The Birthday Boy's Bourbon Country Style Ribs

Tony loves meat.  I mean he really loves meat.  I think if he were pressed to answer,  pork would come first, beef second and then everything else just because. 

I knew for his birthday he would want some meat.  As luck would have it I found some very reasonably priced boneless country style ribs when I was shopping.  Lucky Tony!

I made the marinade the night before and added the meat to it in the morning.  Once we tasted it I realized this marinade would be perfect for just about any meat that is being grilled. 

Can't wait to try it on some pork chops and chicken thighs! And I think this long weekend is just the time to try!

Bourbon Marinaded Country Style Ribs

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 Tbs molasses
• 2/3 cup bourbon
• 1 cup soy sauce
• 4 cloves garlic
• 3 pounds country style pork ribs

Directions

1.   Combine brown sugar, molasses, bourbon, soy sauce, and garlic in a food processor or blender to mince garlic with other ingredients. Pour over ribs, and marinate for several hours in the refrigerator.
2. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat, and lightly oil grate.
3. Place ribs on grate, and cook ribs until cooked to your liking.  When finished, the internal temperature of the ribs should be 160 degrees F (70 degrees C) when taken with a meat thermometer.
   
   
   

 

Cooking at the track…

Most of you know by now that my oldest daughter, Kyra races BMX.  She has only been doing this since last May but is really loving it and doing really well.  It’s a tough sport but she seems to just be thriving in the environment.  She is a strong, smart and very tough little girl and we are incredibly proud!

Anyway this past weekend we were at a Qualifier for the State races over at Okeeheelee BMX in West Palm, just over on the other coast.  It was a 2 day race with some festivities starting on Friday.  Seeing as I would really rather spend the night in my own bed then any other bed anywhere we decided that we would stay at home on Friday and get a real early start on Sat.  Early start we did and we made it to the track with plenty of time for Kyra to get some practice laps in and then onto the races. 

The races on Sat. were great but the mains were delayed by over 2 hours by the coldest, ickiest, nastiest rain ever.  We used the delay time to get checked into our hotel.  Made it back and continued on racing into the night.  On the first day Kyra placed 3rd, 2nd and 3rd in the semis.  In her main she placed 7th.  Not the finish she was hoping for but a great finish nonetheless…

Sunday we woke up bright and early to do it all over again.  Sunday though the weather was beautiful.  Cool and sunny.  Kyra placed 3rd in all her motos and 7th in her main.  Perfect racing weather!!!

Instead of buying food at the track for all the days there we had decided with our racing buddies to get together and pack up a meal, burgers, hot dogs, and salad.

So now onto the food…

Tomato Basil Salad (adapted from The Church Cook)

This is the perfect salad for a picnic, pot luck or any time you need to make something ahead of time.  The dressing can be made ahead and the salad all prepped just add the dressing and the parmesan about 5 minutes before serving and toss well…

2 chopped seeded plum tomatoes
1 cup (packed) coarsely chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup olive oil, extra-virgin

Romaine lettuce, chopped
Grape Tomatoes
Red Peppers, sliced 
Red Onions, sliced thin
Grated Parmesan
or any other garnishes

Blend first 7 ingredients and 1/2 cup oil in processor or blender. With machine running, add remaining 1/2 cup oil; process until well blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before using.

Toss the salad 5-10 minutes before serving.

Had to improvise with the cheese for the burgers (used cheese sticks), but check it out…we even had bacon!!!  Cindy was a pro with her marine grill!!!

Great time had by all.  Thanks Chris, Amy, Cindy and Scott for the great company!!!  And the kids totally rocked…

My lovely, amazingly, incredible weekend!

All I had with me was my i Phone so the pics aren't great but this was the view from our suite. I was too lazy to even stand up and take it, so this is from my lounge chair!!!

Have I mentioned lately how awesome the man I married is??? On Mother's Day I got many, many great gifts from my girls and one really incredible awesome gift from my hubby! He got us a night away at the beautiful Sanibel Harbor Resort and Spa. Now, we all know that I could have called and made the hotel reservations myself right? That isn't really all that big of a deal. I plan all of our vacations but he went a huge step beyond. T. made arrangements for people to look after the girls while we were gone!!! To me this was huge. I am always the one who is arranging sitters and play dates etc., but this time he was definitely driving the bus.

