MIA

Not her?.

Not here?.

Or here?..

More like this?..

(clearly I was just looking for any excuse to incorporate Chuck Norris?)

Yes, missing in action, I am guilty as charged. Gosh, I seriously feel like a broken record. I continuously take a couple days weeks off and come back full of excuses, like I have been too busy celebrating birthdays (HAPPY BDAY ASHWEEEE)?.

we convinced the bartender that this girl neeeeeeded a birthday shot on the house!

We channeled our inner 8 year olds and mini-golfed!

CLEARLY just drinking a liter of plain soda water?.

What? You mean you dont putt-putt in a tiered H&M dress, 4 inch Banana Republic wedges, oversized Jessica Simpson shades and oversized F21 purse?! Pshh?

Just lovin life?.

Seriously- strawberry stoli & soda water?.is RIDICULOUSLY delish. New summer drink??

Paired perfectly with housemade cajun potato chips served with local cheddar fondue?.

And MORE deep fried pickles!! CANT GET ENOUGH! 

Get it boyfriend?

Playing evening games of Co-Ed Softball?meet our team captain, Carmen! (her socks!!!, every week! love em.?.Carmen is also known for mooning the opposing team while at bat, discussing deep topics with the ump while at bat, and, basically, entertaining both teams while at bat. I pretty much love her !)

Oh, yeah, and I helped coordinate 3 5ks for Girls on the Run. In one week. I wish I could show you pictures from that, but gotta protect the lil gals personal safety. SOOO just imagine mass amounts of 3rd through 5th grade girls getting their hair painted pre race at my station?.

Then they take off, and we either ?jog? at the end of the pack to ?sweep? the walkers & help motivate them, or we frantically run around cleaning things up and getting ready to pass out waters & ribbons & goodies to the exhausted girls at the finish. At 2 of the races, girls were coming in around 18 minutes. HOLY SMOKES!!!

Puppy party!!

Boys Jamming?

Trying on my Britney Spears wig at 3 in the morning?.

No blackmail shots of the boyfriend in the wig?.BECAUSE HE WAS SLEEPING. LAME!

(hi love ! did i mention i love you!??!!)

Sidenote. The grainy pictures are making me itchy. NOTE TO SELF- LEAVE ISO ON AUTO! Yipes.

Hey, but lucky for you, I have also been busy cooking up summer delicacies. Last month, Cooking Light RUINED my favorite local shop by publishing an ARTICLE about it!! The nerve!! Now EVERYONE knows where to find the BEST local meats & cheeses & fish. Darn.

Anyway, I picked up a gorgeous piece of locally caught Lake Trout the other day and made a spin on my favorite Whitefish dish- Parmigiana.

1 large filet of lake trout, deboned.

1/2 cup plain yogurt

2 large cloves garlic, minced

3 green onions, diced

1/4 cup diced sun dried tomatoes (about 3 or 4 tomato halves)

1 1/2 tbsp whole grain mustard

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

salt & pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a bowl, combine yogurt, mustard, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and cheese.

2. On a baking sheet (I sprayed mine with EVOO from my Misto), season trout filet with salt and pepper (skin side down!!). Spread a thin layer of the yogurt mixture on top. Sprinkle with panko. Bake 8-12 minutes until fish is done and panko has browned (depending on thickness of fish- test it by sticking a fork in the middle- it should seperate very easily & flake). Enjoy the fruits of your local waters (preferably with a side of locally grown asparagus).   

Whitefish Parm was a dish served at the very first restaurant I ever waitressed at- but I know their version was filled with mayo & butter & about ten times more cheese than I used. Call me crazy, but I truly feel my lighter version is ten times tastier. The greek yogurt makes it tangy and sooo thick, and the sun dried tomato chunks just pop in your mouth. This trout was pretty phenomenal, also- thick and dense like salmon, but almost NO fishy flavor. If you can?t find Lake Trout, use another mild fish, like tilapia, whitefish, or even grouper. Really though, just pick something fresh that you know where it came from. Can?t go wrong with that philosophy!

And in the meantime- go enter for a chance to win some Cake Pops from Ms. Fanatic herself. Seriously. Cake. On a stick. Who wouldn?t want that?!

Or check out my fellow Michiganders giveaway for a $40 giftcard to CSN stores!