Urban Picnic....:)

Ok. I've always kept this bloggy of mine advertise free. I just like it that way:) I do however, love to talk about the things I love:) Like my sweet baby girl and her new venture. Rio and her bf Chase just bought the cutest of sandwich shops in Historic downtown Mesa. Chase has always had a passion for food and a dream of having his own restaurant. Let me introduce you to....

And here they are. The new owners:) I am one proud mama I tell ya!

Urban Picnic serves up some awesome sandwiches and salads, using the best of organic produce, ingredients and homemade salad dressings:)

Like this awesomeness. The turkey and stuffing sandwich. Uh huh. Stuffing made fresh every morning:) And the side? Blue cheese coleslaw:)

My personal fav- the grilled veggie and goat cheese sandwich and southwestern orzo pasta. Yuuuummmy!!

And last but not least, the Caprese. The bomb. Nuff said:) 

Rio's red velvet cupcakes! Get one before they're gone!

But seriously? You can't go wrong with whatever you order at Urban Picnic. And I'm not just sayin that as a proud mama, I've eaten there since this place opened and I love it! I love it so much I'm gonna pass on some UP love. Say "I picnic with Dorie" and you get your drink free with the purchase of a sandwich or salad! Dealio ends next Tuesday!!

Use it or lose it....!! :)

Spring is here. And for me it's always bittersweet. That's because if you live here in AZ, you know the inferno is just around the corner:( I try to enjoy the outside and all the beauty that spring has to offer!

Hello perfect peaceful place to sit!

Hello beautiful geraniums!

Hello perfectly rusty old urns!

The arbor is enjoying it's new friend- climbing jasmine:)

  

I sewed up some new fresh front porch pillows:)

I got these cutest candle holders at the basement sale at FOUND!

 I had a moment of genius when I replaced the ugly green plastic bands that hold my tree to the stake with twine!!

 Sooo much better don't ya think??!!

 I'm taking advantage of the last little bit of cool weather and enjoying dinners outside! On the front porch:)

 No centerpiece? Just steal some rosemary from your sweet neighbors front yard and put it in the cutest of crusty pots!

So this is Spring at casa de Tuesdays with Dorie:) I will enjoy what little outdoor weather we have left. I keep saying this to myself-
"Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die".... of heatstroke:(



Easter oaties...:)

I've loved oatmeal my whole life. A big thank you to LaDonna O for making the best oaties around and making me love them:) When we were little, my mom and dad would go back to my mom's village in Mexico (for what I'm sure was a much needed vacation from 6 crazy kids) and my 2 sisters and I (the little girls) got to stay with The O's. They were a family my parents knew from church, and we LOVED to stay with them:) I won't go into how I was completely OBSESSED with their daughter Jan and her purple bedroom. Uh huh. Purple walls complete with matching Swiss dot ruffled bedding (circa 1975ish?). AWESOME I tell ya. We spent our mornings eating oatmeal, and afternoons playing with Jan's Dawn dolls. (I've been obsessively looking for them on ebay for the last few weeks) I WILL find them!!! Aaaaanyway,( there is a reason for all this I swear!)  I'm lucky to have married a guy who shares my love of  "oaties". We usually eat them just plain with Rice Milk and Agave sweetener. But I decided enough is enough!! Down with healthy eating!!  Enter-

Caramelized Banana Oatmeal:)

You'll need:

Oatmeal (cooked to directions)

Bananas: 1-2 sliced

Butter: 2 Tbsp

Brown Sugar: 2-3 Tbsp

Cinnamon: to taste? 

Nutmeg: to taste?

Slice up 1 or 2 bananas. I did 2, because I love me some bananas:)

Melt about 2 Tbsp of butter in a pan:)

Throw in your bananas, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Let em cook and get all yummy and caramely:)

Spoon em over your oaties:)

Yumm!! I promise:) and no, I wouldn't eat these everyday!

I am however thinking I'm going to make this again for Easter breakfast:)

The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances. ~Robert Flatt

Happy Easter everyone!!

Easter's on it's way...! :)

My daughter Rio and her bf Chase have chickens that lay these not only tasty, but beeeautiful eggs! They come in colors that range from light blue to the most awesome soft green:)  So I got to thinkin....these gorgeous eggs would make a fabulous garland! What you'll need:

1 dozen pretty eggs

1 straight pin

Ribbon

Fishing line (or other strong string)

And a STRONG set of lungs!

I started by making a hole with the pin on both ends. Then I put my mouth around one end over the hole and blew the egg stuff out. It's kinda harder than it sounds! By the end of this I was dizzy and my cheeks hurt! Took me waaay back to 4th grade when I was learning to play the flute! But for the sake of a cute craft, I wagered on!

Yeah, enter the hubby and his genius idea. No. It didn't work. So suffering, I continued:(

Here they are. Rinsed and free of all their yolky's:)

While the eggs were having some dry time, I cut my ribbon. I have no idea how long I cut them so I put the egg there for scale for ya! I cut 12 of them:) I also cut 2 long (about 15"or so?) pieces for the ends.

I used a doll making needle and threaded it with the fishing line (14 lb. test to be exact) and just weaved in and out of the ribbon a few times. Then I alternated stringing an egg, then another ribbon, egg and so on till I used all 12 eggs.

When I got to the end, I stitched thru the long end pieces and tied the finshing string in a knot. Is any of this making sense? I sooo failed that stupid essay in school when you have to go step by step and tell someone how to make a peanut butter sandwich! :( UGH!

Then I tied my long end pieces in a knot just to add a little pretty:)

Done and done:)

This window is approx (cause I can't spell the whole word) 36" wide:)

Sweet and subtle:) Me likey:)

Yummy salsa!!... :)

So last week my mama got to sample some of my salsa. Since she asked me how I made it, I'm thinkin this half Mexican girl must have done a good job!! And because I'm all about sharing... here ya go!! And please keep in mind, I don't measure anything! I'm a taste it as I go kind of cook:)

What you'll need:

1- 28oz. can diced tomatoes (I used Muir Glen organic Fire Roasted, these have the yummiest flavor)

Chilies

Garlic

Cilantro

Pureed chipotle paste

Salt

I make a pan out of foil (just roll up the sides) and put it right on the flame.

I roast the chilies over medium heat for about 20 minutes or so. I just turn them and turn them until they get a good char and look all crinkly:)

I cut the stems off and de-seed most of them. I know! I said I was half Mexi!! (and Ana and Noemi, I can hear you snickering!!) If you like it really hot, leave the seeds in:) I don't peel them, I think the char on the skin is where all the flavor is!

Enter my secret weapon. I buy these little cans and puree the entire jar and just keep it in a Ziploc bag in the freezer. Then I just cut off whatever I need and thaw it in the micro:)

Ooooh the smokey flavor of the stuff is AWESOME!!

Chop up 1 bunch of cilantro, and about 4-5 garlic cloves.

Here's where I throw everything in the food processor.  I work in 2 batches, using half of all the ingredients:  diced tomatoes, cilantro, garlic, chilies, and about 2 tbsp of the chipotle paste. Pulse until smooth. 

I pour both batches together in this Pyrex, and this is where I add salt and more chipotle paste if it needs it:) taste it. salt it. taste it. salt it.

Pour it in jars and cute it up with twine!!

Ay! Que bueno!!