RED BROWN BLONDE CONTEST : TWO

As you may or may not know, the Brown member of the party will soon be making her way to the beaches of Hawaii... for quite an extended stay. While the Blonde and the Red members are anxiously awaiting the day we get to visit the Brown one, we are mourning her departure from the mainland. Our last state-side get-together will be the week of July 12th in good ol' Columbus, Ohio. We'll be exploring and shopping (IKEA is just an hour away...), and talking and staying up late and of course, cooking and eating, two of our favorite things. We already have a few meals planned out but we want to try something new and delicious - thus, a contest! What better way to try new recipes than as a REDBROWNBLONDE farewell party?

I'll give you the good stuff first, the PRIZE:

I like this book so much that I've considered keeping it despite the fact that it was purchased as a contest prize. Though it's full of fabulous photos and delicious recipes, it's not your everyday cookbook -- it's an educational and interesting look at the connections between the foods we eat and the way we feel. Author Natalie Savona (nutritionist), suggests meals for different ailments or conditions like Seasonal Affective Disorder (wish I had had this book over the winter!), the common cold, binge eating, and energy deficiencies. It also recommends foods to eat when feeling stressed or while PMS-ing! My favorite section is the Feel Good Food in which she lays out yummy suggestions for food that really will make you feel better (even though I was disappointed when I realized that my chocolate chip cookie dough recipe was not included here). The winner will receive one copy of this wonderful cookbook!

Guidelines:

Submit up to two delicious main course recipes to Redbrownblonde@gmail.com by July 12th, 2010. We'll choose a winner on the 14th and document/post our enjoyment of the chosen dish along with the recipe (if given permission by the recipe-giver)! Be as creative as you like! While we'll gladly accept Hawaiian-inspired dishes, they won't necessarily increase your chances of winning. Good luck! We can't wait to get tasting!

RED: Refinished Curbside Find: FOUR

I love yard sales; I love bargain hunting. The ultimate success of such hobbies occurs on that glorious day when you stumble upon a hidden treasure... and it's free!

I came home from work one day last fall to find a little surprise beside our neighbors trash can out back. I was skeptical as to whether or not furniture set beside trash cans became free game for everyone else. Where I come from, it is not uncommon to see functional every day items become long term lawn ornaments. Bathtubs and tractor parts adorn many a Tennessee yard and I guarantee that is it not socially acceptable to take these items from their lawns no matter how close they may be to a trash receptacle.

Nonetheless, I drug Ben outside to get his approval on this adorable little cabinet that had been abandoned. We decided it's only defect was a little wobble and that it had indeed been discarded. We dusted it off and carried it inside where it would wait on the stairway until I figured out what it's next purpose would be -- which ended up being 8 months later. The piece happens to fit our current culinary situation just right. We needed a bit more storage space in our new kitchen (we just moved two miles down the road - more about our new spot later), and the refurbishing began. Please enjoy it's evolution in the photos below.

Before...

and after! Ben suggested the yellow color and it really looks great with the rest of the kitchen and the little knob that I stumbled upon at Anthropologie a few months back. I've already referenced my cook books more in one week than I usually do in one month with them being so easily accessible. Our micro and toaster oven inconspicuously rest on the lowest shelf while the top is reserved for such important activities as below:

We love our new space - it's got a great little backyard with a patch of mint which went into the home-made Mojitos that our good friends (now neighbors!), made for our cookout that evening.

Ben grilled some delicious steaks and we enjoyed our first of many summer evenings out in the backyard. Bodie, our neighbor dog even came along!

BROWN: five-- New Summer time fashions from Whimsical Designs

New Summer Time Fashions From Whimsical Designs

It's summer time, which means it's time to go shopping and update your wardrobe right?!  Every season I like to predict the fashion trends with color, texture, and style. I am a total dork, I know.  Sometimes, I am spot on and sometimes I am dead wrong, but in any case with the economy the way it is there are other ways to update your wardrobe without going crazy with expenses.  Instead of spending a fortune on new clothes and shoes why not update your wardrobe with accessories? It's amazing what a great pair of earrings, a chunky clustered ring, a stylish clutch or a textured necklace can do to a "tired" outfit….and the price comparison is so ideal.  Also, you will be getting your money's worth out of your clothes.   Just wearing a bright colored stretch T with a great pair or jeans can be jazzed up when properly accessorized.  Here are some of my own creations to spark some ideas/interests. Lets start with earrings, and eventually I will post necklaces, rings, and handbags so make sure the check back!  (All Whimsical Design items are for sale. Email REDBROWNBLONDE for prices)

Happy Styling! 

-BROWN

FOUR: Meet Herbert :RED

Four: Cook with fresh herbs from our own wee little herb plant, Herbert.

There are a few entrees in our family menu that I never touch. Grilled Cheese and Spaghetti are two of them. My husband has mastered each of these delicious dishes and is always more than willing to prepare them if I so desire. I know what you're thinking – these are two of the simplest entrees to prepare. But I would advise you to refrain from such comments until you have tasted a Ben Glass Grilled Cheese special. (It's so special, in fact, that the infamous hot sandwich accompanied one beautiful diamond ring and one very important question two years ago. It was with this promise to keep me well fed that I said said yes to his proposition.)

My husband has perfected the cheese to bread ratio and puts enough butter on the bread to crisp it the second it hits that hot pan. He reaches for olive oil and butter when preparing the cooked spaghetti noodles and I try to ignore it, convincing myself that it's like that tree that fell in the forest and didn't make a sound because no one was there to hear it – the butter doesn't go immediately to my hips because I never actually witnessed the large amounts that went into the dish.... right? Regardless, I am well fed.

