WWW ~ Mother's Day & Birthday Parties

I hope all you mothers and Mr. Moms (all you single dads) had a WONDERFUL Mother's Day. Well let's just say this year wasn't one of my best but hey I was with the kids and Rick picked up some hours for his part time job so I can't complain to much. Now the lack of a Mother's Day Card or wishing me a Mother's Day yes can be a thorn in my paw :).

This week Cole's school had a Mother's Day Tea. It was so fun the kids made cookies, then they really cute tea pot with a pocket full of my favorite teas along with that they had a great performance! Yes it made me tear up just a bit!

Part of the kids Performance

Prayer to end our Mother's Day Tea

Saturday was party central for us. I worked until around 9:30am and then off and running getting everyone ready. Of course I forgot directions in a panic to figure out where I was going. Finally go there and my girlfriend asked me to help. I am always the party planner at many different events, love it! So I gather up the kids, got them eating, opening presents, eating cake and then we had to leave. She had some games planned but I'm so not a game girl for little kids parties it never works out like you want.

Yes that is Caden in the corner he was cut off from the cheetos, so he went to one little boys plate and stole his. Oh man talk about a little tattle tail ... lol that little boy had a melt down over it. Ugh off to party #2!

2nd party was for a boy at school he's a rodeo rider so his party was at the Jr. Rodeo. The mom didn't send out invites just had a huge card set up in the classroom, so I had no clue where I was going. Thankfully I had her # from her calling me for Cole's and she told me it was easy to find, you can't miss it. Guess who missed it! I drove up and down and was about to give up before stopping at a gas station who so nicely pointed across the street ...UGH!

Let's just say sitting and watching was not something Caden wanted to do. He wanted to play with everyone else's little pez trucks. They kept telling Caden that's not yours! UGH he's just playing I promise we won't take it home. It was so hot so after an hour we were ready to go. Cole though got to stay and hang out and then go to their house and play it was a nice retreat for me!

Now there is me, not my best idea to go with my black half sleeve sliming shirt. Then I had my new white purse and new shoes mom bought me for Mother's Day. Let's say me with White Purse and new shoes at the rodeo wasn't a winning combo and I have a Sunburn and a blister to prove it!

Then it's crash time after all that!!

Yup that is Cole's Leg and hand ... lol

Happy Mother's Day to me!

Rick worked so I made myself myself my favorites on a Pizza!!

Pesto Artichoke Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 Boboli Thin Crust Pizza Dough (or you can make your own, but this saves time)
• 1/4 Cup Prepared Pesto
• I Large Tomato - Sliced
• 1 Cup Marinated Artichoke Hearts - Chopped
• Handful of Black Olives - Sliced
• 1/4 Cup Red Onion -Chopped
• Enough Feta Cheese to cover the top

Instructions

1. Spread Pesto over the Boboli Crust. Layer sliced tomatoes, red onion, chopped artichoke hearts, and black olive over the pizza. Top with feta cheese.
2. Bake at 450 for 15 minutes or until desired crispness.

ALEXIS NOTES: I picked up a regular Boboli because that is what they had, I also add pineapple because I love it! The Feta I used was a sundried Tomato and Garlic, so freaking yummy! Thank you Brita who send me Mezzetta: Italian Homemade Style Basil Pesto and Mezzetta: Artichoke Hearts. These gave this dish and amazing punch it needed. Thank you again Brita for my yummy Mezzetta items, you made my Mother's Day!

Recipe found here: http://www.familyoven.com/recipe/pesto-artichoke-pizza/304206

Oscar Party Food Ideas

As many of you know I love to cook ... I know that was a hard one to figure out :). I love throwing parties (I was always the coordinator for Christmas and other parties for all my jobs), sadly I don't have an office to throw parties for. Hmmm I so could be a coordinator anyone need one? I'm cheap :).

In the meantime I thought we should get some great ideas together for the Oscars. I personally will be on my couch, but I know some of you do a big party. I use to work with a girl that would throw a GREAT party were everyone would put on their old prom dress (uh humm if they fit, mine so wouldn't) and do a big gala! For you who do it up I have some great ideas for you, I'm drooling over here! If any of you have a party can I come? :)

So Brita is my new best friend she sends me amazing Mezzetta that allow me so many fun meals to make! Plus she always send me great recipes to try to!

Let's start with the drinks! Oh come on you know you all were thinking about it!

Martini Bar

Savory Mezzetta Martini

2 Servings

3 sprigs rosemary

5 oz. vodka or gin

1 ½ ounces dry vermouth

Mezzetta® Bleu Cheese Stuffed Olives, Greek-Style Feta Stuffed Olives, or Pimento Stuffed Olives, for garnish

Chill martini glasses in freezer for 15 minutes. Add one rosemary sprig to cocktail shaker and muddle to release oils. Add ice to shaker. Pour in vodka or gin and vermouth (if you would like a “dirty” martini, add 1 ounce olive juice). Shake vigorously. Remove rosemary leaves from the base of each reserved sprig and thread with two olives. Pour martini into chilled glasses using a cocktail strainer. Garnish with rosemary sprig and olives.

