Santa Cruz, CA Newborn and Child Photographer-Renee Whiting Photography » Food

Life is Sweet and So is Rocky Road!~Santa Cruz Photographer

Renee Whiting — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 06:45:33 +0000

Every year I make pounds and pounds of homemade Rocky Road Candy! It is SO good!

This year my middle daughter thought it would be fun to make it together when I came down for a visit. She was right! It’s definitely more fun to be up to your elbows in chocolate with someone else. We made multiple batches and this year we’ll both be giving it out to friends, co-workers and neighbors.

The first step in making it is to put on a cute holiday apron and crank up the Christmas music!

It’s really very easy, just three simple ingredients: good milk chocolate, marshmallows and pecans (or walnuts). That’s it!

CHOP……….MELT………MIX…….LET SET………AND PACKAGE IT UP!

Enjoy!!! Life is Sweet!

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Table Talk (or better known as): Table for Two

Renee Whiting — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:07:35 +0000

It seems like just yesterday that every Monday morning like clockwork, I would get the girls off to school, then sit down with a cup of coffee and make out my menu and grocery list for the week. I would check all our calendars so I’d know exactly what evenings we’d be home and really put some thought into what menu would fit well for what night of the week. Often the girls would get to plan a dinner for one night of the week (and yes, it had to include salad and/or vegies). Some days I knew would be crazy busy and I’d have little time in the kitchen so dinner would be simple that night, other days I’d have the stove on by mid-morning slow cooking all day long. What has happened to those days?? I really do miss them! Now it’s just a TABLE FOR TWO!

While it’s been four years since our youngest went off to college (she’s officially a college grad now) I still struggle with cooking for two. Either I cook way too much or we just grab a bite out because I lack the inspiration to cook for just us. I mean why cook when we can go to Taco Bar (at El Palomar) or our new favorite, Lillians?? Both of those restaurants are fast, delicious and fairly priced!

Why am I sharing all this with you?? Well, I thought it would be fun to re-inspire myself and maybe you at the same time! I’m hoping to share once weekly a meal that I’ve set on our TABLE FOR TWO! Sometimes I might even include a recipe! Might be one of mine or even one I got from you! Other times, like tonight, it will just be dinner. How often do you hear a friend say they made such-n-such for dinner and your response is, “gosh, I haven’t made that in a long time?” Well, hopefully this weekly inspiration will keep you from getting the kitchen blues!

Tonight was taco night! So yummy, there’s nothing like a homemade taco! One must for tacos is that you have to fry up your tortilla shells, no store bought, boxed, taste like nothing shells will do. Then fill them up with seasoned ground beef (or turkey), shredded cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, avocado, taco sauce, sour cream and ketchup! Yep, you heard me right, ketchup is a must!! If you don’t believe me, ask one of my sisters, they know the truth about this!! Now usually with tacos I prefer a big cold glass of milk, but for the sake of the pictures I had to include an icy cold Corona!

Wow, sorry for getting so long winded about this, can’t you just see how excited I am to get myself re-inspired?!?!?

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When life gives you ripe bananas…………

Renee Whiting — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:35:14 +0000

make BANANA BREAD! Ok, I know the saying is “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” but I had lots of ripe bananas!!

I do believe I make the best!! Drop me an email if you’d like the recipe, I’m happy to share!

Tip of the day: Did you know that you can keep ripe bananas in the freezer? That’s right! Use them frozen in smoothies or thaw them to make bread. Just peel, break in half and store in a zip lock freezer bag!

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