If you’ve been around me for a hot minute, you know that I love to cook, grill, entertain and be around people.  I love to feed people, to see their smiles and to hear the boisterous laughter and conversation drop to murmurs and mumbles when delicious food is being consumed.

I love empty, messy, fork- scraped plates because that means that both hearts and tummies are full.

I honestly can’t tell y’all what my favorite food to grill is, because the truth of the matter is that I love being outside, and the smell of a hot grill, the sound of the sizzle when food hits those searing hot grates, well that just makes my heart go all 3 times bigger grinch-swelly.

There’s a major grilling holiday coming up this next weekend, in case you didn’t know, and I’m excited to share an amazingly easy and delicious steak recipe with y’all.

These Grilled Steaks with Cilantro Lime Butter are a perfect pairing for Bush’s Black Bean Fiesta Grillin’ Beans

I’m really excited to share this super simple, flavor packed, mouthwateringly tonguegasmic recipe for these Grilled Steaks with Cilantro Lime Butter

“Grillin’ Bold this Memorial Day? Bush’s has the beans for it. Come join the cookout with Cookin’ Canuck and Hoosier Homemade sponsored by Bush’s Grillin’ Beans.”  Link up your recipe and enter to win a great giveaway

If you need inspiration for this Memorial Day, trust me.. the recipes you’ll find in that link-up are sure fire winners!

Happy Monday, y’all! Thanks for bearing with my disappearing act last week.
After the crazy, scary weather… we shut everything down and just spent time with each other.

Thank y’all for coming back, linking up and sharing.

I appreciate y’all and your deliciousness!

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Bush’s Beans, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Today, May 20th, is my *little* brother Michael’s 31st birthday!

Happy Birthday, MY-kayla.

Michael, you were my constant companion, my playmate and my friend; whether it was me dressing you up in Granny’s clothes, painting your nails, flipping you over my head, you chasing me around the yard with a machete or you pulling a rug out from under me (which only took you 20 years to fess up to thankyouverymuch!) and causing me to split my head open.

I wouldn’t trade any of it.

Watching Princess and Monkey reminds me so much of us and yeah.. I probably owe you several hundred apologies, but the past is the past

I love you, Kayla.

I’m so thrilled for the happiness that you’ve found with Melissa.

I pray that this birthday is just the first of many, many more filled with happiness and joy.

Happy Birthday!  I love you, kiddo.

Sometimes the pivotal moments in life, the epiphanies come out of nowhere.

Last Thursday we woke the kids up to watch an amazing lightning storm out on the horizon and then everyone went back to bed/reading/baking/TV.

and then … 80 mph winds, hail, tornados and craziness.

We ran out of our house to check on the neighbors, to run down our street in the rain – through calf deep water on our street, dodging branches and debris… we checked on the elderly couple across the street and saw their driveway completely blocked by trees.

the next morning

We checked on everyone, met neighbors we hadn’t met before and when we determined everyone was safe – listened to breakers popping around us – watched some more lightning, took a few deep, albeit shaky breaths and then Nathan and I took a very shaken Princess back inside our dark house and put her in our bed.  I checked on Monkey and actually laughed, I have always said that boy could sleep through anything – and I was right.

The next morning dawned bright and beautiful with blue skies and only a few cotton candy clouds in the sky.

We surveyed the damage and again, said a prayer of thanks.

We were lucky, we only lost part of our patio roof and our big old mesquite tree – the one in all those pictures of my kids

It was pulled up by the roots and thankfully fell into the yard (punching several holes in the grass with its branches) and not across our driveway and vehicles

Both kids walked out the front door with wide eyes and their mouths open in shock.  After a moment of taking it all in they looked between Nathan and me and then ran inside, put on shoes and went straight across the street to our elderly neighbors house and started dragging branches from their sidewalk, yard and driveway.

Nathan grabbed his chainsaw from the garage and we followed them across the street and started dragging, chopping and clearing until the curbs were stacked high with debris and the driveway was cleared.

I was so proud of my kids, watching them work hard to clear our neighbor’s yard and driveway.  I felt joy in my heart at the sight of the people that I see them becoming.  The moment of epiphanie came for me when Monkey looked up at me his little face dripping with sweat, his eyes shining and he said; “Mom, we’re good people, we’re helping others before we help ourselves.  That’s because we are being brought up by good people”

My heart skipped a beat and I felt a powerful tug deep inside

A moment later he looked at me again and said; “Mom, I’m talking about you and Dad”

I realized then, again, just how much they watch us.  How much they see, how they’re looking even when we don’t realize it.

We have a precious few years to make that impact, to guide them, to show them the way by our own actions.

Our summer will be fun and filled with family memories, laughter, sunshine, fishing, boating and joy; but it will also be filled with trips to the food bank, choosing a child to sponsor, and filling a few back to school backpacks with supplies for others.

