What was your favorite part of your weekend?

Love,

Your Squishy Monster ^.~

The Squishy Monster is moving to the beach!

This is something that’s been on my bucket list for quite some time and I’m ecstatic that by next week, we’ll be living just a few blocks from the beach.  We combed through all the details this past weekend {not without some play time, of course} and I’ve brought back a pink nose, bubbling excitement, and a bittersweet note as well.  As y’all may know, I’m very close to my family and I began tearing up when thinking about leaving them and guilt for all those wonderful weekly family suppers to not be had regularly.  J has reassured me that we will come back often and that future suppers will be even that much more special.  Not to mention, I’ll be able to bring back some fresh seafood with me to serve!

A jelly fish and crab that washed up to shore

Fun pancakes to fuel a day at the beach.

Lobster rolls for lunch.

Sole with white wine and butter.

Shrimp & grits brunch.

Fresh shrimp cocktail.

Mahi tacos, buffalo oysters, and sweet corn fritters.

They say that home is where the heart is.  My heart will always be with my family but I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds.

I will be setting up a new kitchen next week and should have videos posted thereafter.

Love,

Your Squishy Monster ^.~

Call me crazy but I don’t remember my first kiss but I can tell you the exact moment I had my first forkful of baked spaghetti or frozen grapes.  That is crazy, huh?  I do however, remember our 6th grade “kisses.”  Mr. Meserve took us out in pairs to experience kisses with the name scribbled on our scrap of paper that we all pulled from a hat.  Thump-thump!  You could hear everyone’s heart beating in their throats as we watched 2 heads duck out only to rush back in, their faces plastered with wide smiles.  It was my turn when I discovered we were trading kisses of the chocolate variety, not the cherry chap stick kind (sorry Katy Perry)…who btw, is a robot.  Have you seen this girl?  Does she ever blink?

As we get older, that special 4th of July display of fireworks that brandish a special first experience seems to slowly dissolve.  This blog helps remind me that it’s little moments built upon other moments that make up life and it’s all how you perceive them that make them special.

My first time seeing a cicada.

My bff’s first time eating oysters ever.

My first time at this famed spot.

and just for fun, here’s a throw-back circa 1989

My “first love.”  The puppy dog sort.  I still remember playing house with him like we were grown ups.

I hope everyone enjoyed their 4th (or weekend, depending on where you live).  I’m still technically off from work so the rest of the day will be filled with visiting the blueberry farm, donating blood (the American Red Cross is open today!), maybe some swimming and lots of fish tacos.

Love,

Your Squishy Monster

As I’m in the South, I day dream that we’re all just part of a Harlequin romance novel and that these are just parts of sultry, summer nights but alas, reality settles in and it’s just crazy hot, is all.  101, 105, 110…and rising.  It’s just hot.  Not sexy.  The weekend was full of impromptu storms and angry spills of hail and it’s suppose to thunderstorm all week, too.  My neighbors tree even cracked.  We’re living in those days when just stepping outside feels like suffocating–it’s a perpetual sauna with no mirage in sight.  I feel sorry those who have to make a living being outside all the time.  I had a friend who used to pour concrete and boy oh boy is that terrible to do when it’s hot like this.

I tried to keep cool with watermelon slushies:

Blended cubes of frozen watermelon + lime (or mint)+ agave (water as needed) = delicious refreshment.

Frozen cheesecake.  I love cheesecake so I shrugged, threw caution to the wind and ordered it.  The texture is different but the flavor is there and the cool bites are a welcome luxury in this heat.

Garlic Yogurt Dressing

 

Author: The Squishy Monster

Ingredients

• ½ c Greek yogurt
• 2-4 tb extra virgin olive oil
• 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
• Fresh dill or parsley
• S & P

Instructions

1. In a bowl, whisk to combine.

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{Light summer salad of baby spinach, almonds, olives, local tomatoes, grilled chicken and garlic-yogurt dressing}.

I also love this salad with berries & grilled shrimp.

Now, if only the skies would open up momentarily and allow some snow to fall to alleviate us of this bitter heat, we could all have snow cream too

I tried to keep cool with watermelon slushies:

Blended cubes of frozen watermelon + lime (or mint)+ agave (water as needed) = delicious refreshment.

Frozen Cheesecake.  I love Cheesecake so I shrugged, threw caution to the wind and ordered it.  The texture is different but the flavor is there and the cool bites are a welcome luxury in this heat.

Light summer salad of baby spinach, almonds, olives, local tomatoes, grilled chicken and garlic-yogurt dressing.

1/2 c Greek Yogurt

2-4 tb Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1-2 cloves of Garlic

Fresh Dill or Parsley

S & P

Blitz to mix.

I also love this salad with berries & grilled shrimp.

Now, if only the skies would open up momentarily and allow some snow to fall to alleviate us of this bitter heat, we could all have snow cream too

I hope everyone has a fun & safe 4th of July!

Here’s the video again, just in case you missed it:

Watch this video on YouTube Embedded with WP YouTube Lyte.

Love,

Your Squishy Monster

What happened to that girl that used to party all night long, slump over in a heap at 5, sleep in all day, smear on lip gloss and do it all over again?  She is gone.gone.gone.  When I think back of how stupid me and my gfs all were, it’s a wonder we didn’t have the SVU involved somehow.  We would hop into cars with boys we barely knew and drive forever, or at least until the next party.  I don’t know what I would do if my future daughter were to do these things.  I’d probably sweat and stress harder than on a day like today (it’s 109 out today eeek)!

So sue me if that same girl today extracts more pleasure out of biting into something delicious at a hole-in-the-wall joint that she just happened to stumble into or perusing through shelves lined with groceries.  I dare you to call me homely.  Justin Timberlake brought sexy back?  I’m bringin’ homely back.

