Seasonal Saturday and Fresh Food Friday!

September has finally arrived, but yet at 93 degrees today, it still feels the same as August.  I could really handle some 80 degree temps right now, but I think I'm dreaming.  College football games begin this Saturday and my students are all 'amped' to the max over it.  Even though Mr. M. and P. and I stopped going to the all-day-long affairs of college games, we sure do miss the fun of tailgating . . . so why not tailgate at home in front of the tube in some blissful air-conditioning?  I'm a heat wimp, remember?

So now is the time to share any recipe, or 2 or 3 recipes if you like, including those tailgating recipes if you have some.  It's a long weekend and Friday party time!

Here are the 10 Featured Posts from last week:

Cheers and Salute' to the Labor Day Weekend!    These Lemon Drop Martinis that Donna made from The Slow Roasted Italian are perfect to lift our spirits and let the party begin!

Click on 'read more' below to link up your recipe (or 2 or 3) and to read all of the other recipes and featured posts.
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Seasonal Saturday and Fresh Food Friday!

Does time just fly by in your life as it does in mine?  Gosh, it's already the wonderful weekend and I'm so excited!  I've got so many recipes to try and once I'm home from the office tomorrow, it will be time to let the cooking begin!

I'd like to say to those who live along the East Coast and who are in the potential path of Hurricane Irene, that you are all in our prayers and thoughts for safe haven!!   Hopefully you'll be able to keep your pets safe with you too!

Without fail, there were so many yummy recipes share last week, so without more yakking on my part, here are the 10 Featured Blog Posts and one is a food gardening post (yay!):

I thought that I'd start out the featured blogs with a bang with Amy's of "u try it" Chocolate Crepe Layer Cake With Hazelnut Cream !   Now this is how I want to be able to bake someday!  This is the quality of baking and cooking that I strive for!

To read more of the shared and featured posts, click on 'read more' below:

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Seasonal Saturday and Fresh Food Friday!

I'd like to first thank each of you for your kind words of support during my week from hell this first week of classes, meetings, deadlines, and more!  I kept your thoughts on my mind as I perservered through the demands that had to not only be met, but that had to be met with excellence and focus.

But oh, with a sigh of relief, I can now relax over the weekend and visit your latest blog posts.  I don't know the reasons why each of us 'blog', but I can say that I gain so much enjoyment from not just 'it' (this blog), trying new recipes, reading about your recipes, trips, and gardens, but also from the friendships in this unique community!

Enough of my jibber-jabber (it comes easily to those of us who teach!), it's time to have some fun and share some super recipes.

Here are the 10, yes 10 Featured Blogs from last week. . . as this blog get-together continues to grow, I felt the need to keep the percentage of featured blogs more in-line with the number of those posts linked up.  So here you go!

My oh my what a beautiful pizza pie!  Cathy from "Wives With Knives" brought along this summer-fresh pizza to the party, Fresh Home-made Tomato and Herb Pizza!  Mmmmm, yummo!  Please visit her blog and follow along at her new web address. 

From Annamaria from "It's In There" is this super-rich Blue Ribbon Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake.  I love trying any recipe that has won that beloved, treasured blue ribbon!  Welcome Annamaria!

Look what my good friend, Kim from "Stirring The Pot" prepared:   Basil Potato Puree!  I could pour this bowl of deliciousness down my throat and ask for more on top of that!  What a recipe, Kim!

What a wonderful way to serve and enjoy fresh peaches.  This recipe, Peach Compote with Cream and Almonds, was shared by Jeanie Rose from "Traditional Foods".  Welcome to the party, Jeanie Rose!

Just take a look at this simply beautiful dish shared by Concetta of "Concetta's Kitchen":  Concetta's Chicken Salad.  She says that this specialty of hers is 'cool, creamy, and dreamy'.  Works for me, Concetta!

Welcome to Carol from "Easy To Be Gluten-Free" and a big thanks for sharing this cheesy Rice and Veggie Alfredo Pie!  Great meatless recipe too!

Danielle from "Hugs and Kisses XOXO" is new to the get-together and shared this luscious Red Velvet Cheesecake.  What a scrumptious marriage of flavors!  Welcome!

Miranda from "Mangoes and Chutney" shared another superb chicken salad recipe, this time enhancing it with an accent of cranberries:  Cranberry Chicken Salad!  Fruit added to savory salads are so enjoyable, don't ya think?

A new, updated version of Gazpacho was linked up by Kate of "A Spoonful of Thyme".  For this, Kate added lovely tiny shrimp and perfectly ripe chunks of avocado.  Now THIS is a winning soup recipe!

Emily, from "Recipes To Nourish" brought an eye-candy beverage to refresh with on any late summer day, Watermelon Lemonade.  Welcome too, Emily!

