Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Happy Birthday Ellie!


             
 June 16-30
                                                                                                                                                                                                      You are very strong, independant, loves life, love children and animals,
 have a good sense of humor, likes to be lazy and are intelligent.

                                        
                                     Today is my good friend, Ellie's Birthday!
                                  I made her a Birthday bag full of goodies .... 

Crème brûlée Candle
 
Birthday Cake Oreo Cookies



                                         We met at Starbucks to celebrate with coffee 
                                                          (We are both coffeeholics) 



                                                                           & 
                                               Birthday cake pop & coffee cake
                                                               (Ellie's favorite)

                                                                   Make a wish !!!!!!!!!


Monday, June 18, 2012

Rick's Father's Day Weekend!


                         I wanted my husband, Rick to have a very nice Father's Day .
                                 
                                                     Yo Pop! Whad up?
                                I made him a rapping Happy Father's Day Card !  
                                                                      So funny!                                 
                                                                   A Great Dad  !
                                     ( Only wish he could of spent it with our son, Ricky)  

                                                     My son's message on Facebook:


                                                    A few Father & Son memories !
                                               
     
                                                                 Summer vacations 

                                                                Chillin in the jacuzzi
                                                                        & Pool
At the Beach 

                                                                 Putt Putt Golf
                                                                   Arcade games
                                                             


                                                                 Ricky 1st guitar 
                                                                  (pic alil blurry)

                                             
        * Note: Wonder why my son loves video games, golf & guitar  so much .......


                                                                            
                                                                Ricky was 1 yrs old
                                                             
                         Times flies ....and before you know it your son is all grown up.....
                                                                     Proud Father !
                                                                          Cheers  !


The gift giving began on Saturday,  my husband & I  headed off on the bicycles
                           to get my husband's 1st Father's day gift at the bike store.


                                                            Rick checking my tires,
                                                  while I stock up drinks etc...for the ride
                                                                  & off we go...
                                                            me trailing behind of course !
                                      Rick showing off his bike talent....look no hands!
                                                                    I can do it too!
                                              We biked on the trail to the bike store 
                                                     & we checked out some bikes.
                                                              Different shapes & sizes .
                                                                   All lined up....
                                                  1st Father's Day gift- A Bike Light!
                                                  ( I must add Bike gear is not cheap)
                                               This  is what my husband wanted & needed.
                                                                      Rick is happy !
                                           2nd  Father's Day gift- Dinner & Rock Concert

                            My husband really wanted to see the Band -Savatage . 
                                     My husband knows some members in the band.
          We also had friends that were in the opening  performing bands
                                                         JETCITY/Retribution!
                                            They all Rocked into the early morning .
                                                          (Show ended at 2am)
                                          Off we went to explore Ybor  City-Tampa,FL
                            (We both have never been here - The Partying City of Bars !)
                               We walked around the Historical neighborhood which
                             has redeveloped into a night club and entertainment district..
It was founded in the 1880s by cigar manufacturers and was populated by thousands of immigrants, mainly from Spain, Cuba, and Italy. For the next 50 years, workers in Ybor City's cigar factories would roll millions of cigars annually.






                               My son met  Rob Schneider so I had to take this Picture .
                               He was performing at the Comedy club, Improv tonight.
                                                          We had some time to kill
                                                            We had a few cocktails.



                                                                         Senorita

                                                                     Trolley Station.
                                                                   
                                                                     Rick met a friend!

                                                      Rockers Lining up to get tickets.



                                                                        For dinner....
                                We had to try a Cuban Restaurant so we chose Carmine's 
 Rick's  hobbies all lined up on display here .
 
                                                       Rick tried the Ybor Gold.
                                                              

We had to try a Cuban sandwich and Carmines famous 
Devil Crab.
                                                                      After Dinner 
                                                   we explored more of Ybor City !
                                            Bath tub ?  Wonder what this is used for?????
                                                                           Outside Disco
                                          Rick practicing his Saturday Night Fever Moves !
       
                                                          A few window shopping Pics !
                                                                  Erotic to say the least.
                                                        Three Olive Vodka -My favorite !
                                         Rick wanted a cigar but I steered him away  !
                                                 The hookah lounge-Passed on this .
                                            Funny ......   I had to take these EROTIC pics
                                 I'm currently reading the book 50 shades of Grey ....
                                                                       The Ritz
                                                    Where the concert was playing .


                                                              Pretty Neat place.
                                                                     Old theater.
                                                 Rick can't wait till the show begins.
                   Our friend Shawn Lowery's drum set -Awesome he made it himself .
           Rick used to play in a band(Seven 2 Seven)with Shawn.
                                                               Awesome drummer!
Retribution
                                                               Shawn, Brenda & I
                                                          JETCITY-Queensryche Tribute
                                                                     Great singer!
                                              Our friend  John Zahner-Keyboard Player
                                             -he  played with Phoenix with my husband.
                                                                Todd La Torre & I .
                                We found out he is now the new singer for Queensryche.
                                       A glimpse of  the new reform band -Rising West 

Eye of a Stranger !

