LADDventure

Wordless Wednesday - Wildfire

Bloody Mary BBQ Chicken

It is still prime grillin' season, and I have an easy summertime supper for you.  There is no need to even put this one into standard recipe form, because it's so easy.  It might sound like a strange combo, but it is super tasty!

Defrost whatever kind of chicken you have in the freezer. Skinless boneless breasts work just as well as drumsticks.

Stick the chicken in a ziploc bag, and marinate it in your favorite Bloody Mary mix for a few hours or even overnight.  I'm partial to ZingZang, but even if you don't drink Bloody Mary's (in which case, we can't be friends), any Bloody Mary mix will do because it's just about the seasoning, and the acid of the tomato juice tenderizing the chicken. 

Cook on the grill, brushing with your favorite BBQ sauce as it cooks. (I have no idea how long this takes.  Ask Mr. Ladd)  Sweet Baby Ray's tends to always be in our pantry.  No need to get fancy and try to make your own unless you want to, but you're on your own with that one.

Serve with anything you think goes good with BBQ chicken.  In my house that's sweet corn on the cob, potato salad, and quite likely a cold beer.  Enjoy!

Thankful Thursday - Meal Memories

Memories often revolve around food for me, great meals shared with good friends or family.  So, I am dedicating this edition of Thankful Thursday to some incredible meals I've had this past week with incredible people that I'm oh so grateful for...

1.  Frank's Diner with the Sharkey's (pictured above) You might remember Vicki from this post.  I heart her.  She and her lovely husband hosted me in Kenosha the last two nights of my WI stay, and insisted I experience Frank's, of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives fame.  I'm so glad they did.  It was possibly the best Eggs Benedict and Bloody Mary I had ever tasted, and it was by far the best meal I've ever eaten in an entertaining lunch car where everyone speaks their mind.

2.  Villa D'Carlo the night before for pizza and beer definitely did not disappoint.  It was a beautiful night so we sat outside under colorful umbrellas with a view of Lake Michigan.  All the classic cars drove by that come out of the woodwork on a Midwest summer night.  Good pizza is by far one of the things I miss most since we moved so far from Chicago, and Carl's pizza did not disappoint.  It hit the spot, and I'm sure Vicki and Brian were sick of my sighs and yummy noises.

 3.  I stayed with my sister-in-law Emily, while my brother David was gone for a show too.  They eat mostly vegan, so they always have some creative, healthy goodness for me when I'm there.  Emily introduced me to many things including Archer Farms Spicy Six Grain tortilla chips from Target (and Mr. Clean all purpose cleaner with Gain.  I know it's not food, but holy entire house smelling like fresh laundry!)  But the most unexpectedly delicious combo was a toasted croissant, smeared with hummus and avocado, then drizzled with honey and sprinkled with sea salt.  Sounds so weird, but it was tasty!

4.  Wilson's Coffee, of which I bought two pounds to bring home.  Nothing like it.

5.  Seven Sisters danish pastry from Larsen's Bakery for breakfast at the in-laws more times than I care to admit.

Ok, now I'm hungry so I'm going to go make some lunch.  What are some unforgettable meals or treats that you are still remembering?

Wisconsin Wednesday

July 3rd - 13th, I was back in the motherland.  This trip to Wisconsin was difficult at times.  There was a lack of sleep and lots of running around, trying to fit in time with everyone who we miss so much.  Things are changing and coming to an end, and there were tough conversations and messy situations. 

Sometimes it's hard going home because it can feel less and less like home each time, but then we spend a day on a boat in Lake Michigan, seeing a new side of the city where we grew up, or I sit on the front porch of our first home, watching my niece draw with sidewalk chalk on wet pavement, and it feels just right.  There were lovely moments, people, sounds, and tastes I miss. This trip was all of that.  I'm still catching up on laundry and writing, but glad for the items crossed off the summer bucket list and memories made.  

There was catching up with friends we miss dearly...

 

Family & Fireworks on the 4th of July...

Some were big fans of the pyrotechnics....

Others not so much

Midwest sunsets after perfect summer days

 

 Cool summer nights, rainy days, and sidewalk chalk

Until next time Wisconsin...love you.

