Sweet Love and Ginger

I LOVE Camping

I LOVE Camping

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All Chuck wanted for his birthday was to go camping for a long weekend.
We were lucky enough to have this beautiful lake all to ourselves for four whole days.
There is something so inspiring about being in the wilderness out of touch with “real life” for a while.
This is why I love backcountry camping.

Summer Food Fetishes

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That title is seductive right?

I think we all have changes in our eating habits when the
seasons change, that’s pretty much a given. I thought it would be fun to talk
about some of the things that I have really been stuffing my face with lately.

Fresh fruit. Can this be any more obvious? I have already
been strawberry picking, and am seriously looking forward to going again for
some blue berries, black caps, and raspberries. To me homemade smoothies are a
winter thing, when frozen fruit is as good as your are gonna get, now that everything
is fresh and delicious I could stuff myself ever single meal with just fruit.

Ice cream. Ha like this needs an explanation. Death by
chocolate is my absolute favorite.

Tuna. I mean it can’t get much easier or cheaper if you ask
me. Plus I don’t have to cook it, which with my teeny tiny kitchen that has
massive windows to let the summer heat in that is a good thing. Lately I am in
love with this tuna apple salad recipe
that I kind of just tossed together, the freshness from the apple, and the
crunch in the nuts makes it an awesome summer lunch.

Kabobs. I mean nothing really says summer more than a
deliciously grilled kabob. There are about a million different ways you can
make kabobs, by switching up what’s on your stick, or the marinade that it’s
made in. Here is my it’s-hot-and-I’m-lazy pesto kabob recipe.

Pesto Shrimp & Veggie Kabobs

2 tbs prepared pesto

1 tbs olive oil

2 tsp lemon juice

12 medium, precooked frozen shrimp, defrosted

8 cherry tomatoes

1 red onion, peeled and quatered

1 yellow (or red) pepper, cut into 1-2 inch pieces

In a large bowl add all ingredients and toss lightly. Place
any combination of shrimp and vegetables on skewers, and cook for 2-3 minutes
per side, or until desired doneness. Serve warm.

Boos. Don’t get me wrong I like boos all year round, but
there is something about a super cold alcoholic beverage by the lake that just
makes me say ahhh. Check out some of my favorites in this post.

 Grilled Sweet Potato. It’s so easy, and a perfect healthy side dish that is reminiscent of its fried bretheren. Directions: peel, slice, plop (on the grill), cook (till soft, 5-10 mins), and sprinkle with salt.

What are some of your favorite summer foods?

Brody Stories

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Hiiii!! HI! Hi, Hi! Oh hi! Hi! How are you? Hi! I’m so
excited to meet you guys!

My name is Brody. I know, I know I’m handsome, it’s ok we
don’t have to stay on that topic all day.

I just turned 6 months old, so in dog years I’m just
starting to get into the rebellious teenage years. Not that I give my parents
any trouble (wink, wink).

I’m a mutt, but I prefer pure bread mix of dog races, it
sounds a lot better don’t you think? I’ve got a little of the best of a bunch
of breeds, which makes me so very awesome.

Almost every day when my mom and dad get home from work I
get to go on long walks, or runs. They like to take me to lakes and streams on
hot days and try to make me swim. I don’t like it very much, but I really like
balls and sticks so when they throw them in the water I just have to go and get
them. I really like it when they take me to the ice cream place next door.
There are so many people there who just want to pet me, and so much stuff to
sniff it’s awesome!

I also get lots of these awesome treats that my mom makes
me. Here’s the recipe if you are interested, courtesy of Miss Amy.

Frosty Paws

1 mashed banana

2 tbsp peanut butter

32 oz plain yogurt

Place all ingredients
into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze. Serve frozen.

Usually we go adventuring on the weekends. I like it when we
go camping, I can dig anywhere I want, and chase squirrels, and bark, and there
are always lots of sticks, man I love sticks. They are the greatest thing ya
know? You can carry them around, and my parents sometimes throw them for me to
get, but I haven’t got the bringing back part down yet, I’m working on it.

Sometimes they take me to their friends houses where we stay
up late, and they drink beers, and play games, and eat food, while I play with
the other dogs, and try to steal the bean bags, or balls from their games. It’s
pretty fun.