Anyway, we could really only do one night but we made the most out of it. We dropped the kids off at their sleep over spots at about 2 on Saturday and we were on our way. Get this...about 30 minutes later we were at our destination!!! By 3:00 we were checked in and loving our beautiful suite with an incredible view of the Sanibel Causeway! 3:30 we were poolside with cocktail in hand. We had 7:30 reservations for dinner at the Courtside Steakhouse where T. had a big honkin steak and I had Black Grouper with a provencal sauce with added crab and shrimp. YUmmmmm!

Late afternoon view from the balcony!

Room service was on tap for breakfast. We figured with the view and all why go stand in line somewhere else. Event the room service menu is huge. I decided on an omelet with cheddar, tomatoes and spinach and T. went with Parma ham, brie and forest mushrooms. Oh and the incredible view...we watched dolphin and osprey while we were having our breakfast. It was truly and incredible place and a badly needed weekend away. We hung out around the pool until late afternoon and then went and picked up the girls (who each had so much fun that I don't think they even missed us!!).

Breakfast with a view!!!

Pretty cool hubby huh???

On another note: I won a drawing that my blog friend Pam from Life on A Southern Farm, held over the weekend!!! I Won, I Won!!! She makes these very cute stuffed creatures and she raffled 2 of them off. I am the proud winner of the GA. Bullfrog. Thanks a million Pam!!! If you haven't taken a peek at her blog head on over. I visit often because of the sense of peace I get from watching a much calmer and more peaceful life than the one I am living now!

As Always...

Happy Entertaining!!!

Judy
www.nofearentertaining.com

Just a bit different from most...

Our Christmas preparations take on a bit of a different note here in Southwest Florida. The picture is of my husband trying to put up our Christmas lights. I almost hate to complain about this but it is December and it was so hot (86 degrees) and sunny. He got sun burnt???!!! At least in the picture he was smiling (and you can't hear all of the curse words on camera). This is the one thing that he really hates to do...I actually have him talked into hiring someone to do it next year!!! Crazy stuff here! Anyway today it is suppose to really cool down tonight and go into the low 40's. It will make for a nice boat parade tonight! We should be able to pull out our fuzzy sweaters for a day or so.

We went to a great Christmas party last night that my friend hosts every year. She does such an amazing job with it. There is truly something for everyone and no one is over looked. She gets her food from all over the place so that there is something that would appeal to everyone. Honey baked ham, turkey and sides, Chick-fil-A for the chicken nuggets, publix for sushi and crab platter, edible fruit arrangements, and very, very pretty desserts (the strawberry shortcake from Jason's Deli was outstanding!)! The girls loved the cupcakes that were in festive holiday colors. She also did a raffle for a Wii...we didn't win but the money that was raised was going to be donated to a favorite charity of the winners. Very cool idea. The kids bounced around all afternoon in the biggest bounce house I have ever seen as well!

Anyway today is another busy day. We are going to the skating rink to see the Christmas Performance on Ice. The girls are really looking forward to that and then this evening is the boat parade. People decorate their boats and then do a parade through the canals...it helps to get you in the holiday spirit in warm weather!

Hope your weekend is full of family fun as well!!!

As Always...

Happy Entertaining!!!

Judy
www.nofearentertaining.com

Never tell us that it's a secret!!!

We got an invite last night to a surprise happy hour for one of our friends. She has just graduated from grad school and her husband wanted to surprise her with a small party in her honor...Congrats Shell!!! She did all of this part time from home with 2 little babies. Very impressive feat! This is all well and good, but along we come and maybe, we sure hope not, give away the surprise.

It has been a really busy couple of days. I attended a fundraiser last night at a model home in our area. It was to benefit our local chapter of the ABWA. It was a really nice night out.