Mezzetta “Perfect” Martini

1 Serving

3 ounces gin

½ tsp. vermouth from Mezzetta® Martini Olives jar

1 C. ice

3 Mezzetta® Martini Olives

Fill a chilled cocktail shaker with ice. Add gin and vermouth from olive jar. Shake well, 45 seconds. Pour into a chilled glass, using a cocktail strainer. Thread three olives onto a cocktail stirrer and serve.

Gibson

2 Servings

2 ½ ounces gin

½ ounces dry vermouth

1 or 3 Mezzetta® Cocktail Onions, for garnish

Pour gin and vermouth into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Stir well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the cocktail onion.

Dolce Rosso

1 Serving

2 ounces vodka/gin

.5 ounces fresh squeezed O.J.

1 ounces Agave nectar (or simple syrup)

2 thin slices of Mezzetta® Roasted Bell Pepper (1/4 of bell pepper)

1 Strawberry (or 4 raspberries)

- more-

1 basil leaf

dash of tobasco

1/8 tsp of ground black pepper

Mezzetta® Sweet Cherry Pepper (red) for garnish

In a mixing glass add and muddle all of the ingredients except the vodka/gin. After muddling, fill glass with ice, pour in the spirit. Shake thoroughly and fine strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with Mezzetta® Sweet Cherry Pepper (red).

OR to make this drink a little more refreshing.....

Strain over an ice filled collins glass (tall). Top off with ginger beer (non-alcoholic). Garnish with Mezzetta® Sweet Cherry Pepper (red).

Dolce Rosso Created by Mixologist Dominic Venegas for G.L. Mezzetta

Now some yummy Finger Foods! Ok now you know this is my favorite part of the night! LOL

I've made the Artichoke Cheese Toast (sorry I forgot a pic) and no I didn't share ... LOL. I actually made a few of these and they are just perfect and yummy! I've been begging people to come over for dinner so I could make treats for them, so for now it's just the neighbors ... lol.

Mezzetta Finger Foods

Artichoke Cheese Toasts

Makes 3 dozen toasts

1 jar of Mezzetta® marinated artichoke hearts

4 cups cheddar cheese

¾ cup mayonnaise

1/8 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper

Touch of fresh ground pepper, Salt to taste

1 baguette

Preheat broiler. Drain Artichoke Hearts, pat dry, and chop coarsely. Combine all ingredients well, except bread. Slice baguette crosswise 1/3 inch thick and spread bread thickly with cheese mixture. Broil 5 to 6 inches from heat until cheese is bubbling and browned, about 2 minutes.

Mediterranean Vegetable Quesadillas

Makes 8 slices

4 flour tortillas

2 ounces Monterey Jack Cheese

2 ounces soft goat or crumbled feta cheese

½ cup Mezzetta® Roasted Bell Peppers, sliced

1/8 cup Mezzetta® Brand Sun Ripened Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil, thinly sliced

Place 2 tortillas on work surface and sprinkle evenly with all toppings. Cover each with a second tortilla and lightly press with palm. Heat skillet and cook, pressing with a spatula until tortillas brown slightly, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Cut into slices and garnish.

Pesto Pizza

Makes 1 pizza

1 premade pizza crust

½ jar Napa Valley Bistro™ Homemade Style Basil Pesto

1/4 cup Mezzetta® Brand Sun Ripened Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil, chopped

2 cups grated mozzarella cheese

1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Preheat oven to 375°F. Season pizza pan lightly with vegetable oil. Place crust on pizza pan, spread with pesto, sprinkle with sun ripened tomatoes, then cover generously with mozzarella and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Bake pizza until crust browns and cheeses melt.

White Bean and Artichoke Dip

Makes 2 ½ cups

1 -2 garlic cloves

1 tsp dried rosemary

3 tbs fresh lemon juice

2 cans white beans (drained and rinsed)

1 jar Mezzetta® marinated artichoke hearts, drained

Salt and pepper to taste

Finely chop garlic and rosemary in food processor. Add lemon juice, beans and artichoke hearts and puree until smooth. For variety, add ½ jar of Napa Valley Bistro™ Homemade Style Basil Pesto once blended. Serve with pita chips, fresh vegetables, or crackers.

Lemon-Pesto Goat Cheese Dip

Makes 8 servings.

10 ounces soft fresh goat cheese, room temperature

2/3 cup sour cream

½ jar of Napa Valley Bistro™ Homemade Style Basil Pesto

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel

2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

Blend all ingredients in food processor until smooth. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with pita chips, fresh vegetables, or crackers.

Roasted Red Pepper with Feta Dip

Makes about 3 ½ cups.

1 cup Mezzetta® Roasted Bell Peppers

1/8 cup olive oil

2 garlic cloves, peeled

2 cups crumbled feta cheese

Blend all ingredients in food processor until smooth. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with pita chips, fresh vegetables, or crackers.

I Hope you all enjoy these recipes and try a few, they are simple to make and you'll look like you spent hours in the kitchen (yup that is my type of recipe).

Thank you again Brita for your surprise gifts I receive in the mail, I just love to see a new Mezzetta product has shown up. Rick just looks at me and says what are you going to make now ... LOL

I was sent sample of food to try and give my opinion, these is what I have experienced and my thoughts of the product, no money was given for my thoughts.