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May 25 2012

garlic expressions classic vinaigrette and marinade...a pantry must have

All you foodies out there that love high-quality products yet don't always have the time to make a salad dressing or marinade from scratch, Garlic Expressions to the rescue.  

 

I was first introduced to this product several years ago via one of my dear friend's families whom live in Perrysburg, Ohio where the product is from.  They would take me to Croy's which is the restaurant where it all started.  They began bottling it for retail sale in 1993.  I can remember visiting and my friend's mother went on and on about Garlic Expressions as she dressed the salad she was about to serve for dinner.  Know that she is AMAZING in the kitchen and she said,  "This is as good as anything I can make".  Hence, it was purchased by the case and a few bottles were sent home with me. 

From then on, Garlic Expressions has been a staple in my pantry.  Yes, it is perfect for salads but also wonderful as a marinade for meat and veggies.  Check out all the great recipe ideas on their site.  

If you need anymore coaxing, it is:

  • 100% Natural
  • Lower in calories than traditional salad dressing
  • Cholesterol free
  • No trans fats
  • No preservatives or additives
  • A natural source of vitamin E
  • Gluten Free
Grab a bottle for your Memorial Day Weekend festivities. You will NOT be disappointed.

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Apr 13 2012

roasted tomatoes

As summer came to a close, I made my way to Rittman, OH for the last batch of peaches at Bauman Orchards and then stopped at Rittman Orchards where I came across this peck of heirloom tomotoes on their "seconds" table. Believe me, there was nothing seconds about these and you won't believe what they cost...$5...seriously. Now how crazy is that?!


After a visit to my friend Jodi's where she served roasted tomatoes from her garden, I was inspired to roast some myself. It could not have been easier. Here is the "recipe share" from her blog. Four packed cookie sheets later...

 
and this was the result...

 

They were crazy, crazy good and I thought for sure the peck would yeild enough to freeze some but not so much on that one. This shall become an annual thing and next year I will definitely make sure to roast enough to freeze.

Posted By: debbie  On: 2010-09-28 13:32:12

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Apr 13 2012

the champagne mango...who knew



This is a new fruit discovery and I have whole foods to thank via this wonderful sample they were offering one random Saturday...



I snapped some up that day and have since served this recipe to family and friends several times. It is absolutely outstanding! believe me, these mangoes are fabulous on their own!

Give them a try...I promise you will not be disappointed.

Posted By: debbie  On: 2010-06-10 18:09:55

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Apr 13 2012

one of the simple joys in life...

...is hanging out with friends over dinner. My friends from college and I do the dinner party thing and my turn had arrived. For me, there is this whole ritual that I go through and somehow it all comes together with various twists and turns along the way. The recipes must not have a massive list of ingredients, ideally can be prepared ahead of time or have as little last minute prep as possible and they must taste great. Being the goober that I am, I also love to create a look/feel for the evening. Little did I realize it ended up being the girltrunks colors.

My friend, Jodi, with picture this - photographer extraordinaire - took photos for her blog and what am I doing...using her photos here. Anyone that reads my blog knows I so admire what she has created with her business as well as how she manages to blog five days a week...utter craziness in my book as I struggle with every single blog post.  


  

We all had the best evening...catching up, laughing...sharing a meal together.


Posted By: debbie  On: 2010-05-20 14:43:50

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Apr 13 2012

lilly handmade chocolates in tremont, oh...

...is off the charts fabulous. Angela, the purveyor of Lilly, is a chocolateir extraordinaire! Her combinations are nothing less than devine, and might I just add, gorgeous on the eye. 



I just had to pop over there to gather up some Easter gifts. She and her husband are always so welcoming and greet me by name.

Lilly is much more than just chocolates mind you. They also offer specialty wine and beer and even pair
their chocolate confections with wine or beer for the perfect indulgence. What's not to love about that?!



The shop is whimsical, fun, pink and full of great energy. Go if you live here and definitely make it a must go to if your travels bring you to the Cleveland area. The good news is if you cannot visit the shop personally, they offer online ordering. So treat that someone special or yourself to some amazing chocolates.

ROCKS!

Posted By: debbie  On: 2010-04-02 15:18:09

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