Jean’s Famous Fresh Coconuts, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
On a beach
far from home this past week,
I marveled at how different
and yet how the same we all are.
And I wondered…
which is better?
More
or
Less?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
More or Less
Simple
A Special Cookbook from Mom
I have one more special little homemade Christmas gift to share this week. This is one I was excited to give to my son, Nick.
Nick had requested I put a cookbook together of his favorite recipes I make, and especially those that are EASY, so that he will have and be able to make wherever life takes him.
For the cover of this little book, I used a photo of our kitchen in the frenzy of pots boiling, cookies cooling, and flour and sugar and other ingredients out on the counter. I am hoping as he takes this little book with him throughout his life, he will remember the smell and feel and love of our family kitchen.
For the intro page, I wrote Nick a short note:
Nick is a chicken lover, so I tried to remember all of his favorite chicken dishes.
But remembering the “easy” part, I tried to include those simple things he always enjoyed.
So – it’s not a masterpiece or an Amazon bestseller, but it is simple gesture of a Momma’s love that I hope Nick will treasure.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Follow the Path of Love
Follow the path of joy.
Follow the path of happiness.
Follow the paths of justice and righteousness and goodness, loyalty, equality, and freedom.
But mostly….
Follow the path of love.
A simple card
with a simple message.
Why do we complicate things
so much?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Balsamic Grilled Peaches & Chicken Salad Dinner
Oh Friends… you know how much I love chicken and discovering new and different ways to prepare it.
Well this week I discovered another Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!
It’s simple, it’s fast, it’s healthy, and it’s YUMMY!
I have seen and heard about grilling peaches, and I was intrigued.
Having some ripe peaches in the fridge that weren’t getting eaten, now was the time to try it!
It was so easy, and they were DELISH!
If you are looking for another light and simple, but full-flavored summer chicken dinner, look no further!
And remember, like I always say, if you don’t like a particular ingredient, switch it up! Substitute goat cheese or feta or even shredded cheddar for the blue cheese if you are not a blue cheese fan (but BOO to you because it is DIVINE!). Change up the greens to ones you prefer. I used Spring Mix, but it would be awesome with Spinach or Arugula or Kale too!
Be creative.
Have fun!
Make dinner a celebration.
Create art on a plate.
You won’t be sorry about this one!
Balsamic Grilled Peaches & Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breast halves
- 4-6 cups Spring Mix Salad Greens
- 2 large sweet Vidalia onions, sliced into 1/2 thick slices
- 4-6 ripe peaches – cut in half and pitted
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 1 Bottle Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing (I used Ken’s Light version)
- Olive Oil
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Directions
- Marinade chicken breasts in 1/2 bottle balsamic vinagrette for at least 4 hours.
- Grill chicken when ready to serve.
- Place Onion Slices in a grill basket (or foil). Sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill until translucent and char-grilled. Place on one side of grill while chicken is grilling on the other side. These two take about the same amount of time – approximately 20 minutes.
- Once chicken is done, remove from grill, and set aside.
- Sprinkle peach halves with olive oil, salt, and balsamic vinegar. Place cut side done on grill, and grill for about 5-7 minutes until soft and char-grilled. When done, remove from grill and slice peach halves into three or four pieces.
- To plate, place a cup of greens on plate, top with grilled onions, peach slices and crumbled blue cheese. Add chicken to side or slice and mix in with chicken.
- ENJOY!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Perspective
Today is my brother’s birthday, and this is the card I made and sent to him. He is a purist and likes simple and uncomplicated things. He is also a deep thinker, so though this card may not be a “stunner” in the creative artistic sense, I think it is perfect for him.
The StampinUp Moon Lake stamp is stamped onto white paper. I then overlaid it with vellum that I stamped the sentiment on and stitched it to the white (so you can lift it to see the boat and tree clearer – kinda symbolic of the message if you get my drift). I added a few clear star stickers to embellish just a bit, framed it up with black and then blue card stock and adhered to a white card base.
I’m thinking of my brother today and wishing him a year full of simple, uncomplicated pleasures and happiness. I love him dearly.
What do you see today?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
BLT with Fresh Basil Mayonnaise – A Simple Sunday Supper
We had such a wonderful weekend – starting with The Best Book Club Ever Friday evening followed by a fun Saturday with family and friends eating, shopping, brewery touring and tasting, and lake cruisin’ at #ConneautLake.
After a busy weekend away, a simple Sunday supper was in order: Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato (BLT) Sammies with fresh corn on the cob.
The fresh basil mayo is what REALLY puts this sandwich over the top (thanks Joyce for teaching me this yummy twist!). Simply mix some chopped fresh basil and a sprinkle of sea salt to mayonnaise. You WILL NOT REGRET it!
I picked up a loaf of Mediterranean Sourdough bread at the local farm market (#Soergels) where I also got the Yellow Heirloom Tomatoes and Corn on the Cob.
All you need do is: Toast the bread, then generously spread with some fresh basil mayo. Top that with lettuce of your choice, fresh sliced tomato and a couple slices of crisp smoky bacon. Smoosh it together and ENJOY!
Add a side of corn on the cob with a sprinkle of Old Bay Seasoning (thanks Rob for this idea, because now I don’t even want or need butter on it!) – and that completes a yummy, but simple Sunday supper.
I’m just guessing, but I think this dinner would also taste good ANY night of the week :).
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 