Yesterday morning, there was an internet outage in our neighborhood. Also, Lindsey and Austin are on the East Coast. So, there was no Renny's Recipe yesterday, nor any other post since I couldn't get on the internet. Sigh. But! Never Fear because Friday Faves is here! (Too corny, sorry). And our question for this week? Where is your favorite travel destination within the United States? Lindsey and Austin are in the East for a sad reason. It is for Austin's grandmother's memorial service. But, there are always bright spots in these situations. She had a long, good life. Austin and Lindsey can visit with family out there and enjoy some of their respective "old haunts" together. Austin is from the East Coast, and Lindsey went to Law School in Vermont. The weather in Phoenix is so miserable right now, it is nice for them to be away from it. We did a Friday Fave a while ago about our favorite places to visit out of the country, so we thought we would try some places closer to home this time. Lindsey has driven across the country many times, so I wondered if she would choose someplace in the East as her favorite destination. But, in the end, I did guess her favorite spot correctly! I guess you can't really call the most remote place in the world "close to home", but it is a part of the United States! Lindsey was able to attend BYU Hawaii for a summer term in her undergrad years and she has never forgotten how much she loved it there. She says it was exotic, beautiful and perfect! Alicia is the one who chose a place on the East Coast! After she graduated from High School, we took her on a trip back east where we visited with out dear friends, the Lyddys! They took us sight seeing to some fabulous historical places. Alicia fell in love with Boston! I loved it, too. There is so much to see, so much history and so much good food! Alicia left there with a pair of shorts that said "Boston" across the rear! Alicia says she also loves the beaches on the Atlantic. The water is warmer and they were beautiful! Madalynn chose a place a little closer to home and easier to get to! San Diego! Her first trip to San Diego was in the 6th grade and she has loved it ever since. Here is a photo from that time. She will kill me, but it is worth it. Since that time, she has found chances to take trips to San Diego with friends when she can. It is a beautiful place! And what is my choice you ask? Well at first I was going to pick Nauvoo, Illinois because I love it there. But, let's face it, this time of year will be hot and muggy there on the Mississippi River. So, I would be lying if I didn't share my all time favorite place to go! I know, I am like a kid when it comes to Disneyland. The magic of it just overtakes me and lives in me. You can always cool off by going down Splash Mountain, (I scream), or on Grizzly Rapids. Or, go on the inside rides that are air conditioned. My first time to Disneyland was when I was 5 years old. I remember having to use the tickets and saving the treasured E tickets for the best rides. I remember my big sisters taking me when I would visit them in the summer. I wrote about our most recent trip here. I have so many happy memories of this place, and I love to go and I love to take people who have never been because you just can't do it justice with mere words. So, those are some of our favorite places in the States. What are yours? There are so many, we would love to visit them all. Wouldn't you?
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We are beginning monsoon season in Phoenix. That means high temperatures coupled with dust storms and thunderstorms. That also means that our dry heat turns into humid heat. It is a love/hate relationship because we love the rain and thunder, but the heat and humidity are killers. Our air conditioners start running non-stop and while a pool will cool us off, fighting the storms and dust which turns them green over night is a constant battle. And that is why ovens don't come on and we turn to cooler foods to help us fight the heat. Thus, today's Friday Fave question:
What is your favorite summer salad?
I thought that this would be a pretty simple question, but I apparently didn't understand Lindsey's
dislike of salad greens. She only really eats them because she knows that they are good for her. She doesn't like lettuce, arugula makes her sick. She will use spinach, but doesn't really like it in a salad, and she can't stand cabbage! Happily, there are salads that do not require leafy lettuce in them! Lindsey loves a good chicken salad! She actually posted a recipe for a great one on Renny's Recipes one week! Although she wrapped it in romaine, the goodness of the Almond Butter Chicken Salad over powered the lettuce! Click the link and check it out if you have forgotten it. I do love a good chicken salad with grapes in it!
Conversely, Alicia loves salad so much that she could hardly decide what to choose! She and Lindsey both went for the Strawberry Spinach Salad at first. Doesn't this one from foodiecrush look good? But then they both went a different way. Alicia chose the Watermelon Spinach Salad that we posted here, originally from Spoonful of Flavor. I have some watermelon on hand right now! I need to make this again. The dressing alone is just so delicious!
Maddy went a different direction by saying that she loves a good pasta salad. Her favorite ingredients are the colorful twisty pasta, black pepper, finely chopped sweet peppers and a little bacon. I love a good Italian pasta salad with some pepperoni in it. This Italian Pasta Salad on I Wash You Dry looks so good. They even have a video to show you how to do it.
I love a really flavorful salad. Like LIndsey, the lettuce isn't my favorite part. I like all of the other parts of a green salad the best! I do love a good taco salad! We posted a vegan version here. But, I am going to go back to the Apple Blueberry Spinach Salad that I came up with back in September. The candied pecans and the Blueberry Maple Dressing are just so unique and delicious. If you had forgotten about it, be sure to check it out again! There is another bonus salad on that post as well.
While we are talking salad, don't forget to get a little style going with your salad service! Remember when we got these wooden salad tongs from our affiliate, Dollar Tree, and decorated them on this post? Making a pretty summer version could be lots of fun!
