We're goin to San Diego! Yacht living that is.....swimming pools and lovin' life!

We are going to San Diego!!! Wheww Hewww! We decided to go ahead and book the yacht for our little getaway!!!! Wow! I am soooooo excited!!!! I went ahead and made reservations and now just have to wait! My sister is having her friend Jo visit from Minnesota and that will be the finale of her trip!! How exciting is this!!!

Can't wait to go play!

OK only in Southern California!

Well, I decided last night to start looking at some rentals for one evening in San Diego. We wanted to drive down there (aprox. 3 hours) and play for the weekend, in fact, wanted to go there to visit our other sister, Stephanie (our meaning Bobbie and mine).

I am definitely a house rental person. Andy is a hotel person. We have had this discussion (I think it is an argument) for MANY years. I don't like the people at the pool, crowds at dinner and so on. Don't get me wrong I love people and I am the first one to get the party going. But I like the lay back life in a house. Andy likes it for room service (though he never uses it) I like to make my own meals (or for the most part, Andy does that, especially breakfast)

Now don't get me wrong, there are time I love staying in a hotel a.k.a Mission Inn. Enough said on this part.

So I go on house rentals in San Diego and they have some really nice houses, on the beach and the prices are actually really good for what you are getting. When you break it down with another couple, it actually makes it really easy. Then I see this!!!! An actual yacht that you can rent 2 day minimum for $269 a day!!! WOW!!!!! Take a look at it's web site! http://www.greatrentals.com/rental-property/p160719

How much fun would this be to get six girls for the weekend and play! I love girls weekend.

THE REALITY....Well after going to bed with yachts floating over my head, I woke up to Andy telling me that we would not be able to go to San Diego this weekend due to his work schedule. AWWWWWW!! We will just have to save it for another time. But next weekend we are getting our puppy, I don't want to leave him home without us or even put him in a kennel. But wait, I did see a beach house that did allow dogs........

Update on the Weekend!

Well, Bobbie and I had the best day! She and Gordon got here...early....well my early, the boys took off FAST!!! Good thing, good riddance! We sat down and laughed to see little Bobbie shutter and shiver because it was really cold, and she only weighs 35 pounds!!! We took off for a great lunch at my favorite restaurant then did a little shopping, the usual girl thing.

Decided to have salmon (Andy makes the best salmon) and I am really surprised to find out how inexpensive salmon really is, and how easy it is to cook. Makes us look really good!

So we took our cameras out, played with the settings and click click click! Played on the computer, talked about our favorite blogs and the new friends we made. Enjoyed sharing special moments with her.

The boys came home ate and ate. I pulled out the Wii. Showed Gordon how to use it, played a couple of games then I decided to box. I hurt myself! However, I kicked the He** out of Victor! I won, Bobbie yelled really loud, before I even realized I had won! Boy was that a hoot! I beat a guy!!!!!!

Really enjoyed having them up. next it is my turn to head on down!!!!

Great picture of this flower, how did I do that?

flower picture
Originally uploaded by jeaninesturgeon

I really like how I got the clear photo with Bobbie blurred in the background. Also you can see my laptop at my kitchen table, now you know where I usually have my coffee in the morning!

close up of flower

close up of flower
Originally uploaded by jeaninesturgeon

Wow there is not too many times that the picture is actually prettier than the real flower

Details, love the details!

Close up of flower
Originally uploaded by jeaninesturgeon

I love the detail that my camera picked up, this was lot of fun with my sister Bobbie.

Guess who's comin up!

My sister Bobbie! You know, from Bobbie's house in the Ranch blog. I am so excited! My B-I-L and Andy are golfing, I am thinking he is getting serious about this sport, well it has to be better than riding motorcycles.

Anyway, we are going to have a girls day which hasn't happened since my birthday in September. I told her to bring her camera so we can play.

I'll post pictures, YEA!!!!

Deep Fried Jalapenos! Second Recipe

My husband and I were at Hooters, and yes I do go there for their chicken wings! We were with my sister and B-I-L and we ordered these little golden goodies.

