Addicting Artichoke Dip Recipe

My dad came down to see me this Father's Day, and I cooked for him. One of the things I made was this amazing, addicting artichoke dip, of which I'd like to share the recipe with you. It's the perfect party dish and is a sure-fire hit. Also, I could probably eat the whole thing in one sitting; it's that good:

Ingredients:
1 can quartered artichoke hearts
1 cup mayo
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Preheat oven to 350. Drain artichokes and pat dry with towel. Mix all ingredients. Put in shallow glass baking dish and cook for 30 minutes.

Eat with crackers, toast, pretzels - whatever! It's delicious. If you try it, let me know how you like it.

Hope everyone had a nice Father's Day weekend!

XOXO

Scarlett

Cool Random Truck Art

Saw this semi-truck in a parking lot, and I liked the sexy illustration on the side of it so much I had to take a pic. ;)

A New Nice Wine Find

I was in the mood to try a new wine tonight, and I found a chilled bottle at Sprouts on sale. I am happy to say that it is really nice! It's a unique blend and is very sippable. If you like whites, try this one out. ;)


XOXO

Scarlett

Random Cooking Tip: How Not to Cry While Cutting Onions

I have to share this totally random cooking tip with you because it's strange, and it actually works. Those of you who cook have probably had to slice up an onion before. (Unless you're like me, and you cheat by using the dried onion flakes to avoid it!) But even if you tend to avoid it, sometimes it's still nice to have a fresh, chopped onion in dishes like chili, for instance.

But how do you cut them without getting that horrible stingy-eye that makes you "cry"?

Put a piece of bread in your mouth.

That's it! Just get a piece of sliced bread, bite down on the side of it, and hold it in your mouth. You may have to eat it slowly and adjust it because it sort of dissolves if you hold it long enough, but I swear, it'll keep your eyes from watering while you cut up that onion. It's like magic.

And there's your random blogpost topic for today ;)


XOXO

Scarlett

Saying Goodbye to Those We Love

This week I bid my best friend's mother adieu. She passed away after battling a long string of illnesses, and though we all know she isn't suffering anymore, it's still a shock to the system for everyone to say goodbye to someone who was a seemingly permanent fixture in our lives.

I was honored to have been requested to write a eulogy, which I read at the funeral. One thing I noticed about this particular funeral is it was a very nice gathering of people who loved her, not just her immediate family. The chapel was packed. There were lots of flowers sent. Everyone felt connected in this time of letting go.

Losing loved ones can be a bittersweet thing--on one hand, there are so many tears and sleepless nights and lost appetites. But on another hand, it brings together those of us who are still living to show that we're all still here for one another, especially during the rough times. It shows people they're not alone. It also reminds people to live their lives to the fullest because there is a finish line, and we all will reach it someday.

But despite losing her to death, I still believe her spirit endures, just not in this immediate setting. So even though we say goodbye, there is that hope we may meet again in another time and space.


XOXO

Scarlett

Valentine's Day Anthologies

To get you in the mood for Valentine's Day, here are a couple of erotic anthologies that feature a couple of my sexy short stories, along with stories from other awesome authors. They'd make great gifts for that special someone. Or if you're single this V-Day, there's no shame in enjoying the sensual fun all by yourself, if you know what I mean. ;)

This tantalizing collection combines the red-hot stories from both Be My Valentine and XOXO. With a total of twelve sexy shorts from well-known erotic authors, these stories will certainly spice up your day! 

Valentine's day is the perfect time for some furtive fumbling and secret sauciness. This amazing collection of nine erotic stories all with a valentine's theme is sure to get your heart thumping, your blood pumping and your pulse racing. Written by some of the adult and romantic fiction world's best-loved authors, this special digest is a Valentine's treat that can be enjoyed all year round!

XOXO

Scarlett

Movie Review: 'Blue is the Warmest Color'

Finally, I watched this incredible film!

In a word, it's unforgettable. It's an epic sort of love story, really, and one with a not-so-happy ending. It tells of a simple but deeply loving teacher and what seems to be her soul-mate: a daring, ambitious artist. This sort of Yin and Yang have chemistry on a primal level and share a very sweet romance, but ultimately "who they are" interferes. And it's so real it's heartbreaking.

I'm very bummed there probably won't ever be a sequel. I want to know what happened. The characters were three dimensional, brought to life by the two fine, gutsy actresses. The emotion they portrayed was impressively raw. And the love scenes...intense.

The soundtrack was also interesting: it seemed like the majority of the music was actually occurring within the scene, instead of looped onto the film in production.

It's a movie that I think will stay with me for a long time.


XOXO

Scarlett