Aloha!

The Hawaiian luau that I planned for celebrations.com is published.  It's a luau with a modern twist, and the food is fresh and healthy! Love my hubby for doing the grilling for me.   :)

http://www.celebrations.com/content/hawaiian-luau-theme-with-a-modern-look



Sneak Peek

 Just finishing a Hawaiian Luau for celebrations.com.  Wish I could've filmed it on location!  :)

A Bike Ride in San Diego

 “Unconditional Surrender”

Port of San Diego

We were riding our bikes along the waterfront in San Diego and discovered this 25-foot statue commemorating a famous World War II photo of a Sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square, New York City on Aug. 14, 1945, following the announcement of V-J Day.



Beach-Inspired Tablescapes

Beach-inspired tablescapes...3 ways

                 soft pink                                              nautical                                           playful

http://www.celebrations.com/content/nautical-themed-table-setting

Warm Blackberry Sauce Over Mango Sorbet

Another winner from a visit to the local fruit stand and my Southern Living Farmers Market Cookbook:

Warm Blackbery Sauce Over Mango Sorbet

2 pt. fresh blackberries, halved

1/4 cup sugar

2 1/2 tsp. orange zest

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1 pt. mango sorbet

6 gingersnaps, crushed

1. Stir together first 4 ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat; cook, stirring constantly until heated through. Serve over sorbet; sprinkle with gingersnaps.  6 servings

Notes:  I used Haagen Dazs Mango Sorbet and fresh blackberries from the farmstand on McKee Road!

Happy 4th!

Lemon-blueberry cupcakes with toasted coconut frosting...
There are going to be some happy grandkids around here today.  :)

Endless Summer Hydrangeas

We have an amazing hydrangea that grows in a pot on our patio.  It's the Endless Summer variety and it is quite the show off!  The blossoms are huge, and plentiful.  It blooms at least twice each season and is unbelievably hardy. Truly one of my all time favorite plants!  Check it out at http://www.endlesssummerblooms.com/  s twice each summer.

I cut some blooms this morning to bring indoors.  This metal wastebasket is the perfect container for the enormous blossoms.  I put the stems in a large glass vase and then set it down in the metal container.

Endless Summer...now that's a thought!  :)