Tasty Wednesday!

I am a big fan of the Picky Palate food blog. I check this blog almost daily. This lady makes the most amazing food but yet simple enough for me to pull off. So after "pulling off" this Bruschetta Chicken, I had to share. This is soo yummy! Who couldn't love grilled chicken topped with melted cheese, and tomatoes tossed with garlic and basil. Oh my goodness! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!! Thanks Picky Palate~

Balsamic Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, thawed (I use the big Costco bag)

Pinch of salt

¼ Cup balsamic vinegar

¼ Cup extra virgin olive oil

8 slices fresh mozzarella cheese

4 Roma Tomatoes, seeded and diced

8 fresh basil leaves, stacked, rolled and thinly sliced into chiffonade

3 cloves fresh garlic, minced

Tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1. Preheat a grill pan over medium heat on the stovetop. Spray with cooking spray. Combine balsamic and olive oil in a bowl. Season both sides of chicken with pinches of salt and place on grill. Brush top sides of chicken with balsamic mixture. Cook for 4-5 minutes and flip chicken. Brush with additional balsamic and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes or until cooked through. During the last 2 minutes of grilling place 2 slices of cheese over top each chicken to melt.
2. In a large bowl combine the tomatoes, basil garlic, salt and balsamic. Toss gently to combine. Place chicken breasts on a serving plate and top with tomato mixture. Serve warm

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American Idol- Top 5

Neil Diamond- Who thought that the Vegas "Old Lady's man" would be on american idol. Shesh...but I guess he has a new record coming out and is trying to promote it. So how did the top 5 do according to me....

Jason- Round one:I have already emphasized how great I think Jason is. I'm not a big fan of the song he sang, but I thought he made it his own style and that made me like it. He stuck to his goofy interview and same beach bon fire attire. He gets my favorite vote tonight. Any surprise? Round two:I even liked his second song choice. I think its too bad that he is held down by being made to choose a song from the theme night. I think that has hurt him (especially since he has to sing Neil Diamond)
David C.- Round one: Finally back to his genre'. He does so much better at this rocker style than the theatre stuff. Although, I didn't care for it. Maybe its Neil Diamond's songs that I don't like. Round two:Oh....I really liked his second song choice and the way he worked it out. Especially the drum solo before the chorus. I'm a sucker for drums. Good job David. I'm pulling for you too!
Brooke- Round one: Where is Shrek? Ok...maybe too many cartoons for me lately. But what was up with her fake leather, sparkly silver pants and blue shirt? I'm not too into fashion, but wouldn't this be in a tabliod with the heading of "what not to wear"? I like brooke, but feel that she was really trying to push the envelope on this one. Round two: My Brooke is back! I really think she did great one the piano and the vocals. Yeah for Brooke! Heres hoping your not in the bottom 3 tonight.
David A.-Round one: Good greif! Can you beleive that Neil said he was a prodigy? He does sing good, but goodness....I guess to me he did ok. Just "Al'ight for me dawg" Round two: UGH! I absolutely hate this song. I don't hate too many songs, but this is one of the tops on my short list. Like I have said over and over again, he is a great singer, but I do not like him and for all of you reading this....don't vote for David A.
Syeisha- Round one- slow songs really suit Syeisha. She looked really pretty tonight and she rocked on the high long notes of the song. She did good tonight. I have never heard this song before but liked the words "Hello my friend, I know its late, but I couldn't wait to say hello" Round two: Whats w/ the bare feet? Hm....I was expecting the other two "Supremes" to come out behind her. It really sounded Mo-town to me. I agree with Randy in that it sounded very broadway.

Who's going home? My prediction is Syeisha!

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Blowing flowers

While blowing dandilions,

I ask the wind..

How far is far?

How high is high?

A simple answer

as the flowers float by..

You'll never know until you try.

