Wednesday, September 12, 2012

'Mater Pie


I'd like to thank Taste Of The South Magazine for this delectable vegetarian delight.

Tomato Pie is such a delicious combination of tomato, Gruyere cheese, onion and basil...
And with it's homemade crust fresh out of the oven, it's bound to WOW all who have the opportunity to try it. 

THE CRUST:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, frozen and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

3 to 4 tablespoons ice water

In the work bowl of a food processor, pulse together flour, salt, and sugar. Add butter, and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-size pieces of butter, 6 to 8 times. Add ice water 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing after each addition until dough begins to come together.

Remove dough from bowl and place on a clean work surface. Shape dough into a disk, being careful not to overknead. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, approximately 1 to 2 hours.
Remove pie crust from refrigerator and let sit 5-10 minutes

place tomato slices in a single layer on top of paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Let drain for 30 minutes (prevents pie from being too watery). Pat tomato slices dry with paper towel and sprinkle them with basil.

Roll dough into 12 inch circle. Transfer to a nine inch deep dish pie plate, pressing into bottom and up sides. line dough with parchment paper and fill with pie weights.

Bake until crust begins to set. Remove weights and parchmen, and bake until lightly browned. 
Let cool 15-20 min


THE PIE:

4 medium tomatoes, cut into 1/4 inch slices

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup fresh basil

1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped

2 3/4 cups grated Gruyere cheese, divided

3/4 cup mayonnaise 
{SN: You can use Greek Yogurt to substitute for a healthier verson... I did.}

1 tsp hot sause

1/4 tsp  ground black pepper

{Your oven should already be preheated to 350}

 Sprinkle shell with onions. Layer tomato slices and basil over onions.
{SN: I "fenced" my tomatoes in with a yellow squash that needed to be used. Ended up being pretty good!}

In a medium bowl, mix together 2 cups of cheese, mayo (or yogurt), hot sauce, and pepper. Spread cheese mixture over tomatoes. Top with remaining 3/4 cup cheese.

Bake until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly, 30 to 45 minutes. Check halfway through baking time. If edges are browning too soon, cover with foil. 

Let cool before slicing.

VOILA!
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Monday, September 10, 2012

Mention Monday-Florida State Tailgate For America

Seminole Athletes, Fans, Alumni, and Coors Light Presents...


Florida State Tailgate For America!


 For this Monday's Mention, I would like to highlight a couple of my favorite people on the planet... The founders and master minds of Florida State Tailgate for America.
With their powers combined, Paul Mitchell (Florida State Alumni, former boss, lobbyist, superb gentleman), and Matthew Roberts (Nole Nation Specialist, sport enthusiast, bacon lover), tailgating has been taken to another level, folks. 

Between the high energy, highly spirited, knowledgeable, and experienced hosts and the happy members, I'd say these guys deserve the Publix Tailgater of the Year awards they have collected, as well as the recently landed sponsorship of Coors Light.

To spat off a few spectaculars...

UBER amounts of food, private bartenders specifically for the spot, occasional ice luges, themed props, soundtracks, its six spots of occupation, games, fame, flat screen T.V.(s), oscillating fans for your comfort, SEMINOLE PRIDE and SO much more.




I just want to say... guys... you've never seen anything like this. Fans, friends and family gather from all over the nation just to take part in these weekly events season after season. It's tailgating on steroids. Its greatness and glory that oozes out of this crew, and it knows NO boundaries.

JOIN ME...
Be a part of the magic... after all, Y.O.L.O... or whatever.



Here are some snapshots of the brilliance:

THIS WEEK:

"GET GRANDMA OUT OF BED IT'S A BREAKFAST TAILGATE...."
Join us in chopping down Wake Forest at the
Shake & Bacon Tailgatacular Spectacular For America


Florida State Tailgate For America is encouraging donations this season for 
Fighting together against Fanconi Anemia.
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Sunday, September 9, 2012

'Nole Threads

SEMINOLE SWAG
It's back!!
Bringing back Seminole style...
 
Here are my picks for this season:










1. Flash Dance Sweatshirt {$43.95}
2. Two Button Cable Knit Boots {$39.95}
3. Rhinestone Drop Waist Dress {$54.95}
4. Leather Tennies {$49.95}
5. Double Layered Tank {$33.95}
6. Sparkle Hat {$20.95} 
7. Logo Blackout Eye Strips {$3.95}
8. Fan Stamp {$5.95}
9. iPhone Case {$29.95}
10. Hoodie Duffel Bag {$34.95}
11. Polka Dot Knee Socks {$8.95}
12. '47 Baker Scarf {$28.95}
13. One Shoulder Romper {$37.95}
14. Hurley Seminole Tank {$26.95}
15. Ragland Fleece Boatneck Vintage Sweatshirt {$39.95}
16. Mako II Slub Long Sleeve Tee {$24.95}
17. Long Sleeve Logo Tee {$23.95}
18. V-Neck Tee {$34.95}

SEE THEM ALL here.
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Friday, September 7, 2012

Put-In-Bay

"CHECK-CH-CHECK-CHECK-CHECK-CH-CHECK IT OUUUUUTTT"


OH man... (no pun intended...) one of OHio's hottest spots is a ferry ride and a golf cart away from the Cleve(land).

