Summertime And The Living Is Easy.

I don't know about you, but I love the lazy days of Summer. There's just something to be said about a bonfire, a beer and a brat hot off the grill.

Where we live, we're already in the throws of Summer, the high today is supposed to 95-degrees. We've been attempting to stay cool, but at the same time, we're enjoying the sun and sand!

My in-laws were in town this weekend, and we made a trip up to the big store and bought a few fun things, one being a little plastic kiddie pool for AJ to splash around in and the other being an electric ice cream maker.

Keep an eye on my new cooking blog, This American Kitchen, next week (and all the time) for the recipe we used to make the ice cream and for other Summer-time treats!

Here are a few glimpses into what we've been up to this past weekend:

We had some friends over for a summer dinner and I busted out my Nora Fleming bowl with the beach ball charm on top! It goes perfectly with my Fiestaware.

I had an excess of strawberries after we got our farm box last week, so I canned them! The recipe will be on my food blog in a few days.

We grilled pizza. Yep, we're adventurous like that. It was delish! This recipe will also appear on my food blog in the next week!

And finally, I've spent every waking moment some quality time pinning beautiful things on Pinterest. Megan from Magnolias and Mimosas invited me and I'm so glad she did!

So, as you can see, I've been busy around here, cooking, entertaining, playing and relaxing! Oh, I've also enjoyed some ice cold beers on a friend's boat and eaten homemade ice cream with family. ;)

What are your plans for the summer?

P.S. AJ pictures coming as soon as I can steal get them from my FIL's camera.

Co-op Produce Box

When we moved into our house we debated whether we I should plant a vegetable garden or just suck it up and buy our produce at the commissary like I have done in the past. While I was debating, a friend of mine mentioned that she was going to sign up for a local co-op farm box.

This solution seemed to be perfect for us! Not only will we get our fresh produce, but we'll be able to support local farmers. This past week we got our first box.

Our box!

We got sweet green onions!

And fresh strawberries...

Some tomatoes, a white sweet potato, and a sweet potato.

Lettuce.

And finally, spinach!

For some reason, I finally feel free to make this duty station our home. I think its because I know we will be here for more than a year (which is more that I can say about any of our previous duty stations), but it also stems from the fact that we bought a house here and even if we PCS at some point, we'll most likely return here.

Settling down means that I am open to exploring the local resources and small businesses. That's not to say that I haven't in the past, but I was always hesitant to fall in love with a place knowing that we'd probably leave sooner rather than later, plus I was afraid to commit to something and then get orders. Since we have the freedom of spending an entire year here (plus a few months) at the very least, we're open to experiencing all that our area has to offer!

I think that in the next few weeks we're going to start getting some random fruits and veggies in our boxes and I'm considering posting new recipes that I try that feature seasonal produce.

All in all, I definitely recommend checking into co-ops in your area. My mom was inspired by our box and subscribed to one in Hometown, USA last week. Her box was totally different from ours, as the climates are very different, but it is still fresh and local, so that's a win right there! The prices for ours are very reasonable and we got quite a bit more food than I was expecting!

Ooooooh!

Is is totally ridiculous that I want these flip flops?

Cuz I do.

Want them.

Bad.

I'm afraid of what D would say though. I mean, I have a serious flip flop obsession and have just recently reigned my collection in from the irresponsible levels that it once stood at!

Part of my problem is that I saw them at the PX. I know I could just drive down to post and pick a pair up, no problem! Maybe that's why I want them soooooo bad!

Thoughts?

P.S. Sorry for being totally MIA this weekend. We live in an area that was hit with lots of storms this weekend and we lost power for 24 hours. We consider ourselves lucky because all around us is a lot of devastating damage. Please keep these people and this area in your prayers.

Spicing Up Your Summer Meals....

The past few days we've had some yummy meals in our house. I attribute this to my awesomeness and also how bored I get of eating the same things over and over again. I also think part of it has to do with the fact that there isn't really all that much to do around here (i.e. restaurants), so I'm experimenting with ingredients that I wouldn't normally use at home.

