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November 8, 2010 · 4:14 am

Wk 26 – Sugar and Spice Pecans

These are a great make ahead snack item or a gift idea.

Sugar and Spice Pecans

1 cup of sugar
2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons of grated orange rind
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 egg whites
1/4 cup of butter, melted
4 cups of pecan halves

Stir together the first 4 ingredients.

Beat egg whites at high-speed with an electic mixer until foamy. Gradually add sugar mixture, beating at high-speed until soft peaks form. Fold in Melted butter and pecan halves. Spread coated nuts in a single layer on a large jelly-roll pan lines with nonstick aluminum foil or parchment paper.

Bake at 250 degrees for 45 minutes or until nuts are toasted, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool completely on pan. Remove from pan. Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.

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Filed under 52 Week Challenge, Recipes

November 6, 2010 · 1:39 am

The Holiday Gift Market

In 2006, I had my first Junior League of Tampa experience when league member and work colleague at the time Emma Boulware asked me if I wanted to go to the Holiday Gift Market. As members are required to buy so many tickets to hand out to friends and family, I was fortunate enough to get two that year…one for me and one for mom. So as the first Friday in November arrived, I packed baby Davy (he was 11 months old) up in the stroller, and mom and I entered the Fairgrounds. We were shocked at the quality of the vendors and just how wonderful the merchandise was. What we also discovered is that 100% of the net proceeds from this event directly fund the mission of the Tampa Junior League. The League was founded in 1926, and is an organization of 1700 women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

The Junior League of Tampa has been committed to building a better community for Tampa Bay’s children and families for over 85 years. Our current projects include: Children’s Literacy, Enabling Fund, Kids Connect, Community Action, Food 4 Kids, Kids in the Kitchen, Connected by 25, Glazer Children’s Museum, Love Bundles, Treasures for Tampa, and DACCO.

This is the 7th Annual Holiday Gift Market and there are over 130 unique merchants from all across Florida and the country. ( I wish that I could have gotten everything into the picture above, but the room was just to large.) Not only did I join the Junior League to be apart of this amazing group of women…but I still walk into the Market every year and smile from ear to ear at the fun and wonderful things I am going to find. A couple of the things that I picked up this year are: a large gorgeous red patent leather bag and I had my initials monogrammed on it (yes they monogram on the spot)!, a Thanksgiving platter with matching salt and pepper shaker, and I ordered a new front door sign from my friend Andrea who owns Lost Your Marbles. It is going to be a fabulous and shabby chic “Welcome” sign for my front door come spring… :O)

I volunteered this morning, and here are a few shots that I took so you can have a sneak peek. The Gift Market is open from 9-7 tomorrow and 10-5 on Sunday. I sure hope that you can make it by! It is $5 at the door and I promise you won’t be disappointed… :O)

Oh!!! And don’t forget to check out the Cookbook table. All of ours from the Junior League of Tampa that are in print are available for purchase as well as other League cookbooks from across the country. It is fun to see how different the local flavors are and how each one is inspired. As you can see below, the displays are beautiful and the samples that they are handing out are delicious!

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November 1, 2010 · 2:20 am

Wk 25 – Champagne Lime Cooler

The first time I ever had this delicious drink was at the Junior League September General Membership Meeting and I was wowed! Since that time I have served this beverage at Karen’s Sip-and-See, on random nights with my neighbor Kelly, and most recently at the Neighborhood Halloween Block Party. It is always a big hit and it will always leave you wanting more….

Champagne Lime Cooler

1 cup lemon-lime soda
1 6-ounce can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
1 bottle Champagne or sparkling white wine
1 cup assorted berries, such as raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries (can be found in the frozen section)
Mint

Combine the lemon-lime soda, berries and limeade concentrate in a pitcher and mix well. Stir in the Champagne gradually. Garnish with mint and serve immediately.

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Filed under 52 Week Challenge, Junior League Recipes, Recipes

October 31, 2010 · 11:27 am

Happy Halloween 2010!!!

It is finally here!! Happy Halloween!!! The boys were so excited all weekend that they were going to get to go trick-or-treating. This year the neighborhood started off Halloween weekend with an organized block party on Saturday night the 30th. Over on the bridge to the village they set up the annual haunted house, so this seemed to be the perfect location. There were two bounce houses, tables and tables of pot luck food brought out, a bon-fire, and the Trimble’s projected the Wizard of Oz onto the side of the their house for movies on the lawn. The kids got to dress up in their costumes and they had a great time. There must have been at least 100 people who came out for the party. By the end of the evening we ended up in front of the Nugent’s home roasting marshmallows and making smores.

This year for Halloween, Davy decided that he wanted to be an astronaut and Matty we dressed as Mickey mouse. Davy loved his costume and wore it for days… Matty surprisingly loved his too. He was just as proud of his costume. He got a little frustrated that he couldn’t get his gloves to stay on, but he wore his Mickey ears, which squeaked, the entire night.

