Happy birthday to me...

I've had a wonderful extended weekend of celebrating and lots of eating... Thank you to everyone who made it so special!

Here's to what I know will be a great year!

ps - Mom made this amazing homemade funfetti cake for me with some incredible frosting... I'll be sharing the recipe soon as I can't wait to make it again!

Feeling a little crabby

Ok, so maybe it's just the weather recently?  Or maybe because I've been suffering from bronchitis for the last week or so?  But, I have absolutely been a bit crabby... just ask Husband!  Waking up coughing every hour or so is not fun for either of us.  The lack of sleep has been getting to me.. but I think I am finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

I actually slept through most of the night last night... So things are actually looking up!  But then I remember that my birthday is fast approaching, and it's raining, and it's only Monday... O what a vicious cycle life is.

As I resolve to get far away from my grumpy mood, I figure it's only fitting to share this amazing crab salad with you and try to to remain optimistic!

Crab Napoleon Salad Adapted from Clean Eating Magazine

Serves 4

• 1 bag of Spinach
• 12-15 Campari Tomatoes (4 cut in half, the rest sliced)
• 2 tsp Olive Oil
• 2 tbsp 0% Greek Yogurt
• 2 tbsp German Mustard
• 3 tbs Lemon Juice
• 8 oz. cooked Lump Crab Meat
• 1 Avocado, sliced
• Lots of Basil
• 8 oz ball of Fresh Burrata Mozzarella, sliced

1. To make the vinaigrette, cut 4 Campari tomatoes in half. Squeeze all juice, seeds, and pulp into a bowl.  There should be about 1/3 cup of liquid, so use more tomatoes if needed. Wisk in olive oil and set aside.

2. In another bowl, combine yogurt, mustard and lemon juice.  Gently stir in crab meat and season with salt & pepper.

3. Spread a bed to spinach on each plate and then layer the avocado, tomato, basil, mozzarella, and crab. Repeat the layers again to make a "tower" and top with extra basil and a little extra crab.

4. Drizzle the vinaigrette over each "tower" so it covers evenly. Enjoy!

I don't know about you, but this sounds like a perfect Valentine's Day dinner to me!  So throw this salad together, forget the worries of the day, snuggle up to your honey and enjoy your evening... Husband and I will be doing something similar.

By the way... can you tell I finally got a new camera?!  About time, I know!  Thank you to all of you who stayed with me even with my rough, iPhone pictures!

A New Year... Refreshing

Well, sadly tomorrow is back to reality for husband and me... I must say we had one of the best holidays ever.  Spending a week in California with both our parents was just what the doctor ordered.  

There was lots of baking done... more on that to come later :-)

And some fun tasting through the new R&B Cellars wines (family winery)... and let me tell you, there is some pretty fantastic stuff coming!

But for now, Happy New Year to you and your's - May 2013 be one of the best years yet!!

This is December?

Out for a walk on a beautiful December day... Makes me feel alive, refreshes and renewed. And I keep forgetting there is only one week until Christmas!!!

 

I hope you are your families are focusing on what is important this holiday season.  Remember to take care of yourselves and each other!!!