Party Planning Post Op!!!!

Pomegranate Jello Shots

Glass: 2oz plastic shots or small paper cups - Glass shots look better but are harder to drink from, paper or plastic can be folded into the mouth... I like to serve them in Champagne Glasses

Step 1: Boil the water
Step 2: Slowly add JELL-O while stirring until it dissolves
Step 3: Add cold water and let the jello cool down for 5 minutes
Step 4: Add vodka and stir
Step 5: Pour into shots
Step 6: Put a cranberry piece in each shot (optional)
Step 7: Put shots in freezer

Step 8: Get the party started!
You can also use:

Squeeze a lime in the mixture for that special flavor that only the lime can give.  Arils are new and fun!

Benefits:

no added sugars, preservatives or colorants

flash pasteurized to retain both flavor and nutrients

certified kosher

not a low calorie food - see nutrition panel for calorie and sugar content

gluten-free

good source of potassium

Then you shake your pom poms!
any friends with adorable
Teacup Pomeranians...
please bring them!

and here's a treat for all my blogging friends...

There's a method to my madness...

I'm having knee surgery on November the 30th and will be out of work for 2 weeks -

then on light duty for several more weeks and I plan to have one hell of a party

when I'm back on my feet!

Stuffed Portobellos with Greens

Ingredients:
Grilled Portobello Mushrooms:

4 medium portobello mushrooms
1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 shallot, minced

1/2 teaspoon each of basil, Italian parsley, rosemary and thyme, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Herb Sonoma Goat Cheese

1/2 teaspoon each of basil, Italian parsley, rosemary and thyme, chopped

1/4 lb. Sonoma goat cheese

1 tablespoon creme fraiche

1 tablespoon cream cheese

POM Mustard Vinaigrette:

Juice from 1 large POM Wonderful Pomegranates*, or 1/2 cup POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1-1/2 tablespoons mustard

3/4 cup olive oil

salt and pepper to taste
Salad:
2 cups California baby greens

Garnish:

1/4 cup arils from 1 large POM Wonderful Pomegranates** or POM POMS fresh pomegranate arils

Preparation:

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms:

Combine 1/4 cup of the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, half of the minced shallots and 1/2 teaspoon of each of the herbs in a bowl. Remove stems from mushroom caps and marinate in herbed oil and vinegar mixture for 30 minutes to one hour. Remove portobello from marinade and season with salt and pepper. Grill each side for approximately 2 minutes or until tender.

Herb Sonoma Goat Cheese:

Preheat oven to 425 F. Combine remaining herbs, garlic, goat cheese, creme fraiche and cream cheese. Spoon mixture onto cookie sheet in 2-1/2 to 3 ounce dollops. Place cheese in preheated oven and bake for 5 to 7 minutes or until soft. Remove from cookie sheet and place into center of serving plate.


POM Mustard Vinaigrette:
Prepare fresh pomegranate juice.* Combine the pomegranate juice, rice vinegar and mustard in a large bowl. Slowly whisk in oil to emulsify. Season with salt and pepper.

Baby Greens Salad and Plating:

Add remaining shallots in equal portions to the baby greens and toss with vinaigrette. Place mushroom on top of cheese with a small portion of the salad.

Notes:

* For 1 cup of juice, cut 2 to 3 large POM Wonderful Pomegranates in half and juice them with a citrus reamer or juicer. Pour the mixture through a cheesecloth-lined strainer or sieve. Set the juice aside. ** Score 1 fresh pomegranate and place in a bowl of water. Break open the pomegranate under water to free the arils (seed sacs). The arils will sink to the bottom of the bowl and the membrane will float to the top. Sieve and put the arils in a separate bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup of the arils from fruit and set aside. (Refrigerate or freeze remaining arils for another use.)
Nutritional Information:

Nutrients per Serving (1 mushroom cap, 4 oz. salad, 2 oz. dressing): 416 calories (354 calories from fat), 5g protein, 39g total fat (8g saturated), 10g carbohydrates, 2g dietary fiber, 9mg cholesterol, 4g total sugars, 47mcg vitamin A RE, 112mg sodium, 415mg potassium, 2mg vitamin C

Let's get this party started!

