patriotic proposal

My Fourth of July weekend started out like any Independence Day. Box seats to a Justin Bieber concert, summer bbq on my pink grill and the most amazing man asking me to marry him.

Trey always jokes that the upcoming holiday is always my favorite holiday, but 4th of July is really, really (really) my fav. Fireworks, an afternoon by the pool and classic colors of red, white and blue, what is not to love? So the Bieber concert happened because no one else wanted the tickets at Trey’s firm, the proposal happened because Trey loves me and I love us, and the cookout happened because we are Americans.

Trey’s Pepper & Bacon-Wrapped Pops

dozen jalapeño peppers, sliced

dozen cayenne peppers, sliced

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 lb. slices of bacon

14 oz. cocktail-szed smoked link sausages

1 Tbsp. Italian parsley, chopped

1 Tbsp. chives, chopped

pinch of salt

pinch of pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees or prepare grill. Soak toothpicks in water for 5-10 minutes to prevent burning. In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, parsley, chives, salt and pepper.

2. Spoon cream cheese mixture on each individual link sausage. Wrap individually in bacon and secure with toothpick. Grill for 15-20 minutes or until bacon is crispy.

Cumin-BBQ Chicken

1 lb. chicken thighs, legs and/or breasts

1 c ketchup

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

1/4 c dark molasses

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp chile powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees or prepare grill. In large bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix well. Coat each piece of chicken with sauce and let marinate for at least one hour. Save remaining sauce.

2. Grill chicken on each side. Use remaining sauce to continue to baste chicken and allow to grill until cooked through.

Whole-Roasted Cilantro Corn

Ears of corn

4 Tbsp. butter, softened

1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1 Tbsp. cilantro, minced

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. cayenne pepper

Pinch of salt

Pinch of pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees or prepare grill. Pull back husks of corn to one end but do not remove husk.

2. Brush corn with butter and evoo. Sprinkle garlic powder, cayenne pepper, cilantro, salt and pepper on all sides of corn. Rewrap husks over corn and grill for 12-15 minutes.

two days later, we’re engaged! july 6, 2013

an incredible lifetime with an incredible man.

fireworks for breakfast

A day of independence to not go to work, lay out by the pool, drink American-brewed beer and eat a sugar-crazed breakfast in bed. Happy 4th of July! Make fireworks in the kitchen with the help of a few tablespoons of sugar and food coloring. Showoff your patriotic passion all day long with your color-coated tongue that will make any cul-de-sac 12 year old envious.

Fireworks Toast

2 Tbsp. sugar

Red food coloring

Blue food coloring

2 Tbsp. butter

2 tsp. cinnamon, softened

Baguette, sliced

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In small bowl, mix together one tablespoon of sugar and red food coloring. Repeat in separate bowl with blue food coloring.

2. Apply butter to top of each baguette slice. Sprinkle red sugar, blue sugar and cinnamon over butter. Bake for 8-10 minutes.