                                        Another  great Guitar acquaintance-Joey Torres
                                                            Jay -Lead singer JETCITY
                                                      Rick bought a concert shirt.
                                                           2 Great Guitar Players
                                                                    Rick & Joey



                                                   Jon Oliva-Lead singer of Savatage
                                                                  Rick's friends
                                                                        Savatage
                                                        Joe Diaz & Jerry Outlaw
                                                         
                                                                  They both rocked !
                                                Very skilled Heavy Metal Guitar playing !

                                                                A few videos:
                                  It was really loud and I was by the speakers -
                             does not give these band justice with my recordings
                                    
JETCITY



 Jon Olivia-Savatage


                                                We enjoyed our night of Heavy Metal   ....

Rick Started his day by washing the cars & Motorcycle
I like how he dries off his bike with a Blower...lol

Nice & Shiny
Nice Clean cars !
Then it was Play time in the pool -We were sooo goofing off !
                                                The Clark's Cannon Ball Olympics    

                                                                Rick's Big Splash

 
Wait... you have to get the whole effects :

                                                       Lets see what the judges think......

                                                            Rick scores a 10-Winner !
                                                                      Pati -Not so much !


                                         Rick's 3rd Father's Day gift -A massage!
                                    


                                                                  Rick is Ready to .....
                                                                       Relax!!!!!!!!!


                             
                                     Of course Rick wanted Ribeye steaks for dinner  !

                                                          Overwhelmed with Joy  &
                                                                  He is out of control!
                                                  Rick seasoned the  Ribeye steaks well .







                                                       Then on the grill they went.


             I made my friend Jackie's Mac & Cheese recipe to go with the steaks!

INGREDIENTS

2-3 tbsp. unsalted butter
2-3 tablespoon of  flour
2½ cups milk or half & half
2-3 cups of  smoked Gouda , grated
1-2 cups of Mozzarella shredded cheese
Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
1 lb. choice of  macaroni, cooked al dente
½ cup  bread crumbs
                                                             
                                                     Preheat oven to 350 degrees F


                                                                      Boil water.
                                                     Rick wanted corkscrews pasta.
                              Cut the block of Gouda cheese in smaller pieces to grate.
                                    Cook pasta about 6-8 minutes until pasta is al dente.

                                                          Start grating the cheese.


                                                        Stir pasta so they don't stick together.

                                                                  Arm Work out !
                                                           2-3 cups of Smokey Gouda.

                                                                      Drain pasta.
                                                      To make a Roux Mix equal parts of
                                                                         Butter to
                                                                         Flour.



                                               And stir until the flour is cooked through.





                                                                      Add half & Half.


                                                                  Constantly stir ...............
                                                             until it forms a white sauce
                                                                    and thickens.

                                                                      Add grated nutmeg.



 Add salt & pepper.

                                      The sauce is done when it coats the back of the spoon.


                                                                     Stir  as you add in the

                                                              Smoked Gouda cheese
                                                                            Stir......


                                                                Add remaining cheese.

                                                          
                                                  Then add the shredded Mozzarella cheese.
                                                         Stir until all is well combined.




                                                  Place pasta in a deep baking dish.

                                                           Pour the cheese sauce all

                                                                               over
                                                                            the
                                                                            pasta!
                                               This is going to be so Cheesy Goodness!




                                                               Make sure you get
                                                                    every last drop!


                                                        Scraping all out of the pot !
                                           Mix together to make sure all pasta is covered 
                                                        with the cheese sauce.

                                                           Top with bread crumbs.







                                                                    Cover with foil .
                                               Bake until golden, about 25-30 minutes.

                                               Steaks are done -Let rest for juices to settle!


                                                                  Cooked perfectly !

                                            We like Ribeyes between medium to med-rare.
                                                        Mac & Cheese is Done looks so Good!

                                                                Rick fixin his plate!

                                                            Happy Father's Day Meal !
                                                                               Yum!

                                                    Pineapple white cake for dessert.

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp. unsalted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
2½ cups water
1 box of white cake mix
1/4 cup vegetable oil.
3 egg whites
1 cup fresh pineapple -crushed
                                            Melt Butter & brown sugar on med-low heat.




                                Put pineapple in the food processor until they looked crushed.
                         *  Note: reserve any juices from pineapple to add to cake mix.


                                                    Almost melted , stir together

                                                             Add crushed pineapples.

                                            Stir until well combined and remove from heat.
                                                  In a mixing bowl add the cake mix with
                                                                        1/4 cup oil.

                                                                 3 egg whites.
                                                                         Water.

                                                              Add pineapple juice.
                                                          Mix until well combined.
                                             Pour crushed pineapples into a 9x9 cake pan


                                              Pour white cake mix on top of pineapples.



                                                Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
                                                       Once the cake is done, Let cool.
                                                           Line a cookie sheet with foil .
Cut with a paring knife along the edges of the cake
 for easy access out of pan.
                                                  Place foil side down on the cake .
                                                And flip let stand for 20 minutes so the
                                        pineapple does not stick to the top of cake pan.
                                                                   Cut into slices.
                                                       Top  with whipped cream & enjoy!

                                 Hope my husband had a wonderful Happy Father's Day!