I want to teach them, by showing them that making a difference can be done in big ways with donations, volunteering and time, but also in the smallest of gestures – a smile, a kind word, a prayer…

How do you teach your children to make a difference?

Thank you, Hallmark, for choosing me as one of their “Life Is A Special Occasion” bloggers and allowing my life and stories to be a part of their Life is A Special Occasion program. While I am compensated for my work with Hallmark as a Life is A Special Occasion ambassador, everything posted is original and real and from our life

I don’t know if you need an excuse to have a delicious, relaxing, refreshing, cool, crisp glass of wine, but if you do…

Let me introduce you to your new favorite day.

The Gallo Family, yes those Gallos, have named today, May 9, 2012 – the First Annual National Moscato Day.

To celebrate – they’re hosting a blog tour (of which yours truly is a part) and this evening – from 9 – 10 PM ET ( 8 – 9 PM CST) I am a community panelist on a #GNO twitter party with Gallo Family Winery to celebrate National Moscato Day.

Have I mentioned how much I love what I do?

I immediately stuck it in our outside fridge (aka the beverage fridge) and started to read up on Moscato.

The Gallo Family Vineyards Moscato is a table wine, that boasts peach, honey and ripe citrus flavors that are perfect when paired with soft and hard cheeses, spicy dishes or even the most Texas of all Texas dishes – Chili. (this information snagged from the Gallo Family Vineyard info sheet that accompanied my wine)

I took them up on that challenge.

I paired the Moscato with a roasted red pepper and garlic brie with whole grain crackers, the wine is lighter and sweeter than I’m used to, but it was lovely.  Sweet, crispy, soft, light, refreshing – I really enjoyed it.

The red pepper and garlic brie had just a hint of bite, paired with a creamy savoriness and the Moscato cooled and teased and sated as it flowed over my tongue, a brilliant pairing.  Simple, soothing, lovely.

Next up -

a spicy pairing.

If National Moscato Day were occurring during the 2 weeks of winter that we have down here, I might have taken them up on their challenge of pairing it with chili, however, it’s already hovering in the 90′s – so I decided to toss together a sriracha laden stir fry with chicken, broccoli, carrots and red peppers instead

Once again, the sweet fruity, crispness of the Moscato was perfectly paired with the slightly spicy – crispy – bold flavors of my stir fry.

Bravo – Gallo Family Vineyards – Bravo.

You have taken a strictly beer and red wine girl, and given her a new option.

I have several recipes that I can’t wait to pair with Moscato

• Honey Chipotle Glazed Salmon
• Shrimp Stir Fry with Spicy Orange Sauce
• Pasta with Scallops, Shrimp and fresh Basil

Here’s what I need y’all to do:

Go grab a bottle of Moscato and chill it.

Make (or order) something ridiculously delicious with a hint of spice – or throw together a creamy, savory cheese tray.

Invite some friends over, or pull up your laptop and join me (and a whole bunch of other fun people) for the Moscato Twitter Party tonight.

Seriously, do it.

I’ll be here ready to cheers you and toast to health, wealth, happiness, school ending, lost teeth, no burnt toast, whatever the celebration is.. let’s do it!

I’m participating in the National Moscato Day Blog Tour and Twitter party as part of a compensated partnership.  My time and talents are being compensated, but my thoughts and opinions and ramblings are 100% my own and never for sale.

Seriously, y’all.
I’m not teasing.
The title is not misleading.
I am about to share a recipe with y’all that combines all the best of a Loaded Baked Potato with the homey, delicious comfort of a grilled cheese sandwich
When I say thatI’m about to bestow a gift upon y’all, I’m not even remotely kidding.

I have been converted.

I was not a believer.

She changed me.  She made me see the light.  The ooey – gooey – carby- zingy – comforting – tonguegasmic light

She did this with one post.

Before now, there’s no reality in which I would have envisioned sour cream being included in a grilled cheese sandwich – and I’ve covered the National Grilled Cheese Invitational which had everything from truffle oil – bacon grease – peeps – pound cake – jalapenos – banana bread and more.

I have a new favorite grilled cheese.

A grilled cheese that has flavors I would never have thought to combine.

Sour Cream – Green Onions – Bacon – Potato Bread – Sharp Cheddar and Sour Cream

I have to admit, while searching for a grilled cheese recipe for this month’s CCC, I was overwhelmed and frustrated.

Don’t get me wrong, there were some truly delicious sounding recipes for things like Jalapeno popper grilled cheese and pepperoni pizza grilled cheese , but I’d made versions of them all before.

I wanted something POW. BOOM. TONGUEGASMIC.

