Oh what fun we had!!
This afternoon I tried my first full-size Glo Bar!! Along with some Sleeptime Vanilla tea (I was not sleepy, but I did want vanilla) that I got as a sample. LOVED the bar, which reminds me of a Kashi TLC PB bar, but much fresher and chewier, and LOVED the tea!
Soon enough my guests were arriving while I was still on a conference call for another project I’m working on!
Ashley, who I am so sad is moving to Colorado soon because we JUST met and she’s awesome!, Lauri, one of my Winthrop friends who I have missed all summer, and Kelsey, who is always cool and fabulous!
Poor Matt was only sort of invited – he made himself a tuna salad and cooked on the grill for us! And of course was the photographer –
Cocktail hour –
On the menu – skewered shrimp. I was determined to find local shrimp and called EarthFare to see what they had. I was connected to the seafood department and asked what kind of shrimp they had fresh and how much it was. The guy responded with “we have shrimp and I have a customer.” and promptly hung up!?!?!?!? So I tried Fresh Market and got a nice guy who told me they had Carolina shrimp and to come on in! So I did. And they were great. Just coated in a little creole seasoning and some olive oil mist –
Lauri brought this totally awesome Misto she bought from BB&B. It’s an environmentally friendly pump that sprays olive oil on things. I want one!
We also grilled a ton of asparagus and I made Millet-Amaranth “Grits”
Topped with pepperjack cheese – (1 cup millet/amaranth 50/50 mix with 2.5 cups water cooked for about 30 minutes with salt and pepper)
LOVE the texture of millet / amaranth mixed!
+
+ fruit + marshmallow dip by Lauri. Had a few apples dipped in the dip!
The star of the evening was Ashley’s Fruit Crisp – super healthy, super delish. She’s going to post the recipe in the comments, so look out!!
With homemade maple whipped cream!!
Multiply this times two – worthy of seconds!! (…and that’s a tiny plate and baby fork)
I’ve got leftovers for tomorrow!!
***
Ashley invented ota.bars, which she sells at the farmer’s market. I’ve been drooling over them all summer over the inter She brought 3 bars for each of us to try!! Can’t wait!
***
I’m a little droggy and tired – need some water! I only had about 2 glasses of wine, but that’s enough to get me. A HUGE thank you to MATT and KELS for doing all the dishes before I even noticed!!!
Excited for a wide-open day tomorrow to get. things. done.
I have a Mr. Misto oil sprayer that I never, ever use…if you send me your address I will gladly mail it to you!
Those shrimp kabobs look amazing! Yum yum 🙂 Glad you girls had a fun night! Angela’s Globar looks so tastyyy
Love girls nights!!! looks like some good foods & good times 🙂
Grilled local shrimp=best summer meal ever!
That whole menu looks amazing especially the shrimp! Those bars look delicious too and look forward to you trying them! Good luck on your wide open day tomorrow!
Dinner + Dessert looks great!
I had one of those Mist-O sprayers and at first I thought it was awesome, but then it started getting jammed with EVOO and hard to clean. It started dripping EVOO all over and wasted a lot, etc. I ende dup throwing it out! I thought it was my solution to cooking spray. 🙁
Jenn
MMM! I will totally look out for the recipe. Yum! Plus. if Lauri has a recipe for the marshmallow dip that would be awesome…
I’m so jealous of your great girl friends!
Look like you had a great time! the dessert looks amazing.
I love shrimp 🙂 I am glad you had such a great girls night!!
That fruit crisp looks absolutely amazing, and with the homemade whip – double wow!!! 🙂
Girls’ nights are always fun!
You will LOVE the misto sprayer. it is one of my favorite kitchen tools. i got it from Marshalls, actually, for like $7
Healthy crisp recipe! Healthy crisp recipe!
That healthy crisp and those bars all look amazing! Glad you all had such a great time! Yay for girls night! 😀
You just remined me I have one of those oil spray things! I’ll have to go find it!
