#13 S'mores for a Crowd

You don't need a campfire to make s'mores and it's an easy, fun throw together dessert for a crowd. And my way is really safer than a campfire especially if a lot of little kids are in your party. Here's how I do it.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Be careful to not let paper hang off side of pan since you're going to put it on the grill and it could catch fire (p.s. marshmallows can catch on fire too! So stay with this as you make it.)



When grill is around 300+ put lined pan on grates. (What are those square things you ask? Vegan marshmallows. We had a vegan in my dinner party. You can find these in the Whole Foods fridge section with the cookie dough.) Check in a minute, should look like this:

Check again in another minute, and it should look like this.

It's now time to take off the grill and assemble with the Hershey Bars and Grahams. Put on platter so your guests can dive in.

I think my wee guests liked them. I guess that's an expression of yum :-)

Lagniappe - A Hamburger First

This is my colleague Ema. She is from Bulgaria. She's lived in Vancouver for about seven years. She had never had a hamburger. Until last week. When a "Five Guys" was next to our place of business and well, we just insisted she try it. Thumbs up!

Seriously, if you see a Five Guys. Indulge. Quite possibly the best burger I've ever had in my life. Sorry Huey's fans.

#12 Pink Lemonrita on a hot day

…so I really wanted to come up with a drink that rocked. Preferably something summery and slightly sweet. The Pink Lemonrita does it all. The key to this drink is a whole lemon. No need to waste all that beautiful sour meat for just the juice. Just take a knife and chop off all the skin. Quarter it only to remove the seeds easier, then throw it straight into the blender.

I also didn’t want to use any simple syrup – who really has that just sitting in their fridge? …powdered sugar will work for this. It blends nicely and doesn’t leave the texture that normal sugar leaves behind.



Pink Lemonrita
1 whole lemon, skinned and de-seeded
1 shot Tequila
1 shot Triple Sec (or other orange liquer)
1 Tbls powdered sugar
1 Tbls grenadine
Blend everything together with about 2 cups of ice. Serves 2 people or 1 very thirsty person. Enjoy!!

Lagniappe: Ode to Hydrangea

Oh Hydrangea/Pom Pom/Snowball Bush...

Thou is persnickety over just enough sun to bloom but not too much to scorch…

With your vast plumes of blue or pink or white or purple or green or violet and the surprise of what will come hence forth…

How abundant you are in the summer down South!

How I envy my neighbor’s yard abound with thee!


One mere trip to Mother’s yard is all one needs for happiness to lay eyes on her burning bush of violet plumes…


And how free with a mere snip or two for the wedding vase…be banished fancy florists who have the gall to charge $15 a stem.

#11 - Grill Cupcakes

No, not cupcakes you do "on" the grill, cupcakes you make that look like a grill. Perfect for Father's Day and compliments of Family Fun magazine.

Click here for website and then search A Grate Gift for Dad.