Mediterranean Pot Luck

Here are some photos from the Mediterranean themed pot luck dinner we hosted over the Labor Day weekend. My husband put up these bright fabric banners with dowels to hang from our porch ceiling. They really lend a festive air as do the lights and lanterns.
As is our usual fashion, we had lots of food, great food- spanakopita, lasagna, Greek salad, home made pizza, roast peppers, lemon chicken, grilled duck breast with lavender sauce, lamb lollipops, bruschetta, among many other yummies.

I made a white nectarine tart with an easy recipe from Food and Wine Magazine. It turned out delish with the most basic and fresh ingredients. I also scored by finding this tart pan for a buck at our local thrift store.
Luckily, I've been burning off a few calories gardening, including lots of flowering plants in containers. (I feel a lot of responsibility when I garden in planters, like I am adopting a plant "pet" that is completely dependent on me for all its needs- soil, sun, water, pruning, feeding, drainage. It's different then when I transplant plants into the soil, it's like they are more independent.)

Thank you so much for your visit and please let me know what you've been up to, foodwise, gardenwise, or any wonderful (or not so wonderful) thing. (I am an equal opportunity blogger with broad shoulders and decent listening skills).

I also wanted to sincerely thank, acknowledge, and show abundant appreciation to my fellow teammates at The Motivation Station blog. They, along with all my other dear, dear bloggy friends, have been a major source of inspiration, perspiration, and Motivation this past year. Happy One Year Birthday, TMS!!! High 5 and a Booty bump!! Please stop by The Motivation Station and consider becoming a follower, we are trying to reach 100 followers. And we are thisclose to 100, so thank you!

What's Cooking for TMS Show and Tell

What's cooking with you and yours, both in the kitchen and out??

I've been doing my share of cooking and grilling this summer, including enjoying the bounty of our local California produce like this fresh asparagus. I marinated the cleaned stalks in Vidalia Onion salad dressing prior to grilling. The asparagus was the side dish to "smoked pork chops" grilled with chopped canned pineapple. Delish, fast, easy, and kid and pantry friendly.

I love the smell of fresh raspberries in the morning. ;o) Cherries too.

I made pan fried Baby Zucchini Blossoms stuffed with Morel mushrooms.
First, I reconstituted the dried morel mushrooms.
Then, I cleaned out the interior stamen from each blossom, and washed and dried them prior to putting in the fresh mozzarella, chopped morels, herb, and beaten egg filling.
The zucchini blossoms were dipped in a beaten egg, dredged in a flour, parmesan, dried herbs, and bread crumb mixture with salt and pepper.
Finally, the stuffed squash is pan fried in some vegetable oil until nicely golden and served immediately for a Molte Buono Appetito!

Thank you for visiting for The Motivation Station Show and Tell.

What bounty of the season have you been enjoying?

Two New Favorite Kitchen Helpers for The Motivation Station Show and Tell

Have you ever wondered, "How in the world did I ever manage without this piece of knowledge or gadget??" That's the way I feel about roasting vegetables prior to adding to soups and sauces, and my Immersion Blender, and they work especially well together.

I learned about the roasting veggie tip from Tamy's Always Eat On the Good China and her delicious Stuffed Meatballs with sauce recipe. I am hooked! Roasting the vegetables not only gives a rich, deep flavor to any dish, it helps clean out the refrigerator, cut down on wasted food, and Up the Health Quotient in our family's meals. Thank you so much for the inspiration, Tamy! Thank you also to Martha at Seaside Simplicity, Linda of Finding Footsteps in the Sand, and the Our Krazy Kitchen crew for all their great menus, recipes, and pictures. Especially the photos, Yum!

Now, which leads me to my love of my Immersion Blender. This tool is great for blending sauces and gravies. You plug it in, stick it your sauce pan or bowl, and blend away. It also has food chopper and whisk attachments to handle a variety of tasks. Plus, it cuts down on dirty dishes to wash!

What are your favorite kitchen tips and tools that inspire you?

Thank you so much and please stop by The Motivation Station Show and Tell this week for incredible recipes, (chocolate covered strawberries, anyone??), money saving ideas, and flavorful menu planning.