Live from the 205

Create a Match.com Summer Singles Event and Win ! #sp

As many of you know, I’ve been in online dating hell for the last few months. So much so that I’ve pretty much given up. I’m hoping that Match.com can help me with their “Stir” service, which is Match.com’s answer to offline events, offering a wide range of activities to Match.com members around the country ranging from large-scale happy hours at popular venues, to more intimate events like tequila tastings and DJ lessons! Match.com‘s Stir is celebrating its one-year anniversary. In just one year, Match has hosted 2,850 events – broken down, that’s 14 events each day, 75 events a week, 320 events per month! Match has collaborated with over 1,200 venues and partners, including House of Blues, Banana Republic, Sur la Table and Warrior Dash, along with local gems in cities across the country. Match is throwing singles events in over 80 cities – including events in Anchorage and Honolulu! Over 225,000 singles have attended a Stir event to date.

To celebrate the Stir anniversary, Match.com is offering the opportunity for singles to create their own Stir event, and if their event is chosen, to work with Match Stir event planners to bring it to life just as you planned it! You just tell Match.com’ “What Stirs You?” on their contest page at Match.Com’s Stir Singles Events , now through Tuesday May 28^th, 2013 and say what you think would make for the perfect singles event to be entered to win. Entries will be judged based on quality, creativity, uniqueness and geographical relevance. The selected winner will have their idea re-created by the Match.com Stir Events team in their city, and will receive an invitation to attend the event along with ten of their single friends – all at no charge! In addition, the winner will also receive a free six-month Match.com subscription. Isn’t that a cool idea?

Check out the video below for more info and start thinking about what would make your perfect event, because you just might win! (Don’t forget to invite ME if you do!)

Bonne fête des mères …

Happy Mother’s Day to my lovely mother Betty Joyce, love you mom and thanks for all you do, most especially thrusting me upon the world !

And a very happy happy happy Mother’s Day to all you other moms, non-mothers and mother_______’s out there. Parent or not, you are all important to someone.

XOXO

Mother’s Day Seafood Salad

Mother’s Day is this Sunday. WAIT – don’t click away ! This isn’t a sponsored post, it’s a recipe. And if you need a great idea for what to fix for your mom, one you will thank me for later.

I don’t have any pictures of the actual dish because I’m a bad blogger or was too hungry when it was finally finished. I’ll let you decide. But it’s a salad, and if you can’t put one together without a picture you should probably take mom to Denny’s or something anyway.

My dad used to make my mother this salad a few times a year. She loves it, it’s fantastic and OMG the things you can do with it. You can add and subtract ingredients,  make your own twist on dressing, whatever. And it’s super easy to toss together in chilled plates/salad bowls and serve as an appetizer or stand alone as a meal.

Salad Ingredients 

• large can of Lump crab meat (if you want kind of a West Indies salad vibe, do THIS RIGHT HERE (to the letter!) to your crabmeat a day ahead of serving time)
• marinated artichoke hearts
• hearts of palm
• sliced purple onion
• cooked chunks of lobster
• fresh boiled or grilled shrimp
• salad greens, such as fresh romaine, butter lettuce, etc
• lemons
• remoulade sauce or dressing of your choice
• fresh crackers, bread or the garlic cheese style Red lobster biscuit knockoffs
• any other salad additives you’d like, mango, pineapple and their ilk seem to pair well with the seafood

Lemon-Herb Vinaigrette Dressing 

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 2 lemons, juiced and zested
• 1 teaspoon Zatarain’s Cajun or plain Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4-5 green onions, finely minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh herbs, minced (basil, parsley, oregano or rosemary) – in a pinch you can use Italian seasoning
• Salt & fresh ground black pepper
• teaspoon of sugar

In a small bowl or mason jar with a lid combine vinegar, lemon juice, zest, mustard, honey, herbs and garlic, then vigorously whisk in olive oil or shake the jar up and season with salt and pepper to taste. I usually only add minimum amounts because I like make the dressing a day or so ahead of time and let the flavors combine in the fridge, then taste test it to see whether it needs more or either.

Preparation

Basically, get everything cold and stack together on lettuce of your choice. Use sliced lemon in a separate chilled bowl in case Mom wants lemon juice over her seafood. I usually serve the dressings separately so everyone can decide which one they prefer. You can give the salad an extra kick by sprinkling cajun seasoning on it before serving, or letting your guests do it. Also, don’t forget the Tabasco sauce.

This dish goes great with a nice chilled Prosecco or Sauvignon Blanc, and depending on the size and amount of ingredients you use, works as an appetizer or the main course.

Have a great weekend and cheers!