Friday, June 26, 2009

Pepperoni Roll

Foodie Fridays @ Designs by Gollum, http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com// This blog site has it all...food, decorating, & beautiful tablescapes !!!


This dish can be used as a quick meal or appetizer. I really don't know the official name of it, but it is easy to make and tastes great. Plus most of us keep these ingredients on hand.
1 Frozen bread loaf defrosted (soft enough to roll it out)
1 Package of Pepperonis
Shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup melted butter
Garlic salt to taste ( add in butter)
Defrost bread. Roll out on floured surface into rectangle shape. Then put pepperonis down the center in two rows. Sprinkle cheese on top of pepperonis. Fold over the sides and seal ends of roll. Place seam down and bake at 350 degrees until top is golden. As soon as it comes out of the oven brush with melted garlic butter.
Have great sunny weekend!
Sunshine from SSS,

Sharon

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Sweet Wedding Gift Idea

Love is in the air! It is that time of the year for weddings! We have been invited to 5 weddings in the last two months. We found this cookbook at Tuesday Mornings. It's the perfect wedding gift---the Better Homes and Gardens, New Cook Book, Bridal Edition. It has all the information of the original trusted, red checkered Better Homes and Gardens. You all probably have one too... I do. This new edition has added a section for romantic dinners, a guide to wine, cheese, & cocktails, and hosting your first holiday dinner. Maybe I should buy one for myself!
Also, I monogrammed a store bought apron with the Bride's name and trimmed it with some light green polka dot grosgrain ribbon. The final touch was a note wishing the couple a home filled with love ...and lots of home-cooked meals!

Sunshine from SSS,
Sharon

Monday, June 22, 2009

Sweet and Southern: Gift Giving Idea














I mentioned this wine bottle cheese/ appetizer serving dish in my last blog. I gave these as gifts to all my bunko friends for Christmas. I made the gift tag for each one with a real wine cork. My husband drilled a whole through the center of the cork and I attached it to the gift by threading the raffia through the cork and tying a knot in the end.


These were real wine bottles (from our bunko dinners... a lot of dinners!) which were "slumped" in my sister's kiln. The very high temperatures literally causes the bottles to collapse flat. It takes all day in the kiln for this process. I put the clear protector buttons on the bottom of the dish and added the decorative (of course, sea horses and sea turtles) spreader to the dish.


One of my bunko friend's son recently got married and we saved the champagne bottle from the wedding toast for the newly weds.


Sunshine from SSS,

Sharon

Friday, June 19, 2009

Salty and Sweeeeet: The Gulf Coast Breezes & Thursday in the Park


























"Thursdays in the Park" have become a fun filled, families, friends, and community time at the local park. As the cool Gulf breeze fills the air with the music of a local band, children wade in the warm water and play on the swings near by. Friends chat and get caught up on the local news. As for my family we look forward to an evening of spenidng time together and enjoying some simple snacks. My family's favorites to enjoy are fruit, cheese, wine, and crackers.
The cheese ball above is one of my family's favorite! I really can't remember where I got this recipe, but I have made it for years. It is probably the eaaiest cheese ball ever!
Philadelphia Cream Cheese Ball
(World's Easiest Cheese Ball)
8ozs. cream cheese

1 package of ranch dressing

Chopped pecans to cover
Mix cream cheese with ranch dressing. Form into a ball and roll in chopped pecans. Chill
Serve with Wheat Thins or any cracker of your choice. I used Reduced Fat cream cheese and reduced fat Wheat Thins. My family did not notice a difference in taste using the reduced fat products.
( The blue serving dish the cheese ball is served on is a wine bottle my sister "slumped" in her kiln. These make great gifts. That is a blog for another day.)

Enjoy your summer and look for those times to celebrate summer evenings with your family. Something as simple as "Thursdays in the Park" creates a family memory that will last a life time.
Love from SSS,

Sharon

Monday, June 15, 2009

Truly Southern: First Taste of Summer & School is OUT!!!

My first home grown tomato... and my first tomato sandwich! Probably to many people this may not sound very good. Believe me tomatoes from the grocery store do not make tomato sandwiches like a home grown tomato. In the south we can really grow the best tasting tomatoes! We even have Tomato Festivals!! Of course, this sandwich is only made with fresh bread, mayo, salt & pepper, and my first homegrown tomato. No BLT... just "T", tomatoes! You know even Queen Elizabeth is growning her own garden these days! Did I mention... if I don't get any more tomatoes from my very small garden, this tomato sandwich will have cost me about $75! But it was worth it! Nothing like your first summer tomato sandwich!

My summer officially starts today! We just finished another wonderful school year! Here we are at our End of the Year celebration program by throwing confetti all over the cafeteria and our traditional waving "Good bye" to our little ones as they leave for the summer!!!! I always wish (pray) for them to have a safe and happy summer as I see their happy faces leave us for the long summer days!