To start, I love hot food, but not hot food to burn me, I like the taste not the burn! So, I loved these so much I came home and tried these the next week. I am (very lazily) making a spicy cookbook and it will be done hopefully not in long in the future, I said that last year, but getting it done is a lot harder than saying it.

Let me know what you think, remember to wash your hands after handling the peppers, there was a time that I cut jalapenos then wiped my eye......

INGREDIENTS
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 eggs
1 cup beer
1/2 quart vegetable oil
2 cups sliced jalapeno peppers


DIRECTIONS
Mix flour, salt, pepper, red chili powder, garlic powder, eggs, and beer together in a bowl.
In a deep fryer, or large pot heat oil to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C). (Or until it bubbles when you add the first jalapeno)
Dip the sliced jalapenos in the batter. Place battered jalapenos in deep fryer. The jalapenos are fully cooked when they float to the surface of the oil. They should be golden brown and crispy.

P.S. they are REALLY good served with Melted Nacho cheese!

I am all over the place on this blog...... Cabbage and Leeks in Cream

Remember a couple of posts ago, I wrote that I wanted to start putting on recipes? Well I decided what a better time than right now! I looked at my calender and saw that St. Patricks Day was on the 17th, which is only 12 days from now! You ask, do I celebrate St. Patty's Day, only when it comes to food. Give me any holiday and I will think of a meal to go with it, Halloween ='s chili, Easter ='s Ham, Cinco de Mayo='s Tacos, My Birthday ='s crab, 4th of July ='s ribs, see it's that easy!

So, on the 17th when everyone is eating Corned Beef, I do as well, (my findings will be on another post) what do you serve with it? Cabbage of course, but how blah!!!!!! I found the most incredible recipe from a cookbook my sister sent to me years ago. Actually, of all the hundred's of cookbooks I own, this is one of my favorite's. It is called the Greenbrier Cookbook from the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia. I love cookbooks that have history, stories, pictures and of course, great recipes! I made this not knowing the incredible flavor it would have and the requests I have for the recipes is so much I have them on note cards to give to my guests when they ask (which is every time).

Simple but elegant: Here is my gift to you for St. Patrick's Day:

Savoy Cabbage and Leeks in Cream
(Don't worry I don't know what Savoy cabbage is either, I just used regular cabbage, just as good)

1 medium head Savoy Cabbage (1 1/2 pounds), cored, and tough outer leaves discarded
1 1/2 Ounces Bacon (about 3 strips) cut into 1/2" strips
5 Medium Leeks (2pounds) whit part only, split and cut into 1/2" slices
3/4 cup Chicken Broth, preferably homemade
3/4 cup of heavy cream
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Few drops of lemon juice

Separate the cabbage leaves. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and blanch the leaves by boiling them for about 2 minutes. Drain, then refresh under cold running water and pat dry with paper towel. Stack several leaves together and roll them up like a cigar and slice crosswise into 1/4" strips.

In a large saucepan, cook the bacon strips over medium heat until the fat is rendered and the bacon is almost crispy, 3-4 minutes. Drain off most of the fat leaving 2 tablespoons. Add the sliced leeks to the bacon and saute over medium high heat, stirring until slightly softened, about 3 minutes.

Add the cabbage and saute for another minute, stirring to combine the ingredients. Add the stock, season with salt and pepper, cover and simmer, stirring frequently, until the leeks and cabbage are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove the lid, add the cream and simmer uncovered another 10-15 minutes to reduce the cream until slightly thickened. (The mixture should be very creamy, but not runny). Add a few drops of lemon juice, taste, and correct seasoning.

Serve hot.

Now, in regards to the leeks, it took me until this recipe before I tackled these unknown things. What are they? Huge onions, well in a form, yes. So, I took these aliens home, cut them like they said and thought, "wait a minute, I remember something about sand and dirt being in them from the Food Channel". Good thing I remembered that, so I soaked them and boy the dirt and sand that came off of them!!! Please do this because your side dish is not to have crunchies in them! Make sure you swish them when they are soaking and rinse thoroughly!

Let me know your thoughts on the recipe once you make it, I promise this will be a favorite of yours and it makes you look really good!

Well I did it, I posted my first recipe, yea for me!