Pan Fried Onion Dip Recipe

We had the second Low Country Boil last night, and everyone had a great time. This is one of the things I made. Easy and delicious, and amazing on top of a burger.

Pan Fried Onion Dip from Ina Garten

2 large Vidala onions
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup good mayonnaise, I use Hellman's
Directions
Cut the onions in half and then slice them into 1/8-inch thick half-rounds. (You will have about 3 cups of onions.) Heat the butter and oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions, cayenne, salt, and pepper and saute for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are browned and caramelized. Allow the onions to cool.
Place the cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until smooth. Add the onions and mix well. Taste for seasonings. Serve at room temperature.

Five Things about Summer

Five Favorite Things About Summer.......... I've been Tagged by Entertaining House.

!. Laying on a hammock, drinking a Pepsi and reading a book.

2. Bubble and John-John outfits from cool seersucker with smocking.

3. Sparklers on the Fourth of July.

4. Flip-Flops, esp. Eliza B's

5. Watching my boys play for hours on end, with not a care in the world. Pure Bliss!

Cheers!

It's Friday... time for a drink! This is a family favorite, which was had at every holiday, Baptism, First Communion, wedding and baby shower. You name the celebration, we had Brandy Slush. Keep in mind this has green tea (which is good for us) and orange juice ( which is good for us), thus drink to good health!

Brandy Slush

7 cups water
1 1/2 cup sugar
Boil together and cool.

4 green tea bags
2 cups boiling water
Let stand until cool.

12 oz. can frozen orange juice, thawed
12 oz. can frozen lemonade, thawed
2 cups brandy

Stir all ingredients together and freeze. I make this several days before an event, and may add a splash of 7up to each cup. Will keep in the freezer nicely, just scoop out a drink when you really deserve (or need) one.

The Three Musketeers

The boys and their best buddy. Buckets for helmets and golf clubs for weapons. You gotta love an imagination.

Dream a Little Dream of Me

Today was the last field trip for S's pre-k class. We went to the Monona Dream Park, where the kids ran and climbed for 2 hours. S is on a big sea serpent in the picture. The place is wonderful, swings, slides, monkey bars, tires to balance on, and lots more. And the best part, the kids are completely exhausted at the end of the day. It was a little chilly, but lots of fresh air. I can't believe there is only 6 more days left before he is a Kindergartener.

Hanging by a Thread

Here is my solution for hanging up the hand towel in the powder room. Every time I pass it, the towel is on the floor. Boys: See towel. See towel hook. Place towel over bar. See Mommy happy! Since that isn't happening, I attached the towel to a clip (golf towels would work too) and now it stays off the floor. Please know, I take it down when we have company. I hope company can hang it up.

Soft as a Baby's Behind

A friend gave me a jar of this, and my skin is as soft as a baby's butt! It's all organic, smells wonderful and is made in the USA, Wisconsin in fact! I went on their website, http://www.trilliumorganics.com/ , and looked at all their other products. I am ordering more of the body polish, I might need the 64oz. professional size, and some lotion. There is a warning on the jar: Warning: Healthy skin can be habit forming. This has happened to me, my shower has doubled in length, and B is getting sick of me saying, "Feel my skin". If anyone wants to show off some skin this summer, this is a must have. Thanks, Kimberly, for one of my favorite things!

Finally!

J finally learned to ride his bike. We took the bikes over to Grandma and Grandpa B's house, because they have a flat sidewalk, and ran with him as he tried and tried. The entire time i am saying "Pdeal!", he is saying, "Don't let go, you won't let go, will you?" And, of course, I let go. Like the yellow gloves? Husbands idea of protection, and I just shook my head. Now J thinks he is an old pro. And S is asking when his training wheels will come off. Hello Emergency Room! That child will trip on air.

Thank You for All You Have Done

May the sun in his course

visit no land

more free,

more happy,

more lovely,

than this our own country!

-Daniel Webster

Good Night, Sleep Tight

S was having a hard time sleeping tonight, so I laid with him and asked him what he was going to dream about. He said, " Horsies, and doggies, and kitties, and the Kentucky Derby race and about being 8, then about being 11." The kid kills me, where does he get this stuff?! And to make it all the more funny, it is all said with no R's. He is dweaming about hosies and Dewby Waces. I weawwy wove him!

World's Largest Brat Fest!