Mom, Courtney, Andy’s Dad, and Mr. Michaels all came over to see the boys and to spend some time with us. For dinner Andy grilled hot dogs and hamburgers for everyone, including Colin and Connor. It was a perfect, delicious dinner before we headed out to get some candy. Colin and Connor dressed up as the Mario Brothers and Emma was a ballerina.

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Filed under Carothers Family, Halloween, Holiday's

Tagged as Carothers, Halloween, Holiday

October 31, 2010 · 3:14 am

Carving Our Pumpkins 2010

This year we had a carving party… Brittany and her aunt Andrea came over from next door, Davy, and I spread out on the floor and dug in…literally… :O) I bought a pumpkin carving book from Michael’s and each of us picked out a fun face. Davy wanted his to be scary, so with my assistance we carved three sculls into his and Andy wanted his to be fun and simple.

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Filed under Holiday's

Tagged as Halloween, Holiday, Pumpkin

October 28, 2010 · 3:14 am

Davy’s Pre-K Halloween Parade

Every year the lower division at Berkeley hosts an annual Halloween Costume Parade. The children line up in their classes by grade and parade around the mound to fun spooky music. After all of the grades have entered, each one is presented to the parents for photo opportunities and then they parade out. Here are all the children in Ms. Fruit’s class… Afterwards, the children get to have a special party in their room…. But of course, no parents allowed…

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Filed under Berkeley Prep, Halloween

Tagged as Berkeley, Davy, Halloween

October 26, 2010 · 3:13 am

Picking Out Pumpkins at the Pumpkin Patch!

Off to the Pumpkin Patch we go…. For the last two years we have gone on over to the Boy Scouts Pumpkin Patch on the corner of Linebaugh and Sheldon. The selection is huge, prices are decent, and we knew that the boys would have a great time running up and down the pumpkin isles. They have big ones, small ones, orange green and white ones, bumpy and smooth ones…and in the end…one for everyone… :O)

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Filed under Family Date Night, Halloween

Tagged as Date, Halloween, Holiday, Pumpkin

October 26, 2010 · 2:34 am

Wk 24 – Toffee Crunch Bars

This has to be one of the easiest recipes ever…and it is so tasty. I came across these yummy crunch munches at a lunch in Andy’s office. Julie had brought them in and I think I must have had 5 before I even got to the lunch, so after storming into her office and begging for the recipe she kindly laughed and gave it to me. Later, she emailed Andy the actual recipe…but the funny thing is… I had already made a batch. Thanks Julie!!!

Toffee Crunch Bars

1 package of toffee pieces
2 sleeves of Ritz Crackers
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Crush the two sleeves of crackers. In a bowl mix together toffee pieces, crushed crackers, and condensed milk. Heavily grease a 9×13 pan or baking dish with Crisco or line with parchment paper. Depending on your oven bake for 20-30 minutes, or until slightly browned. Allow the dessert to cool completely before cutting. Note – they can be a little sticky, when presenting on a plate you might find it easier to layer with the parchment paper.

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Filed under 52 Week Challenge, Recipes

October 19, 2010 · 8:37 pm

Wk 23 – Bacon and Swiss Tarts

I have made these yummy treats for a baby shower, a block party, and for brunch…they are delicious any time of the day and for any occasion. :O)

Bacon and Swiss Tarts

1 can flaky biscuits
8 slices bacon, crisp-cooked and crumbled
1 Roma tomato, seeded and chopped
1/2 small onion, chopped
3 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon basil

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cut each biscuit into thirds and press into greased miniature muffin cups. Combine the bacon, tomato, onion, Swiss cheese, mayonnaise and basil in a bowl and mix well. Spoon the mixture into the prepared muffin cups. Do not overfill. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Yield 30.

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Filed under 52 Week Challenge, Junior League Recipes, Recipes

October 15, 2010 · 12:24 am

Layered Shrimp Dip

This coastal twist on a layered dip is so versatile, you’ll love it year-round. For blogger Kathy Zahn, it’s the perfect addition to a game-watching party.

I’ve been in the Junior League long enough now to know that there are a lot of members who feel very strongly about certain sports teams…you know who you are…so when I saw this recipe I thought, “This one will be perfect for this fall.” Now don’t get me wrong, this dip is fabulous for any occasion…but with football games every weekend and lots of other reasons to get together, here’s a great addition to any sports buffet.

This recipe comes from our new cookbook Capture the Coast. There is never a shortage here of Florida Gulf Shrimp, and when you combine them with cream cheese you know that it is going to be delicious.

If you are running short on time, here are a few shortcuts to keep in mind: you can buy the shrimp precooked, the bell pepper pre-chopped, the olives already sliced, and the garlic minced in a jar. If you are looking for the chili sauce, the kind you want is made by Heinz and you’ll find it next to the ketchup.

My husband walked in the door from work tonight, saw the dip and asked, “Is this for me?” As I left the kitchen, I heard his hand dive into the chip bag, followed by a brief silence and then, “Yum…Wife, this is good!” I am certain that all of you who make this delicious dip will experience the same type of reaction… Bon Appétit!

Oh, and “Go Bulls!”