This place was so stinkin adorable. Truly the St. Augustine (FL) of Ohio.

And the food...

{Lobster freakin Mac-N-Cheese HEAVEN.}
Brilliant.



That's where we ate (and not far from there, walked around). The weather was unreal. I mean... UNREAL. It was warm and cool and sunny and shady and breezy and crisp and... pretty perfect.

{Mind you... it's LABOR DAY in the streets.}

We saw the best of 'em, folks. Golf carts seemed to be the people mover of choice... 
Rented ones
Blue ones
Bridal ones
Buckeye ones
Broken ones
Crowded ones

Ones that looked like this...

Teenagers and bikers and tourists and retirees and hardcore fans, college and pro, people in bathing suits, birthday babies, bridal parties, religious messengers... SQUIRREL!... kids, dogs, bees, a FIRE, boobs, a woman in the mens room, 98 cent sweatshirts AND... 

BAR STOOLS THAT SWING.

Bravo, Put-in-Bay... you dressed to impress. I had a good time, really. :)

If you're ever hangin' around that way of the nation... you should for real stop by. I'd say it's one of those poorly polished gems not many people know about. ;)

Here's their website:
Put-In-Bay Awesomeness
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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Air 'Merica

Just call me, "Travel McTravelson" 

There are at least three times throughout the year in which my sister and I roll together to a far away place....
Sister Stupendous Style

This usually means a head bobbin ride to the airport, a quick prayer for a safe flight, and seventeen billion magazines. I mean, seriously... we don't play around with reading material, and this is why...

Have you BEEN on a plane lately?
Is it just us, or is the flying experience suddenly including (and not limited to) re-routing to unfamiliar places due to delays... more than once, unfit mothers with screaming children, people picking their dandruffed hair over the seat into your juice, and crop dusting?
 {If you're unaware of the term, "crop dusting", this means FLATULENCE without taking ownership, walking out of the target zone briskly, and relishing in the disgusted faces of the innocent bystanders when the stench hits their sniffer.)
In this case, we were subject all four, plus a little side action involving seat kicking and a massive pimple on the cheek of our flight attendant.

MARTHA STEWART, VOGUE & PEOPLE
are the reason we survived this, ya'll.
 {I'll be doing some Martha Stewart DIY with sis later this month, so keep checking in! Good stuff!}
 
Anyway... 
Aside from the negative, there was a really cool part of our little re-route adventure. We got to view D.C. (from the airport, but... WHATEVER, RIGHT?!)
We flew in right over the White House and Capitol Building, which I had never seen aside from Forrest Gump and a few other political happenings on the news... 

I WAS SO STOKED.
Gives ya this... patriotic vibe, ya know?


We recharged with lunch and a brew, people watched in the most crowded airport pub I've ever experienced, made a couple strange friends, then we were off to the CLE!

Check it. I can't TELL you how unbelievably happy we were to see ground at that point. Family hiked us via Suburban about an hour out to the good ole Lake Huron, where we took part in family festivities at the resort, the wedding...
... and this little gem of a place called...
Put-In-Bay...
 
STAY TUNED!!!!
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Tuesday, September 4, 2012

InstaBAM!

InstaBAM!

My life lately through the lens...
 

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'Nuptuals (Mention Monday)






 This Monday's Mention (although a bit late... with good justification) belongs to my cousin Scott and his beautiful bride, Michelle.






Tehehehe...
{For those of you who are a bit lost... I ENCOURAGE you to watch Princess Bride.}

Anyway, MARRIAGE is what brought my family together this weekend in the crazy cool town of Cleveland, OH.
It was an absolute blast,
FILLED with laughter,
highlighting love,
bringing us all down memory lane,
and added a very special person to our clan.
{Congratulations to Scott AND Michelle Bloom!}

I LOVE WEDDINGS.

It is, after all, my profession... soon to be business... and I don't believe I could have picked a happier, healthier career. If every day life involves the blessings and excitement that comes with tying the knot, my life is sure to illustrate things alike.

 
The colors were black, pink and red... and the way it contrasted Lake Erie and it's surrounding vibrant green was fantastic. It was a small crew, but with LARGE personality, and a beautiful ceremony. 

They quite literally, "tied the knot" with a Cleveland Brown bedazzled rope (courtesy of my clown of an uncle... the best man... and one of the BEST men on the planet). It was short, and believe me, it was sweet. The cocktail hour and reception followed. Lots of love and special reunions took place. 


Marriage is such a sacred, brave, loving event. It is a reason for family from all over the world to come together and celebrate the addition of new members, and somehow always reminds us of how very special it is to find a love like theirs. 

Michelle is such a beautiful person, and so perfect for my cousin... I am so blessed to have been a part of it all. I wish you two the best of life in love, the happy, healthy birth of your baby, and love you more than you know!!

Congratulations!
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