So please go ahead and grab the "I've Been Featured" button if you like and place it anywhere on your blog.  It's my way of saying 'thank you' for sharing your great recipe!  The code is at the bottom of my sidebar on the right.

Thanks to everyone for sharing and making this such a fun get-together.  Everyone is appreciated by all of us, not just me!

Please use the URL address of your blog post and not of your blog in general.
Recipe and food gardening posts only, please.
Share as many posts as you like.

** To be considered for next week's Featured Blogs, the button and/or link for "Fresh Food Friday or Seasonal Saturday" needs to appear on your post.  The codes are at the bottom of my sidebar on the right. **  


And may God bless you and yours over the weekend and always!

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Seasonal Saturday and Fresh Food Friday!

Oh what a busy time it is for me!  As a college educator, I'm busy, busy, BUSY with prepping for the beginning of fall semester.  I am trying to get to all the various linky-parties that are open for sharing recipes (I do enjoy sharing the love!).  And so I realize I may be a little bit late in posting this linky, please forgive me.

Please remember that everyone who has a foodie or food gardening recipe is welcome here. . . new or established bloggers!  It is important for those starting out to introduce themselves as well as to discover those who've been food blogging for a period of time.  I guess that's the educator in me; to help pull up those younger than I am!

With that said, here are the lovely 8 featured blog posts that were shared last week!

This mouthwatering Grilled Polenta was shared by Karen at Goodbye City Hello Suburbs. 
I know how seriously delicious this polenta must be!

click below to read all of the shared and featured posts from last week!

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Seasonal Saturday and Fresh Food Friday!

The recipes that everyone is sharing here on Fresh Food Fridays and Seasonal Saturdays are getting better and better each and every week.  Isn't it nice to have something as wonderful and joyful as cooking in our lives when so much craziness of any type may be occurring around us?  The kitchen is my therapy, my escape, my passion . . . it is pure joy to cook, bake, and garden.  I think from reading all of your recipes and gardening posts, that all of you feel the same way!  Happy cooking, baking, and gardening to all of you!

Here are the Featured blog posts from last week:

Hezzi-D from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks prepared these refreshing, cooling Fresh Cherry Mojitos as a signature cocktail for her birthday!  Happy Birthday, Hezzi and welcome to the party!

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Seasonal Saturday and Fresh Food Friday!

So many wonderful food bloggers, so many great recipes, and so little time to prepare all of them . . . which one will you share today?  Each and every week, I'm so amazed at the passion for and talent in cooking that this community of bloggers brings together!

The abundance of our gardens and local farms is just amazing this July.  Everyone appears to be enjoying seasonal cooking, baking, grilling, freezing, and canning.  We're so busy, busy, busy doing what we love and sharing that love through our cooking for those whom we care the most about.

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Seasonal Saturday and Fresh Food Friday!

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This week's edition of Fresh Food Friday and Seasonal Saturday is being posted while I'm visiting my family in the Midwest.  I don't need to tell anyone how sweltering hot the weather has been in this region and other areas of the U.S.  I hope that you're all taking care of yourselves, your loved ones, and your pets during this intense weather pattern.

What a wonderful array of recipes were shared last week, and all worth being featured this week.  Both new bloggers and regular bloggers to this get-together are selected.  There are eight highlighted recipe and garden posts for you to check out and visit; they are all wonderful!

So let's take a look at the Featured Posts from last week:

click on 'read more' beneath my signature to read all of the shared and featured posts!

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Fresh Food Friday and Seasonal Saturday!

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As it has been so hot outside, we are certainly still heating up our grills and kitchens with some fantastic cooking among bloggers.  And the heat isn't keeping us out of our gardens either, as we harvest more fresh goodness every week!  There were so many recipes and gardening posts shared last week that I'll feature more posts to showcase more of you!  Remember, oldies and newbies alike are selected to highlight your delicious dishes!

Once again, I extend my heart-felt thanks for joining in this little get-together every weekend.  This has been a great way to find new and upcoming blogs and for newbies to find some of the more established blogs that have been going strong for years.

So let's take a look at the Featured Blogs from last week!

 

click on 'read more' beneath my signature for more shared and featured blog posts from last week.

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Seasonal Saturday and Fresh Food Friday!

Time just flies by when you're having fun!  From reading your blogs, it sure sounds like you had a great time and enjoyed some wonderful food and company over the holiday weekend!  Everyone is cooking up so many wonderful recipes these days and so now's the time and here's the place to link up, share, and show others what's been going in your kitchen or out on the grill.

I can't thank each of you enough for returning or if you're new to this link-up. Both oldies and newbies are selected for the weekly Featured Posts.  This is a great forum for foodies to find new bloggers just starting out or to invite them to discover the well-established blogs.
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Now let's take a look at these lovely Featured Posts from last week!

Aren't these Mixed Berry-Kiwi Sorbets with Lemon and Basil just beautiful?  They were kindly shared by Amy at "U Try It"  This recipe is on my "must-make" list!