So, beat the heat and have some salads this summer! What is your favorite salad?
Also, for our subscribers, if you go to your special subscriber link, there is a new printable for you. You get the first peek before we blog about it on Monday! (Hint: if you aren't a subscriber yet, but want to subscribe, you can still do so right now! I will send you the link in an email!) Talk to you again on Monday!
Wait! P.S.! Be sure to get ready for Amazon Prime Day on July 11! There will be some great deals. Get on early to get the best deals. If you click there through our link to shop, it won't cost you any more, but it will sure help us out!
This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Thanks for your support!
July 4th, Independence Day, is Tuesday! We have been talking about what to do for it this year and what our favorite memories from years past have been!
Favorite Memories of Fourth of July!
Some of my favorite memories are crafting things to display and add as a reminder of the day! The red, white and blue and the beautiful colors of the fireworks fill me with exhilaration and excitement. Family times together in a free land have always been important to me. The photo above is something I made two years ago while I was staying with Alicia after she had given birth to my grandson. Her husband was playing in a locally popular band that year in Provo and they were able to perform in the preliminary show ahead of Journey in the BYU stadium! That is an exciting memory! You can go to the directions for the patriotic wall hanging here. You can find other patriotic plans and songs here and here. Don't forget our free printable and frame idea here!
Alicia says that she loves a good barbecue and swim party on the Fourth. I am with her. Here in Phoenix, you can't have a barbecue without the swimming, or you will die. But, anywhere you are, swimming and food are always fun to enjoy together before the fireworks.
Maddy says that part of that barbecue food should be pie! Her favorite pie is Strawberry Rhubarb! We did an entire series on pies, plus we have added a few more. You can find them all here. But, Lindsey is the one who makes a mean Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie in this family and the recipe isn't on our blog yet. So, maybe we are just going to have to have her put it on here as one of Renny's Recipes soon.
Lindsey says she loves a good fireworks show! Growing up in Phoenix, we were never able to do our own fireworks. Just recently they have been made legal again. But, we would take the kids, when Glen didn't have to work, to watch one of the big shows somewhere. Lindsey says it was always exciting. Now, even if it isn't July 4th, fireworks make her feel very patriotic.
What do you love to do on Independence Day? Whatever you do, do it safely and have fun and remember to give pause and think about our free land! Talk to you next week!
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Last night we had breakfast for dinner! We love to do that on occasion. I was trying out a new pancake recipe I thought of doing and since our mornings are so hectic with people working or whatever, but not together, dinner seemed like the best time to try it out. I will be sharing that recipe with you later, but the whole idea of breakfast spurred this weeks Friday Fave question:
What is your favorite breakfast food?
First of all, Lindsey! This was a no brainer! Her entire life, Lindsey has loved cereal. When she was a little girl, if we did something different for breakfast, she would have to have cereal later for a snack or she felt deprived. She still likes to eat cereal as a snack. Her favorite cereal is Special K. I have to admit, I really like Special K, too. Especially the chocolate and the strawberry varieties.
In case you were wondering, here are all of our favorite breakfast cereals:
Lindsey-Special K Alicia-Kix Maddy-Honey Bunches of Oats and Helen-Golden Grahams!
Because Alicia lives in an area where the climate is cooler all year round, her choice sounds like a winter choice to those of us living in Phoenix. She says that she loves buttered toast with hot cocoa. (throat clear) I am sure that she means a Hot Coca Bomb in one of the delicious flavors that we make them in! It is pretty delicious to dip your toast in a mug of hot cocoa!
Maddy says that her favorite breakfast food is hash browns with catsup on the side. She does make some good smelling and tasting savory hash browns some mornings! I like them with a fried egg on top.
I have mentioned in other posts I believe, like this one, that I adore French Toast. Close to Christmas last year, I did a Pumpkin Gingerbread French Toast With Lemon Sauce that was delicious.
Since Sunday is Father's Day and Monday is my husband's birthday, my girls and I decided that we should feature his favorite breakfast food, which is Biscuits and Gravy!
Here is how I make the biscuits. I use the recipe from my Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook that we have had since we were married. It is always my go to first cookbook. This link is to the 75th Anniversary Edition! If you are new to cooking or a newlywed, I highly recommend this cookbook!
Next, here is how I make the gravy. This is a basic cream gravy that I make with bacon or sausage drippings. So, first, cook your bacon. Now, take off most of the fat, just save a little with all of the left over crispy bits in the bottom of the pan. Now, click on the pictures for directions.
Now you are ready to serve the gravy over split biscuits! I like eggs on the side as well! This isn't the healthiest breakfast known to man, but it sure does pack a lot of old fashioned goodness! I make it for my husband on special occasions.
There are so many great breakfast choices out there! What are your favorites?
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Creators of Hot Cocoa Bombs! (copyrighted)
Author
Helen Reynolds: Mother of six children , grandmother to eleven! I love to cook, craft and create things and I especially love doing that with my family, So, when my lawyer daughter, Lindsey, my artist daughter, Madalynn, and I came up with the idea of Hot Cocoa Bombs, this blog was born. Then, one more daughter, with her technical and science skills, plus creativity has joined in to round us out! Read more about us here! Archives
June 2024
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