Snack Attack: Asparagus with Raspberry-Mustard Dipping Sauce

So apparently my friends have been missing my blog posts.  As much as I love them, it seems a little strange as they NEVER leave me comments. *ahem*  I really want to get back in orbit in the blogosphere, so I thought I'd start with a super easy, super yummy Snack Attack post: Asparagus with Raspberry-Mustard Dipping Sauce.

 

Before I get into the deets of the dish, it's only fair to explain where I've been...

 Viva Las Vegas, Baby!  The hubby and I headed to Las Vegas with one of my best girlfriends and her man, as well as some other super fun couples.  We had a blast!  My girls and I are already planning our Vegas Invasion Summer 2012!  ;)

  

I then headed home to Houston, TX to throw a Baby Shower for my sister-in-law and my soon-to-be-born niece Kayla!  I also got some good time in with the G-ma, Aunts, Uncles, and Lil' Cousins.

 Lastly, HH and I headed to the beautiful Charleston, SC for a wedding.  We stayed in an adorable beach house on the Isle of Palms, and celebrated my birthday on the rooftops of downtown bars.  We had some AMAZING food on this trip, and I'm literally kicking myself that I didn't take any pics.  What was I thinking!!??!

Besides all of my travels, I've been working like crazy with private tutoring and curriculum-writing for my school district.  Not to mention trying to survive the sweltering 110 degree heat wave we've been in!  Despite the heat, I still like to have "cooked" snacks sometimes.  This is a perfect summer snack - the asparagus are lightly steamed in the microwave (<--- which won't heat up the house), then blanched in cold water.  Add a delectably easy dipping sauce, and it's snack attack time!


Trim the asparagus spears, and place them in a microwaveable dish.

Add about 3 tablespoons of water.

Nuke 'em for about 2 minutes.  Immediately place them under cold running water.

Mix a raspberry salad dressing with equal parts dijon mustard.

Delicious and easy!

Has your summer been as crazy busy as mine!?  Or have you gotten in some good relaxation? I can't believe it's almost over!

Wedding On My Mind

I haven't posted in for-evah!  (Not that I'm under any delusional that I have many readers, but I enjoy posting!)  School's out for summer, but I've been busier than ever!  I am tutoring 10 kids per week, working on curriculum for my district, and most importantly, helping my best friend plan her wedding!  (I showed y'all her homemade Save-the-Dates in this post.)  Here is what I've been busy with since then!


The invitation and inserts...

They were stacked in size so that the dots and titles lined-up! ;)

We also made the programs, which were glued together with a stick in the center to create fans.  (The ceremony is outdoors, which means it will be a bit toasty!)

 Table numbers and table placecards...

We are also doing all of the music ourselves, so we have spent HOURS picking songs, editing songs, cropping songs, and making sure they were in a good, dance-able order.

The work will pay off when we are eating, drinking, and dancing the night away this Saturday!  Summer is Wedding Season, do you have any on the calendar?  We have another wedding in Charleston, SC in July.  I LOVE weddings! :)

P.S. Can you spot my typo!?

Compromise Tuna Salad

I prefer my tuna salad loaded with chopped veggies and mixed with light Miracle Whip.  Hungry Hubby prefers his loaded with eggs and mixed with full-fat Mayo.  I invented this tuna salad recipe as a compromise.  It's perfect for a summer lunch.

I love summertime, because Hungry Hubby can come home on his lunch break and eat with me.  :)  I made this for lunch yesterday and we loved it!

Tuna Salad Supplies:

• Albacore tuna, packed in water, 2 6.4oz packages (I like having leftovers)
• Light mayo, 2 tbsp
• Spicy brown mustard, 1 tbsp
• Yellow mustard, 1 tsp
• Red onion, about 1/6, diced
• Celery, 1.5 stalks diced
• Carrot, 1 peeled and diced
• Wickles Relish, or whatever relish you prefer
• Egg, 1 hard-boiled and diced

A note on relish and pickles in general, if you have never tried Wickles, go buy them now!  They are so incredibly delish.  They are sweet and have quite a kick!  I can find them at Tom Thumb and Walmart around here.

Dice up your veggies.  My red onion got diced in the Vita-Chop, while the carrots and celery had to be done the old fashioned way.  Boo.  Don't worry, I didn't put all of that onion in the tuna!

Dump the tuna into a bowl and fork through it to break it apart.

Add the mayo and mustard and stir it up!

 Add in the veggies and the egg, and you get Healthy Honey and Hungry Hubby's compromise tuna salad!

 Hungry Hubby gets his tuna in flour tortillas for a tuna salad wrap.

 I eat mine over a bed of mixed greens.

I think most people either love tuna or they loathe it.  Do you love tuna like we do?  How do you like your tuna salad?

Sirloin with Mustard-Shallot Sauce

This is a perfect summer meal for the grill, but as much as Hungry Hubby would detest me admitting this... we have no working grill.  Notice the adjective here: working.  We have one, but it has yet to be hooked-up correctly.  Which means this meal was made in the oven.  Feel free to grill your meat over the open flame, though.

The mustard-shallot sauce is AHMAAAZING.  I would recommend making a double batch so you can drizzle it over your sides or save for the next meat you cook.  It would taste delish over chicken or pork, as well.  The recipe for the sauce is from a Women's Health magazine.

Da' List:

• Sirloin Steaks (I used 3)
• Salt & Peppa
• Extra-virgin olive oil, 4 tsp
• Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp
• Fresh lemon juice, 2 tbsp
• Shallot, 1 finely chopped
• McCormick's GrillMates - Spicy Montreal Steak (optional)

I seasoned our sirloins on both sides with the GrillMates spices.

Place the rack 4 inches from the heat source and turn the oven to broil.  Brush the steaks with 1 tsp oil and broil them for 3-4 minutes per side.

In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining olive oil, mustard, lemon juice, and shallots.  Mine are finely diced in 2 secs thanks to my fabulous Vita-Chop courtesy of BB&B.

Drizzle the sauce over the sirloins and slice.  If you love the sauce as much as we did, you'll end up drizzling it over your whole plate!

Hungry Hubby got 2 steaks.

Healthy Honey got 1.

I plated the steaks with roasted potatoes and carrots.

Well I'm off to cuddle on the couch cuz it's Netflix night in this household.  (I love summer vacay!)  Have you rented any good movies lately?  We are seriously running out of things to rent over here!

OOTD: Casual Friday - Flowers, Stripes, & Lace

Guess what folks???  In the words of Alice Cooper... School's OUT for SUMMER!  :)  That's right ladies, today was my last day of teaching for this school year!  You may notice that today is a Monday, and that's an odd choice for the last day of school.  Well we have all of that wicked ice and snow to thank for being in school until Monday, June 6th.

Since I'm about to be dressing reaaaallll casual now that I get to write curriculum from home (wardrobe will = PJs or yoga pants) and tutor some sweet kiddos in their homes (wardrobe will = shorts or casual summer dresses), I thought a casual Friday post from a few weeks ago would work well tonight.  Even though I'm done working for the next few months, I'm very behind on OOTDs, so you'll be seeing my work attire anyway.

Flora/Lace Top: Wet Seal

Jeans: 7ForAllMankind "Kate"

Initial Necklace: Urban Outfitters

Gold Flops: Old Navy

The lace detail is on the back of this top.

It was a scorching 99 degrees outside today, so even though summer officially begins on June 22nd, I think it's safe to say that summer has arrived in Dallas, TX!

What are your summer plans?  We are heading to Vegas at the end of June and to Charleston at the end of July.  I'll also be working a bunch, but when I'm not, you can find me at the gym, pool, or on the couch.  ;)