Here is a quick and easy way to peel and serve watermelon (which is one of my families favorite snacks during the summer. We just can't get enough). **This works great for cantaloupe too. I peel it, then cut it in half and scoop out the seeds.

*Start by cutting a flat surface on the end of the watermelon.
*Tip it on it's flat end and start to carve away the rind, from the top down, all the way around the melon.
*Slice off any excess rind and the top of the melon.
*Cut the melon in half lengthwise and lay it down on it's flat side.
*Again, cut the melon in 4 pieces lengthwise (so you get 4 large spears).
*Slice across the spears 1/2" to 3/4" apart. This gives you the perfect serving size and no rind or wasted watermelon when the kids eat it! Yay!

The kids and I are halfway through studying the 50 states today. We celebrated with a "Half-way" There Party. It was really fun to make the halved snacks and tableware. The kids got a kick out of the "half-full cup" of soda.  

To make the cups half full, I used Glad Press n' Seal wrap to seal the cut edge of the cup. I only had one leak a little, but if you press it really well onto the cup and wrap it around the back, it does a pretty good job of holding in the liquid. The cups didn't stand up on their own until I added the orange soda. A straw made it easier to drink from.

To make the ice cream cone, I used paper snow cone cups, cut in half (of course). I put two scoops of ice cream on a cookie sheet with a Silpat nonstick mat. I cut the scoops in half carefully, so I wouldn't cut the Silpat. Then laid them cut side down and put them in the freezer to harden. When it was time for the party, I took them out of the freezer and set them in the halved cones. In hindsight, the ice cream was quite messy this way and a couple of the kids got bowls to put their cones in. 

My youngest celebrated his first birthday yesterday! It was so much fun. I went all out to decorate and make it extra special. 

I used plastic table cloths to make a circus tent. I tied them all together on the chandelier in the middle of the room and then stapled the table cloths around the border of the room, keeping them somewhat tight and spread open to their full width. I used a second row of table clothes to hang on the wall, down to the floor to cover the walls.

The "Sno-cones" were actually cupcakes frosted with white icing and sprinkled with colored sugars. I baked the cupcakes separate from the paper sno-cones and then set them inside when I was ready to display them. I also frosted and decorated them BEFORE putting them in the cones to avoid making a mess.

For my sister-in-law's baby shower I made bunny shaped meringue cookies. Here's how I did it:
I used this recipe from JoyofBaking.com to make the meringue. Then, I piped it out on a Silpat baking sheet and cooked according to the recipe. I left the bunnies in the oven long after it was turned off to dry out (overnight). They also held up very well in an airtight container until the shower.

Last night I held my first workshop. We all had a fantastic time! Everyone sat around chatting and adding ingredients and in a little over an hour we had ten fabulous meals to take home! I placed the kits in baskets and set up each person's stations. As they arrived, people chose a station and got set up. I will definitely do this again soon! 

My goal is to have at least one workshop each month with rotating menus. This workshop, Comfort Foods, included the following menus:

• Spanish Style Garlic Shrimp
• Italian Marinated Flank Steak
• Best Burgers EVER
• Smoked Mozzarella & Tomato Meatloaf
• Chipotle Lime Fajitas
• Italian "Medallions"
• Honey Balsamic Drumsticks
• Slow Cooker Chipotle Lime Chicken
• Adobo Grilled Chicken
• Smoked Mozzarella & Tomato Chicken Pasta

Next will be the Best of Wildtree Freezer Meal Workshop. It will include these menus:

• Steak Fajitas
• Italian Style Halibut
• Cajun Shrimp and Red Pepper Fettuccine
•  Roasted Chicken
  
• Lemon Rosemary Pork Tenderloin
• Italian Meatloaf
• Salmon with Lentils and Dill
• Shrimp and Pineapple
• Chicken with Sun Dried Tomatoes, Goat Cheese and Spinach
  
• Italian Herb Crusted Pork Chops
  

** All meats can be substituted for you favorite proteins (i.e. chicken, beef, pork)

I can't wait to cook one up tonight. Now the tough part is deciding on just one!

I set up at table at a vendor event to benefit The Giving Closet, a non-profit organization who's mission is "That no one should be without clothing, food, and an education within our reach". 

It was located on Chuck's Produce & Street Market. It just so happens that we were there at the same time as Chuck's was breaking the world record for the largest potato display, so we had a lot of traffic. Not may people get to say, they've stood next to the worlds largest display of potatoes! Ha Ha!

I introduced my Freezer Meal Workshops this weekend and had a great response. I had 8 ladies sign up for my first workshop. I can't wait until the day of the workshop!

I was invited to sell my Wildtree products at a Holiday Open House this weekend. It was at a friend's house. She had about 10 other vendors there. For me, it was my first huge success! I had about 6 orders and was able to meet some very nice people. I really enjoyed myself.

As much as we hate to admit it, Christmas is just over 2 months away. Soon the stores will be filled with Christmas decorations and gifts. I've made up a list of some great gift ideas that can be ordered for the foodies and health nuts in your life.

• Chocolate Addicted $28 (Chocolate Lover's Syrup, Heavenly Chocolate Mousse Mix, Molten Lava Cake Mix)
• Coffee Cravers $14.50 (Mocha Mousse & Cheesecake Blend and Java Rub) 
• Breakfast Brunch $37 (Blueberry Pancake Syrup,  Buttermilk Pancake Mix, Gourmet Crepe Mix & Very Berry Cheesecake Blend, Hearty Morning Granola Mix) Pair it with Natural Butter Flavor Grapeseed Oil for just $13 more

To order any of these gift sets you can either email me your requests or simply click on the "Shopping" button and choose the individual items from the online store. Feel free to customize your order too. Everything comes in beautiful packaging which makes assembling your gift as easy as pie!

Last Monday I walked the neighborhood with a friend and put catalogs and an invitation to an open house tasting for Wednesday in all the newspaper boxes. I passed out about 25 catalogs. Then Wednesday I set up the dining room and set out some delicious foods from Wildtree. Then I waited...

And waited, and waited. I know people have busy lives, but this is silly. I even put out a sign on the road leading the way to my house. Nobody. Well? That's how the cookie crumbles. The good news is, I had MOPS the next morning so I could share all this good food with all the ladies.

I didn't want to seem like I was taking advantage of snack time at MOPS to sell my stuff, so I didn't put out catalogs, but I wonder if I should have.

I'm rethinking my strategies and maybe doing cooking demonstrations would sound more interesting to people. The food sells itself! I just have to give people a chance to taste it.