S'Mores and Summer

This weekend was about as hot as it gets here in Arizona, so we lived in the pool.  We hosted a pool party/early 4th of July BBQ on Saturday, where the s'more bites were the easy hit of the afternoon with no need to stand around a blazing fire.

Here's the recipe:
Break graham crackers in half.
Put a marshmallow on each half graham cracker.
Put them in the 375 degree oven on a cookie sheet for about 3 minutes.
Take out of the oven, and promptly plop a Hershey Kiss in the middle of the marshmallow while it's still all melty.

Delish, simple, and seriously 3 dozen of them were gone before the guests were.

On Sunday we finally crawled out of the pool, pruned and a bit sunburned, after spending another day in the water with friends who had come over to help us finish leftover beer and burgers.  It was the best kind of summer weekend, and in the Phoenix area, where summer is long and uncomfortable, it got me thinking of other ways to make the most out of the season.  A trip to Wisconsin this week will help.  Lake Michigan, fireworks, friends, family, and much cooler temps make for good summer memories.  So here are some other ways I am determined to enjoy summer to the fullest.  It's here for a while, so I might as well make the best of it.

Summer Bucket List 

Make rhubarb dessert of some sort

Host a pool party

Head to the mountains and go camping

Eat S'mores

Have a girl's pool day

Go for early morning/late night walk

Sit under the porch during a monsoon

Join a gym  

Take a road trip

Organize my teaching supplies

Read a magazine cover to cover

Go to the beach

Spend a day on a boat

Swim at night

Watch fireworks

Draw with sidewalk chalk 

Watch National Lampoon's Summer Vacation  

Dig in the dirt

Drink an Italian Greyhound cocktail

Catch fire flies

Drive up to Flagstaff for the day

Buy new sunglasses

Pack a picnic

Spend an entire day with a good book

Drink a beer at a baseball game

What's on your summer bucket list?

Thankful Thursday - Hotness

My head is crammed with blog design ideas and new things to write about, but alas...I have a book that is waiting to be written as well, so for now a list of gratefulness will have to do.  Today I'm doing some thanking for...

Air conditioning and a swimming pool - It's stupid hot in the Phoenix area right now, as in it's supposed to be 118 degrees this weekend.  Dumb, and I will be living in my pool until I get on a plane to cooler temps next week where we get to see these two faces!

A dinner double date with new friends, topped off with some gelato

 Friends and family who say things like, "I'm sad with you," join you on a mutual venting walk, or come over with chicken kabobs fresh off their grill at the last minute to drink beer and listen

Some serious productivity this week.  Sticking to the schedule is working.

Summer T.V. - Between Mr. Ladd's man crush on Gordon Ramsay and my obsession with So You Think You Can Dance, we are well entertained while it's too hot to do anything else.

Jeep Journal - Crown King Camping

We decided rather on a whim a few weeks ago, to head to the mountains and try our hand at some camping again.  We have gone a few times, and have all the gear, but this was the first time we'd be heading up our own trip and the first time we were brave enough to bring the dogs.

The last time we were camping, I was sniffed by a bear.  But that was in a different state, with many more bears. So we decided to give it another shot, loaded up the beasts, and invited Mr. Ladd's brother and fellow Jeeper, to come with us.

We just made it a one-nighter this time since we weren't sure how the dogs would do, and if we'd forget some essential piece of equipment.  But, we could have easily done two nights and the dogs were so good, I think we will next time.

We found a spot just down the road from Crown King, an old mining town that you can only get to on a dirt trail up the mountain.  The town itself is literally a saloon, one gas pump, and a general store for the most part.  We headed past the town a bit, set up camp and proceeded to chill...

all of us...

all day...

It was lovely.

There was exploring, lizard hunting, and dirty paws.

There was cast iron over an open fire, s'mores, and a chilly evening under a crisp night sky.

At this point in the summer there are burn restrictions, because it's so dry, which means you have to camp in a designated campground with a metal fire ring.  But, at the time we went, there were no restrictions yet, and one of the really cool things about Arizona is you can just camp pretty much anywhere.  So there are these great little secluded spots that have obviously been used by others because rocks are formed into a fire ring, but otherwise it truly is being one with nature.  I never thought I'd want to be quite so familiar with nature, but the nature here is oh so worth it.  There is nothing like escaping up into the cooler mountains when the summer heat starts to creep into the valley.

