Sunday, March 31, 2013

Happy Easter!

I hope your Easter is filled with candy for breakfast, plenty of leftover ham and lots of love!  And maybe even an afternoon nap if you're lucky...


Happy Easter!!

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Creamy Spinach, Feta, Dill Dip


Today was the first day that finally actually felt like Spring.  Days after the "official" beginning of the seasons and weeks after I am past the point of my limited patience of waiting for it, Spring has come.  Yes, I do realize that there is still snow on the ground, but do you know what else?  There are birds that are actually singing, outside, and the sky?  It's blue.  With white puffy clouds!  A blue sky!  I don't think I've seen one of those since November!  My heart is filled with joy.

Needless to say, for an Arizona girl, unhappily transplanted in the Midwest, the first day that actually feels like Spring is a Godsend.  And it could not have come at a better time.  Things are starting to really fly, both at work and at home (hello wedding planning!) and I don't know how well I could have taken any more drab, ugly, melt-y snowy, crappy days.  And if you asked Ben, he would tell you that I haven't been handling them at all.  But that doesn't matter any more.  Because I am calling it, although Punxsutawney Phil I am not, Spring is here people!  Put away the heavy down coat!  And scarfs, cute as they may be.  Good bye leather gloves and 180 earmuffs.  Because It. Is. Spring.  And so help me God, if it snows again, I may have a psychological break down.

For Ben's sake, let's pray it doesn't...


On the whole 3 month absence... I have come to a conclusion.  Although my brain may be a little punch drunk with the idea of spring, us here at the BGCB, we're rolling with it.  The conclusion was this: seeing as no one really even noticed I was gone (and if they did, they failed to mention it), I am not apologizing, giving explanations or excuses.  We're pretending I didn't fall off the bandwagon.  And hoping I won't again any time soon.  And that's that on that subject.


Creamy Spinach, Feta, Dill Dip
From Jan./Feb. 2013 Cooking Light

Not much to say about this dip.  It came together very easily.  Was tasty and somewhat tangy from the feta.  It did have a large amount of ingredients when, to be perfectly honest, I am just as satisfied mixing in Hidden Valley's Fiesta Ranch dip mix into some zero fat Greek yogurt.  Yes, I use dip mix.  But I put it in Greek yogurt, not sour cream.  It totally makes it healthy.  And it tastes the exact same.

In other words, below is the recipe for this dip (which is good!), but here's another, even easier, just as tasty one as well:  Fiesta Ranch dip mix + Greek yogurt.  Add veggies.

6 oz. nonfat Greek yogurt
3/4 c. crumbled feta cheese
2 oz. softened cream cheese
1/4 c. low-fat sour cream
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 1/2 c. fresh spinach, chopped (measured after chopping)
1 Tbsp. fresh dill
Fresh ground black pepper

In food processor, wiz together first 5 ingredients, through garlic, processing until smooth.  Add spinach, dill and pepper.  Pulse until well combined.  Chill.

Serve with veggies or pita chips or whatever you love to dip.  Like chicken wings!  Just realize, there's some loss of healthy-ness when you reach for a chicken wing...