sugar Shortbread Brownie Cookies Brownie Delight Brownies Buccaneer Snowballs Buried Cherry Cookies Butter Cookies Butter Nut Balls Butterballs Butterscotch Haystacks C.O.P. Cookies Candy Cane Cookies Candy Cookies Caramel Shortbread Cheesecake Brownies Cherry Buns Cherry Crowns Cherry Winks Chewies Chewy Noels Chinese Chews/Haystacks Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Chip Meltaways Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies Chocolate Christmas Trees Chocolate Cream Cheese Squares Chocolate Crinkles Chocolate Mint Snow-Top Cookies Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (no bake) Chocolate Snowball Cookies Chocolate Streusel Bars Chocolate Sundae Cookies Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bars Choco-Scotch Crunchies Choose A Cookie Dough Recipe Christmas Crackers Christmas Crunch Bars Christmas Ginger Snaps Christmas Macaroons Christmas Mice Cookies Christmas Shaped Cookies Church Window Cookies Coconut Cookies Congo Squares Cookie in a Jar Corn Flakes Cookies Cornflake Christmas Wreaths Cowboy Cookies (oatmeal) Cream Cheese Cookies with Apricot Filling Crème De Menthe Chocolate Squares Crème Wafers Crescent Cookies Crispy Crunchies Date Nut Balls Date-nut Pinwheel Cookies Diabetic Peanut Butter Cookies Disgustingly Rich Brownies Doodles Double chocolate chip cookies Double-Chocolate Crinkles Eatmore Cookies Eggnog Cookies Elizabeth's Sugar Cookies Elves Quick Fudge Brownies Emily Dickinson's Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Emily's Best Brownies Famous Oatmeal Cookies Firemen Cookies Fluffy Shortbread Cookies Forgotten Cookies Frosted Peanut Butter Brownies Fruit Cake Cookies Fruitcake Squares Fry Pan Cookies Gems Ginger Cookies Ginger Crinkles Gingerbread Baby Gingerbread Cookies with Butter Cream Icing Gingerbread Men Gingerbread Men Ginny's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Glory's Golden Graham Squares Glory's Sugar Cookies Gramma Chapman's chocolate coconut drops Grandma Elsie's Zimt (cinnamon) Cookies Grandma J's Butter Cookies Grandma Olson's Parkay Cookies Great Grandmothers Sugar Cookies Gum Drop Cookies Gumdrop Gems Haystack Cookies Ho-Ho Bars Holiday Cereal Snaps Holiday Chocolate Butter Cookies Holiday Raisin Walnut Bars Holly Cookies Hungarian Cookies (Little Nut Rolls) Ice Box Cookies Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies Italian Cookies Jacob's Peppermint Snowballs Jam Bars Jessica's Famous Brownies Jessie's Chocolate Chip Cookies Jubilee Jumbles Juliet's Peanut Butter Blossoms Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies Kentucky Colonels Kiefle (cream cheese cookies with jam filling) Kifflings Kiss Cookies Lacy Swedish Almond Wafers Lemon Angel Bar Cookies Lemon Bars Lemon Cake Cookies Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies Lemon Squares Linzer Tarts Log Cabin Cookies Luscious Lemon Squares M&M Cookies Magic Cookie Bars Melt in Your Mouth Cutout Sugar Cookies Melting Shortbread Meme's Cream Cheese Cookies Milk Chocolate Florentine Cookies Mincemeat Cookies Mincemeat Goodies Molasses Cookies Molasses Forest Cookies Molasses Sugar Cookies Mom Mom's Crescent Cookies Mom-Mom's Ginger Cookies Mom's Nutmeg Sugar Cookies Mom's Old Fashion "Puffy" Sugar Cookies Monster Cookies Moravian Christmas Cookies Nana's Famous Soft Southern Cookies Nitey Nite Cookies No Bake Chocolate Cookies No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No-Bake Cookies Norwegian Sugar Cookies Nut Balls Oatmeal Bars Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Nut Cookies Oatmeal Coconut Crisps Oatmeal Cookies Oatmeal Scotchies Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies Ooey Gooey Caramel Chocolate Dunk Ooey Gooey Squares Orange Slice Cookies Parking Lot Cookies Peanut Blossoms Peanut Butter Bars Peanut Butter Blossoms Peanut Butter Cereal Cookies Peanut Butter Chewies Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut butter fingers Peanut Butter Reindeer Peanut Butter Surprises Peanut Marshmallow Cookies Pecan Puff Cookies Peppermint Snowballs Peppernuts Persimmon Cookies Persimmon Cookies Petey's Yummy Spicy Almond Thins Pfeffernuesse Pffefferneuse Cookies Pineapple Filled Cookies Pizzelles Potato Chip Cookies Potato Flake Cookies Praline Cookies Praline Strips Pterodactyl Nests Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Chip Cookies Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Pumpkin Cookies Queen Biscuits Quick Cookies Raised Sugar Cookies Raisin Filled Oatmeal Bars Raspberry Meringue Bars Really Peanutty Butter Cookies Reese`s Brownies Reese's Peanut Butter Bars Rich Flavor Christmas Cookies Rich Lemon Bars Ricotta Cheese Cookies Royal Almond Christmas Bars Rudolph Cinnamon Cookies Russian Tea Cookies Russian Teacakes Samantha & Kelsey's Chocolate Chip Cookies Sand Art Brownies Santa Claus Cookie Pops Santa Claus Cookies Santa's Butterscotch Melts Santa's Shorts Santa's Special Squares Scotch Cakes Scotch Shortbread Scotcharoos Scotcheroos Seven Layer Cookies Short Bread Cookies Shortbread Skor Squares Snicker Doodle Cookies Snickerdoodles Snickerdoodles Snow Balls Sour Cream Apple Squares Sour Cream Christmas Cookies Special K Cookies Spice Cookies Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Spritz Cookies Stained Glass Window Cookies Stir & Drop Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Swedish Pepparkakor (Pepper Cake) Cookies Swedish Sugar Cookies Sweet Marie's Swiss Treats Taralle (Italian Cookies) Tea Time Tassies Texas Brownies The Best Shortbread in The World Thumbprint Cookies Thumbprint Cookies Toffee Squares Traditional Christmas Sugar Cookies Traditional Gingerbread Men Cookies Triple-Chocolate Chip Cookies Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies Vanilla Waffer Balls Walnut Butter Cookies Walnut Crumb Bars White Chip Chocolate Cookies Wild Oatmeal Cookies Will's Famous Apple Jack Cookies Yummy Yummy Peanut Butter Blossoms

:)  In the email all these cookie names were linked to their recipe.  If you would like the link email me at kcto167@gmail.com and I'll be happy to send it to you.  I'm pretty sure I just gained 15 pounds just reading through the names of these cookies.

Well... next week is my Woodinville week so I gotta go get rested up for the road trip.

Ciao!