Food Friday, The Vendor Party and a Wild Thing

This girl is trying to get back on some sort of blog routine and I vaguely remember that Fridays were all about food around here. So, I thought we would talk food for a few minutes because it is after all, one of my favorite subjects.

What have you been cooking? Last Sunday evening, D and I hosted our small group from church at our house. So I had the pleasure of cooking supper for these fine folks and if you know me, there is nothing I enjoy more than having family and friends in my home for a get-together that involves food.

This was my menu: Easy but Elegant Pork Tenderloin; Cranberry Chutney; Sweet Potato Tart; Black-eyed Peas; Slaw; Corny Cornbread Muffins; and Fresh Apple Pound Cake with Caramel Icing. If Jesus asks me what I want to eat when I get to heaven, this will be my first choice. I think I've posted all these recipes on the blog before but if not, they are What's for Supper? recipes that can be found on the store website, http://www.jandjfoods.com/ if you're interested. All except the Sweet Potato Tart which I'll post very soon. It was to.die.for.

So last night, I had a hankering for some seafood but just couldn't decide what and how. Then I remembered a recipe for Baked Coconut Shrimp. I had all of the ingredients on hand with the exception of the shrimp so I ran by the store and picked up a pound of raw shrimp and two bunches of asparagus for roasting to accompany the shrimp. Came home and whipped that up quick as could be and D and I ate like little pigs. So today I'll share my Baked Coconut Shrimp recipe.

Baked Coconut Shrimp
Ingredients:
1 pound large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/3 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups flaked sweetened coconut
3 egg whites, beaten until foamy
Directions:
1. Preheat an oven to 400 degrees. Lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Rinse and dry shrimp with paper towels. Mix cornstarch, salt, and cayenne pepper in a shallow bowl; pour coconut flakes in a separate shallow bowl.
3. Working with one shrimp at a time, dredge it in the cornstarch mixture, then dip it in the egg white, and roll it in the coconut, making sure to coat the shrimp well. Place on the prepared baking sheet, and repeat with the remaining shrimp.
4. Bake the shrimp until they are bright pink on the outside and the meat is no longer transparent in the center and the coconut is browned, 15 to 20 minutes, flipping the shrimp halfway through.


Okay, so if you remember a couple of weeks ago, we hosted J&J's Vendor Party at the farm. It was a blast! Here's a few photos from the evening:

God gave us this view from the deck.

D conquering the mechanical bull.




This is totally unrelated but I shared last week that I had ordered a pair of booties. Well, look who arrived at my door this week. And even better news, they are my birthday present from my momma. I was talking to her on the phone last week, sharing my joy about finding these beauties, when she said, "well, honey, I'll just get you those for your birthday. I always want to get you something that you really want and it sounds like you're pretty excited about these boots." Seriously, who wouldn't be excited about these?

Pictures from our Weekend!

Just wanted to share a few pictures from our weekend! The girls and I went to the Beloved Retreat Friday and Saturday in Norcross! Oh. My. Goodness. Did we ever have a great time. It was incredible. The music, the testimonies, the fellowship, the goodies, the makeup/makeovers - all amazing. Those Beloved girls know how to have a good time!
Not to be confused with Beloved - here is our very own girls trio!!






The real Beloved - the fabulous, supertalented, crazy and super fun girl's trio!





As you know, yesterday we were in full birthday mode! Afterall, it was one of my children's birthdays, wasn't it? E and N joined us in worship yesterday morning which was incredible. And on top of that, G came home for the birthday festivities. You know, this may go down as one of my best weekends - ever. :)



Words can't describe my love for these two.



Yes, it is a tradition in our family that if you are having a birthday, you wear the hat and sunglasses - at least for one quick picture. Makes you glad you're not in our family, doesn't it?
E and her birthday cobbler complete with 24 candles!


Oh, I adore these two. They melt my heart.



G was getting ready to leave to drive back to school. Which might explain why I was holding him like that!



There is a story that goes along with the crazy pose and the silly grins in this picture. Trust me.


My boys.

All I Wanted was Lipstick

I just returned from the mall area where I made a stop at the mega-cosmetic-superstore. Now this was sensory overload. I went with one thing in mind – a great red lipstick. You know how I feel about red. And every girl worth her weight in cosmetics needs a great lipstick. Do you have any idea how many lipsticks, red or otherwise, were in this store? There were at least a 1000 if there was one. I thought my head would explode. I finally asked for help - HELP! The cutest little 20 something picked out four or five choices and we went to the counter for me to sit and for her to slather on the products.
I had the following options – lipstick out of the traditional tube, one out of a squirt tube, one with a wand, and one with a stick. I’m sure these all have fancy names but what I really wanted was a great red lipstick – the old fashion way. Is it too much to ask? Well, she started coloring – except she didn’t stay within the lines. Her teacher must have told her she didn’t have to. She painted me on some lips that were twice the size of my own. Honestly, I looked in the mirror and laughed out loud. Oops, she said. I guess you don’t want lips that big? No, not today, I said. But big, luxurious lips are in, she said. Not on this face. I think you have to possess the lips to own that look, I said. Okay, well, let’s work with what you have then, she said. Yes indeed, let’s work with what I have.

Finally, my choice was made - “Revolution” by Urban Decay. Urban Decay Cosmetics tag line - “beauty with an edge.” I don’t think I am cool enough for this line of products. Get this – the lipstick tube has a dagger in the end of it. What? It is definitely settled. I’m officially not cool enough for this. This is what it says on the side of the lipstick box “armored by a menacing dagger, it’s a weapon of love. It’s lipstick with an urban twist, leaving no evidence behind, his collar should be so lucky.” It’s lipstick for crying out loud!! But with that in mind, I’m going to go put on my “weapon of love” and wait for my husband to get home. Maybe his collar won’t be the only thing that’s lucky!!!