When life has you accidentally buy a crap load of lemons..

You make preserved lemons.

I have been scouring my favorite food blogs and cookbooks looking for new, healthy and tasty recipes. While searching I came across a few recipes that use preserved lemons and while I like trying new things, I don't necessarily like to pay big prices for things I can make much cheaper on my own. So when I realized that I had purchased waaaay to many lemons last week (every time I left the house I bought some for no good reason!), I remembered that I wanted to make a few of those dishes that called for preserved lemons and really how hard can it be to make these? Well turns out it's not hard at all, it just takes about 30 days. Which I can totally wait for because one dish will require me to either learn to debone a chicken or beg the butcher to do it for me (I will definitely let you know how that one turns out!).

I looked at several different ways of doing this and ended up keeping it simple and pure, using just salt, lemons and lemon juice. I combined a few of the recipes into what you see below as I couldn't find one that I liked 100%. I can't wait to try these in a month.

Preserved Lemons - Shannon Style

6-8 lemons for preserving (my lemons were small so I used 8 of them)
1/4 cup sea salt
additional lemons to use for additional juice

Sterile Mason Jar

It goes without saying, but as the preserved lemon rinds are what you use once they are done, make sure that you wash the lemons well, using a fruit and veggie spray if you are a stickler like me.

1.  Sprinkle a tablespoon of salt in the jar to get started. Quarter your lemons starting from the top and stopping within a half inch or so of the bottom so the lemon remains whole. Sprinkle the inside of the lemon generously with salt, reshape and place inside the jar. Continue the process with the remainder of  your lemons being sure to salt between the layers of lemons and making sure to press down on the lemons inside the jar. This not only makes room, but releases the juice to help cover the lemons.

2.  Once all lemons are in the jar add additional fresh lemon juice until the top of your lemons are covered in juice, making sure to leave some air in the jar. (I used about two additional lemons for the juice)

3.  Place the jar in a warm place where they can ripen, making sure to shake the jar each day to keep things working properly, for 30 days.

Once you are ready to use, rinse the lemon under water and if you prefer you can remove and discard the pulp.

Everything I have read says that these are good for up to a year and you can reuse the pickling juice two to three more times if desired. Not sure how I feel about that last bit, but we will see how it all works out.

Summer Vacation is Over

Phew. Summertime can really take it out of you. I mean sun, beach, vacation, kids, food and wine…need I go on? It has been a full and busy summer for me and the peeps and I didn't mean to not update, but I decided to embrace all that comes with summer vacation, including not updating the site and boy did it feel good! Now it's time to settle back in, get back to work and find out everything that is worth knowing in my world. 

Actually I don't have much to catch anyone up on (unless you count sitting around and enjoying the sun something everyone needs to know), but here are a few of the highlights.

• I made this peach pie. It was soooo good, I recommend everyone having some end of summer peach pie. I have no pictures because it was so good no one remembered to take pictures. We were way too busy filling our pie holes with pie.

• I photo bombed fallen trees in the Redwoods. I would have loved to spent more time hiking there, but the kids are not of that age quite yet and there are plenty of years ahead for that!

• One set of parents moved to Oregon and we spent an afternoon checking out the Durant Vineyards/Red Ridge Farms olive mill and winery. I joined the club, bought plenty of oil and wine and can't wait to get my first club shipment. If you find yourself ever in the area, check it out. Well worth a taste and a walk through.

• I froze avocado's in hopes of being able to enjoy it through the winter (they were so cheap this summer), but my first taste test of the frozen items is not exactly what I hoped. I guess I will just buy them at the higher price for my sandwiches. 

• I bought  a new couch (minus the tacky pillows and fake flowers), but I won't get it until October. Totally worth the wait!

Annnnd that's about it for me. How about you? Anything new, exciting, thrilling or a must see and do?

Summer Feet

I may have mentioned a few times in the last few weeks that I have been struggling with my feet being dry, tired and not happy. I have been using the vaseline method and it works, but it's a bit hard to put socks on with the summer heat. Then last week a friend sent me a link about a DIY foot bath solution that promises to get that dead skin removed and leaves your feet pretty. Of course I had to try it, but first I wanted to to check out that it wasn't going to melt my feet or something else I would regret. Once I read this article that pointed out what each ingredient would do, I felt good enough to give it a go.

I can't find the original source to credit since there are so many people that have reposted and included this information on the web, but here is the original "recipe" for your foot bath:

1/4 cup Listerine
1/4 cup distilled vinegar
1/2 warm water

Mix all and soak feet for 10 minutes and when you take them out the dead skin will practically wipe off.

I followed the above directions using the blue Listerine and soaked for the recommended time. While the skin did not "wipe off", using a pumice stone after the soak the skin was indeed coming off so easy that I was sold, but I do have some changes and suggestions. I would absolutely double the ingredients so you have a decent amount of water to truly soak your feet in and I don't recommend using the blue Listerine, unless you like blue feet (although my feet are now minty fresh).

While we may be halfway through summer I think the soak is totally worth a try to keep or refresh your feet and make them sandal worthy all summer long.

Must See Anniversary SALE!!

Why does it seem that the summer flies by sooo much quicker than the rest of the year? I feel like it just started, yet the calendar says we are headed towards August at light speed.

This week I have tried to make sure that I get out of the house/warehouse daily to at least make sure that each day is not all about work. This is twice as hard as you think when your significant other is a workaholic and also works from home and you work together on most of your projects. I can however say that the success rate was 100%, even if one outing was just to the post office to drop of an eBay item!

