Blacksmith Pizza

Many, many years ago before Maisie and even before Eammon, I remember visiting right around Christmas time (because it was wicked cold up in Massachusetts) with my Blacksmith friend George Martell and his family.  George made a wonderful dinner of grilled pizzas and I fell head-over-heels in love with them and dubbed them Blacksmith pizzas in his honor.  Grilled pizzas in this country are said to have started at Al Forno restaurant in Providence, Rhode Island and while I have enjoyed them there many, many times, I honestly like my own better as I tailor them to whatever flavor profile strikes my fancy.  I have been making these pizzas ever since George introduced me to them and they really are quite easy to make.  Because a lot of the preparation can be done in advance and because they are individual portions that can be customized, they are perfect for when we entertain or have guests, both those who love and are willing to try anything as well as those that are fussy with their food.

Maisie adores Blacksmith pizza and this day she was eating one with tomato sauce and because it’s what I had on hand, Fiesta blend cheese. (That’s why it looks so orange)

What’s great about these pizzas is that you can really use whatever you have on hand which was what happened this time.  This tray contains pizzas for Maisie and I.  Mine are in the top row and have a light coating of Roasted Garlic Onion Jam, very thinly sliced prosciutto and a light sprinkle of Fiesta blend cheese.  Maisie likes basic pizza, tomato sauce and a good amount of the Fiesta blend cheese. 

This tray was Eammon’s with all his pizzas being topped with Roasted Garlic Onion Jam, some very thinly sliced prosciutto and a light sprinkle of Fiesta blend cheese.  The top row pizzas also have the diced fire roasted tomatoes, thinly slice red, orange & yellow sweet peppers and diced Vidalia onion. 

Maisie gives Blacksmith pizza a big thumbs up…as do Eammon and I.  Give them a try, they’re easy and pretty darn awesome.

Here’s some food p@rn of the grilled pizzas that I’ve blogged about in the past.Maisie’s favorite, tomato sauce and cheese.

My all time favorite pizza...Ever!  Roasted Garlic Onion Jam, figs picked fresh off my neighbor's tree (with their permission of course) and goat cheese.

One of my longtime go-to pizzas, pesto, caramelized onions, goat cheese and sun dried tomatoes.

Eammon likes more ingredients and this is one of his favorites, tomato sauce, olive tapenade, caramelized onions, prosciutto, sun dried tomatoes and cheese.

The always delicious Roasted Garlic Onion Jam, prosciutto, caramelized onion and cheese

And just because I love her and think she’s stinkin’ adorable, Maisie eating her Blacksmith pizza way back in August 2009.

Head over to Cook Lisa Cook for all the detail on how to make wonderful, easy and delicious Blacksmith Pizza.

More recent recipes on Cook Lisa Cook:  Mango Lassi, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Water Chestnuts, Ginger & Cashews, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, Grilled Corn & Bacon Pudding, Oriental Chicken Salad, Potato Salad with Bacon, Coffee Crusted Steak, Home Style Chicken Curry, Watermelon Frosty,  Mango Gazpacho, Toll House Double Stuff Oreo Brownies, Long Beans with Walnuts.

Enjoy!

Cool treats for hot little gymnasts

Taylor and Maisie enjoying a cool sweet treat after a great practice.

If yesterday’s post of Toll House Double Stuff Oreo Brownies was a bit too decadent for you, check out today’s recipe over on Cook Lisa Cook which is a bit healthier.

And fresh from our garden.

Long Beans with Walnuts totally delish! 

Some other wonderful and some even healthy recipes can be found over on Cook Lisa Cook.  Some recent recipes: Mango Lassi, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Water Chestnuts, Ginger & Cashews, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, Grilled Corn & Bacon Pudding, Oriental Chicken Salad, Potato Salad with Bacon, Coffee Crusted Steak, Home Style Chicken Curry, Watermelon Frosty and Mango Gazpacho.

Enjoy!! 

Double Double Stuff

I know where she learned this little trick…

What’s better than a Double Stuff Oreo?  Mother and Daughter agree, a double-Double Stuff Oreo!!

We had Double Stuff Oreo cookies in the house today because Maisie wanted to bake and she made…Toll House Double Stuff Oreo Brownies.  How’s that for a mouthful?

And a decadent mouthful it was!  Make these, grab a big old glass of milk and enjoy!!

All the yummy details and the super-simple recipe for Toll House Double Stuff Oreo Brownies can be found over on Cook Lisa Cook.

Other recent recipes on Cook Lisa Cook: Mango Lassi, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Water Chestnuts, Ginger & Cashews, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, Grilled Corn & Bacon Pudding, Oriental Chicken Salad, Potato Salad with Bacon, Coffee Crusted Steak, Home Style Chicken Curry, Watermelon Frosty and my latest recipe Mango Gazpacho.

Enjoy!!

