A summer appetizer

Today I have a great summer appetizer recipe for you, courtesy of Health magazine. You can bet I’ll be making these soon!

 

Grilled Zucchini Roll-Ups with Herbs and Cheese

 Ingredients

• 3 small zucchini (about 1/2 pound each), cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/8 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
• 1/16 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
• 1 1/2 ounces fresh goat cheese
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 ounces bagged baby spinach (2 cups lightly packed)
• 1/3 cup basil leaves

Preparation 

1. Preheat grill or grill pan to medium.

2. Discard the outermost slices of zucchini; brush the rest with oil on both sides. Sprinkle the zucchini slices with salt and pepper. Grill until tender, about 4 minutes per side. You can prepare the zucchini a day ahead and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

3. In a small bowl, combine the goat cheese, parsley, and lemon juice, mashing together.

4. Put 1/2 teaspoon of the cheese mixture about 1/2 inch from the end of a zucchini slice. Top with a few spinach leaves and a small (or half of a large) basil leaf. Roll up and place seam side down on a platter. Repeat with remaining zucchini slices. You can make these up to a day in advance; store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Friday Roundup

Happy Friday!! It’s a long weekend (in Canada at least)…yay!!! Man oh man, I’m pretty sure this was the longest week of my life. Between a crazy work load and dealing with mortgage brokers, realtors and difficult builders, let me tell you I have earned this weekend. I’m heading up north to a friend’s cabin and I can’t wait. Anybody have fun plans for Canada Day? Below are my favourite pins as of late:

Prettiest picture

Favourite nails

Gorgeous office

Best party food

Funnest looking summer toy

Friday Roundup

Hey guys, happy Friday! Sorry I haven’t been posting much lately. My life is crazy busy right now. Work has picked up a ton and I’m in the process of buying a house, so between realtor appointments and house viewings, I really don’t have time for much else. On a positive note, the weather looks like it’s going to be great this weekend, I have a hair appointment tomorrow and I have a dinner reservation at Corso 32 with the BF (we made this reservation 2 months ago…that’s how long it took to get a 7 pm rezo on a Saturday night!).  I hope everyone’s weekend looks as promising as mine; in the meantime, here are my favourite Pins from the past week:

Favourite dress

Best hair

Favourite photo

Cute party food idea (raw bar)

Gorgeous shoes

Friday Roundup

Here are my favourite Pinterest finds this week!

Best dessert idea

Favourite casual look

New way to wrap wine

Beautiful vintage wedding dress

List of Italian cheese

5 drinks for summer

I love a good drink in the summer. Fruit is fresh, the sun is hot and a fruity drink just hits the spot so well. Here are five drinks sure to make your backyard the place to be this summer. All drinks found on Pinterest.

Blood Orange Margarita (Makes 1 drink)

Ingredients:

• 3 oz fresh Blood Orange Juice
• 2 oz Tequila 
• 1 oz  Triple Sec
• splash of agave nectar (syrup)

Directions:

1. Rub the rim of a glass with an edge of a blood orange slice.  Swirl the rim through a small pile of sea salt to salt the rim.

2. Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake for 15 seconds.

3. Put a few cubes of ice in your glass.  Strain the cocktail into the glass and enjoy.

Electric Lemonade (Makes 1 drink)

Ingredients:

• 1 oz vodka
• 1 oz blue curacao
• Lemonade to taste (I like Simply Lemonade best)

Directions:

1.    Add a handful of ice to a tall glass

2.    Add blue curacao and vodka

3.    Top off with lemonade to taste

Pink Grapefruit Maragrita (Makes 4 drinks)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ruby red grapefruit juice
• 1/2  cup fresh squeezed lime juice (about 4 limes)
• 1 cup triple sec
• 3 cups ice
• 1 cup  silver tequila
• 1   lime cut in wedges

Directions:

1.    Rub the rim of an old fashioned glass with an edge of a lime slice.  Swirl the rim through a small pile of sea salt to salt the rim.

