The Liebster Blog Award

A few weeks ago Lynne from the sweet blog Turnips 2 Tangerines had awarded me the Liebster Blog Award. The Liebster Award is an award given to bloggers by other bloggers. Kind of a "High Five" your doing a "Great Job" award.  It's a great way to get to know the blogger and to recognize fellow bloggers. It's like a fun chain letter in the blog world that helps bloggers connect and support each other and to discover new blogs. The award is given to blogs with less than 200 followers and there are a few rules. (Which are always subject to change in whatever way you like to change them.)

1. Post 11 random facts about yourself.
2. Answer the 11 questions from the person who nominated you.
3. Pass the award on to 11 other blogs, who have less than 200 followers, and link them in your post.
4. Ask the blogs you nominated 11 questions.
5. Go back to their blog and tell them you have nominated them.

11 Random Facts About Me~ 

1. My favorite sport to play is basketball 

2. In high school a twirled a baton

3. I am a registered x-ray technologist

4. I love toffee

5. I've run two marathons (one was New York City in 2011, the day before my 50th birthday)

6. I went back to college at age 38 to become a registered nurse

7. I have been to 25 of the 50 united states

8. I drink way to much ice tea

9. I  adore old movies 

10. I love to dance

11. I've worked as a jeweler 

11 Questions from Lynn are~

1. What is your favorite color? Green

2. What is your favorite dessert? Creme Brulee

3. What month were you born in? November

4. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Rocky Road with peanuts

5. What is your favorite snack food? (Chips, Popcorn, Doritos etc.)

Kettle Cooked potato chips

6. Regular or Dirt Soda? Diet

7. What is the name of your favorite fast food restaurant? Not really fast food because I don't really eat fast food but I love Applebees and Chipolte.

8. What are your favorite 3 ingredients to use in cooking? Olive oil, chicken and pasta

9. What is your favorite herb? Basil

10. What is your favorite craft? Making burlap wreathes

11. What was your best thrift store find?  A beautiful red transferware pitcher and saucer for only $10

Now for my nominations: (I am keeping the nomination list to just 5 as it was when the award was first created.)

Leslie from Leslie's Garden and other Delights
Leslie's passion is gardening and spending time with her family. I have been following her for a while now and she has the most tranquil and beautiful posts on her blog...definitely worth checking out.

Emma from Crafty Girl and Foodie
Emma is a 10 year old blogger who loves to cook and do crafts. All I can say is that if she is this good now I can only imagine what her blog will be like in just a few short years.

Allison from Vegan Mommy Chef
Allison is a mommy of two beautiful children who happen to have many food allergies. Allison has to be creative in her cooking to keep it safe without sacrificing taste for her family.

Millie from Lean & Luscious Corner 
Millie is an Area Director of Weight Watchers and the author of the Lean and Luscious Cookbook series of which I have had Volume II of the series in my arsenal of cookbooks for about 20 years now. I was thrilled to find Millie's blog!

The Mom and Daughter team from Flavors by Four
These gals love cooking, baking and sharing new recipes with one another. Consequently their readers get the chance to enjoy the fruits of their labor as they blog about their wonderful recipe finds.

Now for my Questions to the nominees:
(Again I am keeping the number to just 5)

1. What is your favorite blog to follow?

2. Where do you seem to find the most inspiration?
(for your blog or life in general)

3. What is your favorite candy?

4 If you could meet anyone who would you choose to meet?
(living or departed)

5. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you choose to go?

Thank you again Lynne from Turnips & Tangerines for this very sweet award and I hope you my nominees take the time to pass this award along to other bloggers to help encourage them to "Keep on Blogging" 

Have a wonderful day!
XO

Pan Roasted Asparagus with Sauteed Red Onion and Crispy Bacon

A few weeks ago my sweet hubby bought for me the mega book Cook's Illustrated Cookbook. Now I honestly had not had the chance to sit down with the book and really peruse through it, but last night I picked it up and began looking at asparagus recipes. For some reason I have been hording asparagus and my vegetable crisper is now totally bursting with it. So in an effort to use it up, I went through the book looking for some new variations of pan roasted asparagus and came across this recipe. Hey all you have to do is mention the word bacon and I am there! So today I picked up the ingredients and gave this recipe a whirl.

Ingredients you will need...

5 strips of bacon cut into small pieces

1 large red onion cut in half and sliced thin

2 T balsamic vinegar

2 T maple syrup

salt and pepper to taste

1 lb thin asparagus, trimmed

cooking spray

Lowreys Seasoned salt

Cook bacon in 12 inch pan until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove bacon and let it drain on some paper towel. Drain off all but one tablespoon of grease from the pan and toss in the onion. Cook onion for about 4 minutes or until it becomes soft then add the balsamic vinegar and syrup. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. 

In an effort to keep the calories down I decided to use cooking spray instead of the butter and olive oil in the original recipe. Spray clean pan with cooking spray and add the asparagus. Sprinkle with the Lowery's seasoned salt and cook asparagus uniformly in pan until asparagus turns a bright green, about 5-6 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Now here I departed from the recipe by cutting my asparagus into 1- 1 1/2 in pieces. Toss the asparagus with the onion mixture. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Enjoy!

XO

Sharing this posts a these blog link parties...

Whole Lifestyle Nutrition

Feature Today Over at Savvy Southern Style

So excited today because for the very first time The BGFB is being featured over at the gorgeous blog Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesday link party. What did Kim pick to feature you ask...

To see the recipe click here.

Thank you so much SSS for the nod...what a wonderful surprise. To see all of this week's fabulous features just click on the link below...

Savvy Southern Style

And have a great day!!!

XO