How I spent my Summer Vacation

Vintage everything, except shoes from BC Footware

I think it is safe to say that yesterday was the best Independence Day of my life. Good food, good family, good weather... I cannot gush enough. It was wonderful. Chelsea and I were in charge of the menu and if I do say so myself, it was out of this world! Chili-lime stakes, grilled asparagus, yummy chips and salad, jello (ew for me), homemade carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, Italian sodas, lemonade, iced teas, some random Irish Cream coffees, pocket pies.... It was one heck of a good old-fashioned feast! I've included the recipe's here at the bottom of the post. Trust me, no one makes up recipes like I do, and my made-up recipes were a hit yesterday! But golly everyone it really was wonderful! Just how a Sunday should be spent! Swimming in the pool, laughing at each other, telling stories, and making some of the most wonderful memories ever. I honestly hope each and everyone of you had an equally wonderful day!

And the weather! What I am about to say may shock some (I'm even having a hard time believing it) but I could not love the weather more these past two days. I'm sure by writing this, I am jinxing any hope of continuing this wonderful, wonderful weather, but I'm going to write it anyways. So this is what you all mean by summer? 80 with a gorgeous breeze, wind in your hair, sun on your face, just warm enough to make you feel alive, and that breeze at the ready just when the sun's a bit much? Well sign me up, because I am loving it. Of course I wouldn't mind a rainstorm or two either, but man alive! This is great. I think we may have set a record for the coolest July 4th ever. I don't have any memory of ever having such nice weather in July. Every year it's at the very least in the 90's, usually the mid 100's (oh July 2003, you and your 112 in the shade were not fun). But this year? Oh, we maybe got up to 85 at one point. The morning started off overcast and cool, and even at the hottest point of the day it was wonderful. And today was overcast until about 11:30! I have never known the joys of summer because I am usually too busy sitting in front of the air conditioner, but this makes me want to trek out to some water hole with a tire swing and eat cherries and burgers and lemonade. And spend my nights driving around in a Woody on my way to a bonfire. If I didn't have rehearsal tonight, you can sure as heck bet I'd be doing just that (minus the Woody). If this is summer, I love it. I think I'll go out and read on the patio with a glass of lemonade now. Ahhh...

Ashley's Chili-Lime Steaks

You will need:

Stakes

Chili powder

Limes

Garlic

Garlic powder

Red wine

Onion powder

Salt

Pepper

put stakes in roasting pan or on a deep cookie sheet. Pour wine generously (but not too generously) over top. cover in spices. press fresh garlic and cover stakes. cut limes in half. cut each half into quarters. Place around stakes while squeezing gently. cover with towel and leave out for 2 hours. flip stakes and repeat. leave out overnight, covered with a towel (or paper towels). In the morning refridgerate. leave in fridge until cooktime. cook slowly. enjoy.

Ashley's Really Amazingly Wonderful Grilled Asparagus

You will need:

Asparagus

butter

salt

pepper

half a fresh lemon

parsley

warm up a roating pan or deep cookie sheet (a large bowl works too) so that is is warm enough to melt butter. But butter on sheet and spread around until covered. sprinkle salt, pepper over butter. Take parsley in palm of hands and crush while lightly covering pan. squeeze lemon juice on pan. mix around with a spatula. put asparagus on and mix around until the asparagus are covered. Grill for 15-20 mins. Enjoy

This is the recipe I used for the carrot cake, except I added a 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg and cloves, as well as a bunch of chopped walnuts. I also only used one cut of finely chopped carrots instead of the 3 cups of shreaded. This is possibly the best carrot cake I have ever tasted. And I love carrot cake.

And this is the cream cheese frosting recipe. Best. Frosting. Ever. Not too sweet, not to cheesey. Absolutely perfect.