The best thing about this week is that the mothership came a calling. That's right the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is here (early access and then access for all July 18th) and I have combed through and picked out the best items for your viewing (and purchasing) pleasure. Overall I was pretty pleased with everything, but was a little less then impressed with the shoes, but perhaps it's just me not getting on board with the fall shoe trends. What are your favorite items this year?

Happy shopping!

View this SkinnyScoop List

The VIP Box

I have been really sticking to a budget around here for awhile, but that doesn't mean I don't have a fun fund or a Shannon deserves this so she is going to get it stash of cash. I just have become super choosy about when to reach in to these reserves. The exception is subscription services that promise big bang for little buck. It's been stated here on this blog how much I love Birchbox and getting things in the mail. I must admit it thrills me to no end to get random items in the mail. Over the last two years or so I have tried other subscription random stuff in the mail services, but haven't found any consistently awesome enough to write about, until now. The box is from Fab Fit Fun VIP and yes that is Giuliana Rancic on the site. Just let it roll, it's not like you have to talk to her or look at her large head. Anyway here are a few of the highlights I think make this box a keeper.

Total of items are well worth over the cost you pay and it's stuff I would want even if it didn't just randomly show up at my door*.

While the cost is a bit more then some of the others at $49.99, it is only sent out 4 times a year (see above on the cost vs. receive) and with products geared towards each season. Super helpful.

The summer package has a few products that I haven't heard of before, but now am totally in love with. You know I love finding new things!

To give you an idea of what you can receive here is what I received in my summer box:

1. Ivory Mason Sunglasses - I saw these and actually squealed. I am addicted to sunglasses and now I don't need to purchase new ones for summer. They look fabulous on. I love these. 

2. Yes to Cucumbers Travel Facial Wipes - I am a constant traveler and these are fantastic for anytime and anywhere.

3. Evian Brumisateur Facial Spray - Ask the kiddlets what cooled them off when we were dragging our luggage through Venice over so many bridges in unbearable heat and they will let you know it was this spray. It works by the pool too.

4. It Hair Care Surf Spray - For the beachy waves when you are away from  the beach. Fantastic and smells good.

5. Purlisse - Pur-Delicate Gentle Soy Milk Cleanser - I have sensitive skin and this is super gentle while removing all the makeup and dirt. Oh and it was named and one of Vogue's favorite products. Count me in!

6. Infinity Sun Glow on the Go - I haven't tried it yet, but will give it a go tomorrow. I always need to psych myself up before doing a self tanner. Perhaps a shot of tequila will help make me feel better about it.

7. Orly Nail Polish - In a pretty pale purple, this is perfect for summer!

8. Catalina Su Lip Gloss - I can't stop putting this on. It's light, shimmery and not sticky. 

9. Kind Dark Chocolate Chili Almond and Maple Glazed Pecan and Sea Salt - Gone. It was delicious.

If you are interested you can check out FFF here and use the code 614874 (it was in my box to be shared with the world) to get $10 off your first box. It's totally worth giving it a go.

* The spring box had Jewel Mint jewelry that a lot of people didn't like, myself included, but the rest of the items were great and still added up to over double the amount I paid. You are not going to like everything all the time. That said the summer box was super fantastic and I loved everything.

Cheesy Grilled Corn. Oh My!

This long weekend was filled with good food, house cleaning (actually gave some closet inches to the BF), relaxing evenings (in which I tried as many of these flavors as I could) and and a few fireworks. One of the evenings the BF suggested that we grill some steaks and I had been wanting to throw corn on the grill since we returned to the US so this was the perfect opportunity. While I know Paula Deen has been having a rough go of it these last few weeks, that doesn't change the fact this grilled corn recipe is flipping awesome.

Of course I have a few suggestions/changes that I recommend from experience, starting with making sure you use non-stick foil or slather and sprinkle after the grill. Both solutions work and this time I happened to have some nonstick foil so I pre-slathered and sprinkled, but usually I do it after the corn is grilled. The other suggestion is to use Veganaise instead of mayo. It doesn't turn you vegan, I promise, but I so prefer the taste that I use it on everything. It's really that good.

So good.

Give the corn a health dose of Veganaise.

Heavy handed sprinkle.

Like a Ninja

You know that the best way to combat jet lag is to internet window shop. While I shop and put hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise into my cart I think to myself how much I don't REALLY need any of these items and exit out of the site. Oh the items I have found, but for the most part I don't regret not getting any of them. OK, maybe that Alice and Olivia dress that was on sale, but really that's it.

Beyond the internet shopping there are the informercials at three am that call my name. My favorites are the NutriBullet, Miracle Skin Transformer and anything Shark, but I have been able to talk myself out of purchasing these, barely. Then there is the Ninja Mega Kitchen System. The Ninja has been something I have wanted to for awhile. It is a juicer, a processor, a blending and a dough mixing machine all in one. I have talked myself out of it by the fact that I have a blender and a mini processor and don't need to buy something new. Well that is not totally true. I have a mediocre blender that doesn't really crush the ice and processor that takes forever to process anything. So the excuses are done over and the Ninja is mine. I have only used it three times (processor, single serve blend and crushed ice, which is way fun) since Monday, but I LOVE IT. It is everything it says and more. Hopefully this weekend I will get to spend more time with it, trying all the different items, but for now I will make my morning green drink and love how easy and smooth it is.