Pssst…there’s nothing to be ashamed of, my friend if you concur

Breakfast

There’s a local place that makes all-butter croissants from scratch.  You’ve probably unknowingly consumed a dozen pastries or so made with sweetex or crisco.  I really like Spectrum and I’m not afraid of lard…and I don’t suppose I must reiterate my allegiance to butter.

Lunch

A type of Korean 5-grain rice, spicy potatoes and stir-fried anchovies.

Dinner

$16 Kobe Burger. Geez louise.  This is what I get for being a foodaholic vs a shopaholic.  Nothing left but pictures and an anorexic wallet.

Midnight Snack

How many Orchids had to die for a chocolate cheesecake, lol (yes, part of being old–er is laughing at your own jokes)

Eating followed an entire morning of going somewhere to look at more food at my local Farmer’s Market.

Sample of tabouli and falafel with baba ghanoush.

Later into the day, me and my friend rode the light rail and watched the sunset…

I hope everyone is having a great weekend so far!

Stay cool (literally and figuratively) because cool is what you make it!

Love,

Your Squishy Monster

Why not consider one of these for your next family picnic?

Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream

Easy Ice Cream Cake

Patbingsu

Fresh Fruit Tart

Lavender Lemonade

…and if those don’t strike your fancy, how about a Key Lime Milkshake, Bubble Tea,or a refreshing Tongan drink called “Otai?

Feast & have fun, just don’t forget the sunblock

Love,

Your Squishy Monster

Bob Ross was quoted in saying “…just ‘smoosh’ it in there. It’s not a real word, but people seem to know what it means.”  Oh Bob Fro Ross.  I miss him as much as I miss Mr. Rogers.  I bring ole’ Bob into it again because it’s very true.  What does ‘squish’ mean for that matter?  (btw, it’s an actual word).   But somehow, even if it sounds like a made up word, when I tell you that this particular dessert is one comprised of many ‘squished’ layers of decadence, it’s anticipation, not confusion that is the appropriate response.  My friends call me Squish and I find it endearing and not only so, it’s a regular verb in my vocabulary that just comes in handy.  A trifle, a tiramisu, a layer cake, and even this parfait are all familiar with the term ‘squish.’  So, watch Squish squish a variety of cool creams and crumbly buttery cookies with ooey, gooey caramel to see for yourself how ‘squishing’ can be fun and delicious.

Banana Cream Parfaits

 

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

5 mins

Total time

20 mins

 

Author: The Squishy Monster

Ingredients

• Vanilla wafers
• Fresh banana slices

For the Cream:

• 1 c heavy cream
• 1 c whole milk
• {or 2 c half/half}
• ⅔ sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 tb cornstarch
• 1 scraped vanilla bean/1 ts extract
• pinch of salt

For the Caramel:

• ¼ c sugar
• ½ c brown sugar
• ¼ c butter
• ¼ c heavy cream
• 1 ts Vanilla Extract

For the Whipped Cream

• 1-2 c heavy cream
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Set aside your cookies and bananas.
2. In a sauce pan, begin by heating up your milk and cream. Scrape in your vanilla bean. Don’t scald your milk/cream, you just want to gently heat it through.
3. Sprinkle in your sugar and cornstarch.
4. Dunk in your yolks. Whisk vigorously as to not scramble your yolks.
5. Cook this mixture for about 1 minute. Whisk constantly! Turn off the heat and tip in your extract (if choosing to use it and not the beans). Add a pinch of salt.
6. Finally, push your cream mixture through a fine mesh sieve and place cling wrap directly on top of your cream (as to not develop a “lip”). Refrigerate for at least an hour before using.
7. In a separate sauce pan, set your heat on low and tumble everything for the caramel sauce in it. Remember to use low heat and gradually obtain a 234 temperature with a candy thermometer. Set aside.
8. For the whipped cream, use a whisk attachment and beat your heavy whipping cream and add as much powdered sugar as you’d like. The amount *really* depends on how sweet you personally like it. Tip in your vanilla extract and either dollop on with a spoon or gather into a pastry bag with a closed star tip for “ribbons.”
9. To assemble, layer cookies with caramel, cream, and whipped cream in any order. Garnish with crushed vanilla wafers if you’d like.

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Evoking all that’s meant to be cool and summery,

Love,

Your Squish-loving Squishy Monster

This is what the scenery looked like to pick him up yesterday:

after battling the other Freshmen Parents for a parking spot and breathlessly hauling everything that had managed to squeeze into a dorm no bigger than a slightly larger, glorified box (how did it all fit)!?…we’d mustered up a pretty monstrous appetite and poor baby (who had apparently run out on his meal card and was too proud of say anything and therefore living on nothing but Burritos and Ramen)suggested Thai.

Pad Thai

Mee Krob

Green Tea Ice Cream Mochi (which I figured was a Japanese thing, but hey, I’m not complaining.  Yummy is yummy)

It feels just like yesterday when we were struggling to navigate the campus and was busily bustling away to pick up the last few random objects we’d forgotten to take care of back home.  I mean, it feels like just yesterday that it was ME!  (cue baby brother to point out that now, it’s going on 10 years)  EEK!!  How does this thing called life zip past in fast forward without you being none the wiser?  Speaking of, baby brother will be venturing off to Toronto in a few weeks.  If schedule permits, hopefully I get to hang out with him there for a bit.  I’m sure Toronto will open up a new chapter in our “Food Holiday” for us

With the arrival of your College Kids and Mother’s Day–just a reminder to hold your dear ones close.  (and closer).  My 26- going on 110 year old self realizes that it’s not just about the great food you eat—it’s about who you eat them with!!!

XOXO

Your nostaglic Squishy Monster

p.s. a new video will be up soon! =D