What a sky

Last night moments after Maisie drifted off to sleep I sat down on the sofa ready to plop my computer in my lap and I looked out the family room windows and saw a sky divided by a rainbow.  To the east and under the rainbow the sky was bright and white but to the west the sky was dark and sporting a second rainbow.  I quickly called Eammon down from his office, grabbed my camera and we stood in the back yard gawking in the rain at the beauty of the sky.   

If the view from our backyard wasn’t amazing enough, looking out our side yard we could see the full arch and the other side of the rainbow. 

The sky was just amazing in that inside the arch is was bright and white while outside the arch it was noticeably darker.  I’ve just never seen a sky like that before.

I’m a little bummed that I don’t have a camera lens that could capture the full rainbow as I doubt that I’ll ever see something like this again.  Just pretty amazing and beautiful so Eammon and I stood out in the yard, getting wet with rain, watching until the rainbow disappeared.

Filly Finale…Finally

It has taken me a while to get this post together (considering that camp ended 9 days ago) as we’ve been busy and I haven’t had the time or energy to go through all the pictures and the video from Maisie’s final day at horseback riding camp and their riding Showcase.  Maisie and all the girls had so much fun and their instructor Mary said that she was a bit surprised but extremely pleased at how good the girls were with listening, paying attention, following directions, behaving and their attention span, so it was a great week all around.  I guess that this was a very young group for the stable’s camp and they arranged for a “special” shorter-day camp for just our group.  Our girls had all the same time with the horses and same amount of time riding but though they did some, they had less of the horsemanship classes and barn chores.  The shortened day worked out really well for the girls and especially Maisie who after camp still had her three-hours of gymnastics practice. 

Each day, because our girls were the little ones, they got to have their riding lesson first while it was still relatively cool.  After riding they went on to little classes where they learned about horses, breeds, training, feeding, keeping, grooming and other such horse related information.  They also did barn chores each day, watering, feeding, sweeping…but according to Maisie, “nothing gross like having to clean up poop!”  Each day when Lisa, Kathy and I arrived to pick the girls up they were finishing up their lunches and completing their crafts.  They were always filthy, sweaty, tired and completely excited and elated to have been with the horses and at the stables.  

Maisie, Friday morning with her horse du jour, Gritz.

Maisie & Kim feeding Gritz some carrots.

For their final day Maisie and friends stayed later than usual and enjoyed a pizza lunch with the big girls.  Then there was some free playtime before getting ready for the Showcase so the girls had fun running around the arena.

Maisie practiced jumping sans a horse.  First the low jump.

Jumping a bit higher.

Jumping with friends.

A bit of running around.

She just never stopped.

Like the Energizer Bunny Maisie kept going and going.

Finally it was time to groom Gritz for the riding Showcase.

Giving Gritz some love.

Briana & Maisie ready to ride. 

Sassy little girls.  I can’t get over how grown up they are looking and also how filthy our Princess girls were but they loved it.

Ready to lead Gritz to the arena.

Ready to ride.

The girls showing what they learned.  (Unless you are related to one of the girls and really, really want to waste 8 minutes of your life to see them ride or you’re totally desperate for something to help put you to sleep, I’d advise skipping the video.  It’s here for Maisie to look back on someday.)

Lining up to receive their ribbons.

It was really sweet of Miss. Andrea, the Admin at Maisie’s school and the person who hooked us up with the stable, to come and watch the girls at their Showcase.

Maisie, Briana, Chani & Maya.  Sweaty, filthy, happy little girls celebrating all that they learned and accomplished during their week of camp.  It was a wonderful week and introduction to horseback riding for the girls and they all are asking to do it again next summer.

Green with…

Candy!

This morning Maisie was a real star being super patient and cooperative as we shopped at a couple of local farmer’s markets.  So, when we stopped in at Fresh Market to pick up our few last items and she asked for a Fun Dip I just had to say yes.  On and off for hours between additional errands, projects, pool and play time Maisie enjoyed her treat.

Cooking without cooking

I haven’t been doing much cooking lately as it is hot here in Georgia and if you’ve been reading the blog lately you know that we have been busy-busy so I haven’t had time to cook…and who’d want to turn on the stove anyhow with our heat.  With the heat I haven’t wanted heavy food, we’ve been eating salads like my Oriental Chicken Salad but what I’ve really been craving is some healthy fruity goodness.  I’ve enjoyed sipping on more than a few Watermelon Frosty and Mango Lassi drinks but I’ve been wanting something a bit more savory.  Unfortunately even to “get out of cooking” I’m not a big going-out-to-eat gal and I still have to get dinner on the table each night so when I happened upon a recipe for Mango Gazpacho I was all over it and you should be too as this is healthy-summer-deliciousness in a bowl and best of all, super fast and no cooking!!!