This week's meals are as follows:

• Friday: Cubano Sandwiches, homemade guacamole and tortilla chips
• Saturday: Linguine with Fire Roasted Tomatoes, Feta, and Shrimp
• Sunday: Steak with Caramelized Mushrooms and Onions, Balsamic Roasted Asparagus with Tomatoes and Garlic.
• Monday: Green Chile Turkey Burgers, Roasted Butternut Squash
• Tuesday: Taco Tuesday!
• Wednesday: Quiche with sausage, cheese and scallions, and spinach salad
• Thursday: Left overs
  

The reason I'm posting? Well, because we're 4 meals into this week and they have been excellent! I'm so glad that I have been taking the time to make healthy dinners and branch out. I have always been fairly comfortable in the kitchen, but lately I've really been coming into my own and I'm really starting to feel comfortable experimenting!

I guess that getting int he kitchen and not being afraid to mess up really does pay off. I'm not going to lie, there have been a few nights when I told D, we can order out if this is really bad, please feel free to let me know if you hate it. You know what? Most of the time if its bad, we still eat it, and make notes on things to change for next time (or maybe a not that reminds me not to make it next time ;).

I've included links for recipes above. If I didn't link it, its because I made the recipe up. You can ask me to share if something sounds particularly yummy to you, and I'd be happy to try and recall measurements for you!

Yummy Summer Eats

I've been trying out some new summer-y recipes lately and I thought I'd share some of the favorites from our house! A few are ones that I made up, but the rest are from random places. I noted any changes that I made to the original recipe and included a link so you can check it out for yourself!

Nectarine and Plum Tarts
(via Me)

one sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter cut into 12 pieces
2 nectarines
2 plums

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Cut puff pastry into 12 equal rectangles and place on baking sheet. Core and thinly slice fruit, placing in a large mixing bowl. Add flour, sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon to bowl. Toss.

3. Place one slice of nectarine and one slice of plum on each square of puff pastry. Top with butter and sprinkle extra cinnamon sugar over top. Bake approximately 20 minutes or until pastry is puffy and golden brown.

Pork Tenderloin with Maple Garlic Glaze**
(via AllRecipes.com)

2 tablespoons dijon mustard
1 teaspoon sesame oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
fresh ground black pepper, to taste
1 cup maple syrup
1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin

1. Combine mustard, sesame oil, garlic, pepper and maple syrup. Place pork in a shallow dish and coat thoroughly with marinade. Cover, then chill in the refrigerator at least eight hours, or overnight.

2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Sear tenderloin on all sides in a large, oven-safe skillet. Pour marinade over pork and transfer skillet to oven. Roast for 20 minutes or until pork reaches internal temperature of 145 degrees.

**I added a bunch of olive oil to my marinade, totally did not marinate for 8 hours and didn't grill my pork as the original recipe directed.

Zucchini Gratin
(via the Neely's)

2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
6 zucchini, sliced into half moons (I used 2 HUGE ones and 1 yellow squash)
2 plum tomatoes, chopped and seeded
1 tablespoon freshly chopped thyme leaves (I used dried)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup half and half (I used skim milk)
1/4 cup grated white Cheddar (I used mexican blend)
1/4 grated Parmesean

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Butter an 8 x 8-inch casserole dish (I used a 9 x 13-inch dish).

2. In a large heavy bottomed saute pan over medium heat, melt butter. Saute onion and garlic until translucent. Add zucchini and tomatoes, about 7 minutes. Add thyme and flour. Season with salt and pepper. Add mixture to the buttered casserole dish.

3. In a medium sized bowl, add brown sugar, eggs, and half and half. Season with salt and pepper. Pour milk mixture over the zucchini and sprinkle with both of the cheeses. Bake for 30 minutes.

Pork Tortas**
(via Cooking Light Magazine)

1/2 the Maple Garlic Glazed Pork Tenderloin, sliced thinly
1 (12 oz) baguette, cut in half horizontally
1/2 cup canned pinto beans
2 tablespoons refrigerated fresh salsa
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (I used sliced Cheddar Jack because its what I had)
1/4 cup thinly sliced onion
1 large tomato, cut into 8 slices
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
1/2 ripe peeled avocado, cut into 1/8 inch thick slices

1. Hollow out top and bottom halves of bread, leaving a 3/4-inch-thick shell. Place bread halves, cut sides up, on a baking sheet. Broil 2 minutes or until golden brown.

2. Place beans and salsa in a small bowl; mash with a fork until almost smooth. Spoon bean mixture into the bottom half of baguette. Top with pork and cheese. Place sandwich bottoms back under broiler to melt cheese.