Memorial Day Weekend on Willow Island at Alliant Energy Center

May 22nd thru May 25th, 2009.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday - 10 AM to 9 PM

Monday - 10 AM to 6 PM

Rain or Shine!!!

How many brats can you eat? I will be helping break the record at least once this weekend. Check out the website to see the counter clicking away. www.bratfest.com

Hail to the Chief

Today was come as a historical figure from Colonial America. J went as George Washington, which I was very grateful for, since we already had the costume. That is him at the end of the row. He had to give a three minute speech on Washington, and we have been practicing for ten days. S is even able to answer lots of the material, so here's hoping he picks the same figure two years from now. I am so proud of J for all his hard work, Mrs. V said he did great, and all the information he soaked in. He has been interested in Washington for about 4 years, and got to take pictures of him at Mount Vernon and at Constitution Hall in Philadelphia. He was very proud of himself.

Field Trip to the Zoo

I got to chaperone the Pre-K trip to the Henry Vilas Zoo yesterday. It was perfect weather and everyone had a ball. I was in charge of S and his best friend, T. They are two peas in a pod, full of giggles and mischief. We had a picnic afterward and then the kids played on the playground for about an hour. Everyone went home tired from sun, fresh air and all the running around. If you are ever in Madison, check out the zoo. It's free, parkings free and it's a very laid back environment. www.vilaszoo.org

Gotta Have It!

I have to have this bracelet, how cute is this? I think it would be perfect for summer, with t-shirt and shorts. This company, Faith Garland, is owned by my next door neighbor. I love her things. She is a stay at home mom of three, and this is her new adventure. Check it out: www.faithgarland.com .

Thinking Happy Thoughts

I have just sent J to bed (it's 6pm) because he is driving me CRAZY! He normally goes to bed at 7:30, so God only knows what time he will get up. But at this point, I can't deal with him. He "forgot" his homework at school, had an "accident" because he waited to long, he decided to destroy several huge hostas with a stick, and refused to eat any dinner. So now I will think happy thoughts, and think about him like he was last Saturday morning, sweet and darling, working on excavating his dinosaur. As Scarlet said, "Tomorrow is another day."

What I'm Reading

I picked this book up at Target today, as I was ironically wearing a green and pink argyle sweater. It is a look at the authors life and the clothes she was wearing at the time. Jen writes about the importance of the "first day of school" outfit. I clearly remember mine for the first day of 8th grade, Fall 1982. The entire ensemble was from The Stoughton Store, a downtown apparel store in Stoughton, Wisconsin. Plaid wool knickers, with a matching vest, cream blouse with a string ribbon tie, in the matching plaid. Cream colored knee socks and tassel loafers. I had been babysitting for a family who owned a shoe store, and they paid me in shoes. I wish I could have that job back! What was the outfit you remember most from you childhood?

I Won an Award, a Major Award!

Thank you, Entertaining House,( http://doodlebuglounge.blogspot.com) , for this honor! I haven't won anything since a ham at the parish festival in 1977! I know, pathetic! I will work on who to pass this onto.

Low Country Boil Part One

The first of the Low Country Boils was last night. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and no one left with an empty stomach. We started with cheese straws, pimento cheese spread, Vidalia Onion dip, and BBQ pulled pork sliders. Then came the boil, plus sides of corn bread, mac and cheese and baked beans, I also had cole slaw, that I forgot to take out of the fridge, (Oops!).

Then dessert were choices of Red Velvet cake, coconut cake, pecan pie and banana pudding. We had to have the dinner inside, since it was in the 50's and quite windy. People enjoyed the garden for a while, then came in to get warm. I'm sure the brandy slush helped a lot.

Here is the recipe for the best baked beans ever! Thank you Kelly, for sharing this gem with me!

Badger State Beans

1/2 lb ground beef or 1 lb ground turkey

1/2 lb bacon, diced

1 small onion, diced

1- 16 0z. can pork and beans

1- 16 oz. can kidney beans, drained

1- 16 oz. can yellow butter beans, drained

1- 16 oz. can black beans, drained

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1/4 cup white sugar

2 tbsp. molasses

1/2 tsp. dry mustard

Preheat oven to 350.

Brown ground beef (or turkey), bacon and onion. Drain excess fat.

In a 2 quart casserole dish, combine remaining ingredients. Add meat mixture.

