On The Road Again....

And I feel fat.

Which I should since I think I went out to lunch or dinner every day that I was in California/Arizona. That's 14 days of eating burgers and chicken sandwiches and Cobb salads. Not to mention the family dinners I cooked at my friend Valerie's house. Or the wonderful food at our book club at Pete and Pam's. Or Father's Day at Frank and Ruth's. And don't get be started on the smorgasboard of booze and food at Craig and Carolee's. Oh God I am stuffed!

Where's a vomitorium when you need one?

My daughter Aja and I cooking in my friend Val's very tiny, but well-stocked kitchen. Mommy needs a big knife!

My niece-in-law  Hilda "cooking" a salad. We give her a pass in the kitchen because she chases bad guys.

My son-in-law Chad who saved more than one night of drunken BBQ. This here is pork and mac & cheese.

Stuffed potato's that Pam made for book club. She serves THE best wine in East County.

Oh so good short ribs at book club dinner. Yes, I know, I went crazy on the veggies.

 

The Husband is kinda old. He likes to drink so we now take precautions.

Carolee's famous Bloody Marys. I hear they are THE BEST. I have never had one because I do not care for Bloody Marys. Which proves I am not an alcoholic. Well, to me anyway.

Speaking of alcoholics. Not sure this is what Starbucks had in mind when they created these wonderful cups.

Six hours spent on the Colorado River in 107 degree heat and Carolee still manages to feed us proper. Barbie CAN COOK!

The best Pina Colada's you will ever taste! Recipe included. Because this is a cooking blog, not just a "show off my vacation photos," blog.

                                                                  4th Of July Pina Colada Recipe


1/2 a can of CoCo Lopez. Or half a can of some other "Cream of Coconut." DO NOT use some lame-ass bottle of "Pina Colada" mix. If you do then you deserve the nasty after-taste that comes with it. (Buy it at BevMo or Wal-Mart also has it for CHEAP!)
Toss the mix into a blender full of ice. Add 1 small can of pineapple juice. A splash of half and half or cream and as much rum as you want. (cheap rum is fine- you are allowed to scrimp. But remember what I said about the bottled mix.)
Turn the blender on and keep it going until all of the ice has been turned into a thick, wonderful Hawaiian concoction. Pour into a glass or jelly jars and top with a floater of 151 or Meyer's rum. Or the cheap stuff if that's all you have.  You will now be spoiled and won't ever be able to order a Pina Colada at Applebee's again!

* I learned to make these back in the early 80's at our friend's 4th of July BBQ. We would make hamburgers and hot dogs and home made ice cream and oh Jeezuz...I need an ice cream maker!!)