3. Top sandwiches with onion, tomato, jalapeno, avocado and top half of baguette. Cut into 4 pieces. Yield: 4 servings)

**Please note that for this recipe I used leftover pork tenderloin, so the nutritional information and my directions are a bit different than what they have on their site.

My Special Apple Chicken Salad
(via Me)

1 large or 2 small chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
1 Braeburn apple, cored and chopped
1 package fresh spinach
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup chopped dates
2 tablespoons fresh goat cheese
cayenne-citrus dressing

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss. Enjoy!

Cayenne-Citrus Dressing
(via Me)

juice of 2 oranges
juice of one lime
1 teaspoon powdered ginger
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup olive oil

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl (or dressing container with lid). Whisk (or shake) until mixed. Pour over salad and enjoy!

I hope you get a chance to try some of these out and enjoy them as much as my family and friends have!

What are some of your favorite summer-time recipes?

Weekend Plans

Here are some pictures from Thursday night. There was a crazy thunderstorm that night too, so it was way cool.

This weekend is shaping up to be busier than Memorial Day weekend was for us. Yesterday D was off work because it was the Army's birthday, so we got to hang out and just spend some time together, which was really nice.

Thursday night we had Sam and Nick over for dinner and we got to enjoying some alcoholic beverages. D says that when Sam and I get together and consume alcohol we should not be allowed to be in the same room. I think its because we are too much alike! He mentioned something about us being loud and talking shit! Haha!

We were out on the back porch, Nick had brought his hookah over and we were smoking that and cigars when we realized that our neighbors were out smoking their cigars. We like our neighbors, so we invited them to hop the fence and join us. Pretty soon 3 CPTs from D's unit and his BN XO walk over. We ended up bull-shitting and just hanging out for a long while with them. It was super fun because all those guys are hilarious! It was kind of sad because everyone is getting ready to leave now, it is so close!

The really good news about having a 3-day weekend is that D has Staff Duty today, so he really only gets a regular length weekend. I am bummed for him. He always seems to get screwed by his dates for Staff Duty. I guess someone has to do it. Either way, I am meeting him for lunch and most likely bringing him dinner and a snack way later on since he has to be there all night.

At least he gets to look forward to our BBQ on Sunday at the Dell's. Rachel called way earlier this week to invite us over on Sunday for a cookout at their place. We have realized that out of all the people in the BN, they are most like us, so now we try to hang out on the weekends. LOL. They went deep-sea fishing last weekend and it sounded interesting, but Rachel definitely did not sell me on it!

Monday is the Co. party and I am in charge of going to Walmart to pick up all the food that was ordered. It is fried chicken with salads and bread for 200! Thankfully I have D to come along with me and help me get it all from the store to my car. I am looking forward to the party because I actually really like some of the people D works with, even if he hates them in a professional setting. He has agreed with me that outside work, they are not that bad!

The countdown continues, we have 17 days until we leave for WA and even less than that (12 days) until the movers come and take all of our stuff! CRAZY! I am trying to think of cool (cheap-ish) things that we can do here to mark the end of our time in TX. I am thinking maybe a trip down to San Antonio to go to Sea World (free!) or something like that, but who knows what I will be able to talk D into...

Until next time!

School's Out!

That's right folks!  Today was my last day subbing in Killeen!  We are moving this summer, so I said goodbye to all my friends over at MVES and headed home to enjoy summer!  So far summer has been sort of boring, but I am sure things will pick up!

The past week has been slow, so I haven't really had much to write about, but yesterday was the worst day ever.  I was out in the inflatable kiddie pool that DH bought me at Walmart and I dropped my cell phone in the water.  Phone is still "drying out" in the tupperware full of rice.  I am hopefully, but realistic in thinking that it may work again someday.  If not, DH had an extra phone for me to use, so I am not completely cut off from the world.

In addition to that awesomeness, we still have not received our per diem pay from the deployment.  DH has been home since March, and its now June.  It turns out that there is a problem with the orders he deployed on and the woman who is supposed to fix them doesn't feel like it.  Totally frustrating!

The good news from yesterday was that we got a call from the rental agency about the townhouse in Tacoma we want.  There is one available starting in July, so now we have to wait and see if our application is approved.  I am assuming it will be, but we are in a waiting game now.  We are ready to put down our deposit and everything but I am afraid someone else will snag it before that can happen!

27 days until SLS, WPT, and JAG get here for the cattle-drive to WA.  Can't wait to get out of here!