Looks like a fun night 🙂
Maple cream? You gals know how to live it up!
I love the grits!
Girls nights are always so much fun! What is the name of the wine with a question mark? Looks like a great conversation starter!
How odd that EarthFare was so rude… good for you for spiting them by shopping elsewhere. That dessert looks delicious–dare I say, great for fall?! I also must try the amaranth/millet mix to switch it up with the grains a little bit.
I got 16 of those ota.bars at this past weekend’s farmers market and have been enjoying them all week…they rock! 🙂
The Glo bar sounds fab, too.
OMG I’m definitely keeping my eye out for that recipe. soooo yum looking!!
You need to get one of those Misto things – I have one and use it ALL the time! They are great!
um, ew to the guy at earth fare! that alone would make me not want to shop there. rude people are one of my all time pet peeves.
yay for shopping at the competition!! and they looked yummy.
Healthy [as healthy as a crisp can be!!] crisp recipe:
pre-heat oven to 400*
use 8″ square pan or equivalent [I used a 9″ deep pie pan…can also use a solid bottom tart pan]
FRUIT:
4 medium sized peaches [appx. 1.5lbs]
2 medium sized plums [appx. .5lbs]
[can use all peaches or plums or another fruit of choice!]
1/4c. brown sugar [I use sucanat – evaporated sugar cane juice -substitue 1:1]
1T flour
-cut fruit into 1/2″-1″ pieces and put in medium bowl
-stir sugar + flour together
-add to fruit + toss together
-spread in pan
CRISP:
3/4c. rolled oats
3/4c. whole wheat flour
1/3-1/2c. brown sugar [again, replaced with sucanat + used 1/3c]
1t. cinnamon [recipe called for 1/2t. I always use more cinnamon]
1/4t. salt
1/3c. butter melted [I used extra virgin coconut oil + subbed 1:1]
1/3c.-1/2c. lowfat vanilla yogurt [or plain]
-mix dry ingredients in medium bowl
-add melted butter or coconut oil + stir
-add yogurt + stir
-stir until thick/moist dough ball forms
-drop clumps of dough and gently spread until fruit is covered
-bake 20-25min until golden brown on top
-serve hot out of over, cold out of fridge, or re-bake next day
[I baked for 20min + let cool, then stored in the fridge overnight…brought it to Kath’s, let come to room temp + re-baked at 375* for 10min]
IDEAS:
-Could probably cut the sugar in the crisp part way down [or eliminate] and eat for a healthy breakfast! [Kath thought of this!!]
-Sprinkle 1t. of large grain sea salt on top before baking for a sweet/salty combination
Maple infused whipped cream:
1/2 pint whipping cream
1/4c. pure maple syrup
-beat whipping cream with mixer until stiff peaks form [helps if you use a cold metal bowl + cold mixer attachments]
-add maple syrup and mix until just combined
-sprinkle with chopped almonds/fruit/etc.
-store in fridge
I would say this yielded about 2c. of whipped cream. It had a light maple flavor. Taste and add more/less as desired. I made another combo the other night w/1T vanilla and 1T sucanat which was also yummy.
These 2 recipes are suuuper easy and definitely wide open for variations! Enjoy! =)
Oooo FORGOT!! I also added 1/3c. chopped almonds to the dry crisp ingredients! =) [can use any nut or no nuts!]
aww what a good husband to do the cooking!
Hey! I have that wine! The one with the big question mark – Oreana red wine. It’s actually a local winery and one of my mom-friends works there pouring for tastings. I really like it. I’m actually going to go open it now…
(Don’t tell her, but I buy it at Trader Joe’s…)
looks like an amazing time and meal. i love that matt hung out with you guys.
The crisp looked so good I wanted to try a take on it!! I just posted my crisp adventure on my blog. I added flax, sunflower seeds, peanuts, and dropped the butter (and used less than a tbsp of sugar). SOOOO GOOD!!! Definitely a healthy treat. But mine might be closer to a granola-crisp? lol
Thanks for the idea!!
