Pecans Diablo

This is a favorite super easy party recipe. It's so tasty, & it's really pretty good for you - definitely better for you than cheesy or ranch dips. I've made it for get-togethers that included beer&football, & if you decide to make it for such a gathering, I highly recommend doubling or even tripling the recipe. I've been known to run out because it was so popular!

(I think this recipe came from the Taste of Home Halloween food&fun digest from 2009. I'm guessing that based on the "diablo" in the title, as well as the fact that I once upon a time vowed to make as many of the recipes in that little thing as I could. I did pretty well at it, actually, & found quite a few favorite recipes to make again!)

pecans diablo

(yield: 5 cups)

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 3/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 5 cups pecan halves
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt

*In a large bowl, combine the butter, rosemary, cayenne, & basil. Add the pecans & toss to coat. Spread in a single layer in a 15-inch x 1-inch baking pan. Sprinkle with salt.

*Bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees for 17-20 minutes or until pecans are crisp, stirring occasionally. Cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

*A note from the Taste of Home test kitchen says the spices in this recipe showcase pecans in a whole different light. This is a great snack for any gathering.

(I agree wholeheartedly with that description! This is a delicious snack, & I highly recommend trying it!)

Pretty Little Bare Feet's Palate: Zucchini Puree

As I posted before, I have always preferred to make most of Pretty Little Bare Feet's food myself, even her "baby food."

Last summer, we shopped at our favorite local farmers market almost every single Saturday. We are so excited that it will soon be opening back up for 2010!

Of course, this year, it will be even more fun for Pretty Little Bare Feet, as she is now able to really eat most of the fresh fruits&vegetables, experiencing all of the different textures.

But even last year, when she was just beginning solid foods, she was able to experience the rich, fresh flavors of these fresh fruits&vegetables.

(& once or twice when we traveled, & opted for the more convenient jars of commercial organic baby food, we could tell that she was disappointed in the difference in flavor.)

One of her favorite vegetables last summer was zucchini, which was wonderful for me.

I usually found a great selection of it at our farmers market.

It is really easy&fast to prepare.

A little bit of zucchini makes a lot of baby-sized portions of zucchini puree.

Plus there are many wonderful ways to prepare zucchini for adults,

so My Prince & I were able to enjoy it at the same meal that Pretty Little Bare Feet enjoyed it!

I adapted the following recipe from combining bits&pieces of information&recipes, mostly from my aforementioned sources; as well as from my own trials&errors.

(sorry for the iPhone-quality photo)

zucchini puree

(yield: makes about 1 1/2 - 2 cups)

• 2 large or 3 small zucchini

*Wash, trim, & cut zucchini into rounds 1 inch thick.

(Zucchini has tender seeds, watery flesh, & thin, edible skin. Zucchini is a good source of beta-carotene, but most of the nutrients are in the skin, so do not peel it. Since your baby will eat the peel, try to buy it a farmers market, or be sure to buy organic zucchini from your grocery store if possible.)

*If you have a Babycook, follow Babycook directions for adding water to steam zucchini. After steaming, remove steamer basket. Then follow Babycook directions to puree to a consistency your baby can handle.

*If you do not have a Babycook or steamer, bring 1 inch water to a boil in a pot. Put zucchini in a steamer basket, set in pot, cover tightly, & steam until very tender, 5-12 minutes, depending on size. If you do not have a steamer basket, place zucchini in a small saucepan, cover with a little boiling water, put a lid on saucepan, & simmer gently until tender (6 to 10 minutes), then drain. Puree zucchini in a food processor until smooth. If you do not have a food processor, you can use a handheld electric blender. Additional liquid will not be needed.

(For the best results, steam the vegetables in a Babycook, steamer, or a metal steamer basket in a pot. I've never resorted to it, but technically you could also microwave, placing the zucchini slices in a microwaveable dish & adding 1 tablespoon water. Cover&simmer until tender, about 6 minutes, stirring halfway through. Then let stand for 3 minutes before turning into a puree.)

*Serve lukewarm.

*To store, refrigerate cooled puree in an airtight container for up to 3 days; or fill ice-cube trays or other containers to freeze for up to 3 months.

*As your baby gets older, you can add your baby's cereal to thicken this liquidy puree, if desired.

(Zucchini is a good choice for your baby's first green vegetable, as it is digestible&mild. Zucchini also delivers a wide assortment of nutrients in addition to beta-carotene, especially magnesium, potassium, & vitamin A. Pretty Little Bare Feet loved her zucchini by itself, but it also goes well with carrot, potato, pumpkin, rutabaga, &/or sweet potato.)