This morning we got up early and made the girls some French Toast from some leftover homemade bread and then went on the skating rink. After skating we had to go shopping to get a birthday present for another of our friend's little boys b-day party which was this afternoon and a gift for our graduate friend. So we tell the girls that we have a really busy day and they need to try to behave for us. Of course they asked us what we were doing today and not thinking we told them. They were pretty excited to be going to 2 parties in one day!!! This is where it all started to go down hill. It suddenly occurred to me that my graduate friend would be at the birthday party earlier in the afternoon. Now I am a little sleep deprived right now...it's been a long week what with Halloween and all of the other things that we have going on so my judgement may be a little off...I actually told my 5 year old that the happy hour party was a surprise!!! What a fool am I??? You tell a 5 year old that she has to keep a secret from her 5 year old friend and you are just setting her up for failure!!! Not 5 minutes after they saw each other did I see my little one whispering to her little friend. What the H*#@ was I suppose to do then? I decide that to say anything else would just be a huge disaster so I just let it go. I guess we will find out in about an hour how much damage we cause!!!

Whatever you do don't tell us a secret!!!

Hope you are having a great weekend and sharing it with your friends or family!

As Always...

Happy Entertaining!!!

Judy
www.nofearentertaining.com

Wonderful, Lazy Saturday

Happy Sunday-



Yesterday was a nice and lazy wonderful Saturday! We went to the skating rink (funny thing to do in Florida) in the morning and saw some of our friends there and then we had to go shopping. Now, I know I have mentioned before that I own a ton of shoes...well I seem to have come to a point where I don't need any more right now!!! Very weird. I still love shoes so now I have taken to buying them for other people???!!! I ended up buying my sister 2 new pairs of shoes and I felt very satisfied. Hmmmm... maybe I do need to talk to a professional about this?

Kyra Skating



Anyway when we got home from all of our Saturday errands we were all a little pooped. So I turned on the computer while everyone else went to their own quiet spots in the house. I was checking out all of the things that I check out every day for No Fear Entertaining. After checking all of that I opened up my website building program to make a few small changes and to my absolute horror my info was no longer there???!!! In a panic I called one of my girlfriends (who thank goodness has so much more knowledge than I have) and we were able to get it all back together. I think sometime that technology just burps and if you are in the vapor line you are screwed! But we got it all figured out and all is well.



After all that excitement though I think Tony felt really bad for me and took us all out for dinner! So it really worked out as an advantage to me in the long run!!!!



Hope you have a great Sunday. We have a birthday party to go to this afternoon so even football can't get into my way this week.



I am making the finishing touches on my ebook so I will have it ready late tomorrow. I am so excited. I have never done an ebook before so this is really thrilling. Boy do I love challenge! Check it out late Monday or early Tuesday. If you have signed up for my newsletter you will receive it as soon as it is done but if you haven't you will need to sign up before you will receive it. It is only going to subscribers of my newsletter. You lucky folks!!!

To sign up you can enter your info in the form to your right or you can go to my website at http://www.nofearentertaining.com/ and sign up there.



Happy Entertaining!!!



Judy

http://www.nofearentertaining.com/

My e-book will be ready on Monday!

Well after working hard, hard, hard all day Thursday on my e-book I took yesterday off and went to the beach with my family and a friend! What a beautiful day it was. The water was clear as clear can be, the waves were just nice and gentle, the sun was hot with a beautiful breeze. Just everything you could ask for from a day at the beach. The shark's teeth were everywhere as well as all of the other fossilized things that we can't ye identify. What a wonderful day!

Well anyway back on track...today we are going to the skating rink for the girls weekly lesson and then to Costco (our weekly pilgrimage). Then my plan is to come home and finish off this book. It will make things so much clearer for all of us aspiring cooks! I am going to be offering it FREE to everyone that has already signed up and FREE to anyone else who signs up. If you haven't signed up you will not get a copy of it! You can sign up were on my blog...the sign up form on the right hand side or on my website at www.nofearentertaining.com. Choose which ever one you want to sign up on...just sign up now.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend! I sure am!

Happy Entertaining!!!

Judy
www.nofearentertaining.com

Happy Weekend!

By now we all know that I love the weekends. We went out last night as a family to Coconut Point again...I think I have figured out why I like it there so much. There is something for everyone there. Shopping, restaurants, bars, ice cream and candy stores, book stores. But anyway I was able to buy some shoes and anyone who knows me well knows that is probably the very last thing in the world I would need more of!!! By the way if anyone has any good shoe organizing tips I would really appreciate it (so would Tony)!

