The Queen will be sitting on her "Throne" for a while - please no tears friends

Not that throne, let's get our minds out of the twa-let for a moment.  The Queen is tired and ready for a little vacation so she will be sitting her royal rear-end in a glammed up throne a.k.a. lawn chair.  Don't be jealous because I'm getting to go on this glamorous vacation called camping.

I know exactly what you are thinking, "Damn girl you must be a blogging baller to afford such a swanky va-kay".  Matter of fact I've made so much blogging, I was able to upgrade our site from the one that had the dumpster on it with the bear proof lid to one only a mile away from the lake.

Actually instead of the blog the girls and me were thinking about starting up another business; dog coats.  Mr. Rusty is sporting the Marine Biologist look according to my daughters.  What do you guys think?

Please don't shed any tears for me, it's always been a secret fantasy of mine to go without a shower for so long that a swarm of flies form a regal crown around my head; why on earth would anyone rather be wading their toes in the Italian Riviera, not me.

It's been a life-long dream to sleep in a bedroom that is co-habited by bears and every insect known to man.  I can just imagine how drafty and unbearable it would be to sleep in an Irish castle with a turreted bedroom and servants.

Besides who would want the hot Brazilian butler bringing them breakfast in bed when you could wake up and enjoy your cold breakfast that the raccoons wouldn't even touch the night before.

You have never lived until you've experienced the unforgettable aroma of an outhouse.  I'm quite sure strolling the streets of Paris and inserting my nose in the flower stands I pass on the street would pale in comparison.

Please no tears friends; I will be shedding plenty for you.

Instead I thought I would leave you with some recipes you might want to try.

I'm going to miss breakfast like this, sniff, sniff:

Strawberry Lemonade Waffles

Or lovely lunches like this:

Vietnamese Spring Rolls

Dinner I'll miss you:

Pork Tamales w Red Chile Sauce

Desserts - How could I choose just one?

Spiced Eclairs w Pumpkin Cheesecake my old friend, I love you.

Maybe I will bring some of these Pastry Hearts for good measure. What if I meet a bear and need a bribe to save my life?

I just wanted to say thank you for your continual support of this project called a blog/therapy session.  You guys are the best and I can't wait to see what all of you have been cooking; if I ever make it out of the woods alive.

Gina

Vietnamese Spring Rolls from Heidi

I still can't believe we made it to round two of Project Food Blog!  Our sincerest thanks.  I'm on my way to Texas to visit Robbyn at the moment and the dinner party will be taking place at her house, we couldn't of planned it any better!

Vietnamese Spring Rolls

1 package rice paper Banh Trang ba co gai

1 lb. cooked shrimp, medium size

1/2 lb. cooked bbq pork; we got some already done in the Asian market

1 cucumber, sliced into thin strips

1 lb. fresh rice noodles (Banh Pho)

shredded lettuce

cilantro

Thai basil

mint

This recipe is from my friend Heidi.  She shared with me her recipe that she got from her mother and I'm honored to share it with you.

You will want to get a good brand of rice paper, like the Three Ladies Brand.

She showed me her top-secret trick for softening the rice paper. 

Yes that's right a squirt bottle filled with water.  Spray the rice paper front and back with water and shake off excess.  You just want the paper limp enough to roll.

Prep all you ingredients so you are ready to start rolling.

The noodles are prepared by placing them in a strainer and lowered into hot, not boiling water for 30-45 seconds, just until softened. 

In the center of rice paper place a row of noodles, on top of that add pork, cucumber, herbs and lettuce. Directly in front of that row add a row of shrimp. Pick up end of rice paper nearest you and fold over noodles, tuck in sides and keep rolling

Heidi also shared with me, that the herbs are for more than flavoring, but to aid in digestion.  We bought shelled shrimp and cooked them and peeled them, they have better flavor, but you can use pre-cooked if you want.

This is the peanut sauce she makes for dipping the spring rolls in, it is so good, I can barely describe it.

Peanut Dipping Sauce

1/2 cup hoisin sauce

1/2 cup warm water

2-3 tbsp. peanut butter

3 tbsp. sugar

chopped peanuts

Combine hoisin, peanut butter, water and sugar in bowl, stir till combined and sprinkle chopped peanuts on top.

Thank you again everyone.  I'll probably be staying up all night voting for everyone, since I'm traveling today.