(sorry for the iPhone-quality photo)

***Please note that I am not a doctor. I am a blogger, a lawyer, & a stay-at-home mama. I gather&read a lot of information before I prepare food for my own child. I would encourage you to do the same, rather than only going by what I've posted (although I do stand behind the observations I've recorded here). Each child is different, with different needs. Foods are also different in different regions. I use guidelines I've received from our pediatrician, for feeding our child. Please use the advice of your own pediatrician regarding the age at which your child should begin eating which foods, & what serving sizes are appropriate for your child. Thank you for reading my blog! Please feel free to email me with any questions you may have.***

What I Want This Weekend, May 21st, 2010

Here are some pretty things I've come across this week,

from some blog

or catalog

or friend

or magazine

or another;

or just from my own browsing&shopping&surfing,

that I need to convince My Prince to dole out the cash for...

Bird House Mobile in Chocolate Aqua

Matching Sailor Handsqueaker&Bib

Percy the Pig Rattle

Lamb Bibs with Gingham&Fleece in Green, & Pink

Watermelon Horse with Moving Legs

(all available at Cute-ture)

Alright, if you're like me, everybody you know (& their sisters) is pregnant.

(& their sisters are having twins!)

& if you're like me, you've made the (bad-for-your-bank-account, good-for-your-gift-giving-karma) mistake of setting the bar too high for baby gifts. I love shopping for baby gifts, & I love trying to find really special stand-out gifts for the new mommies that I love.

(& for their sweet wee ones, too! But let's be honest, when they're newborns, the gifts are for Mommy.)

I am absolutely in love with Alimrose Designs, the fabulous designer behind all of those beautiful handmade baby gifts above. Good news for my pregnant friends; bad news for the budget I'm supposed to stick to fully committed to honoring for My Prince. ;)

(Oh, & if you're wondering...Yes, I do hate registries. & yes, I am that baby shower guest that didn't abide by the gift-giving guidelines or even look at the registry. But I'll refrain from an etiquette rant in the middle of the loveliness that is What I Want This Weekend.)

Okay, so I just recently included some Carter's adorables in my Pink&Green Thursday post, & I meant to share with y'all my opinion that Carter's is just plain some of the best quality you can get for inexpensive toddler clothes.

I am such a sucker for the beautiful craftsmanship & outstanding heirloom quality of

boutique,

designer,

& handmade

infant&toddler clothing. Fortunately for My Prince, I am pretty good at finding them at reasonable prices...most of the time, anyway.

So Pretty Little Bare Feet has accumulated quite a collection of those special little somethings, that's for sure.

But as all you mommies know,

there are many days when toddlers' outfits have to be changed two or three times before suppertime.

& there are also days when the only place we go is Kroger.

& frankly, there are times when it's nice to be able to do a load of laundry that doesn't have to be

turned inside-out,

& washed on delicate cycle,

then hung to dry.

Graphic Jersey One-Piece in Marshmallow White

Striped Ruffle-Front Jersey Dress in Pink Stripe

"I (Heart) Lazy Days & Lemonade" Tank in Tropical Sunset

Printed Gauze Top in Sync Pink

Jelly Gladiator Sandals in Surfing

(all available at Old Navy)

So thank goodness for classic&cute everyday children's clothes from places like

BabyGap

Belk

Carter's

the Children's Place

Dillard's

Gymboree

Macy's

Old Navy

Target

(Admittedly, I rarely care for the adult clothes from some of these places, & I don't feel like I can always rely on any of these places to always have a great selection. Still, I am always excited when I do come across a particularly cute season from one of them - money saved means more money to spend on the better labels, right?!)

Smocked Sunburst Tunic Tank in Neptune

Bright Floral Dress in Floral

Animal-Printed Romper in Brown

White Cropped Skinny Jeans in White Denim

Sunburst-Printed Party Dress in True Black

(all available at BabyGap)

But I am still determined to dress Pretty Little Bare Feet as sweetly as possible, even when she's doing the casual, comfortable thing. & there are options available inexpensively, but sometimes it does take a little effort to do the mixing&matching yourself, from assorted brands&shops.

(I have a momfriend that always asks me, "Did that outfit come together?" She is always amazed that I can pull together three different things, from three different places, & create a cute, casual toddler look. Of course it's perfectly alright to put it together exactly like you're supposed to according to the ad - just don't be surprised if you see a couple other kids wearing the same thing!)

Really, I think it's just a matter of sticking to what you really like & keeping an eye out for when shops happen to be rolling out a seasonal collection that includes your favorite styles.

(Which is now your kid's style, until they grow up &, ugh, get their own opinions about it.)

Sweet Lollipop Tank in White

Daisy Dress in Black

Citrus Slice Smocked Dress in Sunshine Yellow

Stripe Dot Bow Short in White

I Want Candy Tank in Sunshine Yellow

(all available at Gymboree)

Anyway, I was inspired to share some of our recent finds because I found myself panicking a bit recently when the weather got warmer, & Pretty Little Bare Feet hadn't quite grown big enough for her fabulous (mostly size 18-months) summer wardrobe. But I managed to put together quite a cute little transitional spring wardrobe - without spending too much money!

