MOCHA MORNINGS

Not only are Fridays slow days in the clinic, we also get to wear jeans, only work half a day, and have very patriotic donuts brought in by fabulous co-workers! Happy Friday, y'all!

What team are you cheering for this year?   photo credit Yep, it's already that time of the year again when you are thinking about what yumtastic foods you are going to fix for the big game.  Last year you probably made wings, and this year you'll probably make some...well, wings.  Go ahead a make those wings and chill your brews, whip up some guacamole, and cut up some raw veggies, but while your at it you might as well add a little spunk to your game and try some fantastic new game foods your guests are sure to enjoy! Earlier today, over at  Ridiculously Delicious , I posted some really delicious foods that will ensure your Superbowl party will be a hit.  I've got a Taco Pizza recipe that looks and tastes amazing, some wings that will knock your socks off, a cheese dip that is man tested (so you know it is good), some brownies that will disappear before you even get one, plus much more.  So head on over ( click here ) and grab some Ridiculo...

Ever dip your French fries into a Wendy's Frosty for that sweet/salty taste? Yeah, me either, but my oldest does and I always thought there was something wrong with him until I learned that there were lots of Frosty fry dippers out there. Anyway, this has nothing to do with Wendy's, fries or a delicious chocolate Frosty, but it has everything to do with that crunchy, salty/sweet combination of Ben & Jerry's Late Night Snack. Yum! I have been wanting to try this for sometime and finally found it in stock at the grocery this weekend. It is as good as I imagined. The fudge covered potato chips mixed in ice cream, genius! Now I get the whole french fry/Frosty craze! So, the big question now is...which Ben & Jerry's flavor to try next? Suggestions?

Ok, get your mind out of the gutter.  That's not what I meant!  I'm talking about ClusterFLUFF, a new Ben & Jerry's   flavor made with Peanut Butter ice cream loaded with Caramel Cluster pieces, Marshmallow swirls and Peanut Buttery swirls.  I think I love their labels almost as much as I love their ice cream.  So go on, run out and get you some...you know you want to!

Found the Julie & Julia  Bruschetta recipe, tried it, and LOVED it! Even the five year old who doesn't eat tomatoes, ate this. It was buttery, salty, tomato(y), garlic(y) and just one of the most fabulous things I have ever eaten! I have the recipe blogged at Ridiculously Delicious . Trust me, this is one you will want to try!

I must admit I am currently a little obsessed with the movie Julie & Julia.  Honestly, I watch it practically every day.  I love to cook.  I love to eat.  I love to watch movies.  So, there you go.  The movie inspires me.  It makes me want to set goals for myself, which in turn makes me feel accomplished.  These past few months I have just felt over-whelmed.  I babysit three small children, plus have four kids of my own, plus I am a preschool teacher two days a week.  By the end of the day I have no desire to cook, which makes me very sad.  However, I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel! Our last day of preschool was yesterday and in two weeks I will no longer have the extra munchkins that I babysit! No more snotty noses, dirty diapers, continuous screaming and crying or graham crackers crushed all over my house! So, the more I watch Julie & Julia, the more excited I get about the upcoming summer months which w...

If you are ever in Magnolia, Arkansas I suggest you eat at The Backyard Bar-B-Que .  Honestly, I don't know why anyone would ever really have a reason to go to Magnolia as there really is nothing exciting there to see or to do. But, if you are passing through on your way to a bigger and better place, stop at this dive, like we did, and get some ribs... they are the bomb! When leaving Arkansas we had some time to kill, so when we got to the state line, I made the boys jump out of the car so I could get a pic of them in front of the state welcome sign.  Clearly, they were not excited... ...so, I made them run across the street and stand in front of the Louisiana sign as well, just to torture them. They are just lucky I didn't make them pose for me when we crossed back into Texas! Just sayin'!

f or ice cream! if you're gonna be a member of this family, you gotta love ice cream. on this particular hot, summer  day, little man is enjoying an old fashion sundae from a diner downtown. vanilla ice cream with pineapple topping. his favorite. aw...to be a kid again. no worries. no sense of time. just enjoying the summer and his dish of ice cream. life doesn't get much better than this.

n ot for these organic carrots.  i can proudly say that the plastic bag these delicious carrots came in was recycled, the pile of peelings, tops and ends were laid to rest in our compost pile created by my 10 year old son, and the orange, tasty, carrots themselves were happily devoured by my entire family.  no evidence that these carrots ever existed, except for this lone picture which was taken minutes before they were thrown in the broiler to steam.

W hat better way to spend a cold Sunday afternoon than stuffing your face with cranberry pork loin followed by a scrumptious cherry cobbler. At the first of the year I vowed to start using my crock pot(s) on a weekly basis and WOW, why didn't I start this sooner! I am literally in love with my crock pot. Why slave over a hot stove when all you have to do is throw your ingredients into this pot that cooks itself? Whoever came up with this concept and invented this little miraculous appliance is just pure genius. Now, my pork loin didn't turn out as pretty as the picture attached to the recipe I used, but boy oh boy was it delicious, just melted in my mouth. I served half for lunch and the other half is still sitting in the crock until dinner. Now, the cherry cobbler looks divine, and according to the boys in my life, tastes as good as it looks. Remember, I am watching my calorie intake, so I am saving mine for this evening and I am going to enjoy every bite. I'm feeling comp...