Bugs, pizza, chilly water and fried green tomatoes

We started off our morning going to the Blue Ridge Parkway for an insect outing with some other kids and a nature guide.  Luke loved every minute of it – Emma and Drew were a little bored by the end – Emma because she’s not to into bugs and Drew because he’s four.

We headed to the Cornerstone Downtown building for pizza with some friends from church and then to the chilly pool.  I don’t know how I always pick pool dates when it rains the night before and brings in cool air and cooler water in the pool.   It has been 90 degrees everyday for the past week and it was 73 and breezy on our pool day.  I like it to be hot when I go to the pool. 
The kids swim team practice was cancelled because of rain and stormy weather so we got to spend the night at home.  I fixed burgers on the grill and fried green tomatoes.  Then we all sat in front of the TV (something we do very little of in the summer) and watched the olympic swimming trials.  Since my kids are swimmers they love to watch the swimming events.  They go get their ribbons and look at the their times compared to the olympic swimmers.  
I love summer and the fresh veggies and herbs.  I got green tomatoes at the farmer’s market and fresh cilantro and dill from my garden.  Here is an easy recipe for fried green tomatoes.
Slice the green tomatoes (they can’t be too ripe or they will fall apart when they cook or if they are too green they will be bitter) Slice them fairly thick so they will not be “floppy” when you fry them
In a bowl beat one egg and about 1/4 cup of water
On a plate put some corn meal
Heat some oil in a frying pan (about 1/2 inch in the bottom of the pan)
Dip the tomatoes in egg and then cornmeal – fry in hot oil turn after about 3 minutes and fry other side – I like mine pretty brown so length depends on how hot the oil is and how brown you like them
Put them on a plate lined with paper towels to soak up some of the oil
Salt to taste and eat them while they are hot
Now here is the kicker
I made a sauce of mayo, water, garlic, cilantro and dill
Put a fried tomato or two on a whole wheat bun with the hamburger and the sauce above 
It is really yummy.  If you are not a meat eater – this is a great way to make a fried green tomato sandwich – just leave off the burger.
Great summer supper in the south.

Random stuff

Just finished ski jumping on the Wii fit.  Think I might have pulled a calf muscle 🙂

Wii have really enjoyed our Wii fit.  The games are fun and active and the kids love it.  Luke is really into the yoga – he’s getting pretty good at some of the poses.
Just switched out a load of laundry and heading to bed.  Planning to get up and go to the Wellness Center Early in the morning so hold me accountable and ask me if I made it.  
One more thing on the laundry.  If you know me you know it is my least favorite chore around the house especially putting it away.  But I bought some new fabric softener that really smells good.  I am not at all into smelly laundry but I like this.  It’s Downy Pure Essentials Aloe and White Lilac.  I can’t believe I just blogged about fabric softener.  I need to go to bed  as soon as I get Mike to stop doing step aerobics on the Wii.   He just got the high score – go Richard Simmons.  I am so in trouble for that one:) 

Mommy. I’m bored

Here are 150 awesome boredom busters for summer.  I love it because for most of them you don’t have to go to Michael’s and spend $40 or have an art degree or spend all day in the kitchen or clean up a big mess with these ideas.  Just simple fun things your kids will love.  A great addition to the list is playing in the fountain in Charleston.  Had to throw in this picture from our trip to see my sister in April.  Drew is in the background and my dad made this picture before my wonderful husband soaked me. My favorites from the list are writing on the driveway with ice cubes, catching lightin’ bugs (fireflies for all you yankees), cooking on the grill, putting the pool at the bottom of the slide, family bike rides, washing bikes (this keeps my kids busy for a long time), water balloon fights, swinging on swings, and I’ve never tried it but I think I am up for washing my hair in the summer rain.  What do like to do in the summer?

Too cute

Pool Party Cupcake Pops 
These little cup cake pops are seriously cute.  Check out the recipe and how to at bakerella.  This lady makes the cutest cup cake pops for all occasions.  I made the basic recipe and they were a hit. Basically you bake a box cake mix (any flavor you like) crumble it up and add a can of store bought icing to the crumbled cake and roll the mess into balls.  Freeze them for 30 minutes, dip them in chocolate and the possibilities are endless as you can see from the blog.  So who’s throwing the pool party ?  I’ll bring these cute cup cake pops.

I am still alive

I still haven’t gotten into a blogging routine.  When I get ready to sit down and post I have about 20 things I want to write about and pictures I want to post.  Today we had a kitchen full of screamy 8 and 9 year old girls over to make pizza.  It was Emma’s idea to have a Cooking Club this summer so this is the second time we have gotten the girls together to cook and have fun.  We made granola bars the first time and make your own pizza today.  Lots of fun and yummy.  I’ll post pics and recipes later.

Summer blogging

Since we have taken a vacation from our school work I just don’t seem to ever get to the computer as much. I have been busy trying to get some cleaning and organizing done and we have been on the road alot so the blog has been quiet. I hope to settle into a schedule soon and start being more consistent. I want to update the look of my blog and get a new header and background so I hope to do that soon. If you know of any good sites with blog headers leave me a comment.