More Summer Grilling

Caribbean Shrimp and Chicken

Josh wanted to grill shrimp for dinner so I decided to try a new recipe.

I wanted something different from the same ol' sauce.

This sauce reminds me of something you would order at Red Lobster,

sweet but yet tangy with a pineapple flair.

(The recipe was for chicken wings, but who says you have

to follow everything to the letter in cooking?)

I brushed the shrimp and chicken with the sauce and let them sit until I was ready to grill.

Then I decided the chicken tenders would get dry if I grilled them so I simmered them

in a skillet on medium heat. When they were close to done, I took off the lid and let
the sauce reduce to about half.  This made it thick and juicy.

I was hungry for sliced tomatoes so I mixed together some vinegar and sugar and sprinkled in some garlic powder, parsley flakes, salt and pepper. Then I drizzled it over the slices and

topped with them grated cheese and a spoonful of mayo.

It is a real challenge for me to post recipes with measurements. I am a dump and pour cook

and never really measure things. So if you have questions just leave a comment and I will

be glad to try and help.

Caribbean Shrimp and Chicken

1/2 cup pineapple juice

1/2 cup ketchup

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup teriyaki sauce

1/4 cup honey

1 Tbsp vinegar

2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1 Tbsp corn starch

Mix together in a saucepan and cook until thickened.

Brush over meat before grilling and also baste while grilling.

I saved some extra sauce, heated it up and drizzled it over

the meat before serving.

Enjoy!

Hope

Lake Louisa 2010

Family Fun in the Sun

This weekend was the annual trip to the lake with Joshua's family.

It was a wonderful time of fellowship and relaxation.

(not to mention the scrumptious food)

The Helmuths 2010

The sweet couple

"Happy Hannah" photo taken by camera stealer (Mike)

Lovely Sheri, my dear sister and friend

Josh catching so much air I couldn't catch his head

"Giddy as a school boy" his sisters would say

Hannah in action

Josh catching more air

The old married folks

And you can't forget Louise

That was my wonderful weekend.

We had lots of wonderful food, but I missed taking photos to post.

Stop by again,

Hope

Engagement Sneek Peek

I had the privilege of taking Hope and Ryan's engagement photos this evening.

The perfect couple and the perfect lighting are a swell combination.

These photos are straight out of the camera, I hope to do some editing later.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Hope 

Easy Desserts

Berry Goodness

Desserts like this are so versatile

I love my martini glasses, I use them for all sorts of things.

Here I used graham cracker crumbs and a little melted butter to make it stick together.

(you can also use pretzels or crumbled shortbread cookies)

Press in the bottom and sides of glass and set in the fridge until firm.

Make a cream cheese filling with-

8 oz. cream cheese softened

1/4 to 1/2 cup of 10x sugar (depends on how sweet you like it)

a couple globs* of vanilla yogurt and whipped topping

a splash of vanilla and lemon juice

(sorry about the measurements, I'm a dump and pour cook)

* globs are large, heaped serving spoons

Layer on top of crumb mixture and cool in the fridge again.

Top with thickened fruit of any kind or just plain fruit.

Garnish with a mint tea leaf.

I have learned you can make something very simple look delicious.

"Presentation is half the food" - a quote from my Mom

Have a blessed day,

Hope

Blueberry Morning

Blueberry Pancakes

I'm trying to use up all my blueberries before they turn to mush

Vanilla bean paste is my trusty friend, I would recommend it to anyone


Mix up your ingredients and fry until golden brown

Then smother with syrup and sprinkle a few blueberries


Blueberry Pancakes

1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. sugar

sift ingredients together then add


1 egg beaten
1 cup thick sour milk*
2/3 cup blueberries (heaping)
1/4 tsp. vanilla


* To make sour milk add 1 Tbsp. of vinegar to milk and let set for 10 minutes.
Mix together until moistened. Then fry on a hot griddle, on medium heat.
Makes 4 large pancakes. I made this recipe for two, so double if you please.


Have a terrific day!
Hope

Summertime Grilling

Cajun Shrimp Kabobs

use uncooked, peeled shrimp, if they are not peeled your husband or brother can do it for you

(my husband did)

place raw shrimp on the skewer and baste one hour before grilling

grill until pink and curled

then push off with a fork, and dig in

add a side of baked potato, creamed limas and coleslaw

Cajun Shrimp Kabobs

2-3 lbs. of raw, peeled shrimp

1/2 cup orange marmalade

1/2 cup honey

1 Tbsp. olive oil

2 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning


Combine ingredients and bring to a boil.

Baste shrimp on kabobs one hour before grilling.

Grill shrimp until pink and curled.

Save some sauce to drizzle over before serving.

Baked Potatoes

Place potatoes in a dish and drizzle with olive oil.

Sprinkle with sea salt, black pepper and parsley flakes.

Bake at 350 until soft when poked with a fork. (usually about an hour)

Slice down the middle and sprinkle with cheese of your choice.

Top with a spoonful of sour cream and crumbled bacon.

Blueberry French Toast

recipe coming soon!

Have a good weekend!
Hope

Blooming Things

Yes, our lilies finally bloomed and its about the only flower I have at our house to take pictures of. Just looking at the wonders of nature, like these lilies, gives us a daily reminder of our powerful Creator and His intricate work.

Photography

Here are a few of my favorite photos I have taken over the last two years. I wanted a nice camera for awhile, and I finally buckled down and bought one. I will admit I am an amateur, but I do enjoy capturing moments through a lens.

Starting out

Hello its hopeful- just getting started with my blog. I hope to post recipes and photos as I go along. I recently married the man of my dreams on June 5, 2010. We live in a swiss chalet, nestled beside a pine forest. I love to be creative (or at least try), I'm hoping to share it with you!