Grilled Chicken With Serrano Pepper and Chick Pea Cous Cous

I used a boxed organic cous cous for this recipe since it was the first time I was attempting to cook cous cous. I substituted organic chick stock for water and added a can of Rotel while then cous cous was boiling. Then upon cooking completion and while steaming, folded in two cups of chick peas and 2 serrano peppers before fluffing with a fork. It was a very tasty side for a grilled chicken night and it was protein packed and healthy.

Cohen's Candy Table

Mason Jar Favors with Animal Cookies

These were easy favors for the kids at the party. I used three palettes of pint sized mason jars, 3 yards of fabric, and three bags of animal cookies. Cut the fabric in squares of 3" X 3" and put between the lid and cap. Fill each jar with animal cookies. Easy breezy!

Lion cupcakes from Publix. I saw these in a Martha Stewart magazine, and am not a baker, so I asked Publix if they could recreate them. While these aren't exactly what I was looking for, my Mom helped me add the almond slivers around to make them look more like lion manes. I think they turned out to be really cute!

Animal Painting

Cohen's Birthday Party was at our neighborhood clubhouse, so I had a fairly large space to work with and I needed to fill it up. His party was an animal theme, because that is his thing these days. We spend the day making various animal noises at each other, so I thought I'd run with it. Here's how you make the animals.

Supplies:

Your favorite image in a book or copied onto white paper

A tracing, projector machine

Tempera paint

paint brushes

dropcloth or beach towel

paper towels

water and soap

1/2 inch foam insulation from your local harware store- this comes in sheets of like 8' X 4'. I purchased 4 and had leftovers. $5 each

Grey marker

Trace you desired image onto the foam board with a grey marker using your tracing machine. Paint the image just as it appears in the book, working from the inside out.

I did this in my classroom, too to fill some large spaces and it worked great. I used a hot glue gun and double sided foam mounting tape to affix the image to the concrete walls when complete. They stayed up for the entire school year.

Cohen's Birthday Party

This truly was a fun day for my baby. He loves chocolate, now, that's for sure! He sure did love the company, too! He was a little wierd about the animals I painted and kept saying, "Boo" which is his version of "book" when he saw that the animals around the room were the same as the animals we frequent in his animal dictionary book. But, he bounced back and all turned out great. The weather put a damper on things, so the kids couldn't experience our three story neighborhood water slide, but they did get to spend some time on our beach and shipwreck island playground and seemed to have fun playing together. Donnie and I were pooped at the end of the day, but thanks to our wonderful families, we were back home chillin' and remembering the day before we could turn around.

My Baby's First Birthday

My angel baby was born at this exact moment last year and I just cannot believe how the time has flown by. What a wonderful addition to my life and to mine and Donnie's relationship he has been. If the rest of the years are this fun, I will truly be happy for a lifeteime.

First Birthday Party Art Projects

I have been multitasking between several different projects for Cohen's First Birthday Party! Stay tuned for pictures and details. I don't want to spoil the surprise for those of you who will be coming to the big bash. Let's just say, animals galore.

Margaritas with Agave Nectar and Clementines

Cocktail Ingredients:

1/2 bottle of Herradura Silver Tequila

1/2 bottle of margarita mix

2 tablespoons of Agave Nectar

juice of four clementines

2 clementines, sliced

juice of four limes

2 limes sliced

Mixing Instructions:

Add everything to a large glass pitcher and stir with a wooden spoon. Serve over ice in margarita glasses.

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

I just whipped this one up. It's the same as South GA Caviar, just add a can of rinsed black beans and subtract the black eyed peas. Good stuff for a hot Saturday!

South Georgia Caviar

I got this recipe from Paula Deen, but changed it up just a little bit. This has turned into a family favorite at almost every gathering and is perfect for tailgating and picnics, because it won't go bad if it sits out for a while.

Cooking Ingredients:
2 15 oz. cans of black eyed peas, drained
1 15 oz. of whole kernel corn, drained
1 can of Rotel
1/2 vidalia onion, chopped
2 cups of chopped red bell pepper
1 jalapeno, diced with seeds
1/4 bottle of light Italian dressing

Cooking Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and gently stir together. Refrigerate overnight if possible, and serve with corn chips.

Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

I am so excited for football season this year! Only 43 days until the Dawgs kick off. Go Dawgs! Sic' em'! Woof! Woof! Woof!

Cooking Ingredients:
8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 package of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix (dry)
1 stick of butter
6 sandwich buns
1 12 oz. jar of Louisianna Wing Sauce
Blue Cheese crumbles
Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing, light

Cooking Instructions:
Place your chicken in your crock pot. The chicken breasts should be rinsed beforehand. Put in the ranch dressing packet. In a small sauce pan, melt the butter, add the wing sauce and stir until combined. Add the wing sauce and butter mixture to the crock pot, reserving about 1 cup of the sauce. Set your crock pot to six hours and cook.

Remove the chicken breasts, place on a cutting board, and shred with two forks. Add the shredded chicken back to the crock pot and let it "resauce".

When ready to serve, place desired amount of shredded chicken on your sandwich bun. Pour the reserved wing sauce on top. Top with blue cheese crumbles and a drizzle of ranch dressing.