Queen For A Day and a Dream

Queen For A Day and A Dream

Just imagine if you were a queen or a princess

for 1 day.

If you didn't have to be concerned about the economy. Or just stuff!

I was pondering the idea of my being a queen for just one day

and letting go of a little stress. It was a lot of fun to think about

the riches that could be in my life, not that I really want for huge treasures.

I'm not into cleaning a big house. I love the feel of a cottage home. I'm not up to a giant garden anymore but I can travel and visit gorgeous formal gardens right within

the Washington DC and Maryland area.

But I used my imagination anyway and it was dreamy and fun!

I'd pick out all kinds of interesting jewelry -

not gaudy stuff - unique artisans and stones I love

like blue topaz and peridot - lots of silver

I'd  have a garden....

or two

A place by the the beach

and it doesn't have to be big or fancy

And I'd pamper myself ....

tea parties and treats with friends

plenty of pampering

I'd fly away to some secret and
exotic location.... my girlfriends in tow...

and pamper some more!
IF I...

IF I...

Were Queen!

Castles and Cottages Just For You...

Stable Cottage, Potterne

Ideally situated for the following attractions:

Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles (World Heritage Sites)

Historic market towns of Devizes, Marlborough and Bradford-on-Avon

Caen Hill canal locks, chalk white horses, Longleat House and Stourhead landscape gardens

Medieval City of Salisbury and the Georgian City of Bath (World Heritage Site)

THE COTTAGE

Stable Cottage lies in the rural English village of Potterne. It is located in a conservation area within a private garden, adjacent to a stream and open countryside. It is ideally sited for touring all the local attractions such as Potterne's 13th century church, historic pub, walking areas and the stone circles at Avebury and Stonehenge.
ACCOMMODATION

Lounge, kitchen/dining-room, 1 double bedroom, shower room with toilet. All fuel is included. Electric cooking, fridge and microwave. Digital TV with DVD player, CD player and DAB radio. Wireless internet. Electric heaters, duvets. Shared garden with garden furniture by the stream. Private off-street parking for one car. Welcome tray. Pets and smoking not permitted. Sleeps two (maximum).

Woodview holiday cottages

Two 4*self-catering country cottages available to rent in Nottingham, UK

Woodview holiday cottages in Nottingham, offers two idyllic stone cottages that nestle in the centre of a working arable farm surrounded by beautiful gardens and stunning views of the farm's own patchwork of fields and woodlands.

Each single storey building has been skilfully converted from a traditional barn into a characteristic cosy country holiday cottage complete with log burning fires and oak beams.

Original features of the barns have been subtly blended with modern luxury to achieve an ambience that is both comfortable and inviting. There is ample car parking next to the holiday cottages and the nearest shop is only three miles.

The accommodation is immaculate throughout and kept to very a high standard by the owners. Each self catering cottage comprises a living/dining-room with wood-burning stove, exposed beam trusses and modern fitted kitchen area. There are two bedrooms with exposed stone work; one double and one twin accommodating up to 4 people. Bathroom/W.C. with shower cubicle. You can view internal photos on our cottages pages.

Owthorpe itself lies on the edge of the Vale of Belvoir, a verdant landscape offering all manner of outdoor activities, and serving as a great base for visiting the attractions in the neighbouring three counties.

Irish Thatched Cottage Donegal

Authentic Irish Traditional Thatched Cottage in County Donegal, Ireland
This lovely traditional thatched cottage is located 3 miles north of the village of Rathmullan in Co. Donegal. Located on 8 acres of land and complete with it's own trout stream the cottage is the perfect location for a relaxing break. It is available for holiday rental throughout the year. Enjoy an Irish Holiday with a difference at this truly unique cottage.



and I promised you castles...

Kilkenny Castle

Castle Mespelbrunn

may all you wishes and dreams comes true!

please stop by Castles, Crowns and Cottages today - a delightful blog to be!