Camp Nacho

Ok So throw some chips and grated cheese into a Dutch Oven...

Apply some heat. For Nachos, it is probably best just on top since you just want to melt the cheese. Takes no time at all to get it all melty.

Top with chopped Onion, Avacado, Tomatoes, Sour Cream and Salsa Verde.

Delicious!

Fried Summer Squash

I've heard it said that food you grow yourself just tastes better. I'd have to agree.

The garden's producing.

Tonight I'm focusing on the squash. Usually I just eat it raw and/or as a dipping veggie.

But tonight I chopped it, and fried it in butter.

To finish it off, I tossed in some Italian Herbage, and topped it with Parmesan.
Can't beat it. :)

Blue Stilton and Sweet Olive Oil Tortas

Tasty Penicillium Roqueforti

I know it should be Pears but these grapes sure were tasty with it!

A 2005 survey carried out by the British Cheese Board reported that when it came to dream types, Stilton cheese seemed to cause odder dreams than other cheese, with 75% of men and 85% of women experiencing "odd and vivid" dreams after eating a 20-gram serving of the cheese half an hour before going to sleep.
"With appologies to Chris because it could kill him."

Stilton, thou shouldst be living at this hour

And so thou art. Nor losest grace thereby;

England has need of thee, and so have I--

She is a Fen. Far as the eye can scour,

League after grassy league from Lincoln tower

To Stilton in the fields, she is a Fen.

Yet this high cheese, by choice of fenland men,

Like a tall green volcano rose in power.

Plain living and long drinking are no more,

And pure religion reading "Household Words",

And sturdy manhood sitting still all day

Shrink, like this cheese that crumbles to its core;

While my digestion, like the House of Lords,

The heaviest burdens on herself doth lay.
- G.K. Chesterton

Medicinal Mojito

Start this recipe by picking a warm summer day. 88° is good. I think today was around 90°, which is even better.

Go out and wipe yourself out. Yardwork is always good for this. Especially on the warm day. My example would be weeding and tilling the garden. I'm dirty, hot, and sweaty.

Go shower and get cleaned up. Then find some fresh mint and cut several sprigs.

If you know where the cheese store is, pick some up. A little good cheese never hurt anybody.

Pour out some Oil and Balsamic for dipping the crusty sourdough bread that I know you bought when you bought the cheese and crackers...

Next, get a tall glass, throw in a generous pinch or two of sugar, the juice of half a lime, about ten mint leaves that you cut earlier, and some ice. Then muddle the mint leaves into the sugar and ice to release the mint oils. Top off with a couple ounces of white rum, and then fill with soda water.

It's a Mojito, and if it's before noon, it's medicinal. If it's evening... you've earned it.

And let the porch creeping commence!

Done right, this recipe will last well after sunset.
It's all about quality of life.

**Author Update**

Everybody knows how to make "a" mojito right? But "a" mojito isn't really useful for most occasions. So I've been tweaking my recipe, and here it is... for a decent amount.

Use a pitcher... throw in 20 Mint Leaves, a couple handfuls of crushed ice, and 12 tsp Sugar, Muddle that. Add 3 oz Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice, 10 oz of White Rum, and top with 22 oz of Club Soda!

John's Graduation Bar-B-Que

You just have to have some tasty Veg! There was Hummus to dip...

Fruit trays are Tasty!

Cheese and crackers are a must.

A lot of Chicken Wings.

Marinating the Beef.

Grill Master Jim hard at work.

Love to see that smoke.

Sushi tray! Yummo!
The Spicy Tuna is to die for.

Grilled Vegi kabobs for those inclined.

And somehow the Cake and Ice Cream got missed.

Fried Eggs with whole wheat Pita

Cookin' with Hansen Kids

No, the Hansen kids are not the ingredients... they're the chefs!
Now, it's not all home made entirely from scratch or anything but, it was a fun project as we mixed and matched toppings!
Cookin' with the kiddos was Chris' idea and it was a good one!

The kids started with personal sized ready-made crusts and slathered on some pizza sauce from a jar.

Then added fresh chopped up tomato (chopped by an adult :-).

Then they sprinkled on chopped cilantro and some grilled chicken breast. Josh bought skinless, boneless chicken breast and grilled it on the Forman seasoning with a little basil then chopped it up.

Then they sprinkled on finely shredded mozzarella and mild cheddar (it came in a "pizza blend" bag of shredded cheese).

Then came pineapple (from a can) and shredded up bacon we had just fried up fresh.

They cooked for just 8 minutes.

Yummy yummy!

The kids really enjoyed having a meal they made themselves.

They did a large portion of the preparing

and it was goooood!

Then it was mom and dad's turn.
Ours included BBQ sauce instead of pizza sauce, grilled chicken, bacon, same cheese, red onion, fresh chopped tomato and cilantro, pineapple on Brittany's and fresh sliced jalapeno on Josh's.

Josh's Pizza.

Brittany's Pizza.

Eve followed up the delicious meal with a dessert that included a small bowl of sliced strawberry and bananas with whole milk poured over and topped with a few drizzles of honey.

Josh thought it sounded "weird".

Eve gobbled it right up and loved every bit!

Cheese Boy

Ethan helped me grate some Cheese today.

:p

Nachos

I forgot the grilled chicken and the sour cream, but my nachos were so pretty today!