This Big Carrot Cake is just irresistible!  Just look at the amount of icing alone on this huge slice of sweet goodness that was shared by Lisa from "Sweet As Sugar Cookies".

A big welcome to Sam of "My Carolina Kitchen", who creates such interesting recipes such as this Crunchy Chicken Salad.  I love all of the colors in this dish!

Oh my gosh, chocolate is a weakness for so many of us!  This Deeply Chocolate Gelato is rich, creamy and heavenly that was shared by Jo at "Bees and Fleur de Lis".

What an outstanding and beautiful Berry Cheesecake shared by Sheryl at "Lady Behind the Curtain".  This is cake is just so over-the-top!  Welcome Sheryl!

This Drunken Asparagus with Prosciutto and Feta Cheese won 3rd place in a cooking contest due to the added flavor from a beer marinade.  Sometimes the most unexpected combinations turn out to be delicious!  Kudos to "The Local Cook".

Chipotle and Lime Buttered Corn on the Cob is one of the top trendy summer grilling items this season.  These flavors are so delicious together and brought to us by Jackie at "Lovin' My Domestic Life".

So all of you featured bloggers, please go ahead and grab the "I've Been Featured" button and place it anywhere on your post or blog if you like.  The "Code" is on the bottom of my sidebar to the right.

Time to share your new posts for this week!
Please use the URL address of your post only and not your blog in general.
Recipe or gardening posts only, please.
You can share up to 2 posts from any date.
**To be considered for one of next week's featured blog posts, the button to this get-together and/or link to "Fresh Food Friday" or "Seasonal Saturday" needs to be included in your post(s).  The "Codes" are on the bottom of my side bar on the right**

Thank you for your kindness; I appreciate each of you, whether this is your first visit here or if you regularly stop by and share a post each week!  I truly enjoy each of your posts!  May God bless you over the weekend and always!

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Chocolate Amaretti Peaches ~ ~ Dining "Al Fresco"!

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What a sweet treat!  Fresh summer peaches loaded with sweet, crushed amaretto cookies and brown sugar, blended together with warm butter!   Warm chocolate drizzled all over the top of them after being broiled to a golden brown color.  We were amazed at such an unexpected flavor combination.  We were "Wowed"!  After devouring them, we were thinking of other ways to us the cookie/brown sugar/butter topping:  as a crumble topping covering cherries, or apples, or whatever fruit you enjoy.  The cookie crumb topping is what made this simple dessert shine!

This month the Cooking Light Virtual Supper Club's theme is "Sounds Like Summer ~ ~ Al Fresco", a time to prepare recipes to enjoy eating outside.  This theme is so welcome to me now that the first session of teaching summer school is over and behind me.  In June, I was indoors all day, every weekday.  And now I'm FREE to be outside . . . my favorite place!  So thanks to Mary Ann of "Meet Me In The Kitchen" for selecting this month's theme so perfectly!   Val, from "More Than Burnt Toast" is always such a wonderful party host and gets all of us organized and on the same page each month.  You can head on over to her blog here {link} to read what the rest of the group prepared for our outdoor dining event for July.

Amaretto cookies always come individually wrapped in colorful, delicate tissue paper.

Inside each wrapper are two little cookies with sugar.  The almond aroma is incredible!

Chocolate Amaretti Peaches

1/2 cup crushed amaretti cookies (about 8 cookies)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 large ripe peaches, halved and pitted
Cooking spray
4 teaspoons butter (I increased this to 4 Tbsp. - one for each peach half)
dark chocolate, melted or shaved (I chose to melt the chocolate to drizzle it)

Heat up oven broiler.
Combine cookie crumbs and sugar in a small bowl.
Hollow center of peach halves.
Fill each peach half with 1 rounded tablespoon cookie crumb mixture.
Arrange peaches in an 11 x 7-inch glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray.
Place 1 teaspoon butter on top of each filled half.
Broil 2 minutes or until butter melts.
Drizzle melted chocolate or sprinkle shaved chocolate evenly on top of the peaches.
Cool 5 minutes before serving.

The peaches are stuffed with crushed amaretti and brown sugar.

A tablespoon of butter added on top of each stuffed peach.

• Jerry of Jerry's Thoughts, Musings and Rants:  Grilled Pizza w/ Prosciutto, Arugula & Lemon.
• Mary Ann of Meet Me in the Kitchen:  Summer Lemon-Vegetable Risotto. 
• Jamie from Mom's Cooking Club:  Summer Peach and Tomato Salad.
• Val of More Than Burnt Toast:  Poached Salmon with Creamy Herb Sauce. 
• Sandi from The Whistlestop Cafe:  Peach Ice Cream.

Peaches swimming in a pool of melted brown sugared butter, drizzled with chocolate!

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