Tonight's spaghetti dinner was extra spectacular, though. I purchased a somewhat fool-proof pot of herbs about a month ago on an outing with two very educated plant women – my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law. They were so patient with me as we wandered through a beautiful nursery and I asked question after question about the thriving plants around us. I so desire to grow things and keep them alive, but every green thing that has made it's way into my hands has unfortunately left them in a crisp, brown brittle state. The nursery seemed to be prepared for my kind as they brilliantly provided pre-potted herb selections. I was drawn to the Italian Tastebuds grouping and asked my mother-in-law to choose one for me. She carefully took each stem in her hand, softly rubbing the leaves between two fingers and then sniffing them, educating me the whole time about how to prune the herbs, shade versus sun, what signs to look for when watering, etc.

I am proud to say that it has been an entire month and our little plant (affectionately known as Herbert), is thriving. Though beautiful and delicious, fresh herbs are so pricey at the grocery. I purchased a pot of five herbs for only $16.00; that's what you would spend on four fresh herbs for only one use! I chose some basil, Italian parsley, oregano and rosemary from our little plant and went to chopping while Ben worked his magic with the bread, the noodles and the sauce. He looked like such a chef selecting freshly chopped herbs and tossing them into pots. We put rosemary on the broiled bread and basil in the marinara sauce. Our table was decorated with a beautiful bright sunny orchid that Ben got for me today (seems like we're getting a bit cocky with the success of our first plant/child, huh?). It was a lovely spring supper with a perfect touch of fresh – just divine.

Brown FOUR: Happy Birthday Andrew!!

Cubs Cubs Cubs are all Andrew cares and thinks about from the drafts to the final game of the MLB season. So, for his birthday cake this year, I decided to make him a Chicago Cubs Baseball Cap Cake!!!! It was so fun and easy. After a lengthy conversation with my Auntie on tips and ideas (who is an expert cake maker), I bought myself a couple icing tips, an icing bag, some food coloring and put my mixer to work.  I decided to make the cake normally, but the man LOVES cheesecake ( our entire 4 tiered  wedding cake was cheesecake for crying out loud) so I decided to make the baseballs out of cheesecake!! The cake turned out wonderful and the look on his face when being served blue cheese bacon burgers along with his personalized homemade theme cake did not compare to the excitement shown when he revived his gifts. It just goes to show you the the way to a mans heart really is through his stomach:)

That was one happy 24 year old man!!!!

Signed : BROWN

BLONDE [THREE] CLASSROOM

As a child you may have a dream of what you want to be when you grow up. For me, I have always wanted to be a teacher. I graduated college in December and got a job in February. I was excited and very nervous to have my OWN classroom and being teaching. After many snow days I began teaching 2nd and 4th grade Reading and Math Special Ed. After many emotional break downs, sleepless nights, and 12-17 hours days I finished!!! The year was crazy and I never got to take any pictures of my kiddos. Here are some from their multiplication party.

2nd graders: At ice cream party!

We read Junie B. Junie Aloha-ha-ha

4th graders with their mulplication ice cream and ice cream tables

This is my classroom after my kiddos helped me clean everything out!

Computer Area

Kiddos' desk

WHACKY HOLIDAYS: JUNE

[JUNE] Whacky Holiday Update:

National Accordion Awareness Month

You can celebrate by appreciating my friend Scott (pictured below)

and by listening to some of his tunes [here].

National Candy Month : I don't think you need advice on this one

National Dairy Month : cow tipping? How about cow milking?!

National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month : to balance out the candy, of course.

Friday 4th : National Donut Day -- see a yummy recipe [here]

Wednesday 9th : Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day

Sunday 13th : Sewing Machine Day

Friday 18th : International Picnic Day (also international panic day -- you choose).

Sunday 27th : Sunglasses Day

Tuesday 29th : Camera Day

A proposal for the overachiever who may not be able to remember every day, but would like to celebrate each occasion: Start the day right with a donut and a good ol' glass of milk. Now you're ready to sew up a pretty little picnic blanket. When complete, put on some shades as you make your way down to the farmers market - at which you will buy your choice of fresh fruits and veggies (strawberries and rhubarbs included) for the picnic that you'll be packing later that afternoon. Head on down to the park, tasty treats in-tow and enjoy the live accordion performance. Forgot change to tip the musicians? A candy bar should do. Oh, don't forget to take photos.

BROWN: THREE SUSHI TIME!!!!!

Andrew and I have often said we wish we had our own personal sushi maker right at home to make us sushi whenever we wanted. We love love love sushi… and so one night we decided to make our own….thinking to ourselves, well it probably wont be as good, but lets try it anyways! On several occasions we have observed the “sushi masters” behind the counter roll up our order and have thought, well they make it look so easy….maybe it is?!!! So, I “youtubed” a couple sushi making videos and headed to the store for supplies. Luckily Ft. Knox has several Asian grocery stores in the area (strange right?) where we were able to purchase all the various components needed for the perfect sushi roll.  We had somewhat of an odd experience in the grocery, store being that NOTHING WAS IN ENGLISH….nor were the women there able to speak it….but we finally found what we were looking for and headed back home to start our experiment . We had great success as our sushi was DELICIOUS!!!!!!!! This will be a regular dinner at our house…..one word….YUM!

This is a picture of all the supplies you need!!

We chose to make it with cooked Tilapia ( I put cream cheese in mine because that is my favorite at the restaurants too)

Roll it up!!

Cut it up!!

Serve it up with a nice hot bowl of miso soup!!

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love , BROWN