Bow Romper in Pink

Watermelon Bathing Suit in Pink

Ministar Baby Shoe in Pink Lady Bug

Genuine Kids by OshKosh Aleeza Flower Gladiator Sandals in Gold

Genuine Kids from OshKosh Floral Capri in Bright Pink

(all available at Target)

T.G.I.F.! What do YOU want this weekend?

Pink&Green Thursday, May 20th, 2010

My mama just returned from one of her random little getaway trips. Luckily for all of us in the Screen Door household, my mama always does a lot of shopping on her spontaneous road trips. I had mentioned a few weeks ago that we had somehow overlooked summery pajamas in 12-months sizes, for Pretty Little Bare Feet. We have quite a few long, fleecy ones. But it has been steadily warming up, & Pretty Little Bare Feet just isn't quite big enough for her summery 18-months wardrobe.

(& her wardrobe in that size is brimming over, let me tell you!)

Anyway, my mama stopped by today with goodies for everybody, but Pretty Little Bare Feet was the clear winner of the most bounty. My mama went to a Carter's outlet store, & she brought back so many adorable outfits&pajamas that we should be set until Pretty Little Bare Feet is ready for that next size up! & knowing me as well as she does, my mama was sure to pick out a lot of

bright florals,

whales,

& pink&green.

We've also been reading a lot of pink&green books lately.

Tipsy in Madras by Matt Walker & Marissa Walsh

Golf Girl's Little Tartan Book by Patricia Hannigan

Social Climbers by Beth Dunn

Pretty in Plaid by Jen Lancaster

a Girl & Her Gator by Sean Bryan

My stationery obsession has got me itching to host

a baby shower,

bridal luncheon,

or party...

...so I can order some pink&green goodies from FineStationery.

(Or maybe I should just order some new personalized stationery for my already overflowing collection of stationery.)

I thought there were some to-die-for pieces of green furniture on the C.R. Laine furniture sale on One Kings Lane.

& in case you're wondering - yes, there are in fact more pink&green beauties to be found on the C.R. Laine site!

& I'd like to say thank you to "a Southern Belle on Paper", & Juleps & Jon Jons, for honoring me with the "versatile blogger" award. These are both fabulous blogs that I've had the pleasure of following lately, & we share a lot of the same interests&tastes!

The award is green, so I am allowing myself to close this Pink&Green post with it! ;)

Rules:

• List seven interesting things about yourself.
• Pass the award on to seven other bloggers.

1. I love fishing. My pawpaw used to take me out fishing when I was a little girl, & those are some of my favorite memories with him. I also kind of love surprising the heck out of somebody (usually a man) when I bait my own hook & cast a line with ease. I am hoping that maybe My Prince is going to be able to take Pretty Little Bare Feet fishing for the first time on Memorial Day. We realize she probably won't stay interested for very long, but you never know! Sometimes she surprises us!

First Fishing Cap for Infant&Toddler Girls at Bass Pro Shops

2. I've never lived in Mississippi, but I was born there. I'm the teensiest bit bitter that my mama drove across the state line into Mississippi to give birth to me.

Not that I don't love all of you Mississippi ladies,

but I am an Alabama belle,

& that birth certificate really interferes with my pride.

Alabama Girl Original T Shirt from Southern Belle Store

3. I just have absolutely no idea what we will name any other children that we have. I had my daughter's name picked out from the time I was a little girl, about nine years old, when I read it in a book. I am so far behind on falling in love with the perfect name if we have another child someday. This is an especially big dilemma for a baby name dork enthusiast like me!

the Baby Name Wizard by Laura Wattenberg

4. My Prince & I grew up in the same small town, & went to the same high school. But we were not high school sweethearts. In fact, we didn't even really get to know each other until we were both off living away for college/professional school. We just both happened to be back at home hanging out with mutual friends one weekend...& well, it was looove at first sight!

5. Not only am I about to participate in a "playgroup coup," but I am also joining up with an "unofficial" book club that is branching out from my official book club. I feel like such a mommy rebel. ;)

(But can you believe I am loony enough to add a second book club to my plate? Ha!)

Playgroup Rocks Snapsuit by Glam Mom New York

6. Whenever I am traveling "back home" to the small mountain town where I grew up, the closer I get, the thicker my Southern drawl gets. I swear it is beyond my control. It will start happening before I've even gotten out of the car or spoken to anybody from there!

Southern Greeting Cards by Piecefully Home

7. I talk in my sleep. & I am really, really funny - at least according to the stories My Prince tells!

Seven blogs I'm passing this award on to:

• the Other Shore
• Our Hard Knox Life
• Patriotic Princess AG
• a Reason or a Season
• Sarah Ann's Bon Mot
• Southern Somedays
• Still Waters

Be sure to go check all of these fantastic blogs out for yourself!