By the end of the day I’m almost always pooped. My parents
make sure of that. I like to cuddle up on the couch with them, even when it’s
supper hot out. I just love my parents so much; I can’t help but want to lie
next to them. When I’m really tired I get all floppy. My mom can pick me up and
try to move me and I just flop over and go back to sleep. For some reason she
thinks this is cute and still tries to play with me, it’s very annoying.

Welp, that’s all for now. Mom’s going to cook something for
dinner, and I need to get in there and trip her up to make sure she drops some
good stuff for me. See you later!

Chicken Caesar Buger & Simple Caesar Dressing

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I really love these burgers, for one they remind me of home
since Miss Amy used to make them all the time, and secondly since the price of
beef right now is sky high, using chicken is a great alternative, while still
getting by burger cravings covered, plus it’s a little leaner.
The burgers themselves are clean, as is the whole wheat
roll, and the veggies, the thick Caesar dressing I made to top the burgers
however….
Whatever, a tablespoon isn’t gonna kill you and it’s SO good
together! Plus you can use the dressing on a salad the next day.

Chicken Caesar Burgers

1 lb Ground Chicken

3 cloves of garlic, minced

4 anchovies, finely Chopped

1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

2 tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley

1 tsp pepper

In a large bowl combine all ingredients. Using your hands shape
the meat mixture into 3-4 burger patties. Place on a preheated grill and cook
for 5-6 minutes a side, or until patties are firm anc golden brown. Serve warm
on bread, with your choice of toppings.

Simple Caesar Dressing

2 cloves of Garlic, minced

4 anchovy fillets, minced

2 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

In a small bowl whisk together all ingredients, until well
combined. For a finer dressing place whole cloves of garlic, chopped anchovies,
and parsley into a blender with a little oil first. The dressing can be kept in
the fridge for about a week.

8 Summer Cocktails I CAN’T get enough of

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If you have been following
me on instagram then you know that I’ve been kind of a lush lately. I just
can’t get enough of ice cold fruity drinks, with all the fresh fruit out there
it’s impossible to say no. And if I’m not going to be running in 100 degree
heat then I might as well drink amirite?
The cool thing is that you
can make any number of these drinks without the alcohol, and just add a little
more club soda, ginger ale, or what have you, but I’m telling you a little boos
makes it all the better.

Here are my top 10
favorites this summer:

Cherry Mojito: Slice a handful of
cherries, and remove the pits, muddle them in bottom of a tall glass along with
1 lime chopped and its juice, as well as 1tbs fresh mint. Add 2 oz. of light
rum and 10 oz. of seltzer, or club soda.

Classic Shandy: Pour
yourself half a glass of premade lemonade (I like minute made light) and half a
glass of Belgian white ale. Garnish with a lemon.

Watermelon Rickey: I got this recipe from Big Girls, Small Kitchen. It’s great poolside.

Peach Margarita: Puree one
peach, with ice. Combine peach mixture with the juice from 1 lime, 2 oz.
tequila, and 1 tablespoon simple syrup. 
Serve in a salt rimmed glass.

Sweet Tea & Lemon
Martini: You know I have a love affair with tea so It’s pretty obvious I had to
come up with a tea cocktail. For this one I placed 4 teabags in a jar with 4
oz. of plain vodka in the fridge overnight to infuse the tea flavor. Then I
added 3 tbs simple syrup, a few slices of lemon, and top it off with  some seltzer or club soda.

 

Blueberry Lime Chiller:
Muddle a handful of blueberries with 1 tbs of simple syrup, and combine with
juice form one lime, 2 oz. white rum, and 4 oz. club soda, serve with a lime
and/or lemon wedge.

 

Citrus Sparkler: I love
this recipe, and have made whole pitchers of t for parties, it’s always a hit.

 

 

Strawberry
Lemon, Basil Mojito: Muddle 1/3 cup of frozen strawberries, with 1 tbs simple
syrup, 2 tbs lemon juice, and 2-4 large basil leaves. Add 2 oz. white rum, and
4 oz club soda. This is easily my favorite I would drink this every day of the week, though I may opt for a virgin version occasionally, which is just as amazing, let me tell you.



I’ve mentioned simple syrup
quite a bit on here. For a simple recipe try this one, and keep it stocked in
the fridge all summer!

I hope you enjoy!!!