Ham and Cheese Panini... oh my.

Our cable has been out for the past month or so-- so that means no Food Network, which really bums me out. However my Internet is NOT down, so I got on Food Network's website and found a sandwich that Ann Burrell had made... And that is how I discovered Sweet Pepper Relish. Oh my gracious-- it's so good.

Ciabata Bread
Smoked Ham
Provolone and Swiss Cheese
Sweet Pepper Relish
Slices of Red Onion
Olive Oil

Cut the bread in half and drizzle the olive oil in the bread. Put a thin layer of the relish on (I did it only on half the bread, but do it on both sides if you choose). Layer the Provolone and Swiss on one side of the bread and several slices of ham on the other. Put the thin slices of onion on. Spray your panini maker and cook/bake until the cheese is melty and gooey.

It's a GREAT sandwich--- that Sweet Pepper Relish is sweet and spicy, and so good.

Yummy goodness.

Tis the Season

So this year I'm getting ready to hit a mile marker in my life-- hitting the big 3-0 in November (eesh)-- and while I'm very much looking forward to celebrating my bday at Kobes (yes I have already put my request in)- there's something else I'm looking forward to-- COOKING AND BAKING!! Oh I Love this time of year. Now this year will be very different from any other for more than one reason- one being that I will be 30, two I'm going to try and experiment with different dessert recipes, and third-- this year will be the first year that we will be without our beloved Cindy-- how weird it will be without her there to celebrate and eat with us and have her say, "Hhhmm Mandy that is sooooo good." (BTW, she is the ONLY one allowed to call me Mandy). She will definitely be there in spirit but still will NOT be the same.

When September rolls around, I honestly feel the seasons change- from Pina Colada cheesecake, grilled steaks, salad, and Iced *Bux coffee to pecan-caramel cheesecake, White chocolate peppermint cheesecake, chili, spaghetti, Thanksgiving and Christmas food, and nice hot *Bux coffee. Now I haven't made my fall/winter cheesecakes yet, but I have made an apple tart and a chocolate cake made from scratch. I'm hoping to master an apple pie this year, as well as make my yummy cheesecakes. There is something so hearty and comforting in cooking and/or baking... maybe it's the end result or seeing the expressions on people's faces and hearing people say, "Oh my god Amanda that was heavenly." (yes it's the Monica in me).

And I swear- if I knew I wouldn't sink to the bottom, I would say "Screw it," and go into business for myself.. but it costs a lot of money to go into the restaurant business and statistics say the businesses fail in first 5 years. Then where would I be? Back to eyes??!!! No thanks- if I'm going to be done with eyes, I need to be completely done with eyes-- I can't backtrack.. once the bridge is burned, it's burned.

Saturday Shopping Trip

One Saturday out of the month, my mom and I get together in Huntersville (it's about equal distance for the both of us- I'm in Hickory, she's in Wingate near Monroe). At first when we were meeting at Birkdale which is interesting enough, but then on a navigating trip we discovered Northlakes Mall complete with a Macy's and Borders- two stores that Valley Hill Malls lacks.

I made the hour trip in the A/C (thanks honey) and listened to the CMA Country Fest (what used to be known as Fan Fair). They were doing a songwriter's session which was the best and only session I've heard. The songwriter that wrote Kelly Pickler's "Red High Heels," and "I Wonder" was on there- also the songwriter that wrote Luke Bryan's "Country Man," and one of the writers (who happened to be a guy) that wrote Carrie Underwood's "Last Name." Oh also heard one of the writer's that wrote Billy Currington's "Must Be Doin Something Right." It was an excellent session.. really really good.

Mom and I met for coffee in the two-story Borders store which is an awesome bookstore that has even better coffee-- better than Starbucks could ever think about being. I got a white chocolate mocha coffee complete with whip cream and white chocolate shavings- mom got her usual coffee. As far as our pastries- she got a raspberry pastry thing with peach cream cheese in the middle, and I got a lemon pound cake that was really yummy.

First store we went into was Belk (by the way it's Belk, not Belk's- mom used to work for them, she would know). I went looking for a darker shade of powder for summertime. Instead of just being shown what to buy for makeup, I was given 3 different powders. I found one that didn't make me look chalky, and after I chose, the Clinque-ician put the powder all over my face and dressed up my eyelids, cheeks, and lips. I don't wear a lot of makeup b/c I'm really prone to breakouts, but I really like what she did. I was almost tempted to buy it all, but I know me and I wouldn't wear it. I also found a pair of jean shorts that are a little longer and nicer than the jean shorts I have now. What's funny about this is these shorts were originally $36 but thought they were on sale for $17.99. When I got up to the register I paid $12.59.. isn't that awesome???

Let's see where did we go from there.. OH we went to Coldwater Creek- mom's favorite store. I helped her pick two shirts out for a skirt and spotted another shirt for her to wear with white capris. I told her I was going to stop working in eyes and be a personal assistant and shopper.

Next was my absolute favorite store- Anthropologie. I love, love, love that store. I could easily drop $1000 in the store on dishes, a bedspread, sheets, and clothes-- not to mention the soap and the candles. It's such a funky store!! Mom bought a lot of scented soaps and two candles that cost more than your average candle (I refuse to say the price, but it was quite up there).

Last shopping place was Border's.. of course all we got there were books, but I got two books- Eat This, Not This (supermarket survival guide) and the book My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. There's a movie getting ready to come about that, but books are already better than movies- so I bought the book.

Originally lunch was going to be at a rustic Italian restaurant that has the best drinks and food, but I changed my mind and opted for TGIFridays which still has good drinks and food. But I decided to stay sober on this shopping trip- lol- but let me talk about the burger I got. It was called the Cheesy Bacon Cheeseburger (so very fattening but I didn't care).. what was good about this burger was the thick piece of FRIED PROVOLONE. Now serious who doesn't love fried cheese of any sort??? Other than that it was just a cheeseburger.

I made the long trip home and have been lazy ever since. I really do enjoy the trip I make down there every month. I enjoy what the day holds.