I have been awarded The Sunshine Award (Times Four)!!!!!

I am completely and utterly thankful from the bottom of my heart to the four fabulous bloggers that have nominated little 'ol me for the Sunshine Award! The Bloggers that have awarded The Sunshine Award to me are: Sarah from My Imperfect Kitchen, Debi from Recipes For My Boys, Nel Marie from The PaperCup Kitchen and Stephanie from It's Not Just About The Recipe! The Sunshine Award is an award given by bloggers to other bloggers. Recipients of the Sunshine Award are: “Bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blog world.” I love to hear that I am thought of as inspiring to other bloggers!
Sarah from My Imperfect Kitchen

Sarah is a wonderful writer and incredible Food Blogger. Living in California, she has a conscious way about eating and food blogging. She loves to cook anything, but her favorite is creating desserts. I am lucky to have Sarah as my Foodie friend!



Debi from Recipes For My Boys

Debi is one of my BFF's, Best Foodie Friend's! Debi is an incredible mother of three precious boys. She makes family friendly recipes that her sons are so lucky to try and love! She is a huge animal lover and has a kind and gentle heart. She loves the same groovy music as I do and has a fabulous sense of humor, she makes me laugh on a daily basis!


Nel  from The Paper Cup Kitchen

Nel is one of the first bloggers that I met when starting my food blog, always loving and supportive. Nel refers to her Food Blog as, " Everything related to things in and around the house of a busy Mama", and she is one busy Mama! She and her hubs have two gorgeous children and are currently living in the UK. She started The Paper Cup Kitchen while living in Moscow, this was a wonderful outlet for Nel since she didn't know many people then. She has made so many Foodie Friends through PCK. Her true love, besides her hubs, is cake baking and decorating. It took her a while to figure this out, but it was worth the wait, because Nel is a very talented baker and decorator!




Stephanie from It's Not Just About A Recipe


Stephanie writes a very enjoyable and informative food blog. Stephanie enjoys cooking and baking and is not afraid of taking on a challenging, "Do It Yourself Project". Stephanie prefers homeschooling her three children, one of which is still at home. In her blog, she comes through as an incredible teacher and as a talented and creative writer. Stephanie is actually taking a very needed vacation break from the food world, but you will see her again in August when she will have so much to teach us.

Please go visit my friends and fabulous foodie's, you will be so happy you dd!


The Sunshine Award Rules!:

1) Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them. (Thank you Sarah, Debi, Nel Marie and Stephanie!! )
2) Answer 10 questions about yourself.
3) Select 10 of your favorite bloggers, link their blogs to your post and let them know they have been awarded the Sunshine Award!
4) Don’t forget to copy and paste the award on your blog!

Here are the questions and my answers:

1. Favorite color: White, is this really a color or is it color free? I don't care, I love white!
2. Favorite animal: Labradoodle Puppy, I just melt when I see one!
3. Favorite number: Number 8, I am a Yogi and this number means infinity!
4. Favorite drink: In the am it would have to be coffee, Ice Tea in the afternoon, Cosmo in the Eve.
5. Facebook or Twitter: I am on both but I love Facebook, I still don't get the whole Twitter thing!
6. Good Book or a Good Movie: I adore reading a great book, heavenly!
7. My Passion: Cooking, Baking, Dancing, Yoga, Teaching.
8. Giving or getting presents:I love giving gifts, I am always so excited to give a gift, the anticipation always gets me, I want them to open the gift A.S.A.P.!!!
9. Favorite day of the year: My Birthday! November 30th.
10. Favorite flowers: Peonies are my absolute favorite flower, they bloom once a year and last for about a week. I have planted many Peonies in my garden beds, and every year I am so excited to see them in full bloom!

Pass this on to 10 Bloggers. only 10??? Are you kidding me? Well the rules are the rules, jeez...This is almost too difficult since I love hundreds of foodie bloggers!

1. Terri from Chocolate for Breakfast
2.  Ally from Ally's Kitchen
3. Tara from Tara Cooks
4. Lauren from Lauren Kelly Certified Nutritionist
5. Katrin from Running With The Devil Eggs
6. Tara from Della Rose Living
7. Lois from Walking On Sunshine
8. Dor from La Difference Catering
9. Christine from Food Thoughts Of A Chef Wannabe
10. Donna and Chad from The Slow Roasted Italian

There you go! Congratulations to my 10 chosen Food Bloggers for The Sunshine Award! I look forward to reading your posts! Nettie

Very Berry Nut Crumble

Very Berry Nut Crumble

Summer is here and I have loads of berries!! What to make? What to make?? A berry crumble!! I couldn't decide what to call this Crumble. So many gorgeous berries and toppings!( Strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, coconut, almond, pecan Crumble) PHEW!!! What a mouthful, so I came up with Very Berry Nut Crumble, much better, but so many goodies are included in this gorgeous PIE, or as we say CRUMBLE!!

Stir together flour, sugar, oats, and salt.

Grind up pecans.

Add cold butter slices to dry mixture and cut up with two knives.

Cut, cut, cut, I sound like a movie director!!

Keep cutting up until butter is in small pieces.

Add ground up nuts.

Ground up nuts give the Crumble a beautiful flavor.

Add Coconut.

Add Roasted Almond Slivers. Mix topping thoroughly.

Cover fruit with topping and bake! Make sure to place dish on a baking sheet, this will bubble and may spill over!

Very Berry Nut Crumble goes FAST in our home, I wish I had made two!!

Now if you don't have Pecans, you can substitute Walnuts or Macadamias, or whatever is your favorite!

Perfect for a Pie Party or just for dessert! Can't wait until the next Pie Party!

Really delicious! The berries and nuts work so well together with the creaminess of butter.

Shoot!! I have to be quick to take a picture, those kids could smell this Crumble down the street!! Darn It!! Enjoy!! Nettie

Ingredients

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed light-brown sugar
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick-cooking)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 pint strawberries (fresh or frozen)

1 cup blueberries ( fresh or frozen)

1 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen)

1 cup blackberries (fresh or frozen)

1/2 cup ground pecans

1/2 cup Coconut

1/2 cup Slivered Almonds

NOTE: Berries really cook down, so don't be afraid to pile the berries in!

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, stir together 1/2 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, oats, and salt. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until coarse crumbs form. Add pecans, coconut and almond slivers to oat topping.
2. In a shallow 2-quart baking dish or 9 inch Pie Plate, toss berries with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon flour; sprinkle with oat topping. Place dish on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until topping is golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool 20 minutes before serving. This post has been linked up to these fabulous BLOGS!
   
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Best Chocolate Chip Cookie

My gal pal and one of my favorite foodie's and Chef, Frankie Poe Harvey from The Elegant Gourmet, has asked me to be featured on her incredible blog. I am thrilled and honored that she has asked little ol' me. Not only is Frankie a talented and incredible Chef and TV celebrity, but she has a huge heart. When I was suffering from terrible migraines, Frankie would send me sweet supportive notes and then she sent me an incredible care package with grits, I was so touched by my dear friend, nothing says, " I hope you feel better" better than food. I have been blogging for a little over 11 months. I really can't believe that a year has flown by. I have been cooking and baking since I could reach the kitchen counter, maybe earlier helping my Mom, Grandma's and Great Grandma's in the kitchen. My family is from the south and food and cooking is a really big deal. We would talk about what we were going to make and everyone would have a say in the matter and what would go with each dish and who was coming for dinner. It was like that every day. Everyone had their specialty. I had my vegetarian phase and everyone went along with it as I created dishes and used all of my family members as guinea pigs, some delicious, some tasted like wood chips, but no one ever complained, every one was so supportive of every one's creations. I was so inspired one day when I read a fellow blogger describing her pain because of a tragic event that had occurred in her life, her husband had a heart attack at a very young age. I was heart broken reading her post. I cried and cried. She described how her husband just loved Peanut Butter Pie. Suddenly, hundreds of fellow bloggers started sending photos and notes of their rendition of Peanut Butter Pies for Mikey with a sweet note and story. I get chocked up even now thinking about it. I wanted to be a part of this amazing group of food bloggers. I was welcomed with love and support unlike anything I had ever seen before. I was overwhelmed. I was blogging about something that I absolutely love and I was supported by thousands. I never would have met Frankie Poe Harvey had it not been for my food blog. I love simple and delicious home made food with no fuss. I really have a difficult time saying no to sweets and potatoes, I really may have to go to Potatoes Anonymous. My game day staple would be anything chicken or pasta. Nothing says love like a gorgeous bowl of pasta or pie or chocolate chip cookies. I do have one kitchen quirk, my kitchen must be clean before I can bake or cook. I just can't concentrate in a messy kitchen. I love growing Basil, Oregano, Tarragon and Mint and Tomatoes. I can not grow a sunflower to save my life, I grow hundreds of flowers in my garden, but this one stumps me, WHY?? I can't live without my Kitchen Aid, I am in love with it, Especially when Baking!! Yes, I have used my Kitchen Aid for one of my favorite recipes: The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie.This really is the Best Chocolate Chip Cookie. It is so important to use very good quality chocolate chips. I have been making chocolate chip cookies for over 40 years, now I understand why kids are so crazy about cookie dough ice cream, one taste of this cookie dough and I could hear angels singing. Taking a bite into a warm chocolate chip cookie is the ultimate dessert for me, warm chocolate chips, vanilla, pecans and brown sugar perfection! I made a double batch to bring to Cape Cod for eight delightful Girl Scouts, let me tell you, these cookies were a smashing hit!!

In a large mixing bowl, cream sugars and butter.

Keep mixing on medium speed until creamy.

Add your best Vanilla, I love Penzey's Spices Pure Vanilla Extract Double- Strength.

Add 2 large eggs to creamed sugars and butter.

Beat at low speed until eggs are incorporated.

This looks perfect.

Cookie dough looks firm but creamy.

In a separate bowl,sift flour with baking soda and salt, gradually blend dry mixture into creamed mixture.

Best cookie dough, what a dream!

So happy that I have made 4 dozen, these babies go quick when there are ten kids!!

Add a good quality chocolate such as Ghirardelli Chocolate Chips!

Gently mix in chocolate chips.

 

I added chopped pecans, why? Because I love pecans in chocolate chip cookies!

This cookie dough would be perfect in ice cream too!!

Smile for the camera you hunk of burning love cookie dough, come to Mama!!

Drop by tablespoon on un-greased cookie sheet.

I didn't photograph it here, but I used a Silpat, makes a light golden brown cookie, you won't have to worry about burning edges.

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yield: 

4 dozen cookies

Ingredients: 

11 ¹/₂ ounces Ghirardelli Bittersweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup butter, softened
³/₄ cup sugar
³/₄ cup brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 ¹/₄ cups unsifted flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¹/₂ teaspoon salt
1 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped (optional)

Directions:

Heat oven to 375ºF.
Stir flour with baking soda and salt; set aside. In large mixing bowl, beat butter with sugar and brown sugar at medium speed until creamy and lightened in color. Add eggs and vanilla, one at a time. Mix on low speed until incorporated. Gradually blend dry mixture into creamed mixture. Stir in nuts and chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoon onto un-greased cookie sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown.
Note: The 11 ¹/₂ ounces of Bittersweet Chocolate Chips can be substituted with any variety of chip flavor (i.e.- Milk Chocolate Chips, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, etc.)  Nettie This post has been linked up to these Fabulous Blogs! ...