That crisp looks so good! I may try it soon!
There’s nothing better than a fun night with friends!
looks like sooo much fun! and all the food look s fantastic. you girls are gorgeous!
The asparagus looks great! And OMG, I don’t think I even need to comment on the Crisp….but I will. 🙂 It looked GREAT! Am happy the recipe is posted! Thanks, Ashley! 🙂
You def need to get your hands on a misto. they are so beneficial
OMG I hate rude people on the phone! What the heck?? I usually call back and say Its me, the person you hung up on!! lol.
Glad you enjoyed your bar!
I love Mistos! I have several, for various oils and vinegars. If you have a TJ Maxx or Home Goods near you, you can find them for super cheap!
hey i had shrimp on skewers tonight and my friend also made some fruit dip with the marshmallow cream! small world, good food.
mmm shrimp kabobs are looking yummy!
the sprayer thing for oil is so neat! i was wondering if they made those.
those bars look magnificent! i love the packaging!
looks like you had fun 🙂
-muffy
Looks like the perfect girls night – good friends & great food! Thanks for the crisp recipe, Ashley… I’ll definitely be making this!
i love all the effort you put into finding local shrimp. yay!
your spread looks fabulous – i wish my friends cooked like that! 🙂
What a fantastic girls night. So glad that you gals had an awesome evening.
Everything looks so good too! Very classy and sheek. Love girls nights!
Thanks for the recipe! That crisp looks great and it also looks like you ladies had an awesome night! How fun 🙂
don’t ya hate when customer service is horrible!!!! the economy is much to bad for that kind of attitude. Hopefully, a manager reads your blog and finds out how you were treated! Your Fresh market shrimps look lovely!! 🙂 The crsips sounds great!
The shrimp looks great! I need to get some metal skewers for my grill! Glad you had a wonderful girls night! (Can’t wait to make the crisp recipe!)
I have the Misto and love it! I would totally recommend it!
Boo to the EarthFare guy! Sounds like you had a great time! The shrimp looks delicious.
Lindsey ,
See Marcia’s comment – thanks m!
Ashley,
THANKS for the recipe!!!
Kath
I have that same Misto and I love it! Those shrimp look delish!
i have one of those mistos, and they’re great!
looks like a fun night 🙂
That’s such a cute picture at the top! Loving the sound of marshmallow dip AND that crisp. Looks like a fabulous meal with fabulous ladies! 🙂
What a lovely night! I enjoyed some vino with my girls last night too, there’s not much better 😉
Looks like a fun girls night and a really YUMMY menu!
Good for you for finding local shrimp! ANNNNND of course that crisp looks unbelievable. Might have to make that this weekend.
That crisp looks so amazing-thanks for posting the comment with the recipe!! I can’t wait to make this this weekend I have a bunch of peaches ready to go!
I LOVE my Misto! I picked one up at a Paderno warehouse sale last fall. I love even spraying the “tops” of things with a little mist of EVOO 🙂
Add me to the list of people who have a Misto and LOVE it. It was one of those things I picked up and admired in the store but always put back on the shelf thinking I didn’t really need it. I use it ALL the time and swear I use less olive oil because of it too. I use it for grilled sandwiches and quesadillas for my kids, so much easier than spreading cold butter on bread and healthier too. You’ll wonder how you ever lived without it once you get one. 😉
Rude people in the retail industry are so annoying! It’s like HELLLLOOOOO do you WANT me to give you my money!?!
My mom swears by her misto! That shrimp looks soooo awesome. I loooove grilled shrimp.
Good for you for calling around about local shrimp!!
Looks delish!
Thanks for the recipe!!!
thanks, ashley, for sharing the recipe. it looks delish!
looks like a fun girl’s night!
ok you have just inspired me to a host a ladies night at my casa!!! Love it!