2.    Combine the grapefruit juice, lime juice, triple sec and ice in a blender.

3.    Pour into a large pitcher (or just keep it in the blender) and pour in the tequila, stir.

4.    Garnish with a lime wedge and serve!

Strawberry Champagne Spritzers (Makes 1 pitcher)

 Ingredients:

• 1 bottle Sake – any kind will do
• 1 bottle Champagne
• 1 pint strawberries
• 6 meyer lemons
• 3-4 springs of mint
• Vanilla Stevia

Directions:

1.    Slice your strawberries into vertical slivers, tear mint leaves roughly, and add both to a large pitcher.

2.    Squeeze the juice of 6 meyer lemons and gently muddle (muddle = mash) the ingredients using a wooden spoon.

3.    Add equal parts sake & champagne, and lots of ice.

4.    Squeeze a dropper full of vanilla stevia into each glass before serving.  

Strawberry Watermelon Mojito (Makes 1 pitcher)

 

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp sugar
• 15-20 fresh mint leaves (amount depends on the size of leaves)
• 4 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 3 cups watermelon, 1 inch cubes
• 1 cup strawberries, halved or quartered
• 6 oz light rum

Directions:

1.    In a large pitcher, combine sugar, mint leaves, and lime juice.  Muddle the mint leaves with the end of a wooden spatula.

2.    Fill the blender with watermelon and then add strawberries.  Blend until smooth and combined.

3.     Pour watermelon mixture into the pitcher.  Add rum and stir well until combined.  Serve in chilled glasses and enjoy!

Friday Roundup

I love short weeks, they just fly by. Today is rainy and dreary in Edmonton so here’s a roundup of my favourite Pins to brighten up your day!

Favourite dress

Cutest pup

Fun party food (tortellini skewers with pesto dipping sauce)

Best summer date night (backyard movie theatre)

Blissful vacation spot

How to: Make an awesome Cucumber Gin Fizz

Now that the weather is getting warmer, I’m starting to crave my favourite summer cocktails. Gin & Tonic has always been one of my favourite go-to summer drinks (especially the Super Sonic Gin & Tonic at Joey’s). Last year however, I tried a Cucumber Gin Fizz and fell in love. Most recipes call for lime juice; personally, I think fresh lemon juice tastes the best. I also recommend using Hendricks gin, as it is infused with cucumber and really makes your drink top notch. So, here you go, if you love gin, you are sure to love this recipe!

Cucumber Gin Fizz

 – 3 cucumber slices (1/3 inch)
 – 2 oz gin (Hendricks)
 – 1 oz fresh- squeezed lemon juice
 – .5 oz Simple syrup (optional)

Muddle cucumber in bottom of shaker, add other ingredients and ice, shake and strain over ice and top with club soda. If you are serving to company, add a cucumber peel and sprig of rosemary or mint to garnish.

Friday Roundup: Easter Edition

Happy Easter everyone. I am super pumped about my four day long weekend! Hope you all have a wonderful break filled with sweet treats, family and great food. To get you in the spirit here are a few Easter finds from Pinterest:

Easter Brunch (stawberry stuffed french toast):

Easter laugh (poor kid):

Festive nails:

Easter treat (cake pops!):

Prettiest egg decoration (damask):

Friday Roundup

Happy Friday! This is the first week that has really started to feel like spring in Edmonton. The sun is shining, the air smells fresh and instead of frost on my windshield I have dew! So, I’m excited about that! I can’t wait for summer. It’s my favourite season, I am so ready to retire my knit sweaters and boots and bust out my sun dresses and wedges. What about you guys? In the meantime, here are a few Pinterest finds from the past week:

Most tranquil moment:

Favourite eating area:

Best dress:

Cutest picture:

Best party snack (7 layer dip in a shot glass!):

 

Friday Roundup

Happy Friday! I can’t wait for this weekend to start, I have so many fun things to look forward too! Tonight I am going to see The Hunger Games (yay), Saturday I am going to the ballet (Swan Lake) followed by a birthday party for a friend, and Sunday is the 2 hour season premier of Mad Men. So, all in all, I have a fun filled weekend ahead of me. Hope you guys have something fun planned too! Here are my favourite finds around Pinterest this week:

Cutest photo:

Best idea I never would have thought of (put your strawberries and melted chocolate in an ice cube tray, freeze and serve, genius!):

Cutest easter egg idea (thanks Martha Stewart):

Best party idea (a pizza party):

Favourite outfit: