Tailgate Time

I can't believe the title of this post! It's almost here!! Our first football game is next Saturday, next Saturday??!! Can you believe it!

I am excited, but also really nervous! We are not going to be the best and I'm okay with that, I'm just worried about ole AK. Not sure how he is going to hold up! After all, he did change his name as a child from Andrew to Andy when Andy Kelly was the quarterback at UT.

We have several home games this year and I'm already racking my brain on what to make for the tailgate. I am always open for suggestions for quick and easy food. It's hard making great stuff in a hotel room.

Go Vols!

Grilled Salmon Tacos

Yummy!! AK and I went to the cooking class on Saturday and had a blast! The food was amazing and we learned so many neat tips. I highly recommend looking into cooking classes in your area.

We made several things, but my favorite was the Grilled Salmon Tacos - AMAZING!!

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients: (this is based on a recipe for 6 people, 2 tacos per person)

1 salmon fillet, (1 1/2 pounds) skin on, pin bones removed

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 Blackening Spice - (recipe follows)

Vegetable oil for the grill

12 corn tortillas

1/2 head cabbage (8 ounces) finely shredded

3 green onions, thinly slices on the bias (only use the green part)

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 1/2 limes)

2 ripe tomatoes - cut into 1/4 inch dice

Chipotle Sauce - (recipe follows)

Prepare a medium fire in a charcoal grill or preheat a gas grill to meadium. Arrange the salmon, skin side up. Oil the skin generously with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Turn the salmon over and rub the flesh side all over with the blackening spice. Using your fingertips lightly dab the remaining olive oil over the blackening spice.

When ready to grill, brush the grill grate generously with vegetable oil. Grill the salmon, skin side up, directly over fire. Cover the grill and cook on one side for 4 minutes. Turn and cover again. Cook until almost opaque throughout - thermometer will read 125 - 130, cook for 5 mintues more. Transfer to cutting board, let cool slightly.

Meanwhile, warm the tortillas on the grill or in the oven on 250.

In a medium serving bowl, toss together the cabbage, green onions and lime juice. Place the tomatoes in a small serving bowl. Serve with cabbage mixture, tomatoes, and chiptole sauce.

Chiptole Sauce:

1 cup mayo

3 tablespoons buttermilk or sour cream

2 minced canned chipotle chilies in adobo sauce

2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro

1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt

Mix ingedients together.

Blakening Spice: (this is great, would be good on chicken too)

2 tablespoons kosher salt

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 tablespoons paprika

1 tablespoon dried thyme

1 tablespoon dried oregano

Combine all ingrediens ina small bowl. Stire well to blend. Store in an airtight jar in a coll, dark place for up to 6 months.

Enjoy!

15 minutes

If you have 15 minutes to spare a day, I recommend this great AB workout!! I found it on Real Simple and I have truly enjoyed it.

Check out the exercises here

For Sale

Well, we put our condo on the market this weekend! EEKK!!!

It's definitely bittersweet, I have sooo many great memories there and really thought that AK and I would live there at some point, but everything works out for a reason.

Now, if only my phone would ring and say that we already have a contract!

Wishful thinking, I know.

Everyday

I have been looking at buying some new everyday dinnerware and have fallen in love with a couple patters - I loved this Lenox pattern

and also really liked this from World Market


Since I really didn't NEED it, I was planning on asking it for my birthday or Christmas but then...

I went to TJ Maxx!

I love love love this store! I scored a huge find this weekend and I am super excited about my purchase.

Take a Look... It's actually my favorite out of the three and I got dinner plates, salad plates, bowls, and coffee cups for 1/2 the price of the two above!

Rubbins Racin'

I had my very first Nascar experience last weekend at the Brickyard
400. I must say, I had a blast!!! Hands down best place to people watch!
We were very lucky and had garage and pit passes and we
also got to meet “The King” Richard Petty and the driver of the HBP
car – Elliott Sadler. He was very personable and nice. I never
realized how loud the cars were and how fast they went! Elliott told us
he would go about 203mph!!

If you haven’t ever been to a race, I highly recomend it!

Orange Dream

I have found my new favorite summer drink! On July 4th weekend AK’s mom and her friends made Orange Dreamsicles and I couldn’t get enough of them! They are super easy and already come pre-made with vodka already in it! Friday’s makes them and you can find them at your local liquor store. All you need is a blender and some ice and you have a refreshing summer drink!!