Quick, click on over to Cook Lisa Cook and make this no-cook healthy Mango Gazpacho tonight, you’ll thank me!!

If you’re a mango lover like me, also check out my Mango Thai Chicken and Mango Lassi recipes.

Maisie, Taylor and ???

We’re having yet another super busy day with no time to really stop.  And wouldn’t you know it, I had yet another nail in one of my tires, the second in about a month so getting that fixed had to be squeezed in.  I need to figure out where the heck I’m driving that I get so many nails and screws in my tires, it’s not like I’m going to construction sites but I swear that it’s every month or two I’m having something removed from one of my tires.  Okay, enough complaining.

Here are three little cuties after gymnastics practice today, Taylor, Maisie and Taylor’s yet to be named Chihuahua puppy, too cute!  What I’d really like to do tonight is stop, sit down, relax and sip on a watermelon frosty but too much to do as I’ve been out running around all day so it’s unlikely to happen.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a little less hectic and I’ll be able to get a few more things accomplished and some relaxation too.

Right back atcha and even more

Maisie:  “Mama, I love you as much as the multiverse.”

Celebrating with ribbons & cupcakes

We have been busy, busy, busy and I haven’t had the time to go though all my pictures from Maisie’s final day at horseback riding camp or even uploaded the video to check it out.  I did have time though to pick out this sweet picture of Maisie, Briana, Chani and Maya after they completed their Showcase last Friday. At the Showcase the girls demonstrated the skills that they learned throughout the week then they each received a ribbon and celebrated with cupcakes.  Four happy, sweaty and high from riding and sugar little cutie-patooties!

I haven’t had time to cook lately either but I have posted some wonderful recipes over on Cook Lisa Cook so if you have some time to cook or are looking for something new, different and delicious, hop on over and check out my recipes.  Mango Lassi, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Water Chestnuts, Ginger & Cashews, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, Grilled Corn & Bacon Pudding, Oriental Chicken Salad, Potato Salad with Bacon, Coffee Crusted Steak, Home Style Chicken Curry and my latest Watermelon Frosty.

Enjoy!

Watermelon Frosty

Because today was a hot day, a long day, it’s late and I was telling someone about this recipe, I thought that I would share with everyone a delicious summer drink which I have become addicted to and can’t stop making, drinking or thinking about.  Though I drink it sans alcohol it could always be made into a more “adult” drink.

Check out Cook Lisa Cook for the Watermelon Frosty recipe.  Go, make one and enjoy! 

A bit better

Antibiotics are helping and Maisie wants to be out and enjoying life but she’s still not 100%. Though she’s trying it’s been a rough day.  Maybe tomorrow will be better…

Poor little Miao Miao

This morning at urgent care.

Now she sleeps. 

It hurts to swallow and she’s running a fever.  Hopefully the ibuprofen and antibiotics will help and tomorrow she’ll be feeling better.

Maisie & Gritz

Just a quickie post today of Maisie with her horse du jour* on her final day of horseback riding camp.

Maisie and Gritz.

Maisie and Kim feeding Gritz some carrots.

Maisie and all the girls had an absolutely fabulous week at horseback riding camp and they’re all talking about going back again next summer.  I took a lot of pictures and hopefully the video I took came out so I’ll be able to post it but that’ll have to wait for another day as we have a busy night so I have to walk away from the computer and get things done.  Hopefully over the weekend I’ll get all the pictures posted from Maisie’s final day.

*Maisie started the week with Sneaky and rode him Monday and Tuesday but because he developed a sore from his bridle she rode Charlie on Wednesday.  Charlie was a bit temperamental so on Thursday they had Maisie ride Gritz who was wonderful so she rode him again today for her lesson and for the showcase.

Sad day Friday

That’s what Maisie has dubbed tomorrow.  When I asked her why, she told me that it was the last day of horseback riding camp and that she was sad that it would be an entire year until she could go back and ride again.  She did not ask to attend another week this summer nor did she mention continuing to ride though the year.  It was just a statement that made it clear that she really enjoyed the week and is looking forward to doing it again next summer.

I knew that Maisie would enjoy horseback riding camp so way back in April when Maisie and I first visited the stables I made it known that horseback riding was a one-week-long summertime activity.  I explained to Maisie that the stable was an hour away and with three days of gymnastics practice each week, swimming lessons, school and of course her gymnastics meets on weekends, horseback riding just wasn’t something that we would be able to do during the school year.  Maisie understood that it just was, what it was.  I am thankful though that way back then I did that with her because she enjoyed her week and now that it’s over there’s no trauma or drama that it will be a year until she’s able to return.

Even though Maisie’s sad that tomorrow is the final day she’s excited because she can’t wait to ride in the showcase tomorrow afternoon and show off what she’s learned this week.  I’m thrilled that she enjoyed the week so very much and next summer if possible and if she wants, she’ll ride again.