Bake uncovered 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Those were the Days

I miss the days when my boys spent their time in these classic john-johns. I love the smocking and sweet embroidery. They got matching ones, john- john for J and bubble for S, for Easter, Fourth of July. They had diggers, lobsters, lizards, and I have all of them still hanging in a closet because I can't bear to part with them. They wore leather "Christopher Robin" shoes with turned down cotton socks. All of which I had to order from down South. Every trip we made to South Carolina and Georgia, I stocked up on beautiful children's clothes. I have such a problem finding appropriate clothing. They are not allowed to wear sleeveless shirts, nothing with crass phrases on it, no sweats in public, shorts have to be above the knee, shirts start out tucked in, no hats or hoods in a building. The older they get, the harder time I have finding nice clothing for them. Everything ends up being Polo and Lands' End.

Mighty have Fallen

Busy week continues with a volunteer breakfast at school this morning and a choir concert this evening. I have a five dollar bet with the teacher that one of the kids is going to fall off the riser in the enthusiasm for "Rockin' Robin". She said I have now cursed it. Going to make cheese straws and coconut cake this afternoon. The check list for the party on Saturday is dwindling. I did such a great job getting everything polished and shining, that I slipped on the stairs this morning, and fell down 6 steps before catching myself. All I could think as I'm going ass over teakettle is, don't break anything! I've got too much to do! Ah, life is never boring!

Calgon, take me away!

This is a crazy week! Today the kids didn't have school today, so we ran to Sam's Club quick, then came home. They ran around for roughly 6 hours straight, had dinner, showered and instantly fell asleep. Tomorrow is Parent Guild meeting, in which I will be introduced as the President-elect. A dubious honor. Then swimming right after school. Thursday night is J's choir concert. Then Saturday is the first of two Low Country Boils, which were our donation to the school auction. Eleven couples are coming for dinner, and I am consumed with getting the yard and house cleaned. I love our home, and don't want to move, but it might be easier cleaning a 50's ranch, rather than a hundred year old Victorian. I got three bathrooms scoured, so on Saturday they will just need a quick going over. I even took the toilet seats completely off, which I think is the only way to really get them clean. I live with three males, which makes the process disgusting. Next came dusting all the bedrooms, so a quick vacuum should finish it up. I always make B take the boys away for the day when we are having a big shin-dig. With them here, it's like shoveling during a blizzard! All these people keep telling me how excited they are about dinner, which is wonderful to hear, but, boy, the pressure. Cheese straws, pimento cheese, pork bbq sliders, red velvet cake, pecan pie, banana pudding. I hope no one is on a diet!

What I'm Reading

Yesterday at B & N, I picked up this book, The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz. It is "delicious adventures in the world's most glorious- and perplexing- city." David was a pastry chef at Chez Panisse, and has written several cookbooks. I just started it, but so far it is interesting. I like his writing style, which is funny and fast moving. There are recipes included in the book. Thank God I can't gain weight by just reading about food, I would be in serious trouble! If I am not cooking, I'm reading about food.

Come Fly with Me

I am in love with this sweet butterfly towel from www.chasing-fireflies.com . It comes in three color choices, but this is my favorite. I think this might be birthday presents for a few nieces . Too cute!

The worst Mother EVER!

I am the worst Mother ever! That is according to my boys. They have spent hours picking at each other, bickering, hitting, tattling, and I can no longer take it! They both got sent to bed with no story, and told if they didn't start getting along, I was going to cancel all play dates for the entire summer, and they would only have each other to play with. Maybe then they woulf figure out how to get along. I, also, said I was going to call the North Pole to report to Santa the goings on. Holy cow, can those kids get into pj's and into bed at record speed! These are the days when I think, "This is why some animals eat their young!" It is for some peace and quiet.

Why, oh why?

Why, after I search high and low for the perfect lipstick, they discontinue the color? It is so frustrating! I was running low on my color, so ran into Target in Door County this past weekend. It had a red sticker on it, and was priced half off. I looked at B and said I would have to spend Monday cruising the Targets in our area, stocking up my lipsticks. He looked at me like I'm nuts, which frankly is a look I get often from him. He said, "Just get a different one." As if it were that easy! I now have 5 in the drawer, and three more Targets to hit tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Happy May Day!

Happy May Day! I spent the morning at S's class, reading a story about a garden, dancing around the May Pole, and making May Baskets. I was happy the teachers let me come in and share some of our family traditions. The May Pole turned out great, and all the kids had a good time. They painted little wooden baskets and filled them with flowers I brought from my garden. All the children were very excited to bring them home. Do you have any May Day traditions?