I more than found it in this Loaded Baked Potato Grilled Cheese Sandwich recipe from Galley Kitchen.

The first time that I made it, I was more than skeptical – I almost skipped the potato bread and went with the Texas Toast that was already in my kitchen.  (Thank the kitchen gods that I didn’t)

This sandwich is unbelievable.

It will capture you, wrap you up, hold you in its warm, gooey, comforting, deliciously tonguegasmic embrace and never let  you go.

Seriously, y’all.

Take a moment and just embrace the idea of the miraculous ingredients that make up this tonguegasmic delight.

Smoky, salty bacon, cool creamy sour cream, zingy fresh green onions, rich, flavor packed sharp cheddar cheese surrounded by perfectly golden buttery toasted potato bread.  Please, for the love of all things holy, do not forget the potato bread.  Do NOT skimp on these simple ingredients.

If your family is lucky and you’re making bacon for breakfast, bake the bacon in the oven so it is crisp and delicious – set aside 2 slices for each sandwich.

Lay out 2 slices of potato bread and lightly spread each slice with sour cream, top each slice with a slice of good sharp cheddar cheese.

Snap the bacon slices in half and lay them on top of one cheese and sour cream covered slice of potato bread, sprinkle the other half with chopped green onions. (bacon slice covered halves not shown)

Press the two deliciously decorated slices together and then spread butter onto the outside of the sandwich.

Lay on a hot sizzling griddle and cook until golden, toasty brown and the insides are sizzling, melty and oh my holy hell you just can’t resist any longer.

BUT WAIT.

You MUST.

There is a golden rule to perfect grilled cheese sandwiches.

You MUST set them aside and let them rest for a few minutes before cutting or eating, if you cut them too soon, they’re just a giant mess.

This sandwich is worth waiting for, but don’t torture yourself by waiting to long.  Go ahead, print this out and go to the store.  Make these today, and tomorrow, and next week.  Trust me, once you make these – you’ll make them again.

I can’t believe that a sandwich can taste like a piping hot loaded baked potato, but it can, and it’s so worth the 20 minutes… trust me.

If you’re a comfort food lover – an avid devotee of grilled cheese happiness – this is the month for you.
Visit – devour – relish.

I’m sure there are some tonguegasmic recipes, but I don’t know that any could even begin to compare….

Y’all – that picture up there is filled with madness.

But I can’t tell y’all about it yet.

I’m truly – honestly – heart wrenchingly sorry that I can’t, but I can’t post the recipe until 11 AM CST.

Loaded Baked Potato Grilled Cheese recipe is live!!!

Sorry – those are the rules.

I know that I missed last week.

I hope y’all can forgive me.

Monkey is SOOO much better!

and then there was the WEDDING!

and the root canals.

Basically, I’ve been a bad. bad blogger.

But a really good mom and sister and wife and coach and friend.

So…

ummmmm……

Thanks for sticking with me.

and seriously, y’all.

COME BACK AT 11 AM CST – because a grilled cheese sandwich that tastes like a loaded baked potato is so tonguegasmically worth it.

The recipes that caught my eye from the last linky

Dewberry Lemon Pudding Cake – Newlyweds Blog

Mini Cheese Straws – Made Famous By

Grilled Potato Salad – Pocket Change Gourmet

Fresh Orange and Vanilla Cake – Feeding My Temple

I can’t wait to see what y’all are sharing this week!  Y’all have no idea how much I love your comments, recipes and inspiration!  Thanks for coming by every week to share your recipes!

“…. and you, like me, realized there was something missing in your life. So you found her, and asked her to marry you.” -

a portion of my Dad’s toast at my brother’s rehearsal dinner this weekend.

…….. and yes, the crowd swooned.

Today, this little boy, my 5 year old Monkey, is having root canals and other preventative dental work.

I could go on and on and on about how this makes me feel like I’ve failed my son in some way, like I’m less of a parent…. but I won’t.

I will ask that you pray that he deals well with the medicine that will make him sleep, that the dentist is able to get everything done in one visit and that Monkey is healed.

But most of all.

I ask for your prayers today for friends of ours.  A mother and daughter who both teach kinder at our school will bury their son/older brother today.

As a parent and sister, I cannot even imagine.

Please today, take time to hug your loved ones, to forgive any transgressions and to realize how precious life is.

Please today, take time out of your morning to pray for the Grimes family.

Happy Birthday, to the first man in my life.

Happy Birthday to the one who showed me what to look for in a husband

Happy Birthday, to the best Grandpa any Monkey could have.

We love you.

Thank you for all the lessons:  love, patience, laughter, appreciation, joy and independence.

Thank you for allowing me to fall, and showing me how to get back up again.

I love you, and I hope that you get some German Chocolate Cake today.

Happy Birthday, GOB.

We love you.