Thankful Thursday - More

I have some major stuff on my heart and mind today.  This morning, I was just mindlessly watering flowers and starting laundry, when a conversation surprised me with messy, complicated feelings of wanting more in certain areas.  As usual, I find the cure for the sometimes painful yearning for something more or something different, is noticing what you have right now.  So today, as I often do on Thursdays, I'm noticing these things and just being thankful for them...

• Mr. Ladd, who I adore, and who is always striving with me to grow closer & stronger
• Red Rover Ale and Rampant I.P.A. on the patio with twinkling tea lights in mason jars
• Mico and Buddy, my quirky little fur babies, who keep me smiling and scolding daily
• Flowers, herbs, and vines overflowing in a pile of color in my backyard
• Watermelon Feta Salad with garden mint and sharp red onion
• New friends, fresh conversations, and next steps
• Summer waiting around the corner with blueberry mojitos and friends poolside
• Trips planned to catch up with Wisconsin in July and Jeep through Colorado in September

Wordless Wednesday

Came across this picture today.  Can you guess who these two creepers are?

Zucchini Bonus

2 blog posts in one day, this one filled with zucchini. You're welcome. 'Tis the season for ripe zucchini at the farmer's market.  I always seem to forget about this guy until late summer and am always pleased when I remember all the tasty stuff I can make with him.  We all know this versatile veggie (or is it a fruit?)  has been the star of many a loaf of zucchini bread, but I've got a couple different things for you to try.

This first one is not your mother's zucchini recipe....

                                                                                                                              ... it's my mother's!

   

This was one of my favorites growing up, and Mr. Ladd is now a big fan as well.  (Cautionary note:  I failed this recipe miserably the other night, because I bought huge "boat zucchini" at the farmer's market and they are NOT suitable for baking.  I think they are just used for serving food and are more matured than their smaller zucchini counterparts.  Not easy to shred and very bitter in the cake I destroyed earlier this week.  But it is a tried and true recipe, and I will triumph with "non-boat zucchini" when I retry it for a gathering with friends later this week.)

 Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake 

Ingredients:

1/2 C butter (softeened)                     1 T baking powder

1 1/2 C sugar                                     1/2 t cinnamon

3 eggs                                                 2 C shredded zucchini

1/2 C oil                                             1 C chocolate chips for top of cake

3 t vanilla

1 3/4 C flour

1/4 C baking cocoa

2 T baking soda

Directions:

1.  In large bowl, cream butter and sugar together

2.  Add eggs 1 at a time, beat well

3.  Beat in oil and vanilla

4.  Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon in separate bowl

5.  Gradually add dry mixture to creamed mixture

6.  Fold in zucchini

7.  Spread in greased 9 x 13 pan

8.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes

**Don't under cook or it will be too gooey!**

______________________________________________

This next recipe is a yummy, creamy side dish, but far better for you than mashed potatoes or pasta.  I modified it from the recipe that came with our Chow Locally produce box this past week, and it was easy and delish.  Mr. Ladd went back for seconds and thirds and ate them right out of the dish, which is how I know when a recipe meets his approval.

Summer Squash Gratin 

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 yellow onion, diced
4 summer squash, cut into ¼ inch rounds
1 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup 2% milk (I used sour cream because we only had almond milk in the house.)
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped (or dried thyme, whatev)
1/2 cup panko breadcrumb (I used ghetto crushed Saltines, and I would highly recommend.)
1/2 cup Gruyere cheese, grated (I used cheddar, but I think Gruyere would have been better.)
 

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Melt the butter in a large sauté pan and cook the onions over medium-high heat for about
    5-6 minutes.
3. Add in zucchini, salt, pepper and nutmeg.
4. Cook, uncovered for about 10 minutes. Stir in the flour and the milk and cook over low
    heat for 3-4 minutes, until sauce thicken. Stir in fresh thyme and remove from heat.
5. Pour the mixture into an 8x8 inch baking dish.
6. Sprinkle panko and cheese on top of the zucchini mixture. And bake for 15 minutes, or
     until bubbly and browned
 

Nutrition Facts for one serving (1/6 of casseroles): 110calories; 9g total fat (6g saturated fat); 5g
protein; 3g carbohydrates (1g fiber); 25mg cholesterol; 500mg sodium