lets relax and get pampered..its spa night!!

lemony basil lemonade.freshly juiced carrot juice.

cucumber lemon spa water.

drink as much as you can! spa's say to drink atleast

64oz the day you get pampered..to ensure

you release all those toxins.

fresh fruit.edamame.chilled veggies.yogurt fruit dip
fresh wheat bread & all healthy good-for-you snacks.

lavender honey milkbath
first we soaked our toes in this soothing milkbath along
with wildflowers and hot steamy water.

fresh lavender-basil-grapeseed oil-sugar scrub
next..we scrubbed our feet with this and wrapped
them up in hot towels..that were steamed with mint.
this smelt amazing and lasted for days.

banana.honey.oat mask.apply liberally.

leave on 10-15 minutes.mmMMm.

ingredients:rolled oats.honey.yogurt.banana

caution:might be tempted to eat

these were the party favors..on top they read..

can be stored in the fridge for up to one week.

enjoy!

thank you brittany for having your 4th baby!

can't wait to see the little guy!

want to see more?details and recipes..found here.

...@ st. tropez...

ciabatta.pesto.tomato.chicken.mozzarella.romaine.mmMm
so yum. my girlfriend cassy has been talking about this cute cafe in encinitas.
so we finally went. this was so good..we made it for dinner later that week..for the chaparros and the missionaries.<--story on that one later. ciabatta is my new favorite bread to panini!

...peppery arugula salad with parmesan...

red onion.arugula.fresh pepper.citrus.parmesan.yum
this is a very classic and refreshing simple salad.
serve it along side a complex main course.
enjoy the various tastes and textures.mmMm

..has changed mine. will change yours..

wow. the newest addition to our family.
the vita-mix 5200 need i say more..?
wow. it will change your life. i try and use it @least once a day.haven't missed one yet!
salsa.baby food.fancy slush drinks.ice cream! ..hot chocolate.soup.whipped cream.sorbet! ..peanut butter.fresh cut oats.brown rice flour..sauces.fruit purees.dressings.juice ..grinding flax,wheat and other seeds for {sneaky} cooking..
i'm hoping to press some wheat grass juice soon. i have it growing like nuts..if anyone knows where to get a decent press...love to know!

the hot chocolate..holy cow.. it's the best i've had by far.
it gets super frothy..but like a cappuccino.so yum.one time we threw in a candy cane..mmm. for the salsa..ive been experimenting with peppers.. but i usually stick to a basic yellow pepper..the one from the vita-mix book is dang good..i'll post it soon. and the baby food. well.you'll be hearing about that hopefully soon too.you can get YOUR vita-mix here.
really.what's stopping you.7 year warrranty + shipping
..life can't or shouldn't go on w/o one.

...rubyred grapefruit sorbet..

grapefruit puree.simple syrup.raw sugar cane.spearmint

nothing more refreshing on a super hot day than this!! the grapefruits..of course.. are from my mother in law's garden.
something about fresh citrus..is amazing. the zest is completely different and they yeild twice as much juice.i strain the juice from the puree through a flour sack.{cheese cloth..i've found isn't fine enough..}that way the sorbet doesn't have the bitter membranes in it..add a simple syrup..and throw it in. DONE! sorbet in 25 minutes.
the sugar cane kicks through the tangyness of the grapefruit..raw sugar would be fine..but the sugar cane chunks are way more satisfying.

...roasted butternut squash ravioli..w/ toasted hazelnut sage browned butter...

butternut squash.sage.parmesan.cinnamon.orange zest.yum-o
wow. holy cow. this is one serious pasta dish.
i totally cheated and bought won ton wrappers from the 99 ranch market.<---love that market. if you can get past the initial fish stench when first walkin in..its so worth it!
so instead of boiling the pasta..i've heard that you can fry your ravioli for a totally new take.
Byron..my inspiration, suggested crumbling amaretti cookies{or maybe biscotti} atop this wonderful dish..he just made one but with pumpkin and a toasted pine nut browned butter. bet that one was good too!
a little closer look into the butter sauce.i battered,then deep fried the sage leaves to give them really nice crunch. if anyone knows the french word for this method..i'd like to know!!thanks.
whats really inside..?only the best. i used my vita-mix to puree up my cooked butternut squash.so easy!
cinnamon.flat leaf parsley.parmesan.orange juice and zest..maybe some nutmeg..

warning:for only serious cooks to try @ home.
even i was a little overwhelmed with all the freakin steps of this meal.
roast the squash..peel and {vita-mix}.prepare filling mixture.prepare raviolis {this is where i took out an entire step!!} stuff.fry.prepare sauce.eat.ahh
i wanted to eat it when it came out @ step one!but let me tell you.it's worth the wait and who ever is waiting for this meal..is dang lucky.and better help with the 80 dishes used.enjoy!

...tomato cucumber summer salad...

tomato.honey.lemon zest.poppyseeds.grapeseed oil.cucmber.basil.yum
this is so easy to prepare.just cut up your tomatoes and cucumber..throw all dressing ingredients in your vita-mix{get one already!}..and you're done in seconds!

love.love.LOVE this salad. todd and i can't get enough.it's best in the middle of summer when we get to take bags and bags of tomatos.basil.cucumbers.onions.herbs.. home from sue's garden. we are so lucky to enjoy all this amazing produce.i have never 
been a real tomato or veggie fan.. but fresh from the garden 
is a completely different thing.lemons are juicier.basil is sweeter..
veggies are crispier.ahh.i love summer time in sue's garden.

ps. sue also taught me to take a fork and shave down the sides of a 
cucumber to make it look pretty...i couldn't quite get this down..so i use a zester..{the 4hole one.}i think its easier and faster...

..big hearty meatball subs..

fresh parmesan.parsley.ricotta.marinara.yum

super easy and a great make ahead meal. i usually half this recipe..but now i just freeze the extra balls before i put em in the oven..and look!..i have another meal in a week or two..great to cook up and throw in spaghetti!
if your bun is too bunny..well then..rip out the insides a bit..that way your meatballs stay in place when you eat it!

here's a shot of the army lineup.baking meatballs is so much smarter than trying to fry them. i don't use non-stick pans..so its not so fun to try and scrape them up..while trying to keep them in one peice.sorry about the heavenly uncooked meatballs. i told todd to get a shot of the making process..he thought it'd be fun. i think its weird. .

..chocolate..hazelnut mousse cakes..

don't these look familiar?? yeah..i
am needing a new chocolate cake recipe. this one is just way too good to try another,so you're all stuck with this recipe for a while. hey..lets hear em..could you ladies..and men.. post your favorite chocolate cake recipe??THANKS!
can't wait to see whatcha got.

..simple cakes in a cup..

strawberry cheese cakes.peanut butter coffee.hazelnut chocolate mousse
72?what? i'm making and frosting 72? ahh. i was in charge of bringing the dessert for my church's enrichment night..it's held only 4 times a year..so why not go all out.. right? these strawberry ones were very light and refreshing next to these peanut buttery ones.
i over heard people saying..oooh the rich peanut butter ones...
..get one before they're gone..
yep.super rich. the frosting is almost like a
nutter-butter's but creamier.and the chocolate cake
is richened<-is that a word? by half a cup of freshly brewed
coffee. mmMmm.topped with coarsely chopped peanuts
..for texture and crunch!