Spicy Summer Gazpacho Time!

Tomato season is upon us and my tomato plant has taken off!

Recently I've picked a few for salads and eggs but since there are more and they just keep comin' I thought I would make a spicy gazpacho!  Simple to make and so refreshing!

Ingredients:

4-5 medium tomatoes (quartered)
1 cucumber (peeled and roughly chopped)
1 red bell pepper (cored and chopped)
1 small poblano pepper (cored, no seeds and roughly chopped)
1 small red onion (quarted)
lime juice (1/2 a lime or so)
cilantro (a few sprigs)
1 sliced avocado
pinch of salt & pepper
2 tablespoons of olive oil

Throw tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, little bit of the cilantro and onion into the blender and blend away.  Transfer to a bowl and stir in lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.  Chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.

Pour into bowls (should serve about 4).  Garnish with some sliced avocado and cilantro.  I also might try throwing in some cooked shrimp for a heartier version.  Or for lunch, pair it with an open faced tuna sandwich.

The 3 Minute Sundress!

Here's a fun DIY tip for all the ladies on how to make a summer sundress in three minutes with three materials.  It's so easy a cavewoman could do it.  If she had the following materials.


Scissors
Pencil
Pillow Case

Instructions:

1. Pick out a pillow case (either one you're not using at home or a cute vintage print from a thrift store).  I just got this pink gingham one and another one with a red, white and navy floral pattern and white striped hem.

 

2. On the folded end (not the hemmed end), draw semi-circles for the neck and arms with a pencil and then cut along the line.

3. Put on your new dress! 

You can throw it on over your bathing suit.

Or pair it with a belt to "dress it up."

  

Wait'll summer gets a load of us!

Thrift Find of the Week: 70's Outdoor Table Runner

Just in time for summer get togethers, I found this far out table runner that fits my eight foot picnic table perfectly.

I love the tassels too!

Time to have a groovy party!

Party.. Pizza Party!

Made delicious personal pizzas last night and boring old dinner turned into a pizza party!



These are fun to make but they also make great use of the extra veggies and items in your fridge that were starting to lack purpose. There's nothing I hate more than wasting food!

One was a sausage with grilled onions and plantains (which were left over from a recent meal at a Cuban restaurant) and the second had chicken, asparagus, tomatoes and basil.

Added a caesar salad on the side and the pizza party was complete.