Pretzel Please!

Did you know that today is National Pretzel Day? Well, either did I, but now that I know this little fact, I am suddenly craving the delish, soft, salty creations from the likes of Auntie Anne's. 

I am a fan of the original, the cinnamon-sugar, the pretzel bites or the sticks. Dips are optional, nice but not a neccessity. It is too late on the East Coast to go get one now, but if I had the energy, I would definitely use this recipe to make my own.

So, this has got me thinking....what is your favorite pretzel? How do you like yours?

Comments welcome!

Saaaaalad

Can you guess what I had for dinner last night?? That's right kids....Salads!

First off was a Cucumber Herb Pasta Salad:

Tastes like summer in a bowl!

Then, one of my favorite salads ever,  Caprese Salad.

But this one had a twist, courtesy of Bobby Flay and his

Fresh Mozzarella and Stacked Herloom Tomato Salad with Green Chili-Cilantro Oil and Chipotle Vinegar

Beautiful isn't it? Made with yellow tomatoes and cilantro from the garden...so proud!

The oil and vinegar are soooo good too! I will be using those leftovers on all of my salads going forward!

PS the title of this post only makes sense if you are my friend Joy, but I am chuckling to myself !

Family Style

Had a fantastic time yesterday at a (not so) little Family Reunion. A day filled with Family, Fun and Food.....perfect! You name it and we ate it! Check out a smattering of the tasty treats we enjoyed:

The buffet line

Mesa Grill Southwest Potato Salad

Grilled Corn with Chiplotle Cilantro Butter

Sweet Pepper Poppers with Chorizo and Garden Vegatable Cream Cheese

Pulled Pork and Asian Slaw Tartlets

All in all a great day. Sorry, no pictures as evidence of my Ladder Ball Series Domination! ;)

Deals, Steals and Meals

Happy Tax Day Everyone! For those of you still crunching numbers and even for those who are long done, here are some treats being offered out there today to make your day a little less stressful:

CINNABON: Get two free bite-sized cupcakes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at participating mall locations as part of "Tax Day Bites!" Flavors include Chocolate Passion, 24-Carrot Cake, Vanilla Bliss and Cinnacake Classic.

STARBUCKS: Get free brewed coffee all day Thursday if you bring your own mug, a promotion the cafe chain says is friendly to the environment as well as taxpayers.

BOSTON MARKET: For a "last-minute tax break" -- one free meal for each one you buy Thursday through Sunday -- show this coupon: http://bit.ly/d1YlRO

IHOP: Expanding on the tax deduction parents get for kids, the restaurant chain is offering free dinner for one child age 12 or younger with each adult meal purchased 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. all month long.

MCCORMICK & SCHMICK'S: The seafood restaurant is offering $10.40 dinner and drink specials in the bar on Thursday -- a nod to the 1040 tax form. Bar guests who come in April 15 also receive a $10.40 gift certificate for a later visit. And professional tax preparers, who may have to work right until the midnight deadline Thursday, get their freebie Friday: dessert on the house plus a $10.40 certificate if they show a business card.

P.F. CHANG'S: Get 15 percent off food purchases for dine-in or take-out, excluding alcohol and happy hour food and beverages.

Food for thought....

So, I watched Food,Inc the other day and I cannot get it out of my head.

The images are imprinted on my brain! I am definitely not going vegetarian, but I am thinking long and hard before I eat any meat/chicken. Buying organic can be pricey so I think as long as I cut down, my stomach and my wallet will both be happy. Knowing places like Chipotle only buy free range chicken, beef and pork, make me love them even more! When given a choice, I know where I'll be going!

What are your thoughts on this issue? I am not political by any means, but like I said, those images are imprinted in my brain......let's discuss!

Killer Disappointment

So, a few weeks ago, I told you how I was craving Killer Shrimp. Well, I found a knock-off recipe on the internet and decided to try it out and curb my craving. Well, mission NOT accomplished! It was a long process to make the soup, expensive ingredients, and it tasted NOTHING like the original! I ended up eating just bread for dinner. :( Although the house smelled great and looked yummy, it really had a bad aftertaste and missing the flavors that made the original soooo delicious!

Makes for a pretty picture though, doesn't it?!

If there is anyone out there with a hookup to the REAL Killer Shrimp Recipe, please send it my way. I'd be willing to give it another shot!