It's all about the little things!

I know you can't read this fuzzy picture, but it says there are 3 meatballs in a serving, and 5 servings. That's a total of 15 meatballs I was prepared to bake last night.

But wait! Count carefully. There are 17 meatballs here. AKA, two free meatballs for me!!

In hindsight, the amount of joy I got from realizing I received two free meatballs is somewhat frightening. But what can I say? I love food. And when it's free, there's just no bounds to my passion!

Wine Time

Not that anyone has ever asked me for my opinion on wine (or anything for that matter), but I decided to give my take on the best cheap wines out there.

By cheap I mean less than $10.

By out there I mean at Harris Teeter.

My recent favorites are the 3 wines listed below.

First we have the Fish Eye brand Shiraz. Currently available for $5.99 at HT, this wine is so very smooth. I really don't like red wines that are so dry they taste hot. This wine is so not like that that it almost taste a little below room temperature, which is what I like in a wine.

And it means I don't have to add ice cubes to my glass and look like a redneck.

I know it's totally random, but I think Shiraz is my favorite overall wine. It's refreshing, smooth, good for summer or winter, and this brand has a screw-cap so it's perfect for emergency situations.

On the Cabernet Sauvignon front, we have Earthwise. This wine is also available right now for $5.99 at HT.

Cabernets are so mild and delicious. I don't know wine words like "talons" "notes" or "body", but I can assure you that this one tastes good and has your standard 13% alcohol in it. And they are made from sustainably farmed vineyards. SOLD.

Now for a white, which is what I'm typically known for. Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc. This wine is so hot right now.
It's all the rage with my bitches here on the East Coast.

So crisp. So refreshing. And so mostly under $10. It's usually on special for $8.99 at Harris Teeter and $7.99 at Costco. Sometimes I think it might be $10.99 at stupid places. Avoid those places whenever possible.

I don't think I've ever spent more than $10 on a bottle of wine outside of a restaurant. And with wines like this available why would I ever want to!?

Well, I did spend $13 on a bottle of Cupcake Red Velvet when I was in Aspen recently. But that doesn't count because Aspen is where the beer flows like wine. And the wine costs at least $5 more than it would in any other part of the country.

Now, who's ready for an afterwork glass of vino!?

Guess What Today Is?!

In addition to being "Tweed and Don't Go to Work Unless it's Fun Day," according to this website, it's also Free Cone Day at your local Ben and Jerry's!

I remember this being kind of a zoo and the B&J in Chapel Hill when I lived there, but hopefully you have a local store near you it won't be as crazy.

Click here to find your local Ben and Jerry's.

Cone's Up! Wallets Down!

Princess Camps and Dreams Deferred

I was just be-bopping around town and I saw this - A poster for Princess Camp!

I know the above picture is terrible, but check out the details here: Princess Camps

I am so bitterly jealous that I didn't get to go to this when I was younger...or this summer.

Seriously, you have to click the link above. The available themes for these camps are DYNAMITE! They include such things as:

- Tutu Design

- Tiara Sparkle

- Fashion Diva

- Fairy Magic

- Spa Time

And as if that isn't luscious enough, the daily camp schedules include a lax schedule from 9:30am-1pm that look like this (prepare to be violently jealous):

9:30-10:30 - dance

10:30-11:00 - snack & princess center fun

11:00-11:30 - craft creation & make-up

11:30-12:00 - surprise fun

12:00-12:30 - lunch & princess center fun

12:30-1:00 - bounce house & fashion show

I die. Have you ever seen anything so wonderful in all your life?

I might just try to sign up because I don't see anything about an age limit anywhere. Who's with me!? Princess Camp for everyone!

Diveats - Goat Cheese, Sundried Tomato, and Basil Stuffed Chicken

I basically invented a recipe last night. If you can call mixing up 3 ingredients inventing.

Which I believe you can.

In a bowl I mixed up some chopped sun dried tomatoes, half a small log of goat cheese (about 4 ounces), and about 4 chopped basil leaves.

I pounded out 2 chicken breasts to make them thinner and more supple/easier to work with.

Then I stuffed half of the mixture into each breast, rolled it up, and secured it with a toothpick.

Bake the chicken breasts at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes and you have got yourself a cute rolled up meat treat stuffed with lots of tasty goodness just waiting to get out and into your mouth.

Season with S&P.

I served the chicken with a piece of garlic bread and a mixed green salad with Barefoot Contessa's Lemon Vinaigrette (recipe here). I can't believe I've never made this dressing before. It was so simple and delicious and fresh tasting. I made one modification by not adding Parmesan to the dressing and instead adding shaved slices on top.

FYI - the portions weren't as small as they look, that is just the world's largest piece of garlic bread.

So simple, so elegant, so tasty. So my original, patented recipe ;)

Ice Cream Sundays - Strawberry Shortcake Fro Yo

Another Greek Yogurt Flavor! Strawberry Shortcake.

Delicious and nutritious? Maybe just delicious. I'm still kind of suspicious of the health benefits of this whole Greek Fro Yo thing.

Nonetheless, this flavor is a treat! It has refreshing Strawberry flavor and yummy chunks of shortbread. The chunks don't necessarily taste like much, but they are fun to bite on. Who doesn't link a good chunk, no matter the situation!?

Btw, I just got wind that Ben and Jerry's is totally overhauling their normal Fro Yo flavors and are only going to be serving the Greek Fro Yo from now on. In addition to the regular ice cream, of course. But big news nonetheless!

If you're a Half Baked head or a Chocolate Brownie Chunk Fro Yo fanatic, go stock up. Your favorite flavors might not be around long!

Back to regularly scheduling full-fat feasting next week.