(pictures by my talented bff)

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I heart North Carolina

a laugh, a cry, a trip, a wink

a hug, a tear, a hand, a drink

an email, ancient cellphone, Sonic Smoothies

conversations, Lost, an idol, movies

car rides and too many memories to end

"starting something" and feelings to mend

Beaches, songs, riding in planes

dueling pianos and listening to trains

Dogs and fountains, Fayetteville the "City"

a photo, car rentals and sunsets so pretty

sweating, snoring and silent fears

special to me, I know that they care

a lot of hurts, smiles and long letters

a short visit to make me feel better

shopping, fun and days that are sunny

borrowing clothes and even money

piano music, and gardens galore

computer laughs, never a bore

reading, stories, writing, and dreams

love and happy high buzz beams!

sharing secrets and coded little notes

Big guy in a little coat

sympathy hugs, being naughty and bad

you’re the best friends I will ever have

Drama, talks, bowling, food

even when in our bad no sleep mood

dancing, sharing, staying sane

Mary’s cupcakes, memory lane

Garden planting and dyeing hair

My best friends are always there

Skyview, Polk, the Valley and Firsthealth too

North Carolina, I miss you!!!!

The Glorioso's (NC parents)

The most talented and beautiful best friend I will ever have

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American Idol- Top 6

Andrew Lloyd Weber night: It was neat learning some facts about Weber. What a fascinating person and talented beyond belief. It was crazy for me to learn that he started composing at the age of 9.

Now on to the top 6 (as my least favorite lady got the boot last week, Kristy):

Syeisha- She looks good in red. I even liked the little 1920's curls she had by her ears. Cute! She should stick with broadway styles. I really liked it!
Jason- I thought it was funny that ALW joked about Jason's dreadlocks and singing Memories. This is one of my favorite songs. I even have a music box that is in Jonas' room that plays this song. I think Jason sang it great! I just love him! His voice is so "flowers floating on a pond" refreshing and soft. I know the judges ripped him apart, but he still has all my votes!
Brooke- I loved that ALW told Brooke the background of the song and that my Fav girl pulled out some praise from him. Although...WHOOPS......she messed up big. Forgot the lyrics big then stopped and had the band start the song over! Oh no Brooke! That totally lost it for me!
David A.-First of all; how cheesey it was for me to have little girls come up and hug him. However, on to the song..I absolutly love the arrangement he pulled together for this song. I still don't care for this little guy, but he did a fantastic job tonight!!
Carly- Hm...I liked her bracelet. That is all.
David Cook- When I was taking piano lessons, my teacher had me play all the songs from Phantom. Its hard for me to like this performance since I compare it to the theatre version. David is a great vocalist and he did good but I agree with Simon in the fact that I don't like this side of him. Just "Al'ight for me Dawg"

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Happy Earth Day!

To celebrate the beautiful earth, we planted sunflower seeds, had a picnic, and picked Daffodils. It was humbling to be outside with the blue sky, bright sun, and warm breeze and to witness the small and simple things that make our home, Earth, such a beautiful place. Since we picked Daffodils, I thought the poem "Daffodils" by Wordsworth would be appropriate on such an occasion. He seemed to capture what Earth Day is all about. The beauty all around us that is burned into our soul if we only let it in.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way

They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils

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Holy Mother Cluckers- the Kickin' Chicks won!!!!

It has been said that best friends are the ones that stick by your side through the good and bad, thick and thin, rich and poor, etc. I think that I can say that I have been truly blessed to be able to find my "soul sister" (and brother) in Karen and Sam. We have been through just about everything and I'm not exagerating one bit. Tears and laughter blended together for a relationship that is bonded in love no matter the miles between us. This post is truly dedicated to the ones I love and the ones that I'm so extremly proud of. Karen and Sam entered the first Annual KidsPeace Charity Chicken Wing contest. They are known as the "Kickin' Chicks" and one of their competition booths were known as the "Mother Cluckers" (thats such a hilarious name!) After weeks of preparation and sleepless nights the Kickin' Chicks got ready to compete in their first ever food contest. Imagine this: 40 pounds of chicken, a secret rub, deep fried in a turkey fryer, then doused in a chipolte seasoning sauce. Sore finger tips from cutting chilli's, homemade cactus from a PVC pipe, and getting up at 5am. Lots of hard work and there was never any doubt in my mind that they would go home winners. Not only did they win, but they recieved two, YES TWO 1ST PLACE plaques for winning! They won the best booth design and also the Peoples Choice best wing. I am overwhelmed with pride for my BFF and want to publicly let them both know how much I care for them, love them and am so excited for their awesome acheivement! Since they didn't save me any wings (we will talk about that later-ha) I am saving the date on my calendar for next year so I can be sure to be there as they defend their title. Way to go guys and I hope you can share your recipe!!!!

Karen on the left with one of her team members

Sam "The Rooster" during the cook off

Awards! So proud of you guys! Yeah!

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