Tony has just left to go and show a house and we have no other major plans for the day. I guess the big day is tomorrow when "football season" officially starts.

There is a grocery store that just opened up a few weeks ago and today is their "Grand Opening" so when Tony gets home we may go to that. It is Ada's which is a natural, organic, whole foods grocery store and I am really excited about it because it just shows me that people are really starting to take much better care of themselves if a town like ours can sustain a store like that. I am currently working along with another company right now that sells all natural beef "grass fed - granola finished" to bring you a couple of special offers. Now these offers will only be available to people who have signed up for my newsletter. If I don't have your email address you will not know about these special offers. Here is just an small taste...free shipping! If you need to sign up you can either sign up right here on my blog or your can go to my website at http://www.nofearentertaining.com/ . I promise you this offer is pretty special.

Hope you have a great weekend and are sharing it with people you love and enjoy. I am!!!

Happy Entertaining!

Judy
http://www.nofearentertaining.com/

Yeah, It's the Weekend!!!

Thanks to all of you who have been reading this blog and adding comments! It really is a great way to let me know what you would like to see more of and whether or not you like it. It has also helped me to keep in touch with those of you who are far away!

But....It is the weekend and we all know how much I love the weekend and this weekend is extra special because it is a long one! We are busy getting all of the preparations done for our party tomorrow as well. Most of the food that we are making can be made ahead. The only thing that is complicated is the smoked pork butt and that is only because Tony will have to get up during the wee hours of the morning and start that smoker!!! But are we afraid? No way we entertain the no fear entertaining way! We follow all of the "7 Golden Rules of No Fear Entertaining" ( sign up for my FREE monthly newsletter and as a special bonus get the "7 Golden Rules of No Fear Entertaining at http://www.nofearentertaining.com/) and it will be as easy as pie. I already have all the paper plates, napkins, knives and forks, cups laid out ready to go. The children's juices are on ice already the margarita's for the adults will be made tomorrow. We also decided to buy a small keg of beer instead of having bottles that we had to have a separate cooler for. Saves space and has much less waste! No rushing, no fussing just a relaxing fun day with a bunch of good friends!

I hope your Labor Day weekend will be as fun as mine!

I will add some pictures on Monday of the party for you to see.

This would be cool to have for tomorrow! Maybe next time.....

Margaritaville CP1000 Tub-N-Tap Party Cooler

Happy Entertaining!

Judy

http://www.nofearentertaining.com/

I Love the Weekend!

Okay, I know that I work from home but the weekend coming is still pretty significant for me. It means that the children are home for 2 whole days and life just slows down a little bit. Last night after dinner we decided to go to one of our new malls here (Coconut Point in Estero). We spent the evening just walking into stores and people watching. It is set up like one of the smaller villages that you usually find in a large city. In Toronto it would be like Yorkville maybe. We stopped at one of the restaurants outdoor patios and had a cocktail and then took the girls for some yummy ice cream. Everyone left happy and relaxed. On Saturday mornings we go to the Ice Skating rink for the girls skating lessons and then in the afternoon we have a birthday party to go to for one of our family friends little girl. Just hanging out with our friends is good enough for me. Sundays we usually set aside for the family "beach day". This has become sort of a tradition for us. It gets us away from the computers so we can't work at all.

All in all we have pretty great weekends as I am sure you will agree. What makes all of this possible is that I was able to build a website and work from home. I know you will be saying "that's all well and good for her but I don't know how to build a website!" Well I am going to let you in on a little secret. Neither did I. Until just over month ago neither did I!!! I was able to make a website from buying the domain name, setting up a hosting account, figuring out email accounts and building the site by using a a product that walks you through each step. It is like having someone along holding your hand through the whole process. The product is called
The Faster Webmaster and it is truly amazing. It has the step by step directions with pictures and diagrams but it also has video which takes you through everything! This product can be yours for under $50 which I found out is a crazy low price! To have a website made for you is between $2000 and $5000. If you have a product or idea that you would like to market on the internet this is your chance to get it done. You will not be disappointed. Check out the website that I was able to build! http://www.nofearentertaining.com/

Click on link to learn more,
The Faster Webmaster

Have a great weekend!